On one of the internet tarot forums I frequent, we were discussing the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus deck , and the question arose about what recent decks we believe are the most significant from the standpoint of stretching the envelope - both in artistic quality and symbolic importance - for a standard 78-card tarot pack. … Continue reading Most Important, Influential or Innovative Recent Tarot Decks
Tarot Decks
The CBD Tarot de Marseille Deck Interview
Unfortunately, I missed my chance to pick up the self-published edition of Yoav Ben-Dov's brilliant Conver-based Tarot de Marseille while he was still alive. Fortunately, US Games has apparently acquired the license and has just released an admirable version of the CBD tarot at a reasonable price. I performed my "Personality Profile" deck interview spread … Continue reading The CBD Tarot de Marseille Deck Interview
Wish List for 2018
I've slowed down considerably in buying new tarot and oracle decks over the last couple of years. It's not that I don't lust after the latest-and-greatest releases touted by people I trust on the cartomancy forums, it's just that - short of superlative artwork or a magnificent companion book - there just isn't much to … Continue reading Wish List for 2018
The Star Tarot Deck Interview
Let's get the unpleasant stuff out of the way first. While Cathy McClelland's artwork is a wonder to behold, the manufacturing quality of the deck is rather poor. I had to order the Star Tarot from Amazon twice and both times some cards had damaged backs. Many had rolled sections or shallow nicks on the … Continue reading The Star Tarot Deck Interview
The Mystical Tarot Deck Interview
Few decks in recent memory have been the subject of such intense on-line debate. It is undeniably beautiful and also quirky, with ornate borders that some love and others loathe. It's a Sola-Busca-meets-RWS extravaganza that toes the interpretive line while also seeming simultaneously fresh and antique. I happen to like the blend, although I haven't … Continue reading The Mystical Tarot Deck Interview
The Modern Spellcaster’s Tarot Deck Interview
I bought this graphically pleasing (and almost slavishly RWS-based) deck when it first came out, but I have yet to use it in a reading. I seem to always overlook it when I gather up a few RWS-style decks to take to public reading sessions. It could be that it's in an oversized box that … Continue reading The Modern Spellcaster’s Tarot Deck Interview
The PoMo Tarot Deck Interview
If Brian Williams' Post-Modern Tarot deck from 1994 had a motto, it would be "Nobody likes a smart-ass." Williams managed to put his finger squarely on the pulse of bored, self-indulgent, late-20th-century American culture, and then tweaked its collective nose hard. I've had it since 1994 but seldom used it until recently, when I had a … Continue reading The PoMo Tarot Deck Interview
The World Spirit, Second Edition, Deck Interview
This sprawling RWS-based deck is one that I like to use for mundane (that is, non-psychological) questions. It has a rustic, earthy richness that makes it a good autumn and winter deck. I put my "Tell Me No Lies" Deck Personality Profile spread to it, hoping to learn something new about its inner nature. All … Continue reading The World Spirit, Second Edition, Deck Interview
Liber T and Navigators of the Mystic SEA: A Deck Comparison
By way of offering an example reading for my "Friend or Foe" two-deck comparison layout, I decided to run the spread on the Liber T, Tarot of Stars Eternal and Navigators of the Mystic SEA decks. I've had both decks for a while and have used them together before. Both are Thoth clones, and I … Continue reading Liber T and Navigators of the Mystic SEA: A Deck Comparison
The Rohrig Tarot Deck Interview
A few months ago I had a chance to pick up the brilliant Rohrig Tarot. (The Fool card had been haunting me for some time.) The English-language version was very pricey, but the Spanish edition wasn't so I went for it. Unfortunately I don't read Spanish, so I was a bit handicapped in using it. … Continue reading The Rohrig Tarot Deck Interview
