If you’re a tarot reader, or interested in what it’s all about, you have to have a look at Aeclectic Tarot. I had known about it but forgotten until Marcia reminded me in her Monday post. Even if you’re not a tarot reader and not particularly interested, the site has a phenomenal collection of cards and some of the artwork is magnificent.
I admit to being interested and curious. And since my arm was giving me the devil yesterday and it seemed that crafting was maybe not such a good idea, I went and explored.
My understanding of all this is very superficial, so please bear in mind that I’m not stating opinions (except maybe on artwork) so much as thinking out loud…erm…typing out loud? No, that doesn’t work either… Sharing my wonderings and musings. Yeah, I think that’s about right :)
Years ago, 5 or 6 I guess, I got curious about this so I went to Borders and bought a little, Rider-Waite deck and a big glossy book with plenty of pictures that explained things in non-threatening terms of one syllable. (Note: I never believe, when I start something, that’s I’m ever going to understand it or be able to do it or make it or whatever. Consequently, I almost always start any new area of exploration at a far lower level than I really need to. My brain knows this isn’t right, but the fear of failure doesn’t live in my brain :) And I read the book and looked through the cards and thought “Hmmm, this deserves further study”. And then I put the cards away and never thought about them again until a few days ago.
So yesterday, I went and toured Aesthetic Tarot’s collection. Goodness - there were more types of tarots than I ever imagined. Of course my imaginings were along somewhat rigid lines. I guess I had figured the rules were the rules, you know, you play the game this way and not that way, and that was that. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
Even if you aren’t into this, you’ve probably run across the Rider-Waite deck at some point, in a gift shop or a book store:
The Fool
It probably looked something like this.
In a basic, standard tarot deck, there are two parts called the major and minor arcanas. The major arcana cards all depict certain types of influences and tendencies (archetypes), represented as people and it describes a journey from youth and innocence (also ignorance) through learning and experience to age and (hopefully) fulfillment and wisdom. The minor arcana consists of four suits (like a regular deck of playing cards) which each represent a facet of human make-up, such as creativity/action, emotion/spirit, practical/material matters or intellect/reason. The individual cards in the suit serve to further refine the application.
But there are newer variations who’s creators have changed things to something they felt was more suitable to them. Death is one of the cards in the standard deck, but in some of the newer, interpretive decks, it has been changed to Transformations or Endings or done away with altogether. And there are decks specifically for certain lifestyles and/or outlooks including a Star Trek Tarot, many Native American decks, decks aimed at women’s issues and spirituality, Goth tarots, a vampire tarot, and a Sailor Tarot which uses, as its figures, characters from the anime program, Sailor Moon. There are even Christian based decks. One of the most beautiful (to my eyes, anyway) was the Osho Zen tarot which takes much of its theme and feel from eastern spirituality.
Osho Zen Tarot
I have no idea as to the what the predicting or diving abilities of these card may or may not be. However, as a tool to find out what’s going on in my own head and heart, I think they might be useful and it is that potential I’m curious about and wish to explore.
Not to mention looking at all the pretty pictures :)
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sorry to hear the arm is bothering you- doesn’t it just always happen when you have a great pile of projects on hand and even more percolating gently in mind!
http://www.learntarot.com/top.htm
an interesting site for further tarot information- there are some decks of tarot cards that are real beauties- go to the amazon site and type tarot decks or cards into their search and look at some of the ones available-
wonder if there is a card with someone hanging from a ball of yarn?
take care of yourself please and stay happy-
I (occasionally) read Toarot cards & severely dislike the Rider-Waite deck. If you’re a spiritual person who doesn’t mind the floofy and lots of naked people, check out <u>The Witches Tarot</u> by Ellen Reed. It’s the deck I use and works the best for me.
Barbara Walker’s tarot deck is pretty cool too.
I used to have the…Crowley tarot deck but ended up separating out the major arcana and the princes (or princesses—can’t remember which) and using it for solitaire. (Not my fault. I lived with a bunch of guys who’d steal my normal decks of cards for euchre and then lose various bits of ‘em. They never even thought of snagging my tarot deck, so that’s what I used.)
I like the idea of tarot, but I never got into it enough to do serious reading and research. I’m enough of a magpie, however, that I *love* looking at the different sets. They’re all so beautiful!
Barb - I will go and look at the decks; I’m interested in seeing everything available! Thanks for the learn-to site - that was going to be my next step.
No worries about the arm - this one isn’t a serious issue, just a chronic and sometimes painful one :)
Christina - I looked at that one yesterday and it certainly does have some striking images. I’m not sure yet what I’ll go for except that I feel I want to start with something “standar” and see what happens from there :)
I don’t use tarot cards, but I do use Medicine Cards which is probably a derivative of the tarot. Basically, they are animal totem cards(from Native American lore) that deal with the different strengths and weaknesses in animals and how they relate to us as well as your own sacred animal and the powers you devive from them. There are a series of different spreads and ways to interpret them. I think its fun and interesting (especially when you begin to see the signs in your everyday life.
And the pictures are pretty, too:)
~DAWN
Dawn - Funny you should mention that - the Animal Wise Tarot was one of the ones that caught my eye. It’s a beautiful deck :)
Melanie - There is some beautiful artwork on some of the cards, that’s for sure. I don’t know how into I’m going to get either, but exploring should be interesting anyway :)
There’s a knitter, who is developing a knitting tarot. She also plans to print it on a letterpress and sell the decks. Check http://www.notsoswift.com/amindandacard/ .
Hi Vaire :) It’s an interesting piece of work, isn’t it? I’ll keep my eye on her progress :)
My 2 cents: I believe that the divine is in you and the cards serve as inspiration.
I like the feel and look of the of the rider-waite’s. I guess I have a traditional soul. I also had a medicine card set which I really liked. They were in the same sogged box in the basement. They provide a different angle, more “potential” oriented and introspective.
Marcia - Yeah, I kinda feel that too; I’m trying to approach slowly and learn respectfully. I think this is going to be an interesting journey :)
Robbyn, thanks for the ideas and links. I just bought the Osho Zen set for my friend after seeing it here. It looks gorgeous and I can’t wait til it arrives. She won’t mind if it’s pre-opened, right? :)
Laura - LOL! I don’t know your friend, but if she’s a mellow type, you’re probably fine :)
