Deck Snobbery

Readers have their tastes. I really like the Deviant Moon tarot, (and it is a popular deck) but I know others who do not like it all. Doreen Virtue's Angel tarot is another deck I like, even though I have some minor issues with it. Others I know find the deck too sweet. And that's fine, of course. There are thousands of tarot and oracle decks out there, to fit all kinds of tastes and philosophies.

But then there are "tarot snobs" and I admit, I was guilty of such snobbery myself. Someone very close to me, who's also been reading cards for a good forty years and more, hates, and I mean detests, the Rider Waite Smith tarot. He's gone so far as to say he wouldn't respect any reader who uses that deck. I used to think that as well, to a point.  But funny thing about opinions; often we have them and aren't sure why, and often, they change.

I've had a mini Rider deck for years. Almost have given it away at times, but couldn't bring myself to do that. Lately I've been reading with the deck, and I had to wonder why I had negative opinions about the deck. As with many of us, when I first began to explore the tarot, the Rider deck was the one I used. It was the first tarot deck I was introduced to -- my mother had the same deck. Reading with the deck lately I had not only good readings, but good energy around using the deck, and those readings.

So I've been looking for a deck similar to the RWS deck. I wanted something very close to the "original" but, slightly different. I finally found it! The Diamond tarot. Unfortunately, it appears hard to find, and is very expensive. Amazon has the decks ranging from about $70.00 to over a $1,000.00! Good time to practice my manifesting mojo and see what comes.

The cards are very much the traditional RWS cards, but the borders add a psychedelic energy to the cards that I like. The wide and colorful borders frames the images in a new way. One of the criticisms about RWS from my friend is that the images are too "obvious" and put assumptions into the client's head. (Hmm. That happens anyway, doesn't it, and the role of the reader is to facilitate the interaction between both…) At the same time, the borders and coloring do add something fresh to the tradition, and I like the interplay between the new and classic.

Mind the Gap: Meditations on Magical Realism | EsoterX

From one of my favorite esoteric, Fortean-anomalous-mystical type minded blogs, where the writing is always excellent and the topics varied and unique, is the following on his relationship with knowing tarot -- what to do, how to do it, and much more, such as "truth"… this from ExoterX:

Mind the Gap: Meditations on Magical Realism | EsoterX: So, I put the question to him. Do tarot cards work? After all, he had dabbled in the occult, explored the world of sympathetic magic, altered his own consciousness in myriad ways, and most importantly to the question at hand, given tarot card readings professionally. After I endured a brief diatribe largely summed up by “Who cares?”, and surrounding the poverty of my genetic inheritance and the abysmal greyness of my grey matter, he became more thoughtful, and gave an answer that has long stuck with me as a remarkably sane and fruitful perspective on all things anomalous or esoteric. He said, “Tarot, or frankly any kind of oracle, doesn’t tell you anything you don’t already know”. Then he took a smoke break. (Esoterx blog)

Tarot or Oracle Deck?

Or, both?

Why choose -- it's not a contest.

Tarot card: Major Arcana, The Empress, RWS deck

Both are wonderful tools to use. Both are oracles, really. The tarot are cards, and of themselves, an oracle. Oracle cards are not always tarot cards, and don't follow any rules or form that the tarot does. But both are card decks, and both are used for similar purposes.

Tarot cards, while differing in style, artwork, and theme, follow specific rules. A tarot deck contains 78 cards. 22 of those cards are the Major Arcana cards, and the rest are the Minor Arcana cards of four suites. (56 cards.)

Tarot card, Major Arcana: The High Priestess, Doreen Virtue Angel Tarot

Within this classic structure there are differences on occasion, depending on the deck creator's inspiration. Wands may be called batons, or fire, or staffs. Coins may be called discs or pentacles or earth, spirals, etc. … sometimes the names of the Major Arcana might be changed. Doreen Virtue's Angel Tarot renamed the Death card "Rebirth." There are hundreds and hundreds of tarot decks out there, many with some changes but overall, there is a standard as to number of cards, the way they are arranged (Minor and Major Arcana, etc.) and meanings assigned.

Oracle deck: Magical Mermaids and Dolphins, Doreen Virtue

Oracle decks do not follow any traditional rules as to number of cards -- in fact, often oracle decks have fewer cards than a tarot deck. There are also hundreds of themes; angels, fairies, animals, flowers, chakras, dreams . . . 

If you're new to tarot and feel a bit intimidated or overwhelmed, try using an oracle deck. Reading with an oracle deck will help you with your confidence. Using an oracle deck will open up your perception and your intuition, allowing these to come through easily, and you'll soon find yourself feeling very comfortable doing readings. 

Oracle card: Lynx, Medicine Cards, Jamie Sams 

Find an oracle deck that you like, that speaks to you. There so many themes out there you're sure to find one that fits your personality. 

Whether using tarot or oracle cards, relax and have fun and always follow your own sense of where the reading is going. 

30 Day Picture Challenge

Well, I've already fallen behind. The second challenge from Lisa Frideborg Lloyd was to post my name in Runes, but I just didn't get around to it. (#30daydivinationpic)

The fist challenge, a tarot selfie: photo of myself with my soul card, The Star. This is from the Deviant Moon deck.

Third - today's -- a crystal ball. This is the only crystal sphere I have; they're expensive, so all I could afford at the time was this very sweet and small one, which is on my Full Moon/Super Moon altar right now:

A Journey, Not a Punishment: A Small Bit of Advice

   

     Often, people new to reading tarot become overwhelmed, confused and frustrated very quickly. There's an expectation that you should know all there is to know about the tarot as soon as possible, and you need to know this before doing readings. 
     The feelings of being overwhelmed and frustrated are heightened by the reality of the situation: you can't possibly learn all there is to know in a short period of time. And you can't become a good reader without doing readings! It seems counter intuitive -- how can you become a good reader if you're doing readings when you don't know all there is to know about the cards?
     Reading tomes on the tarot, often contradicting each other at times, soon becomes not only overwhelming, but the excitement and joy of learning about tarot is replaced by sheer frustration. You give up, put away the cards, get rid of the books, and wonder why you can't read cards.
     You can read cards. Anyone can.
     First of all, you have an affinity for the cards. They've called to you -- something about the tarot attracted you. What was it that called to you? Explore that energy. 

     Secondly, learning about the tarot is a life long process, a journey of discovery and learning, of sharing and healing. It doesn't matter if you've been reading cards for two weeks or twenty years, you are always learning, always developing your skills and insights.
     Thirdly, trust yourself, your intuition, your instincts. What deck do you feel comfortable with? What book or books, on-line resources, click with you? Use those, discard what doesn't work for you. Everyone is different. What works for one may not work for another. There is no right or wrong, it's a matter of what best fits your style.
     Remember that tarot is a journey, one that will continue for the rest of your life. Along the way there will be changes, adaptations. Your tastes in decks will change, your reading style, methods of reading and opinions, techniques…all part of that journey, that process.

     Aside from knowing that having tarot in you life is a life long journey, allow yourself to relax. Have fun. Tarot is your friend, not a somber and aloof pontificator from above delivering ponderous teachings.  
     Trust yourself, your intuition, have fun, and enjoy the journey.
     Blessed be!