talkmagic.co.uk

I have looked at a number of tarot decks, some of which I absolutely hated. But others were quite nice. I looked at one deck that was two short - I didn't even bother to find out which two. In the end there was something about the Rider Waite that means I always just fall back on it. I like it. So I am not inclined to look further.

A_n_t wrote:Those of you that favour the Rider Waite, is it because of the ease it gives to the reading as many people recognise them?

No, they were the deck I used when I started to take it more seriously. I think I was about 12 when I got my first deck, a mini tarot deck followed shortly by a royal deck. So I'd been reading Tarot for a long time before I introduced it into a magic context. But the Rider Waite are the ones I feel best with. I have used cards for the opposite reason to your question. I've tried cards people wouldn't recognise so I had more freedom with interpretation, but doesn't really bother me now. I like the artwork and symbolism of the Rider Waite and the background to there creation.

I've been reading some e-books by "Merlin, Master of the Tarot" (aka Brian Howard) about doing readings purely for entertainment purposes -- that is, without regard to any serious esoteric use.

In The Secret Gypsy Guide to Cold Reading he lays out a very good system for giving readings. It's particularly aimed at people who want to be professional readers, and has lots of good tips. He concentrates on the Tarot because it's particularly suitable for beginners in the "trade", but looks more briefly at other methods such as astrology, palmistry, and crystal ball readings. Using his system, once you're happy with being able to do a reading with the Tarot, you can extend it to any other method you like.

This book briefly mentions a way of interpreting the cards by simply free-associating from the pictures. He recommends the Rider-Waite deck (or any of its variations, e.g. Morgan-Greer) because the Minor Arcana cards all have suitably evocative pictures.

The sequel, The Talking Tarot, expands on this idea by going through all the cards of the Rider-Waite deck one by one and discussing their pictures, with suggestions of how you might interpret them during a reading.

The third e-book in the series, The Working Psychic's Secret Methods, I haven't read yet but am looking forward to.

All three books are relatively short but packed with information. They really could have done with a lot of editing and proofreading, but if you can get past that, there's good stuff in there. I can recommend them.

After an attack of cups I have ordered the Universal Rider Waite as everyone seems to love it and The Dark Grimoire because the pictures are simply exquisite.

Vanderbelt showed me his Morgan Greer deck last night. Stunning. The cards feel very old and the full bleed really adds to the feel of dirty old pasteboard. The imagery is derived from Rider-Waite but in close up. Very nice indeed.

I've just ordered a deck.