Omg...you had me rolling w/ the Guardian Tarot 😂 I have always recoiled from it when I've seen it in videos...I can only imagine having them laid out on the table trying to read them. That Empress card....🤣
Regarding seed and sickle, I once saw someone who used a white fine pen to go around the edges of each card with some of the keywords. It looked really cool actually, didn’t really mess with the art and looked neat tbh. I’ve only edged mine so far, but am considering doing something like that to it. Since it’s mass market, worse case scenario I end up having to rebuy for $20 It really is so beautiful!
I agree with you about "death of the artist." I don't want horrible people to be profiting from my consumerist choices. I suspect Ms. "White" Witch must have been signalling or dogwhistling with that title. And the duck soup thing... I'm pretty shocked at how many people are completely willing to overlook his behavior. We're all learning, and when we know better we can do better.
Totally agree re: not separating art from artist. I research decks pretty well, but don't always go deep enough on the creators, so it is a good reminder.
The only one of these decks I've owned is the Spellcasters one ...and like you I hung on to it for quite a while without using it. The artwork was reasonable, but I found some of the interpretations just impossible to work with. For example, that Three of Cups with everybody leaping into the pond didn't make any sense to me at all. And that Hanged Man. The whole idea of the Hanged man is that he is upside down, getting a new perspective on things. In this one, there seems to be a sarcophagus fastened upright to the trunk of a tree. I mean ...what? I ended up giving the deck and book away in its original large box. One of the main things I adhere to, with Tarot is that I don't keep decks I don't use. I have no problem getting rid of them if they just sit there and I routinely pass them up. I'm not a deck hoarder. I have over 20 decks at the moment, but they all get used. This one just didn't.
I feel a sense of relief that I am not the only person who can't use their OAT. I thought I would love it, foxes being my thing...but to be frank, the thickness of the deck and stiffness of the cardstock makes it impossible for me to shuffle without dividing the deck into two portions...and that tells me the deck's not for me. Still love foxes though, and kept the deck. I donated my Hush and Guardian Tarots to charity, where they both quickly found new homes. Less guilt on my part now. Thanks for your bluntness.
This was fun! I moved my copy of the Spellcaster's Tarot along because I couldn't get past the suit element switch and I especially had beef with the book. Mainly because it had zero info about the artwork, which has some interesting inclusions; like The High Priestess and The Handged Man (and a really sensationalist warning about cleansing decks that I felt was fearmongering). Such a shame 'cos I love the artwork. The Guardian Tarot kind of freaks me out too (and I'm someone who usually loves creepy stuff!). Loved the point you made about it not being aware of its creepiness. That's such a shame about the OAT and SAE decks, I too find the OAT a tricky reader for me, despite adoring every card in the deck. Yikes about the White Witch Tarot creator! Thank you for bringing up the Duck Soup issue, he really handled the whole thing really badly. Myself and others received hate mail and abuse on forums/groups from his fans for calling out his awful deck, which I guess is how he's still going 'cos there are people out there who will still buy his sh*t.
The OAT... I love this deck so much but I have a hard time using it... It occur to me that, like you said, the images don't really speak to me. I am so sad about it and I always try to bring this deck back into my practice to see if it would work better but I just end up staring that the images and not "read" them. I fell like I have to go back to the original RWS description to make sense of some (many) cards. I have the mini version and I thought I had to get the bigger one so I could connect more, but I think you just explained to me why it won't work. I'm probably gonna give a try to the oracle deck that is coming. Don't know if it will stay in my collection but for now they do.
Would you write a keyword on the Seed & Sickle? I have this deck and thought about it. If I’m going to keep it I figure I’ll read the book and write my own keyword that corresponds. Love your reflections and reviews… very insightful and concise. I’m wondering if OAT and the Star Tarot have an extreme amount of detail for no intuitive reason…. The pictures aren’t conveying any particular concept or “big picture”. Great artwork but overly fussy. The pictures in OAT and the dragon one has these tiny pictures that aren’t as visually immersive.
Thank you for bringing up the lovers card in the hush tarot, it's the whole reason I don't buy the deck. While I love the imagery I find it so weirdly out of place amongst every other card.
oh my goodness I loved this, listening to you talk about the guardian tarot was brilliant! so many amazing points. sorry its taken me so long to watch I took a months break from UA-cam and so am catching up now. its such a treat so thank you ❤❤❤
The Guardian Tarot is definitely creepy but I grew up watching Aliens, a show were Aliens we're trying to be accepted and live among humans, so it's fine with me.
This is exactly what I was going to say! I group my decks by “type” on my bookshelf. The Guardian is with my healing decks, right along The Gaian and the The Gentle Tarot (the g theme is not on purpose lol)
I feel less guilty at not connecting with some decks!🤣😬 I wanted to sell some of my decks and there were two that didn't want to leave. I got beautiful cards from them when I finally got the message and rescued them. I am so glad I kept them. Thanks for the video!
The Guardian Tarot is weird as heck, but it kept stalking me, every store I went to. Like, one time it fell off a shelf at my feet without me touching the shelf. So obviously I had to get it. I don't go for it often, but I find it gives more gentle readings than the creepy cards suggest. I actually pair it with the Hush Tarot quite frequently. I guess I almost use it more as an oracle since it has a bit of it's own system.
The Modern Spellcaster Tarot, the reason why you don't use it is the reason why I didn't get the deck, the switching of the elements didn't make sense to me. The Lovers card doesn't really bothers me in the Hush Tartor, it's still one of my favorites, sad to see it didn't work for you :(
I had never seen The Guardian tarot before and I did find quite creepy... probably because I grew up in the 90s and aliens felt like a very real threat, and the creatures in the deck really look alien-like 👽😅
I've had decks that creeped me out in a bad way...they don't get to stay in the collection. If it's a good creepy, I can work with that! 💀 I think if you love the artwork (Hush, OAT & SME) dedicate some time to it and create your own connections. With Hush, for me, it's all about the birds in the deck - I did bird feeders and a whole study...but some people see fairy in that deck...I really hate disjointed artwork in a deck, hello Ostara tarot, but how many cards do you use in one reading, anyway? As far as Seed and Sickle goes, it's mass market, you know you love it...write your own keywords for the deck and on the deck - you won't be sorry. If you fuck it up, you can get another copy. Yeah, if I had that White Witch bullshit...I would so toss it in the trash. You don't owe any allegiance to the paper...dedicate something else to Nyx. Duck Soup finally did take the offensive deck off his list, but I totally see your aggravation re: no box, shitty quality. I did the same with the first edition of Arthur Rackham...and I was a little pissed. Nice to meet you, I will definitely check out more of your content. 😊
Through an academic perspective, you're 100% correct in not separating the art from the artist, in this context. Death of the Author pertains to interpretation of text and to what extent the auteur has power over that text. It's so fascinating to see consumers using it to justify financially supporting the author/artist. 😅 Also, big yikes to the Guardian Trees; I'll be seeing that in my nightmares. 🥲Thank you so much for sharing your collection and your thoughts. 🤖🖤
I’ve seen people neglect the artists’ racism in other communities too because people enjoy their works, like with H.P. Lovecraft (the author of Cthulhu) on AuthorTube or RPG communities, in fact he’s got a rather large cult following, and I have literally found it quite disturbing to be honest, it just makes me feel like those groups have the potentiality of containing larger than normal percentages of white supremists and makes me uncomfortable. Norse/Viking groups are another one, I wont even buy a Viking deck because I specifically remember one of my favorite TaroTubers literally get harassed by Norse Pagans because she wasn’t fully white and had no business doing videos on the subject and I just got a bad feeling, every time I see a Viking based deck it reminds me of her. Dr Seuss is one I just recently found out about and I was totally disappointed and disgusted with it after I found out.
23:14 maybe you could do something like make a donation in Nix honor to BLM or something in order to “cleanse” it.. idk. Maybe not it’s just a thought.
Oh please don't let the astrology hold you back from Thoth (or Thoth derivatives)...there are astrological associations w/ RWS as well but you don't have to use them. I think people take Thoth too seriously, like if you don't study it in depth, you can't use it. I say treat it like you did RWS when you starting learning tarot...you can stay surface or go as deep as you want, when you want. Keep exploring & have fun w/ it!
The tree guardians are so creepy, I gave that deck away. I sold my OAT and SAE decks. I’ve seen The Star Tarot on many channels and I’m not into it 🤷♀️
I don’t get people keeping decks they don’t use. Why?! Just get rid, it’s sitting there taking up space and you could move it in to someone who would use it.
Omg...you had me rolling w/ the Guardian Tarot 😂 I have always recoiled from it when I've seen it in videos...I can only imagine having them laid out on the table trying to read them. That Empress card....🤣
Regarding seed and sickle, I once saw someone who used a white fine pen to go around the edges of each card with some of the keywords. It looked really cool actually, didn’t really mess with the art and looked neat tbh. I’ve only edged mine so far, but am considering doing something like that to it. Since it’s mass market, worse case scenario I end up having to rebuy for $20
It really is so beautiful!
I agree with you about "death of the artist." I don't want horrible people to be profiting from my consumerist choices. I suspect Ms. "White" Witch must have been signalling or dogwhistling with that title. And the duck soup thing... I'm pretty shocked at how many people are completely willing to overlook his behavior. We're all learning, and when we know better we can do better.
Totally agree re: not separating art from artist. I research decks pretty well, but don't always go deep enough on the creators, so it is a good reminder.
The only one of these decks I've owned is the Spellcasters one ...and like you I hung on to it for quite a while without using it. The artwork was reasonable, but I found some of the interpretations just impossible to work with. For example, that Three of Cups with everybody leaping into the pond didn't make any sense to me at all. And that Hanged Man. The whole idea of the Hanged man is that he is upside down, getting a new perspective on things. In this one, there seems to be a sarcophagus fastened upright to the trunk of a tree. I mean ...what?
I ended up giving the deck and book away in its original large box.
One of the main things I adhere to, with Tarot is that I don't keep decks I don't use. I have no problem getting rid of them if they just sit there and I routinely pass them up. I'm not a deck hoarder. I have over 20 decks at the moment, but they all get used. This one just didn't.
I feel a sense of relief that I am not the only person who can't use their OAT. I thought I would love it, foxes being my thing...but to be frank, the thickness of the deck and stiffness of the cardstock makes it impossible for me to shuffle without dividing the deck into two portions...and that tells me the deck's not for me. Still love foxes though, and kept the deck. I donated my Hush and Guardian Tarots to charity, where they both quickly found new homes. Less guilt on my part now. Thanks for your bluntness.
Oh my, the guardian tarot is so interesting! Very intriguing. I am not sure I would use it but I really like it.
This was fun!
I moved my copy of the Spellcaster's Tarot along because I couldn't get past the suit element switch and I especially had beef with the book. Mainly because it had zero info about the artwork, which has some interesting inclusions; like The High Priestess and The Handged Man (and a really sensationalist warning about cleansing decks that I felt was fearmongering). Such a shame 'cos I love the artwork.
The Guardian Tarot kind of freaks me out too (and I'm someone who usually loves creepy stuff!). Loved the point you made about it not being aware of its creepiness.
That's such a shame about the OAT and SAE decks, I too find the OAT a tricky reader for me, despite adoring every card in the deck.
Yikes about the White Witch Tarot creator!
Thank you for bringing up the Duck Soup issue, he really handled the whole thing really badly. Myself and others received hate mail and abuse on forums/groups from his fans for calling out his awful deck, which I guess is how he's still going 'cos there are people out there who will still buy his sh*t.
Also can't work with a deck when I know the artist is racist and / or bigoted
I LOVE that pouch at the beginning!!! The little crystal pouch=genius!! 💕
The OAT... I love this deck so much but I have a hard time using it... It occur to me that, like you said, the images don't really speak to me. I am so sad about it and I always try to bring this deck back into my practice to see if it would work better but I just end up staring that the images and not "read" them. I fell like I have to go back to the original RWS description to make sense of some (many) cards. I have the mini version and I thought I had to get the bigger one so I could connect more, but I think you just explained to me why it won't work. I'm probably gonna give a try to the oracle deck that is coming. Don't know if it will stay in my collection but for now they do.
100% agree about the empty eye sockets!! It is so jarring and creepy.
Would you write a keyword on the Seed & Sickle? I have this deck and thought about it. If I’m going to keep it I figure I’ll read the book and write my own keyword that corresponds. Love your reflections and reviews… very insightful and concise. I’m wondering if OAT and the Star Tarot have an extreme amount of detail for no intuitive reason…. The pictures aren’t conveying any particular concept or “big picture”. Great artwork but overly fussy. The pictures in OAT and the dragon one has these tiny pictures that aren’t as visually immersive.
Thank you for bringing up the lovers card in the hush tarot, it's the whole reason I don't buy the deck. While I love the imagery I find it so weirdly out of place amongst every other card.
The Guardian Tarot interest me but then I look through the cards and I'm creeped out. It reminds me too much of this 1990 movie, The Guardian.
oh my goodness I loved this, listening to you talk about the guardian tarot was brilliant! so many amazing points. sorry its taken me so long to watch I took a months break from UA-cam and so am catching up now. its such a treat so thank you ❤❤❤
each deck had it's time and moment.
They can't be forced
The Guardian Tarot is definitely creepy but I grew up watching Aliens, a show were Aliens we're trying to be accepted and live among humans, so it's fine with me.
The Gaurdian Tarot is the most gentle loving deck I own 😂
This is exactly what I was going to say! I group my decks by “type” on my bookshelf. The Guardian is with my healing decks, right along The Gaian and the The Gentle Tarot (the g theme is not on purpose lol)
@@fourofcats5803 I'm so glad I'm not alone lol
I feel less guilty at not connecting with some decks!🤣😬 I wanted to sell some of my decks and there were two that didn't want to leave. I got beautiful cards from them when I finally got the message and rescued them. I am so glad I kept them.
Thanks for the video!
I feel the exact same way about The Star Tarot. The colors are just to much for me, i cringed when I tried to use it. 😂
I don’t think I’ve ever laugh cried in a tarot video before now 😂😭 omg the guardian tarot I’m ☠️😂
I love your take on things!
Seed and Sickle and Oak Ash. I thought I am going to love them, but I just can't connect to them.
I’ve been drawn to the oak ash thorn deck it’s so beautiful
Yeah. The pre-existing art thing just doesn’t work for me. Jasmine Beckett Griffith, I’m looking at you.
😂 Her artstyle isn't anything I want in my house, honestly
10:27 damn yes!!! I’m here for the creepy!!!!!!!
🤣😆The tree-aliens got me. lol🤣😂😁.10:06
Just found your channel 💖 will probably make this video too, but it makes me feel slightly guilty 😅
That Guardian Tarot is so weird! It gave me some giggles. Oh no, you didn’t like oak ash and thorn! I ordered a copy 🙈
I wouldn’t worry! I think most people do love that deck! I hope you let us know how it turns out
The Guardian Tarot is weird as heck, but it kept stalking me, every store I went to. Like, one time it fell off a shelf at my feet without me touching the shelf. So obviously I had to get it. I don't go for it often, but I find it gives more gentle readings than the creepy cards suggest. I actually pair it with the Hush Tarot quite frequently. I guess I almost use it more as an oracle since it has a bit of it's own system.
The Modern Spellcaster Tarot, the reason why you don't use it is the reason why I didn't get the deck, the switching of the elements didn't make sense to me. The Lovers card doesn't really bothers me in the Hush Tartor, it's still one of my favorites, sad to see it didn't work for you :(
I have the same opinion on these. I hadn't seen them before I saw your video, but we are on the same page.
I had never seen The Guardian tarot before and I did find quite creepy... probably because I grew up in the 90s and aliens felt like a very real threat, and the creatures in the deck really look alien-like 👽😅
19:32 wow
I've had decks that creeped me out in a bad way...they don't get to stay in the collection. If it's a good creepy, I can work with that! 💀 I think if you love the artwork (Hush, OAT & SME) dedicate some time to it and create your own connections. With Hush, for me, it's all about the birds in the deck - I did bird feeders and a whole study...but some people see fairy in that deck...I really hate disjointed artwork in a deck, hello Ostara tarot, but how many cards do you use in one reading, anyway? As far as Seed and Sickle goes, it's mass market, you know you love it...write your own keywords for the deck and on the deck - you won't be sorry. If you fuck it up, you can get another copy. Yeah, if I had that White Witch bullshit...I would so toss it in the trash. You don't owe any allegiance to the paper...dedicate something else to Nyx. Duck Soup finally did take the offensive deck off his list, but I totally see your aggravation re: no box, shitty quality. I did the same with the first edition of Arthur Rackham...and I was a little pissed. Nice to meet you, I will definitely check out more of your content. 😊
You can’t force a connection when it comes to tarot.
Through an academic perspective, you're 100% correct in not separating the art from the artist, in this context. Death of the Author pertains to interpretation of text and to what extent the auteur has power over that text. It's so fascinating to see consumers using it to justify financially supporting the author/artist. 😅
Also, big yikes to the Guardian Trees; I'll be seeing that in my nightmares. 🥲Thank you so much for sharing your collection and your thoughts. 🤖🖤
I’ve seen people neglect the artists’ racism in other communities too because people enjoy their works, like with H.P. Lovecraft (the author of Cthulhu) on AuthorTube or RPG communities, in fact he’s got a rather large cult following, and I have literally found it quite disturbing to be honest, it just makes me feel like those groups have the potentiality of containing larger than normal percentages of white supremists and makes me uncomfortable. Norse/Viking groups are another one, I wont even buy a Viking deck because I specifically remember one of my favorite TaroTubers literally get harassed by Norse Pagans because she wasn’t fully white and had no business doing videos on the subject and I just got a bad feeling, every time I see a Viking based deck it reminds me of her. Dr Seuss is one I just recently found out about and I was totally disappointed and disgusted with it after I found out.
23:14 maybe you could do something like make a donation in Nix honor to BLM or something in order to “cleanse” it.. idk. Maybe not it’s just a thought.
Oh please don't let the astrology hold you back from Thoth (or Thoth derivatives)...there are astrological associations w/ RWS as well but you don't have to use them. I think people take Thoth too seriously, like if you don't study it in depth, you can't use it. I say treat it like you did RWS when you starting learning tarot...you can stay surface or go as deep as you want, when you want. Keep exploring & have fun w/ it!
Interesting history some creators have😠. Thank you for sharing.
The tree guardians are so creepy, I gave that deck away. I sold my OAT and SAE decks. I’ve seen The Star Tarot on many channels and I’m not into it 🤷♀️
I don’t get people keeping decks they don’t use. Why?! Just get rid, it’s sitting there taking up space and you could move it in to someone who would use it.
I don't have the money to rebuy decks if they come up again for me later. 🤷♀️
...because it's their collection and they can do whatever they want....