Endora
Aphrattos' Tarot List
This page utilizes the Black Rose and Arial Black fonts. To view as intended these must be installed in advance.
The following cards are decks I own and my reviews of them and little bits of information as well. I'll add more as time passes as I've several more that I own and even more I want to get.
Aleister
Crowley's Thoth Tarot (AKA The Book
Of Thoth) - Though painted over five years by Lady
Frieda Harris, the
wife of a distinguished member of Parliament
(Sir Percy Harris), for
Aleister Crowley neither the artiste nor the master would survive to
see them printed. Crowley died in 1947. Mrs. Harris died in
1962 and the
cards would not be produced the first time for another seven years
after her
passing.
Conceivably this is the first modern deck, with a bit of a deco
flavoring which might be somewhat anticipated considering when they
were made, that has since inspired many to follow in it's
footsteps.
Many would with some success argue that The Book of Thoth was his
crowning
achievement. While others have disregarded the deck and consider
it his
greatest failure and a drug addict's flight through fancy. Only
the owner can decide now really. The deck
is probably
one of if not the, largest of the tarot decks available (barring
certain decks like the Rider-Waite that can be specially bought in
extra large and extra small sizes) and some
immediately deter from them for this reason alone. They are
indeed a challenge to handle but more over a dickens to learn!
Studying them
is
certainly far more complex than the studies of the Rider-Waite and
similar decks that one would refer to as being in the traditional Tarot
catagory. The intricacy and richness of Crowley's work makes
the
book and deck valuable purchases alone even if you never use the
cards for divinitory purposes. I would only recommend them for
the serious student or collector. Actual students might find a
good understanding of
the
ceremonial magick's of Crowley would not hurt them when studying this
book. And how
cool is this, you can even get a reading online with this deck at the
following URL?!http://www.fourthdimension.net/thoth/
Gothic Tarot,
The - This eerie deck by Joseph Vargo is a must have
for all vampire, gothic or left hand path enthusiasts. It is dark
and very richly illustrated. Very handsome with few exceptions
and practical for use as a tool.
Definitely a fascinating collector's item though less of a curio than
some. Amongst
my favorite decks but I don't usually use these (or Madame Endora's
Fortune Telling Cards) for anyone but myself primarily because the
imagery would be too upsetting for most querants who find enough to
fret over in the simple Rider-Waite deck. This is by
Monolith Graphics and available for $15.00 online. Monolith
Graphics has a lot to offer and both URLs are:The Gothic Tarot's page:
http://www.monolithgraphics.com/pages/tarot.html
Monolith Graphics:
http://www.monolithgraphics.com/
Madame
Endora's Fortune Telling Cards - Ok, first of all I
want to clarify I've been using my handle years before this deck
existed and I had absolutely nothing to do with their creation.
LOL This deck is by an artiste, Christine something or other of
Monolith Graphics. They are darker, less traditional but very
interesting. I like these a lot. They're only $15.00 in the
US for those interested. The URL is below.http://www.monolithgraphics.com/pages/fortune.html
Medicine Cards
- This deck,
called aeclectic tarot, is designed from animal mythos and
spirituality. Excellent guide for a self helper interested in
understanding and exploring themselves. This unique tool allows
great and varied potential in exploration and methodology. Not
for everyone but certainly not a bad addition to anyone's collection.
Mythic
Tarot, The - Hellenic
enthusiasts, such
as moi, will definitely appreciate this deck. Visually appealing
and
handsome this traditional 78 card deck comes compleat with book (not
booklet) and spread cloth (all black). A gold pentacle embosses
the
deck's cover. It is designed around the Greek myths and legends,
beginning with the birth of Zeus as the fool beginning life after
suckling Amalthea in the mountains. A workable, must have deck
for all
Hellenic fans or for all collectors. Some of the art is not as
visually grasping as I would have preferred but all are handsome,
generally speaking. They have their own website at:http://www.mythictarot.com/
Phoenix Cards, The
- Past
life regression meets the ancient oracle and this is their brain
childe. These cards are designed to guide and open your mind into
your past lives through imagery and meditation. If nothing else
an interesting curio for collectors. My experiences with them
have not been terribly exciting nor inspiring and certainly nothing I
could not have achieved without them - what little success I did have
with them. I do not recommend them for purchase beyond that of a
curio. If one has more luck with them it is just that IMO and one
should be grateful but not anticipative.
Psychic
Test Cards - These
are the one's you
see
in colleges in
every other movie about psychism. LOL
A must have
for all magickal folke wishing to improve their psychic and divinitory
abilities. They're really cheap to purchase but not always easily
found. I got mine from what use to Abyss Distribution but is now
called AzureGreen and has an online store at: http://www.azuregreen.com/
You can also take a psychic test online by going here:
http://www.mdani.demon.co.uk/para/esp1.htm
Rider-Waite
Taro Deck, The - Probably the best and most popular
beginners deck. The deck was first published in 1909 by William
Rider & Son. It was created by Golden Dawn members Dr. Arthur
Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith. It has become fashionable
of late to refer to this deck as the Rider-Waite-Smith deck since Mrs.
Smith's contributions were previously ignored (likely due to
sexism). For more information about this deck please visit
the following FAQ:http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot/faq.htm#whocreated
The deck, though
still of a solid
complexity, is likely amongst the easiest to understand. Most
people are familiar with this deck in some degree or another.
Some querants will actually expect to see a "real reader" use this
deck. The imagery is nothing spectacular compared to many modern
decks - what with all of the computer art tricks and so on - but in a
way that is what makes it an ideal primer. Because it's really
bare bones and not psychologically as complex and intricate like the
imagery and guidelines of some decks now-a-days. I definitely
recommend it as a starter but once seasoned this deck should be
respectfully set aside and something more personally inspiring selected.
Sacred
Path
Cards, The - These cards are based on Native American
traditions, the relationship of animal spirits and the natural ways of
American Indian ancestrial lifestyles on our lives. They are a
very interesting deck to say the least. I like the colouring of
the deck very much but wish some of the imagery was a bit more detailed
than it is. Yet it really isn't as necessary in this deck as it
is in others to be truthful. The deck itself is really more for
personal journeys tour guide than anything but it can be used for
proper divinations as well. A reflective, meditative and
contemplative deck. It also has book that is exceedingly valuable
for anyone using this deck as a tool but a waste for simple
collectors. If memory serves this deck is composed of twenty-two
cards. This deck will not appeal to everyone but is nice to have
for anyone who collects tarot cards.
Tarot Of Love, The
- Why DO fools fall in love? Exactly what this 23 card deck
released in 1989 is geared to help you answer. There is actually
two decks by this names, I only own one of them. It's a little
too candy coated with it's positive views which might deter some who
like their soul searching a bit more direct and a little less
Oprah. The cards are designed to help guide one to their own
solutions via self help for family, friends, lovers and partners of all
sorts. Supposedly the ultimate relationship deck. I found
it a little limp to say the least. I'm not one who likes this
tender footing about. They're a workable oracle though providing
you write your own instruction book or can stomach that sort of
pacifistic writing. If you're a collector who has to have
everything or just someone with money to burn they're a nice addition
to a collection. But if you have to invest your money wisely
looking for the best, usable buys I would not recommend this purchase.
Tarot
Of The Witches, The
- First I'd like to make it clear these were a gift and not a
purchase. LOL To say I found these a disappointment would
honestly be an understatement. The cards a poorly
illustrated. It looks like "The Simpsons Become Pagans"
episode. LOL The artist didn't even bother to design a back
for the deck opting for the plain olde cross-hatch back Rider-Waite
fans will be all too familiar with - except mine is in red instead of
bleu. Despite their imagery they are a viably usable deck.
Again, not a recommended purchase but at least not a compleat waste for
anyone who can get paste the poor imagery.
Voyager Tarot, The
- A huge
deck, like the Thoth deck or even bigger. Created in 1984 by a
Doctor of Symbolism this modern art deck is strongly multi-culturally
influenced and very unique. They are designed to take you on a
journey of self-discovery. More for self exploration rather than
divination but usable as such. Sometimes harsh and mature imagery
is in the card face. It is a traditional 78 card deck and has a
decent booklet that comes with it. A friend of mine said,
"they're very Buddhist." LOL So.....?
Witches
Tarot, The
- This deck is by Ellen
Cannon Reed and Martin Cannon. Visually stunning and excellently
written this deck is the star of the modern Tarot explosion.
Unfortunately it is too easily confused with The Tarot of The Witches
and that has seemed to cause problems. I've also had good results
with
this deck and would recommend it to both expert and intermediate
folke. The instructions are clear and precise without being
overwhelming. I would not recommend it for the beginner simply
because the
temptation to advance to them, whether ready to do so or not I believe
for most, would just be too great. LOL A very beautiful and
practical deck, rich with vivid imagery and detail. A collector's
must have but equally so for the serious student.
Zerner-Farber Tarot Deck,
The - I've really not used this deck so I cannot
really be too critical. I bought this because I had the money to
blow and they were really on sale. :-) I know the artiste
and author created The Enchanted Tarot and The Instant Tarot Reader;
it's a traditional 78 card deck and it was released in 1997.
Beyond that all I can tell you is for the most part the cards are
visually interesting and their style is indeed their own. The
imagery is composed 
of textiles,
ribbons,
fabrics, laces, trimmings, objects, et., both antique and modern.
Some of the cards are absolutely
gorgeous and have an other worldly aire about them. I've never
studied
or used them yet and their not on my immediate to do list as I just
don't click with them I suppose. But definitely glad to have them
in my collection as a collector's item simply because the artist (NEA
award-winning fine artist) is Amy
Zerner. I can only recommend it for that reason.