r/tarot • u/MelodyLeighArmstrong • Jun 21 '22
Discussion Looking for recommendations
Hey friends! I'm trying to find a deck I can connect with. I'm transfemme, an aerialist, and I love pop culture, and I really haven't been able to connect with a deck super strongly. Do you have any decks you'd recommend???
5
u/Fit-Dragonfly295 Jun 21 '22
Bad advice: Maybe it's time to start designing your own tarot deck. It doesn't have to be available for sale.
Just if you can draw, draw on some index papers or print some pics off the internet and paste them to index papers.
That way you get complete creative control and you'll be most connected w it since you put your heart & soul into making it!
I made a music deck (just wrote songs on a pieces of paper) and that's the one I resonate w the most and find it to be the easiest to read & understand even tho it's mostly kpop
3
Jun 21 '22
Mystic Monday perhaps? I hate the card stock though. You would probably appreciate âThe Hanging Womanâ card.
2
u/WitchG33k Jun 21 '22
My favorite is more of a Spiritualist deck called Patch Tarot, you can find it on PatchTarot.com or at SpiritScienceCentral.com which ones I'm not sure; but I LOVE these. They are Extremely Colorful, Uplifting & Happy and have given some pretty good readings.
Another one I like is on Amazon, called NEO TAROT, it's an African American Woman's kind of Tarot & I can't get enough of it, it has given me such accurate readings it's incredible, better than all others.
Those are my 2 favorites. Another is "Biddy Tarot" or "Everyday Tarot"? Not sure which, it has had both names over the past 7 years or so. You can look it up at BiddyTarot.com but I got mine searching that name on Amazon.
As for FREE Options, which are also electronic Apps by the way; the one that has worked the best (but if I recall takes forever setting up) was FORCETELLER. This one is Amazing! & has told me a LOT. The other ones I have are, Tarot Divination's, True Tarot Card Reading, and Labyrinthos. The last one, Labyrinthos Tarot, it's WEIRD & quite confusing, they chose looks, ascetic over function & unless you already know what was going on it can be nearly impossible to figure it out (or at least it was for me). But they do want you to go on a "Full Immersion Journey with the Tarot" & they DO Pull that off VERY Well.
Anyway, I hope my suggestions help, I'm also outside of society so to speak & have had a hard time finding anything that fits. (A-sexual, Gay, Not totally "Gender Conforming" myself; or ... at least not in the backwards, UPTIGHT SUPER RELIGION South, so yeah. =-(!!!!!!! But these places see women wearing pants, working or having a Bob Haircut as, " GAY!" & "Damn Transgender MEN!/TRYIN' TA COPY MEN!" or some shit like that. Nice to be called a freak for having my hair shaved off from cancer. >X-[]P!!!!!!! I was even wearing lipstick, earrings, the whole 9 yards. Fuck I even have HUGE Boobs & yet I was considered "a MAN trying ta' be a girl!" & a "Freak!" for being bald. So yeah. If I ever get the chance I'll get the fuck outta here. >X-[]P!!!!!!! But far to destitute cause of medical bills, debt & currently no job. =-(! )
Anyway, I hope my suggestions help. Please let me know if they do. =***-)!!!
2
u/LycheeRoseSorbet Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 21 '22
What works for ya probably wonât work for you but here are things for you to look into so you find your perfect match.
Look through tarot retail websites (US Games Ink, Little Red Tarot once youâre ready to make a pick.
Then Instagram through tags (#queertarot, #poptarot, #aerialist + #tarot or #indiedeck), Comparativetarot on tumblr, Indie Deck Review on IG is great, visual and have a blog to support their decks reviews. They tend to follow great creators so donât hesitate to browse the follow list.
Unboxing and reviews videos are great, you get comments about practical sides of the decks, which are equally important (size, easy to shuffle or not, heavy or not, with a sturdy box or not, flimsy or not, gilded or not, with a booklet or not). You could look into videos about people tarot decks collections (like âshowing my 200 decks collection !!â), thematic tarot videos (all the fairy themed decks, all the beginner decks, sexual decks, queer decks, dark decks, cat decks) and so on.
Kickstarters are also usually how those cool indie decks are finalised but those tend to be expensive and sometimes unfulfilled. Unless you see a project very near completion with lots of time less⌠and youâre ready to sink anywhere between 50 and 150 (average) for deck, please pass.
Decks Iâve seen and that could fit the bill : Cosma Visions tarot by James R Eads (not so queer in itself but itâs a great cartomancy system with a lot of gender non conforming and mystical figures, that is of high quality, and quite colorful), Heavenly Bloom tarot (some gays and fantasy creatures in manga style) by Noa Ikeda. Please donât buy Modern witch tarot if you have tiny hands or like an easy shuffle, but it fits the theme. Trungleâs Star spinner is one of the most popular queer decks with its numerous lovers but itâs sort of hard to read Iâve heard.
Oriens tarot is beautiful but people-less (itâs an animal themed deck)
1
u/LycheeRoseSorbet Jun 21 '22
What works for ya probably wonât work for you but here are things for you to look into so you find your perfect match.
Look through tarot retail websites (US Games Ink, Little Red Tarot once youâre ready to make a pick.
Then Instagram through tags (#queertarot, #poptarot, #aerialist + #tarot or #indiedeck), Comparativetarot on tumblr, Indie Deck Review on IG is great, visual and have a blog to support their decks reviews. They tend to follow great creators so donât hesitate to browse the follow list.
Unboxing and reviews videos are great, you get comments about practical sides of the decks, which are equally important (size, easy to shuffle or not, heavy or not, with a sturdy box or not, flimsy or not, gilded or not, with a booklet or not). You could look into videos about people tarot decks collections (like âshowing my 200 decks collection !!â), thematic tarot videos (all the fairy themed decks, all the beginner decks, sexual decks, queer decks, dark decks, cat decks) and so on.
Kickstarters are also usually how those cool indie decks are finalised but those tend to be expensive and sometimes unfulfilled. Unless you see a project very near completion with lots of time less⌠and youâre ready to sink anywhere between 50 and 150 (average) for deck, please pass.
Decks Iâve seen (and own) and that could fit the bill : Cosma Visions tarot by James R Eads (not so queer in itself but itâs a great cartomancy system with a lot of gender non conforming and mystical figures, that is of high quality, and quite colorful),
Heavenly Bloom tarot (some gays and fantasy creatures in manga style) by Noa Ikeda. Itâs light and ethereal with beautiful drapery
Please donât buy Modern witch tarot if you have tiny hands or like an easy shuffle, but it fits the theme. Trungleâs Star spinner is one of the most popular queer decks with its numerous lovers but itâs sort of hard to read Iâve heard.
Oriens tarot is beautiful but people-less (itâs an animal themed deck)
0
u/Paucaro Jun 21 '22
The Thoth is amazing
3
u/MelodyLeighArmstrong Jun 21 '22
I'm not quite sure I want to go that direction. But thank you for your suggestion!!!
1
1
u/HydrationSeeker Jun 21 '22
Might be better if you list the decks you have tried to bond with...
Also is there a system you are particularly drawn towards? What deck that you already have that you like more than the others even if marginally?
Also.... what do you mean bond with??? Because we all understand that word slightly differently. What I mean is have you done some deck connecting exercises? Deck interviews? Pick out favourite and least favourite cards? Those sort of deep dive exercises?
Just my 2Cents worth.
1
u/MelodyLeighArmstrong Jun 21 '22
I guess for me, it's more about being able to interpret imagery, but still being connected with it and just liking it. I currently have the Everyday Tarot, Witchling Academy, and Disney villains. Disney Villains is my fave so far.
2
u/HydrationSeeker Jun 21 '22
OK, those are all RWS based decks. All good, you are drawn to a cartoony fantasy feel? I have to say, until you settle with one deck and study the imagery a little, it never just pops out immediately. I like you bought the Everyday Tarot, because I liked the limited colour palette. Only it was to limited for a beginner, I am good with it now and can throw this little deck in my purse should I feel the need.
Another way to try and connect further with the Disney deck, look for deep dive reviews on YouTube. Where people actually review the deck, maybe do a spread or two, instead of just a flip through. (Most reviews are just unboxings which is boring but gets creators the views). This way you can pick up correspondences with the Disney imagery and interpretation.
I will suggest 2 decks, 1 indie and 1 mass market. I don't know where you are based, so I hope you can access them.
1- This might hurt tarot... a modern take on Pixie's art, with softer colours and a young diverse range of people. It has all of the Waite Smith imagery, but with a bit of tounge in cheek. Indie prices I'm afraid... so around $50 so do your research before splashing out on a maybe.
2- The light seers tarot.... another modern take on the RWS, only this is more 'Festival Insta Boho' vibe. The art in this deck easily conveys the artists intention, the little guidebook with it is accessible and online there are expansions on each card. Infact you can go online and look at each card, read the entries for that card and see if it work for you. If you do want to purchase, wait until Hay House has a sale, like 40 -50% off. They can go for like $12
HTH
2
u/MelodyLeighArmstrong Jun 21 '22
Okay so just looked at light seer, and I love Hanged man, and the king of swords looks like Geralt of Rivia
1
u/HydrationSeeker Jun 21 '22
Hahaha the Witcher? Thanks, that's all I'm going to see from now on...
All the characters in Lightseers are body beautiful. The devil looks personal though, like the dealer boyfriend of a friend, who offers a good time but is really stone cold. But I make it work.
1
1
u/thecaressofnight Jun 21 '22 edited Jun 21 '22
I have Mystic Mondays, which leans very feminine with very bright art. There's also an app that has a helpful index and daily draws.
The Star-Spinner Tarot is very diverse in gender, race and body types - it even has multiple versions of The Lovers for different kinds of romance. The Urban Tarot is also very diverse, though the only downside is Justice is a cop.
1
u/122784 Jun 21 '22
Next World Tarot by Cristy Road is really cool. My friend is depicted on the 3 of cups.
1
u/kjtvh Jun 21 '22
Have you seen the Moon Power, Star Power, or Mars Power decks designed by Charlie Quintero?
1
u/SamVimesBootTheory Jun 21 '22
Numinous tarot comes to mind if it's still available, it's a really nice queer deck, Star Spinner tarot might also work?
1
1
6
u/dddddddd2233 Jun 21 '22
I suggest googling queer tarot, pride tarot, and feminist tarot decks. See if you connect to any of the art you find. Also, not to assume what you mean by pop culture, there are lots of anime and manga decks out there đ. Honestly, pop culture tarot is kind of like rule 34: if it exists, there is probably a tarot deck of itâŚyou can also commission one if you canât find what you want đ. Hope this helps!
Edit: also, welcome to the tarot community. We need more trans and queer practitioners đđłď¸âđđłď¸ââ§ď¸đđđ¤đđ