Q18: Do you feel a “connection” to your cards?
Well, since I feel a quantum-level energetic connection to all matter in the universe, including the particles that make up Tarot cards, I suppose that’s literally true. Also true at the macro level of the cards being influenced by my and the querent’s psychic energies as the cards are shuffled and the question considered.
I also feel connected to the energy of the artist and writer through the colors and symbolism they have chosen, and the philosophy inherent in their take on the meanings of the cards.
This last is why different decks “speak” differently to me, and I make it my business to keep the message of the deck in mind when using the cards. The type of connection the deck creates also influences which one I choose for a given question.
For example, I find the Thoth deck to be very intellectual, but with a sense of passionate struggle over desire in it. This sensibility is reflected in the strong, yet often curved lines in much of Frieda Harris’s art work, and the deeply passionate yet also coldly intellectual approach of the deck’s creator, Aleister Crowley.
The Rider-Waite-Smith deck gives me the same feeling I had when as a child I read The Merry Adventures Robin Hood stories (published in 1883), written and illustrated by Howard Pyle. Pamela Smith’s illustrative style for this early 1900s deck takes me back to those childhood days of adventure within the pages of books. I think it’s one reason I like the deck and find it easy to read with; there’s story and character in every card and card combination.
I really do find it easy to become immersed in the artistic style of a deck, particularly the Celtic pagan ones, like Druid Craft.
For spiritual questions, though, the deck that gives me the best readings and the strongest connection to intuition is the Shadowscapes deck, by Stephanie Pui-mun Law and Barbara Moore. Something about these faery world images just seems to speak of soul work and the innermost insides of humans.
My parting question for you all, then, is, what deck(s), if any, do you most connect with and why? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. 🙂
I found the questions for this series at a Tumblr account that no longer exists. A lovely person named Rhee started the thing. These are great prompts for telling stories about one’s journey through the world of Tarot, so I’ve started the series again on a weekly basis so you all can get to know me better, and also share your own answers to the questions in comments or links to your own posts. I’d love to hear from you!
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