Suggestions for a "Different" Pagan-themed Deck

[Barleywine]

I've been exploring druidry and other Celtic traditions, and have been looking for the "right" pagan-themed deck for some time. I have the Druidcraft and the Old Path, but the former is too big (at present) to handle easily and the court cards in the latter creep me out a little. I've looked at most of the "usual suspects," but nothing really grabs me (although I pre-ordered the Modern Spellcaster's Tarot.) The Sacred Circle looks interesting, but I'm not keen on photo-realistic "scanned" faces and figures.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a more "off-the-beaten path," less mainstream pagan tarot that is still available? The art should at least be competent and it should have a decent LWB or supporting book.

 

[Aeric]

By "less mainstream" I'm assuming you don't mean the more popular decks like Robin Wood, Green Witch, Silver Witchcraft, etc. And I assume you're not looking for a Wicca/witch-based deck, which unfortunately whittles it down highly.

Unfortunately the ones you listed are more or less the major ones that have druidry at their center. I lament with you that DruidCraft hasn't been made available in a more traditional size; I despise oversized cards. Druidry all by itself as a deck subject is much less popular than witchcraft, so it's slim pickings. There is the Lo Scarabeo Tarot of the Druids, but it's a very unusual and highly stylistic deck that I haven't known many people to enjoy. A couple of Arthurian decks contain Merlin and druids in them, like Glastonbury Tarot, but these are also small.

I would suggest you seek out decks that have a pagan "flavour" rather than a direct pagan motif, if that makes sense. Earth-centered decks that don't directly invoke paganism are far easier to find, in which case you have the Gaian, Waking the Wild Spirit, Four Elements, Nature Spirit, etc.

If you are ok with Witch decks, less popular ones like the Book of Shadows and the Lo Scarabeo Pagan Tarot are good ones, but they are about modern people practicing paganism in urban contexts.

 

[Laura Borealis]

Have you looked into I Tarocchi Celtici? (also known as Les Tarots Celtiques) Comes with a nice book too, but I think it is only in Italian or French. There has been some study group activity though, and Mi-Shell has put some work into it. It's definitely off the beaten path.

I might be willing to part with mine, but it has some issues making it less than perfect.

 

[feynrir]

I've been exploring druidry and other Celtic traditions, and have been looking for the "right" pagan-themed deck for some time. I have the Druidcraft and the Old Path, but the former is too big (at present) to handle easily and the court cards in the latter creep me out a little. I've looked at most of the "usual suspects," but nothing really grabs me (although I pre-ordered the Modern Spellcaster's Tarot.) The Sacred Circle looks interesting, but I'm not keen on photo-realistic "scanned" faces and figures.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a more "off-the-beaten path," less mainstream pagan tarot that is still available? The art should at least be competent and it should have a decent LWB or supporting book.

I know you say that you aren't keen on the photorealistism of the Sacred Circle, but I find myself drawn to it and like it very much. It may be a good option for you.

Seemingly even better, but in the same vein, is the new Pagan Ways Tarot by the same creators of the Sacred Circle. If this art style is something you're completely against though, I apologize.

(I'll try to think of some others. Many, like myself, find decks like the Bonefire and the Mary-El to have generally pagan elements in them while not being too overdone/overt. Unfortunately, that's the best I can do to try and help! Good luck!)

 

[Falcor]

I have bought the Shaman Tarot. The art is stunning, it has some deep symbolism and meanings and it feels old and pagan. I would recommend you to check it.

Also there is the Wild Unknown which has the flavor, Tarot Of The Ages, Origins Tarot...

 

[Barleywine]

Have you looked into I Tarocchi Celtici? (also known as Les Tarots Celtiques) Comes with a nice book too, but I think it is only in Italian or French. There has been some study group activity though, and Mi-Shell has put some work into it. It's definitely off the beaten path.

Interesting! I have Laura Tuan's similarly oversized Lenormand Oracle that I use as base cards for the houses in my GT spreads. I'm thinking that the Sacred Circle (also with broad borders) may be a better way to go, since the AT review for I Tarocchi Celtici said it might be more suitable for collecting than actual reading.

 

[Barleywine]

I know you say that you aren't keen on the photorealistism of the Sacred Circle, but I find myself drawn to it and like it very much. It may be a good option for you.

Seemingly even better, but in the same vein, is the new Pagan Ways Tarot by the same creators of the Sacred Circle. If this art style is something you're completely against though, I apologize.

(I'll try to think of some others. Many, like myself, find decks like the Bonefire and the Mary-El to have generally pagan elements in them while not being too overdone/overt. Unfortunately, that's the best I can do to try and help! Good luck!)

Your right, the Pagan Ways is a little too photo-realistic for my taste. But I'm seriously reconsidering the Sacred Circle. Thanks for the input.

 

[makani]

Barleywine, I don't have a suggestion for Pagan decks other than what you have. However, I love my DruidCraft, it's my go to deck, but I also had trouble with the size. So, I trimmed it to the bone. First, I trimmed it including the outer and inner borders and rounding corners, but left the titles. After a couple years, I trimmed the titles and re-rounded the corners. It is wonderful and it's now a very workable size. I have small hands and I can shuffle this deck - no problem. I followed the instructions in the Tarot Trimming thread, using a Fiskars guillotine paper cutter and a large corner rounder. It was fun and gave me time with each card.

 

[Barleywine]

By "less mainstream" I'm assuming you don't mean the more popular decks like Robin Wood, Green Witch, Silver Witchcraft, etc. And I assume you're not looking for a Wicca/witch-based deck, which unfortunately whittles it down highly.

Unfortunately the ones you listed are more or less the major ones that have druidry at their center. I lament with you that DruidCraft hasn't been made available in a more traditional size; I despise oversized cards. Druidry all by itself as a deck subject is much less popular than witchcraft, so it's slim pickings. There is the Lo Scarabeo Tarot of the Druids, but it's a very unusual and highly stylistic deck that I haven't known many people to enjoy. A couple of Arthurian decks contain Merlin and druids in them, like Glastonbury Tarot, but these are also small.

I would suggest you seek out decks that have a pagan "flavour" rather than a direct pagan motif, if that makes sense. Earth-centered decks that don't directly invoke paganism are far easier to find, in which case you have the Gaian, Waking the Wild Spirit, Four Elements, Nature Spirit, etc.

If you are ok with Witch decks, less popular ones like the Book of Shadows and the Lo Scarabeo Pagan Tarot are good ones, but they are about modern people practicing paganism in urban contexts.

A wiccan focus is fine with me, since that's another area of interest I've had over the years. And the Four Elements has been on my wishlist forever, I love the colors and art but not sure about reading with it. Not interested in modern-themed decks, which eliminates some options. The close-up faces of Waking the Wild Spirit are a riot - definitely a contender, but I'm not huge on multi-culturalism in tarot (well I do appreciate it in the Chrysalis Tarot). Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Laura Borealis]

...since the AT review for I Tarocchi Celtici said it might be more suitable for collecting than actual reading.

I'd say that's a fair assessment *nods* though I think it would be a fab study deck for Celtic lore if one wanted to put the effort into it. It has trees, ogham, the seasons and cross-quarter days, and loads of Celtic deities. I keep meaning to delve into it, then I look through it and set it back on the shelf...