It's one of my favourites too.
I think it was the third deck (the first and second being the Rider-Waite and Thoth) that I really sunk my teeth into. I bought it with the Mary Greer book, 'Tarot for Yourself' and really really enjoyed working thru' the chapters with the Sacred Rose...and since then - back in the mid-80's - it's been one of the decks dearest to my heart.
I never got the 'scary' vibe! I was a little taken aback by the suggestion that it was creepy. As for the eyes, I'm not sure I'd even noticed their being blank; I'm pretty sure that I just thought it was how the artist was interpreting supernatural beings.
The LWB is brilliantly concise, original & informative.
I love the rich colouring and decades later the condition of my deck is still pretty great. So I suppose I'd recommend getting an older one if possible.
I think I've written about this deck before, defending it and mentioned how for me its tied up with memories of trance-y, magickal -y, dance festivals and summer evenings! It's made me want to listen to Ozric Tentacles and Gong!
So yes, I love love LOVE my Sacred Rose!
edited to add my old post
"This deck has a special place in my heart & I am very biased towards it- but BACK IN THE DAiY there wasn't the amazing selection there is now & I really felt I'd discovered something special when I found the Sacred Rose.
It wasn't a Waite-Smith clone (like my elegant Aquarian) and it wasn't in-your-face Magick (like my Thoth), it wasn't subtle (like my Madonni) and it didn't have an agenda (like my Motherpeace)
I love the rich colours & 'knotty' drawings. I imagine the artists scribbling intensely, going over & over & over, in a state of trance.
The Sacred Rose corresponds for me to a time in my life where I was either pregnant, being a mother or dancing in tents & clubs or hanging around with 'alternative' types...goodness, things are alot quieter now!
Anyway, that intensity is in the Sacred Rose.
Or did I put it there by association?
I'd recommend it to anyone who read 'Psychonaut' or loves the Fields of the Nephilim track with the same title! "