Congratulations TA on your first Marseilles.
I have a Conver (Lo Scarabeo) which I purchased in Borders, Carlton last year. I notice they frequently have one, and faithfully replace the deck each time it is required, so some people in Melbourne must be buying them. I notice because I go to Readings and to Borders quite a lot.
I found the Lo Scarabeo Conver difficult to get enthused about at first and there were not the beginners' groups at Aeclectic that there are now so I put it away except for the occasional look. Then discussion commenced here again and I discovered the Fournier, which I love. It's a cheerful deck and speaks a lot to me. There is something about the vibrancy that appeals. I call it my Kitchen Marseilles .
Earlier this year I purchased a Hadar which I haven't really done much with, although it is beautiful. I was interested to see Rusty Neon's comments about the Hadar being a compilation deck. Does that mean it 's almost a clone of the originals? I guess variations are par for the course i n all sorts of Tarot so that need not dampen my interest.
I intend to purchase Heron Conver in a few months because that is supposed to be a better production. I think one card was actually missing in the origiinal Lo Scarabeo deck
I am not reading with any one of the Marseilles as present, just using them for study through books like Meditations on the Tarot and others by Gad and Nichols which deal with the symbolism and other aspects. There is quite a lot on the internet as well. I'm fortunate in being able to read French fairly well and have ordered a few books from overseas. Marion recommended one, which Diana had suggested and I have found that good.
Part of the fun of this for me has been rediscovery of the French language. I loved it at school but we didn't have teachers who could speak it very well. I haven't really forgotten much and there is something exotic about learning in a different language. It is actually very stimulating because sound, understanding and visualization is entirely different.
I know eventually I will read with the Marseilles once more. Reading is the main purpose and pleasure of the Tarot for me, and I'm sure that one day I'll want to do that again. At the moment it simply feels enough to study.
Good luck with your Conver. I am sure there will be continued explosions of laughter as you discover new things and trip over hidden boundaries. I still retain a strong interest in other types of Tarot. The Ancient Egyptian is my current reading deck, although I am enjoying the Buddha Tarot which I got a few weeks ago, also from Borders. They are all quite different.
My best wishes ~
Moongold
