The Romantic Tarot

desertrat said:

My copy is supposedly en route. I would be happy to scan some cards when I receive it. Any requests?

Click to expand...

May I? Off the top of my head - Moon, Emperor, a non-descript Minor like the three of Wands or something. And maybe a Court. But I think the best thing in situations like this is when the recipient posts two cards they love and two cards they don't like! That always tells me loads.

I would be happy to oblige. ETA is February 11th.

Somebody posted a review up on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7R85GD8piw

It isn't the best quality but the reviewer does show all of the cards. They look lovely!

Interesting. I don't think it's my kind of deck, thoughl

True to their word, USPS delivered my deck today. First impressions: surprisingly I like it much better than I thought I would. And nary a booby in sight! Overall, I am most taken with the court cards. The have a lot of personality and charm. The Majors are rather good too, but nothing earth shattering. The Minors are pretty much what one would expect from a deck named the Romantic Tarot. A little stretching of the imagination is needed to associate them with typical RWS meanings (as per LoS's usual MO). However, I feel an intuitive reader could pull oodles of messages out of these scenes.

Oddly, both the box and the cards feel slicker than I'm used to with Lo Scarabeo decks. The cards slide around a bit.

According to the LWB, Chalices are set in Venice, Pentacles in Rome, Wands in Paris, and Swords in Vienna.

Forgive me, I have to use Flickr to post the card images.

The Emperor
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61459020@N05/16316057890/

The Moon
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61459020@N05/15883364723/

2 non-descript minors - Three of Wands
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61459020@N05/16477526106/

Eight of Cups
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61459020@N05/16316073760/

A Court Card - the King of Cups
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61459020@N05/16316063170/

3 of my favorites:
The Hierophant
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61459020@N05/16317254489/

Death
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61459020@N05/16317256099/

Ace of Cups
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61459020@N05/15883376943/

2 cards that fail to please me
The Fool and The Empress
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61459020@N05/16502524472/

mmm... thank you for those. I appreciate your posting, as I'm sure others do.

It's Ok - I just think I'm not really the romantic type that's the target public for this deck. I think this may be aimed at the simpering "does he love me / will he come back" type of readers (of which there are many, so I'm sure it'll do well). I find the watercoloured hues of this type of artwork a bit pallid for my tastes, but I do think it is well executed, in true LoS style. And that's a proper Hierophant, if I may say so. Decks are moving away from that type of depiction. I rather like the brimstone and treacle from the pulpit type of Hierophant - but maybe I'm out of step with the times. Love the Death card too - regret, widowhood, loss - not really the more "on trend" Transformation.

I quite like it. If I see it for sale, I might pick it up out of curiosity. The Moon card doesn't have the madness element which I like. But then Romantic is the keyword here, so that makes sense.

Thank you for posting the additional cards. It is very pretty, but not for me. Good -- I am saving some money.

Wow Desertrat, thank you so much, because of your lovely scans, i am tempted to have this deck, it is so dreamy, i wonder if i can get this asap

Thanks Desertrat, that was very helpful to see a wide range of cards like that. As you mention, some of the cards are so charming but for me, overall it doesn't appeal.

Le Fanu said:

I quite like it. If I see it for sale, I might pick it up out of curiosity.

Click to expand...

And I did. My local shop had it in stock with a discount so I thought what the heck. First impressions; richer and more detailed than it seems on my computer screen. The edges of the card don't have any unnecessary distracting stuff. It feels like colour goes right up to the edge of the card and the little florid edging tempers the whiteness of the borders.

I think this deck would be totally, exclusively for romantic readings and would probably work very well. If someone came to me with a very romantic/ amorous question, I think this deck would work very well indeed. Of course you can read about love with a Zombie deck and read about work with an erotic deck, I suppose. but you know what I mean; this deck would work wonderfully with romance as each card has some sort of love-dynamic.

Very pleasing colour scheme and details and I love the city suits. I know I'm being very picky and wrong but its rigid heterosexuality makes me hold back from it a bit. It is entirely heterosexual (because romance is for straight people) except a rather odd Two of Wands which, as soon as I saw it felt "ooh yes, two male lovers" but I'm sure it isn't that at all and it's simply a gentleman adjusting a flower in the lapel of his friend who is going to meet a respectable lady. But it made me stop in my tracks and remember gosh yes, this deck is entirely heterosexual, but what do we have here? The LWB makes no reference to what is happening in the scene at all. But if that card is a little gay, the other 77 are most definitely not.

Forgive me, I'm sure I'm misinterpreting. But I would definitely use this deck for those "does he still love me?" readings.