Doreen Virtue - positive or just too fluffy?

[Milfoil]

I can fully understand what you are saying Le Fanu and I wonder if any men find these decks attractive? They do seem aimed at women more than men.

What seems so fluffy and problematic isn't so much that there is a deck or two from Ms Virtue which is all fluffiness and light or even that several tend towards a 'feel-good' factor but that the are ALL, every last one of her products, in this same vein. That is very stilted indeed and those who love/follow her spiritual lead and see her as a mentor have no other option from her - it is so very unbalanced on the whole.

A very good friend sent me a book for Christmas and I think this quote seems appropriate:

Most recently, serious Pagan scholarship has started to become available. We need to gather for ourselves the best possible knowledge base, and that means hunting far beyond the standard "occult' or 'new age" sources.

Information of this sort can help us reflect on our primary religious experience, and such reflection is essential. Visionary experience without understanding, critical thinking and discernment puts us at risk of fanaticism and delusion. - Judy Harrow (Spiritual Mentoring - A Pagan Guide)

That about cuts it for me and I agree Le Fanu, the occult and new age sections of bookshops and specialist shops are full of such superficial offerings aimed more at (en)lightening your bank balance than your soul. What they possibly can offer is to breech the divide between Christian dogma and more esoteric thinking so perhaps initially they give some people a sanitised and safe way to dip their toes into new ways of thinking and belief.

 

[euripides]

I'm in two minds about the negative comments here. On the one hand I appreciate the balanced view, and I do see where you are coming from. On the other, I feel that used appropriately, a bit of positive thinking can be useful.

The depth and richness of Tarot is something I certainly appreciate. I'd never expect something like this to replace it and I think as greatdane suggests, for me it would be more of an affirmation than an oracle.

I'm hearin ya le Fanu about popular culture and the airy fairy nonsense that passes for spirituality. It's the same when looking for books on Buddhism - if you're lucky there'll be something by the Dali Lama (well he's famous after all) but nothing pithier - just Erkart Tolle and co.

But the Avalonian's comment about just wanting a ray of sunshine is right on. Sometimes the grind is just never-ending and you can only hang on by your fingernails for so long. I've had times when a dropped piece of toast would have me in a flood of tears because it was just the last straw. You think I want to draw the ten of swords on a day like that?

When you have to grit your teeth to get out of bed in the morning and face the day, when you avoid going to bed because it just means the next morning is going to arrive so soon, well, if a smiling unicorn helps you get through, then I think that's okay.

 

[greatdane]

Question Please

OK, so do most readers see this as an oracle deck or more as an affirmation deck? It seems part of the controversy is what kind of category DV's fall under. If they work for people, great. Whatever works is what someone should do. Just wondering how they're viewed by most.

Thanks.

GD

 

[Glitterbird]

OK, so do most readers see this as an oracle deck or more as an affirmation deck? It seems part of the controversy is what kind of category DV's fall under. If they work for people, great. Whatever works is what someone should do. Just wondering how they're viewed by most.

Thanks.

GD

I would see them as an affirmation deck. This style sets my teeth on edge. (My humble opinion, of course) But I have a friend who calls these decks her "tarot" cards. She buys a new one about every 6 months when she stops in to Barnes and Noble. (Yes... I've tried to explain the difference, to no avail)
She buys them because that's what they are selling, They are selling them because people like her buy them, and round and round the cycle goes.

She is very religious and I think this style seems SAFE to her.

 

[autumn star]

OK, so do most readers see this as an oracle deck or more as an affirmation deck? It seems part of the controversy is what kind of category DV's fall under. If they work for people, great. Whatever works is what someone should do. Just wondering how they're viewed by most.

Thanks.

GD

I only have one her decks and I use it for daily or weekly draws - mostly along the lines of "what should I be focusing on?", "what should I be paying more attention too?". Those kinds of questions. I don't use them for full on readings. I have found they work well for this kind of purpose so far

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts and I think Milfoil mentioned too - that lots of her works overlaps - she has 12 decks out now. With similar kinds of messages just different themes - mermaids, unicorns, angels, goddesses - but the messages of the cards is really the same throughout. So, yes there is a lack of variety in their content and this would be disappointing for a big fan - there is no need to buy the whole 12 decks - one or two would pretty much give you the entire range of her messages. It seems a little bit consumeristic in some ways - like she wants to sell alot of her stuff. Over here too the spiritual section in bookstores mostly stocks a large range of her decks but we get tarot decks too (just really expensive ones )

I think overall her decks serve a purpose, it comes down to personal taste whether they are right for you individually. I use her decks as daily or weekly guidance cards ... or just guidance cards on particular topics. So, I'm not sure if that is exactly using it as an oracle deck.

 

[greatdane]

thanks Glitterbird and Autumn Star!

I was just wondering how readers saw her decks and your comments were really helpful. Just like with all things, there are many different tastes and whatever works for someone, works for someone! After all, it comes down to us in the end and whatever resonates, right?

 

[Laura Borealis]

I actually feel fortunate that I live in a European city which has smaller, old-fashioned shops, a city where you can buy tarot decks in tobaccanists, pokey little bookshops and other traditional shops, and - lucky for us - DV decks haven't been translated into that language so, for the moment, I feel we are spared. The Thoths, RWS and Marseilles and other treasures can rest in peace on their shelves. The DV spiritual tsunami has not yet reached our shores.

I envy you... so so much

My city seems like a tarot wasteland. I've called the small, locally-owned bookstores and asked if they carry tarot, and I get VERY frosty answers in the negative. It's like I farted loudly in church. So far I've found two stores that sell tarot, and both are chains -- Barnes and Noble, and Books-a-Million. Barnes and Noble's in-store selection is sparse, pretty much just whatever is new and best-selling. No Thoth and certainly no Marseilles, not even a regular RWS, only the Commemorative. Lots of oracles. Books-a-Million has more decks, but they're mostly DV-types. Nothing I wanted at all. Bah.

Doreen Virtue's decks, to me, are the Thomas Kinkade of tarot. Very mass-market, banal, saccharin. They have a broad appeal -- to those without discerning taste. My opinion, but I stand by it. They're not in bad enough taste to be kitsch, which would make them kind of cool. They're just bland, and in that blandness, they're quite awful. Like Thomas Kinkade's paintings are awful.

 

[euripides]

Like Thomas Kinkade's paintings are awful.

oh dear. You've done it for me with that comment. I loathe Kinkade.

I think I'll have to find some sort of Buddhist Wisdom deck.

 

[moderndayruth]

I went to Borders in Manhattan in the autumn... the same situation Le Fanu describes...

I'm in two minds about the negative comments here. On the one hand I appreciate the balanced view, and I do see where you are coming from. On the other, I feel that used appropriately, a bit of positive thinking can be useful.

I have one of DV decks at my mothers, she likes it, she is uses it from time to time...

The problem with positivity is that to me its creepy if its not deep - light always goes hand in hand with darkness and it does take an effort to digest the darkness, find the reason and meaning in it existing and only than embrace the light... Don't know, i've never managed (as many spiritual teachers advice) not to read newspapers, not to watch the news... i'm not a news junkie, but i prefer to know what's happening in the world.
Also, one can not turn a blind eye on everything, shut down the brain and just repeat 'i am getting better and better' 24/7.
I think that if one needs a true spiritual uplift, its in the Bible (or in other holy text that resonates with you), this bumper-sticker like sugar coated messages are just a quick fix and imo don't work in a long run.
DV as an author to my taste is simply too commercial.

 

[greatdane]

So right, Moderndayruth!

I found the same thing in Borders, Barnes and Noble, just about nothing of interest in what should be a well-stocked tarot and oracle section! You would think places with that much stock would have more. I guess they figure the DV decks sell, so....why bother with much else?