Rating: 
Summary: Unsophisticated art and execution
Review: A previous reviewer felt that some detractors of this deck are put off by its pagan perspective. I don't believe that is the case for most of us; in fact it is the watered-down quality that irritates so much. You feel that the wiccan beliefs, or the tarot, are not being portrayed with mature power and passion. The images are a cross between the Sunday comics section (Prince Valiant-type heroes and busty beauties) and a Jehovah's Witness leaflet, with joy and wholesome love glistening in every eye. The people are relentlessly white and blonde. It is a very unsophisticated palette, but apparantly it appeals to many. For me, there are vast, uncharted existential realms that are not even touched upon by these images, and I find the art shallow and annoyingly hard to take. I couldn't even handle the book that uses this deck for illustrations, even though it is supposedly a fine work on the tarot. To each his own...
Rating: 
Summary: Gorgeous
Review: Absolutely stunning deck, with beautiful images and easy to read imagery. Traditional enough for readers who have used other decks, yet original enough to really stand out. I own several decks, but this is the one I read when I really want to know.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for the Beginner...
Review: and Expert alike!! This is a great Tarot Deck. The symbolism and pictures are based on the Rider-Waite, so its easy to use with most books... but the pictures are soooo much prettier. The images on the cards depict the meaning so well, you almost don't even need a book. This was the first deck that actually spoke to me... and although I have acquired others I love, I still use this one often. Some people refer to it as a Pagan deck, but don't let that frighten you if you aren't Pagan. I find the influences to be very subtle. I'm not Pagan and use the deck without issue.
Rating:
Summary: Voice of an outsider here
Review: As I do in all my reviews of tarot products, I'd like to first assure the reader that I am not what you would call a regular practicioner of the tarot. I collect and use the cards as a hobby, to provide perspective when I am facing a difficult decision, or simply to relax. When I first got involved in the tarot, it was shortly after I had finished reading the Illuminatus! trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, and I wanted to investigate some of the things discussed therein. Since Crowley had been mentioned several times in the writing, I gravitated towards the Thoth deck, and it very nearly scared me away from the hobby entirely. While I can now appreciate some of the symbolism of the art in that deck, it's certainly a little too intimidating for the beginner to pick up and try to learn. Fortunately, I didn't give up, and the next deck that I tried was the Robin Wood. I can't say enough good things about this deck. There are two reasons why there are so many tarot decks in print--the first is that there is a group of people who collect them, and that market is apparently substantial enough to support prices. The second reason, however, is that many people have a hard time finding a deck that "speaks" to them. This deck is that one for me, and, I think, for a lot of people. The imagery in this deck is clear and the illustrations are done exquisitely. Relating to this deck shouldn't be a challenge for anybody. If even a person like me, who is so put off by the overly pagan influence in the tarot, can relate to these cards, which confess to a certain degree of pagan influence, I think just about anybody should be able to find something for themselves in this deck. This is a wonderful pack to start with, and one that has enough maturity to stay with a person for their entire life. That's not to say that there aren't a couple of problems that might come up. For one thing, if you're thinking about reading for clients, you may want to avoid this deck for those more sensitive to nudity. While all are tastefully done, there is a pretty fair amount running about in the deck. The coloring on the images also does tend to lean a little in the positive direction, but I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. There have been a couple of objections by reviewers here regarding the more positive feel of these cards, in fact, but I don't think there's any real grounding in that objection. The traditionally negative cards still hold all the negative imagery and connotations--the three of swords is basically a redrawing of the original Rider-Waite design, and the ten of swords loses none of its threat either. Overall, there's really not much of a downside to this deck, from what I can tell. I can shuffle the cards easily, and they've held up well for me, both materially and in utility. This deck, in my opinion, is a must have for any novice reader of the tarot, and a welcome addition to any more advance user's collection.
Rating:
Summary: Intuitive...not just for beginners
Review: As other reviewers have observed, the Robin Wood deck is helpful for beginning readers. Its Celtic-pagan symbolism is attractive and easy to understand with help from your favorite book(s). Each card is different from the others yet there is continuity within suits and throughout the deck. For the many readers who began with the familiar Rider-Waite deck, the Robin Wood deck provides enough echoes of Rider-Waite to enable deeper readings without learning an entirely new symbolic system. But...all of these attributes make the Robin Wood deck perfect for more advanced readers as well. Intuitive readers--those who have gone beyond a simple "this card means x" approach--might especially like this deck. If you have developed your intuitive interpretation skills by reading about the meanings of the cards, meditation, years of readings, or any combination of these, you might find this deck as exciting and valuable as I do. The choice of decks is a very personal thing, as you well know, so I can speak only for myself. I find the design of the cards to contain a "just right" amount of visual information for a rich but uncomplicated reading, enough to speak to my memories and knowledge but not so much as to distract me from my sense of the card's meaning. Sometimes I want to delve, but sometimes I only need straighforward information about influences and options. This is not my only deck, but I treasure it. Best wishes on your journey...
Rating:
Summary: For the Pagan who is tired of Rider-Waite
Review: Beautifully illustrated deck, I really like rich pagan symbolism found in the artwork. It's also similar enough to the "standard" Rider-Waite deck that most people are familiar with, so it is easy to learn if you already know Rider-Waite. If you don't read cards yet, that similarity will also be handy when ready any standard "how to" tarot book.
Rating:
Summary: The Tarot I use the most
Review: I appreciate this deck because of its Pagan symbolism. I will admit that up front. I also appreciate the artwork, which others have criticized. I find the artwork to be quite good, and more importantly, very true to the traditional symbolism of the Tarot. As a result, this deck is pleasing to my eye and to my mind, which makes readings more fruitful. I fail to understand the criticisms leveled by some that the art is not "dark" enough. Certainly the Ten of Swords still holds its power. The symbolism of The Devil, of course, has no horned boogeyman with ridiculous medieval overtones, and maybe that's what some of these people are referring to. However, the actual symbolism of the card, the idea of being in bondage to something that is negative, is still intact. Overall I find this deck eminently useful and very well done. I would recommend it highly as a first deck, or as an addition to a collection. Either way it is highly commendable.
Rating:
Summary: Best deck that I own--keeps drawing me back to it...
Review: I bought this deck when I first started out--about 7 years ago. What sold me on it to begin with was the artwork and the immagery contained on every card in the deck. Now that she has a new book out on the deck--which will be my next purchase...i fully intend to make use of this marvelous woman's talent and gifts. I also suggest her other book out "When, If, Why" to anyone interested in furthering their knowledge in pagens and what they are about. BB to all!
Rating:
Summary: LOVE this Deck
Review: I consider this deck to be, for the most part, a redrawn Rider-Waite deck. I love the colors, the art, and beauty of this deck! This is more of symbolism of art rather then symbolism through the more esoteric arts. I feel love from every card, even the ones that are not so easy to digest. This is the deck I would suggest to start with! I would suggest it to anyone that is looking for a deck to become good friends to. This is a type of friend that tells you the truth in a loving way. The design on the back allows for the deck to be read reversed. There is also a book that is written by the artist that gives you a new perspective on the details of this deck... I would suggest that also if you plan on owning this deck and using it... (if you own any books by cunningham this artist has drawings in several of his books) light,love,laughter -bookmage
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and easy to read
Review: I don't yet own this deck, it's next on my purchase list as soon as college life gives me $20 to spare. I own 3 decks, and when I looked at a friend's Wood deck I realized that it could very easily and quickly become my favorite. While similar to the common Waite deck in much of its symbolism, the effect is much deeper here... the basic meaning of each card leaps off the cardstock and straight into your conciousness, and yet if you take the time to dig (or get the companion book) you find that every minute detail has meaning, enriching the entire deck. Without even giving a reading with it, I can tell that the deck is extremely intuitive, especially if you have any prior Tarot knowledge.
|
