22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning and evocative, December 11, 2002
This review is from: The Cosmic Tribe Tarot (Paperback)
The Cosmic Tribe Tarot breathes new life into tarot imagery. Far to many decks seem to be pale imitations of things that have come before. Some decks try to draw us into the past or mythology but most simple repeat older designs without reflecting on their meaning in our modern world. The Cosmic Tribe Tarot seeks to restore the bond between spirituality and sexuality
Initially I was struck by the beauty, the movement, the startling images of the individual cards. I enjoyed looking at them and admired the time and thought that went into their creation but I put them away thinking they were striking but most likely unreadable. I was very wrong on that point; the deck is incredibly easy to read, meaning and insight seem to flow out of the images without strain. It is now the first deck I reach for when I'm reading for myself.
Cosmic Tribe Tarot is based on designs by Alister Crowley it is a refreshing departure from the Rider Waite design that has saturated the market. The pip cards are expressed not is storyboard scenes, which limit their possible interpretations, but in abstract designs that provide feeling of the mood of the card without forcing an explanation. The Wands are rowdy and energetic; they done in are deep reds and oranges, fire and a feeling of expansion dominate. The Swords run the gambit from light to disturbingly dark, they are done in cool blues and green; the swords are all sharp and their wielders fly among the clouds. The Cups have a dream like quality are depicted in deep blues; they are fluid, magical, and merfolk abound lending a fantasy feeling. The Disks are both somber and lighthearted and decorated with flowers, trees, gemstones and even mud. The court cards all express individual and unique personalities.
The Major Arcana cards are of course magnificent. The Magician is a more playful and less serious than he is in most decks, giving this card a slightly different twist. The Hanged Man is seen from below giving the impression that he is reaching for the reader. This Hermit is one of the most evocative cards in the deck. The Hermit stands at the doorway to the underworld with Cerebus, the three headed dog at his side holding his lantern aloft, casually, but he himself is the doorway showing us that the path lies within. The Tower is a tall construct of burning televisions. Of special note is the Lovers, the deck includes three separate variations of this card, one with two men, one with two women, and one with a man and a woman. The simple acknowledgement that different people have different romantic orientations puts this deck far above any other. The reader can choose from the three versions, or use all three and assign different meanings to them.
The deck uses nudity as one of its primary elements and as a key part of its design. Nudity should not be confused with eroticism. The nudity is artistic, tasteful and within the context of the cards. All genders and body types are portrayed. The use of live models serves to make the images personal. At first glance this would seem to take away from the archetypal imagery that one expects from a good deck of cards, however in use the fact that the images are personal provides more immediate meaning. The models are of all sizes and ages and all are extraordinarily beautiful, my only complaint, and it is a small one, is the lack of racial diversity among the models.
No collection of tarot decks would be complete with out the "Cosmic Tribe Tarot."
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This has become my favorite deck., April 30, 2001
This review is from: The Cosmic Tribe Tarot (Paperback)
I enjoy collecting Tarot decks and happened on this by accident. . .I'd surfed onto a wicca web page and it was the featured deck of the week or something. I bought it with no great expectation--I just thought the "Techno Pagan" theme was different than any of the themes in my collection. My first impression of the Cosmic Tribe was that the colors are extremely vibrant and beautiful, and that the art is simply phenomenal and unique. Very psychedelic. My reaction to the nudity and the use of photographs of real people was mixed. I don't mind the nudity, but at first the use of real people as opposed to drawn or painted people sort put me off. Initially this technique seemed to make the images less archtypal and more personal. Ultimately though, it's this very personalization of the deck that lends it much of its charm and power. Postman's selection of models are so apt for each particular card that they bring to life the meaning and personality of the cards in a way I've not experienced with any other decks. I'm a typical media influenced American male with certain preconceived notions of physical beauty, but despite this, Postmans choice of setting, use of light and color and choice of models makes the whole gamut of body shapes beautiful--I don't think I've ever so appreciated the nude human form. The inclusion of three Lover's cards--gay,lesbian, and hetero is a big plus. Judging on aesthetics alone, this deck is a must have--it must be seen to be appreciated. It is so beautiful you can be lost in it for hours. Above and beyond the superficial though, this deck's symbolism is so apt, so meaningful, so instantly intuitive that it has become my favorite for actual use in readings. It is very similar to Crowley's Thoth deck, but with more relevant and modern symbolism. Postman's deck is both deep AND easy to use. My only criticism is that the accompanying book is some what of the fluffy new-age self help feel good type, as opposed to Crowley's more scholarly "Book of Thoth". However, as far as fluffy new-age tarot books go, its actually pretty good, and anyway, there is nothing wrong with the occasionally fluffy sap in one's life. In the books favor, it does offer some interesting ideas for readings and meditations. All in all, this is a must have deck.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Amazing!, December 26, 1999
This review is from: The Cosmic Tribe Tarot (Paperback)
These cards are gorgeous! I love the models that are used in the cards because they're of different shapes and appearances. This is also the first deck I own that has three different Lovers' cards, which I really appreciated (you can choose one based on your own sexual preference or use all three and attach variations of meanings to the Lovers' card). I loved the dizzying perspective of the Hanged Man; I found the Queen of the Swords to be the most beautiful card in the deck.
I found the accompanying book to be helpful, but as with most Tarot decks I own, the book eventually gets pushed away as I discover what the cards mean to **me**.
I will say this: those who are offended by full frontal nudity should probably avoid this deck. If you are doing readings for other people, you may want to keep this deck for your own personal use if you're not sure what their reaction would be (just common sense stuff). The human body is such a wonderfully artistic form, and this deck proves it.
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