Experimental Tarot Deck [Cards]

Samvado Gunnar Kossatz (Creator)

Product Details

• Cards
• Publisher: U.S. Games Systems (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880791284
• ISBN-13: 978-0880791281
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,103,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the effort to find a copy, November 30, 2011

By 

shantidevi - See all my reviews

This review is from: Experimental Tarot Deck (Cards)

I recently acquired a copy of the 1996 English edition from AGMuller (isbn 3898756491). This is a simultaneously an esoteric and very down to earth tarot. The artwork draws on contemporary themes and images, which make them very accessible. For me, the most notable aspect of this tarot is the astrological significations. Rather than using traditional Golden Dawn, Thoth, or various French and 'Egyptian' systems, the author draws on The Elemental Tarot by Smith and Astrop for astrological correspondences. If you are a competent or advanced astrologer, especially one versed in planetary pairs or midpoints, you will love this deck. The elemental keywords on the minors are also very elegant. Not perfect, but very close to it.

In the companion text, the author's comments on the deck and approach to interpretation are generous and insightful. This is a thoroughly modern deck, by a person committed to a spiritual path. The substantive LWB (100pages) reflects this and is a wise guide to cultivation of the self, like most esoteric tarot. In many ways, it is more pragmatic and gentle. Hints, affirmations and suggestions are options for each card, as well as the main and astrological summary. One wouldn't expect to agree with all of them, but the author's experience and accessible writing are notable.

As this is a true tarot, it is also a good reading deck. Experienced users of RWS and related tarots will notice departures and resonances.

I was surprised to like the artwork more in person than on the computer screen. The scale of the cards and excellent production are well suited to the artist's method and aesthetics. The smaller, easy to handle size of the deck and its clarity leave me wanting a copy for home and one to carry with me.

Again, I strongly recommend this deck to modern astrologers and those wanting to develop insights into astrology through imagery. Looking through the deck, I was interested to see the cards assigned to planets I have in aspect, and found myself in agreement, as well as getting a few surprises. Setting up horoscopic spreads this way could be very fruitful for introspection, as well as forecasting.

Tarot card devotees may find the astrology confusing or difficult, but it can be ignored. The images and elements predominate. Astrologers will see much greater depth in the system than can be conveyed in a single book. This is a model that deserves to be adopted by other tarot artists who understand the great contribution astrologer John Astrop has made to cartomancy and pathworking.

Experimental Tarot makes this intelligent and sensitive choice, and in my opinion, bests the Elemental through more communicative and accessible imagery, if not artistry. By focusing on the numerological and elemental qualities of the suits, the Experimental Tarot, like the Elemental, results in a balanced, natural contemporary system. As in astrology, the combinations can be read by dignity, harmony, and with clear understanding of the best and worst expressions of any energy. Traditionally difficult planetary combinations and cards are opened to more interpretations with a departure or two (10 of Earth) while remaining true to form and accurate.

It is definitely a must for astrologers, collectors, serious students of symbolism across systems, people with flexible minds, and anyone who likes the system of the Elemental Tarot. I hope to see more tarot with this excellent elemental and astrological model.

edited 26 January 2012 to correct misspelling of author's name (Astrop)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its great - and available new from German only, July 18, 2005

By 

Gunnar Kossatz "Samvado" (Hamburg) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Experimental Tarot Deck (Cards)

While this is a great deck it is no longer available from US Games who once licensed it from the original publisher Urania (now Koenigsfurt Verlag) in Germany. The German Amazon.de still sells it new for only $7.- and the low price makes up for the additional postage you will have to pay. The accompanying booklet is in German BUT the author has an English web-site at tarot.m31.de where you can download the English text and print it. You can also download the cards if you like, but having them printed as nicely as they are is a good thing unless you like playing with glue and carton.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Deck., April 1, 2002

By 

"dylan-estes" (St Louis, Missouri USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Experimental Tarot Deck (Cards)

I must say, I love this deck. I've been interested in tarot cards for about the past three years. And during the first two years I could never, not once find a Deck I honestly liked. They were all so confusing, and different, and wonky. But then one day I stumbled upon this Deck and I've loved it ever since. I somehow made a connection with this Deck, unlike with every other I ever came into contact with. This Deck is by far the simplest I've ever used, and it's one of the most diverse Decks I've ever seen. If you're looking for a nice tarot deck, then choose this one. It's worth the money.