Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't be hasty in judging this deck., August 2, 2000
My friends and I jokingly dubbed the Hanson-Roberts "Happy Fun Deck". Indeed, the soft pastels and grinning cherubic faces on most cards are off-putting to folks who feel divining with tarot should be a very serious endeavour (my deck was a gift from a wonderful woman who was eager to be rid of it). I thought I would hate reading with it, but I was wrong. Instead of outgrowing it, I grew into it... and many years later, it's still my favorite by far.Don't assume that the friendly, approachable Hanson-Roberts cards are lacking in depth. Look closer. This Ten of Swords features a limp figure, facedown in a large pool of his or her own blood, with ten large swords sticking out of his or her back and dark storm clouds boiling above. It's a grim, gruesome card which doesn't merely suggest "utter ruin"... it's in your face about it. Happy Fun Utter Ruin? I don't think so. The images of the Three of Swords, Four of Pentacles, Five of Wands, Nine of Swords, Hierophant and Devil all convey the darkness and/or complexity of those cards in a way that should spark any reader's imagination and intuition. And when I turned over The Sun as a friend's "final outcome" card recently, I felt like it lit up the whole room. That's what The Sun card should do. Granted, this deck is pretty much a straight re-illustration of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck's symbolism, so if you're looking for bold originality or strict traditionalism, this might not be the deck for you. Also granted, deck selection is a terribly personal thing, and the Hanson-Roberts and Rider-Waite-Smith-based decks won't be for everyone. However, I would never have imagined that I'd love a deck like this. Be prepared to let the Hanson-Roberts surprise you, because it might.
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Favorite "Traditional" Tarot Deck, January 17, 2003
The HANSON-ROBERTS tarot deck is by far my favorite of all the traditional tarot decks, because it has a "lightness of being," fairy-like or angelic quality to it, while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the original Tarot symbols. People (especially children and psychic/sensitives) will likely find themselves instantly attracted to this deck because of the feeling of purity its illustrations are imbued with. Colorful and cartoonlike, each card's illustration still manages to convey even the most somber of moods, such as the lifeless solemnity of the knight's effigy resting atop a marble tomb on the Four of Swords. Other cards, such as Temperence and The Star shine with such radiance that one feels uplifted just to gaze upon their beauty. This is a Tarot deck to cherish forever as both a work of art and a divination tool to share with others -- especially those with sensitive natures.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovingly Rendered Ryder-Waite-Smith Symbolism in a Playing Card Sized Deck, February 7, 2006
While searching out a tarot deck that incorporated the traditional images of the Ryder-Waite-Smith themed decks, I was pleased to come across the Hansom-Roberts Tarot deck at my local store. While the actual card size---about the dimension of a normal playing card---is conducive to easy handling, what intrigued me the most about this deck was dual functionality of its depictions. At first, the illustrations may seem soft as if seen through rose-colored glasses or a diffusion lens, but upon greater scrutiny, the discerning viewer will note that each of the images draws with the strength of a magnet, enabling the reader to grasp the card's intent both alone and more importantly within the context of a spread as if it were an old friend whispering secrets.
The minor arcana color palette---rusts, reds, pinks, oranges and browns for Rods and Pentacles, grey, silver, white and blue for Swords, and yellow, gold, green and blue for Cups----again allows the reader to achieve instantaneous recognition, while the major arcana positively sings with symbolism. The Strength card represents one of my favorites---an individual who controls through caressing and compassion rather than brute force. Even the more "sinister" cards like "the Tower", the Devil, the three of Swords, and the nine of Swords convey powerful yet palpable images that aid the reader to gain multi-dimensional insight into the overall message being relayed.
If you are searching for a deck that depicts the historical Italian or Marseilles tarot - this deck will certainly not satisfy. Likewise with decks that carry a specific theme like the Goddess Tarot or Bohemian Cat Deck. However, if you, like myself like the Ryder-Waite-Smith depictions, and are interested in something with a whimsical gypsy charm, the Hanson-Roberts deck may appeal to you as much as it appeals to me. Recommended for those who like an artistically designed playing card sized deck with Ryder Waite Smith symbolism.
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