Customer Reviews

Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I must say this is the easiest deck to read and handle! The cards shuffle well and the backs are skillfully done. I really like the artist styling here as far as the fairy tale quality of the deck is concerned. Most other reviewers summed up my feelings. This is the only set of cards I literally wore out reading! I am now on my 2nd deck!

I purchased this deck when it was first published in the 1980s. It was truly a breath of fresh air from the heaviness of the standard Rider-Waite of the time. Many clients would only have me read for them with the Hanson-Roberts deck. It works for most people because it is so fun to look at! The 7 of cups has always been my favorite card.

If one is beginning, this is the deck I recommend the most! It is inexpensive and comes with a great reference book. I would also say get a copy of the Universal Waite to cross reference. It is beautifully colored by Mary Hanson-Roberts as well. Then after this set is mastered, the sky is the limit when it comes to advanced styles of decks!

The Hanson-Roberts Tarot deck is a lovely deck which draws on the traditional imagery of the Rider-Waite deck, yet still has its own unique look and feel. The images are done in pastels, and are drawn beautifully with attention to detail from the expressions on the faces of the people in the cards, to the small details in the backgrounds which only assist in conveying the meaning and message of each card. If you read cards in an image-based method, rather than straight from a book or memory, this is an excellent deck. The cards themselves are smaller than what you would often find in a Tarot deck, and I find the smaller size (of about the size of a playing card) to be easy to handle.

My first Tarot deck was a Hanson-Roberts more than ten years ago, and when I lost that deck after two years, I went through several different kinds, thinking I should try one of the more `unique' decks out there. However, when I obtained another Hanson-Roberts deck, I found it felt just right.

The Five of cups, for instance, conveys the sadness and loss associated in the spilling of the three cups in the forefront, yet the two remaining full cups are in a prominent place just behind the saddened figure in the card. The clear meaning of the regret of loss, and the message that there is still yet something to cherish is clear. A deeper look shows peaceful skies and a beautiful castle in the background...further evidence that the situation is not as dire as it may seem to the questioner.

The Eight of Pentacles displays a workman, an expression of satisfaction on his face as he polishes a pentacle, evidence of his labours lay on the worktable before him. His clothing is that of a middle-class person, well fitting and in good shape, evidence of his hard work bringing his prosperity.

The traditional imagery makes this an ideal deck for a beginner tarot reader, and the beautiful images and comfortable size may make this deck a favourite even after many years of experience with reading the Tarot.

(10 for artwork, 5 for originality!) This deck is stunning, fantastic, and aesthetically nearly perfect. The artwork reached right up and grabbed me by the throat. The only problem I saw with it is that it's really a general rehash of the Rider-Waite deck. If you know a younger person who is interested in the tarot, and has never read it before, by all means, send this one their way. If you've been reading the tarot for awhile, and have a R-W deck, skip it. There's enough originality in the art to make it pretty, but not enough new symbolism to make it worth your money.

I have been a student of Tarot for 20 years, with on and off degrees of absorption in it, and I have come across this deck numerous times. But each time I barely glanced at it, dismissing it as sugary and cute. That's all I heard from reviews and the like. Word of warning, decide for yourself!

Just months ago I took the plunge and bought this luminous deck. And opening it up and slowly going through the cards was such an amazing discovery. Why this deck isn't all sugar-coated and "cute". Each card is artistically redone in a passionate and evocative manner. And stays true to the meaning and RWS. This is a deck that is deceptive. It may be talked about as if it shallow and full of cherub children, which is isn't, but in reality it is a deck with a lot of power to be heard in a loud and clear voice. It reads like a dream. The pictures are incredibly intuitive. The art is breathtaking, the shading is just gorgeous. You can spend many hours looking at all the little details.

The size are just perfect as well! Nothing worse IMO that a huge bulky, hard to shuffle deck. It interferes with my ability to connect and bond with a deck. The Hanson-Roberts is just perfect. Also there is an even smaller version available (which I have).

If you're looking for a more visually stunning and intuitive Tarot deck that is completely RWS based....look no further than this faerie enchanted mystical creation, you won't be disappointed!

This is a very beautiful deck, but I would recommend it more for the younger crowd, and maybe even for children. I bought this deck, and noticed how child like and the feel of the tarot had a Fairy Tale feel to it. The deck was very beautiful, but for a 32-year-old father, it just did not feel write, so I let my pre-teen 11-year-old twin daughters look at them and see what they thought. They absolutely loved them. If you are trying to teach your child how to read the tarot, then this surely is the deck. There is no Nudity what so ever; every one is fully clothed. The only disturbing cards are nine of swords and ten of swords, which are clones of the Rider Waite. The Nine of Swords depicts a woman crying in bed, while the ten of swords shows the traditional man lying on the ground with the ten swords within his back. Besides those two cards, the rest of the cards are easy enough for children to grasp. Even the Major Arcana card number15 which is the Devil card, reminds me of one of those monsters fought on Children's cartoons like Dragon Ball Z, or Batman.

The Art is soft; the cards are small enough and comfortable for smaller hands, about the size of playing cards. Everyone in the deck, with the exception of a selected few, is very young looking. One of my 11-year-old daughters really loves this deck.
I have read various reviews on this deck, mixture between positive and negative. Though these cards are not meant for children, buy looking at its Fairy Tale feel of it, one could tell that children would be drawn to it, and it would be a good choice for parents looking for a starter deck for their children.

The Hanson-Roberts was the very first Tarot deck I ever purchased and I learned to read with it. Now after years of collecting and using dozens of different decks, the Hanson-Roberts is the one Tarot deck I keep returning to. It is also the deck I use the most for my personal readings. The artwork is friendly but deep in symbolism. The coloring is wonderfully rendered and pleasing to the eyes. The images facilitate accurate, detailed readings, inspiring intuitive flashes of insight. Even so many years after its initial publication, the Hanson-Roberts remains fresh and very appealing. This deck is excellent both for beginners and for anyone looking for a beautiful addition to their collection.

This is my deck, a great deck for artists, beginners, or anyone!
The illustrations have a positive, feminine quality, although I think the darker cards are just as striking as in the Rider Waite deck or darker decks.
This is a great deck for beginners, because it will draw positive energy to you, bring out honest emotions,and the symbols are classic, making it easy to understand & remember.