Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles [Paperback]

Tom Schick (Author), Schick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2007

Gain the tools you need to read Tarot cards from the moment you open the package! Rediscover the Royal Road of the Tarot of Marseilles with this twenty-first century adaptation. Breathing new life into the centuries-old Marseilles tradition, Major Tom updates the past by presenting beautiful, hand-drawn tarot cards, showing modern dress and attitude. Utilizing characters dressed in familiar everyday clothing, this Tarot deck invites you to learn about yourself and learn to help others. • Includes 78 original and colorful Tarot cards • Easy-to-read and interpret instruction book, including crisp and concise symbolism for cards, numbers, and suits; and quick, easy-to-understand layouts for successful spreads.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing (October 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764327607
• ISBN-13: 978-0764327605
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 3.2 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,020,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles, October 16, 2008

By 

D. Pelletier "Dan M. Pelletier" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles (Paperback)

There are some, who disagree with the non-anatomically perfect persons contained in this deck.

If you've ever spent time with Tarot de Marseilles Tarots, regardless of pedigree (Dodal to Marteau), none of the original TdM's have anatomically correct persons. They are all cartoony, owing their flavor from carving human figures into wood blocks. That's the history of Tarot.

This deck takes the Tarot de Marseilles out of the Sixteenth Century (thank gawd).

It has been a trend to recreate the `original' and `true' Tarot de Marseilles. These recreations or reconstructions often have `documentation' detailing the `justifications' used to create such reconstructions the `Tarot de Marseille'. Some have their colors enhanced, some have added or subtracted or rearranged minutiae.

I don't live in the mid-sixteenth or eighteenth century, and apparently neither does Major Tom Schick, creator of the Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles.

Major Tom used the historical Tarot de Marseille as a starting point, studying the historical decks, and then created a modern version. He also incorporated his extensive knowledge of modern tarot in general to incorporate into his creation.

There is a strong sense of color awareness displayed throughout. Each of the suits has its own hues, the backgrounds of the pips variegated in intensity creating brilliant eye-candy.

As a reader, I find the updating of the clothing is nothing short of brilliant. The Courts become familiar and approachable.

Major Tom has taken a bold step in his treatment of the presentation of the Majors. The Magician is brightly colored, his multi colored costume and hat, standing before his table - he could easily be a huckster at a fair or carnival, pitching his nifty wares, "It slices, it dices, isn't that amazing - but wait - that's not all..." And then Major Tom gives us The Papess; caped, in her bikini top and skirt and the ubiquitous tome on her lap... she could be a trapeze artist, a hoochie-coochie girl, a Vegas showgirl, or a priestess...ready to get up and perform. It helps create a unity yet separateness between these first two cards and the next two (or three), which I find important.

I think it's a brilliant deck - and exceptionally readable. Like I said, I don't live in the mid-eighteenth century... Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles is the Tarot de Marseilles of and for the twenty-first century.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars TdM can evolve, April 25, 2009

By 

furrytarot (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles (Paperback)

One thing I particularly like about this deck is that it is so very NOW. Many people seem to feel we must only use Marseille decks from the dark ages; this one maintains the traditions while bringing the imagery up to date. I regret a couple of cards - and I very much regret that it is not as attractive as the original (I own both) but it is well worth having - and incidentally, the BOX is excellent - useful to know if you carry your decks around a lot !

It also makes people laugh - which is a good way to get around initial fear of older tradition decks.

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Once Upon a Tarot, April 12, 2009

By 

Fulgour Prentice (Flora Township) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles (Paperback)

If you aren't worried about owning a copy of every deck ever made, you can rest easy if you save this one for your wish list. Or, after making a deck of your own, you can share it with the world too.