Customer Reviews

The Robin Wood Tarot

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

There are people who collect Tarot decks for the artwork, and people who only buy decks to use. I tend to do both, and have a colection of over 30 decks. The Robin Wood Tarot is one of the few in my collection that is both admired for its artwork, and in regular use as a reading deck.

This deck is overtly Pagan, and will probably not suit anyone who likes Christian imagery in their deck. All of the images are close enough to the "standard" of the Rider-Waite Tarot, to be read without difficulty for anyone familiar with that deck. This deck uses swords=air, wands=fire symbology.

The best book on tarot reading in general to go with the deck is "Tarot, Plain and Simple", which uses illustrations from this deck. Robin Wood's own book, "The Robin Wood Tarot, The Book" is a better choice for finding out the details behind why certain cards are depicted the way they are, and is very interesting reading in its own right, but is not as clear on basic divinatory meanings, or basic Tarot reading.

Some of the notable card imagery in this deck:

The Magician: The Magician is depicted as a Wiccan High Priest, wearing a crown of antlers, but still wearing the traditional red and white and with all the familiar symbology.

The High Priestess: Unquestionably a Wiccan priestess, with her Dianic crown and pentacle necklace, she is depicted in a familiar way, with much the same symbols as would be expected, but outdoors.

The Heirophant: Robin Wood's disatisfaction with organized religion shows clearly in this card (for more details, please read her book) and is unusually negatively aspected.

All of the minor arcana are fully illustrated, and very clear. Note to the modest, there is some realistically depicted nudity in this deck, although very tasteful.

No one deck will ever suit all people. The deck that speaks to you, may not speak to me and vice versa. I can only say that I have found it of use *to ME* as a good deck to read from, and hope you find it likewise.

If you like Robin Woods artwork, then this deck is worth collecting for the art alone, and I can also highly recomend going to her website, to see and buy more of her prints. She now offers machine embroidery patterns, as well as doing a great deal of work on computer graphics, and fonts, and sells disks of these ready to use.

Blessings and Peace

As I do in all my reviews of tarot products, I'd like to first assure the reader that I am not what you would call a regular practicioner of the tarot. I collect and use the cards as a hobby, to provide perspective when I am facing a difficult decision, or simply to relax. When I first got involved in the tarot, it was shortly after I had finished reading the Illuminatus! trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, and I wanted to investigate some of the things discussed therein. Since Crowley had been mentioned several times in the writing, I gravitated towards the Thoth deck, and it very nearly scared me away from the hobby entirely. While I can now appreciate some of the symbolism of the art in that deck, it's certainly a little too intimidating for the beginner to pick up and try to learn. Fortunately, I didn't give up, and the next deck that I tried was the Robin Wood. I can't say enough good things about this deck. There are two reasons why there are so many tarot decks in print--the first is that there is a group of people who collect them, and that market is apparently substantial enough to support prices. The second reason, however, is that many people have a hard time finding a deck that "speaks" to them. This deck is that one for me, and, I think, for a lot of people. The imagery in this deck is clear and the illustrations are done exquisitely. Relating to this deck shouldn't be a challenge for anybody. If even a person like me, who is so put off by the overly pagan influence in the tarot, can relate to these cards, which confess to a certain degree of pagan influence, I think just about anybody should be able to find something for themselves in this deck. This is a wonderful pack to start with, and one that has enough maturity to stay with a person for their entire life. That's not to say that there aren't a couple of problems that might come up. For one thing, if you're thinking about reading for clients, you may want to avoid this deck for those more sensitive to nudity. While all are tastefully done, there is a pretty fair amount running about in the deck. The coloring on the images also does tend to lean a little in the positive direction, but I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. There have been a couple of objections by reviewers here regarding the more positive feel of these cards, in fact, but I don't think there's any real grounding in that objection. The traditionally negative cards still hold all the negative imagery and connotations--the three of swords is basically a redrawing of the original Rider-Waite design, and the ten of swords loses none of its threat either. Overall, there's really not much of a downside to this deck, from what I can tell. I can shuffle the cards easily, and they've held up well for me, both materially and in utility. This deck, in my opinion, is a must have for any novice reader of the tarot, and a welcome addition to any more advance user's collection.

While I personally love the Robin Wood Tarot Deck and use it for my most personal and intimate readings, I can understand how some people don't like it. It is a very Pagan deck, containing ancient Pagan and Wiccan associations. It has no Egyptian or Christian or Medieval symbolism. Here is a short list of alternate Tarot decks that contain specific symbolism:

Medieval:Tarot de Marseilles

Christian:Rider-Waite or Universal Waite

Egyptian:Alestair Croweley Thoth Tarot Deck

Native American: Santa Fe Tarot

Blessed Be!

There is a lot to like about this deck. The illustrations are colorful and clear, and Robin Wood has kept the symbolism of traditional Tarot decks while still managing to make her deck unique. I particularly appreciate her interpretation of the Death card, which I feel more strongly represents the true meaning of the card as one of change and renewal while still reminding the reader that there can be no rebirth without death.

This is a deck that speaks pretty well to me; however, I have noticed that after time, my connection to these cards isn't as strong as it used to be. For some time, I haven't been able to put my finger on the reason, but after reading the reviews on the deck, I think it has to do with the main negative that I've noticed: the faces in the deck, despite its pagan leanings, do look overwhelmingly WASP-y. And, as one reviewer put it, the deck has a distinctive "shiny, happy people" look. To me, it's a mistake to play up only the positive aspects of paganism/Wicca, as these cards do. To do so ignores an important fact: Nature does indeed nurture, but she also destroys. For that reason, more mature readers and collectors may find this deck rather weak, as I have discovered I do. Not to say that it still doesn't speak to me; it just doesn't do so with the power of other decks.

My first tarot deck, and boy am I impressed! I first saw Robin's illustrations in Cunningham's Earth Power and Earth, Air, Fire & Water and loved her work. I saw the tarot deck and crossed my toes, hoping all the cards would be just as good as the one on the box (it was sealed). They are so awesome, you have no idea. Somebody else's review said that the Ryder-Waite left them feeling cold. Me too. That one just didn't speak to me, and I feel that Robin's art does. I heard that the book you can buy for it, by Robin, is very helpful, that she explains why she used this color on that card or put that item in this corner of that card, etc, helping you to identify each card with its meaning. That was what kept me away from tarot for so long, that I just wasn't getting a meaning, a feeling, from the other decks I had seen. This one promises to be much more to me. I am so impressed! :}

I appreciate this deck because of its Pagan symbolism. I will admit that up front. I also appreciate the artwork, which others have criticized. I find the artwork to be quite good, and more importantly, very true to the traditional symbolism of the Tarot. As a result, this deck is pleasing to my eye and to my mind, which makes readings more fruitful.

I fail to understand the criticisms leveled by some that the art is not "dark" enough. Certainly the Ten of Swords still holds its power. The symbolism of The Devil, of course, has no horned boogeyman with ridiculous medieval overtones, and maybe that's what some of these people are referring to. However, the actual symbolism of the card, the idea of being in bondage to something that is negative, is still intact.

Overall I find this deck eminently useful and very well done. I would recommend it highly as a first deck, or as an addition to a collection. Either way it is highly commendable.

Stunning achievements deserve the recognition and popularity that "The Robin Wood Tarot" has acheived in the highly competitive Tarot Market. The illustrations, symbols, colors, and the simple feel of these cards is sure to please novice and advanced divinator alike! Ms. Wood is able to retain the traditional images (for the most part) and infuse them with her own ideas and prinicples, creating a new mileu of divination, contemplation, meditation, and interpretation. Any good reference book on Tarot meanings can be applied to Ms. Wood's cards with very little deviation (although I would recommend Louis's "TAROT Plain and Simple," available from amazon.com, for a beginner). Yet the cards are so vibrant, so alive, that anyone can use them at once, and with success. For divination, medition, spell or ritual work, The Robin Wood Tarot is "The" deck for all levels of experience or practice.

There are good sides and downsides to this deck. Let's start with the positive first.

- Based on Rider-Waite imagery, which is what most books explaining tarot are based on. The basic format is the same, but the artist put her own version and twist on it. This makes this deck very beginner friendly.

- Tastefully conceived. There is nudity, but tasteful.

- More 'artistic' than Rider-Waite decks, in my opinion, because you see more emotion on the figures' faces. Sometimes the Rider-Waite deck comes across as pictures of stick people, and at times, like rough sketches. The Robin Wood deck is more emotive, colorful, and clean. It seems more professional and 3-D.

Now, onto the downsides.

- Almost every person depicted is blonde. Not to say I have anything against blondes, but it gets redundant.

- There's a "Ken-and-Barbie" feel to it. Sometimes, it just seems 'cartoony.' Like other reviewers have cited, it's very happy-happy.

- The imagery is very defined, so those seeking more abstract imagery would do well to pass this deck up.

I would suggest this deck to those who are beginners at tarot because this is a very friendly, Rider-Waite based deck. I used this deck along with the Goddess Tarot deck when I first started out and it was very helpful. I needed the imagery to be approachable and friendly enough to sort of 'hold my hand' as I learned the tarot.

I would not, however, suggest this deck to those seeking more abstract or "impressionist" images. For those looking for something different, this is just a cleaned up, more vibrant version of Rider-Waite. As of now, I am using the Margarete Peterson deck, but my Robin Wood deck still sits fondly on the shelf, and I do go back to it from time to time, because the images are very clear in their intent and depiction.

The Robin Wood deck is my first and so far only set of Tarot cards (these things are expensive!). Although I have outpaced its illustrations, I can still recommend it. In particular, I like the black and white candles behind the Magician, and the non-traditional presentation of the Devil and Judgement cards. This set is also far more detailed than the Rider-Waite deck, which I have seen in books and which left me rather cold. On the flip side, the Hierophant is portrayed as an archbishop or pope -- blatantly Christian in an otherwise Pagan deck. I also found the accompanying booklet unhelpful to a beginner. However, the Robin Wood deck, when properly paired with an explanitory book of your choosing, is an excellent introduction to the Tarot.

I'm a relative rookie to the world of tarot; the Robin Wood deck is my second deck. The first was a gift, a deck along with an introductory book, enough to teach me about this quite interesting world of what some view as a tool for prophecy, others simply as a delving deeper into one's own psyche. I probably fall into the latter group, based on my personal belief in our inner wisdom, and tarot as one way of tapping into a keener sense of what that voice of inner wisdom is telling us. If nothing else, it fascinates and tickles the imagination.

As the first deck I received was a gift, I had no choice in the design. It was a deck incorporating "discs" instead of "pentacles" (as this one does), its design much less artistic than this one, also one using various religious as well as astrological symbols, pretty much covering all bases. The Robin Wood deck seems much less based on religious symbols, more, perhaps, on paganism, or even a kind of nature worship. I do think, however, that one gets from tarot what one brings to it, eye of the beholder, so to speak, and so if the reader comes to the cards with a faith of any sort, so be it. That is what appeals to me about tarot... it speaks in my own voice. The clean lines and clear, bright images of this deck appeal to me. Although some portray darker and more shadowy images, as life does, none appear entirely bleak. It is something of an optimist's deck, I suppose, but that is also a positive for me, where it might not be for someone else. Life is how we see it, the perspective and attitudes we bring to it, open to our own interpretation. We may well be given a dark and painful set of circumstances to deal with... but we can either allow ourselves to be beaten by them, or rise to the challenge.

As a necessary accompaniment to this deck, I purchased "Tarot, Plain and Simple". It is what the title implies. I recommend purchasing both together.

For me (and I can't stress how much of a personal choice this is), this was a good deck to choose, as it "spoke" to me in its uncomplicated but pleasing to the eye images where others do not. I highly recommend handling a deck first, looking through it card by card, prior to purchase. I expect, if this continues to interest me, I will eventually move on to more complex imagery, but for now, I found the Robin Wood deck good for my expanding but still novice understanding of tarot.