Customer Reviews

Tarot of the Cloisters Deck

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There is a growing movement amoung readers to not reverse cards during a reading. The theory is that any card contains the possibility of both meanings, depending on the placement in a spread, the surrounding cards and the interpretation of the reader. I use cards only upright myself with great success. Then I started reading with round decks. Suddenly, instead of uprght or reversed, there are an infinite number of degrees that can be read into any card. The energy of any card can be pushed or held back. There are other round decks, but this is the first round deck I have found that anybody can read from. I highly reccommend this deck to anyone.

The Tarot of the Cloisters is a very unique deck in that the cards are round. Illustrated to look like Tiffany stainglass with bright colorful illustrations. I immediately connected with this deck! It is also a favorite among my many clients. (I like to allow the client to choose the deck I read from...) I have given many profound readings using the Tarot of the Cloisters. Thank you Michelle Leavitt for creating such a wonderful deck!!

While the illustrations are intense and briliant, the cards themselves are very easy to read, and the intruction booklet is short and sweet. I recieved them as a gift for my 16th birthday, and I recommend them to any beginner.Their round shape makes it a little tough to shuffle, but it is easily resolved with practice. So far, the cards have been freakishly accurate since I pulled them out of the box for the first time. Appropriate for both the most inexperienced beginner and the tarot enthusiast, it is a safe purchase for anyone interested in tarot.

I have to say I resonate very well with this set of tarot, and I must have worked with 30 or more over my 15 years journey with them. I think this is going to be a set with no middle ground, its going to be loved or loathed, which makes me smile wryly as that is how the standard 'forward' or 'reversed' meanings of the rectangular cards often works.

However, surprise surprise, these cards are round. No cut and dried definition of foward or reversed, dignified or ill dignified, but rather 360' of permutations, spinning in cycles like the hours, the seasons, the planets. The reverse aspect can be soft, as in just starting or just leaving, or head on, as in smack in the middle of the crisis. Same with the forward aspect. They dance gently and sweetly around the meanings of the cards, giving unlimited variations to each and every card, each and every position, each and every meaning.

I also like the fact that although these images are very striking and unique, they are not unlike the Rider Waite pack, which in my humble opinion is the best [or a stylized version of it such as the Robin Wood or Morgan Greer] for learning 'traditional' tarot. This makes them not only easy to read, but they are an easy took with which to actually learn the tarot, for they can be used with most generic tarot handbooks.

As well as reading the cards, and interpreting the images and their arc, the effect of the stained glass lines also give interpretations. However, I'll leave that to the new owners of this beautiful pack to discover [smiles]...

I bought this deck on Amazon after reading other reviews and seeing a sample on another web site... but that didn't prepare me for the true beauty and amazing colors of this deck. The vivid colors speak as much as the beautiful stained-glass art on each card, and makes for an easy and insightful reading. I would recommend these cards to anyone looking for a deck to connect with visually as well as spiritually. This is one of my top TWO favorites (Robin Wood is the other).

I've yet to buy Tarot over the internet.............

I picked one of these decks up at [local store]. It looked OK... Then, the 3-D imagery jumped out at me... I bought a few more... Afterall, the prices had dropped ...


The imagery is absorbing. Even if you don't use tarot, the cards' 3-D artwork is worthy of attention. If you're somewhat interested in Tarot, then this is a good imagery set with which to start.

Test your eyes --- if the Ten of Cups Rainbow never jumps out at you, then this set may not be for you...

Playing cards (ie. Poker) are derived from the Minor Arcana Tarot (and the Fool = Joker). Ace=swords. Clubs = Staffs/Wands. Hearts = Cups. Diamonds = Pentacles. Jacks = Pages & Knights (combined).

Tarot doesn't need to be fancy, but the imagery really helps the apprentice to learn and the adept to teach.

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Added note: Among other positive reviews here on Amazon, I'd care to caution that some people don't care for the artwork. Most notably the faces of the characters draw occasional criticism.