Decks That Surprised Me 

"The two times I can't shuffle: when there's a tripod in front of me and when someone is watching." Ain't that the truth! Don't ever stop talking about the importance of diversity! I just got the Pagan Otherworlds because I love the look of the minors, but I remembered you talking about it while I was looking through it. All I could think was: 'you can put Christian shit in a Pagan deck, but you can't represent any diversity?!' 🤦‍♀️ Haha I loved this video!

I had to really, really beat up my fountain tarot (I even trimmed the sides) and now it get used a lot. Before I beat it up it was so pristine that it felt icy... now it finally sings and clients love it. :-)

Would love to see an updated version of this ! 😊 Your videos always have such great topics!

What is more satisfying than listening to an expressive tarot enthusiast gush over gorgeous decks? So much fun watching, this video is like a classic. Thanks very much.

A recent deck that surprised me is the Vice Versa Tarot. I thought at first it might be too gimicky, but I actually found it to be surprisingly thought provoking. It uses symbols and archetypes from one card and combines them with another, such as when the dogs from The Moon card show up on the flip side of The Hermit, or when the two acolytes from The Hierophant show up on the flip side of The Hanged Man as they begin to question religious dogma. I also love the 6 of wands, where on one side you see the typical guy on the horse being cheered for and celebrated, but on the flip side you can clearly see how battered and bloody the people in the crowd are, and it is obvious that the guy who's victory is being celebrated certainly didn't achieve that victory on his own.

Love love love this! Review and walkthrough videos are great, but it's even better when someone later on returns to a deck and says, well actually, I had high hopes but we just did not get on as I thought we would. Or, this deck I got just because and it blew me away. Love that! Thank you so much for doing this video. I'm going to go through my decks now. ;)

Fascinating stuff thank you. As ever, delivered in your warm and engaging way! Certainly lots to think about in the quest for new decks. :) Blessings :)

Great video! You always come up with really original ideas. This should be a VR tag, it's making me want to make a video too on this... when I see a video that makes me jump up and grab a deck I haven't touched for months, that's good stuff ! ;)

Loved the video and idea behind going through these decks and your experiences with them. I'm not sure I have any other than my RWS that I don't really use but will think on it. It's interesting how different everyone's experiences are to each deck - looking forward VR responses to this too. Considering the wildwood myself too - it's really pull my interest. I love the artwork especially and have several non traditional decks so thinking I may be able to go along for the ride too. Nice hearing someone speak about this that wasn't just auto in love. Helped me consider all points.

Grreat! Thanks for sharing your 'surprisers'. The Golden tarot (Visconti) flew my socks off when I opened the box- got it for the same reason as you, but omgosh I'm so loving it... And the Wildwood: so totally knew when got it but still it keeps surprising me to this day. I'm recovering from this nasty cough and I really want to make a response to one of your earlier vids too: the nature decks :) ....soon.... :D

i'm always surprised when people don't resonate with the judgment card in the animal totem tarot : come december 25th, whether you've been a good boy/girl suddenly becomes critically important ! 😂 i know she's got a different explanation in her book, but mine is better !! 🤣 for once a judgment card that i can relate to ! 😁

The Fountain Tarot sat in my collection for almost two years before I felt moved to pick it up. I couldn't find my way past its austerity and remove. But sometime in the last six months it called to me and oddly I"m loving it now. So all this to say, sometimes it takes two years for a deck to 'take' lol. Great video. It's got me thinking about my own 'surprises'.

One man's "diversity" s another man's "irrelevance". LOL one reason why I love nature-based decks,

Such a great video Tom O0o0o I loved what you said about oracles..using oracle to pick a theme for a tarot reading..love that

I really enjoyed this! Thank you so much. I think its super interesting hearing how people's relationship to a deck changes over time and also how decks surprise you. I too was surprised by the Golden tarot sforza deck. There is something magical about it even though its large and the people all kind of look like Swedish dolls. :) I am venturing farther and farther into the world of pip decks and actually the Four Elements tarot started me down that path. I love that deck, so nurturing and helpful when you are feeling really confused or sad. Oh one more thing. What you are speaking about regarding something being so beautiful like the Fountain (which I love) but then not being used, this is what I think would happen for me with the Pagan Otherworlds and the Starchild. I keep looking at these decks due to the art and beauty but I don't think they would read well for me. And the overt Christian symbols in the exquisite Pagan Otherworlds bugs me.... but its done so well!!!! Thanks again.

This is such an interesting concept. Thanks so much - I really enjoyed it! 😘

Hi thanks was really good to see other decks. ✌

Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed watching it. I love most of the decks you mentioned. I think the deck that most surprised me in the Fountain Tarot. I bought it even if I wasn't interested in the artwork. Too modern. But I am really enjoing to work with it. It reads like a dream. The Raven Prophecy and the Wildwood are two of my absolute favourites.

Wow, I really love this 'tag' and I'm glad some other people have made VRs! One of the decks that surprised me was the Shadowscapes Tarot. I bought it because of the gorgeous art, but I didn't expect much from it because I'm usually into earthy decks instead of airy pastels. Well, it's stuck to me like glue now. I still can't articulate why I like the deck so much, but I know that it feels comfortable and well-rounded. The Wild Unknown was also surprising, in both good and bad ways. It wasn't as powerful in readings as I thought it would be, but it turned out to be a GREAT tarot-map tool (where you spread out cards purposely to illustrate what you feel about a specific topic). It's now my go-to for exploring difficult familial relationships and doing shadow work. But ultimately I feel like the Wild Unknown lacks depth and atmosphere.

I enjoyed your video. I love the way you modified The Raven's Prophecy Tarot. Even the backs look cool the way the dark black around the edges fades into a lighter black.

I loved I "want to make out with this weather"....no other words will replace how one feels....weathermen must starting using during their broadcasts ASAP!

Thanks some interesting cards - (personally I loved the Animal Totem & The Wild Wood Tarot from the get go when I got them, and started to realise that with my collection I am drawn to animal type decks a lot)

Hi Ben! Great video! So agree with you about the Fountain I backed it because I was so excited about a contemporary deck, but I just don’t use it..... love love love love love L’Oracle des Reflets . It is gorgeous!!! And French!!!!! What could be better than that!!!!! Love the Wildwood there’s just something about it.... I find an ease in reading it yet it’s also deep. I don’t see why you can’t use the Wildwood even though your background isn’t Celtic .. does that mean I can’t use the Vision Quest because I’m not Native American? And what about the Italian decks ??? I’m not Italian..... you get what I mean I hope. Please keep speaking out about more diversity in decks ..... I like how you phrased that.... we can’t change the older decks but moving forward let’s be more reflective of the wonder of diversity of ethnicities, races, ages, shapes and sizes, sexual orientation and so on..... beautiful day on Cape Cod, too!!!!!

Excellent video. Thank you for this. 😃

i adore the ravens prophecy. its my go to deck for most of my personal family readings

Really great video :) I must say you showed three of my favourite decks - Fountain, Ravens Prophesy and the Tarot of the for Elements. Now Ravens Prophesy was for me more than just a surpeise - it felt more like a ''front collision'' at high speed LOL As to the Tof4E I love it, turned out to be as gorgeous as I hoped but I'm not a big fan of the book I must admit. It felt kind of forced, but I noticed that when I read it from cover to cover. I might join in and do a video too ;)

I feel the same about the Wild Wood tarot. It’s always fascinated me, but I’ve felt uncomfortable getting it, for the same reason you shared. Thought it was just me. 😅 Beautiful artwork for sure.

Hello, Tom. New subscriber (Kelly Bear mentioned you in a chat). Really appreciate this video. The L'oracle des Reflets...... stunning. And of course sold out lol. I had the Animal Totem but found it too flimsy (I had the old useless paper box) and I just couldn't bond with it, so I traded it. Thank you so much again, and I look forward to watching more of your videos.

I love Will Worthington's artwork. Very earthy and the animals are so beautifully done. I have the Druid CraftTarot which is one of my favorites but I don't have the Wildwood yet. Thanks for these tarot reviews.

I've been so busy with work these days that I havent been able to pay much attention to tarot. I'm looking at the Fountain Tarot deck and I'm reminded on how I love the images on this deck ...it is soo beautiful when you look at it on camera but when you hold it in you hand its goes blank... Maybe ill use this next month ;hopefully ill have some luck with it this time around.

I know exactly what you mean about the Fountain Tarot. I love the artwork and what the creators did with that deck, and I will sit and meditate with it, but I never seem to use it for readings. In some ways I feel like the artwork can be a bit too direct, too intimidating in that it's so powerful in imagery, it's overwhelming for me to use to read with.

My friend trimmed her Tarot of the Four Elements 1/4 inch in on each side. It looks awesome.

Thanks for your review Tom. I just received the Fountain Tarot 3 days ago, and although I'm a newbie at all of this, I "interviewed" my deck with about 7 questions and got some lovely responses in return. It's going to be my "hold no punches" deck, so when I feel I need a good talking to, I'll reach for that one. I love everything about it - like you said it's just a lovely, lovely presentation overall. OH that L'Orace des Reflets has been on my list for a long while, and I don't know why I haven't pulled the trigger! Just curious what prompted you to purchase it if you're not an Oracle kind of guy? You might have said, and if I missed it, I'm sorry. I also just got The Wildwood (yes, thanks to Kelly and the coming November lol). I've loved, loved, loved it for a long time visually, and finally jumped in because it was so cheap, but also because it's so beautiful. I also interviewed it when I got it as well, and got some lovely responses. :-) I wish there were a bigger Wheel of The Year in the book that I could pull out and see better though.(yes...I could google for one, but I want *this* one! LOL) The Wild Magic book I'm waiting on ordering as on the FB page for The Wildwood, people said the type is really really small, and it goes off about guilt trips about the environment etc...so I might wait to see more reviews. I might instead get the earlier book put out by Alison Cross, but even she said to just stick with the book that comes with the deck when I asked her which to get as a newbie. LOL Thanks again Tom! Much enjoyed! :-)

The ravens prophecy deck reminds me of the Halloween oracle which I have. I love using it for a daily card or affirmation.

I too am living for this day! (Any day that is cool and crisp and slightly blustery is wonderful, although I also appreciate cloud cover in that mix as well sometimes.) I also get behind the dislike of the shrill squealing of children. Children are fine, but we need like 100% less squealing… We're like twin souls on these points. I really enjoyed seeing these decks and hearing your opinions on how well or not well you work with them. There is always something deeper at work in how each of us connect with particular decks beyond the more surface fascination with beautiful art. It’s an endlessy fascinating topic for me. Thank you for sharing! Finally, keep preaching the diversity message! It needs to be heard loud and clear. Much love!!

i really enjoy your videos. when you´re doing a reading do you choose a deck that you think is fitting or let the querent say what speaks to them?

I love your video~

Great vid thanks :))

great video, got to recommend you give the Slow Holler deck another go, its such a powerful & modern deck it reads so beautifully & the guide book is brilliant guide as well, cant recommend it enough!.

That was interesting, thank you. And, should it make any difference, I'm from Celtic stock, please use with my blessing, if something from my ancestory benefits you, then I'm all for it. Wishing you many more beautiful days.

The kids lmao

4:00

I am so curious about the fountain tarot. I have no idea if I would love or hate it... I will have to buy it one day to find out. At least its unique.

Katie Flowers brought me here. :)

Great observations. Your videos are informative and jam-packed with interesting perspectives; I'm really appreciating them. Those children sound like a horror movie playing in the background! Hahahahha...."why aren't they home doing homework?" I have my crankiness about general readings, also (and in general) - I've thought about writing an advice column called The Cranky Crone, or The Grouchy Goddess. If one more person starts their video with "this is a general reading, take what fits for you...." Christ. Why bother? I'm getting old; my time is far too valuable for that muckity-muck wishy-washy BS. If you don't have something specific and clear to offer, move aside. Pardon me...was that out loud?!

You MUST not be too far from me here in NY :) ...because today was just beautiful out!!! I wish every day was just like this!!!

maybe it was she left a quarter inch on each side. I will ask her and get back to you.

@23:35 So you respect the Celtic tradition enough to not want to "culturally appropriate" it, yet you do not respect/care/understand that we want to depict the Celts and traditions of the British Isles accurately because you just want "diversity"? What the actual hell are you talking about? (Question to you from a modern Celtic Pagan/Witch descended mostly from Britain, plus Portugal which is also part of the modern Celtic identity constructed as part of the Romanticist Celtic Revival.) You say "early cultures came from different parts of the world" in your vague and meaningless way. Celts did not come from non-Caucasian parts of the world, so I don't know what you are saying in reference to this deck. Frankly, it's pretty goddamn hypocritical and ungrateful of you to shit on this deck, in particular, about "diversity" when this deck represents the types of traditions that pre-date the modern (Western/predominantly Caucasian) esoteric traditions that gave birth to the Tarot. People like you are always saying that white/Anglo/Western/etc people shouldn't engage in "cultural appropriation". Well guess what? THIS IS MY FREAKING CULTURE. How dare you display such judgemental ignorance with an air of righteous indignation.