Cosmic Tarot - with deck

Rating:
Summary: Timeless - A Stunning Deck
Review: I didn't think I was going to like this deck because of the early reviews I'd read. Catch phrases like 'trendy', 'new-agey', and 'movie stars abound' kept popping up. Don't let words like this put you off. This is a beautiful deck, and one that will be as evocative in years to come as it is now.

I'm a great fan of old films, and had an opportunity to see scans of a few of the cards before I purchased. They were intriguing, and the artwork was excellent. And I had a chance to pick up the deck cheaply. The movie buff in me won out, and I'm glad it did!

The deck is well-printed on good stock, the images aren't blurred, and the cards are of average size. They are easy to shuffle and work with. The Page and Knight cards have been renamed to Princess and Prince, but other than that standard names and numbering schemes remain. Justice is VIII, Strength is XI.

I both read and collect tarot and oracle decks. When I got this deck and opened it I was so taken with the art that I sat looking at the cards over and over, mesmerised. My best friend brought me out of my reverie by saying: 'Ah, this is one you're going to read with'. He was right.

The paintings, by self-taught German artist Norbert Losche, are beautiful. Many of the colours are slightly muted, which adds to the deck's overall feeling of timelessness. If I had to date it, I'd say it looks far more fin-de-siécle than post-modern.

As to the claims that this is a 'movie star deck', don't be fooled. The Cosmic Tarot is not a gimmick deck. I've seldom seen such wonderful portraits of Ingrid Bergman (Queen of Swords), Bogart & Bacall (Two of Cups), Danny Kaye (The Fool), and others. Not all the cards are based on movies and movie stars, and the ones that are don't jump out at you screaming 'famous person!' They just seem right. And whether you recognise the faces or no, the cards are compelling.

Losche is one of the best tarot artists today when it comes to capturing the actual emotion in people's faces, something sorely missing from most tarot decks. The people cards look like real people - some happy, some sad, some beautiful, some less than beautiful. You see the full spectrum of humanity and human feelings in the Cosmic Tarot.

While much of the deck is based on the Rider-Waite-Smith, the Cosmic Tarot is not a clone. Losche brings his own artistic visions, and sometimes his own meanings, to the cards.

The Devil card is outstanding, with the devil portrayed as an ugly corporate oligarch towering over his workers, keeping them enslaved. The image is striking. The Three of Swords is another standout, with three people (background) grieving in a graveyard. What they're grieving is the rose (foreground), which lays dead with three swords struck through it. The death of beauty, and not just in a physical sense. The whole deck is filled with this kind of startling insight - some of it obvious, some of it less so. Is the Charioteer going off to battle or escaping that castle you see in the background when you take a second look?

The suit of Cups is worthy of mention because of the repetitive motifs - and they work. For example, in card Six we see a young man kissing a young woman on the cheek. Is she interested? Possibly. Is this unrequited love? That's possible, too. It's a nice ambiguity. In the Seven card, we see the same young man in a state of emotional anguish. Behind and slightly above him, in an almost transparent vision, we see the picture from the Six card repeated. You'll find this sort of use of repetition in a number of the cards.

Losche stated that he wanted to get away from arcane symbolism in the Cosmic Tarot to make the cards accessible to everyone. You'll still find a bit of it popping up throughout the deck in various guises, but there are other symbols in the cards that are worthy of serious meditation as well.

Losche succeeded and perhaps surpassed his ambition. The cards are highly accessible no matter what your knowledge of tarot, and they tell a story. Given the way the artwork is rendered, what that story may be is up to you. The cards are ambiguous, but not confusing. There is much room for interpretation.

If you're looking for something along the lines of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, but not an exact clone, this is one of the best. It also happily gives evidence that not all decks coming out of Germany are filled with angst.

I realise this deck may not appeal to everyone, but it certainly deserves a look, and not a routine dismissal - especially by serious taroists, lovers of old films, and even beginners looking for something more expressive than the Rider-Waite-Smith. Do yourself a favour. Put the little white booklet aside, and just look at the cards. Let them tell you their story. Chances are you'll be entranced.

Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Good Deck!
Review: I really hunted hard for a deck that had similarities to the Rider-Waite deck but had more bold and beautiful artwork, and was easy to hold (have small hands) I have found this deck to be all those things. The only gripe I have is that he made the Prince and Princess of each suit in place of the Ace and Page of each suit like the Rider Waite does, but at least no other cards were added, just a name change there. I'm glad because some decks completely add in their own (Like the one I have were they changed "The Devil" to be "Materialism") my personal preference was to leave that alone, especially the major arcana. Anyhow, this deck is amazing and it's a fine choice. The artwork is absolutely stunning :)

Rating:
Summary: My favorite deck
Review: I've had the cosmic tarot for about 9 years. It was my second deck after my "training" deck with the Ryder-Waite deck. Many of the images are very bold, vivid and at times intense, but the colors are wonderful. One of my favorite cards is the Sun which is the spitting image of my best friend's niece when she was younger. There are many images that look like famous people, whether intentional or not, it does gives it a modern look. The accompanying book is ok, I would recommend "The Cosmic Tarot: Signposts Along the Path" by Laura Clarson. I think she gives a more accurate description of the cards and what everyday events you can relate them to. If you get them, you won't be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Simply Beautiful
Review: Preferences for Tarot decks are very subjective, so I don't know exactly what to say to encourage this one. I will say that I like the Rider-Waite deck, but wanted something a bit more creative without being too crazy. This deck is that--creative, but not crazy. Some say that the characters are certain people like Tom Cruise, etc. I didn't recognize anyone and have avoided reading anything that tells me which cards are "supposed" to be whom. It's speculation, and I doubt it is true. The cards are rich in symbolism, exquisitely drawn, and very thought provoking. You may go through a lot of decks before you find "your" deck. Looking at this one would not be a waste of time. I have seen A LOT of cards and spent A LOT of money. This deck is unique, grounded in reality, but definitely metaphysical. The pictures make sense. I had never grasped a meaning before without looking at a book...

Rating:
Summary: Simply Beautiful
Review: Preferences for Tarot decks are very subjective, so I don't know exactly what to say to encourage this one. I will say that I like the Rider-Waite deck, but wanted something a bit more creative without being too crazy. This deck is that--creative, but not crazy. Some say that the characters are certain people like Tom Cruise, etc. I didn't recognize anyone and have avoided reading anything that tells me which cards are "supposed" to be whom. It's speculation, and I doubt it is true. The cards are rich in symbolism, exquisitely drawn, and very thought provoking. You may go through a lot of decks before you find "your" deck. Looking at this one would not be a waste of time. I have seen A LOT of cards and spent A LOT of money. This deck is unique, grounded in reality, but definitely metaphysical. The pictures make sense. I had never grasped a meaning before without looking at a book...