I am fairly new to the tarot, but I have been absolutely in love with the tarot deck for about four months now. I've read everything I can get my hands on about the history of the deck, interpretive possibilities of cards, symbolism, intuitive readings, etc. I have started with a deck with art based on the traditional Rider-Waite deck, and I am now looking to find some decks that I connect with more strongly.
I have researched lots of different decks, but I haven't felt comfortable with any of them, and I'm finally figuring out why--in almost every deck I've seen, everybody is white, with anglo features, and generally fits the traditional definition of beauty in western culture--thinnish, anglo features, fair skin and hair, etc. In addition, I'd love to see some diversity of sexualities in the deck. For example, why can't The Lovers card have a possible male and male or female and female option, depending on who you are doing a reading for?
I have read the book and seen some of the Motherpeace cards, which go a ways to deal with these very issues, but I don't really connect with the art and I feel that they are often missing the really potent symbolism that makes the Rider-Waite deck interesting. So I guess I'm looking for something that keeps the potent symbolism.
Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced working with cards that are more inclusive and less supportive of the racist/sexist/ageist, etc. status quo (for example, why is the high priestess always young and pretty? Why not make her an older woman? Why not a middle-aged woman? These kinds of things drive me a little nuts).
- Message Board: Join in our discussion
