Major_Tom

Recently overheard on a Yahoo Tarot discussion list was the comment "Anyone can make a Tarot deck these days, and some of the recent offerings have been pathetic" (to paraphrase who, at the time, I thought was a rather cynical poster).

Well, to be frank, there are several decks that have been released recently (some self-published) that have been very unattractive. Unfortunately, I feel that Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles falls under this category.

There is nothing anatomically correct about the figures in Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles, from the four-fingered Hermit to the six-toed lady of Strength, the awkwardly shaped "hand" holding the Empress' shield to goofy visages among the courts...

While I understand that the TdM tradition of decks depict exagerrated, rubbery features, the imagery from the Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles seems even more overstated than usual.

At least the Minors are attractive--in a funky, gradient, psychedelic sort of way (and are symmetrical!).

According to the LWB, which is attractive, full-color and glossy--very nice in terms of presentation, as far as LWB's go--this deck was voted number 8 in the Top Ten Decks published in 2005 by those who frequent Aeclectic Tarot Forums. One has to wonder if the voters that year were artistically challenged or sight challenged--although I suspect emotional loyalty for one of their own was the true motivator for bestowing what I think is an undeserved honor.

Let me discuss a card or two to show how ridiculous the images are, especially in terms of conveying the intended meaning.

The Tower, titled the older House of God designation, shows two individuals "falling" from what would appear a brick "tower". Both appear to be examining the green foliage on the ground. As my husband said, it looks as if they bungeed jumped gracefully, and are stopping to admire the plants before being pulled back up.

In line with traditional meanings, the brief description (which mostly includes a play-by-play of what the gents are wearing on the way down) says "This card represents the collapse of a long-term view of the self in a blinding flash of light."

Nothing about this card communicates upheaval, danger or even illumination. Rather, it appears more like a comical Punch and Judy show where two puppets fall from a "tower" that is less than double their size, and these mindless puppets are unable to realize their supposed "peril" because they're too wrapped up examining the pretty plants on the ground.

If you want a classy, authentic Tarot of Marseilles deck (sorry, but putting a ball cap atop the Tower or the Kings does not a modern deck make), go buy the Jean Noblet Tarot produced by Jean Claude Flornoy, instead.

For those who are still reading and still interested, here are some stats on the Major Tom Tarot of Marseilles:

Attractive, minimalist reversible backings

Comes in a nice, well-constructed, magnetic-lidded box with a red ribbon

Card stock is quite sturdy with matte finishing

Cards measure approximately 4 ½ x 2 ¾ inches

Justice is 8, Strength is 11

Court Cards are Valet, Cavalier, Queen and King

2 of Cups card bears the signature of the publisher, Schiffer Publishing

As in most TdM style decks, the 2 of Coins bears the name of the creator (Major Tom Schick 1650-2007)

Two extra cards: one describing the meaning of eight colors, the other describing numbers 1-10 in Tarot numerology

I had looked forward to getting this deck because of the good things I had heard about it, but for me, it doesn't live up to the hype. Perhaps if you're an avid user of the TdM-style decks, you may enjoy the attempt to update the card imagery. Personally, I find this offering ugly and even embarrassing--brightly colored, somewhat pleasing Minor Arcana not withstanding.