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So we got off on a bit of a tangent in the Albano-Waite Tarot thread, and hopefully we can carry that tangent over here for a fuller discussion.
As I've stated before, I'm an enthusiastic user of the Vertigo Tarot. It was the first piece of magical paraphenalia I owned, and the accompanying book was the first book on things magical that I read. That may give you a laugh, but it opened a door for me, and held it open for a good few years until I was ready to walk thru. That book was my first exposure to the concept of Qabalah and got me interested in the Golden Dawn. As an aide to understanding the cards, I think it's really first-rate (and this from someone who's underwhelmed by Pollack's other writings. See her book on the Qabalah). My copy's annotated right to hell at this point, with the Golden Dawn names for the Minors written on their respective pages, and the elemental designations written in above the names of the Court cards (Earth of Earth over the Page of Pentacles, etc.). Mint/Near-Mint no longer.
The deck itself, I think we all agree, is a thing of beauty in it's own right. All elements of the images were assembled in Photoshop and McKean takes full advantage there, blurring realistic faces into abstract backgrounds and fading surrealism into reality. Many elements repeat themselves throughout the cards, and this lends a cohesion to disparate cards that enliven both Majors and Minors. In particular, the wand of the Magician (Tim Hunter) reappears in the Wands Minors. Elements from the Magician and the High Priestess card also reappear in the Tower, adding further continuity to the Fool's journey through the Majors. There are other examples.
The brilliant bit to me, though, is the change that some of the Minor Arcana undergo in reversed position. Rather than seeing an upside-down picture, the reader of the Vertigo Tarot is occassionally treated to a whole new vista. My favorite example of this is the Eight of Swords. In it's dignified position it shows eight swords from top to bottom in progressive states of wrapping, thus signifying burying feelings of aggression. In the reversed position, however, the card shows a gradual unwrapping of swords, symbolizing a release of anger.
The one drawback I have found with them is that, in reading for other people, one may get bogged down in having to explain why there's a guy in a gas mask on the Justice card (it's the Golden Age Sandman) and suchlike. A concentration breaker for sure. Still, I find this deck a very effective tool and, comic characters aside, my clients enjoy the eye candy and tend to study the imagery of the cards a little more than they might have with another deck.
That's my take anyway. I'm eager to hear what others have to say on this matter and other people's experience with this (IMHO) wonderful deck. |
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