I’ve said this many times before so I apologise in advance for potentially repeating myself. Demanding diversity within ONE deck is always going to be pitted against appropriation of someone else’s identity and culture. Because no one person lived experience can cover the entirety of diversity and representations. Their attempt to be “diverse” and “inclusive” therefore often resulted in awkward and laughable results, such as the card depicting the Laughing Buddha for the Nine of Cups. Or suddenly having a Dancing Shiva in a tarot which is supposed to be based on the Western idea of alchemy. The premise of this tarot is “Western Esotericism and Alchemy”, ala the Splendour Solis. Western. European. Ancient. Translated into visual indicators and aesthetics, by definition, confined the graphics within a certain TIME frame and PLACE. Enters the White Gaze. Even today, in the 21st century, minorities are still unseen and silenced, so where would this minority voices be found within the context of an ancient European alchemical world? As for the FATNESS of The Laughing Buddha in the Nine of Cups: The Laughing Buddha is a traditional figure in Buddhist based Asian cultures with an ample body shape. The Laughing Buddha is what has been paired with the Nine of Cups here, NOT the fact that he is FAT. The laughing Buddha is associated with luck, contentment and abundance. NOT excess. Because it came from a culture which does NOT see being fat as problematic. I am saying all the above as an Asian woman forever hungry to be able to release myself from the “White” hegemony. As a minority, I often found the "right" (popular) tones and keywords are used and the seemingly "correct" emotions stirred. But from my own experience, again, speaking as a socially liberal, progressively leaning minority, who is a minority in both the country of my birth and the country of my citizenship, they are hardly productive in ways which improved things, or in ways which can move the dialogues forward in the long term, and therefore very limited in the actual betterment of the lives of those often hardly represented in wider conversations. It just makes a bunch of people feel good about themselves, with very little real actual long term impacts. I can of course only speak for myself, and my particular lived experiences. Since a conversation is what you are looking for, and like yourself, I can not separate my convictions, and my politics from everything else that I do, I hope you do not mind my long honest post. I also hope that my attempt to have a more nuanced conversation, something that we are often denied in an increasingly polarised world today, isn’t confused as something else entirely. Thanks for the walkthrough and commentary.
Same thoughts about the Laughing Buddha :) my problem is that the art style is not the “usual” way he is depicted in our culture (like Casper said, too “European”) and the fan reminded me of my grandparents’ experience with the war. When I looked at the deck, my thoughts were: why did the creators feel a need to “adapt” art styles to fit the overall feel of the deck when it seems image treatment may suffice? I am as conflicted as the card with Shiva in it
@@theslightlychippedmoon Hi Val. From where I am sitting, you are making my points for me. As for art styles, I can only speak as a consumer of designs with very limited experiences in actual product design: Visual cohesiveness would be hard to achieve I suspect, if the statue or traditional drawing of an Asian Laughing Buddha (which is usually the case with the Laughing Buddha since realism and naturalism isn't part of the Asian art history and heritage) suddenly appears among an array of Western European collage which seems to me to be aesthetically leaning more towards realism. That might look like a tarot card has wondered in from the wrong deck into it. But that's just my personal take on it.
@@NobodyHere I hear your statement about minorities... and then again, I can't escape from the idea that minorities are tempted to fight second-class battles. I mean : between an asian woman who is a factory worker and an asian woman who is the CEO of her company, there is a social class difference that determines almost everything from their purchasing power to their life expectancy. In fact, the asian woman boss could fire her asian woman factory worker because of financial or greedy interests, without even knowing she exists. So, I wonder what minority issues or even feminism can change in that matter... In fact, I wonder if those fights are not promoted to hide social inequalities.
And honestly as a jewish person, I was not offended at all by the 10 of coins. If you know the card, you understand the intention. It’s just about patriarchy, transmission, lineage, inheritance, sharing legacy. Deeply connected with the role of ravs in our community. No antisemitism there
I just received this deck yesterday and i never saw that in that 10 either. I see legacy.. what you leave to the world after you're gone ( as one interpretation anyway)
I write this from the prospective of an art lover. It seems to me that there needs to be a very big conversation about inclusivity, cultural appropriation, art, the artist's experiences and influences and the unfortunate fact that no one person can ever fully predict the reactions and sensitivities of everyone if only because we are all ignorant of the lives of others. We are at a point in human history where freedom of artistic expression is being challenged. How do we encourage artists to continue to offer their soul's work to the critic's chopping block when they must further contend with the world's sensitivities without any blueprint? There is a lot of criticism and no clear path forward. Very tricky. Please remember that 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' If we don't encourage people's efforts (even if they fall woefully short, which they always will in the beginning, and the middle...) they will stop trying. I really pray this doesn't offend anyone ❤️
So, and I'm really asking here cause I don't know, do you want white people who have a naturally white gaze to adopt a POC gaze that they don't really have to pander to an interest in diversity? Or is that cultural appropriation? Are they screwed whichever way they do it? I understand the desire for diversity in tarot decks, but what are the guidelines if you're a deck creator? Frankly, I think lack of age and body diversity is way behind racial diversity, yet I don't want a deck with half the people being old or fat (I've been fat and I'm old). So what's the ratio, and do decks with Rennaissance art have different standards than decks set in the modern world? I'm honestly just confused as to the best solution to a societal problem in a visual system like tarot. Interesting discussion, I'm still searching for answers.
There's not really any such thing as a POC gaze. "Gaze" is a term that's by nature exclusive. It's why "male gaze" is a thing and "female gaze" is generally ironic. So yeah, white people who might or might not care about being a citizen of the world can choose to ignore it and stay in their supremacy and have a naturally (read: cultivated) white gaze, or they can work on shedding their white gaze until they normalize the necessity for recognizing diversity. It's not pandering, because it's not immoral or petty or base to ask for or even require true diversity. Tokenism could be construed as pandering though. If a deck creator is making a deck, is it for everyone? If it's for everyone, then it needs to be truly diverse, and not just tokenism. If they have to do it by the numbers until it comes naturally, then fine. Otherwise they're just making excuses. If it's not for everyone, is it for white people? Or is it for people who have been excluded from white-dominated spaces? That could answer a few questions on guidelines. (If the deck is for white people with no diversity, maybe they should put "this deck is for white people" or in the description and let the pieces fall where they may. Get that supremacy right out in the open.) Cultural appropriation is not about putting physical diversity in a deck, it's about taking practices or accouterments from closed cultures that you're not a part of, or those which you don't understand, or haven't put the work in to have respectful access, and using or adopting/adapting those things to benefit a dominant culture. It has absolutely nothing to do with skin color. P.S. there was diversity in Renaissance art and medieval art, but a lot of it got white-washed or hidden away in museum storage. There's a tumblr blog called medievalpoc.tumblr.com that's relevant.
@@StaceyHH This is obviously a longer discussion, but as a writer I've been told write what you know; if you write about something you haven't experienced your work can come off as pretentious or phony and finally, just not good art. We all need to broaden our knowledge of others' experiences and open our minds and fight for change; I was just conjecturing that artists sometimes get caught in the time between creating based on what they know and ways in which they are changing and growing. Their state of mind and progress in becoming better people is down there in print for all to see--and criticize. I'm glad to see more decks offering more options, but can we leave room in there for artists to create decks that don't address every possible diversity in the world in a single set of cards?
@@papermoontarot4219 I write fiction, and I don't subscribe to "write what you know" as a rule, because that would get really boring really fast. Diversity is what allows us to write complexity. Tokenism is confining. If you have true diversity in writing then you can have villains or heroes from different backgrounds because one "diverse" character doesn't have to be all things to all people. Same with tarot. If you're making a facsimile of an historic deck, fine. But if you want to make a new one that reflects the real world, and most of your deck only reflects the lived experience of white folks what kind of "real world experience" are you really bringing to the table? Then "write what you know" really becomes: "you don't know much, do you?"
@@StaceyHH I think we agree about the value of diversity, I just don't want to condemn artists who are trying to achieve it for not doing it perfectly every time. Write what you can imagine, and expand the boundaries of your imagination and knowledge, but I'm simply saying that's a journey.
This looks like the “heavy” version of the 3rd edition. I have the supposed damaged 2nd edition and that’s also 100% fine, Just some spotting on the backs that I actually like.
Thanks for this honest review - I found it very illuminating and helpful. I’d much rather hear your real thoughts than a self-censored version of what you think. I also want to thank you for continuing to point out specifics of white gaze or white centering and how to do better. The specifics help a lot as examples of practice of how to do better, for me, to do better in everyday life which is my aim (to see suppression full on and break my white centering). So, thanks for what you do.
And last comment : get the book and read it. You’ll understand better intentions behind the art, that are 1000 km aways from your personal white american thoughts. You can also get the expansion pack to replace most of the cards you don’t like, including the 9 of cups which seems to have caused a personal trauma within you.
I appreciate the video. I wonder why you wont use the new suit (Vessels). I think its a very exciting idea with a new suit. I havent got the deck yet so I might not like the suit or whatever, but would be interesting to hear your thoughts why you wont use it.
Thank you for this review. Up until now, I hadn’t seen much in the way of critical reviews of the images, and I picked up on much of what you find challenging in this deck. I wish more would examine with a critical eye.
Your gaze is the WASP gaze, as white man from the US. The deck creators come from Portugal and have a different view on the world, have a different ethnic and religious background. In the US, questions of ethnic background play a huge role, but would Portuguese even qualify as "white passing"? I don't know but I wouldn't expect them to fulfill the criteria of a totally different culture. The 10 of Coins is obviously inspired by the Thoth card and the inscriptions are the Hebrew names of the sephiroth. There is nothing offensive about the card (and believe me I'm sensitive to Anti-Jewish stereotypes, coming from a partly Jewish family). I value your opinion but in this case, maybe you're a bit stuck in your US perspective?
Portugal is a country on the Iberian peninsula in Europe; the majority of its population (about over 90%) are ethnic Portuguese, i.e. white, but there are racialized people, both immigrants and not, who live in Portugal. According to Wikipedia, about 40 thousand Romani people live in Portugal.
Sorry, but I disagree with you that every deck needs needs to meet everyone’s idea and be totally diverse and have all races and lifestyle choices represented. It is an unachievable goal. The old elderly Jewish man and the pentacles not trying to make a social statement. Jews were historically the bankers of Europe in the dark ages and renaissance periods. One of my pet peeves is when the king and queen in a suit don’t go together. My representative card is the Queen of Swords. I’m a heterosexual female. When the Queen of swords is a human female and the king of swords is some animal, such as a dragon, or another human female, the deck does not resonate with me. ( I don’t have a problem with cards depicting same sex couples, as long as it is not the K & Q of Swords) My point is that you cannot please all the people all of the time. There are tons of new decks being created every year now by people of different races, cultures and sexual preferences, so everyone should be able to find a deck that meets there needs. I think deck creators should choose their audience and design their decks accordingly. There are enough new decks out there now that everyone should be able to find a deck or decks they can resonate with. If you don’t resonate with a deck, don’t buy it, but don’t buy it and then complain because it does appeal to you.
Hey Arlene, I wanted to let you know that I feel the same. And I say this as a mixed race woman loving my african roots! But you're right, pleasing everyone is just not gonna happen. Yes, I love decks with more diversity in some areas, but as an example when it comes to Renaissance art, I will take it for what it is. And I do love Renaissance style decks.😅 But at the same time I have African decks as well and there is not a white person in these decks, so that isn't diversed at all then... and this is why i feel your comment, cause Tarot cards are pieces of art so we should all just choose and buy the ones WE feel attrackted too and not compain about every frickin deck! I aint a fan of modern art but I ain't gonna tell the painter to paint something different I will just look for art that i like. Anyway just wanted to respond on your comment, cause it was crickets up here😉😜🙏🏾🤎
I loved your video. I think you are very intelligent. They have currently released an expansion pack with more cards and I noticed that they have provided alternatives to problematic cards that you have discussed in your review. Thank you a lot for your words ♥
I’m so glad I discovered this channel! 10 minutes into your Terra Volatile review I was grateful. So few white reviewers notice or care when there is absolutely no diversity, let alone noticing when it’s tokenism! I hate decks that have one Black woman and it’s the strength card. I won’t buy it, it’s insulting. I bought TV on a whim and we have not bonded. I couldn’t place why I don’t love it, I like the art! You pointed it out and now I can name it. A white Buddha and it’s the only fat character in a card associated with luxury. The card about money gets a Jewish looking person and the first (only?) time we see Hebrew letters. The few brown bodies are portrayed as tribal or too close to “savage.” It’s sloppy, rude and speaks very clearly to that person’s framework. I don’t want this energy around me anymore. It has to go.
I can report the newer addition is darker than this which is unfortunate bc you can see much more detail in this edition. I did purchase the expansion pack as well. The artwork is fantastic.
Love the art. Does not care as much about representation which seems to be very important for you. Tarot cards represent archetypal messages. Skin color is a material issue not relevant if you are a skilled reader, which you are.
Yeah, it’s beautiful… mine arrived earlier this afternoon. As a black man I know what I’m signing up for when I buy most decks that aren’t pip/ marseille in terms of representation but I ultimately CAN’T with the cardstock. my first vocal comment when I opened the box was “yuck!” Lol. Was an impulse buy so that’s what I get! They are releasing an expansion pack of more alternative cards so will be interesting to see if they make changes so problematic cards can just be taken out. I however will not be bothering to have a couple cards shipped here to feel more comfortable with any of the images. Great review. Love your videos.
There’s 78 cards in a tarot, granted decks such as this include extras, however if a creator were to include every ethnicity every walk of life, while trying to keep the tarot system in mind, it’s simply impossible. Just being all inclusive regarding ethnicities would take over 600 cards, and even if we try and squeeze in other aspects of diversity such as sexual orientation, preference, religion, history, tradition/heritage, environment, it’s just simply impossible (unless someone wants to make an oracle which would probably cost a pretty penny to do so lol.) Long story short, it’s impossible to please everyone and while inclusivity is important, sometimes we need to also have realistic expectations. There are all different types of decks and the beauty of tarot (even oracle) is we can have a wonderful variety of them in our collection. I own decks from queer creators with a heavy focus on non binary yet I’m a heterosexual cisgender female & I adore them. I think we should appreciate these decks for their intended purpose and maybe tone done on being a bit nit picky and taking things as an insult or a negative.
Thank you for bringing attention to this (I say, as though it would've ever been possible for me to justify the purchase of this deck to my inner tight-wad 🤦♀️)! It was the practical advice to deck creators to gather more feedback from marginalized folks for me 🙌
Hi, Tom. Your remarks were very intelligent. I really appreciate your outspokenness on the subject of diversity. It's a something I've commented on before. Tarot Map has a video that I commented on and really think I covered my feelings on this subject. I have to say, it's often exhausting and very hurtful to consider and explain my feelings on this subject. You really did a great job covering it. And I'm very grateful. Thanks for the review. Your comments were SPOT ON.
What you are saying bothers me too and since I already have it, I will use it for myself and probably not for others. I got the thin card stock Ed. and I love it. Super bendy. Looks like you got the newer batch which is thicker and smooth, not like mine. They will still have it. There is an expansion pack coming out in both cardstocks and I’m hoping there is more diversity there to add.
I really wanted to get this deck, but saw that the "lighter" weight version was sold out. The version you have is still available, but with hand problems a cardboard type of cardstock is just not a smart option for me. I hear your issues with the deck. I wanted the deck because something about the art reminds me of being a kid in Europe. But I made a pact with a friend to really purchase mindfully with decks reflecting the world we want to see and supporting those decks that get it done. I still think this is beautiful, and if the light weight cardstock version ever becomes available again I will look at it, but I am not so sure I will actually purchase it now. (ps Jewish ancestory.) Thanks, JaimeK
The idea that Portuguese people, who participated in and benefited from the trans-Atlantic slave trade, even if they somehow were all white, do not understand racism or diversity or the effects of the media portrayals of Black people, is nothing but willful ignorance. And the same goes for any kind of racial representation. Portuguese people are not extraterrestrials; they are just as capable of confronting and acknowledging and understanding racism as anyone else is and it is not too much to ask that they do so, or that we as a global audience think and speak critically of it when they don't.
Your interpretation of the 10 of pentacles is surface level and reveals your own prejudices and lack of knowledge rather than the artist’s. Pentacles have a long history within Jewish mysticism and spirituality. They are a Jewish magical tool. The Sephiroth pattern strengthens the pentacle association. There is very little connection to coin in this image. This card features images representing knowledge, community and history. Monetary wealth could be read in this image as well but it is not the focus. It is a shame that you are looking for reasons to be offended and feel the need to police tarot art. This deck deserves a better critic.
Excellent. It's not just you, this deck is down right offensive as are the things you bring up. It's hard to speak out but we need real reviews that do. One cuz that's the point of a review, but also it hurts to hear offensive decks praised. 3 cards is really bad tokens, but 1/2 or the more popular 1/3 is also tokenism. Havana and I just discussed this and set a new bar: we want global majority representation at minimum 60%
@@la-chicagitana9949 yes, OR research into a different deck that suits your expectations. Decks are different. I’ve seen many African American decks, I’ve seen many Asian inspired decks, I’ve seen many LGBTQ+ decks...the list goes on. Not every single deck will represent every single sexuality, race, gender, or body type. If you don’t like a specific deck, search for ones that you do identify with.
I’ve said this many times before so I apologise in advance for potentially repeating myself.
Demanding diversity within ONE deck is always going to be pitted against appropriation of someone else’s identity and culture. Because no one person lived experience can cover the entirety of diversity and representations. Their attempt to be “diverse” and “inclusive” therefore often resulted in awkward and laughable results, such as the card depicting the Laughing Buddha for the Nine of Cups. Or suddenly having a Dancing Shiva in a tarot which is supposed to be based on the Western idea of alchemy. The premise of this tarot is “Western Esotericism and Alchemy”, ala the Splendour Solis. Western. European. Ancient. Translated into visual indicators and aesthetics, by definition, confined the graphics within a certain TIME frame and PLACE. Enters the White Gaze. Even today, in the 21st century, minorities are still unseen and silenced, so where would this minority voices be found within the context of an ancient European alchemical world?
As for the FATNESS of The Laughing Buddha in the Nine of Cups:
The Laughing Buddha is a traditional figure in Buddhist based Asian cultures with an ample body shape. The Laughing Buddha is what has been paired with the Nine of Cups here, NOT the fact that he is FAT. The laughing Buddha is associated with luck, contentment and abundance. NOT excess. Because it came from a culture which does NOT see being fat as problematic.
I am saying all the above as an Asian woman forever hungry to be able to release myself from the “White” hegemony.
As a minority, I often found the "right" (popular) tones and keywords are used and the seemingly "correct" emotions stirred. But from my own experience, again, speaking as a socially liberal, progressively leaning minority, who is a minority in both the country of my birth and the country of my citizenship, they are hardly productive in ways which improved things, or in ways which can move the dialogues forward in the long term, and therefore very limited in the actual betterment of the lives of those often hardly represented in wider conversations. It just makes a bunch of people feel good about themselves, with very little real actual long term impacts. I can of course only speak for myself, and my particular lived experiences.
Since a conversation is what you are looking for, and like yourself, I can not separate my convictions, and my politics from everything else that I do, I hope you do not mind my long honest post.
I also hope that my attempt to have a more nuanced conversation, something that we are often denied in an increasingly polarised world today, isn’t confused as something else entirely.
Thanks for the walkthrough and commentary.
Same thoughts about the Laughing Buddha :) my problem is that the art style is not the “usual” way he is depicted in our culture (like Casper said, too “European”) and the fan reminded me of my grandparents’ experience with the war.
When I looked at the deck, my thoughts were: why did the creators feel a need to “adapt” art styles to fit the overall feel of the deck when it seems image treatment may suffice? I am as conflicted as the card with Shiva in it
@@theslightlychippedmoon Hi Val. From where I am sitting, you are making my points for me. As for art styles, I can only speak as a consumer of designs with very limited experiences in actual product design: Visual cohesiveness would be hard to achieve I suspect, if the statue or traditional drawing of an Asian Laughing Buddha (which is usually the case with the Laughing Buddha since realism and naturalism isn't part of the Asian art history and heritage) suddenly appears among an array of Western European collage which seems to me to be aesthetically leaning more towards realism. That might look like a tarot card has wondered in from the wrong deck into it. But that's just my personal take on it.
@@NobodyHere I hear your statement about minorities... and then again, I can't escape from the idea that minorities are tempted to fight second-class battles. I mean : between an asian woman who is a factory worker and an asian woman who is the CEO of her company, there is a social class difference that determines almost everything from their purchasing power to their life expectancy. In fact, the asian woman boss could fire her asian woman factory worker because of financial or greedy interests, without even knowing she exists. So, I wonder what minority issues or even feminism can change in that matter... In fact, I wonder if those fights are not promoted to hide social inequalities.
And honestly as a jewish person, I was not offended at all by the 10 of coins. If you know the card, you understand the intention. It’s just about patriarchy, transmission, lineage, inheritance, sharing legacy. Deeply connected with the role of ravs in our community. No antisemitism there
I just received this deck yesterday and i never saw that in that 10 either. I see legacy.. what you leave to the world after you're gone ( as one interpretation anyway)
I write this from the prospective of an art lover.
It seems to me that there needs to be a very big conversation about inclusivity, cultural appropriation, art, the artist's experiences and influences and the unfortunate fact that no one person can ever fully predict the reactions and sensitivities of everyone if only because we are all ignorant of the lives of others.
We are at a point in human history where freedom of artistic expression is being challenged. How do we encourage artists to continue to offer their soul's work to the critic's chopping block when they must further contend with the world's sensitivities without any blueprint?
There is a lot of criticism and no clear path forward. Very tricky. Please remember that 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' If we don't encourage people's efforts (even if they fall woefully short, which they always will in the beginning, and the middle...) they will stop trying.
I really pray this doesn't offend anyone ❤️
So, and I'm really asking here cause I don't know, do you want white people who have a naturally white gaze to adopt a POC gaze that they don't really have to pander to an interest in diversity? Or is that cultural appropriation? Are they screwed whichever way they do it? I understand the desire for diversity in tarot decks, but what are the guidelines if you're a deck creator? Frankly, I think lack of age and body diversity is way behind racial diversity, yet I don't want a deck with half the people being old or fat (I've been fat and I'm old). So what's the ratio, and do decks with Rennaissance art have different standards than decks set in the modern world? I'm honestly just confused as to the best solution to a societal problem in a visual system like tarot. Interesting discussion, I'm still searching for answers.
There's not really any such thing as a POC gaze. "Gaze" is a term that's by nature exclusive. It's why "male gaze" is a thing and "female gaze" is generally ironic. So yeah, white people who might or might not care about being a citizen of the world can choose to ignore it and stay in their supremacy and have a naturally (read: cultivated) white gaze, or they can work on shedding their white gaze until they normalize the necessity for recognizing diversity. It's not pandering, because it's not immoral or petty or base to ask for or even require true diversity. Tokenism could be construed as pandering though.
If a deck creator is making a deck, is it for everyone? If it's for everyone, then it needs to be truly diverse, and not just tokenism. If they have to do it by the numbers until it comes naturally, then fine. Otherwise they're just making excuses. If it's not for everyone, is it for white people? Or is it for people who have been excluded from white-dominated spaces? That could answer a few questions on guidelines. (If the deck is for white people with no diversity, maybe they should put "this deck is for white people" or in the description and let the pieces fall where they may. Get that supremacy right out in the open.)
Cultural appropriation is not about putting physical diversity in a deck, it's about taking practices or accouterments from closed cultures that you're not a part of, or those which you don't understand, or haven't put the work in to have respectful access, and using or adopting/adapting those things to benefit a dominant culture. It has absolutely nothing to do with skin color.
P.S. there was diversity in Renaissance art and medieval art, but a lot of it got white-washed or hidden away in museum storage. There's a tumblr blog called medievalpoc.tumblr.com that's relevant.
@@StaceyHH This is obviously a longer discussion, but as a writer I've been told write what you know; if you write about something you haven't experienced your work can come off as pretentious or phony and finally, just not good art. We all need to broaden our knowledge of others' experiences and open our minds and fight for change; I was just conjecturing that artists sometimes get caught in the time between creating based on what they know and ways in which they are changing and growing. Their state of mind and progress in becoming better people is down there in print for all to see--and criticize. I'm glad to see more decks offering more options, but can we leave room in there for artists to create decks that don't address every possible diversity in the world in a single set of cards?
@@papermoontarot4219 I write fiction, and I don't subscribe to "write what you know" as a rule, because that would get really boring really fast. Diversity is what allows us to write complexity. Tokenism is confining. If you have true diversity in writing then you can have villains or heroes from different backgrounds because one "diverse" character doesn't have to be all things to all people. Same with tarot. If you're making a facsimile of an historic deck, fine. But if you want to make a new one that reflects the real world, and most of your deck only reflects the lived experience of white folks what kind of "real world experience" are you really bringing to the table? Then "write what you know" really becomes: "you don't know much, do you?"
@@StaceyHH I think we agree about the value of diversity, I just don't want to condemn artists who are trying to achieve it for not doing it perfectly every time. Write what you can imagine, and expand the boundaries of your imagination and knowledge, but I'm simply saying that's a journey.
my deck is very soft and lovely to touch; the deck is too dark for my eyes but I find the art lovely
I Love my deck. Wouldn’t change anything about it. If you don’t like something, that’s fine.
I love it too. It is just beautiful! Definitely one of my favorite decks for sure.
This looks like the “heavy” version of the 3rd edition. I have the supposed damaged 2nd edition and that’s also 100% fine, Just some spotting on the backs that I actually like.
Thanks for this honest review - I found it very illuminating and helpful. I’d much rather hear your real thoughts than a self-censored version of what you think. I also want to thank you for continuing to point out specifics of white gaze or white centering and how to do better. The specifics help a lot as examples of practice of how to do better, for me, to do better in everyday life which is my aim (to see suppression full on and break my white centering). So, thanks for what you do.
Thanks for that!!!
And last comment : get the book and read it. You’ll understand better intentions behind the art, that are 1000 km aways from your personal white american thoughts. You can also get the expansion pack to replace most of the cards you don’t like, including the 9 of cups which seems to have caused a personal trauma within you.
Great review!! This is definitely the heavier edition. I’m waiting for the 3rd in late September. It will have linen finish and won’t be as thick
I appreciate the video. I wonder why you wont use the new suit (Vessels). I think its a very exciting idea with a new suit. I havent got the deck yet so I might not like the suit or whatever, but would be interesting to hear your thoughts why you wont use it.
It’s really just that I get what I need out of the suits we already have. 😊
Thank you for this review. Up until now, I hadn’t seen much in the way of critical reviews of the images, and I picked up on much of what you find challenging in this deck. I wish more would examine with a critical eye.
Your gaze is the WASP gaze, as white man from the US. The deck creators come from Portugal and have a different view on the world, have a different ethnic and religious background. In the US, questions of ethnic background play a huge role, but would Portuguese even qualify as "white passing"? I don't know but I wouldn't expect them to fulfill the criteria of a totally different culture.
The 10 of Coins is obviously inspired by the Thoth card and the inscriptions are the Hebrew names of the sephiroth. There is nothing offensive about the card (and believe me I'm sensitive to Anti-Jewish stereotypes, coming from a partly Jewish family).
I value your opinion but in this case, maybe you're a bit stuck in your US perspective?
My US perspective is the only one I have.
Portugal is a country on the Iberian peninsula in Europe; the majority of its population (about over 90%) are ethnic Portuguese, i.e. white, but there are racialized people, both immigrants and not, who live in Portugal. According to Wikipedia, about 40 thousand Romani people live in Portugal.
Sorry, but I disagree with you that every deck needs needs to meet everyone’s idea and be totally diverse and have all races and lifestyle choices represented. It is an unachievable goal. The old elderly Jewish man and the pentacles not trying to make a social statement. Jews were historically the bankers of Europe in the dark ages and renaissance periods. One of my pet peeves is when the king and queen in a suit don’t go together. My representative card is the Queen of Swords. I’m a heterosexual female. When the Queen of swords is a human female and the king of swords is some animal, such as a dragon, or another human female, the deck does not resonate with me. ( I don’t have a problem with cards depicting same sex couples, as long as it is not the K & Q of Swords) My point is that you cannot please all the people all of the time. There are tons of new decks being created every year now by people of different races, cultures and sexual preferences, so everyone should be able to find a deck that meets there needs. I think deck creators should choose their audience and design their decks accordingly. There are enough new decks out there now that everyone should be able to find a deck or decks they can resonate with. If you don’t resonate with a deck, don’t buy it, but don’t buy it and then complain because it does appeal to you.
Good for you
Hey Arlene, I wanted to let you know that I feel the same. And I say this as a mixed race woman loving my african roots! But you're right, pleasing everyone is just not gonna happen.
Yes, I love decks with more diversity in some areas, but as an example when it comes to Renaissance art, I will take it for what it is. And I do love Renaissance style decks.😅
But at the same time I have African decks as well and there is not a white person in these decks, so that isn't diversed at all then... and this is why i feel your comment, cause Tarot cards are pieces of art so we should all just choose and buy the ones WE feel attrackted too and not compain about every frickin deck! I aint a fan of modern art but I ain't gonna tell the painter to paint something different I will just look for art that i like.
Anyway just wanted to respond on your comment, cause it was crickets up here😉😜🙏🏾🤎
Isolation is the mother of diversity
Well said. Facts.
I loved your video. I think you are very intelligent. They have currently released an expansion pack with more cards and I noticed that they have provided alternatives to problematic cards that you have discussed in your review. Thank you a lot for your words ♥
I’m so glad I discovered this channel! 10 minutes into your Terra Volatile review I was grateful. So few white reviewers notice or care when there is absolutely no diversity, let alone noticing when it’s tokenism!
I hate decks that have one Black woman and it’s the strength card. I won’t buy it, it’s insulting. I bought TV on a whim and we have not bonded. I couldn’t place why I don’t love it, I like the art! You pointed it out and now I can name it. A white Buddha and it’s the only fat character in a card associated with luxury. The card about money gets a Jewish looking person and the first (only?) time we see Hebrew letters. The few brown bodies are portrayed as tribal or too close to “savage.” It’s sloppy, rude and speaks very clearly to that person’s framework.
I don’t want this energy around me anymore. It has to go.
I can report the newer addition is darker than this which is unfortunate bc you can see much more detail in this edition. I did purchase the expansion pack as well. The artwork is fantastic.
Love the art. Does not care as much about representation which seems to be very important for you. Tarot cards represent archetypal messages. Skin color is a material issue not relevant if you are a skilled reader, which you are.
Yeah, it’s beautiful… mine arrived earlier this afternoon. As a black man I know what I’m signing up for when I buy most decks that aren’t pip/ marseille in terms of representation but I ultimately CAN’T with the cardstock. my first vocal comment when I opened the box was “yuck!” Lol. Was an impulse buy so that’s what I get!
They are releasing an expansion pack of more alternative cards so will be interesting to see if they make changes so problematic cards can just be taken out. I however will not be bothering to have a couple cards shipped here to feel more comfortable with any of the images.
Great review. Love your videos.
There’s 78 cards in a tarot, granted decks such as this include extras, however if a creator were to include every ethnicity every walk of life, while trying to keep the tarot system in mind, it’s simply impossible. Just being all inclusive regarding ethnicities would take over 600 cards, and even if we try and squeeze in other aspects of diversity such as sexual orientation, preference, religion, history, tradition/heritage, environment, it’s just simply impossible (unless someone wants to make an oracle which would probably cost a pretty penny to do so lol.)
Long story short, it’s impossible to please everyone and while inclusivity is important, sometimes we need to also have realistic expectations. There are all different types of decks and the beauty of tarot (even oracle) is we can have a wonderful variety of them in our collection. I own decks from queer creators with a heavy focus on non binary yet I’m a heterosexual cisgender female & I adore them. I think we should appreciate these decks for their intended purpose and maybe tone done on being a bit nit picky and taking things as an insult or a negative.
Thank you for bringing attention to this (I say, as though it would've ever been possible for me to justify the purchase of this deck to my inner tight-wad 🤦♀️)! It was the practical advice to deck creators to gather more feedback from marginalized folks for me 🙌
It seems a lot of deck creators don’t ask for help critically evaluating their decks before they are printed.
Yup
Hi, Tom. Your remarks were very intelligent. I really appreciate your outspokenness on the subject of diversity. It's a something I've commented on before. Tarot Map has a video that I commented on and really think I covered my feelings on this subject. I have to say, it's often exhausting and very hurtful to consider and explain my feelings on this subject. You really did a great job covering it. And I'm very grateful. Thanks for the review. Your comments were SPOT ON.
What you are saying bothers me too and since I already have it, I will use it for myself and probably not for others. I got the thin card stock Ed. and I love it. Super bendy. Looks like you got the newer batch which is thicker and smooth, not like mine. They will still have it. There is an expansion pack coming out in both cardstocks and I’m hoping there is more diversity there to add.
I really wanted to get this deck, but saw that the "lighter" weight version was sold out. The version you have is still available, but with hand problems a cardboard type of cardstock is just not a smart option for me. I hear your issues with the deck. I wanted the deck because something about the art reminds me of being a kid in Europe. But I made a pact with a friend to really purchase mindfully with decks reflecting the world we want to see and supporting those decks that get it done. I still think this is beautiful, and if the light weight cardstock version ever becomes available again I will look at it, but I am not so sure I will actually purchase it now. (ps Jewish ancestory.) Thanks, JaimeK
The idea that Portuguese people, who participated in and benefited from the trans-Atlantic slave trade, even if they somehow were all white, do not understand racism or diversity or the effects of the media portrayals of Black people, is nothing but willful ignorance. And the same goes for any kind of racial representation. Portuguese people are not extraterrestrials; they are just as capable of confronting and acknowledging and understanding racism as anyone else is and it is not too much to ask that they do so, or that we as a global audience think and speak critically of it when they don't.
Your interpretation of the 10 of pentacles is surface level and reveals your own prejudices and lack of knowledge rather than the artist’s. Pentacles have a long history within Jewish mysticism and spirituality. They are a Jewish magical tool. The Sephiroth pattern strengthens the pentacle association. There is very little connection to coin in this image. This card features images representing knowledge, community and history. Monetary wealth could be read in this image as well but it is not the focus.
It is a shame that you are looking for reasons to be offended and feel the need to police tarot art.
This deck deserves a better critic.
🤣🤣🤣
Excellent. It's not just you, this deck is down right offensive as are the things you bring up. It's hard to speak out but we need real reviews that do. One cuz that's the point of a review, but also it hurts to hear offensive decks praised. 3 cards is really bad tokens, but 1/2 or the more popular 1/3 is also tokenism. Havana and I just discussed this and set a new bar: we want global majority representation at minimum 60%
Create your own deck and make it happen
@@la-chicagitana9949 I have, more than once. But that doesn't change that this deck is offensive. Your comment is deflection
@@la-chicagitana9949 yes, OR research into a different deck that suits your expectations. Decks are different. I’ve seen many African American decks, I’ve seen many Asian inspired decks, I’ve seen many LGBTQ+ decks...the list goes on. Not every single deck will represent every single sexuality, race, gender, or body type. If you don’t like a specific deck, search for ones that you do identify with.
The art is pretty, but bad cardstock?...no can do.
There is a cardboard and a linen version. The "cardboard" version is supposed to be displayed, the linen one shuffled and actually used as a deck.