Decks That Surprised Me

[@ironempath7261]

What is more satisfying than listening to an expressive tarot enthusiast gush over gorgeous decks? So much fun watching, this video is like a classic. Thanks very much.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Yay!!! Thank YOU!! I'm so happy you enjoyed!!

[@littlebeartarot7692]

Would love to see an updated version of this ! 😊 Your videos always have such great topics!

[@thefoolsjournal]

Ahh good call! Maybe I'll do it yearly!

[@amyhodges959]

“I just want to run away to a monastery” - i randomly feel the same all the time. recently learned i was most likely a nun in a past life. absolutely love Animal Totem Tarot too - it’s brilliant. The guidebook is one of the best I’ve ever read. ❤️

[@veronicajude]

I had to really, really beat up my fountain tarot (I even trimmed the sides) and now it get used a lot. Before I beat it up it was so pristine that it felt icy... now it finally sings and clients love it. :-)

[@thefoolsjournal]

I think I remember you doing a video about that. Maybe I'll beat mine up, a bit...I really do like it...it just hasn't "sang" yet.

[@KateyFlowers]

"The two times I can't shuffle: when there's a tripod in front of me and when someone is watching." Ain't that the truth! Don't ever stop talking about the importance of diversity! I just got the Pagan Otherworlds because I love the look of the minors, but I remembered you talking about it while I was looking through it. All I could think was: 'you can put Christian shit in a Pagan deck, but you can't represent any diversity?!' 🤦‍♀️ Haha I loved this video!

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Katey Flowers RIGHT??! Yes! I know! It makes me nuts. and then people yell at me. Hahah. But I totally agree. 😂

[@DanielECulbertson]

A recent deck that surprised me is the Vice Versa Tarot. I thought at first it might be too gimicky, but I actually found it to be surprisingly thought provoking. It uses symbols and archetypes from one card and combines them with another, such as when the dogs from The Moon card show up on the flip side of The Hermit, or when the two acolytes from The Hierophant show up on the flip side of The Hanged Man as they begin to question religious dogma. I also love the 6 of wands, where on one side you see the typical guy on the horse being cheered for and celebrated, but on the flip side you can clearly see how battered and bloody the people in the crowd are, and it is obvious that the guy who's victory is being celebrated certainly didn't achieve that victory on his own.

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Daniel Culbertson That is really interesting, because I totally thought that deck looked totally gimmicky! I’ll have to take a peek! Do you have a video about it?

[@DanielECulbertson]

Tom Benjamin I do not have a video, unfortunately. I've considered doing some tarot videos, but I'm pretty self-conscious about doing it. I'll see if I can convince my inner hermit to make an exception... Lol.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Join us... join us... 😜

[@danceofthesoultarot]

The Fountain Tarot sat in my collection for almost two years before I felt moved to pick it up. I couldn't find my way past its austerity and remove. But sometime in the last six months it called to me and oddly I"m loving it now. So all this to say, sometimes it takes two years for a deck to 'take' lol. Great video. It's got me thinking about my own 'surprises'.

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Dance of the Soul Tarot It’s TOTALLY true. The Ideosyncradeck was like that for me. And the Pagan Otherworlds. One day-pow! They both just clicked. 😍

[@LittleBlueDuchess]

Wow, I really love this 'tag' and I'm glad some other people have made VRs! One of the decks that surprised me was the Shadowscapes Tarot. I bought it because of the gorgeous art, but I didn't expect much from it because I'm usually into earthy decks instead of airy pastels. Well, it's stuck to me like glue now. I still can't articulate why I like the deck so much, but I know that it feels comfortable and well-rounded. The Wild Unknown was also surprising, in both good and bad ways. It wasn't as powerful in readings as I thought it would be, but it turned out to be a GREAT tarot-map tool (where you spread out cards purposely to illustrate what you feel about a specific topic). It's now my go-to for exploring difficult familial relationships and doing shadow work. But ultimately I feel like the Wild Unknown lacks depth and atmosphere.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Ah the Shadowscapes! Love that deck. For a while it was the only deck I used for readings, because I fell so in love with it. I wish the cards were a little larger, but I think it's so stunning. Wild Unknown surprised me. I didn't expect to like it, but that also became a primary reading deck for a while. I can totally understand why people don't connect with it, though; it's really a unique animal.

[@gnomie2.0]

Z Jones I just did a “reading” like that today where I chose cards purposely to help describe and shift my feelings/energy on a topic. Thanks for giving me another name for that technique (tarot mapping) - I had heard someone call it “face up” Tarot, and I always just called it “choosing my cards intentionally,” which doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as well 😂

[@susanc.3771]

I enjoyed your video. I love the way you modified The Raven's Prophecy Tarot. Even the backs look cool the way the dark black around the edges fades into a lighter black.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Thanks!! Yeah, at first when I did that to the backs I thought OH MY GOD I RUINED IT!! -- but actually I really do quite like it. It has a rustic quality that really fits the deck.

[@kjstarry7784]

Thanks some interesting cards - (personally I loved the Animal Totem & The Wild Wood Tarot from the get go when I got them, and started to realise that with my collection I am drawn to animal type decks a lot)

[@evelinetimeless8602]

Love love love this! Review and walkthrough videos are great, but it's even better when someone later on returns to a deck and says, well actually, I had high hopes but we just did not get on as I thought we would. Or, this deck I got just because and it blew me away. Love that! Thank you so much for doing this video. I'm going to go through my decks now. ;)

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Eveline Timeless Yes!! Make a video!! 😀

[@evelinetimeless8602]

I did and just uploaded it.

[@weststartarot-Liz]

Hi Ben! Great video! So agree with you about the Fountain I backed it because I was so excited about a contemporary deck, but I just don’t use it..... love love love love love L’Oracle des Reflets . It is gorgeous!!! And French!!!!! What could be better than that!!!!! Love the Wildwood there’s just something about it.... I find an ease in reading it yet it’s also deep. I don’t see why you can’t use the Wildwood even though your background isn’t Celtic .. does that mean I can’t use the Vision Quest because I’m not Native American? And what about the Italian decks ??? I’m not Italian..... you get what I mean I hope. Please keep speaking out about more diversity in decks ..... I like how you phrased that.... we can’t change the older decks but moving forward let’s be more reflective of the wonder of diversity of ethnicities, races, ages, shapes and sizes, sexual orientation and so on..... beautiful day on Cape Cod, too!!!!!

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Eliza West ♥️♥️♥️ Yay! We’re neighbors!!! And right on to what you said. 🎃

[@MeadowlarkMystic]

I really enjoyed this! Thank you so much. I think its super interesting hearing how people's relationship to a deck changes over time and also how decks surprise you. I too was surprised by the Golden tarot sforza deck. There is something magical about it even though its large and the people all kind of look like Swedish dolls. :) I am venturing farther and farther into the world of pip decks and actually the Four Elements tarot started me down that path. I love that deck, so nurturing and helpful when you are feeling really confused or sad. Oh one more thing. What you are speaking about regarding something being so beautiful like the Fountain (which I love) but then not being used, this is what I think would happen for me with the Pagan Otherworlds and the Starchild. I keep looking at these decks due to the art and beauty but I don't think they would read well for me. And the overt Christian symbols in the exquisite Pagan Otherworlds bugs me.... but its done so well!!!! Thanks again.

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Find Your Light Yes!!! It’s weirdly like dating, finding decks. You may think “that’s attractive,” but you just don’t click! I felt that way about Pagan Otherworlds. Than one day, we just clicked. Though I still don’t use it all that much. But: I do like it.

[@MeadowlarkMystic]

Tom Benjamin Yes! It is a lot like dating. Someone can be "beautiful" but not be attractive or we just don''t have chemistry with them. Another deck that surprised me in this way was the Ancient Italian tarot. I know you like this deck. I got it and wow! I have been swept off my feet by its strangely captivating old world charm and I must say the imagery somehow speaks to my mind in a new but old way. That sounds weird but I can't find better words right now. I have thought maybe I am tapping into very old symbols like Jung's archetypes? Anyway thanks so much!

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Find Your Light Ohhhh I Looooove That Deck!! Yeeesssssz. It’s so beautiful. I’m totally hear you on that one. It is so captivating. And just amazing. That’s the only deck I ever trimmed to make the back look better. 😂

[@cosmic.creeper]

Loved the video and idea behind going through these decks and your experiences with them. I'm not sure I have any other than my RWS that I don't really use but will think on it. It's interesting how different everyone's experiences are to each deck - looking forward VR responses to this too. Considering the wildwood myself too - it's really pull my interest. I love the artwork especially and have several non traditional decks so thinking I may be able to go along for the ride too. Nice hearing someone speak about this that wasn't just auto in love. Helped me consider all points.

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Cosmic Creeper's Tube Thanks! Yes. I most absolutely didn’t buy the Wild Wood for a Looooong Time. I waited and waited. I really think it’s worth looking into, though, and it’s not super expensive.

[@MyLifeAndTarot]

Grreat! Thanks for sharing your 'surprisers'. The Golden tarot (Visconti) flew my socks off when I opened the box- got it for the same reason as you, but omgosh I'm so loving it... And the Wildwood: so totally knew when got it but still it keeps surprising me to this day. I'm recovering from this nasty cough and I really want to make a response to one of your earlier vids too: the nature decks :) ....soon.... :D

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Empathic Tarot Yes!!! Make those videos! I’ll send you healing juju.

[@marap2453]

Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed watching it. I love most of the decks you mentioned. I think the deck that most surprised me in the Fountain Tarot. I bought it even if I wasn't interested in the artwork. Too modern. But I am really enjoing to work with it. It reads like a dream. The Raven Prophecy and the Wildwood are two of my absolute favourites.

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Mara P I love they you’re loving the Fountain! And I’m happy I gave into the siren song of the Wild Wood!! :-) Raven’s Totally deserves attention.

[@Joyindenver]

I feel the same about the Wild Wood tarot. It’s always fascinated me, but I’ve felt uncomfortable getting it, for the same reason you shared. Thought it was just me. 😅 Beautiful artwork for sure.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Right? Totally understand. The artwork is stunning for sure. I do love It.

[@DogsRGr8]

One man's "diversity" s another man's "irrelevance". LOL one reason why I love nature-based decks,

[@layercakearts]

Great video! You always come up with really original ideas. This should be a VR tag, it's making me want to make a video too on this... when I see a video that makes me jump up and grab a deck I haven't touched for months, that's good stuff ! ;)

[@thefoolsjournal]

Didn't occur to me until halfway through that a tag would be fun--but definitely do a VR! I'd love to see!

[@bcash320]

i adore the ravens prophecy. its my go to deck for most of my personal family readings

[@TheEverseer]

I know exactly what you mean about the Fountain Tarot. I love the artwork and what the creators did with that deck, and I will sit and meditate with it, but I never seem to use it for readings. In some ways I feel like the artwork can be a bit too direct, too intimidating in that it's so powerful in imagery, it's overwhelming for me to use to read with.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Totally get it! It really is beautiful art, I mean it's GORGEOUS. But, yeah, I don't read with it much, and the first few times I did, I could just feel that it wasn't going to happen much.

[@Jstarzy920]

I've been so busy with work these days that I havent been able to pay much attention to tarot. I'm looking at the Fountain Tarot deck and I'm reminded on how I love the images on this deck ...it is soo beautiful when you look at it on camera but when you hold it in you hand its goes blank... Maybe ill use this next month ;hopefully ill have some luck with it this time around.

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Coco C Totally feel the same way. I think it’s gorgeous, though.

[@teresashaffer5745]

My friend trimmed her Tarot of the Four Elements 1/4 inch in on each side. It looks awesome.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Oooo! Nice!!! Maybe if I find an extra copy I'll do that.

[@TopandTang]

I loved I "want to make out with this weather"....no other words will replace how one feels....weathermen must starting using during their broadcasts ASAP!

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Keith Lee Hahahaha! Yaaaad!

[@thefoolsjournal]

*yaaas

[@TopandTang]

tom what's a good book to truly getting pip decks? getting into I meant....

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Keith Lee Well, mine isn’t out yet... but once it is, I’d recommend that. 😜 but I would say Yoav Ben Dov’s Tarot: The Open Reading (now published by Llewelyn as The Marseille Tarot Revealed), and Jean Michelle David’s book on Marseille. Those are my favorites.

[@TopandTang]

well since you peaked my curiosity I'll wait for your tome to come out....reminds of the single 'Sexualing Healing' all happens slowly. God know why that sone come into my head.....oh well... age showing....

[@darklittletarot]

i'm always surprised when people don't resonate with the judgment card in the animal totem tarot : come december 25th, whether you've been a good boy/girl suddenly becomes critically important ! 😂 i know she's got a different explanation in her book, but mine is better !! 🤣 for once a judgment card that i can relate to ! 😁

[@jujudustypages5605]

Fascinating stuff thank you. As ever, delivered in your warm and engaging way! Certainly lots to think about in the quest for new decks. :) Blessings :)

[@thefoolsjournal]

Awe, thanks!!! I appreciate your kind words. Blessings to you, too!

[@altoid8450]

The ravens prophecy deck reminds me of the Halloween oracle which I have. I love using it for a daily card or affirmation.

[@altoid8450]

I posted that before you pulled out the Halloween oracle. Hahahaha. Awesome

[@thefoolsjournal]

Ha!! Right? Both of those were sort of surprising to me!

[@vmtoglia]

Thanks for your review Tom. I just received the Fountain Tarot 3 days ago, and although I'm a newbie at all of this, I "interviewed" my deck with about 7 questions and got some lovely responses in return. It's going to be my "hold no punches" deck, so when I feel I need a good talking to, I'll reach for that one. I love everything about it - like you said it's just a lovely, lovely presentation overall. OH that L'Orace des Reflets has been on my list for a long while, and I don't know why I haven't pulled the trigger! Just curious what prompted you to purchase it if you're not an Oracle kind of guy? You might have said, and if I missed it, I'm sorry. I also just got The Wildwood (yes, thanks to Kelly and the coming November lol). I've loved, loved, loved it for a long time visually, and finally jumped in because it was so cheap, but also because it's so beautiful. I also interviewed it when I got it as well, and got some lovely responses. :-) I wish there were a bigger Wheel of The Year in the book that I could pull out and see better though.(yes...I could google for one, but I want *this* one! LOL) The Wild Magic book I'm waiting on ordering as on the FB page for The Wildwood, people said the type is really really small, and it goes off about guilt trips about the environment etc...so I might wait to see more reviews. I might instead get the earlier book put out by Alison Cross, but even she said to just stick with the book that comes with the deck when I asked her which to get as a newbie. LOL Thanks again Tom! Much enjoyed! :-)

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Vera Toglia-Ross I’m not sure what made me pull the trigger on L’Oracle - it may have been Kelly, but I also think I was drawn by the fact that it’s French and lives in the space between Tarot and Lenormand, and I just LOVE it! I haven’t gotten the Wild Magic book, either. I’m not actually all that in love with the guidebook for Wild Wood, so I’m waiting for someone to tell me what to do. 😂

[@vmtoglia]

Tom Benjamin I hear ya! I think I'm going to ask for it for Xmas. I hope she'll still have some then! 😳

[@IndigoNoetic]

I feel the same way about The Fountain. It just generally doesn’t speak to me.

[@crystalheart9]

I love Will Worthington's artwork. Very earthy and the animals are so beautifully done. I have the Druid CraftTarot which is one of my favorites but I don't have the Wildwood yet. Thanks for these tarot reviews.

[@thefoolsjournal]

He's so talented. I don't have the Druid Craft, but after working with Wild Wood, I may finally get around to it!

[@helentucker6407]

Hi thanks was really good to see other decks. ✌

[@fireoftransformation9826]

Really great video :) I must say you showed three of my favourite decks - Fountain, Ravens Prophesy and the Tarot of the for Elements. Now Ravens Prophesy was for me more than just a surpeise - it felt more like a ''front collision'' at high speed LOL As to the Tof4E I love it, turned out to be as gorgeous as I hoped but I'm not a big fan of the book I must admit. It felt kind of forced, but I noticed that when I read it from cover to cover. I might join in and do a video too ;)

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Fire of Transformation Yes!!! Please do a video!!!!

[@ceridwenscauldron2799]

Such a great video Tom O0o0o I loved what you said about oracles..using oracle to pick a theme for a tarot reading..love that

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Tarot Alchemist ♥️

[@BookLioness]

Hello, Tom. New subscriber (Kelly Bear mentioned you in a chat). Really appreciate this video. The L'oracle des Reflets...... stunning. And of course sold out lol. I had the Animal Totem but found it too flimsy (I had the old useless paper box) and I just couldn't bond with it, so I traded it. Thank you so much again, and I look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Yay! Thanks for being here -- please let me know if there's anything you'd like to see!

[@Lauri_Tarot]

This is such an interesting concept. Thanks so much - I really enjoyed it! 😘

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Thrifty Mystic My pleasure!

[@CrescentMoon]

Excellent video. Thank you for this. 😃

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Crescent Moon ♥️

[@AuthenticallyChad]

I too am living for this day! (Any day that is cool and crisp and slightly blustery is wonderful, although I also appreciate cloud cover in that mix as well sometimes.) I also get behind the dislike of the shrill squealing of children. Children are fine, but we need like 100% less squealing… We're like twin souls on these points. I really enjoyed seeing these decks and hearing your opinions on how well or not well you work with them. There is always something deeper at work in how each of us connect with particular decks beyond the more surface fascination with beautiful art. It’s an endlessy fascinating topic for me. Thank you for sharing! Finally, keep preaching the diversity message! It needs to be heard loud and clear. Much love!!

[@thefoolsjournal]

+Authentically Chad We really are! #greatminds 😜 And the weather!! (Actually it rained in New England today, but still... October!!!)

[@BlueBonbonBerry]

i really enjoy your videos. when you´re doing a reading do you choose a deck that you think is fitting or let the querent say what speaks to them?

[@thefoolsjournal]

Thanks!! ❤️ Honestly, I usually reach for a deck I'm really captivated with--or one that that fits onto a table. :-) I do a couple really large spreads that take up a lot of space, so I tend to reach for really small decks when doing this.

[@BlueBonbonBerry]

Tom Benjamin I was wondering if you have an Instagram or Facebook (currently not so fashionable I must admit...)?

[@Nazlairdie]

great video, got to recommend you give the Slow Holler deck another go, its such a powerful & modern deck it reads so beautifully & the guide book is brilliant guide as well, cant recommend it enough!.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Thanks, Naomi! I'm sure the SH will pop into my life again. It has a wintery feel to it, so maybe it'll start coming up in January...the colors feel very January to me, somehow.

[@gnomie2.0]

Tom Benjamin curious if you ever started using this deck! I love it so much 😍

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

I am so curious about the fountain tarot. I have no idea if I would love or hate it... I will have to buy it one day to find out. At least its unique.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

BTW, is it related in some way to Ayn Rand??

[@thefoolsjournal]

The fountain tarot? Gosh, I don't know -- I don't think so. I'm not a big Ayn Rand fan, so I wouldn't know -- but it is a pretty deck. It's available as a mass market... I think it's really pretty, though I don't really use it...

[@clarelantern]

I love your video~

[@thefoolsjournal]

Awe, thanks!! I appreciate that!!

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

4:00

[@chrisann3497]

You MUST not be too far from me here in NY :) ...because today was just beautiful out!!! I wish every day was just like this!!!

[@thefoolsjournal]

+ChrisAnn Not far! Massachusetts!

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

Katie Flowers brought me here. :)

[@boxoffrogs9712]

That was interesting, thank you. And, should it make any difference, I'm from Celtic stock, please use with my blessing, if something from my ancestory benefits you, then I'm all for it. Wishing you many more beautiful days.

[@thefoolsjournal]

❤️ Thanks for that.

[@crowquilltarot]

Great observations. Your videos are informative and jam-packed with interesting perspectives; I'm really appreciating them. Those children sound like a horror movie playing in the background! Hahahahha...."why aren't they home doing homework?" I have my crankiness about general readings, also (and in general) - I've thought about writing an advice column called The Cranky Crone, or The Grouchy Goddess. If one more person starts their video with "this is a general reading, take what fits for you...." Christ. Why bother? I'm getting old; my time is far too valuable for that muckity-muck wishy-washy BS. If you don't have something specific and clear to offer, move aside. Pardon me...was that out loud?!

[@karentaylorsmells]

Great vid thanks :))

[@thefoolsjournal]

Thanks for watching!!

[@Queen_of_Missfit_Island]

The kids lmao

[@thefoolsjournal]

RIGHT? Little crazies.

[@EsotericTherapy]

@23:35 So you respect the Celtic tradition enough to not want to "culturally appropriate" it, yet you do not respect/care/understand that we want to depict the Celts and traditions of the British Isles accurately because you just want "diversity"? What the actual hell are you talking about? (Question to you from a modern Celtic Pagan/Witch descended mostly from Britain, plus Portugal which is also part of the modern Celtic identity constructed as part of the Romanticist Celtic Revival.) You say "early cultures came from different parts of the world" in your vague and meaningless way. Celts did not come from non-Caucasian parts of the world, so I don't know what you are saying in reference to this deck. Frankly, it's pretty goddamn hypocritical and ungrateful of you to shit on this deck, in particular, about "diversity" when this deck represents the types of traditions that pre-date the modern (Western/predominantly Caucasian) esoteric traditions that gave birth to the Tarot. People like you are always saying that white/Anglo/Western/etc people shouldn't engage in "cultural appropriation". Well guess what? THIS IS MY FREAKING CULTURE. How dare you display such judgemental ignorance with an air of righteous indignation.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Dry your white tears.

[@teresashaffer5745]

maybe it was she left a quarter inch on each side. I will ask her and get back to you.