Pagan Otherworlds: almost a great tarot.

#deckreview #paganotherworlds #tarot
Pagan Otherworlds is a meticulously-produced Marseille-RWS fusion deck by Uusi. The concept of the project becomes less clear as it progresses into the pentacles... but if this stylish fantasy world of Renaissance pagans appeals, it may be the deck for you.
The deck (currently priced at $58) comes without a guidebook, which is sold separately (currently $25). The designers' website is here: uusi.us/collections/uusi-taro...
The poem that I (mis)quote at the end is by Ronald Ross.

[@kimberlyfour]

Thank you so much for this review/walk-through. I am very attracted to the artwork on the deck. I think the biggest draw for me is the expensiveness and starkness of the world these characters exist in. II also like the absence of people in the pips. Thank you for your thorough comparison. I agree those pentacle cards are disappointing. I am still considering getting it, but this does give me pause. I need to have a generous flatmate. 😂I am curious if you’ve seen the new deck by Artisan Tarot. It’s called The Rider-Marseille Tarot and it is designed by Alejandro Rozan. He uses the TDM art style to re-create an RS deck. I really love his art as well. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. If the deck comes your way, please please do a walkthrough!

[@teatarot4557]

I've looked at other people's flip-throughs of that deck and my feeling is that is doesn't really work. I'd like to have a closer look, but I don't get free copies, I buy all my own decks, so I try to only buy decks that I think I would use for reading. Incidentally, the concept of this deck is similar to the Keishobu, a Japanese deck that has recently been restored and re-released. I have reviewed it.

[@NYCHFAN]

I always learn something new when I watch your videos. Thank you so much! I have this deck, but have never really used it as I wanted to read the guidebook first and haven't gotten to that part yet. 😊 I love the cardstock. Thank you for the poem at the end, I burst out laughing! 😂 Love your Andy Warhol-ish "hair", too! ❤❤

[@teatarot4557]

Thank you🙂

[@SixStringSteve]

I see your friend unnecessarily broke the seal at the top - the cards could have been removed from the bottom instead. Annoying that Uusi make their decks this way - it’s like a challenge - how to open the box without breaking the seal 😂 For me the 3 swords is the worst card - no imagination, just a copy paste of RWS. Tbh I missed many of the RWS connections, thank you for your comprehensive and clear review 🙏 I feel the same way - it’s a near miss.

[@thestoneinsidethecave]

Hi, Robert. I agree with your thoughts about the deck although I really enjoy using it on certain occasions and I’m not disturbed by the inconsistencies. Most of the decks I own have cards I dislike or don’t agree with. I love real pip deck and I don’t consider this to be one but I think that this deck might be helpful for people wanting to transition from the RWS into pip decks. You might be interested to know that this is actually not so much of a fantasy deck. The fantasy you see reflected on the deck actually comes from pagan carnival traditions, particularly that of La Vijanera in Cantabria, Spain. Now you can ask how this came into being. I have no idea but if you search for photos and videos of La Vijanera you will find that it is exactly where these characters and costumes are coming from.

[@teatarot4557]

That's very interesting, thanks. I will check it out.:-)

[@NYCHFAN]

Thank you for this info - my mom is from Spain, very folk catholic, but doesn't know any beliefs outside of that, so am always up to learning more about this! ✌️❤️

[@DaraDione]

Thank you SO much for mentioning La Vijanera as I had no idea -- the costuming is obviously very much based upon that tradition from the photos I googled. I finally acquired the deck and book a few months ago, but I don't recall seeing anywhere that the artists referred to the influence of that event on their imagery, so that's an unfortunate oversight on their part. Again, though, I appreciate that I now know where some of their visual inspiration came from!

[@thestoneinsidethecave]

@@DaraDione you’re welcome. I keep postponing going to the carnival every year but I will have to go sometime.

[@marykayryan7891]

Man! Were you correct about the pentacles. I kept thinking, huh? They just do not fly. Too bad because I liked the rest of the deck. I think the "moon cards" could be useful as time indicators. "When can I see this happen?" Check were the moon is at the time of the reading and go ahead to the moon indicated. Or set the time indication before the reading. Three full moons from now or next quarter plus one or something. Too precious? Just a thought.

[@teatarot4557]

That's a good thought! Unfortunately the person who gifted me the deck kept the moon cards:-)

[@sonia98789]

Three things. One, I would like to recommend to all Moon Freaks out there The Book of the Moon by Steven Forrest. Two, I find the Pagan Otherworlds deck very elegant indeed, and three, it pays off to stay tuned until the very end - hee, hee!

[@teatarot4557]

Glad you stayed tuned🙂

[@empresssong]

Great review! I chuckled at "moon freaks" of course, lol. This deck never appealed to me, as it's just too dreary for my taste. Hence, I prefer Friborg's tarot for the sunset color-palette, but of course I'm partial to the sun. You made some great observations that I've never heard referenced in other reviews. Appreciate your keen, artistic eye and attention to detail! xx

[@teatarot4557]

Yes, the colours in Friborg's deck are more juicy, I agree. Thank you:-)

[@PansWillowStream]

There are some beautiful images and artwork in this deck. When I purchased my copy a few years ago, I was hoping for a “pagan“ tarot deck, but this is heavily laden with Christian images to my disappointment as a non-theist. I rehomed my copy. Enjoyed your review! Thanks!

[@marykayryan7891]

So I checked to see if this book you have been referencing that you are writing or have written was out yet. I gather not. What's your ETA on that? I'd love to see it.

[@teatarot4557]

Hoping to get the book out next year!

[@marykayryan7891]

Yay! @@teatarot4557

[@TarotDomina]

Never really got the hype of this deck, i think its overrated to be honest. Its beautiful but theres alot of beautiful tarot decks i dont want. This deck may not be groundbreaking but this tarot channel is 🙏 you, unlike many other tarot reviewers, are not afraid to share your distaste. I find it quite refreshing and what the tarot community needs. Thanks for sharing your knowledge & perspective on card slinging. I look forward to seeing more!

[@teatarot4557]

Thank you! I really enjoy doing this, so I'll carry on:-)

[@novamunditarot]

thanks for the great review. Do you have The Earth Magic Tarot? would love to hear your thoughts on that one. And I just tagged you in a community challenge that I have recently created 🤓 No pressure though 🩵🙏🏻

[@teatarot4557]

The Earth Magic tarot looks nice! Where would I find your tag? I'm a bit useless with finding my way around KZbin.

[@novamunditarot]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYHZq2WLa5h_mpo @@teatarot4557