My Top 5 Disappointing Decks | 2022

[@WickedMoonlight1]

Do you own any of these decks? Do you agree with me? What was your most disappointing deck of 2022 if I didn't include it here? Let me know below! Thanks for watching! ❤

[@dianaizquierdo9265]

I am a Disney fan , but I have not purchased any Disney themed decks for the same reason. Unfortunately, I don’t connect with them. My intuition does not flow.

[@jalisak]

That’s exactly why I didn’t purchase any of their decks. Such a shame. I really loved this and would love more videos like this!

[@nicodemusblackowl]

I got the Weiser deck too... I edned up gifting it to my sister and got myself the Awaken Deck instead.

[@crystalheart9]

A real deal breaker for me are pip decks. I'm just speaking for myself but pip cards are difficult for me to read. I get nothing from seeing objects lined up. I really enjoy fully illustrated decks for the new inspiration I get from the cards. Also it seems most companies are abandoning quality control. What ever comes off the presses is good enough. It's difficult to get a deck of cards anymore without some of the cards having blips and flaws on them. I appreciate your showing decks you find disappointing and your reasons why. It's bad enough the prices are going up and up but to buy a deck with pips for minors and misprints and a thin little guide book with no effort put into it is too much. It feels like a rip off. Thanks for your great video and allowing me to rant a bit.

[@WickedMoonlight1]

I completely agree. Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@jonwest3980]

I agree, a pip deck is a deal breaker for me too

[@crystalheart9]

@@jonwest3980 I sit there and stare at those pips and try and remember what the illustration looks like. Breaks my concentration.

[@JupiterRising3607]

@@crystalheart9 I'm totally with you on all you said. Pip decks & in particular badly made one's, such as we always seem to be getting these days from Insight Editions have almost nothing we can get from our intuition. And it's just laziness on their part to defer to non illustrated minors. Okay, rant .. somewhat over for now ...

[@crystalheart9]

@@JupiterRising3607 Just plain cheap and lazy. It's bad enough to raise the price but to give you a cheap product is even worse. My rant is over for now too.🤣

[@lynnettetucker7744]

I am so glad that you did this video! Someone had to say it. I have them all, but I share your same disappointments especially with the Alice and Wonderland deck. Being a pip isn’t even the real issue. The minor arcana were just not done well. It’s beautiful and I had such super high hopes for this deck. I was pretty devastated about it.

[@christinescorner1858]

I agree with all of these. Thankfully I don’t own any of them. I generally don’t go for these types of “themed” or pop culture decks because I feel like they’re money grabs and not really created by people with a thorough understanding of tarot. Tarot reading has had a rise in popularity in recent years, and since then it seems like more of these fandom themed decks are popping up. If you enjoy them, that’s totally valid and that’s great for you. I just personally feel no connection to them and cannot read with them. The fact that they’re more often than not pip decks just adds onto my disconnection from them. Pip decks can be great, but they’re just not my personal preference. Every tarot card has several in depth meanings and there’s endless ways to play with imagery to relay those messages. Pip decks, for me, just don’t give out that message. But overall I feel like a lot of these money-grab themed decks are rushed and are created by people who don’t even know tarot and just refer to a quick google definition of a card..

[@steffymuze]

yep, exactly. I only own one which is the Garbage Pail Kids because it was a gift. It is well done and not a pip deck so I know they can do it if they really want to. It's why I don't go for these given a choice though; they're just lazy cash grabs to me too and that further takes away from the reasons I use them.

[@JupiterRising3607]

I totally agree, pips aren't really my thing either.

[@darkfaetarot]

Pausing to comment, the Insight Editions deck have become overpriced due to demand and hype, some of it because the decks target the much younger crowds. I will continue watching... more to say... ok... I am at the end... I honestly have to say, we are not their target consumer, the target is the average person who is doing tarot stuff as a 5 min hobby, in one day, out the other... just my humble opinion. Thank you for this video, I really enjoy watching and listening to you and appreciate your reflections.

[@jonwest3980]

I agree 100% especially regarding TLOTR, it's my favourite book and I was so looking forward to it and I was so disappointed. Thanks to you and other reviewers, I saw all of these before I was persuaded to purchase, so thank you, you saved me a lot of money❤

[@WickedMoonlight1]

Right? Glad to know im not alone. Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@amberglenaman397]

Natasha, I have two decks by insight editions: NBC and Tarot Del Toro. I was disapointed in the minnor arcana for both decks. The Del Toro was Marseille based; However the pips aren't layed out in the same manner. I have just come to accept Insight Editions wants to produce decks as quickly as possible. They are coming out with the Dark Crystal Tarot and I expect to be disapointed. They have the copyrights to creat these works, they just don't have the passion it takes to connect with the subject matter in a meanigful way. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. All my best, Amber

[@JupiterRising3607]

I also have Tarot Del Toro & I've actually sectioned the non illustrated minors away from the illustrated cards by the ribbon in the box. Because there's literally NOTHING to read from those lazy images & I don't want to get myself annoyed on purpose if I see those boring pips.

[@JupiterRising3607]

Omg, I'm so glad you did this video! INSIGHT EDITIONS NEED TO SERIOUSLY LIFT THEIR GAME! 😡 When I saw the title of this, I knew I'd probably want to 'get on my soapbox' - not about you but about Insight Editions! Whenever I see any deck as a preorder or even just in general, I check first if it's published by 'I E' or not - and if it is, then I refuse to add it to my wishlist - and I always put everything I order into my wishlist until it's delivered to me. One deck that didn't make your list was the Elder Scrolls Skyrim tarot deck by 'I E'. I was sooooo looking forward to it but was deeply, and I mean DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED & ANNOYED at their lacklustre cash grab attitude towards the creation of this deck - like practically EVERY DECK THEY DO NOW. I've been thinking for a while to review the Skyrim deck on my channel - but I know I'll probably have to try my best to tone down the shade but I still want to be honest about how I feel about the deck & the attitude towards the decks published from 'I E' in general. Sorry to yell with the caps Natasha but what I think of 'I E' & how disrespectful they are to decks & readers - who essentially are their client base - is kinda no breaking news to you by now, I'm guessing. Thank you again for doing this video Natasha, it really needed to be done because I think there's a lot of us out there that have just about had enough of being short changed by them. 🙏🏼💞🌏🕉

[@karayala1]

I also enjoy a good pip deck like a Fortuna Tarot style as an example but agree that when a deck is created to represent a famous movie like the Disney films they leave a lot to be desired just as you said. I also own several of IE decks such as Alice, Labyrinth and was soo excited for Hocus Pocus but they all fell short for me sadly. Still happy to have them as collectibles 😁

[@pookabunny2051]

I'm so glad I saw this video before I bought the new Buffy The Vampire Slayer from Insight Editions that's coming out in March. I will wait to see a review because I would rather not have a pip deck and I want to make sure the guidebook is pretty good first. Thank you for this review.

[@JupiterRising3607]

I'm the same, been bitten a few times by Insight Editions. I'm not so eager to go with any of their decks anymore - at least not until I've seen the deck & guidebook where possible first.

[@catevans2125]

Thank you for your honesty - I have not bought any of these decks as I found them to be disappointing as well. Take care ❤️

[@Mystomach]

You missing out. 😂😂😂. The alice in wonderful deck is brilliant. I think a lot of what is disliked here is pip decks but that is where you can really tap into your intuition.

[@sarboo]

I felt like this about the Supernatural deck....how they managed to reduce 15 seasons down to really basic, lazy art was exasperating 😫 also the Stranger Things deck without Eddie....how?! 🙈🤷🏻‍♀️

[@ashleypolk3284]

Thankfully I don’t own any of those decks(your review videos have saved my wallet) but I can definitely see the absolute disappointment in these card decks and honestly need more work to be done. And also my one pet peeve is most definitely making the minor arcana be nothing but pip decks I want the minor arcana to have scenes and pictures in them that will tell me what’s going on and etc I do agree with your picks of tarot/oracle decks.

[@WickedMoonlight1]

Thank you so much for watching! ❤️

[@JupiterRising3607]

Totally agree with you Ashley.

[@sarakat3707]

I guess the Buffy tarot by IE will be fully illustrated (Ethony posted about asking them) I'm a huge buffy fan so I'm hopeful

[@WickedMoonlight1]

Oh thats great to hear 🤞! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@JupiterRising3607]

I hope you're right about the minors being fully illustrated Sara but I'm not preordering, I'm gonna wait & see what it looks like first. 🙄

[@Mystomach]

It will be on sale. Don’t pre order. Like the supernatural. After a couple of months it goes down Half price. Personally I don’t mind pip decks. A Real deal beaker for me is having no guide book. Often what we dislike about a deck is something we need to immerse ourselves in. We keep repelling it but we need to learn why we struggle with it so much. All of these decks you don’t like simply cause they are pips decks.

[@fattima7913]

I really appreciate your honesty, I think the same thing about the inside decks are very commercial, and lack of attention to the community because it feels robbed. btw I love your channel.Saludos ✨✨

[@WickedMoonlight1]

Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@MJ-sv1qt]

I feel you 200% regarding Insight Edition decks. I had two poorly printed Stranger Things decks sent to me: one was very off-centered and the replacement deck was off-centered and had the title of The Fool chopped off. I completely give up on their decks at this point. Like you, I previously bought others and was so disappointed because I felt they completely missed the mark, especially considering the amount of material they have to work with. I love Alice in Wonderland as well! Have you checked out Dame Darcy’s Queen Alice Tarot? This is my favorite Alice deck that has been published so far.

[@JupiterRising3607]

Tarot in Wonderland by Barbara Moore is also a great fully illustrated deck - all minors as well as the majors.

[@Mystomach]

The Alice in wonderful was fabulous and the cups was especially cute

[@CedarMoonWitch]

I think at this point, if you don’t like pip decks you should know Insight Editions decks aren’t going to be your thing. Personally, I love pip decks! I like not being pigeonholed into one interpretation of a card, which is often what happens with highly detailed minors.

[@WickedMoonlight1]

I enjoy pip decks but yeah, IE seems to be very hit and miss with it. Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@abbeypeters2765]

I am glad I didn't waste my time with most of the IE decks. When I heard all of these super pop culture-themed decks were coming out, I realised that they would most likely just be a cash grab. It's a similar issue with witchcraft and the occult becoming more mainstream, it's going to be exploited.

[@JupiterRising3607]

I'm hoping that won't happen even though I know it is a sad but true reality these days. Too many places not respecting the importance & sacredness of these.

[@TarotbythePines]

I’m so over IE decks. Never going to buy another one again. No matter how much I like the theme. Thanks for sharing 💚

[@WickedMoonlight1]

I totally understand that. Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@JupiterRising3607]

I'm totally the same. Been bitten a couple of times already by their lazy ass decks, not gonna make that mistake again.

[@TarotbythePines]

@@JupiterRising3607 I don’t blame you! It’s so frustrating that they don’t listen to the feedback.

[@JupiterRising3607]

@@TarotbythePines exactly, we are after all, practically their whole customer base!

[@debbiehaavaldsrud6272]

I love the Weiser deck. Love the color scheme. But I agree with you on the other ones.

[@MysticalEmpowerment]

I don't have any of these. I was tempted to pick up the Weiser Tarot when it first came out, but I since I have enough Rider-Waite style decks, it never happened. And pip decks are not appealing to me. I have a handful and that's quite enough. Thank you for your honest assessments of these decks.

[@hueytaruc]

I definitely see the pattern of decks they publish there: Fantastic, fully illustrated Majors but mediocre Minors. They carry a lot of pop culture themed decks too, and I don't want to say that they're doing a cash-grab by marketing popular names, but still. They have some potential tbh.

[@mermaidrisingtarot]

I have my Alice in Wonderland & Nightmare Before Christmas fun love the artwork but yeah they could have done so much more for all of these. I wasn't drawn to the coloring on the Weiser deck at all. Instead of collecting more of these fan pip decks I've decided to back some artists on kickstarter instead.

[@JupiterRising3607]

Kickstarter is fantastic but I avoid it - only because I know how bad my spending habits are & I'd probs end up having to sell the shirt off my back because of how many decks I'd want to buy! 😄💞

[@mistsoftimeemporium]

I think IE should put more emphasis on having a 'finished' deck. While the decks are good, with a little more effort on the stock, minors, and back of the cards, they could have great decks! Wo do enjoy a lot of their decks, though! I completely agree with you about The Weiser Tarot! ~ Joni

[@WickedMoonlight1]

Totally! Thanks for watching Joni! ❤️

[@bonniehalford1329]

I don't feel that you are being picky or overly critical. I have been waiting for The Dark Crystal Tarot to come out for years. I won't pre-order it and if it's not well done, there will be no point in purchasing it. I'm becoming pickier. I have some stunning decks and there are many more stunning decks out there. If the Dark Crystal doesn't meet my expectations, there's no point. As a company, I can't respect it if you are assembly line producing and cutting corners just to get the next fandom deck out there. This community has been very vocal about our likes/dislikes. I just hope that they are listening. Thank you as always Natasha, I love your videos 💖.

[@tarotducheneblanc]

I feel you with the Lord of the Rings... I got this deck because of the illustrations on the back of the box (it was wrapped so I couldn't see inside and I didn't have my phone with me so I couldn't look online for a flip through)... and when I opened it at home I was so disappointed!! I love the majors but Oh my, the minors felt like another deck. I ended up cutting the huge map-like guide for better use but I couldn't use it with these minors. ☹

[@IrishSeanMac]

This is what kills my spirit when it comes to Insight Editions decks - the Major Arcana are AMAZING. The Court cards are stunning. The Aces invite you into the suits for a deeper understanding. Then the 2-10 cards are Beavis &Butthead. Bland, boring, and stupid. Just sucks out my psychic energy.

[@tinapolley9073]

Insight editions got it good lol. Yeah I had the disney villans and I gave it away. I have the labyrinth it just sits in my closet rack of deserted decks. My most disappointing deck of 2022 was the druid craft tarot. I was so excited but I couldn't shuffle them so I moded it and that didn't make it any better, I bought a second copy of a different edition hoping the cardstock was different bit it wasn't so I modded that one slightly different and it worked a bit better. I was just really disappointed because I love the art bit I'm a tactile person and the act of riffle shuffling can make it or break it for me.

[@WinterWitchTarot]

I feel the same way about The Weiser Tarot. It turned out to be a huge disappointment for me.

[@WickedMoonlight1]

I'm glad I am not alone. Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@tasseographie]

Same about the LOTR tarot deck! I felt so cheated bc two of the pictures on Amazon showed the ace of rings and the eight of swords, Shelob (the spider). Silly me thought that meant they were giving us fully illustrated minors! Was so disappointed by that. But it's not the end of the world! I found a LOTR tarot deck on etsy that retails for about US $40 that has fully illustrated minors inspired mostly by the movies! It reads wonderfully and I can't recommend it enough for anyone looking for a lovingly crafted LOTR deck!

[@liminal.season]

Thanks for what you do!❤

[@WickedMoonlight1]

Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@miss_florence]

Totally agree wilth your point with the franchise decks, it feels like it's been lazily done for the minors, that they rush the creation process to publish as many decks as they can, just to get our money because it is tempting to purchase a deck because we love its universe. It Always ends up being frustrating and disappointing. That's why I have never purchased those decks despite the appealing themes. I don't even watch reviews now for this sort of decks because I know thé decks will be disappointing.

[@marilynmonroig]

All of these seem to follow the Tarot of Marseille. They were the first cards used for divination. The minor cards were what we call pip cards. They were read using numerology. I am giving the Tarot of Marseilles style a try. I like images because that's how I learned, with the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot style. This is the first time I have heard about this company. Maybe I didn't pay attention to the original reviews. I will do it now for sure.

[@Kenough_in_Wonderland]

Been looking forward to this one 🔮

[@JupiterRising3607]

Same

[@moonlightmama11]

In general I'm not drawn to pip decks. I only have one The Harmony Tarot and I love it. The artwork is so delicate and beautiful. I get a lot out of it.

[@ThePracticalIntuitive]

I agree about the minors. I purchased one deck by Minerva (Supernatural tarot) and was so disappointed with the lack of fully illustrated minors, I never purchased from her again. For the price of the decks, the minors should be fully illustrated. Personally, I feel Minerva is just in it for the money. That's not how I roll.

[@JupiterRising3607]

I'm completely the same, cash grabs annoy me.

[@sarawaggle]

I have the Star Trek Next Gen deck, looks like those you mentioned with the Minors. I pulled out the Majors & face cards and use them for daily shorts. It is disappointing & perhaps there are copywright issues. I have fun with them nonetheless. That LOTR guidebook tho!!

[@kanashiiookami6537]

What are your thoughts on the Spirit Within tarot by Steven Bright? I personally have mixed feelings about that one, but I'd like to hear yours.

[@Kenough_in_Wonderland]

Alice in Wonderland had so much more potential, the imagery in that film gives eeeeverything a good deck needs and more and they really didn't do it justice. I love Alice in Wonderland so much, but am new to reading tarot by myself, so that deck is really not useable for me unfortunately.

[@JupiterRising3607]

Once I knew that deck was published by Insight Editions, I turned on the opposite direction. I got the deck 'Tarot in Wonderland' by Barbara Moore, it's fully illustrated from Majors through all Minor's, not just the court cards. I love that deck.

[@luzmariaruiz9314]

I would've place the Alice in wonderland in number one 😭 I had such high hopes on that one and boy it disappointed everyone!! I mean the art was stunning, was it too much too ask to have nicely done minors??? I really wanted to buy it but it just feels the publishers just wanted easy money, they weren't committed to the fans who were so excited beforehand.

[@traciesmock133]

I’m wondering if it isn’t something in the licensing. I have the Star Trek deck from Insight and the pips are the same as all the ones you mentioned. Maybe since the franchises of these decks are so huge they are only allowed to use the likenesses on the Majors? All have so much material they can draw from I can’t believe they just aren’t illustrating the pips for lack of creative artists….

[@midnightunicorn5139]

I stopped buying Insight Editions decks after Disney Villains because of the pips. I wanted the Alice and Hocus Pocus decks but waited for unboxings. I’m glad I did because they’re clearly cash grabs

[@JupiterRising3607]

Yep, I held back from those too until I saw what they were like - I want impressed but glad I didn't waste my money on them.

[@wownicole81]

I’ve found the LoTR deck to be great in use, but the guide “book” is a pain.

[@ferrisulf]

A pip deck is a dealbreaker for me. More so because a lot of these feel like lazy pips. I have seen a few pips that can still be intuitive, but these all felt like moneygrabs. Sounds like I will just avoid Insight Editions completely. There was zero excuse for the LOTRs deck. I'm a huge fan of Tolkien, and there is SO MUCH they could have pulled from...and they didn't. That really makes it feel like it wasn't a labor of love, because a true fan who got the chance to make a deck of his work would go all out. So it feels like a slap in the face to us.

[@calypso_lazuli]

I have come to the realization that most themed/pop-culture decks are going to be a cash grab pipish deck and I won’t buy one unless I geek out on the franchise. The nightmare before Christmas taught me that lesson big time, soooo disappointed but then again there’s some which have scenic pips like the Golden Girls and The Wizard of Oz and are totally worth it.

[@AmyJo_Rebecca]

I think the disappointing part for me with the pop culture/IE decks is that they could be SO useful for learning tarot. For example, the Supernatural deck and the major arcana were so well matched in terms of characters and meanings but the pip deck gives you nothing. Even if they were Rider-Waite scenes recreated would be so much better than just pips that have no context for the meanings at all. Plus as you say they all have a wealth of material to use, and coupled with the mistakes in editing/quality control just gives the feeling of sloppy rushed cash grabs. The disappointment is palpable

[@NYCHFAN]

I think they had to pay a licensing fee for each character portrayed, so made them pip decks to keep costs down. Showing how different we all are, I love the colors and the way the Weiser RWS is painted. 😁😁 I'm SO GLAD the cards aren't too thick, too! I hate thick cardstock, lol! I know many folks don't like this deck as they feel it is only a nod to diversity (facial features aren't changed to reflect racial diversity).

[@francesrobinson1335]

All of these minors are "fully illustrated". I think your issue is that they are not "scenic minors". I love a good pip deck and I read them in much the same way that I read TdM. Numerology and elemental meanings provide a more nuanced interpretation, in my opinion. To each his/her own.

[@Rosies.GreenLeafOdyssey]

It's frustrating to get a deck that's beautiful and great.... Until... you get to the minors. I bought several decks last year. My most disappointing was "The Crystal Power Tarot." The Box is illustrated nicely. Not a fan of the side slide though. And the minors are double Blah... like you said. Very boring... no character in them so it's hard to get any intuitive feeling from them. The majors are very beautiful though... so not totally disappointed. I picked up a couple dragon decks that I really love."Star Dragon" and "Dragon Path." Not sure why I hit on dragons at the close of last year, but I see them as protectors and creatures of justice. I love the movie where Connary is the voice of the dragon... forgot the name. Dennis Quaid was the lead. Would love to see what you think of these decks... or, have you done a flip through on these already? I started with less than 10 decks a year ago. I now have 33.... lol. I bought at least a couple through your affiliate link. If I see something that really resonates with me, chances are it'll be put on my list of decks to get. And YES, I agree with your assessment of these 5 decks. Money grab decks just don't have the right spirit behind them in my opinion. Thank you for sharing your opinions. (Almost was gonna get the Hocus Pocus deck because I love the movie, but now now. Will wait for someone to put more effort into that theme).

[@elsbethc156]

I bought the labyrinth deck and I was stupid excited, I've been a labyrinth fan girl my entire life. The majors were fantastic and then just like these... really boring pip cards. 8 literal jugs, the same only with one missing for 7 etc. But I love the Weiser deck. The art is watercolory to me . Art is so subjective. I am not a fan of the thick matte cardstock though

[@robertawalsh2995]

Licensing fees probably pushed up the cost for producing the DC and Marvel decks. Licensing fees might be the same EI doesn't illustrate the pip cards. Same for Lord of the Rings not using material from the movies. Some people don't want to pay $50 and up for every deck.

[@killywilly740]

I can get down with a pip deck, but these IE decks just feel like they took the cheap route. They release deck after deck with these properties. It's a cash grab.

[@JupiterRising3607]

Exactly

[@LittleAmyHe]

I’m okay with pip decks, but I hate pip decks that are just copy and pasted over and over again for minor cards.

[@JupiterRising3607]

I agree

[@BrianScottGameNight]

Wow most of them are from Disney. What a surprise-not!

[@dayofthejackyl]

Those all look awful. But even the concepts are bad. They look like they’re decks for kids. I would avoid this publisher at all costs. The lotr deck is inexcusable. The art of awful too. Just a bad collection of decks start to finish. It’s ok to bash on this publisher. They obviously pump out a bunch of garbage.