Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Review of the Tarot of the Hidden Realm (Updated)


Normally I just buy a deck, but this time I really wanted it on the day it was released, so I've preordered the Tarot of the Hidden Realm from an online bookstore. Finally today it arrived in the mail. I was so excited and yes, the cards were amazing. All the cards were beautifully painted by  Julia Jeffrey, with natural earthy colors. When I flipped them through it was indeed like you were strolling through a hidden realm. I came across so many different creatures and fairy folk. 

And with that said, I had discovered my main problem with this deck. There are too many people in the cards. I didn't mind that some of the meanings were different then with the standard Rider Waite. But for me it’s hard to see the meaning behind the people, for instance just a guy with a sword looking up to the stars as the seven of swords.
The book tells you the stories and the circumstances of these fairy people and it is beautiful written as you would expect from Barbara Moore. But for me it would take me to long to learn the characters of the people on the cards with their full story. I like to just take a glance and know what a card is telling me. Later on, if I want to, I also like to search for little details in the scenery on the cards.  
tarot of the hidden realm julia jeffrey
Tarot of the Hidden Realm - Julia Jeffrey
So I did hesitate, because I liked the pictures a lot. But I don't want to have a deck that is likely to end up in a drawer instead of on the table.
At first I thought I would keep it and think of an oracle meaning to go with each card. But I recently bought the Anna K Tarot and for now this deck will keep me occupied, so I’ve send the Hidden Realm Tarot back to the bookstore.
This is just my personal meaning for I  still think that it’s really a great deck. The cardstock is not to thick but good enough. They are smooth and have a matte finish. The pictures are phenomenal and the book is awesome.

I still am a bit sad it’s not for me L (for now…)


Addition May 3 2014

Today I've received this deck for the second time (birthday Present) and I am ever so happy this deck and Iwill get another chance to connect. I never felt good about my giving up on it, If you are curious about my new experiences with this deck I invite you to follow my blog because I am going to use this deck regularly for daily draws for the coming time. I am really looking forward  to it!

14 comments:

  1. I thought the same thing when I viewed pictures online. I was also put off that Barbara Moore was involved. I find I don't tend to like her work. Is that terrible? :) I do LOVE the Anna K, though!!

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    1. Yes, The Anna K Tarot could become one of my favorites to

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  2. The cards certainly do look intriguing, but I do agree that it can be difficult when the illustrations are too person-centred with little background or context.

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    1. That was a hard lesson for me: Intriguing is not always enough when it comes to choosing a tarot deck. :)

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  3. The artwork IS beautiful, but I've learned the hard way that lovely pictures don't necessarily make a great tarot deck. Thanks for your review - it helped me firmly decide to give this deck a pass. :)

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  4. Nice to read this review. I love the name of the deck, and was also interested in some of the art, but as I was looking online at more of the deck images, it seemed like most of the cards feature simply a person or other creature. So I was a bit hesitant about it. And by your own comments it sounds like that has been your principal struggle with the deck, so it's nice to know! The Anna K does look nice, but I took it off my list because it's published by Llewellyn, so I was a bit cautious of the quality of card stock. My Llewellyn Tarot deck is a bit flimsy, which is sad because I really like the artwork!!

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  5. Yes that was a major disappointment's for me to. Yet I think perhaps I'm going to buy it one day again, for I do love the artwork. We'll see.
    Anna K is a bit flimsy but it shuffles like a dream and reads like a storybook :)

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  6. I've gone back and forth on whether or not to buy this deck. Its undeniable that the artwork is incredible, but I have a suspicion that I wouldn't use it because the pictures don't seem to have much to trigger one's intuition. Its like a whole deck of Court Cards ACK! :) This review had pretty much affirmed that fear. Thanks Ellen. I may go look at the Anna K, everyone seems to love it. Best Wishes
    Sarah

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    1. Thank you Sarah! Anna K is a stunning deck and it reads like a picture book. Probable I will buy the Hidden Realm Tarot again though, just for the art. Perhaps I will transform it in an oracle deck. :)

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  7. I'm curious what your thoughts are on this deck now that you have had it a few months?

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    1. I am head over heels with this deck now. When you are able to let go of the RW meanings and let the characters tell their story you really enter a different realm with these cards

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  8. Sorry to hear so many turned from this deck, it's my favorite and I can read well with it BECAUSE there are people on the cards that are feeling something, I understand them and "hear" them. I see this deck as a metaphor, the Hidden Realm is the inner world, so if psychology is your thing, and helping people understand their feelings is meaningful to you, don't discount this deck too quickly. For me it is so powerful!

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    1. Hi A. You will be glad to hear that in the last two years I've really come to like this deck a lot. Coincidentally my blogpost of today features this deck.
      I share your idea that the Hidden Realm is a part of ourselves and every inhabitant of this realm is so too
      Thank for stopping by!

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