#OneDeckGoneWild – The Wild and Wonderful Anonymous Tarot of Paris
I spent the last two days waiting for a jury verdict, and I thought cool, I’ll do something easy peasy like one of those VR tags that the youtubers do. The first day, I started working on Lisa Papez’s #21 Questions. I answered the questions while I was slouched in my uncomfortable courtroom chair, waiting for my phone to buzz with that “they have a verdict” text, but I ran out of gas pulling out my decks and photographing them when I got home. Sitting around doing nothing is shockingly exhausting. Especially when you’ve spent the last two weeks breathing in nothing but crime and mayhem, which is how the first Detective who testified put it when the DA asked him, so what does this group do? The answer was supposed to be “make rap music,” but since the DA didn’t prep him, the Detective answered, “you mean besides crime and mayhem?” While we were on trial, really, there was nothing besides that, a constant 24 hour cycle of death and sadness, because it clings to you, before the trial begins and even after its over.
Anyway, I put that tag/blog reply aside, and started a different one – #OneDeckGoneWild, on one hand a set of questions designed to help you bond with one deck, but on other hand, it’s the tarottube community’s attempt to put things out there that don’t require a lot of decks, i.e. money, to participate. Honestly, I missed most of the controversy, dealing with crime and mayhem, but there was a bruhaha about decks, commercialism, the cost of particular decks and so many offshoot issues. I don’t really have a take on it, I just felt like doing the tag. I will say this – always remember, that the tarot community is BIGGER than youtube and Instagram. There’s a whole world of people out there who love tarot and who don’t actually watch youtube or post on Instagram. If you’re looking for community, do a google search of local tarot groups, and I guarantee you’ll find one. When I go into my local metaphysical stores, no one has ever heard of most of the independently published decks out there, they just like to read tarot. If you don’t want to be influenced, just don’t be. It’s really not a thing that’s easier said than done, it’s just as easy to do as to not do. If there’s one thing we can all agree about tarot, its in part about accountability.
So much for my 2 cents or a grain of salt. I grabbed my Anonymous Tarot of Paris, and sat with it for a bit while I waited to go over to court. The tag has over 30 questions, but I didn’t have time to do them all. I just put my deck down when it was time to go over to court, and wait some more, so I’ve only answered a handful.
1. Why did you pick this deck?
Because this deck is the grandpappy of them all – it’s the oldest surviving complete pack of cards, it’s quirky and weird, and it’s awesome. My deck is a 1985 edition from Andre Dimanche, from before Grimaud began publishing it. I got mine on ebay, and this was the description, “These came from the Renowned estate of Bunky the Gay Fortune Card reader…”. How could I pass that up? Some of the cards have some water damage on the corners. I like to think that perhaps Bucky spilled his tea, fell asleep over his cards, didn’t like the answer he saw when he woke up, said feh, scooped the cards up, forgetting they were wet, and the cards stuck together when they dried. Maybe he had to pry them apart when he was ready to see the answer.
2. Favorite set of minors (eg. all the 3’s, 8’s or whatever).
Hello – it’s a Unicorn! What could be better? A deer, a gryphon or a lion perhaps? These creatures, flying their flags high, marching their respective suits into the grand parade of pips. So good.
4. Your favorite representation of the color blue.
There really isn’t any “blue” in this deck – there’s Payne’s Grey, which I love. And I particularly love it on the World card – what it is up with that curtain banner? This card looks like a drag show that went all kinds of sideways.
6. What card makes you feel nostalgic?
How can you not feel nostalgic about a girl admiring herself in her pet monkey’s mirror? There’s definitely a bedtime fairytale in there.
8. Favorite animal that’s represented.
How sweet is this little dog, being pet by a monkey? The best.
9. Which card reminds you the most of heartbreak?
I find this Lovers card heartbreaking. It’s not love. It’s a carnal act, not in the privacy of a bedroom, but probably right out there in the street. Her face looks so world weery. This is the opposite of love – indifference. Cupid is behind them – aiming his arrow at something we can’t see – he knows what’s up too.
12. What is this deck’s favorite book?
Let’s ask the deck!
A benevolent King holds up his cup, but he can’t bear to look at it. What do his desires matter when he has to rule a kingdom? He pours out his cup, makes this sacrifice to bring harmony to his kingdom.
I’d say this is the story of King of Arthur, in the Once and Future King by T.H. White.
17. Something that sets the deck apart
Physical pleasure is a thing of the past, but the Hermit can’t help but look at it, and remember. He’s not ready to leave it all behind, hop on the Chariot and join the great parade of life. This deck is set apart by it’s ability to stay relevant, while refusing to be of the modern world.
18. If (blank) deck could have one superpower what would it be??
When faced with a difficult and painful path, this deck marches on, flying its flag high.
31. Which card in the deck do you feel most represents you right now?
This trial involved three co-defendants. Of all the lawyers involved in the trial, I was the oldest, at 53. I knew the right cases to cite, the right objections to make, the right way to preserve the record. I may as well have been sitting with the rule book in my lap. And I am now done. After 17 years of trying homicide trials, I am tired and I am ready to pass the torch. I can sit with my little finger pointed at my younger colleagues and say, buckle up, it’s your turn, come see me when you want some secrets revealed. It’s time to sit back and watch.
37. What is the deck’s favorite spread? I don’t know if it’s the decks favorite spread, but it’s mine – the Read Like the Devil spread from Camelia Elias. So, I asked the cards, how will it go, my new role as La Papesse, pointing and directing from the sidelines:
The Queen of Swords knows how to fight, that’s what she does. But, to cross the threshold into her next phase, she has to put down the sword, find the flow, find that equilibrium in a world without daily battle. Do: Be indifferent. Not my fight anymore. Don’t – get caught up in the people around me, who are doing the thing I use to love. Because I don’t love it anymore.
And there you have it, the Anonymous Tarot of Paris. And do check out the VR responses to the tag #OneDeckGoneWild on youtube. Some fun stuff going on there. I’ll finish up the #21Questions tag as well, and post that either this weekend of the beginning of next week.
And then, Pablo Neruda anyone? Until then! Have a great weekend!
