About this item
- The Haindl Tarot has non-traditional imagery and is highly recommended for an advanced Tarot reader, or for meditation. The author, Hermann Haindl, was inspired by Qabbalah, Runes, I Ching, and Native American influences for the deep and compelling artwork.
Specifications
Name
|
Haindl Tarot
|
Creators
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Hermann Haindl
|
Publisher
|
US Games 1990
|
Deck Type
|
Tarot Deck
|
Cards
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78
|
Major Arcana
|
22
|
Minor Arcana
|
56
|
Deck Tradition
|
Mixed
|
Minor Arcana Style
|
Unique Scenes With Suit Symbols
|
Suits
|
Court Cards
|
The Fool
|
is 0
|
Strength
|
is 8
|
Justice
|
is 11
|
Card Size
|
2.75 x 5.00 in. = 6.99cm x 12.70cm
|
Card Language
|
English
|
Card Back
|
Reversible
|
Reviews
deck is truly in a class by itself. The allure of the
Haindl deck does not lie in a cute gimmick or theme,
impressive computer graphics or pretty colors...It isn't a
Rider-Waite knock-off and it isn't a Thoth knock-off (although
Thoth influences are evident).
The Haindl tarot is a serious, and at times even mournful deck, which has really
stepped outside the bounds of convention. But even in its
sometimes startling uniqueness, the deck never deviates from
being a true tarot.
The art of this deck is certainly
among the best I've seen. Done in predominantly earth
tones, the cards possess a dreamy and surreal quality.
There are few hard lines. The depictions in the cards
seem to almost melt into one another with a seamless
grace. For all its somber colors, the element of light
seems to radiate all the more seductively off of the
bubbles, rocks and clouds that Haindl so elegantly
portrays.
And symbolism? This deck is just dripping with
symbols! I've owned this deck for over a year, and I'm
still finding new symbols. The art is incredibly
intricate and very fresh. Not to say that the traditional
symbols of the tarot are void in this deck. There are
many traditional symbols utilized, but Haindl has a
flair for presenting them in a new light.
The cards
feature figures from a wide range of myths. Egyptian,
Native American, Hindu and Celtic mythology blend with
surprising ease under Haindl's magical touch. The unique
artistic style somehow brings a cohesiveness to this
amazingly eclectic deck. The quality of this deck is
utterly remarkable. The card stock is sturdy yet
flexible. And even more wonderful still, the edges are
perfectly (and I do mean perfectly) polished...No annoying
little paper tags or tears. I love to shuffle this deck,
because it simply feels wonderful. This deck is almost
perfect... almost. The only "flaws" I see are in some of the pips,
which are so ethereal, so vague, it is difficult to
decipher a meaning from them. The fact is, that the suits
(stones, wands, swords and cups) were superimposed over
previously completed paintings. This is done, for the most
part, to good effect. There are those few cards though,
that don't readily lend themselves to their traditional
interpretation. A pretty small nitpick considering what a truly
awesome deck this is.
The backs bother some people.
They feature a non-symmetrical human eye that I'll
admit is somewhat unsettling...But I like it anyway. To
me, the Haindl tarot is the best money can buy. This
is not to say that everyone will like it. It is one
of those decks that either speaks to you or doesn't.
It will perhaps only appeal to a minority of tarot
readers. And yet, if it calls to you, count yourself lucky.
This deck is a treasure and a journey unto itself. |