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| Haindl Tarot 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. Review by Andryh This enigmatic, profound and strangely beautiful 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. |
