dodalisque, I've just come across this old post. You asked I think which detail I regret. It's the Devil. I believe his sword should be more obviously a torch, as in many of the TdMs. I really think that this is a very regrettable error. But I correct it in my mind - I just assume it's a torch so I can live with it. There may be a torch evoked - but it's not clear enough.dodalisque wrote: ↑19 Jan 2020, 21:43Which one? Do any other decks correct that detail? Perhaps it was the first TdM you saw. Is that a bit like classical music when you fall in love with a certain piece of music and every other version of it never quite matches that initial experience?
It seems to be one of the teasing principles of tarot that for everyone there is always at least one thing annoyingly "wrong" with every version of the deck. Enrique Enriquez even says somewhere that the word "tarot" has two t's because its purpose is "to tease". The Grimaud, which is basically the Conver deck, isn't it?, is about as close to a "standard text" as there is. I kind of wish the Madenie had that status, since the facial expressions are more cheerful and there a few other lovely poetic touches, but the Grimaud does possess a unique quality of enigmatic restraint.
But I am more of a Type I guy rather than Type II like the Grimaud/Conver. So the Dodal is my favourite deck. By the time the Conver came along the card-makers seem more self-conscious about the symbolism of the deck whereas those earlier decks have a sort of rawness that seems more authentic to me somehow. It's a bit like comparing early acoustic Blues with B.B. King, or Early Music to Bach. More funky or something.
It could be that it has something to do with the Grimaud being my first TdM, and also the reference deck for the French speaking world. It's the deck that was used in most of the courses and seminars I attended. And the one used in most books. But this is not the only reason. I've used many other TdMs. For a long time, I only used the Hadar deck because I like it, and also had and still have a huge affection for the man himself and for his dedication and sincere love for the Tarot. We corresponded at one time, and I felt really very honoured. He's originally from France, but has lived in French Canada for most of his life. He gave me so much of his time - to a complete stranger. His generosity was just astounding. I use the Conver also, the Ibis and others. But somehow.. somehow... I always come back to the Grimaud. I like its simplicity, or at least its SEEMING simplicity. It has everything one needs. It's kind of stripped down to its fundamentals. There are many many fundamentals though - enough for a life time of discovery and research. Maybe even 10 or 11 lifetimes.
Now this leads me to something else. You were wondering and lamenting as to what you are going to do with your "free" time now that you're going to take what is most certainly a well earned retirement. Now, what I would like to see you doing - and this is completely self-centered and comes from a purely selfish desire - would be to see you spending lots of time studying the Tarot of Marseilles and then coming over to Cult of Tarot to report. You always say such interesting things about the TdM. You pick up on things I've never noticed. You always go further and further, and that is what the TdM needs. People who notice things and who are open-minded enough not to dismiss crazy ideas, but not gullible and naive enough to digest nonsense.
Ah... I can just see it here. All the research and study we could do. It would go down in tarot history. The Tarot of Marseilles would have no more secrets for us, except that each door opened would lead to a million other closed doors. And we'll all be opening them together and looking for the keys. How exciting. Of course, in the end we'll realise that the Holy Grail is right there where we started out, but apparently, according to mythology and legend, it is necessary to go on a long and seemingly fruitless journey (but it's not really) in order to figure that out.
You could be the official Cult of Tarot TdM reporter. You could even have a badge if you like. Of course, we'd join in with you. So everyone could have a badge if they wanted one.
Dodal is a very nice deck. I like it a lot. But I think it's more an elitist deck. I think maybe that's also why I like the Grimaud. It fits with my far-left political leanings. I once nicknamed it the Socialist deck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKVMupmQ7eE
