Okay so today I wanna talk about this Cosmic Slumber tarot deck. Saw it plastered all over Instagram, right? Everyone raving about the dreamy artwork. Me being me, the guy who just tripped over a pile of Rider-Waite-Smith decks, thought, “Hey, maybe this is the one!” Ordered it online, waited a week feeling kinda impatient. That box finally landed on my doorstep.
First Impressions Out The Box
Ripped open the packaging. Felt… surprisingly nice. Good card stock, decent thickness. Shuffled it a few times – smoother than some cheap ones I’ve handled, kinda slick. But man, that artwork… It is beautiful. All soft colours, sleepy vibes, weird creatures floating around. Felt more like looking at an art book than a tool for divination, ya know?
Trying To Actually Read With It (The Struggle)
Sat down at my table, took a deep breath. Shuffled again, trying to clear my head. Pulled a simple three-card spread: Past, Present, Future. Easy peasy? Nope.
- Past card: Pulled “The Lovers”. Except in this deck, it’s these two weird slug creatures entwined under a moon. Nice picture, sure… but what the heck does this mean in the context of my question? Couldn’t connect the image to the RWS meaning at all. Total blank stare moment.
- Present card: Got “The Tower”. Normally means upheaval, disaster. Cosmic Slumber version? A peaceful tower with vines growing all over it and a sleepy dude relaxing on top. Looked more like a chill meditation retreat than an explosion! Completely threw me. Was it about rebuilding? Finding peace in chaos? No clue!
- Future card: Drew “Strength”. Traditionally about courage, inner power. Here it’s a gentle lady petting a massive, sleepy lion beast. Sweet image… but did it mean overcoming something gently? Or maybe just… patience? Felt super vague.
Felt utterly lost. Reached for the little guidebook that came with it. Small print, not much text. The meanings given were super poetic and abstract. Stuff like “Embrace the quiet transformation” for the Tower. Pretty words, yeah, but useless for figuring out if my job situation was gonna blow up or if I just needed a nap.
Honest Thoughts For Newbies Like Me
Look, if you’re just starting out learning tarot? This deck is gonna mess you up. I don’t care how pretty it is. Here’s the deal:
- The pictures don’t match the usual tarot meanings clearly. You NEED that visual cue when you’re learning.
- The guidebook isn’t teaching you anything solid. It’s more like fortune cookie advice.
- It feels beautiful but kind of… hollow? Like trying to grab smoke.
I spent way too long staring at cards trying to force meanings. Ended up feeling frustrated and completely unsure of any “message”. Swapped back to my battered old RWS deck immediately after, just to feel grounded again. Suddenly those direct, kinda obvious images made perfect sense. Total relief!
Final verdict? Cosmic Slumber is a beautiful piece of art. But as a tool for a new tarot reader? It’s a recipe for confusion and headaches. Stick to something clearer until you actually know what the heck you’re doing. Pretty pictures won’t teach you the language. Learned that the hard way today.
