Review Véritable Tarot de Marseille from Kris Hadar

The Kris Hadar Marseille Tarot comes in a sturdy clamshell cardboard box. The cover features the card of Strength, while the back of the box shows the card backs. The interior of the box is simply decorated, with a plain white background.

The cards: thickness, flexibility, and finish

The cards themselves are notable for their thickness. They are both sturdy and flexible, but their glossy finish, due to a very marked plastic coating, deserves attention. This laminated coating divides opinions:

• Positive point: The durability of the cards is remarkable. Thanks to their finish, they resist water and stains, making them a deck suitable for all situations, whether outdoors, on wet grass, or in a café. In case of accidental spills, the cards remain intact, which is a major asset.
• Negative point: On the other hand, this coating limits their handling. The cards tend to stick together, making shuffling difficult. While classic riffle shuffling is still doable, manipulating the cards smoothly can become a challenge.

Kris Hadar is a cartomancer and a French-speaking author, known for his expertise in the art of cartomancy, a divinatory practice that uses cards to predict the future or offer guidance. He is particularly recognized for his mastery of tarot cards and his contributions to the study and dissemination of this discipline.

A life dedicated to cartomancy

Kris Hadar has been interested in occultism and divination since his youth. He trained in divinatory arts, first studying traditional techniques such as the Marseille Tarot before opening up to other forms of cartomancy. He also explored astrology and dream interpretation, but it is mainly through his books on tarot and his restoration of the Conver (the subject of this review) that he became known.

His writings and influence

Kris Hadar is also the author of several books on cartomancy and tarot, in which he shares his knowledge and experiences. His works are often considered practical guides for beginners and advanced practitioners. Thanks to his reputation in the field, he has popularized cartomancy in a more modern context while remaining faithful to the traditional roots of this art.

Gift of clairvoyance?

Note, having read his book on learning tarot, I wonder if Kris Hadar might possess a gift of clairvoyance. He does not mention or boast about it, which may reflect a modest personality. However, in the learning methods he develops in his book, he sometimes takes shortcuts, providing interpretations and unexpected conclusions (this is where one imagines he had flashes of clairvoyance during his consultations, from which he draws examples). However, this does not support the pedagogy of his method, especially as he does not claim to combine cartomancy and clairvoyance. So, reading some examples, I remained skeptical.

The booklet accompanying the Marseille Tarot by Kris Hadar consists of 64 pages and is divided into three main sections:

• The history of the tarot (approximately 26 pages).
• Divination (26 pages).
• Spreads (12 pages).

1. The history of the tarot: A contested choice

The first section offers a summary of the tarot's history. While this educational effort is commendable, its relevance in a *short* booklet intended as a practical guide to divination may be questioned. Kris Hadar takes a partisan stance here, with notable omissions and interpretations that are sometimes debatable. Here are the key points:

Proven facts:

Mention of Antoine Court de Gébelin and his book *Le Monde Primitif*. Reference to the Naïbes, an Arabic card game that spread to Europe via Italian and Spanish ports.

Historical omissions:

Kris Hadar mentions the tarots of Jean-Pierre Payen and Jean Dodal but omits the tarot of Jean Noblet, the first known Marseille tarot, dated to 1650 (in 2023, a 1639 Marseille Tarot was auctioned, but unfortunately, no card plates from this deck have been published, as it became part of a private collection, regrettably).

Questionable hypotheses:

He focuses on periods where French archives from the 16th to 17th centuries document decrees about the master craftsman guilds. At that time, master craftsmen were legally required to regularly destroy their wooden molds. According to the author, these were destroyed to ensure the decks reflected the nobility's effigies. However, this idea lacks solid historical evidence. It is more likely that authorities enforced this rule to better control the activity of master craftsmen (and their declarations) by regulating the number of molds in use. It may also have been a measure to guarantee manufacturing quality by systematically discarding worn molds.

He suggests that the tarot originated in 1181, linking it to Arthurian legends and Chrétien de Troyes’ *Grail Story*. This association, while poetic, seems anachronistic and speculative, as the tarot as a card deck did not exist at that time.

Claims and pretensions:

Kris Hadar calls his deck the "true Marseille Tarot," a title that might seem presumptuous compared to other restorers or creators like Philippe Camoin and Alexandre Jodorowsky. This positioning highlights his work but lacks humility towards the diversity of approaches.

2. Divination: Card interpretation and critiques

The second section of the booklet covers the meanings of the cards and offers a personal interpretation of the 22 major Trumps. Some of Kris Hadar’s interpretations are compelling, while others are open to debate.

Examples of notable disagreements:

• XI - Strength: Kris Hadar associates this card with psychic energy, sexual acts, and personal achievement. However, this interpretation seems reductive. Strength symbolizes self-mastery and courage.
• XIIII - Temperance: He refers to "movement of vital fluids," leisure, and communication. While the idea of communication can be justified by the image of amphoras and the flow of water, the notion of leisure seems off-topic or very peripheral (perhaps the author envisioned two glasses clinking here). Temperance more aptly represents balance and, above all, mutual exchange.
• XVI - The Tower: The author views this card as a symbol of "results exceeding expectations." Such a vision is surprising, as this Trump is generally associated with collapse, letting go of ego, and restructuring after a crisis.
• The Fool: Kris Hadar connects the Fool to the end of a cycle, an interpretation hard to reconcile with the classical symbolism of the Fool as an explorer of the unknown or a seeker on a journey of awakening.

Positive points:

• The interpretations of the four elements (fire, water, air, earth) are relevant, albeit slightly expanded beyond traditional interpretations.
• The meanings of the Pip cards (numbered cards) are clear for numbers 1 to 7 but diverge from classical symbolism for numbers 8, 9, and 10.

3. Spreads: An interesting but limited approach

The third section of the booklet suggests card reading methods.

• Shuffling the cards: Kris Hadar recommends shuffling the cards flat on a surface, stirring them in a circular motion. While this method is also *my* method, it is impossible to apply with this deck due to the plastic coating on the cards, which makes them sticky and difficult to handle.
• Spread methods: The examples of spreads remain brief and underdeveloped, which may frustrate readers seeking detailed explanations or concrete examples.

Conclusion

The booklet of Kris Hadar’s Marseille Tarot reflects a genuine effort of research and personal interpretation. However, its approach suffers from historical biases, questionable interpretations of certain cards, and a lack of balance between theory and practice. For tarot enthusiasts, this booklet offers an original perspective but should be supplemented with other sources for a more nuanced and comprehensive view.

The Tarot of Marseille restored by Kris Hadar is based on the Nicolas Conver model from 1760, but with personal esoteric additions. These modifications divide opinions: they appeal to some but may unsettle purists. Personally, I find these additions not always convincing, unlike the choices made by Wilfried Houdouin, creator of the Tarot Millennium, who moved away from esoteric additions to offer a more rational version.

A beam of light rises toward the sky, exceeding the frame of the card. This interpretation could symbolize a metaphysical connection, but it deviates from the classic representation.

Teeth appear on the right side, a detail that remains enigmatic and underexplored in meanings.

The disciple on the left is kneeling at a prayer bench, and the Hierophant has a blue beard, an aesthetic and symbolic choice inspired by Paul Marteau.

The spine is painted green, the cervical vertebrae blue, and the lumbar vertebrae red, a bold color choice but one that can be confusing.

Kris Hadar retains the descending flame from the sun, characteristic of the Conver model. However, he adds a green zigzag lightning bolt rising to the sky, an intriguing element likely inspired by Type I Marseille decks (Noblet, Dodal) that have an ascending flame, a symbol of spiritual elevation.

The character carries a dagger, an atypical addition.

A satchel is visible on the horse's hindquarters, while the knight holds a tube, possibly a scroll.

Her crown is adorned with a pentacle, and the plant motif above her head could resemble a window with two bars, giving an impression of confinement.

His cup is open, and a beam of light rises from his head toward the sky.

A lake or body of water is visible behind her, topped with a golden frieze. This representation of the water element is unusual.

His legs are two different colors, one blue and one red, and an open stele rests at his feet, adding an enigmatic dimension.

Although some additions, like the pentacle on the Queen of Cups' crown, are interesting, other elements, like the lake behind the Queen of Wands or the stele at the foot of the King of Swords, seem to complicate interpretation without adding clarity. The color modifications, often inspired by the Grimaud Tarot, seem to lack innovation and timelessness.

Kris Hadar's restoration, carried out in 1996, marked a time when few restorations of ancient tarots existed. The age of this work may explain its conformity and the addition of irrational details. It can also be criticized for its lack of distance from Paul Marteau's Grimaud Tarot.