Just how many decks are too many

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Aug 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

cj	26 Aug 2001
I just started collecting decks. I seem to be buying more than I can use. Is this the norm? Does anyone have a rule on how many and when to buy. cj

Mojo	27 Aug 2001
When you have to move to a bigger house because your collection has overrun all available space, you have too many decks. When you have to choose between paying your rent and buying that rare italian pack, you have too many decks. If every time you roll over in your bed you scatter cards onto the floor, you have too many decks. If it takes you four hours to dust one room because you have to rearrange everything back into their proper order, you have too many decks. If you can't find a single deck on e-bay that you don't already own, you have too many decks. When you start commissioning your own personal Tarot design, you probably have too many decks. If the fire department has declared your den a hazard to the community, you have too many decks. Otherwise, have fun collecting!

StarShine	27 Aug 2001
Well, my honey tells me that 5 is too many. I just bought my fourth. My answer is as long as there is a path to the bed, a place on it for the cat, and enough money on my credit card for one more deck, I don't have too many. Seriously, so you collect Tarot Decks. There are a lot of decks that I would love to have just for the artwork, the rarity of it, or the theme of the deck. That does not mean that I would ever read with them, but you never know. Some people collect unicorns, shells, or those little spoons with the states on them. Big deal! Tarot Decks are way cooler than a little silver spoon! I say as long as you can afford it....Go For It!

nexyjo	27 Aug 2001
i'm not sure how many amounts to too many, but i have 21, and that's not nearly enough. luv and light, nexy

MeeWah	27 Aug 2001
Mojo: Thank you--I love it :D

cj	27 Aug 2001
O.K., So about deck number 9, Does anyone know the name of the round deck that is in black and white? Thanks for all your advise. cj

Talisman	27 Aug 2001
Mojo, Just funny. I always enjoy your posts, 'cause you have a way of whackin' through the flim-flam, but this was good. And, StarShine, funny. So, other people collect salt and pepper shakers shaped like little outhouses, or spoons, or whatever you suggested. I have, I think (for me), a serious answer. I mean it. I have two working decks, and one collectors deck, because, alas, I cannot read with it so it doesn't count. Maybe. I also have a really neat wood box large enough to contain four decks comfortably, even if I wrapped each deck or something. So, I have room for one, maybe two, more decks. However many you have, if you don't have room for that absolutely perfect deck when it comes along, then you have too many. Always save room for that "perfect" deck. Talisman

Logiatrix	27 Aug 2001
cj, that sounds like the older "daughters of the moon" deck, allowing you to color it in, like the BoTA deck. i think it's out-of-print now, so if you have it, it's a keeper! :) BTW, there's no such thing as "too many" tarot decks! that's just a horrible myth...trust no one who so much as hints of such a tragic perspective--they probably collect those silly little spoons!

Psyndi	27 Aug 2001
I have quite a few decks, and all the members of my family own at least 2 decks each. I buy the decks that have artwork that sings to me. No song, no sale. There aren't "too many" decks. At this point there are two few singing decks. I'm in the mood for a new one and haven't found one for awhile.

RiotFemme	27 Aug 2001
Well, it's good to have a hobby right? I used to have lots of tarot decks because I used to buy every deck that visually appealed to me regardless of whether I could actually use it or not. A few months ago, I started trading them and selling them on eBay. I've kept only the decks that really speak to me and that I actually use. I own 16 decks. But I'd listen to Mojo...that's some good advice.

faunabay	27 Aug 2001
Too many tarot decks? (gasp) What a horror-fing thought! You can never have too many. Buy and buy and buy. Or trade and trade and trade. Seriously though, I have found I can't fully understand or appreciate a deck until I've done a spread or two with it. Only then can I tell whether it will work for me or not. So always try them out. If they don't work for you either trade them to someone who does click with that certain deck or keep them yourself. I keep some decks just because I love the artwork. Too many tarot decks? Well if they begin taking over your house you might have a few too many.

Moonsage	28 Aug 2001
Well cj, I have over 50 tarot decks, Yet I still find myself buying at least one a month. LOL Next thing you know Ill have to start buying italian and french and german and .............decks, because I am running out of the *regular* ones to buy!! But seriously I think Mojo's advice was best, If you have to buy a new house, because you have run out of room LOL THAT is when you've lost it! Love and Laughter, Moonsage

DangerKitty	29 Aug 2001
Well, I'm a tarot newbie (I've been interested for a long while, but reading for about two months) and I have 16 decks. I'm sure that's some kind of record. The decks I've gotten so far are mostly building a collection - I use three primarily for readings (the Voyager, the Shapeshifter, and the Osho Zen). Others in my collection (the Vertigo, Gendron, Crowley, Rock & Roll, Rohrig, Nefertari and a few others) were bought because they inspired me to spend the money. :) I imagine that by the time I'm as well-versed as some of you, I'll have dozens of decks. I can't see having "too many". It's an extension of you, and setting a limit is like limiting yourself, your potential, and your faith.

Strange2	29 Aug 2001
Like Dangerkitty, I have just started my studies in Tarot for just over 2 months, and now have 16 decks (with another on the way, Ancestral Path). I have a wish list of about 20 other decks, thanks to sites like Aeclectic, Wicce, and Tarot Passages. Although I primarily use just a few decks for frequent readings (Crowley/Thoth and Tarot of the Spirit), I find the other decks inspiring for meditation, comparison, clarifications, and to get my creative juices flowing. The only problem I see with having a lot of decks is not giving each one enough attention. They're like friends or teachers, and there's so much to learn and share with them!

Logiatrix	30 Aug 2001
i have been studying tarot for what will be two years this coming december, and i have about eighty decks. i started out just trying to find the "perfect" deck, as talisman called it. i very soon got hooked on the art, history and psychology that comes with studying and collecting tarot. i have come upon several serendipitous occasions where i was able to acquire as many as a dozen decks at a time, such as at used-book sales and antique stores, hence the large collection. out of all those, i only work with three decks: morgan-greer, renaissance and legend. i no longer read with my zerner-farber, but it still has an honored place in it's own pouch on the tarot shelf. :) i am thinking i will soon do as riotfemme has done, and prune my collection down to just my absolute favorites. i'm finding that it is much more fun to trade and share the wealth! it is also important to help others find their "perfect" deck... ;)

Jane	30 Aug 2001
[quote]Mojo (27 Aug, 2001 14:00): When you have to move to a bigger house because your collection has overrun all available space, you have too many decks. [snip[[/quote] LOL! Not yet but I'm getting close....;) Jane

Marion	31 Aug 2001
I loved those replies! :) I am in the group that really only has decks that respond to me... well, almost, I bought the Gendron deck because I love its look, but so far have unable to read with it. No question though, even thumbing through the samples in the stores of decks you haven't used will will give you a sudden new perspective on a card.

StarShine	31 Aug 2001
Quote: StarShine (27 Aug, 2001 14:47): Well, my honey tells me that 5 is too many. I just bought my fourth. Update: I just ordered deck #5 (Sacred Circle) and I am looking hard at the Cosmic Tarot. Honey is going to have a cow! Anyone got a spare room for rent? I could pay in Readings! ;p

cj	31 Aug 2001
Starshine, I buy my deck from "learntarot.com". Joan Bunning runs the site and does not charge shipping on orders. I love the site and I think they have the deck you are looking for and about 10 that I want. Best of luck cj

purplelady	01 Sep 2001
Well , I think I'm up to 26 decks now! It's true that I cannot give all the time and attention that ideally I would like to give to each deck! But I Love every one of them. Sometimes I play a little game with myself and say" well , if I Had to or wanted to sell or trade , which decks would I pick?" But I honestly don't want to get rid of a one of 'em! ;) :-D !

Jimilyn	01 Sep 2001
Well, I've been thinking about this question for several days now. I just cannot come up with an answer different than my original thought upon reading the title of the thread. One deck more than the total number of different tarot decks that exist...that's one too many. :D When to buy? Whenever I feel led and have the money...weellll, even sometimes when I don't have the money. :p hehehe Jimilyn

truthsayer	02 Sep 2001
how do you know when you have too many tarot decks: 1. there's no place left to store them except in the refrigerator. 2. you have to shift some of them off the bed so that you have a place to sleep. 3. you decide it's time to open a tarot museum so you can buy another house to live in. 4. the local witch hunters use your tarot decks to burn under you at the stake instead of firewood. 5. you become the poster child for the environmental protection agency, fire department, or the city has condemned your house. 6. you can't close the front door and a possum creeps in and dies b/c it can't find the way out. (this actually happened someplace) 7. wherever the cat jumps, tarot cards fly all over the place. 8. your significant other tells you that you have to choose b/t him/her or tarot. 9. you are reported to children's protective services investigate your house b/c it's a health hazard to your children. 10. you don't have room in your closets or dresser drawers for little things like clothing and underwear. 11. your dog sniffs your stack of cards and prepares to raise his leg as an interesting site for... 12. cards end up in your bird cage bottom instead of newspaper. 13. you have no money left for toilet paper and have to make some difficult choices... 14. you have to take a second job to pay your bills and buy food. the money for the first job goes to buying cards. 15. your psychiatrist has you hospitalized about your obsessibe compulsive behavior w/ tarot cards that's preventing you from living a normal life.(whatever that is!!) :D :p }> ;D :o 8-)

Jimilyn	03 Sep 2001
Truthsayer, All I can say is... :D :p :D :p :D :p :D :p :D ROFL!!! Jimilyn

truthsayer	03 Sep 2001
thanks, jimilyn! another might be: you can't shut the refrigerator door. :D

tarotbear	04 Sep 2001
Personally, I thought "Beanie Babies" were the stupidist thing in the world to collect - I mean- they were a 'manufactored collectible' - they were deliberately made to sell at grossly inflated prices- and they were bean-bags! I saw them selling on the shopping channels for the prices of cars! No Way! Tarot decks are beautiful, compact, and you can take them out and read with them if the spirit moves you. Are you going to let a toddler play with a doll you just paid $500 or more for?

JC	04 Sep 2001
Weeeellllll, let's see . . . I've been studying tarot (on and off) since the spring of '98. Up until about three months ago, I only owned three cartomancy decks: a Rider-Waite, a beautiful I Ching, and the Fortuneteller's Deck. Then, while reading a tarot guide - sorry, Solandia, I can't remember which one - I came across a recomendation for this website and decided it couldn't hurt to look. Well, looking HAS hurt my checking account. I'd had no idea there were so many decks to choose from. I went through the entire list - yes, seriously, it took a week and a half - and came up with a list of 70 decks I liked the looks of. Then I put everything aside and came back a month later to see which decks I still caught my interest. I managed to pare my list down to 35. Of those, I currently own the Napo, Goddess and World Spirit decks. I have found three decks that would not work for me, so I had to return them - in excellent condition =:) - to the bookstore. I guess my bottom line is that tarot decks are alot like men: If you can't love them, the relationship is probably not worth pursuing.

cj	04 Sep 2001
Hi all, Just how do you get rid the "Oops" decks, the ones that looked good at first but now have no desire to own. I tried trade, but I like the book sets (I have 2 I don't want). Not sure about e-bay. Any other suggestions. cj

The Just how many decks are too many thread was originally posted on 26 Aug 2001 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.