how many decks?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Oct 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Logiatrix	05 Oct 2001
while responding to another thread, i became curious about something... how many of you devotes yourself to only one deck (tarot or other) and finds that it works for all your purposes? or are you like me, where you have different decks for different needs? for example, i find that ever since i started reading with any proficiency, i have preferred to maintain a deck that i use to read exclusively for myself--i don't even let anyone else so much as look at or even TOUCH these cards! i also like to keep another deck exclusively for my altar, and others for doing readings, and another... anyway, i wondered where others are on this issue. is it even possible to keep with just one deck anyway? :D :D :D

glamourbug	05 Oct 2001
I don’t stick exclusively to one deck because I figure if I have bought so many others I have to use them. Saying that though my moon garden tarot will work for me no matter what type of reading I am doing and I can always fall back on this true friends where as other decks dont always work for certain readings. Like the spiral, for instance, doesn’t work when I feel like I really need an answer. This deck seems to work better when I'm more relaxed and don’t particularly care about what the outcome is going to be. I also have decks that I haven’t even shuffled yet because the time hasn’t felt right. When I'm going to do a reading I find I have the urge to use a certain deck almost as if one is shouting at me louder than the rest. Some of them seem to be waiting for me to be in the right mood or for that right reading. I know for instance that I want to save My New Palladini deck for when I do a special reading about myself. I don’t know why I want to save it for that but I do! The time has to feel right for me to use certain decks and in some cases i havent felt like now is the time to use that particualr deck or do that particular reading. Hmm I guess I'm rambling now when basically if I only had the one deck I could (suppose I wouldn’t have much choice) stick to it but now that I have bought others I think it would be a waste not to use them. Also I haven’t found a deck that I want to keep exclusively for myself but I can understand why others would want to and I expect one day I will find that deck that was meant just for me!

deso	06 Oct 2001
I also don't like to devote myself solely to one deck. I don't want the others to feel left out :D I've found, over the years, that my intuition usually leads me to the right deck. I also like to use one or two other cards as a clarifier if needed - and these cards I'll choose from other decks.

faunabay	07 Oct 2001
taz, You've made me feel better. I also have a deck I don't want anyone to touch. But I've felt weird about it. I thought I was being silly so didn't even show it to anyone because I didn't want to have to explain. Finally I talked to a friend who has studied tarot for years and she suggested I bless it for my own personal use so it wouldn't pick up any other person's energy - thinking that was my hesitation. She told me that would probably solve the "no touch" issue. Well it hasn't. I still don't want anyone to touch it. Anyway, now I know I'm not the only one. So many thanks. And I also have many decks to use at many different times. The right one seems to call my name when needed. But my Robin Wood is the one deck I can use in almost any situation.

truthsayer	07 Oct 2001
you're not the only 2, metaz and faunabay. i have a deck that feels too connected to my soul to expose it to others. i usually even keep it away from my other decks. may i ask what the name of the decks the 2 of you feel so close to? mine is the legend arthurian. the pictures were done in pastel water color and i feel the story coming to life in me. the minors and majors are well done and pull together for a complete picture.

faunabay	07 Oct 2001
truthsayer, Mine is the Fantastical Tarot. I don't even really know why. I just feel very possessive with it. It's MY deck - for whatever reason - and I've decided I'm going to keep it that way for as long as it feels necessary. (shrug) Kind of a weird choice for a personal deck it seems, but who am I to question? LOL

caraMiaculpa	08 Oct 2001
i just started collecting tarot this year, but i do have one deck that is purely mine. i have a first edition Vertigo deck, that i only use for my personal readings. other people can touch them merely to look through them, but only if they are nice.

purplelady	14 Oct 2001
When I first bought my Enchanted Tarot , years and years ago , I wouldn't let my ex-husband touch it , even though he had gone to the store with me to buy it! Does that count??

The how many decks? thread was originally posted on 05 Oct 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.