Finding that 1 special deck...how long did it take

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

seapearls	12 Feb 2005
I'm speaking of a deck that is visually pleasing to you, you work well together, feel you have a connection to it and wouldn't part with for the world. How long did it take you to find that 1 deck that you just can't go without? How many decks did you go thru to find "The One"? Do you have more than one deck that you are lets say spiritually connected to like this? Or are you still searching for this special deck? For me I don't think I've found my deck yet but I only have 1 I've tried so far, my Froud Faery Oracle deck. Its a great deck but I'm not sure its the one. Edited to say: Thanks to souljourney.... Do you think there is a one deck, if not one that can work for you forever but what about one for atleast now?

souljourney	12 Feb 2005
I honestly thought I'd find that "One" also. I got really lucky with the Gilded. I love it. But...once I started reading on here and looking at other decks...I don't think there is such a thing as "the One". I am really found of the Fey and also Housewives. I have Gothic on order which I think will appeal to another part of my psyche. There are other decks that I really want, and feel I can learn from. In the long-run what decks will remain around...that is hard to say. I think our needs and focus change so that one deck can't serve all our needs all the time. SJ

mnemosyne7	12 Feb 2005
Most folks I know have several decks that they read with, and over the years move from one deck to another. I did that for about 10 years, but found Tarot of the Spirit in 1993 - I have had lots of other decks since then, but Tarot of the Spirit is still my primary deck. If I'm teaching I bring everything. If I'm reading, I usually only bring the Tarot of the Spirit deck. It still speaks to me loud and clear after all these years. I keep thinking I'll outgrow it at some point, as I have seen friends outgrow their decks and move on. It just hasn't happened yet. I love it more now than the day I found it. Mnem

Lewen	12 Feb 2005
When I first started reading roughly 18 years ago, I only had one deck, The Rider-Waite. I somehow got parted from that deck and moved on to other things....when I finally came out of "retirement" so to speak, the first deck I bought myself is the Visconti-Sforza, then I added the Universal Waite and the Thoth to my collection that most likely will continue to grow thanks to this lovely site! (ain't complaining here!!!) I have found of the two I read regularly from (Still getting acquainted with the Thoth deck) I have bonded well with the Visconti deck. I will continue to add to my collection and read from most of all, but I keep going back to the Visconti-Sforza for some reason. I've done my best readings with that particular deck. Only time will tell if it will remain...so many decks, so many readings, so little time!!!!!

similia	12 Feb 2005
I've decided I don't believe in "The One" special deck, even though I spent a lot of time trying to find it :D I started with RWS, and couldn't relate to it at all, so spent years stopping and starting etc. In retrospect what I really needed was someone to give me a guiding hand to get started. Eventually I found the Mythic, which I was able to understand better, so that got me up a running. Now I no longer use it, and prefer others (including my initially neglected RWS). I've come to the decision that the right deck to start with, is the one that comes with a support team/teacher. After that... have at it, and enjoy them all!!!

LadyMedusa	12 Feb 2005
I made several attempts at learning to read through the years, with several different decks, starting in my teens. For a several years my fav was the Legend. Shortly after ending an extended break, my beautiful Legend deck had an unfortunate encounter with my Basset Hound. I found a replacement easy enough but something just wasn't right, the connection was no longer there. The search for a new deck led me to this wonderful site, and a virulant case of tarotholism. I ended up with over 50 decks in my search for "The Deck". When I first saw the images of The Golden online I was enthralled. The day I took it out of the mail box and saw it in real life, I knew it was worth every moment of the wait for publication and the delays in distribution. My first lesson this deck taught me was that patience can be rewarded. I do have other decks that I read with, but none can compare with the way this deck speaks. If the day ever comes that I have to resume the search...I hope I will be lucky enough to find another deck that fits like this one. LadyMedusa

Sulis	13 Feb 2005
I have 3 special decks; World Spirit, Morgan Greer, DruidCraft. I found the World Spirit after I'd been reading about 6 months. Before I found that deck I tried Robin Wood, Wheel of Change and New Palladini. I connected with the New Palladini enough to get a basic grasp of the cards but I knew it wasn't really my deck. Once I'd got the World Spirit I continued to look for another special deck as I thought it would be best to have a few main reading decks but the World Spirit was definately the deck. It was around 18 months after getting my World Spirit that I came across the Morgan Greer. This was a deck that I'd almost bought when I first became interested in tarot and it felt like coming home when I opened the box and looked through the cards - connected with it right away. I got my DruidCraft a few months ago and this is now definately my favorite although the other 2 still get used. The DruidCraft is the only deck I seem to read for myself with now. I'm now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Sacred Rose tarot - I think it will be different and strange enough to give me something new but I don't know till I've got it in my hot little hands :) When you find a deck you truly connect with, you'll know :D Love Sulis xx

WolfSpirit	13 Feb 2005
My one special deck is the DruidCraft, and I knew it the moment I saw cards of it on-line, but it had not been published yet then...I had to wait what seems like a long time and I was also anxious it would not fulfill my expectations...but it really did :D And thanks to this deck I also discovered the OBOD website where I learn a lot. This has not stopped my love for other decks though - it is like having one special person in your life but other friends as well who teach you things :) I also have a special connection with the Animal Wise, but as it is based on animals (real animals not animals dressed and acting like humans) it also has its limitations.

temperlyne	13 Feb 2005
I'm afraid finding that one perfect deck will last as long as I am able to learn about tarot.. probably forever. The hunt for the perfect deck is a real quest but it is the journey that will teach you the most. Everytime I learn something about the tarot, it changes not just me but also my preferances for a deck. For every stage in my life there is another 'perfect' deck.

Little Baron	13 Feb 2005
Started with a RWS - thought it was basic. Moved on to a Marseille - thought it was ugly. Ten or so years and forty or so decks later, the 'ones' were the ones I started off with; I just didn't see it then. I have many art decks that are never used. The RWS is not basic to me now - it is a beautiful picture book. The Marseille is far from ugly - it is a true friend. On top of this, I have a worn out deck of playing cards that also help me out. It's surprising sometimes that what you were searching for was right under your nose. LB

DollieAnna	13 Feb 2005
I was read by someone with the Rider Waite and said, hmmm, this is neat. (she wasn't very good), Then read by a man with the Morgan Greer. He was ok. I looked online picked out the SACRED ROSE and that has been it ever since.

RedMaple	13 Feb 2005
I feel I have a lot of special decks that call to me at different times, or seem right for certain readings. Right now the deck I am most bonded to is the Golden. It was not love at first sight. In fact, when it arrived, I was a bit intimidated, and not sure I would love the Christian influences. But after spending time with the deck, I slowly but surely fell in love with it. It has great depth and nuances, the Christian motifs have mostly been transformed, and I can read it easily and intuitively. It feels like a good friend that I will have for life.

Melpomone18	14 Feb 2005
I guess I lucked out. My very first deck, Hanson-Roberts, is my special one. I've continued to collect not because I'm searching for one that's more special but because I love Tarot artwork and even though I wouldn't list Hanson-Roberts as my favorite in terms of artistry, that little deck has been through so much with me that I feel that it is the one that is my closest "friend." No matter how many I decks I acquire it remains my main personal reading deck.

Emily	15 Feb 2005
My special decks are the Morgan Greer and the DruidCraft. The Morgan Greer came along at a time when I was close to giving up the Tarot because I couldn't connect to the decks I had been using then I saw some of the cards on a TV programme and realised that it was a deck I had tried to order some 15 months before - as I looked at these few cards on the TV I realised that I could read them. I ordered them and never regretted it - its an amazing deck that does read very easy and for well over a year now its been my primary reading and study deck, its an attractive deck with bright colours and with RWS symbolism but with different artwork. The DruidCraft is a deck that kind of snuck up to me - I liked the name and saw a few of the cards online, the Moon card inparticular and the Lady (Empress) - from these few cards I knew it was a deck that was different from the Morgan Greer, so might give me a challenge to read, but still RWS symbolism with a Druid/Wiccan flavour. It again is a nice deck to get into - the artwork is stunning, it does read very well and I love the fact that like the Morgan Greer some of the DruidCraft cards have eye colour and very expressive faces. I'm not buying decks now like I was - I feel that with these two decks, very different in one is Druid/Wiccan and the other is still very close the RWS, I have found the two that I could use without getting bored or wanting to move on. I do still use other decks from my collection but its these two I keep coming back to. :)

Little Baron	15 Feb 2005
Just reading over this again ... It's an interesting topic. I wonder if there is a perfect deck ... or do we search out more and more because we have so many expectations? Are they expectations that we cannot fulfill? I like your story Emily and I think that you truely have found 'your' decks. I think that I have as well ... I hardly buy decks now. I like my decks to be as simplistic as possible, so new takes and lavish art doesn't really interest me. Early wood-blocks and etchings do me just fine, lol. It took a few flirtations here and there with other decks to realise this though. I also think that when learning, it is good to not chop and change too much. I am sure through your consistant usage that even though there will be many more surprises for you Emily, you know that Morgan Greer so well now; that is something to be proud about. I was just saying in another thread that a well-loved and well-worn deck has to be the best compliment for its creator :) LB

IDN	16 Feb 2005
I was going to start a thread on this (there may already be many threads on the topic, and it seems to fit in well here) but (and I put it to the forum members)………… I am starting to think that one’s relationship with a deck is like one’s relationship with a partner. Is the essence of Tarot not to get really “inside” a deck, to feel 1000% comftable with it, to know it inside out and to know its “every thought”? Is this not similar to what we look for in a meaningful relationship with a partner. For the people looking for “the perfect one” (either in a deck or a partner), is this not search for something that does not exist? We all like to “window shop” and appreciate the diversity and interests of “others”. But at some point is there not more meaning and value in living with imperfections but building up a much deeper relationship? Sorry if this is getting too deep or heavy! It’s just that I think there are too many people in the world who (through the media, etc) believe that “if I just had “X” it would make my life complete!!! They are relying on external parameters to make them happy (“if only deck “Y” was released now, I would never want for another deck again!”), rather than taking the very difficult (Fool’s) Journey and looking within. Just some thoughts for debate. Regards, Ian

Little Baron	16 Feb 2005
I agree with you Ian. I was trying to say the same, but you said it much better :) I don't think that a deck could be created that would suit me and make my life complete (are we looking for one to make us complete - if so, why not design it yourself? - or are we looking for one to make the tarot somewhat easier?). Personally, I prefer older decks that are as near to the first ones that are still in existance, so I don't have a fascination with what is new, aside from an artistic point of view. LB

Nina*	16 Feb 2005
IDN wrote: For the people looking for “the perfect one” (either in a deck or a partner), is this not search for something that does not exist? We all like to “window shop” and appreciate the diversity and interests of “others”. But at some point is there not more meaning and value in living with imperfections but building up a much deeper relationship? I love this Ian :) For about 7 years I've been searching for that 'one' deck exactly like I've been searching for love... now realizing that what I need to do is search within for this 'perfection'...

The Finding that 1 special deck...how long did it take thread was originally posted on 12 Feb 2005 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.