is this deck trying to tell me something?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Oct 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

GeminiLady	03 Oct 2001
Hi gang, Recently I acquired a used deck of the Witches Tarot. The artwork is beautiful, and I have wanted to work with these cards for some time. Each time I open the box, I smell sage. (I know sage is used for cleansing, so I am assuming this is a good thing) What is bothering me is that every time I shuffle the deck, I feel like I got cut by one of the cards. -the edges aren't sharper than any of my other decks, and the cards really aren't bigger. --BTW there never is a cut, it just feels like it. Does anyone know about this type of thing? I'd like to use the cards, but I feel like they are telling me that either they are not for me, or maybe that it isn't my time to use them. ..? (Yes, I did cleanse them- I even talked to them and told them that I would be using them from now on...) I know, kind of a wierd question, but I figured this is the best place to ask. Love and Light, Gem

Thirteen	03 Oct 2001
Well, the first thing to do is check the edges of each card and make sure that there isn't anything on one of them sticking out, or cutting. That mundane possibility out of the way...perhaps the deck wants a blood sacrifice? :) I'm kinda not kidding--it's the witches Tarot. It might be telling you that you can't just shuffle and go to work; that you're going to be raising a lot of power and so need to be more ritualistic than you usually are. My guess is that the deck is warning you to (or just wants you to) (1) Ground, (2) cast a protective circle/call quarters, and (3) maybe spill a little sacrifical wine (or something) on the ground before shuffling and laying out a spread. In other words, it may be trying to protect you or, in its opinionated way, get you to do the right thing before it allows you to work with it. Make sure to ground after you're finished, thank and dismiss the deities and open the circle. See if that changes things.

GeminiLady	03 Oct 2001
Hmm...the edges are definitely not sharp..something is going on here.. I smelled the 2 other decks that arrived with them (I bought them as a lot) and neither of the other 2 decks smell like sage. Just this one deck..and as strong as it is to me, I had my husband smell the cards...of course, he smelled nothing! BTW, I just emailed the lady that I got the cards from, I am curious to see if she burns incense when she reads. If she did, maybe the sage left it's imprint....? I'm really drawn to these cards, I actually bought the lot because I wanted this deck. I hope I can find a way to work with them, I appreciate your suggestions. Love and Light, Gem

EveAnna	03 Oct 2001
Hi GeminiLady, Have you tried cleansing with sea salt? Place the deck, out of their box, on a bed of sea salt overnight. Then keep shuffling them, it could just be the newness of the cards. Hope this helps. :)

GeminiLady	05 Oct 2001
Hi Gang, I just had to update this when I got an email back from the original owner of this deck. What she told me is that she never burned sage with the cards, and in fact only read with them one time- She said the cards warned her of a huge fire threatening her, but that she would be ok. This message disturbered her and she put the cards away. A few days later, there was a huge fire a few miles from where she lived-"50,000 acres of brush, timber and SAGE (perhaps that explains the sage?) burned. " There was a stage 2 evacuation alert out, but she was safe. The best I can figure, is that the sage left an imprint on the cards?...either way, I'm going to cleanse them thoroughly and I decided to order the book that goes with the deck. I'm definitly thinking that there is a protective nature here, and also one that requires extra special rituals from what I would normally do. Just wanted to share that with you. Love and Light, Gem

Thirteen	05 Oct 2001
:o That is, bar none, one of the BEST tarot stories I've ever heard. You've got one special deck there--and it apparently wanted you to know what it had done and been through Afterall, you alone smelled the Sage. Pay attention to this deck and show it a lot of respect. I sure would :)

deso	10 Oct 2001
I got me some big ole goosebumps :o

MeeWah	11 Oct 2001
Gem: WOW--I agree with Thirteen. You have a special & powerful deck that commands reverence & respect. Do keep us posted on your progress!

GeminiLady	11 Oct 2001
I know it will be awhile before I can use this deck properly..I have both books ordered (I can't wait!) To get a jump start, I started looking up the Qabalah on the Internet. I was amazed at how much what I read fit into my beliefs. I mean, I have heard of the Qabalah, but that's it.... In some odd way, this deck is nudging me to explore paths that would not have occured to me, but yet it feels like I am coming home after a long trip. Once I start really reading with the cards, I'll keep ya' posted. Love and Light, Gem PS--They still smell like sage!

Thirteen	12 Oct 2001
Quote: GeminiLady (12 Oct, 2001 13:56): PS--They still smell like sage! I suspect they always will :)

GeminiLady	27 Dec 2001
Just a lil update on the deck... since I started this thread, I have been studying the tree of life as much as I can, and this deck is now my primary deck. The deck continues to be an accurate deck, and is teaching me a lot. Especially now that I practice Reiki.. Anyone that followed my chakra spread/tarot/Reiki thread...this is the deck I am using to help me get information to help other people..... A close friend of mine has been smelling sage, and telling me that after she smells it, she seems calmer and more steady..She has been asking me what I have been doing for her..so the next time she smelled it, she called me on the spot to say..Ok...NOW, I smell it NOW...what's happening? I had the cards spread out for her in a chakra spread at the time, and I was sending her Reiki through the cards...I actually had to stop sending the Reiki to answer her phone call! I'm also experimenting with people who are present at the reading to see if I can send Reiki this way, and so far it's working...as my hands pulse over the cards from the Reiki, one person kept seeing pulising white light, along with the heat coming up from his feet...I didn't tell him what to expect, just to close his eyes and tell me anything he felt or saw Just thought I'd share that for anyone who might be interested. Love and Light, Gem

blue	27 Dec 2001
Gem; This really is a great thread and it just keeps getting better. I swear, every time you put up a post I learn something! I'm going to have to incorporate Reiki with my cards more often. Thanks;

DeLani	27 Dec 2001
GeminiLady, I haven't read your profile, but I'm assuming you're a lady. This might sound strange as well, but it goes along with what Thirteen was saying...that the cards expect something in return, a sacrifice, if you will. Witches hold menstrual blood in high regard as a potent substance, the highest and most favored sacrifice that a woman makes. Perhaps the cards might like some? Hope this doesn't freak you out too much. Just a thought. Blessings, DeLani

GeminiLady	27 Dec 2001
Blue, Thank you! I'm so flattered. :) I learn so much from you all here, I'm so glad that I can contribute, as well as learn. BTW..I've been working with the pyramid, and having good results..I just thought about you telling me you had been looking at one. DeLani, It would be hard to freak me out at this point..LOL.. Actually since the time I have gotten the deck I really dove into learning it, and making sure that I treat it respectfully. Since I have begun to really study it, and learn about it as a Quabalistic deck, I haven't had it "cut" me like it used to. Instead I get quite a strong vibration and heat.--not to mention the sage smell. Thanks! Love and Light, Gem

LianMorrison	05 Jan 2002
I don't know much about the Tarot Cards yet, but if you are getting such strong signs and vibes from them, it definatly mean something big! If you can get more familiar with your cards, you probably will be able to find out what they are trying to say first hand, good luck!

GeminiLady	20 Feb 2002
Hi, it's me again. :-) For anyone that remembers this deck, I thought I'd do a little update. I knew that when I started getting attunements, there would probably be some new things happening for me..... I am finding that when I do a reading for someone, if I focus on the question while the person is shuffling, I am "shown" a one card reading (from this deck) in my third eye area before any cards are ever laid down. So far, every time I have tried it, the card itself will show up in the persons reading, or a combination of cards that still points to the same answer. It has even happened when I don't have my cards out but just want to know something--but so far, it's only this one deck. Now...crazy as this sounds, I have another deck that is starting to smell like sage, it's The Sacred Rose Tarot Deck.... Nope--I don't keep them together, but I do think I need to take a better look at it! I had been getting ready to trade it when a whiff of sage came out of the box at me. hmmm...what next... Love and Light, Gem

rostie	22 Feb 2002
happy to hear you back, i often thought back at this. so strange, but so exciting for you! just wanted you to ask keep contacting about this, i found it very interesting to hear about this. i hope that the call of your sacred rose deck bring you new messages, or maybe it will get as strong as your witches tarot, or you became a very interesting lady and you change all your decks one by one to someting special, i don't know, it's just so special, you must be a very special lady, nice to meet you! with love, rostie.

Thirteen	22 Feb 2002
Wow. That's quite awesome. It sounds like certain tarot decks really find you a good conduit (I'm tellin' you it's that Gemini thing--you've got the voice!) and the sage smell is their way of flagging you down. Kinda, "HEY! I got a message I want you to pass on for me, Geminilady!" :) Quote: GeminiLady (21 Feb, 2002 13:21): Now...crazy as this sounds, I have another deck that is starting to smell like sage, it's The Sacred Rose Tarot Deck.... I think you can offically say that sage is your magic herb, there. So what's next? Don't know if you ever thought of getting a tattoo, but if you ever do, I recommend a flowering sprig of sage. Nothing so pretty. The sage leaves are all silver-green and the flowers are a lovely purple--somewhere between violet and lavender in color. Or you could just put the design on your stationary ;)

Original Destiny	22 Feb 2002
this is something special!!!!!

The is this deck trying to tell me something? thread was originally posted on 03 Oct 2001 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.