Unlucky to buy for yourself???

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Dec 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

kayne	20 Dec 2001
Hey All, In a couple of tarot books I have read they say it is unlucky to buy yourself a tarot deck - better to receive one as a gift. I have never found the decks I've bought myself to be unlucky... I also think choosing a deck is such a personal thing with so much selection - what do you think? Have you ever found that buying a deck yourself is unlucky? (Or maybe a deck you have received as a gift is particularly lucky???) Does anyone know where this superstition might have originated? Just interested in your thoughts, K

tarotbear	20 Dec 2001
The 'superstition' is based on the fact that unlike today when you can walk into any bookstore and select a tarot deck from a shelf of titles - once upon a time in ancient history (try 25 years ago) it was illegal or worse to have 'occult' books or paraphenalia in your shop (until the mid-1950s witchcraft was still a crime in England). You could only obtain a deck or book by 'knowing someone who knew someone'. Quite simply, if you walked into one of these stores and asked to buy a deck, if the owners didn't know you, they would tell you they carried no such things. Go ahead and buy yourself any deck you wish- particularly that one that jumped off the shelf when you walked by.

Lilliana	21 Dec 2001
The other day my friend and I thought we would both treat ourselves to a new deck each. We were in borders bookstore where they keep the tarot cards locked in a glass cupboard. My friend commented on the security, and the salesperson told us why they are kept under lock and key. In all their thousands of stores, which carry thousands of titles, tarot cards are the number one stolen item all over the world. Apparently alot of people believe that if no money is exchanged when you aquire a deck, then it will have more "power" and be more accurate, as well as avoiding the supposed bad luck of buying a deck. Personally, I think that a stolen deck would be more unlucky than one you actually paid for. Lilli

Major Tom	21 Dec 2001
Sometimes I wonder you know - I've been known to give a tarot deck as a gift. I've not always kept in touch with the reciepients. A little scene suggests itself: 1st Person: 'Where did you get your tarot deck? I love it.' 2nd Person: 'A dear friend gave it to me. Where did you get yours?' 1st Person: 'I bought mine for myself. You're very lucky in your friends'. Do these sort of exchanges perpetuate the superstition?

Greenman	21 Dec 2001
it is definitely better to buy your favorite deck than to go without it just waiting for someone to give it to you. and if you ask someone to give it to you, then it's not really a 'gift' is it? but it is certainly nice to work with a deck that has love as it's exchange value, rather than cold cash. one of my favorite decks (the Magickal Tarot) was bought for me by my teacher, just because she knew i would love it. and since it was o/p even then, it was an especially nice gift. and who would want to work with a stolen deck? eeesh!

Kiama	21 Dec 2001
I think the only way in which a deck bought for you would feel a bit nicer than one you bought yourself, is if you conjured up fond memories of the person who bought it for you. But otherwise, how can you get a deck you really ad totally click with, if you don't choose it yourself? Plus, for the collectors out there, I'm sure its alot easier to buy your own! Waiting for othrs to get you say, 50 decks (Some people on this form have over 50!) takes far too long! And stolen decks? NO WAY! I don't think I would be able to use a stolen deck at all. Its unethical: You've not stolen from the store, as much as you've stolen from the deck and its creator. That creator worked damn hard to create a deck, and yo go and steal it? I would just feel too guilty to be able to keep the deck. Kiama

Kiama	21 Dec 2001
BTW: Here's something I like to say when someone says its bad luck for me to buy that deck for myself (Usually when I'm at the counter paying for it!) I MAKE MY OWN LUCK. (Han Solo, Star Wars) Kiama

kayne	26 Feb 2002
I posted this thread a *LONG* time ago and I thought aeonx might be interested in seeing it...

aeonx	26 Feb 2002
Dear Kayne. I'm sorry for the confusion, but my post isn't supposed to be where it is. I actually hit the wrong button! The post belongs under jade's faq-post. :( I always buy my own decks. :)

Geenius at Wrok	27 Feb 2002
Quote: Greenman (22 Dec, 2001 04:33): and who would want to work with a stolen deck? eeesh! Sign in a local bookstore: [center][4]Shoplifting will ruin your karma![/4] [1] (and land you in jail)[/1][/center]

Liliana	27 Feb 2002
Our occult store has one that says something like Shoplifters will be prosecuted, and if we dont catch you remember the law of three

Jewel	27 Feb 2002
~Giggles~ I just had to smile reading this post. I had this conversation with my fiance's sister just a few months ago ... you should have seen the size of her eyes when I told her I had 60+ decks *LOL*. Like all supersticions I believe that it is back luck if you think it is ... you will it upon yourself. If I waited for decks as gifts I would probably have 5 or 6 decks, which for someone of my compulsions would just simply not work *ROFLMAO*. My decks have never brought me bad luck. One thing I can say for the argument of not purchasing your own decks ... it sure would be cheaper ;) As for the people who steal decks (or anything else for that matter) shame on them! They give us Tarot afficionados a bad name, and by association to Pagans in general often time ... we do not need this while we are trying to help the world understand that we are not evil! Karma will catch up to them, and hopefully so will the law! Love & Light,

The Unlucky to buy for yourself??? thread was originally posted on 20 Dec 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.