Beg, steal or borrow?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

grailmaiden	06 Apr 2002
I've heard it said that traditionally you should not buy your tarot deck, but either receive it as a gift, steal it, or find it by chance. Now, I can tell by the posts on this forum that many of you are avid deck collectors, and are not adverse to actually splashing out your own money to buy them ;). So what do you all think about the traditional view? What was the thinking behind it and does it still hold true in these times? Grail

kayne	06 Apr 2002
Grailmaidon: I asked this same question when I first came to Aeclectic :) This was the responce I got - and it makes sense! The tradition of not paying money for your own deck came from the not too destant past when the art of tarot reading was taboo. You literally had to know someone who knew someone to get a deck, it was all a very secretive, under-the-table type stuff... Now it is not like that. In most places anyone can buy a deck and usually have a great range from which to choose! People at Aeclectic usually considerate it the worst luck to steal a deck - especially anyone who believes in karma! To be given a deck as a present is a lovely gift, especially when given with love :D With so much range and choice, however, why not buy it your self. Afterall, you worked hard to get the money for that deck, you chose it to suit your taste - it is perfect for you! So - as a budding collector I say to you, go for it - get that deck you've always wanted!

Diana	06 Apr 2002
edited

Kiama	06 Apr 2002
I think that if somebody love you enough to buy you a Tarot deck, then you are very lucky. But there is a problem with it: Unless you specifically tell a person which deck you want, they aren't gonna know, and may get you a deck which you absolutely hate! To find a deck by chance would be VERY rare. It might not be a deck you like either! And to steal a deck, well.... *Kiama takes a second to compose herself* I think that a deck that is stolen would really have bad energies. Everything in life is give and take. To steal is to just do the take part, and a deck got by such methods would weigh on my mind, and stop me from appreciating it fully. Kiama

Lion-O	07 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by grailmaiden I've heard it said that traditionally you should not buy your tarot deck, but either receive it as a gift, steal it, or find it by chance. So what do you all think about the traditional view? What was the thinking behind it and does it still hold true in these times? The whole concept is excellent IMO since its the best way to make sure the expertise about Tarot won't be lost. Now this may sound silly at first but the loss of knowledge should never be under estimated because it can really be lost very quickly. A quick example if I may; in the beginning of the previous century we were able to build wooden ships which could sail across the ocean if need be. I know a lot of that information is pretty obsolete due to our modern ships which are obviously capable of doing much more. But the issue at hand; the knowledge and the expertise to build such ships is now gone, within 100 years we are not able to build a wooden ship which can even do so much as float ;) Even despite the massive computers and modern science. Its been done, I've seen it happen. It got into the water and well... lets not get into that :) In the early days one would goto a person who mastered a certain craft in order to become is apprentice. You'd do a lot of nasty things at first (cleaning, etc, etc.) but over the years you'd learn the craft one small step at a time untill one day you too mastered the whole issue so you could go out on your own. And in time you too would take on an apprentice to pass on your knowledge. and so on, and so on... Thats the thinking behind it. Not much thinking actually; simpy taking it as it was done in the old days. And in these days? Allthough it is still done I don't think its common practice. I've read some thread on these forums where someone was looking for a deck for her grandson. And I really envy him to some extend; although she didn't have enough time to teach him how to work Tarot she was planning to teach him some basics. But in the overall one buys his / her deck and tries to bind with it or get familiar with it.

grailmaiden	08 Apr 2002
A very interesting take on this one Lion-O, thanks. You're so right about people no longer learning at the feet of a master. You've triggered some further thoughts on the subject and a feel another post brewing :D. Grail

Malachite	08 Apr 2002
I guess in a way, its like prostitution... *waits for shocked reactions to fade* It may be technically illegal to 'purchase', but if you can say its a trade/gift, then its above board...technically... ;)

The Beg, steal or borrow? thread was originally posted on 06 Apr 2002 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.