do you take your cards with you

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

air521	27 Oct 2002
when you go to school, do you take yoiur cards with you? or whearever you go. i took my cards to school for a week and it took me a while to get them to go back to normal. they just didnt seem to speak to me. my friend gave me some crystals, told me to run them under cold water, put them on my deck and leave them exposed to teh full moon. i wonder if that did it, cuz they speak to me now.

Thirteen	27 Oct 2002
Lots of people take their cards with them where ever they go. But you need to wrap them up good to protect them--from the elements as well as influences. Also, it's good to have them wrapped up in something on which you can lay them out, like a dark colored scarf. That way, a dirty table won't soil them.

truthsayer	27 Oct 2002
i think it's good to have the cards in something heavier than a cloth bag if they are going to be carried in a book bag or purse. i've had metal key chains snap during to heavy wear in a book sack or purse after an extended period of time. i don't want that kind of damage to my cards. a wooden box, heavy cardboard or some other strong material that would protect them physically from damage. now if i carry them some place i try to put them in a pocket of my jacket or a front book bag pocket to avoid heavy wear and abuse.

wavebreaker	27 Oct 2002
I always have a miniature Rider-Waite with me. It doesn't take up much room, and because it's small, it doesn't get damaged easily either.

Keslynn	27 Oct 2002
I usually have at least one of my decks with me - in my purse or bookbag. Usually, I leave them in their boxes and then a cloth tote to protect them from dirt or wear. Like truthsayer, I also try to keep them in their own pocket. My personal belief is that I am the one who provides the energy and that the cards are just a tool. Therefore, if I'm unfocused, then the reading will be as well. And it won't matter where my cards have been. It just matters how well I concentrate when I'm doing the reading. :) Kes

Mystica	27 Oct 2002
It depends on the situation. I don't take my cards with me on a daily basis. But if I'm going to be out for some length of time, or out of town, then I always have my Universal RW.

Teranar	27 Oct 2002
I've been in the habit of taking my cards everywhere with me in my jacket pocket, just in case I need a sudden reading. When I forget them, its like they're mad at me later.

rota	27 Oct 2002
yep, I'm with these guys - the cards go with me everywhere. You just never know when you're going to want to get that Tarot overview, and you never know when someone will decide they just have to have a reading... I carry mine in a green bag that was probably someone's coin purse at some time. I think I'll start taking the advice above and add a wrapping of velvet or silk. It would seem to add a degree of protection, as well as to add a degree of solemnity to the occasion of reading them. Sometimes presentation matters!

Kazz	27 Oct 2002
Yes like Vianne I don't take them 'everwhere' I go, like shopping etc, but I always take them on a day trip or longer, or visiting friends and family. I like to have them with me while I travel as I tend to believe they protect me and keep me safe, especially when I travel alone. Cheers Kazz :TQC

Umbrae	28 Oct 2002
I always have a deck nearby. I have a deck that lives in the truck, just in case I need it. or there is one (or two) in by briefcase, and almost always a set of runes upon my person. You never know when you may meet someone in need. Once in a while I will leave the house with nothing - and always I wished I had not. But then there is always something nearby. Learn to read regular playing cards. Learn to read toothpicks...

VGimlet	28 Oct 2002
I don't take my cards everywhere, all the time, but I take a deck if we go out of town, even just overnight. I usually put them in the small front pocket of my backpack. I do sometmes take decks to work, but not often. If I was going to carry one all the time, I might look for a metal tin or wooden box to keep it in for protection, or even a small square plastic box that sealed water-tight.

Kiama	28 Oct 2002
I take my deck everywhere. Like Umbrae said, you never know who's gonna want a reading and where or when... I've never found that the cards didn't speak to me though, cuz usually they're righ tby me all thetime in my bag, which means they're either by my side or by my feet, and I figure they're close enough to my energies to stay 'mine'... But then again I don't usually find that hte surroundings affect the deck at all.... My deck has been to school, college, Uni, beaches, forests, pubs, clubs, everywhere.... The only time I've needed to cleanse it is when it got alcohol spilled all over it... What do you carry your deck itn? Lots of epopel swear by protective black silk or a box to protect the deck both physically and spiitually. Kiama

Rhiannon	28 Oct 2002
I keep a deck in my purse at all times. Right now that happens to be my Legend deck. I have a "mommy" purse with all the different zippered compartments, the deck stays in it's original box in the center compartment and is zipped up unless there's something else in there I need. R :)

Talisman	28 Oct 2002
'Lo all, If I'm just walking around, you know, or during those times when I'm forced to work in an actual office, I never bother to carry my cards. But when I travel, always. I like the idea the deck is "seasoned" this way. They were with me in a tiny tent during a rain storm one night while bicycling around Europe. Or thrown into a stuff sack with spare clothes to make a pillow for my sleeping bag when camped north of the Arctic Circle. Etc., etc. (For the same reason, I've never "re-ordered" my cards. The original mix, and all the others following, are still in the deck. Yeah, I know, they're only rectangles of cardboard. But they're my cardboard, and they've been down the road and over the mountain with me.) This deck travels in a bag I got at a shop in Chinatown. The inside is white silk, the outside black silk. If you turn the bag in the light, you'll notice scenes from ancient Chinese art are embroidered on it in plum and silver and emerald silk. And, naturally of course, inside the bag the cards are wrapped in a blue bandanna. Now the deck before, my retired Robin Wood, lives and traveled in a soft and supple black leather draw-string bag with jet beads on the string. Smooth leather, not seude. (I mentioned this once in a post and a Tarotbear responded, "But that's horrible! How can you keep your deck in the hide of a dead animal?" Is there a bit of redundancy there? I dunno, just seemed to work.) Oh, I've enjoyed your stories on this thread, and I hope a lot more follow. Talisman

napaea	28 Oct 2002
hmmmmm... i don't usually take a deck with me everywhere, but now i'm starting to think i should!! when i do take one with me - out of town or wherever - i like to take the tarot nova. ONE because it is small enough to carry in anything and convenient. TWO because the cards are so cute, that if a right wing relative accidentally found them, they would be less likely to freak out on me then some other decks (oh, say my Vampire deck!) but i may want to start carrying it around more now that i've read all this!

Myrrha	28 Oct 2002
Although I know that the deck is only a tool and what makes it work is my own focus and intuition, I do take a deck with me most of the time and find this comforting. This thread is prompting me to think about why this is and I guess it is because part of what tarot does for me is help me feel connected with the flow of the universe, with divinity, with my most inmost self. So perhaps the deck is a physical reminder of that connection. Myrrha

DarkElectric	28 Oct 2002
I like to keep a deck with me wherever I go. I just like having it around, because, yeah, you never know if it will come in handy. I've had the experience where I didn't happen to have my deck with me, and a reading opportunity arose suddenly. No deck, no reading, no fun. Also, if I am put in the position of having to wait around for any length of time somewhere, I just take my deck out and do some simple one card readings for myself. Time which would otherwise be spent in frustrated boredom passes in a more interesting manner.

napaea	28 Oct 2002
although i do want to throw in here, since so many people are practiced at reading the cards... if you didn't have cards, there are so many other ways to do divination. so if you ran into someone who really could use a reading and you didn't have a deck, you can do a candle reading if there is a candle nearby, or read stones outside, or read leaves, etc.etc. though the cards are wonderful, part of the fun in reading (at least for me) is the messages. and i feel the messages can come from anything, from anywhere. so if without, don't be in doubt! just look to the next available thing and open up...

anjocoxo	28 Oct 2002
I have already tought about it once or twice, abput taking the cards everywhere, and the idea is starting to be very appealing to me... you never know when you can have a chance of reading to cards (to yourself or to others) and have fun! but i don't know which deck to have with me... I have the golden rider and the aleister crowley, and the second one is too big to carry around. I guess i'll have to stick to the golden rider *sighs*

Cerulean	28 Oct 2002
Here's where one of my silly hobbies might be useful. I don't have every tarot...but I might have more carrying cases than the average bear (from a cartoon). In the U.S., California, they have a chain called Walgreens which sells doublezippered pencil cases...if you get the right small silk bags for decks or smaller decks, two will fit in this case...or a small deck, a velvet bag with silk lining and a pen/small notebook. Yes I play with carrying options for travel, etc.... Right now I've stocked up on larger BookGear carrying cases for paperback books...got plum, blue plaid and green. These can carry up to six small decks each, but I usually put one or two and any reference books. So they go many places with me and I can even switch book or pencil case colors...they sometimes read better than other fiction, if I want to do creative storytelling... Mari H.

MeeWah	28 Oct 2002
I tend to carry a deck with me wherever I go, not on the off-chance of reading for anyone but more for me. Currently, 'tis the Halloween deck. If I go on a road trip I always take a few decks with me to sort of expose them to my experiences along with what passes as my portable journal (sheets of loose-leaf paper prepared ahead of time for entries on a clipboard & pencils.)

catlin	29 Oct 2002
I never leave the house without at least one deck (usually Pocket RW or Marseilles), I usually carry around 5 different decks in baggies.

Lystia	30 Oct 2002
I dosen't take my cards with me because they are too big and takes to much space. Maybe if they were smaller I would.

sparrowspirit	30 Oct 2002
I have started carrying my deck with me whenever I go somewhere that requires me to carry a tote. I also carry the Tarot Nova since I got it because it is small and sturdily built. I also figure that even though I have gotten some good readings on it, it is also inexpensive and easy to replace if needed. I also agree that it is not as recognizable as tarot. Since I have run into some issues with dealing with others' misconceptions about tarot, I prefer not to be so "out there" with my interest. I like to carry the cards because they are a tangible reminder of the hidden unity of the universe, and this comforts me. I think that it would also be fun to have them around in case I am in a situation in which I could do a reading for someone,(although I am very self-conscious about my beginnerdom). I also like to keep my Russian Fortune Telling cards, (thanks Ravenswing!), with me when I go to other's homes for a party because I think that it is fun as a sort of "parlor game" type of reading. I need to often reference the book for that one. Sparrow

Mystica	30 Oct 2002
Not to get off the subject - Sparrowspirit, I am curious about the Russian Fortune Telling Cards. I'm not familiar with those, could you tell me about them?

Myrrha	30 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by napaea if you didn't have cards, there are so many other ways to do divination. so if you ran into someone who really could use a reading and you didn't have a deck, you can do a candle reading if there is a candle nearby, or read stones outside, or read leaves, etc.etc. The other day I was doing my laundry and it struck me that the new quarters with the pictures from all the states have divinitory posibilities. If you did a throw with five quarters, or just pulled three quarters at random out of your purse . . . there are trees, airplanes, peaches, warriors, birds, enough symbolism for some kind of reading. Myrrha

Umbrae	30 Oct 2002
Uh – me again. You know this reading thing…it is similar to…wait… If you know first aid – it is a skill – you are always ready to save someone’s life. Readings is similar, on a different level. You do not need to carry around six decks of cards. When I wrote (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8599) it was not a joke. It is an exercise to set yourself free to help others. Once you take it upon yourself to begin opening the doors of the mind, it becomes your onus to help others. To heck with this reading for yourself and ‘what’s it mean’. There is only one reason to read Tarot. To help others. The world will seem brighter when we do things for others, instead of just ourselves. Just do right by others. Each time you do, it shines the light a little farther into the dark. Even when we die that light keeps shining on, pushing the shadows back. Help others! If that means carrying a deck – then do so.

sparrowspirit	30 Oct 2002
Hi Vianne, This set is authored by Svetlana Alexandrovna Touchkoff, (published by HarperSanFransisco). She says in her introduction that this is a traditional Russian cultural activity. They were used in the author's family as a way of entertaining themselves during get togethers and working on personal issues together. The images derive from the gypsy aspect of their folklore and include natural and Christian symbols. so there are 25 cards and 50 possible symbols. Each card is divided into four parts, each part having half of a symbol. A question is asked. After shuffling, the cards are laid out in five rows of five. The cards can then be rotated so that when joined up with adjacent cards, a whole image is formed. Whatever full images are formed are recorded on paper as well as the position, upright, inverted, sideways right or left. Each image has a particular meaning which is given a different slant depending on its position. For example: card 36 is a picture of two hands in a handshake. It is the symbol for the "state of union between two people". Upright this means strong friendship, inverted means the union threatens to come apart, to the right, love will strenthen your bond, and to the left, the bond will weaken if you don't do the work. Its fun and it works! Myrrha, Cool idea with the quarters! Have you tried it? Umbrae, I totally agree, in most areas of life, including tarot. :) Sparrow

Ravenswing	31 Oct 2002
yes, i carry a deck with me most everywhere. but for those who are fearful of doing damage to your cards here's something that works for me. take 78 3 x 5 cards. write a card name on each. color, draw or whatever on them if you want. store them with another deck for a while if that makes sense to you. consecrate them if that's your style. try a new deck reading... just believe in them. the advantage of only the card name is that it's an excercise in visualization-- a card image usually comes to mind. (i know when i'm working a new deck, for a time a mental image of a deck i'm familiar with pops up. when that doesn't happen, i know i've connected with the new deck) happy halloween all raven

Jewel	31 Oct 2002
I could not imagine leaving home without at least one deck (usually 2 or 3) ... not because I do readings for anyone while I am out (because I do not), but simply because I am obsessive compulsive Taroholic/Tarot Gollum. I must guard my prescioussss ;) ... know what I mean? *LOL*

Myrrha	31 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by sparrowspirit Myrrha, Cool idea with the quarters! Have you tried it? Sparrow I have not tried this yet, have been too obsessed with my tarot cards lately so I don't know if it would actually work. Also, I am a little bit afraid to start seeing *everything* as symbolically meaningful. I still need boundaries around that, to think "this set of images is symbolically meaningful but these adds on the subway are not" otherwise I might feel like I am going crazy and there are messages to me everywhere. I want to be open to the universe and what it tries to tell me, but OTOH for right now I need boundaries. Myrrha

sparrowspirit	31 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Myrrha Also, I am a little bit afraid to start seeing *everything* as symbolically meaningful. *snip Snip* otherwise I might feel like I am going crazy and there are messages to me everywhere. Myrrha I know what you mean!!!! This whole divination thing is new to me. I had a weird half-waking dream that the tree I have in my room was trying to tell me something! It was a bit scary. So I have started meditating so that I can feel a little more in control of the info coming it. It has helped. (Not that I am that much in touch with any innate psychic abilities I might have). Sparrow

The do you take your cards with you thread was originally posted on 27 Oct 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.