What's the first thing you do when you get a deck?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

neptune	25 Oct 2002
More specifically, what's the first thing you do after you rip open the shrink wrap plastic of the cardboard box then "ooooh" and "aaahh" at your new deck. Do you bless the deck? Meditate? Put it under your pillow when you sleep? Show it off to friends and families? Any weird rituals?

wavebreaker	25 Oct 2002
I first put it in order (if it's not already in order). Then I look through the whole deck several times. If I'm going to use it as a reading deck I'll reiki it before I start reading with it. Then I do a New Deck Spread with it and then it's "ready for reading"... ;)

WolfSpirit	25 Oct 2002
I don't really have a ritual...the last deck I got was the celtic shaman's pack and the first thing I did with it was tear all the cards from each other as they were all sticking together (luckily it did not remain sticky) I will first look at all the cards and oooh and aaaah over them. Then I will check if all the cards are there. I have a quick look at the book if there is any. I keep the deck close for the next days because I know I will want to look through it every now and then. I start to think what kind of bag I'm going to make for it. I never intend to read with a new deck, that comes to me after a while when I'm more familiar with the deck, it's just intuition. Some decks I haven't tried to read with yet, maybe I never will but I like them just the same.

dangerdork	25 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotlady If I'm going to use it as a reading deck I'll reiki it before I start reading with it. Then I do a New Deck Spread with it and then it's "ready for reading"... ;) Hi tarotlady - could you please explain what is "Reiki" ing a deck? And do you know where I can find a reference for the "new deck spread?" One last thing, I'm doing public readings tonight and I'm taking along several decks - is there anything you would recommend I do to prepare the decks?

wavebreaker	25 Oct 2002
By reiki-ing a deck I mean giving reiki energy to the deck. Here's an older thread that explains what reiki is. And you can find the New Deck spread in this thread. As for how to prepare your decks: I think that's a very personal thing. Whatever feels right for you... ;)

cricket	25 Oct 2002
The VERY first thing I do... is run from the store straight to my car and do my best impression of a little kid at Christmas. :D After the interior of the car is thoroughly covered in little bitty shreds of plastic wrap (which takes days to clean, but is worth it) I sit in the car and shuffle... and shuffle... and shuffle some more. The people that have worked at the bookstore a while is used to this by now. In fact, they think something's wrong if I don't sit in the parking lot for 20 minutes after buying a deck. The deck rides on my lap the whole way home - about an hour's drive - and is talked to the whole time unless I'm singing along with the radio. Then I sing to it instead. As soon as it gets home it gets hidden with the other dozen or so decks that even my husband doesn't know exist yet. They all eventually find their way into the open, just not on the day they're bought. That way I don't get into as much trouble. "When did you get THAT one?" "Oh, I've had it a while now. Haven't you seen it before?" *insert funny look from hubby* "uh... no..." "Oh. I'm sorry." *insert innocent look here* It works, too! ;)

Keslynn	25 Oct 2002
*lol* cricket, I bet that whole process is fun to watch! As for me, I rip it open as soon as I get home. Usually, I get my packages at school and I'm hesitant to open it in front of jillions of academics. I suspect that many of them wouldn't understand. I put it in order if it's not already, and then I look through it again and again. Sometimes I sleep with the deck somewhere on my bed, but that's usually an accident (I'll forget to put it on my shelf before I lay down). Then I shuffle it like crazy and flip through it more whenever I get a chance. Eventually, usually sooner rather than later, I'll get the urge to use that deck in a spread. So I do! I used to do new deck spreads but I found them completely un-useful for me. So I don't do those anymore. I just plunge right in and do whatever spread I want with it. I haven't had any complaints so far. ;) Oh, and generally within the first few months of owning the deck, I will buy it a lovely bag to be stored in. :) Kes

Laurel	25 Oct 2002
I sit on my bed and look at every picture and ooh and aww or wince and frown where applicable.

Strange2	25 Oct 2002
I realize this may sound strange (well, I am Strange2), but one of the first things I do after acquiring a new deck is to smell it! I love that smell of fresh ink from a new deck! I bet you I could identify a new Lo Scarabeo deck blindfolded, as their fresh decks have this unique slightly sweet aroma. Some decks from bookstores also retain a mysterious blend of incense smells that they burned in the store. So who else sniffs their decks?!

ihcoyc	25 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Strange2 I bet you I could identify a new Lo Scarabeo deck blindfolded, as their fresh decks have this unique slightly sweet aroma Lo Scarabeo decks smell like Playboy magazines used to smell. I'm sure it's the gloss on the paper they use. It's a smell that definitely brings back memories for me. })

cricket	25 Oct 2002
What? Sniff decks? *hides the latest acquisition behind my back* No, never... And I have no idea what sweet smell you're talking about at all, Strange. ;) Keslynn: All the employees at the bookstore get a kick out of it. There used to be 3 or 4 of them that would all go on break at about the time I left the store so they could sit and watch. Until they realized that the a/c in my car doesn't work, so I was sitting in there listening to them. :cool: Now they watch from the safety of -inside- the store. The only reason my hubby lets me get away with the 'I've-had-it-a-while' routine is the fact that he gets away with it, too. His weakness is anything that has to do with turkey hunting. What an addict! He has to have dozens of calls by now, along with videos and books and computer games and... umm... *realizes that there's as much tarot stuff as hunting stuff in the house* yeah... :|}):|

Myrrha	25 Oct 2002
LOL cricket! What a happy way to bond with your decks. I don't really have a ritual but I do like to look at all the cards by sorting the deck in different ways: by suit, by number, by how the cards grab me or make me feel. After a few days of this, and sleeping with the deck next to my pillow I am ready to use it for readings. Strange2, the last few decks I bought have not smelled like much, even the Lo Scarabeo decks, but my Deva tarot is two years old and still smells funny (it has spent most of that time in it's box). It smells like ink or the printing process. Quote: Originally posted by cricket The VERY first thing I do... is run from the store straight to my car and do my best impression of a little kid at Christmas. :D After the interior of the car is thoroughly covered in little bitty shreds of plastic wrap (which takes days to clean, but is worth it) I sit in the car and shuffle... and shuffle... and shuffle some more. The people that have worked at the bookstore a while is used to this by now. In fact, they think something's wrong if I don't sit in the parking lot for 20 minutes after buying a deck. The deck rides on my lap the whole way home - about an hour's drive - and is talked to the whole time unless I'm singing along with the radio.

Umbrae	25 Oct 2002
Break the cards. This consists of first shuffling the deck, then taking groups of about 5-6 cards, and bending them horizontally and vertically rather hard. I do this with a back and forth motion for each bundle. I do this with the entire shuffled deck. This softens each card but does not crease it. It makes the deck easier to shuffle. Then and only then, do I look at the cards.

Phoenix	25 Oct 2002
I usually take the cards out of the cellophane(if they are brand new) and look through them, then give them a good shuffle. I do this by separating them out into 4 alteranting piles, and then shuffling the four piles, then shuffling them together.

faunabay	25 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by ihcoyc Lo Scarabeo decks smell like Playboy magazines used to smell. I'm sure it's the gloss on the paper they use. It's a smell that definitely brings back memories for me. }) **ROFLMAO** What a comparison ithcoyc!!!! Tarot to Playboy!!! :D :D :D

Demonesse	26 Oct 2002
I'll rip away the wrapping and stare at each card, assessing the 'feel' of the deck and my perceptions of it. If I don't like the deck and am completely disappointed by it (heaven forbid) I'll ignore it; if I do like it, I'll shuffle and cut the deck a few times and do a sample reading while thinking positive thoughts to 'transmit' good vibrations - wouldn't want the deck to be a gloomy, depressive Prozac-gobbling one :P

Diana	26 Oct 2002
edited

Emily	26 Oct 2002
Once I've opened the deck I like to sit and shuffle with it, sometimes I show my husband if its a really pretty deck but most often not, my husband has a real problem with my tarot hobby so for the most part I keep my decks away from him. I show my 5 year old son, he loved the Hanson Roberts and the Spiral - if he's still interested as he gets older I'm going to try and teach him :) Then after I've shuffled I try a few readings just to get a feel of the deck and try to get to know it :)

Jeanette	26 Oct 2002
I don't like the "new deck" smell all that much, and for that reason I carry a little sachet along in my tarot bag. That way the whole deck, spread cloth, book and whatever else may be in the bag get a more appealing (at least to me) fragrance. I've noticed that the decks are resistant to the fragrance, their coating must be the reason. It takes a long time for the fragrance to really become part of the deck. I like to do all of the things everyone else seems to enjoy; spreading out all the cards and looking at each and every one, comparing them with each other and other decks, sleeping with or near them, meditating with them ~ you name it! If it involves playing around with my new deck, I'll probably try it! My last new deck was World Spirit and I really like it, the novelty hasn't worn off yet. I still see new stuff each time I look at the deck. And I really like the artwork, colors, everything. Except the weird little guy on the Sun.....maybe he'll grow on me!

zander770	28 Oct 2002
. . . i perform a Consecration Ritual (very VERY imPORtant, to me)!!! and, not only that, but, say, if or after i've "ripped from the cellephane," and i am receiving "bad vibes" (or--ALAS!) someone has actually/somehow "touched" my cards, i Not Only have to perform the Consecration Ritual, but, ALSO "wipe each and every card w/my Bless'ed White-Silk, which is (you've guessed it): consecrated! too true . . . 770

dangerdork	28 Oct 2002
That smell is linseed oil, one of my favorite smells. It's a component of printer's ink also found in some paints. They use it a lot in Italy. If you ever get a coffee-table book with loks of high-quality pictures, you may notice that smell there too. Lo Scarbeo is the only publisher from whom I will buy a deck based only on the packaging - if the one or two cards on the outside appeal to my personal tastes, I just know I'm going to love the entire deck.

Violet Gargoyle	28 Oct 2002
I like that new smell too. Many of my new decks I look at with my daughter, who likes telling me mini stories about the pictures if they are interesting enough to her.

Kiama	29 Oct 2002
I RIP open the cellophane.... I THROW all the mess in the area away from me... I PLONK myself down on the nearest flat and clean surface... I SIGH and flip through each card ,over and over and over... Then I do it all again.... And usually read teh book that came with the deck, or phone a friend and tell them my 'good news', and they groan and ask 'how many is it now?' And I lose count... Then I feel guilty for buying the deck, but alleviate my conscience by telling myself I definitely deserved the deck cuz I've been such a good girl over the past... Um... Day... I don't have any spcial rituals or anything, because any new deck I get now, I don't read with... But with my Robin Wood deck when I first got that, it spent a month not leaving my side, then another month being consecrated through giving others loadsa readings. Now I cna say it is truly and well consecrated and annointed, what with all the readings I have done withit, and people I have taught and healed with it, and alcohol that has been spilled on it... (You guys have probably gussed that I'm not gonna let that one go!) Kiama

Lystia	30 Oct 2002
First, if they aren't allready in order, the I put them. What do I do then? Hmm... Oh I remembered now! I make my first reading with them and finds out, if they fits to me or are in harmony with me.

Jewel	31 Oct 2002
I run quickly to a quiet spot, rip open the packaging with a silly grin on my face ... anticipation and excitement overcoming all of my senses. I then carefully open the box and take off the plastic wrap ... I then look slowly through the cards, admiring them. If they are not in the order I prefer I then order them ... then look through the again. Then I carefully put them up and store them with the rest of my cards waiting for a time when I can dedicate my full my attention the them (which could be months away) ... but I am at peace ... I have them now and know I can look at them or use them any time I wish ... It is bliss. In the case that I do not like a deck or know I will not connect I trade it.

Shadow Wolf	29 Nov 2002
I bless my new decks. I like smudging them with a smoke from a sage smudge stick. I light the end of the stick and invoke the Goddess Isis to bless the new deck. I fan the cards out and make sure the smoke touches all of the cards. I also like to light a white or silver candle to get some Goddess energy going. I think a little ritual in blessing or cleansing adds to the respect we have for the cards, and reminds us how important they are in our lives.

Trish	29 Nov 2002
Yeah, what I first do is open them up and look at them. I'm as bad with Tarot cards as I am with CD's. I can't even wait till I'm home to get them out of the plastic! hehe! I might also flip through the little book (if there is one) & see what's what. And then I sit there for a while with them, shuffle them, & try them out. I keep my Tarot cards in a small wood-and-wicker container with a latch. I have a pair of necklaces -- one with a silver symbolic Buddha amulet, and another with a pewter ankh -- that I keep in the box along with my cards when I'm not wearing them. That's my way of letting the cards absorb my energy. ;-) If I get any more decks though, I'm gonna need a bigger container! :-P hehe!

The What's the first thing you do when you get a deck? thread was originally posted on 25 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.