First decks as gifts

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

dangerdork	08 Nov 2002
Violinlily's recent post about giving her friend a deck got me to thinking... I remember hearing somewhere a long time ago that it's very lucky, or you will be a good reader, if you receive your first deck as a gift. I've probably given first decks to 5 or 6 people over the years. Has anyone else heard of this? any good stories of decks as gifts? Any recommended 1st decks (besides the obvious RWS and I've also mentioned Hanson-Roberts as a good first deck).

wavebreaker	08 Nov 2002
There have been several threads about this, whether your first deck (or any deck) should be a gift or whether you should buy it yourself. Here's one of them. Of course, tarot decks do make great gifts, but I don't think it will affect the reader's skills whether they receive the deck as a gift or buy it themselves. If you'd give someone a deck that they can't relate to, that certainly isn't going to make them a good reader. ;) As for suggestions for gift decks: it very much depends on the person and their interests, I find it really difficult to give a general suggestion. I'd probably go for the RWS or a clone as a first deck.

dangerdork	08 Nov 2002
thanks tarotlady - surprised i missed that thread

Shadow Wolf	29 Nov 2002
I have a friend whose interested in tarot, but her fiance is totally against it. She's coming to me on Sunday for a reading. I'm just starting to read for other people. I would like to get her a tarot deck for Christmas, but don't know if it's a good idea, knowing how her S/O feels about it. On the other hand, she shouldn't have to hide her interest and she's always looking for readings from "so-called" psychics. I thought if she had her own deck, she could do her own readings. What do you think ?????? And what deck should I invest in ???????

Sea Sprite	29 Nov 2002
I've received my first 4 decks as gifts but don't feel that it had any impact. Buying a tarot deck for a friend is thoughtful. Do it if you think she'll use it. I suggest Universal Waite for her first deck. :)

Trish	29 Nov 2002
Well ... the first one I got was a gift. *shrugs* I don't think it makes me any better though. There are a lot of questions about whether or not a deck should be given or bought. I've also heard somewhere that the decks you buy yourself can only be for show. *shrugs* I don't personally believe that.

tarotbrat	29 Nov 2002
Hi Shadow Wolf I have to share that a while ago I was in the same situation as your friend. My ex boyfriends where not happy at the fact that I was interested in tarot and that I was trying to learn it as well. My current boyfriend was not happy with it from the start and after being together for almost a decade now, for the first time he bought me a deck. "Legend, The Arthurian Tarot". He actually took the time to go with me in the metaphysical bookstore, which normally irks him, and let me pick my deck and he paid for it. I think he was more anxious about going to the bookstore than I was. Then he started to look around the store. I asked him "why the change of heart?" and his answer was "if you can't beat it, then join it" I would say go ahead and give her a deck for christmas and the Universal Waite deck like Sea Sprite suggested is a good deck. I find it easy on the eyes compared to the RWS deck. Hope this helps.

Shadow Wolf	29 Nov 2002
I picked up the Celtic Dragon deck for her. She's coming over on Sunday for a reading, I'll give it to her then and show her how to use it. The book is pretty self-explanatory. Thanks for the input. I guess I have one more reason to start appreciating hubby....... He doesn't mind if I have interests that don't jive with his personal belief system !!!!!! I saw a couple of basic tarot decks at the store but they were already opened and in most the cards were gone, and in the others, there were cards missing !!!!! So I settled on the Celtic Dragon because it sat there on the shelf, packaging intact, beckoning to me. I really hope she likes it !!!!!! Thanks again for the advice and input.

Imagineer	30 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Shadow Wolf I guess I have one more reason to start appreciating hubby....... He doesn't mind if I have interests that don't jive with his personal belief system !!!!!! This aspect of the thread sparked a conversation between my S/O and myself. I guess we're extra lucky in that we have a pretty strong overlap of interests/beliefs. And even if one of us brought "home" a new interest, hobby, or belief, say weaving or Chinese aphrodisiac cooking or theosophy, the other one would probably take interest. Just because we think of each other as pretty absorbing, interesting people and whatever one of us brings to a new interest makes it fascinationg for that reason. My S/O introduced me to Antero Alli's writings and filled out some of my rudimentary knowledge of sacred geometry. But good of your husband to be tolerant of your beliefs, because it helps engender and maintain trust between you two.

Shadow Wolf	01 Dec 2002
I gave her the deck I bought for her today........... I chose the Celtic Dragon deck and she loved them. I did the first reading for her and she was amazed at the accuracy. She loved it so much I did 3-4 other readings using different spreads. I used the same deck for all but the last 3 card spread. I used the Celtic Dragon deck, it just felt right. It also gave her an idea of how a reading might go when she used her own deck. I said I give her a clear quartz crystal to cleanse the deck with, but I forgot about by the time she left. I can give it to her later. She lives right next door. Anyway, thanks for the advice, but as it turns out, I made the right choice after all !!!!!!!

Teranar	02 Dec 2002
I don't remember if I was given my first deck, but if you teach someone I've always felt you should give them their first deck, but if you learn from books and such I feel you should get your first deck yourself.

The First decks as gifts thread was originally posted on 08 Nov 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.