Shops with tarot cards?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Vita-morte	26 Dec 2002
I've been browzing some of the older messages and they've brought to mind a question to ask: Do some of you REALLY have shops that sell tarot books and cards right in your own towns? Wow! The best place around here is Books-a-Million and they only routinely carry a few basic books and decks. Just a curiousity question. Online orders for me, I guess.

RedWood	26 Dec 2002
Yes..I have a few shops around here that carry ..crystals..pendulums..etc...Very cool little shop!! Online ordering can be cheap!

Faerie Lin	26 Dec 2002
Barnes and Noble, Borders, Media Play... thats the only main national bookstores I can think of that carry tarot decks.

violinlily	26 Dec 2002
if you hunt around (in your local phone book, perhaps) there is probably either a store w/ only tarot-related merchandise, or a store w/ pendulums, crystal balls, etc. (there's a store here called Enchantments-- awesome place for spiritual things!!). Like FL said, there might be a large local chain. Good luck!

Khatruman	26 Dec 2002
The Borders Books store around me is where I have gotten many decks. They used to have a case in the back with a load of decks shoved in. They have recently expanded the case and put it in the center of the store. Of course, you have to call over a salesperson to unlock the case in order to even touch them, but most decks I have found out about from other sources. Borders is where I was reintroduced to tarot by finding a William Blake tarot in the bargain rack for $5 (which I am learning now was a steal since the deck is now fetching quite high prices). Being a teacher, I wait until they have teacher appreciation sales with 25% off for teachers and I buy a deck or two. Recently, I got the Tao Oracle for a good price. Peace!

HudsonGray	26 Dec 2002
Right, Borders, Walden Books, BArnes & Noble, the east side Crystal Ball Shop, Hand of Glory store, all new age stores, and some rock shops carry them in Wisconsin

Trish	27 Dec 2002
Yeah ... the local Barnes and Noble shop sells a few Tarot decks. There are a few other bookstores in my area that I think might too -- Borders, Walden's, etc. There's also a little place in my shopping mall that sells all sorts of statues, candles, incense, and other kinds of what could be considered "magickal" and/or divinatory supplies. This of course includes a collection of Tarot, Oracle, and I-Ching decks and books. None of them has as large a selection as I personally would like though. ;) sigh. But they do have all the basics. I might have to resort to buying certain decks online if I really want them.

fairyhedgehog	27 Dec 2002
We've got a Borders in one of the local towns, but I've bought most of my decks online, or traded for them. I tend to read every review I can, on here, on learningtarot.com, wicce.com etc and look at all the pictures. Then I buy from amazon or another online seller. It's worked quite well so far, and when I've found a deck really didn't click with me I've traded it. Which has happened when I've bought 'live' too - so online seems to me as good as any :)

Ophiel	27 Dec 2002
I'm not picking on your part of the country, but I suspect being in the deep south has something to do with why you aren't finding occult/New Age/metaphysical bookshops there. I have a friend there and she tells me people tend to be more 'traditional' there. Try a chain store in a large city like Borders or Barnes & Noble, (or whatever you have there) as others have suggested, or get used to buying online, which isn't a bad way to go for items like Tarot, which, unless damaged, are all the same. I always prefer to see crystals I buy first, whenever that is possible. This group has a large selection of deck reviews so you can get a decent idea what the deck will look like before ordering. Good luck!

VGimlet	27 Dec 2002
Yep, we have several small shops in the area that carry cards, as well as pagan/wiccan/metaphysical type supplies. I try to buy from them when I can, even though it might be cheaper to buy online.

Ursula	30 Dec 2002
i can get tarot books & decks from Barnes & Noble, Borders and a New Age shop locally, but i typically go to the internet. Barnes & Noble & Amazon.com have a lot of decks, but just do a search for "tarot" & you should be led to places where you can buy them! http://www.learntarot.com/ is my favorite for shopping and for learning the meanings of the cards. she has EXCELLENT info as well as information about over 100 decks (conservative estimate). she doesn't sell the decks herself, but she'll link you to the places that do. happy shopping! ~Urs :OL

warabi	30 Dec 2002
I'm not sure if this is good advice or not since I do not personally know the area which you live in but sometimes it helps to ask if a store carries tarot cards. I come from a very small town with a very high christian and mormon population and no stores that openly carried things such as tarot cards (mainly because of frequent boycotts due to "selling tools of the devil"). There were also no large chains of stores there either (at least while I was living there). There were, however, a few bookstores and "candle" shops that had them in the back for those who were brave enough to ask.

tarotbear	30 Dec 2002
Having lived the the Northeast USA my whole life, I find it hard to believe that someone cannot find a tarot deck, but it doesn't really surprise me. I am used to any large city, especially one with a college in it, to have some kind of offbeat coffee shop, artsy bookstore, or at the very least some kind of (showing my age here) "Head Shop" or New Age store that can get stuff for you. I am sure this is not true in the "Bible Belt" where anything that smacks of 'divination' probably gets Holy Water thrown at it. {HEY- a 'Catholic Store' or church supply place is a great place to get self-lighting charcoal and great Frankensence or myrrh incense!}

lawguy51	30 Dec 2002
If any of you ever come to Toronto, seek out the Omega Bookstore. When you walk in you will think you've died and gone to heaven. This new age bookstore has EVERYTHING! Not only does it have two racks of Tarot books and decks, it has a revolving two sided locked display case full of Tarot cards. Books on Wiccan, Channeling, everything....even my novel!! :D Plus crystals and smudge sticks, incense, plus people who come in and give readings, massages, lectures....I'm sure you're getting the picture. It's on Yorkville near Yonge. Put it on the itinerary if you come to my home town! Lawguy51

Melvis	02 Jan 2003
Hi, Vita-morte! I just wanted to add that the Borders bookstore in my neighborhood has a big directory of Tarot decks from various publishers. You can order any deck you want and someone from the store calls you when it comes in. Perhaps the Books-A-Million store has a similar set-up. If anything, you may be able to check their website to see if they carry the deck you want, then request it by ISBN number at your local store if you don't want to order online. AS far as occult shops go, I do have a couple in my city, including the popular Magus Books. I do consider myself very lucky! :D And to make it an even more special place, one of the proprietors is a lovely British gentleman who addresses the ladies as "Luv." I giggle like a schoolgirl when he does that. I'm such a sucker for an accent! ;) Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Trish	02 Jan 2003
Somebody mentioned something about the Deep South a few posts ago. I don't live in the Deep South myself, however I do not think that it is necessarily true that the Deep South is aversed to Tarot and that kind of stuff. Look at the deep connection to Voodoo that New Orleans has. Also Florida, with its large Cuban community, probably has a few areas where Santeria is practiced. I'm not saying that Voodoo and Santeria are "evil", but if people who practice Voodoo and/or Santeria can live in the Deep South without too much hassle, then surely somebody who practices Tarot -- which is NOT a religion -- can too! ;)

magipixie	03 Jan 2003
Hi, I don't know how much looking you've done in your home town, but I would say that chances are, somewhere in there, there is probably at least a tiny little locally owned shop that would suit your needs. I live in Texas, and the whole state has a pretty bad reputation as far as things like that are concerned but once I got out there and really looked I was suprised how much was available. Blessed Be, Pixie

purplelady	06 Jan 2003
I live within a few miles of Borders, Barnes-n-nobel, AND Media Play, not to mention some metaphysical/occult/new age stores a little farther downtown. However , ALL of those sell at only full retail price and never have a complete selection. I find that amazon.com always has a bigger selection AND a lot of items for 30% off AND even free shipping lately. So , it makes more sense to order online, unless , of course, I have to have it That Day! Sometimes, however, it IS nice to browse an actual store, I always find something I would have missed otherwise.

The Shops with tarot cards? thread was originally posted on 26 Dec 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.