storing and protecting decks

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

paradoxx	04 Dec 2002
The region where I live has a limited availablity for what i can use to store my cards within, however with some ingenuity i have been able achieve my goals. the 40th aniversery of Scrabble came with a black felt bag with gold cord. this was a rather old scrabble feature, so i used it to store my Celtic Dragon Deck. I use a larger red scrabble bag to store my Sacred Circle Deck. I also use rubberbanded hair ties (unused) to wrap, protect, and 'bind' the energies of the decks. The Scrabble bags work well, since well, they are the power of the word, and apicture says 10 thousand words (so the tarot says at leas 780 thousand words). When my friend purchased the Shapeshifter Tarot, it didn't connect with her for various reasons, however she did learn quite a bit from it, she needed the money that she spent on teh deck so for a slight discount she let me purchase it from her along with a leather case that she was using for the time being. The Case works well for that paticuar deck and will remain with that deck until i decideother wise. Other decks remain in their native boxes within another box, or their slipcase box and book pacs (US Games). When not being progressivly used they have a special place on my alter below a mirror where they can gather peacful incense energy and allow the light to shine on them duirng the sunset. If on the go, I can take around 8 or 9 decks with me in the various boxes (within boxes if applicable) in a duffel bag i got really cheap. When charging the cards outside, i prefer using teh duffel bag along with the process since they areall connected in teh end. The bag also has storage room for personal journals and spreads spreads and more spreads. When lacking resources, innovation and inspiration come from teh most unlikely places, but are always there. Helps to be a Gemini as well.

Dark Inquisitor	04 Dec 2002
Well paradoxx, it sounds like you are doing the best you can and overcoming all tarot storage obstacles in your path. But at this time of year, I think Martha Stewart would advocate storing as many decks as you can in fabulously decorative mittens and arranging them in an attractive hearthside basket. Do not neglect the empty, unused cookie jar as emergency storage & quarantine. And , in an unexpected emergency, there is always that gulley at the back of the sofa cushions that nobody ever likes to look in-- totally secure. On the other hand, if you really need to conserve space, you might think about taking a pair of pantyhose (color & pattern of your choice) and filling the legs to the top with decks-- put them over a coat hanger & you can store them fashionably in your nearest closet. Happy Holidays, Tarotphelia

Shadow Wolf	05 Dec 2002
I'm actually thinking about making a few of my own bags for my tarot cards. I bough a length of velveteen for a Halloween costume a few years ago and still have it. Now if I could only find the time.................

allibee	05 Dec 2002
I LUUUUURVE the bag my Victoria Regina came with, but for the others I've just got some 1912 Havana cigar boxes to put them in. They are fairly flat, beautifully decorated and stack really well. They just 'look' interesting, as well as speaking to me of the world outside and the world that has been. allibee

Osher	11 Dec 2002
I bought a whole load silk squares once (around 15"/side). I wrap the decks in the silk (like a giant sweetie). This leaves long tails either side, which are then tied together. Where possible I keep them in wooden boxes, although I don't have enough for more than a quarter of the decks. I don't keep the card boxes, but the guides are in another wooden box.

The storing and protecting decks thread was originally posted on 04 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.