Tarot Reading Cloth, One or Many?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

lawguy51	30 Dec 2002
A friend gave me an Aquarian deck and an absolutely stunning piece of silk embroidered with silver dragons to do my readings on. She's an experienced reader and I asked her if I should/could use the cloth for other decks. She suggested I use it only for the Aquarian. Trouble is, I don't use that deck very often and that beautiful cloth just sits there and I want to use it. Then this same friend gave me the Haindl deck for Christmas. I asked her if it was ok to use the silk cloth with my other decks and she said sure. Also, the Mythic deck came with its own cloth with the CC embossed on it. Now I know it ultimately is up to me, but I was wondering, do the rest of you have different reading cloths for different decks or do you just use one or a couple? Am I just being superstitious or is there a good reason to keep decks with the same cloth? Am I taking this all way too seriously? :D Lawguy51

tarotbear	30 Dec 2002
You're taking this way too seriously. I have the decks I 'use' wrapped up in silk. I do tend to use the wrapper as a cloth when I feel it''s appropriate. What you might want to do is have your decks wrapped in 'whathaveyou' and have someone make you a cloth that is strictly for reading and spreading cards on. I have a hemmed square of fabric that was 44 inches before the hemming. I used to use it on top of the tablecloth on my reading table, but now I mostly take it with me when I do portable readings. The reading cloth is mostly to give you a background and to keep the cards clean - a good idea if you do readings outdoors on the ground, or the only place to do readings is a bright orange kitchen tabletop with pink and blue 1950s squiggles on it!

RedWood	30 Dec 2002
I use whatever clothe is handy...its all in what works for you!

Demonesse	31 Dec 2002
I use...absolutely nothing at all. I don't like making a ritual out of the cards - most of the time, that is.

Umbrae	31 Dec 2002
I have never, ever used a spread cloth. Could not see the reason for it. Your cards would never get beer and coffee stains on them! (…and that makes them work better).

Mystica	31 Dec 2002
I have 3 different spread cloths, and not to go with any particular deck. I just use them however the mood strikes me. But I think it can be different for everyone, some of us use more ritual than others...

mrsjvan	31 Dec 2002
I have one peice of silk that isn't even hemmed that I use. I suppose I'll hem it someday. I just use it to keep the cat hair out of my cards. lol The cards also look really nice against the dark green.

lawguy51	31 Dec 2002
Beer and coffee stains? Who knew? And here I'm trying to keep my cards clean and dry! :D I mainly started using the Mythic cloth because I like to read cross-legged on the floor. I have a little throw-rug in front of a winged-back chair in my home office but it gets cat hair and stuff on it, so I really started using the cloth to keep hairs and bread crumbs out of the deck. Umbrae, do you drink beer before or after a reading? Domestic or imported? Do the stains add to the symbolism? ;) Lawguy51

lawguy51	31 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotbear the only place to do readings is a bright orange kitchen tabletop with pink and blue 1950s squiggles on it! Did that table come with sunglasses!!

Umbrae	31 Dec 2002
I won’t take this too far off subject I promise. I no longer drink either imported or domestic beer. But my old deck…I could thumb through it and look at various spotches, and stains – dog eared cards – cards worn to nothing – bent cards…each card spoke volumes…memories buried in each. It is true, I used to do a lot of bar readings, though very rare now… Cat hair is good for your cards. If you want to keep your cards shuffling smoothly and not ‘sticking’, be sure to read “The Process (Part One) The Skeptic” in Talking Tarot.

fairyhedgehog	31 Dec 2002
I've got 3 silk scarves (square) that I use to lay the cards on, plus a large square of (probably cotton) dark blue material, hemmed by ironing that 'magic mending' stuff into a 1" hem all round. The reason I use a cloth is that I tend to lay my cards on my bed, and the patterned quilt cover doesn't show them to their best advantage. I like a plain background. The same cloth gets used for more than one deck, but I try to choose one that goes: I've got light and dark green and purple, as well as the blue, and a black cotton square that I like less cos it's faded. I quite fancy getting a really cool spread cloth, but I only use the cards for me so I'm not sure it would be worth it.

sagitarian	31 Dec 2002
I too don't use anything at all...shrugs. Never felt drawn to such things.

Musie	01 Jan 2003
in that you feel a need to follow tradition yet a part of you says to each his own! Personally, I don't even use a cloth, but I do have a special bags for decks I use often. As long as my intuition is working a ok, then it is good, I don't need a cloth. Of course, as long as there is no gunk all over the table or floor where you do your readings, otherwise dirty cards *lol* However, I will be making a special reading cloth with a triskelion pattern for my runes because I need the structure for my readings there ;) My feeling is if you feel the need for props to get you in the divining frame of mind, then go for the cloths that help you achieve that frame of mind. Same goes with some having that special crystal with them or lighting a candle, or saying a special prayer before a reading. Whatever works with you. Your friend probably visualized you reading with your Aquarian deck on that cloth, so her energies and perhaps the Aquarian energies are imprinted a bit on that cloth. Honestly though, you could simply do the same visualization with the deck you want to use or just visualize, putting your own special energy on that cloth to use it for whatever you like! :) I have the Mythic Deck cloth too, but since it only has the Celtic Cross pattern, I find it limiting. I also find cloths in general distract me, since I get the feeling like I'm supposed to feel all mystic when I do a tarot reading and that just blocks the intuitive flow for me. It is tradition to use cloths, it is practical to use cloths - bottom line whatever works for you and sets you in the right frame of mind. I say why not use it for your other decks? Sounds very beautiful and I know I wouldn't want to store it away either :)

Kiama	01 Jan 2003
Personally, I find cloths to get in the way most of the time, esp. if they're silk, cuz you try and pick up the cards after the reading, and you pic up half the cloth too, pulling the remaining cards onto the floor for the dog to chew on... ;) More seriously, the cloth I wrap my reading deck in I use only for wiping wet surfaces clean. In answer to the original question though, I wouldn't really pay much attention to which clth I use with which deck: I used to wrap all my decks in cloth, and use that deck's clothas the 'wiper' or whatever, but now I keep my decks in their boxes, since I only use one deck most of the time. Kiama

cjtarot	01 Jan 2003
Hi all, Heres my take..I'll lay my cards on just about anything that is dry and clean....<|:-) BUT, What I find I when I use my black velvet reading cloth (has a red cotton w/ celestial back and matching black and red bag..lol..) the cards dont slip around and there is no outside pattern to distract me. It's not a prop thing, it's more a help me focus thing... The fact is the only reason I made the black velvet to start, is I bout it, couldn't get a good embossed image on it..so what else was I gonna do with it..but now that I have it i like it.. Do as you will and harm none... Blessings, Cj

Emily	01 Jan 2003
I have two purple/white patterned squares of cotton, purple being my favourite colour, and I use those. Firstly to keep the cards nice and clean but secondly because all my decks look lovely placed on top of purple lol :)

genna	05 Jan 2003
When I have chosen a special cloth for a deck I only use it with that deck.However,if another deck needs a cloth I might "let it have" the cloth of the first deck,if it´s not a favourite.Decks I only use from time to time have to do with any cotton towel that is around.Now I have fallen in love with a new deck,so I´m thinking of getting a silken scarf for it.

The Tarot Reading Cloth, One or Many? thread was originally posted on 30 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.