Could you really live with only one tarot deck?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Musie	02 Jan 2003
If you were stranded on some desert island and you could only have "one" tarot deck in your possession. Which would it be? See, I think I'm verging on the dangerously close side of being a tarot collector. I've told myself I am not, but I have a new tarot deck coming in the mail ... My tarot deck collection is growing and I have new decks on my wish list. Why? I have no idea why! I keep falling under the tarot deck spell. AAAAAAAACK! So I tell myself, do I really need that new tarot deck? Do I love it more than the others? Do I want to love it more than the others? If I truly could only have one deck, honestly, it would be my Halloween Deck. I love my Mythic Deck, but there is something about my Halloween Deck. Turns out it is also my 6 year old and 23 month old's daughters' favorite deck too :) Now I have the Celtic Dragon deck coming in a few days ... oh dear! I can't wait - ~*jumping up and down like a child on xmas eve*~ What about you?

Khatruman	02 Jan 2003
Well, if you had to tear all other decks away from me and leave me with one, and on a desert island no less with my music collection and book collection... the ole desert isle set... it would have to be the Osho Zen. This is because I use tarot mainly as a self discovery tool, and the Osho is just perfect for that. I guess if I were on a desert island (or is it a deserted one??? would get tired of desert, even with a camel) I would be using them for meditation and self discovery anyway, and what a perfect deck for that. I always found the Osho to speak perfectly to my intuition and wonderful for friends to speak their hearts. I guess its philosophy most nearly matches mine. *sniffles as I watch my other decks floating away from my island* Peace!

oceanpoetry	02 Jan 2003
It would be my Voyager deck, if I had to choose just one. I really love the collage of pictures and don't necessary need to reference any add'l source to interpret them. I have three decks, the Voyager, URW, and Old English. It almost seems unfair to even think of choosing one over the other, because they each have their own "personality" ... I have even more tarot decks on my wish list and have just ordered a new deck, the Diamond Tarot!

Jeannette	02 Jan 2003
I consider the question blasphemous in nature, but I'll try to address it in the hypothetical sense that it was intended... }) :D Personally, I'd choose a good meditation deck over a reading deck, because you could probably only do so many readings on the topic of "when am I going to get rescued from this godforsaken place?" before the question starts to seem pointless. So, I'd have to lean towards the Rohrig, because that one's got enough "mental meat" to last for a long, long time. And, serendipitously, it certainly serves well enough as a reading deck for those of us who are partial to the Crowley/Thoth approach, and one could just as well sit back and enjoy the artwork for its own sake on a lazy afternoon. -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

tarotbear	03 Jan 2003
If I could take only one deck with me, it would be my Robin Wood deck. In fact, I am going to specify that it be buried with me when I die. Just stick the deck in my hands with the Fool card showing...

wavebreaker	03 Jan 2003
If I had to choose just one deck, it would be the World Spirit...

zander770	03 Jan 2003
hands down & w/out a doubt! from p.13 of "Highlight of Tarot" Builders of the Adytum, quoting Eliphas Levi: "A prisoner, with no other book than the TAROT, if he knew how to use it, could in a few years acquire a universal science, and would be able to speak on all subjects with an unequalled learning and an inexhaustible eloquence. The oracles of the TAROT give answers as exact as mathematics, and as measured as the harmonies of Nature . . ." et cetera. i have been lucky enough to have learnt most about the tarot thru the writing's of paul foster case and from the b.o.t.a. lessons and study groups; more than ANY OTHER source. and: i have NEVER "read" from my personal b.o.t.a. deck/"book". and "that's a fact, jack . . ." ~770 :TMAGE

fairyhedgehog	03 Jan 2003
I think it would have to be the Whimsical. As well as being able to use it for a reading deck, it would remind me of all the stories on the cards as well. There is such a lot in that one deck it would take me a long time to get tired of it. But I would miss my Hanson-Roberts :(

Sulis	03 Jan 2003
I`m with Jewel on this one: It would have to be World Spirit (but I`ve got the Cosmic Tribe coming in the post so who knows?) Love and light Crystalmynx xx

anjocoxo	03 Jan 2003
I would take my goddess tarot; I simly love the cards and the readings are very easy... but I think I would miss my sacred circle. Oh well, I don't have many decks (4) but I like them all. It would be difficult to be apart myself from the other decks Anjo

lunalafey	03 Jan 2003
I had only one deck for over 6 years.... Currently I have only 4 tarot (plus 1 on the way) and 3 other decks... It would be a hard choice but I think I would have to go with...... .....um....... .......um..... I DUNNO!!!

WolfSpirit	03 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Jeannette and/or Lori Personally, I'd choose a good meditation deck over a reading deck, because you could probably only do so many readings on the topic of "when am I going to get rescued from this godforsaken place?" before the question starts to seem pointless. This is very true. I would go for the shapeshifter, there is so much in the pictures I could play "spot all the animals" with it as well. In that respect the animal wisdom cards (not tarot I know) would be great, there's lots of shadowy images hidden in the main picture and I would have the time to design a proper divination system for them as well.

Demonesse	03 Jan 2003
Yes, I could really live with only one tarot deck. But I haven't yet found the love of my tarot life, so that special somedeck's identity is yet unknown. Maybe the Vampire. Or the Londa. Or the Baphomet. Or the Black. Or....or.... Then again, if I WERE to be shipwrecked, tarot would be the last thing on my mind - try canned food and a can opener :P

Maan	03 Jan 2003
O this is so difficult. Three decks come to mind, phantasmagoric, robinwood and my spiral. I think it will be my phantasmagoric. But wich even one i take i know i will regret not taking the other one :( Maybe i should make myself a comperative tarot of my own;)

Scorpion	03 Jan 2003
Yes, I survive with just one deck, but I'm lucky I don't have to. As to which deck I would take to the desert island, that's reasonably easy - the Ancient Egyptian. After about 7 decks were stolen with my car, it was the only I felt I had to replace immediately (with the Bosch in a close second place). I just love the AET's artwork and find more in the cards each time I read them.

Bings	03 Jan 2003
I only have 4 decks. I would have to choose my Legand, Arthurian Tarot. This is my "comfort deck". The deck I turn to most often. Dianne

Jewel	03 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by crystalmynx I`m with Jewel on this one: It would have to be World Spirit (but I`ve got the Cosmic Tribe coming in the post so who knows?) ?????? World Spirit, me? NOOOOOOOOOOO ..... If I got stranded I will guarantee that it would not be with only one deck as I always travel with a minimum of 3, and they are right with me, not in some suitcase *LOL*. So for the sake of argument if I could only take one TAROT deck it would be the Cosmic Tribe hands down ... I would also have the Faeries Oracle with me (its an oracle so does not count as Tarot deck :D)

allibee	03 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Demonesse Then again, if I WERE to be shipwrecked, tarot would be the last thing on my mind - try canned food and a can opener :P heheheh... ditto... and I'll bring the biscuits.;) Seriously it would have to be my Prediction Deck. Actually, until I came to Aeclectic, I'd never even thought to buy another deck. What for? I've got one deck, that's all I've ever needed. But we are sooo pretty/dark/artistic/bold, they all cried. Ok, ok, I'll get some of you, but don't expect to replace my preciouuuuus. So the others nodded their agreement and Prediction stayed as my number one.... God help me if anything should happen to it!!! In fact, I've been trying to get another Prediction Deck just in case. allibee

Jewel	03 Jan 2003
Perhaps we could all be shipwrecked on the same island ... then although we each brought one deck we could share!

Trish	03 Jan 2003
Hmmmm ... it would be hard to decide. I like my Goddess deck cos it's so pretty and easy to read. I like Rider-Waite because ... well ... it's THE definitive modern Tarot deck. ;) I also like my Cat People because it's just gorgeous! hehehe!

sagitarian	04 Jan 2003
well, at the moment, I only have two decks, (celtic dragon and LOTR), out of those two, hands down the celtic dragon tarot. It's gorgeous pictures, and I need a lot of time to study them anyways, as I recently got the deck.

truthsayer	04 Jan 2003
i adore my neferteri and hanson roberts but for a long period of solitude i would choose the rohrig. there is a lot of depth to discover in it thru meditattion. i would grow bored with a fav reading deck like HR. neferteri is so shiny that i would be afraid it would catch too much sunlight and start a fire on the island. then where would i go? ;) rohrig is dark and cool and would help me deal with the tropical heat. i could write tons on what i see there.

violinlily	04 Jan 2003
ya know, a nice little dessert-island in the tropics would be nice, but, not gonna happen (all the "mom's cut-out cookies" and ice cream I could eat). well, I think I'd bring my Shapeshifter.... no wait, my Dragon..... errr, my HR..... uhhh, nevermind, Wait, I know!! The deck that has 237 cards, known as The Shapeshifting Dragon Tarot Deck by Mary Hanson-Roberts. lol,

Sulis	04 Jan 2003
Quote: ?????? World Spirit, me? NOOOOOOOOOOO ..... If I got stranded I will guarantee that it would not be with only one deck as I always travel with a minimum of 3, and they are right with me, not in some suitcase *LOL*. So for the sake of argument if I could only take one TAROT deck it would be the Cosmic Tribe hands down ... I would also have the Faeries Oracle with me (its an oracle so does not count as Tarot deck ) Oops silly me, of course you wouldn`t have the World Spirit, I meant Tarotlady but my brain was turned off for a while there. Love and light Crystalmynx xx

Logiatrix	04 Jan 2003
musie, as you cross over into the light as a tarot collector, you will realize that collectors don't DO islands--the decks, the books...there's no room! besides, if you're nice to ALL of your decks, and favor them equally, you will certainly be warned of that whole getting-stuck-on-an-island thing ahead of time. at the very least, you will be prepared... :) i use three tarots: the visconti gold, the triple goddess, and the diamond tarot. i also use the healing/angels oracle cards. each deck is precious for the unique magic it brings to me, so how could i possibly choose? okay, i'll try...i guess it would have to be the triple goddess tarot. but then i would just MISS my visconti...and then there are those questions that only the diamond can answer... AAAGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!

Emily	04 Jan 2003
A few weeks ago I would have been positive and said I would only need my spiral tarot, no hesitation what so ever lol - But things change and if I took my Spiral, my Crow's Magick would feel so left out, and I also use Healing with the Angel's oracle cards daily, then there would be my Tarocchi di Vetro deck, brand new lol, so no I wouldn't be able to live with just one tarot deck lol :D

Kaz	04 Jan 2003
just one deck? easy, there is no deck that beats the thoth......... ~kaz

little	04 Jan 2003
Truly, here's what I'd want to bring, in a watertight, durable box: Paper A lot of blank cards. Say 10,000. Colored pencils Watercolors Oil paints brushes palette

Sea Sprite	04 Jan 2003
Hi Musie, If I could only have one deck, then it would be the Russian Tarot of St Petersburg, its precious to me. I know I would spend my time on the island creating a deck of my own out of leaves or sea shells or tree barks. Can't just have one deck, how boring. hehehe :D Sea Sprite :CL

brennamor	04 Jan 2003
Hmm, what a blasphemous idea!!! }) But seriously, if I had to limit myself my first choice would be Celtic Wisdom (as long as I bring the book too). I really like the artwork, the way the myths are woven into the cards and the Soul Wisdom questions assigned to each card. Alternate choices would be Transformational by Arnell Ando, Blue Rose by Paula Gibby, Mansions of the Moon and Thoth. But of course I plan to do everything in my power to avoid such a situation. My other decks would just be too jealous. ;)

jmd	04 Jan 2003
It's probably only after having lived with many decks that I begin to possibly find the means to answer the question posed in the thread title: yes, I could only carry one deck, because so many others are also with me - even if not physically. There is, of course, only one deck - the deck from which others have descended: the Marseilles!!! ... now as to which Marseilles...

cyan	04 Jan 2003
i'm unable to choose between my Legend and my Robin Wood decks, but since i always have them, their books, and MK Greer's Tarot Reversels with me in a small black leather backpack i don't have to choose. but this thread has made me decide that if i do go somewhere by water i will have to seal my precious into a waterproof package.

purplelady	06 Jan 2003
This is SUCH a difficult choice that at some point I just have to arbitrarily choose because otherwise I would never choose at all! So , I choose motherpeace because I have probubly used it more than any other deck , though I haven't used it for quite some time. I like jewel's idea of everyone meeting on the same desert island and sharing their one deck!

DarkElectric	06 Jan 2003
If I could only have one, It would be the Spiral. I love that deck so much I've worn one out already and replaced it. But, I'm glad I don't have to live with only one, because frankly, I doubt I could do it.

HeyElan	08 Jan 2003
It's all about the Thoth - but only if I could take the Book of Thoth and a stackload of other Crowley I've been meaning to go through with the highlighter and the notebook. Ooooh. A retreat, a hermitage - how lovely the concept. But only if I could get a weekend break every now again. :)

VGimlet	09 Jan 2003
Hyperventilating slightly....one deck? :O Well, I would have to take the Thoth too, because my plan is to study it this year, and I have been putting it off. But if I was on a desert island and it was my only deck, I would be forced to read with it, and learn it. So, that might be a good thing....:D

truthsayer	09 Jan 2003
you know this thread reminds of that show "survivor". all of us in a desolate place trying to survive with just one deck? who will crack first? who will get voted off? who will be voted the winner of the world's most expensive tarot deck? there will be contests of skill with tarot to help determine who is the tarot holic with the best self discipline to make it with one deck. the island will be booby trapped with others decks. if you find one and get caught stealing, you get kicked off the island (but you do get to keep the deck!) ;) :D })

jema	09 Jan 2003
hmmm i think i would pick one i don't have and hope i could keep it after i got saved. if that were an option that is... if so i would pick william blake tarot! if not an option i would pick spiral simply because it would be almost like being home:)

Khatruman	09 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by jema hmmm i think i would pick one i don't have and hope i could keep it after i got saved. if that were an option that is... if so i would pick william blake tarot! Cheers loudly for you!!!! If we were on Jewel's island, all of us with own decks, I would borrow yours and let you borrow my Osho Zen..:D Peace!

Marion	10 Jan 2003
We definitely need to get stranded together to have a deck selection. I mean... ***pick ONE deck*** I'm sorry, I can't. Crosses arms.

Myrrha	10 Jan 2003
I really *want* to be the kind of person who only has one deck, or at most two. It is distracting to have a lot of extra decks around. On the other hand there is so much to learn and I keep trying out new decks in order to explore new aspects of tarot and divination. So far the only decks I have not been able to part with are the RWS and the Aquarian (well, I did part with the Aquarian but I had to buy it again), so I would probably bring the RWS. (oh, but then I would miss my Faery oracle!) ------------------- Myrrha

Trogon	11 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by violinlily Wait, I know!! The deck that has 237 cards, known as The Shapeshifting Dragon Tarot Deck by Mary Hanson-Roberts. lol, ROFL!! You beat me to it! I'm going to have to go along with Jeanette or Lori... the Röhrig would be my choice... unless I could get away with my Röhrig-Victoria-Rider Waite-Spiral Tarot... ;)

violinlily	11 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Trogon I'm going to have to go along with Jeanette or Lori... the Röhrig would be my choice... unless I could get away with my Röhrig-Victoria-Rider Waite-Spiral Tarot... ;) Are we aloud to change our 1 deck?!?!? lol!! thought of my other 1 (hmmmm) deck: The Herbal Shapeshifting Dragon That's 1/2 & 1/2 Celtic And Who's Name Is Fae (Fey) by Mary Hanson Roberts (consisting of about 471 cards, btw) LOL Anyone know where I can get a box big enough?? A moving van maybe???

Keslynn	12 Jan 2003
No! ;) Kes

Teal	12 Jan 2003
You know, I can feel the "boo, hiss" coming, but I'd have to say my Native American deck. I thought that deck was the LEAST favorite-------I tried to trade it and wasn't surprised I had no takers-----but then on a whim I got that $3 used Star Spider Speaks book that goes with it, and suddenly it all looked different and made perfect sense. This deck "talks" to me! I mean really! They all talk to some extent I'm sure, but I can't explain what it is with this one----it just talks to me. I see many for sale used and the book can be gotten for very little used at Amazon, and I don't think it's a popular deck, but without a doubt----I'd take it with me to that desert island for sure. It's even got a tongue in cheek, I think, or else my sense of humor just took the opportunity to kick in. A few days ago, I did 7 cards asking about what I should consider in my move to travel, and one of the cards that came out was the 10 of swords (blades, though, in this deck) and one of the many possible meanings was "watch your back". Well, I'm selling my house to my sister and there are many people in my world besides her, too, including my travelling companion-to-be, so I just thought that it meant to think all decisions through with my head and not my heart and such. Today I went to pick up a bin full of things I'm taking with me, and my back gave------hurt so bad it nearly made me see stars and I felt light-headed. As I sat against my heating pad, hardly able to move, much less stand up and walk around for quite a few hours, my memory flashed on "watch your back" that I got in that spread and for some reason, that struck me as kind of ironic and made me chuckle, feeling as though there was a joke on me that I didn't think of watching my actual physical back. Like the deck was giving me a nudge and a wink and saying "I told you so". LOL That's not the only way the deck speaks to me, though. But seriously, who could go to a desert island with only one deck, for heaven's sake?! What an idea! I'd definitely smuggle in Rider Waite, just in case I got the chance to read for the natives. OR------now, here's a plan-----we could combine several decks and call it our own version of a tarot deck. Aha! We've foiled their plan-------everybody combine all your decks if this situation arises! But like the Native American told me, "watch your back" when you go to lift it.

Logiatrix	14 Jan 2003
in our conglomerate tarot deck, we must include the "comparitive tarot", with four-in-one! how's that for cheating? :)

Teal	14 Jan 2003
Good choice, metaz! Four in one would definitely work!

The Could you really live with only one tarot deck? thread was originally posted on 02 Jan 2003 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.