Fickle deck lover needs help

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

lawguy51	07 Feb 2003
I'd love some of your experiences with what I'm currently going through. I'm going through decks faster than Elizabeth Taylor went through husbands. It all started last summer when, after many years of having a couple of decks lying around, I started to take Tarot study and readings seriously. I had the Mythic deck way back then, in August of 2002. Used it until the edges got a bit worn out. Then I made a fateful decision. I found this website and joined the forum. And a whole new world opened up for me. Huh, what's this Rider-Waite deck everyone's referring to? Gotta get me one of those. And going through all of those decks in the Decks section. Victoria Regina. That looked interesting. So soon thereafter, I had a Universal Waite deck and the Victoria Regina. Started giving readings in the Reading Exchange, using mainly the VR deck. Ahh, but my eyes were wandering. I have the Orphalese software and was using the Morgan Greer deck with that. Put that deck on my Christmas list. Then my friend gave me the Aquarian deck with a beautiful silk spread. Didn't take to the Aquarian deck. Started reading 78 Degrees. Loved it. Noticed that Pollack had written two books on this deck called Haindl. Opened up her book. The deck intrigued me. Put that on the Christmas List. Oh, did I mention my IJJ Swiss deck that I got in 1972. Started studying the Haindl deck, using it, but in the back of my mind I'm thinking, gee, when am I going to get back to readings with the VR deck, the Waite deck which I was using for meditation, study and readings. My journal has a little picture of each card from the Waite deck on it. When I have trouble with say a minor card from the Haindl deck, the RWS deck is definitely the one my mind defaults to. As I ploughed through the Haindl books, my curiosity about the Thoth deck was piqued. A week ago I bought the large deck. Then I saw how much nicer the smaller deck was colour-wise and picked it up a few days ago. So, when does this all stop?!!! I spent a month studying Pollack's two books on the Haindl deck and instead of spending more time with the Haindl, now I'm really loving the Thoth deck. Just bought three books on the Thoth, no, make that four (forget about telling me to throw all my books away...that just isn't going to happen). How on earth am I ever going to settle on one deck for readings? (Answer: you don't have to....I know) Is this a first year thing? I feel like the proverbial kid in a candy shop. But I'm having fun!! Your thoughts, experiences? Lawguy51

Dark Inquisitor	07 Feb 2003
Congratulations! Tarotphelia

lawguy51	07 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Tarotphelia Congratulations! Tarotphelia lol! Thanks Tarotphelia, the perfect response :D. Lawguy

gage	07 Feb 2003
I have a similar prob, in that I get a deck, I spend time with it, read with it, study it, then a few months down the track, it's not THE deck. I've yet to find THE deck. I know what it's going to look like though - It'll be old looking .. printed on paper that looks like some kind of old, thick parchment, and not smooth .. textured .. all groovey and speckled and deliciously dented. It'll be gothic'y .. dark, shadowy, maybe even gruesome in places. It'll have atmosphere and drama, intrigue and a sense of mystery. It'll be bright and beautiful where appropriate of course, but the overall look will be shadowed to insinuate the places inside us we're afraid to go. And it'll have no borders. Borders irk. And no titles .. numbering's ok, but no great big exclamations of what the card is. But yes, I fight the urge to buy and buy large. Maybe this one comes close, maybe this one will take my mind off that one. Ooh, pretty colours! Or, oooh, the drama! I'm one step away from a support group. Gage

Aoife	07 Feb 2003
My husband is an artist/craftsman. Over the years he has accumulated a wealth of tools but virtually all have been adapted in some way - either for a specific task or to simply fit his hand better. Many of his tools he has made himself and all are constantly being modified. I see tarot as a tool - and even if I could find the perfect tool at the moment it would only be so for that moment in time. Soon after - a new insight, a new purpose - would cause me to want to adapt it. If I had the time, energy and talent I would try to design my own deck but I suspect it would remain a work in progress, constantly subject to adaptation. And so, particularly in this early stage of learning I need to experience a variety of tools - all are of value, all have their use if only in the pleasure of looking at/ handling them. At least this is how I have explained away our depleted budget to my husband - neat eh! For the future I would like to think that I could move away from reliance on external tools to focus fully on my internal tools. In the meantime, there is such a limited variety of toothpicks on the market.....

Woof	07 Feb 2003
Look at it this way, if this is your only or main hobby don't dispair! It's healthy to have an interest and to look into all aspects of it; different decks, different books, etc. When you get upteen hobbies, all expensive then you have to compromise and keep to fewer decks. I don't want to tell you what I spent at the Orange county orchid show yesterday or on pet food and vet bills last month! That's why I only have 5 decks. This forum keeps me salivating though! I consider it an exercise in self discipline! I think the other thing that keeps my purchases down is no matter what new deck I get, I keep returning to my Universal Waite and occasionally my Alchemical. None of my others speak to me so clearly. By the way, how is the Haindl different from the R-W? That deck has allways intrigued me...it's on my wish list...and the Shining Tribe looks interesting..... Woof

Khatruman	07 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Aoife I see tarot as a tool - and even if I could find the perfect tool at the moment it would only be so for that moment in time. Soon after - a new insight, a new purpose - would cause me to want to adapt it. If I had the time, energy and talent I would try to design my own deck but I suspect it would remain a work in progress, constantly subject to adaptation. Good way to look at it...and I think here we all have that collectors syndrome, we feel incomplete without another for our collection. In any case, yes it is good to have decks for different purposes. My best reading deck is the Osho Zen, but perhaps part of that is how I use it so much that it has been given my energy. I am sure there are those here who would say you are being unfocused and that one deck has always been fine for them, but I like exploring new decks. One piece of advice I offer is to avoid impulse. There are decks which made me go "Whoa!" when I first saw them, but I told myself I would not impulse buy, I would see if if still spoke to me in two weeks, if so, I might buy it. There have been decks that seemed at first wonderful, but I realized my impulse had deceived me. Peace!

Minos	07 Feb 2003
It's because you bought the USGames version (with the 2 of Disks on the cover) rather than the AGMuller one (with the Magus on the cover). The Swiss used a better color separation technique. You might even find the big Swiss one is the one you want to settle down with. :) I sure did.

Dark Inquisitor	07 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by gage I get a deck, I spend time with it, read with it, study it, then a few months down the track, it's not THE deck. I've yet to find THE deck. Gage [/b] THE deck. Hmm. To me they are all THE deck. For that day, or that week, or that moment. Decks I thought I would not like months ago, I am drawn to now. I appreciate decks I have had a while differently than before. It is ever changing & expanding. I think I will run into decks I like more than others, but if I ever find THE deck I might be bored thereafter. I don't think I ever thought in terms of THE deck. I was thinking more about seeing each artist's individual vision & immersing myself in it as a pleasurable experience. Allowing my borders to become fluid & embrace whatever they had to offer. (Might be a female way of seeing things!) Tarotphelia

lawguy51	08 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Woof By the way, how is the Haindl different from the R-W? That deck has allways intrigued me...it's on my wish list...and the Shining Tribe looks interesting..... Woof As night is to day. Haindl took his inspiration from the Thoth deck. If you are unfamiliar with the difference between the Thoth and RWS, well, that's hard to put in a nutshell but I'll try...The Thoth deck, conceived by Aleister Crowley is a more 'occult' deck, influenced by Egyptian mythology, the Kaballah and while the pips do contain a specific imagery, there are no images like in the RWS deck. Also, there are no Kings...Knights replace the Kings and princes and princesses replace the knights and pages of the RWS deck. This is a real quick gloss over, but you get the idea. As for the deck, some people find it dark and spooky, but I think it is beautiful and the colours are there for you to find. It is full of symbols, like the Thoth deck. Quote: Originally posted by Minos It's because you bought the USGames version (with the 2 of Disks on the cover) rather than the AGMuller one (with the Magus on the cover). The Swiss used a better color separation technique. You might even find the big Swiss one is the one you want to settle down with. :) I sure did. Oddly, the smaller Thoth deck published by US Games is actually from AGMuller. There is an AGMuller sticker on the cellophane and the deck contains the three Magus cards. The colours look much more vibrant. Lawguy51

Minos	08 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by lawguy51 As night is to day. Haindl took his inspiration from the Thoth deck. If you are unfamiliar with the difference between the Thoth and RWS, well, that's hard to put in a nutshell but I'll try...The Thoth deck, conceived by Aleister Crowley is a more 'occult' deck, influenced by Egyptian mythology, the Kaballah and while the pips do contain a specific imagery, there are no images like in the RWS deck. Also, there are no Kings...Knights replace the Kings and princes and princesses replace the knights and pages of the RWS deck. Another big difference: instead of the minor arcana being illustrated as in RWS, or un-illustrated as in the old decks, they are semi-illustrated. That is to say, the color and arrangement of the cups or swords or whatever is meant to convey a feeling, but there are not actual scenes. Also, there is a keyword like "Success" or "Disappointment". Another difference, which lawguy alluded to: Although Waite intended attributions to Hebrew letters, astrological signs, etc. to be used with his deck, he didn't actually include them on the cards. Crowley did. Haindl added runes and Yijing hexagrams. Quote: As for the deck, some people find it dark and spooky, but I think it is beautiful and the colours are there for you to find. Personally, I can't stand it. :(

WolfSpirit	08 Feb 2003
lawguy - your story could be mine, only with different decks ;) The first deck I ever had was the RWS, it was also the only deck my local bookshop had so I thought this was the one and only tarot deck... until I came to aeclectic and saw all those beautiful decks...I still remember vividly going through that whole list: what will that one look like, and that one, which one will I like better... There are so many decks out there, there must be lots you like, and after all that time using the RWS - that I did not really love artwork-wise - I felt like after a time of starvation I got into a candy shop and started buying decks...and another and another. Now I have thirty-odd decks and some of them I really love, so now I am getting more critical: will that deck really add something? will I like it more than the decks I already have ? So my pace of buying decks has slowed down. Now I can concentrate on those expensive and/or rare decks I have on my wish list...;) Yes I'm taroholic for life and proud of it !!

Athara	08 Feb 2003
I ordered my very first deck, the Spiral Deck, and that one didn't arrive yet and I ordered my second, Faeries Oracle, which is actually a divination deck, but still... Let's just hope it won't get worse, 'cause I'm out of money... Let's start a Tarotholic Anonymous group ;)

WolfSpirit	08 Feb 2003
There is a Tarotholic Anonymous Group, its main objective is to get everyone to buy more decks and not feel guilty about it ;)

Trogon	08 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by WolfSpirit There is a Tarotholic Anonymous Group, its main objective is to get everyone to buy more decks and not feel guilty about it ;) Ahem.... Hi... My name is John and I'm a Tarotholic! Now please excuse me... the new-age shop downtown just got in a shipment of new decks... ;) })

Emily	08 Feb 2003
I was fine until i found out the joys of online shopping lol - I had my Rider Waite, and was quite satisfied until I realised I needed something with a little more colour, The Hanson Roberts, then a friend gave me the Diamond tarot, then the Spiral and from then its carried on until I have a small collection of decks - all loved and most used :) But I am I have to admit I'm a collector, I love the images in the Rohrig and the Crow's Magick, get inspired by the Spiral and Crystal tarot, like looking for hidden meanings in the Ancient Egyptian and Celtic Dragon. All of my decks have their places, even the ones I can't read with like the Victoria Regina and the Enchanted and the one I think doesn't like me the Robin Wood. Also finding this site had been an inspiration and has really helped my tarot studies to progress. :) I am a tarotholic and proud to admit it :)

Osher	08 Feb 2003
I have a small collection of 29, and keep trying out different decks. Maybe I should be called a TAROTTART ! If I had the money, my collection would be much much larger.....

Demonesse	08 Feb 2003
Aha, this is the famous Tarot Casanova syndrome. I admit to being guilty of this one too. Perhaps we should start a new thread cataloguing the numerous different names we give to people like us - Tarotholics, Tarottarts, Tarotgollums...

Cerulean	08 Feb 2003
Happiness: I glanced at your proposed name and I thought for a second it said "Tarot-Art" and was jealous of your name. Then I realized you were only calling yourself a tarot tease and was being coy about it. Lawguy51, I've decided Aeclectic and sites like this are a peaceable joy...people here share internationally in a time where some people are tellings us to be afraid of crossing boundaries. I've been working for years on figuring out how to work my own 78 designs---it does take time and thought. When I find someone else's art that works for me, it takes time to figure out it if it will be a by-the-way, by the hour or a perpetual bliss. Afterwards, there are the trading boards and...some used bookstores that assist us if we want to recirculate...for which I am also grateful. I think of tarot as a creative relaxation. Best wishes as you find your own creative balances, Mari H.

firemaiden	08 Feb 2003
Lawguy, I truly sympathize...NOT...darkly:bwahahahahahah!}) Yes, it is true, it is a rather naahsty adiction, isn't it. There is that sick guilty feeling, that...please oh please, don't let my mom/boyfriend/wife/dog, etc. know how much money I am spending, gulp, shiver... But then when you get them safely home, and safely obscured in that innocent looking shoebox, you realize how much easier it is to hide them than say...your collection of alfa-romeos... and while the guilt and shame are the same, the long-term consequences are much less sinister than those that follow the Don-Juan (Donna Juana) habit of collecting lovers...

Cerulean	08 Feb 2003
Well, I mean as you might, within reason, in the privacy of your home, like books. That is, if you don't mind it as a conversational topic, as chess or poetry might be a hobby or avocation. I've a revolving collection on a small bookshelf, the top shelf in the kitchen (away from cooking areas). Folchi or Scapini can be one month, ancient Italians are another, Celtic sometimes takes over the Spring...can you bear someone else to handle your decks? Now the nephews under 15 never have seen Mitilogical by Folchi, and I don't plan to display it for casual visitors. In that case, the Folchi that I show is Master or Columbus or the puzzle pieces of the Ferrarra design...just an idea if you don't mind sharing.

lawguy51	09 Feb 2003
Well, I guess I should have known better than to seek advice from a bunch of tarotholics :D. Here I was looking for a mild wrist slap and instead, I'm trying to re-arrange a few meetings next week so that I can slip into the Omega Bookstore for a 'visit'. Here's how bad it's getting. At the Omega, they keep their decks in a rotating two-sided glass display case under lock and key. When they see me walk into the store now, I don't have to ask for someone to open the display case, they just automatically reach for the key and open it for me! Well, I'm glad I'm not alone in this obsession. I wonder...there must be a twelve step program somewhere..... Lawguy51

Minos	09 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by lawguy51 Here I was looking for a mild wrist slap Aw, man. I was about to post one, but everyone was having so much fun I just couldn't bring myself to be the wet blanket.

bighairymonster	09 Feb 2003
muwhahahaha....I totally understand what you're going through! First it was just an innocent cheap starter deck...then years later I run into this tarot forum...then wow - that Whimsical looks good. So does that World Spirit. Oh, then I see The Classical Tarot offered for trades. Love it so much that I go order it off Amazon.com. Wow, what's this tarotgarden thing everyone's referring to? Oh! LOVE that Fiabeschi limited edition tarot! What what? Oh! How could I forget the infamous Fairy Ring Oracle?! And yes I'm also getting the Wonderland deck and Thoth! The only bug that hasn't bit me is the Rider Waite one...but I can feel it commmiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnggggggggg............

bighairymonster	09 Feb 2003
Oh, forgot about my lovely Medieval Scapini, Faeriess Oracle, and a few other rare decks whose names I still don't know and never use! :PPP someone slap my hand!

Athara	09 Feb 2003
It's contagious! Have to leave, have to leave... Oh no! Too late! Well, I guess you'll be hearing from me and my new upcoming decks a lot... *runs of to hide her wallet*

Cerulean	10 Feb 2003
...hahaha, chortle......I know how to curb the impulse. List art periods that you like...renaissance...modern...romantic... List cities or countries with cultural arts that appeal...France, Italy, Spain, Japan, China... List artists that have colors and types of art that you like...engravers...collagers...watercolors... List music/writers/photographers/costumers/etc... Guess what...if there isn't a tarot done about the movie, art or time period that you like, then you can make one. Do the majors to start. Check postcards, greeting cards, magazine illustrations, etc...and get some scissors and plastic laminating full sheets (a box of ten upward in 8 by 11 sheets that you cut into half or quarters). Eventually you might color copy your 22 majors and start adding/deleting the images and your interaction is both creative and fulfilling to your image bank and tastes. Also, at some point, you might have in your collection used or inexpensive books or postcard books or catalogs with colored illustrations...and you can recycle images that you like once a month and throw the tarotlike ones that you like in folders or plastic pocket envelopes (see through). This is for your own personal study and evolution...so eventually you might even feel the urge to take art classes...in any case, it is creative recycling and what is wrong with that? Best wishes...and happy wrist-work... Mari H.

Minos	10 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by bighairymonster Oh, forgot about my lovely Medieval Scapini, Faeriess Oracle, and a few other rare decks whose names I still don't know and never use! :PPP Don't feed the tarot-industry beast! It only gets dumber and hungrier! Quote: someone slap my hand! THWACK! :eek:

lawguy51	10 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Minos THWACK! :eek: Thanks, I need that. Lawguy51 :)

The Fickle deck lover needs help thread was originally posted on 07 Feb 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.