Who Gets Your Decks When You're Gone?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Astraea	06 Apr 2003
My tarot collection is almost like an extended family, and I want them to go to good homes when I am gone. I have no children and no one in my family is remotely interested in the cards, so I've decided to leave my decks and books to the Heart Center, an astrology-and-tarot research arm of the company that makes Matrix software. Have any of you made arrangements for your decks and books? I think there ought to be a central registry for such things, or a "humane society" for decks!

wolfen045	06 Apr 2003
Astrea, I have been thinking about this same question my self! I too have no children and my sister is so strongly Catholic that she does not want ANYTHING to do with the tarot/my decks. When my time comes I want to make sure my decks are not just tossed out with the garbage and are given a second chance to make someone else happy/excited/curious,etc. As for my book collection ditto> Not just my tarot books, But my collection of women's spirituality/Wicca as well. Is there a way that other Aecletic members have dealt with these issues.? Blessings, wolfen

Kiama	06 Apr 2003
I'm only 18, so I haven't made any plans for any of my possessions yet, but I have always said that by the time I die, my colection will be huge (I've got 116 decks now, and I've only been collecting 2 years) and worth alot of money. For that reason, I'd pass it on as people do heirlooms and antiques, and hope that either the children/family I pass it on to will appreciate it, or be able to get a very nice start in life with the money they get from it! (Its worth a few grand now, so goodness knows how much it'll be worth in 70 years time!) Kiama

HudsonGray	06 Apr 2003
Hmm, it might help to keep a list of the monetary value of the decks, just so the relatives won't think the stuff is worthless. If they see that some decks can be worth over $100, they won't just toss them into the garbage (hopefully). Adding a list of people who may buy them, or the address of ebay might save them from a worse fate. Money talks. Indicating it's a 'collectors collection' shifts the category of the items.

MeeWah	06 Apr 2003
Agree with HudsonGray. Put your wishes & preferences *in writing* & file with important personal documents! If one is at all serious about such matters, consider including preferences regarding disposition, bequests or disposal of any valuables or special possessions with one's will (which by the way, is very important as when one dies intestate or without a will, one's "estate" can well become fair game). Check online resources for some basic legal pointers, such as under "wills" or "bequests".

Ruby7	06 Apr 2003
Interesting question Astraea! I had decided that I would make up a list, since I can see certain decks with certain friends, but I don't have enough friends for all my decks. I think that I would give the remainder to a friend (I have someone in particular in mind) who would at least appreciate the artwork and maybe know other people who might use the cards.

Emily	07 Apr 2003
I've been thinking about this question for a while now, especially since my decks and books have been growing. None of my friends are even remotely interested in tarot or my husband so I know that if anything happened to me they'd either end up in the garbage or to the local second-hand book shop - I don't want that for any of my decks so I've already made provisions for them in my will. I can't go into detail, its too private but hopefully they'll go to good homes and let anothers learn the joys of tarot :)

Joywalker	07 Apr 2003
Good question. I'll probably want them to be buried along with me! :D

Logiatrix	08 Apr 2003
when i used to have 120 tarot decks, i kept a list of all of them and also recorded their individual values. now i'm down to about twenty-five or so, and i'm determined to send off even more tarots to good homes. my goal is to keep only the decks i use consistently use--probably three or four. those keepers are going to cross the river with me. don't tell my decks, but we will be cremated when that time comes. :)

Mojo	08 Apr 2003
I'm going to pick whoever has pissed me off the most on these forums and leave instructions that the cards from all 45 of my decks are mailed to them one single card at a time in postage due overnight envelopes. So be careful the next time you piss me off!

Khatruman	08 Apr 2003
Well, before, it didn't much seem to matter. Now, with my collection growing into almost the entire alphabet, I guess I ought to make provision for them. My son is too young now to see if he would inherit them (in fact, deciding if I should find a deck to get for him, interested in what he would do with it). But with some decks that can be worth something (such as the Portal, the Blake, and the Shakespearian), I ought to figure out what to do with them. Ohh, buried with me? Planning on cremation myself.. why take the space of the living? :D Peace

Astraea	08 Apr 2003
What interesting replies! Mojo, hope I don't piss you off, only to have you predecease me! :D And Khatruman, you could do what metaz is planning, and have your decks cremated along with you. I quite like that idea. Every time I thought about willing my decks to friends, I realized that my friends are my age (53), or older -- so there wouldn't seem to be much point in that! Then I decided to bequeath the decks to a study center, where they, too, can have eternal life! :D One thing's for certain -- our decks are intimately associated with us and it's awful to think of them ending up where they're not appreciated on some level.

Alex	10 Apr 2003
you are so young, Kiama! Know what, you "sound" older... Now, I'm still in denial of my own Death, but I guess my family would be very happy to burn my decks before my son lays his hands on them. Alex. Quote: Originally posted by Kiama I'm only 18 Kiama

Mysti	10 Apr 2003
I have 9 grandchildren. So far, the two oldest just love the Tarot, and I do readings for them after school when they come by. We light candles and the whole bit. They have a great respect for the Tarot already, so I will leave mine with them. Mysti

Astraea	10 Apr 2003
How nice that you have not one, but two, grandchildren who are interested in tarot! It's wonderful to think of well-loved decks staying in the family. You have a great gene pool, there! :laugh:

jlbvt	10 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Astraea How nice that you have not one, but two, grandchildren who are interested in tarot! It's wonderful to think of well-loved decks staying in the family. You have a great gene pool, there! :laugh: So true- I hope my son is interested in Tarot when he is older!

Diana	10 Apr 2003
They will go on the shelves of the Aeclectic Tarot Retirement Home that I will be opening. This home will be opened in the middle of the African bush, and you are all welcome to put your names down already. We will be doing daily readings after breakfast and feedback after supper (supper at 6pm sharp). Lots of entertainment with Tarot games and such-like. We will have sing-songs once a week and Tarot poetry and Tarot short story competitions. Wheel-chair races with Marseilles Tarot decks as prizes for the winners. Firemaiden will sing opera to us once a month, and Alissa will be giving ballet lessons to help us loosen our stiff limbs (this will be obligatory for all residents who are not in wheel-chairs). Major Tom will have a little ceramics workshop for those interested, and Umbrae will be manager of a tooth-pick factory so that we can sell these and make a little bit of money to buy new Tarot decks. That kind of thing.

Astraea	10 Apr 2003
Oh, Diana, it sounds wonderful! I am visualizing an "Out of Africa"-type setting, with a huge home featuring a wraparound porch, rocking chairs and tables groaning with decks...cocktails at 5, before supper...thank you for the Aeclectic Tarot Retirement Home! :)

Hedera	10 Apr 2003
Me too! Dogs & cats are allowed, though, right Diana? Mine never eat the cards, they just like to play with them sometimes, like me. It sounds great! I almost wish I could age faster...:D

The Who Gets Your Decks When You're Gone? thread was originally posted on 06 Apr 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.