Tarot deck addiction

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Jun 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

lawguy51	14 Jun 2003
I was just in the Deck forum, updating my list of decks in the Kiama authored thread where everyone has listed their decks. I was looking at Kiama's list and that of others and I was wondering, for those of you with say, more than 20 decks, do you ever get around to actually using them or are you like me with some of my Beatles collectables where I won't even take them out of the box. I'm sure all of you collectors have at one time or another, viewed your lovely decks, but how many, on average do you actually use for readings or study? Does a deck you've forgotten about or neglected suddenly come to life one day when you happen to pull it out for inspection? I have about 9 decks and I feel badly for some of them, like the Morgan Greer that I have never really used, same with my Aquarian. Just curious. Lawguy51

RedWood	14 Jun 2003
I am not a collector! i am currently trying to get my decks (including oracles) down to 10... Just trying to keep the ones I actually use.. right now sacred circle=for myself Durer=for others celtic book of the dead=when i have some serious issues Natures healing oracle=when i feel like a victim Soul cards=intuition only Wheel of Change=diversity and the others..not sure yet.... Yes i do feel bad about keepign decks i dont use!

Astraea	14 Jun 2003
Lawguy, I feel bad for some of my decks, too. I collect them and never intend to read with most of them, but appreciate their artwork, storyline, or slant; sometimes I fully intend to read with a deck, but I don't get around to working with it because I keep going back to my tried-and-true favorites (the Ancestral Path and Thoth, primarily). When I see a thread about one of the decks in my collection, I take it out and look at it again and usually my appreciation is renewed -- but for reading, there are very few decks that I consistently use.

Silverlotus	14 Jun 2003
I haven't got close to 20 decks yet, but I do wonder about my collection. I use a couple of decks on a regular basis, one is kept for sentimental value, and the others I use once in a while. I was thinking about thining out my collection, but when I looked at my decks, I realised that they were all a little different and useful for different things. Will I ever have any that I will never use? I doubt it. I'm a collector of many things - books, cross stitch patterns, etc. - but I have read/used or will read/use every one of them. I don't see myself changing my rules for tarot. Of course, I would love to have some really smashing collector-type decks. But I doubt I will ever spend the money on them. :)

jmd	15 Jun 2003
I have over sixty decks - certainly not as many as others have. I find that for readings I tend to use mainly one (a woodcut-type Schaffhouse deck marketed by US Games as Tarot Classic). Readings are not, however, the main purpose of the decks, but rather study. In that sense, many of them are useful - though I also have some I just wonder why I bother keeping (such as the poorly designed - in my opinion at any rate - Lord of the Rings Tarot). For study purposes, I have at least a dozen or so 'at hand'. In addition to this, I often take most of my decks to the monthly Tarot Café (in Melbourne) for others to look through, so I get a chance to see them too. Which decks are more 'at-hand' includes (without fail) a few different Marseilles decks, and then it depends on what is happening. For example, due to some events coming in the next few months, I have a couple of more Masonic type decks, as well as the (Rider/)Waite/Colman-Smith and the Crowley/Harris out.

Kiama	15 Jun 2003
I'm with JMD on this one: Whilst I don't read with all my decks, I use all of them for study. (Yes, all.) Because each deck I get has a unique take on the Tarot, and new insight to add to it. One way to use all your decks like this, is to do a comparitive Tarot card study... Get ALL the Fool cards or of ALL your decks, and write down their simialrities and differences, why you think each has gone for that slant of the Fool card, etc... Then do the same with the Magician, HIgh Priestess... ad infinitum. :D Kiama

Gerbear	15 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama One way to use all your decks like this, is to do a comparitive Tarot card study... Get ALL the Fool cards or of ALL your decks, and write down their simialrities and differences, why you think each has gone for that slant of the Fool card, etc... Kiama That's exactly what I do with all of my decks. It can be quite a chore to get ALL the copies of one card out for me, but each time I find new insights, and meaning.

jema	15 Jun 2003
I got around 60 decks. One thing I did was to put them all away in their place and then over the period of a month, whenever I used a deck I would leave it in another place (on a small table by my computor) just to see how many I used over a month. It is still some time left of that month but so far I sit here with 10 decks. And I know I will add to the pile. Yet some decks I haven't even touched for years. Those I am in the process of trading away if I can. I am trying to down-size the collection bit by bit because I really have been addicted to decks. That thrill when a new package arrives in the mail... The sharp smell of a new deck. the ease whith which one can mix the cards...

BoomVoom	15 Jun 2003
i think that alot of people with tuns of decks are jusst on that quest to finde the perfect deck. (my case) but it is true that at certain points in ower life though we get certain decs we just aren't on the same wave with them. some times after a long time we can come back to them, and because we have chainged in that time we can apreciate the deck more. BoomVoom

Macavity	15 Jun 2003
I think there's something significant that happens around the twenty mark. ;) I have about that many and with two on order. But there's about two I don't like and might (even!) get rid of... at some stage. ISTR there ws a poll(?) - And there was a peak at around twenty, followed by a gap and then the REAL collectors start to come in... :D I can't think of many more than the 20 I like, nor (yet!) many of those 20 I REALLY dislike? Macavity

Strange2	15 Jun 2003
Being prone to collecting, I have accumulated a fair number of decks (91 thus far). The reasons for attraction to each deck varies: the search for "The One", interesting artwork, historical reference, subject matter, rarity, symbolism, etc. A technique that I use to give some "face time" with different decks is to select a primary reading deck and a supplementary compartive deck, and use those 2 decks for a month or so for my self readings. This provides time and interaction to get to know a new or neglected deck. I have found that this technique has revived or ignited my interest in a deck that had been languishing on my shelf.

Myrrha	15 Jun 2003
I have four decks kept handy for readings, study, and inspiration, plus one or two where there are certain cards that are really interesting and bring a different idea to the archetype but I don't use the whole deck (Fantastical is like this) I love to take all the cards of a certain major arcana out, or all the versions of the two of cups or four of pentacles, and arrange them in a parade on top of a shelf, just live with them for a few days and look at the similarities and differences. There are also a few decks banished for the time being to a box in my closet so they won't be a distraction. The only problem is that trying to learn about different systems like Thoth and Marseilles at the same time is confusing! Myrrha

jema	15 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Macavity I can't think of many more than the 20 I like, nor (yet!) many of those 20 I REALLY dislike? Macavity That is because you don't have the Royal tarot - yet. Perhaps every collector should have one of those disliked decks too. As a contrast of sorts:)

Hedera	15 Jun 2003
Quote: I love to take all the cards of a certain major arcana out, or all the versions of the two of cups or four of pentacles, and arrange them in a parade on top of a shelf, just live with them for a few days and look at the similarities and differences. That sounds like a good idea Myrrha! I have so many decks of which I love the artwork, but that I hardly ever use, for various reasons. Now, if only I could convince that cats that tarot cards are *not* suitable cat-toys.....;) Quote: Perhaps every collector should have one of those disliked decks too. As a contrast of sorts. :D Jema, I couldn't agree more! That's why I have the Tarot of the Witches. Although I do sort of like most of the majors...

Macavity	15 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by jema Perhaps every collector should have one of those disliked decks too. As a contrast of sorts:) Heheh - Yep, I'm using the Sola Busca to fulfill that role at the moment })

WolfSpirit	15 Jun 2003
Although I don't have a huge collection yet and don't acquire decks as quickly as last year, I am definitely a tarotgollum - my decksssss sssstay with me. I have at the moment 27 tarot decks, 7 of them I use regularly, the others I use sometimes for reading and some of them only for admiring / studying / meditation. And I have 13 oracle decks, I only use 1 regularly. I have really tried to trade a few decks away, but when noone wanted them I went over them again, remembering what it was like when I first looked at them, seeing what attracted me to them, and I thought: ok they can stay. I think I may trade in the future a few of them, but I don't doubt I will get more.

Melvis	15 Jun 2003
I usually have a group of about 8-10 decks that I cycle through when I want to work with the cards. I do spend a lot of time with a deck when I first get it, however, especially if there is a book with it. I'm starting to use decks as a way to get to know something about the deck's theme, such as using the William Blake tarot to get to know Blake's work, etc. But my deck buying tends to go in thematic cycles...when I got interesting in all things Celtic, I got several Celtic-themed decks. Lately I've been on more of a historical bent, so I'm getting a few of the reproduction decks that try to recapture a particular historical look, such as the Visconti and the Giotto. At those times, I do a bit of comparison work such as Kiama suggested with the Fool cards. But if someone came to me right now asking for a reading, I'd probably pick from: Medieval Scapini, Light and Shadow, New Palladini, Ancient Egyptian, World Spirit, Phantasmagoric Theatre, or Cosmic Tribe. Kind of a diverse bunch, but these are the ones I keep handy. Edited to add: Okay, I just looked over that last list, and I realized that those are all decks that I consider to be among my most visually striking decks, with very strong artwork. I guess I'm a 'visual' person! Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Jewel	16 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by BoomVoom i think that alot of people with tuns of decks are jusst on that quest to finde the perfect deck. Granted that I can only speak for myself here .... errrrrrrr ..... no, I have the perfect deck (Cosmic Tribe :D). I am simply and hoplessly addicted to owning tarot decks. They fascinate me. I have been quite good though, have not purchased a tarot deck in about 4 months I think. Like JMD my primary use of tarot decks is study, and in that sense I use them all. Some for Qabalah, others for other types of study. Some for workbooks (i.e. Nina Lee Bardens book Tarot for Self Discovery). I do not feel guilty if they sit on the shelf, as I might just have the urge to use it at some point and want to make sure it is at my fingertips. JMD, I also question why I still have my LOR deck, but alas, there it sits .... perhaps I will decoupage something with it :D

LittleWing	16 Jun 2003
well ...... i am a minimalist ...... an eliminator (rather than a hoarder) - so the idea of collecting things does not appeal to me. i wasn't really attracted to many decks ... i thought there were alot of wonderful ones out there - but just not for me. i have / use the cosmic tarot ...... and i have just bought the buckland romani tarot (which offers something different) - i didnt want a deck with the exact same study as the last. unless another catches my eye ..... i think the rohrig will be next (again - something new for study) honestly ...... these are the only ones i would like to own out of ALL i have viewed out there!!!!!!!!!! so - i am sure over time i will end up with quite a few decks, but if there are any that i no longer connect with i will proberbly sell them - out with the old - in with the new!!!

lawguy51	16 Jun 2003
Very interesting responses. I have a natural collecting habit. But for me, there is a big difference between collecting Beatles memorabilia and collecting Tarot cards, I suppose because I take the latter far more seriously, obviously. So when I bought the Thoth deck, that sort of stopped me in my tracks. Since I am completely happy with the Thoth, I haven't felt the urge to buy another deck. I definitely don't feel the need for another RWS themed deck. But after reading all of these responses, I think it's time to visit the Omega Bookstore so that I can get a whiff of freshly printed cards once again! Lawguy51

divinerguy	17 Jun 2003
I have about 20 decks. I like about 15 or so for their artistic beauty. I take them out every now and then and smell them, touch them and contemplate the images. I read with perhaps 5 or 6 decks. Now that I have been to Alidastore's website, I can see that there are about 20 more that I'll be getting over time.

wavebreaker	17 Jun 2003
I have 22 decks right now, and there are only 3 or 4 that I use for readings. The others I bought because I liked the artwork or the artwork and theme (I wouldn't buy a deck just for its theme if I didn't like the artwork). I bought most decks in a relatively short time (a few months) and, looking back, I more or less stopped buying decks after I had found my favourite. The decks I bought after that where mostly decks I wanted for comparison or studying (still need to find the time to do the actual studying... ;) ). My wish list is now really short, only about 5 decks or so, which I really want to have either because I know I will actually use them or because I'd like to study them.

Chronata	18 Jun 2003
After the first twenty or so decks , I really tried to buy only those that I would use. Or at least that was the idea..... Each deck I bought, I really intended on using! Only, it turned out that a lot of them really didn't work all that well for me, and they just ended up joining the collection. (about 100 decks...to date) Since I do readings professionally, I have found that different cards work for different situations. I always have at least one version of a Rider Waite Smith type with me. (It was my beloved Hanson Roberts deck...until I inexplicably lost it!) And I usually use in conjunction, or seperately, about six other decks( including Connolly, Baseball, Osho Zen, Marsellies, and Mythic) as well as a bunch of oracle decks (Celestial Wisdom and Medicine Cards being my favorite!) For readings for myself, I have found it difficult to use any of my traditional decks, as I cannot be objective enough. Often, I will use an oracle, non-tarot for this purpose. Lately, though, I have experimented with using a pendulum to pick a deck for me...and that has produced some interseting results!

sagitarian	18 Jun 2003
well, I don't have 20, but I do have a decent collection started so far. So far, I use all of my decks, not every day, but some days my celtic dragon tarot want to talk, other days, my universal waite, my faeries always want to talk, so I just take with me what ever decks yell out and leave behind whatever decks feel like they don't want to come.

anjocoxo	19 Jun 2003
Well, there was a time that I bought 3 or 4 decks in a small period of time, and then stopped. I only have 5 decks, but I know I'm on my way to buy more because I'm still looking for the perfect deck. For instance, I love the Major Arcana in thoth - hate the Minor. In Goddess, I love the minor - not so keen about some of the Major... some decks have colours that don't appeal, and with the Sacred Circle it was those digital images (the faces of people showing up... nahhh). This month I'm feeling totally taroholic and I won't stop until I buy another deck, the problem is deciding which... I'm thinking about buying the Universal Waite, since I have the Golden and the colours/artwork are not very striking. As melvis, I'm a very "visual" person.... so, I'm still looking for the perfect deck (however I really like to read with the Golden and especially with Goddess - my favourite), although I can't imagine myself having 50 decks or more. Anjo

The Tarot deck addiction thread was originally posted on 14 Jun 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.