502nd post!!! Personal Decks

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Little Baron	11 Aug 2003
I have just finished a thank-you post to Voodoo Shaman after recomending The Light and Shadow tarot to me. The deck has been sitting round the house for a few days and this evening, I did my first reading with it. The clear cut messages almost jumped from the cards and I realised that for me, this one was going to be a powerful one for the future. With this in mind, I wondered whether I should keep it all to my self. Usually, I work with the Universal Waite, Rohrig, Buckland Romani, Phantasmagoric, to name a few. I also use these decks to read for others, should they want a reading. As much as I love all of these decks, there is not one that is solely for myself and has been untouched by others. I know that we have spoken before about all of the things that people do with their cards (sleeping with them under their pillow, wrapping in silk, putting in boxes, not letting anybody else touch them) an whether it really makes any difference. I also know that a lot of people 'do' have one deck that is set aside for themselves and not for the use of anyone else. Since the beginning of my relationship with the L&S has been so powerful, I was wondering whether this is the 'one' that becomes sacred and especially for me. Since I couldn't think of an interesting question for my 500th post (not saying that this is particularly a good one), I thought I would pose this one, out of my own interest - 'Do you have a personal deck which is sacred and for you only? Do you let others touch it? Why did you choose this deck, or did it choose you? What do you think are the benefits of having a deck (regardless of how many others you own) that is solely for you and not used to read for anyone else?'. Look forward to your responses, tips and advice. Best wishes Yaboot

Umbrae	12 Aug 2003
I would like to congratulate you on your 502nd post. I have acquired many decks over the last 2 years. I have only one that I use only for myself, and that’s my Giger Majors Only. I let others handle it, and should someone want a reading with it, that would be okay. But hey, it’s a Giger… I choose my decks. I’m very picky. A deck has to ‘move me’ for me to choose it. I truly believe that things that are very very sacred to me should be handled by others. It helps make them even more sacred.

Cerulean	12 Aug 2003
for at least a month, but it is hard. Congradulations on your very very choice topic. You chose a great design that probably has a very good feel for you. If I wanted to say a deck is best-beloved for everything, actually it is only if I am handling it ninety percent of the time. I do tend to stay with my Italian Milanese Patterns the most--they are Marseilles variants from the 1800s. All summer I have been alternating from one to the other, . For the past three weeks, it's been the 1865 variant. There's aging or simulated aging, somewhat restricted choice of colors and some flaws or marks. But this makes the deck more in keeping with what I see in older Italian classic art--what I term classic art. Anyway, just because I think I see Pontarmo greens or pinks or use of blues or a Siennese palate doesn't make it so--I only feel it for myself. I don't expect anyone else to quite understand either, so I smiled at the warm description that you gave for your sense of discovery. Best wishes, Mari Hoshizaki

jmd	12 Aug 2003
When I used to teach courses regularly, I would take a new deck at random and open it for the course - it became the deck from which comparisons would be made. For the first Tarot course I ever taught (at the time I also owned the books and decks section of a health food shop), I put a few decks in a box, and picked one unseen - it has become, since that time, my most travelled deck (it usually resides in my pocket). I suppose that there are other decks I really treasure and value - mostly, but not only, Marseilles varieties - but this deck, a Schaffhouse Marseille variant, sold by US Games as Tarot Classic, has become, effectively, that special deck.

Mimers	12 Aug 2003
Hi Yaboot, Very interesting question. I don't have any one deck that I just use for myself, but I do have one that I feel picked me. That one is the Thoth Tarot. I had no intention of ever buying that deck, but I saw it one day in a shop, the whole deck out for viewing. Where most people see in Thoth a deck created by an undesierable person that is dark and moody, I saw a beautiful deck that almost seemed to come alive to me. I love the pips. I read with this deck and I feel that there is no guessing. I still use my other favorite reading decks often. Most often that would be the Ancestral Path or Vision Quest, but the Thoth is very special to me now. I have done readings for others with it and don't mind other's touching any of my decks. I don't see the decks themselves as sacred, it is my ability to use them that is. Take care Yaboot. When are you leaving for University? Mimers

Logiatrix	12 Aug 2003
Ya-Ya, According to the book "Tarot Celebrations," it is a good idea to have one deck that is all yours to use for readings, study, and/or meditation. I followed that advice early on in my tarot journey, and I had a pretty good relationship with the Celtic Wisdom for a year, and then the Medicine Woman for the last two years. For these last six months, though, I haven't had a deck that is exclusively MINE. I know it's something I need in my tarot selection, because it usually seems like my most difficult issues are clearest when viewed through the cards. Whenever I had a personal deck, I felt like I had my own on-call counselor. The situation may be shifting--it looks like the "Vampire" deck is going to be my personal deck. I bought it to use in conjunction with the "Tarot Shadow Work" book by C. Jette. I've also been consulting it off and on for about a month now, and I love it! I have no inclination to share it with others, like I want to hoard the wonderful images for my own enjoyment. }) ;) Peace, T.

Hedera	15 Aug 2003
Well, I think I have a personal deck without really intending to. Mine's the Cosmic Tribe. I loved it from the moment I held it in my hands; I find it comforting, it cheers me up and it gives me clear, positive, honest-but-not-brutally so readings. I did try to use it for other people (online) because I like it so much, but that didn't seem to work. The readings were off, they felt flat and confused. It's certainly not the only deck I use for myself (LOL!), but it is the one I keep coming back to. My 'heart deck' (thanks for the term, Lee!). However, I do miss certain RWS-style cards sometimes, especially the 6 of Swords and the 8 of Cups. Especially for doing things like the exercises with 'Tarot for Self Discovery', I am still looking for a deck that makes me feel this comfortable, yet has RWS-style pips. Although I find that, more and more, the Cosmic Tribe pips seem at least as well illustrated.... ***** On the other hand, I think I also have a deck that is better for use in reading for other people than it is for myself; that is the Merryday tarot. From the moment I received it, I've used it to read for other people with, and that feels really good and comfortable. Gives great, insightful, helpful, clear readings. However, when I use it for myself, it tends to get a little too navel-gazing and negative. Strange, very strange.... ;)

WolfSpirit	15 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Hedera On the other hand, I think I also have a deck that is better for use in reading for other people than it is for myself; that is the Merryday tarot. Hehe I think the Merryday may become my very personal deck (I only have it a month or so, still a bit short to say). So the perfect situation might be Hedera reading for me with the Merryday :laugh: The reason I think the Merryday may become a very personal deck is that it just reads differently, not tarot meanings but more what I see in the pictures. For example the 4 of cups shows a woman sitting by a lake with mountains in the background (3 cups before her, 1 carried away by a bird), I look at the picture and think: that is me taking a rest from a walk, maybe thinking about what could be better in my life but also taking a break from it all, seeing it in a more detached way. I don't want to keep a deck all to myself on purpose, I just don't know if I could use it for other people as I respond to it so personally. But time will tell, and I haven't explored all possibilities of the deck yet.

lawguy51	16 Aug 2003
I've done a couple of readings for others with my Thoth deck but only because they picked it for themselves. But the Thoth is definitely 'my' deck. It's the one I use almost every morning for my self. It's also the deck that probably gives me the most difficulty but I just keep at it. And for 2003, I am using A. Arrien's template for tracking your 3 card spreads throughout the year. It's very interesting, looking at that chart now in August, and seeing those cards and suits and court cards that continually come up in my throws and those that almost never do. FYI, my least drawn major is The Empress (once) and my most popular major is Adjustment (11 times). Hmmm...guess my life has been a little out of balance this year. Leading pips are 2 of wands and 10 of swords! BTW, I just bought the Alchemical Tarot deck and I quite like it. I'm going to spend some time with it and see if maybe that deck will become my 'reading for others' deck. But I'm also currently spending time with the Shining Tribe and I just got given the Quest deck (haven't warmed up to that one so far). So many decks, so little time :). Which is why the Thoth deck remains my constant. Lawguy51

MoreMagic	16 Aug 2003
I like this topic! When I first learned Tarot, with a Universal Rider Waite, I got very attached to the deck and decided it was THE ONE for all times and all purposes. Then I found the tarotholics here...You know the end of this story. Right now, I read for others with the Universal R-W and the Aquarian. I read for myself with the Hudes, which no one else has handled. Not that I would mind, it just hasn't come up. I meditate on Tarot of the Trance majors, which come with nice suggested meditation and visualization exercises. I own, but haven't really used, Tarot Nova, Connolly, Nigel Jackson and a couple of others. I have to say that none of these decks "speak" to me in particular, I seem to be able to get information from them all, but none seem particularly "tuned" to me. I envy you guys with deck "soulmates."!

LeaRay	24 Aug 2003
I only have 2 tarot decks,and a couple of oracle decks. But the one I use the most is the Celtic Dragon tarot. I really love the artwork on it. Each card tells a story of its own and is unquie and different from the other cards in the deck. I mostly do readings for my self, and only do readings for others if they ask for one. Blessings! LeaRay

Marion	24 Aug 2003
I would honestly have to say the answer for me is 'no'. Several decks are special to me because the artwork seems more personally meaningful, or other reasons (was a special gift or something) and a few are totally without connection. But I never differentiate between decks for me to read personally and for others.

Logiatrix	24 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Marion But I never differentiate between decks for me to read personally and for others. I may just take a valuable lesson from you, Marion (not the first time, either... :) ), and let go of this idea that I have to have "my own" deck. I have a couple of decks now that I haven't shared with anyone else, but I would like to. Hmmm...maybe I should just get that idea out of my head, and share all of my decks equally (I am actually contemplating this as I write). I think I will... Thank you, Marion! {Big Hug} :D

The 502nd post!!! Personal Decks thread was originally posted on 11 Aug 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.