What do you keep in your tarot bag?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Aure	02 Mar 2004
What do you keep in your tarot bag (mostly in the bag where you keep your reading deck)? Do you have a spread cloth, crystals, other items, etc. in there? I have wrapped my Radiant RWS in a purple silk scarf and I'm currently trying to find some nice crystal that feels right to accompany my deck. I keep a chevron amethyst in the bag for now.

mj07	02 Mar 2004
Some of my decks I've been keeping in the boxes, others I have wrapped in a scarf... newbie here, is there a rule?

Jeanette	02 Mar 2004
For a while, I had my spread cloth (which was very cool ~ navy blue with an embroidered sun in the corner, embellished with gold beads), a little notebook with some spreads written in it and a pen to jot down ideas, etc., Mastering the Tarot by Eden Gray, a crystal, a sachet, of course the deck, and I think that was it. Way too much stuff to haul around all the time. So now I'm not using a tarot bag, I've just covered my deck's box w/clear contact paper to protect it from wear and tear. But I may bring back the bag, who knows. It depends on whether I'm going through a stage where I get fed up with all the clutter in my life and try to simplify things (but not necessarily throw anything away). My pocketbook is heavy enough to haul around, so I don't need more paraphernalia to lug about :)

Aerten	02 Mar 2004
Erm... cards :)

lunakasha	02 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mj07 Some of my decks I've been keeping in the boxes, others I have wrapped in a scarf... newbie here, is there a rule? Hi mj! No rules.........the only rule is that there are no rules!!! LOL...sorry about that, I couldn't resist! :laugh: Seriously though, do whatever feels right for you. Some people keep all of their decks in beautiful silk bags, others keep them in wooden boxes, wrapped in silk cloths inside the wooden box...but there are no hard and fast rules. The cards are merely a tool for you to use, they don't know the difference between cardboard, silk or wood! Having said that, it is important to protect your cards from the elements, from dust and so on....I personally prefer to keep mine in pretty bags, but haven't gotten all of them "situated" yet, so many of them are still in cardboard :( No sign of an uprising so far though.... :D Luna

mj07	02 Mar 2004
sometimes I'm afraid I'm doing something DRASTICALLY wrong! —Mar

Centaur	02 Mar 2004
I keep my cards in my tarot-bags which were made by a kind friend of mine. In most of them, I keep only the decks... but for my deck of the moment (the one I use most) I keep some stones too... red jasper, and I am looking for a cleansing stone too... but that's on another thread... hehe. C

Logiatrix	02 Mar 2004
Each of my eight deck gets wrapped in its own special cloth and placed in a matching bag. Over the last few months, I've given each of them a new bag/cloth ensemble, 'cuz my favorite bookstore got some new bags and cloths in, and I couldn't resist! Generally, the bags are cotton or velvet, nicely lined, with a heavy drawstring cord; I chose each bag to match the colors on the deck backs. The cloths are large squares of pretty, diaphonous material with gold and silver moons and stars all over each side; I chose these colors to contrast the fronts of the cards, for reading ease. My Zerner-Farber, however, just got a unique new cloth yesterday: a beautiful square piece of white lace with embroidered pinkish-red roses...perfect for this deck! My Visconti Gold lives happily in a purple-and-lavender bag/cloth set that I got from Faunabay (Thank You, Faunabay! ;) ). I'm currently shopping around for something new for my Healing Angels.... Wow, I could go on forever about tarot textiles--I love it! Any-hoo, to answer the question.... :D Each of my decks has a mala or rosary in the bag with it. :)

Hedera	02 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Tauni Each of my decks has a mala or rosary in the bag with it. :) I misread that as a 'male' (or rosary)..... Thinking: I wish! :D Aaaah, tarot bags - a slightly cheaper addiction than the decks themselves. Question for all you who use spreadcloths; I find that when I use my cards on a piece of fabric, they tend to slide around, and the fabric gets all wrinkled up and moves around, and gets in the way of the spreads. Isn't that a problem? Or do you have a trick for that? :)

Khatruman	02 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mj07 sometimes I'm afraid I'm doing something DRASTICALLY wrong! —Mar Does it feel wrong to you? Think about that. What does the little voice in your head say? No, not the voice that tells you it's wrong to do it, scolds you for not knowing the PROPER way to do it. How about that little voice that says, "Hey, this is ok...good place for the cards to be." I like what Jeanette listed in her bag: writing utensils and journal to jot down ideas and readings (well, THAT makes sense), a book about tarot from a mentor she respects. If you find yourself starting to say, "Ohh noo.. look, that person has a crystal... I should have one because THAT person is an expert!"... well, DON'T do it. Does the crystal you have give you warm feelings? Put it in there. Do you worry that the crystal is sharp and it's going to scratch up your cards? Get it out of there! Trust how YOU feel... not what others tell you is right.

Logiatrix	02 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Hedera ....Question for all you who use spreadcloths; I find that when I use my cards on a piece of fabric, they tend to slide around, and the fabric gets all wrinkled up and moves around, and gets in the way of the spreads. Isn't that a problem? Or do you have a trick for that? One of the reasons why I changed cloths was because I wanted to use more substantial spreadcloths, for the same reasons you mention. A lot of people insist on natural materials for whatever touches their cards, but for me that's not practical--I'm not coordinated enough for a slippery silk spreadcloth! To solve the problem, I've gone to larger cloths that I fold for the weight, heavier (often synthetic) fabrics, and larger bags to handle the bulk of these new cloths. I don't even worry about the "natural only" rule anymore, because I've concluded that my comfort and ease in handling my cards is much more conducive to the good energy of a reading, more than any of the oodles of rules and rituals I hear all the time, anyway.... Silk is beautiful, but I can't stand it when it's slipping around under my deck. Actually, the final straw for me was when I was at Denny's doing a reading for a friend, and I got several oil stains from the table on my favorite silk reading cloth--aaarrrggghhh!!! Handwashing was a pain-in-the-patooty, but I when I found out the cost of dry-cleaning, I relented to Woolite....what a hassle, though! I contemplated avoiding the casual anywhere/anytime reading to preserve my tarot stuff, but that eliminated the whole idea and fun of doing tarot! I much prefer to be able to read where-ever and when-ever I want to, risking the odd smudge or stain--but NOW, the most I have to do to fix the mess is throw the cloth or bag in the wash. And, the heartier cloths are much more cooperative. :) Edited To Add: Here's a tip.... Good, washable spreadcloths can be found as table napkins and placemats in their former lives--seriously! Linen shops and home decorating stores are great places to find unique, quality cloths, as well as the random lucky find at your fave thrift shop. Oh, yeah, and be sure to read the label before you buy--I've fallen for a pretty print, only to go home with a "dry clean only" item! :D

Chronata	03 Mar 2004
I have a small luggage bag that I keep all the stuff I take when I am doing readings for fairs & stuff. It has...my Lithomancy stones....my Baseball tarot, my angel oracles, and Connolly deck...a bag of talismans, angel blessing cards, painted stones, and gems....a crystal ball...a votive candle in a glass holder and a lighter...a guest book and pen...some inscense...some quartz crystals...a tip jar...a sign...a list of the kinds of readings I do...a silk table cloth...a cloth overlay of white gauze with gold stars... ...to this bag...when I have a gig to do....I will add... The Mini Hanson Roberts...Buckland Romani...Madame Endora...Phoenix Cards...Medicine Cards for Today...and the Celestial Wisdom Cards...from wherever they now live... Plus whatever extra deck seems appropriate!

purple_scorp	03 Mar 2004
I'm a coordinated kind of gal. I have a purple velvet case that holds about four different tools of the moment. All of which are inside their own little purple velvet/satin bags. I made most of these bags myself, but they are all different in some way, so as I can distinguish the contents of each. For example, one tarot deck is inside a purple satin beaded bag. One oracle deck is inside a purple velvet bag that has a silver drawstring. My runes (home made from wood) are inside a purple velvet bag that has a special rune (extra to the set) attached to the draw string. The case is compact and easy to transport so I swap bags in and out as the need arises, depending on where I'm heading and which tools I want to use at the time. In my case, I also carry my a small (A5 size) hard-covered notebook in which I write spreads (lots of which I've taken from this site). Hi Hedera, I also have a question about cloths. I don't use a cloth and prefer to lay the cards straight onto my wooden table (when at home). I have a friend that purchased the exact same deck as me and she uses a cloth. I have noticed that her cards show a lot more wear and tear than mine. I would estimate that I would use my cards twice as often as she would, so I attribute it to the use of the cloth. Do others find that using a cloth scuffs the cards more quickly? Not that I mind, it adds to their character and all. But I was just curious to know. Cheers purple_scorp

mj07	03 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman Does it feel wrong to you? Think about that. What does the little voice in your head say? No, not the voice that tells you it's wrong to do it, scolds you for not knowing the PROPER way to do it. How about that little voice that says, "Hey, this is ok...good place for the cards to be." I like what Jeanette listed in her bag: writing utensils and journal to jot down ideas and readings (well, THAT makes sense), a book about tarot from a mentor she respects. If you find yourself starting to say, "Ohh noo.. look, that person has a crystal... I should have one because THAT person is an expert!"... well, DON'T do it. Does the crystal you have give you warm feelings? Put it in there. Do you worry that the crystal is sharp and it's going to scratch up your cards? Get it out of there! Trust how YOU feel... not what others tell you is right. Khatruman, thanks for the advice! Actually, I'm a fairly "cluttered" person (read: packrat) and not greatly organized, so I think that just doing whatever feels right works for me. At the moment, what feels right is just having them out where I can get to them easily, compare different decks, analyze the images on the cards, etc. So that means some of the time they're not even packed away in their boxes/scarves, etc. PS I've also been trying to keep notes of my readings in an 8x8" ringed notebook. I think over time it will be helpful to go back and look at!

Majecot	03 Mar 2004
Some of my decks have bags and some not. I keep them all in the cool little wooden chest I found a few weeks ago. Prior to that I kept them in a drawer together. The only thing I keep in the bags is the cards, except for my faeries, they asked for a crystal too.

Khatruman	03 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mj07 I'm a fairly "cluttered" person (read: packrat) and not greatly organized, so I think that just doing whatever feels right works for me. At the moment, what feels right is just having them out where I can get to them easily, compare different decks, analyze the images on the cards, etc. So that means some of the time they're not even packed away in their boxes/scarves, etc. PS I've also been trying to keep notes of my readings in an 8x8" ringed notebook. I think over time it will be helpful to go back and look at! Wow, excellent...and you were worried that you were doing it dreadfully wrong????!!!!! :D You've got the cards around you, to take them in, see them, get the feel of them. You have a notebook where you can jot notes, feelings, reading, meditations, reflections. They surround you and become part of your own environment. Excellent. I think your cards and you will get along famously!!!! PS...fellow packrat...I am a teacher..I have to be..*L*

Ilithiya	03 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Aure What do you keep in your tarot bag (mostly in the bag where you keep your reading deck)? Do you have a spread cloth, crystals, other items, etc. in there? Couldn't resist answering this one... My decks shunned the shiny metal lunchbox I bought for them, preferring instead the old, ratty, insulated purple lunch tote they had been stored in for a few years... some decks have no taste :) Other than my decks, I have a watch face with talisman danglies hanging from the man zipper pull so I don't have to constantly ask what time it is, and my I Ching coins hang from the same spot. Then there's my Badtz Maru pen, my spare lwbs, my pocket I Ching, and whatever else usually falls in there (keys, lighter, spare change). Wish my journal would fit in there, but it's part of letting go and stopping being such a control freak. :)

daffyart	03 Mar 2004
I don't keep anything in the bags other than the cards and their booklets. But I do attach a little charm or something that catches my fancy to the outside of the bag. It adds a personal touch and a link to the cards which I figure can't hurt:) Anywho....Just putting my two cents in:)

Kath	03 Mar 2004
In my tarot bag I keep my cards, wrapped in a spread cloth, with a crystal. I have a different crystal for each of my decks, and I like to be colour co-ordinated so my bags are the same colour as the cloth. Regarding the slipping spread cloths, I’ve found that a heavy satin works best. The weight of the fabric keeps it on the table, and the nature of the satin keeps the cloth reasonably wrinkle free. I have a couple of cloths made from silk, and they crease so badly! Also, satin is washing machine friendly. I love going through the remnants bin at fabric shops, you never know when you will find a nice piece of fabric, perfect for your tarot bag/cloth at a cheap price :)

punchinella	04 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Tauni Each of my decks has a mala or rosary in the bag with it. :) What's a mala?

TemperanceAngel	04 Mar 2004
I have a beautiful old black case which I bought for 1 pound at a car boot sale in Edinburgh. It even has sections, it's perfect and looks mysterious and professional all at the same time... I keep my RWS and Healing With the Angel cards, crystals, incense, matches, herbs, resins, candle and holder and a clock :) XTAX Edited to add, my reading cloth!

laura_borealis	04 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by TemperanceAngel [b] I have a beautiful old black case which I bought for 1 pound at a car boot sale in Edinburgh. It even has sections, it's perfect and looks mysterious and professional all at the same time... /B] That sounds wonderful! I'd love to see a photo. I never thought of putting anything in with my cards, like a crystal or something, until I came here. :) I have my Faeries' Oracle wrapped in a silk scarf -- not so much because it's silk, but because the purples, blues, and blacks in it look perfect with the cards. I was insistant on silk scarves for my cards when I first got interested in Tarot, but I've eased up a lot. :) My Robin Wood deck is in a simple wooden box with no decorations. All my others are in the original boxes for now. Rohrig is staying in the original box -- I don't know why, but it doesn't seem to need anything else. The Fey are going to get a bag or box when I find the right thing. It needs to be something pretty and happy!

Logiatrix	04 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by punchinella What's a mala? That's a Buddhist or Hindu set of prayer beads. They are generally a strand of 108 beads, but I've seen small ones of only 22 beads, and one from Japan with 112 beads. The Hindu japa mala also has counters hanging from it (to keep track of several prayer cycles in a day), as well as a meru bead to end the chant or prayer cycle. Tibetan malas will also have counters strands hanging from them; Tibetan lamas often use strands of the bone of ancient lamas as their prayer beads. The simplest, most common malas are single strands of 108 sandlewood beads with a red or yellow tassle. A typical mala of the Hindu faith is made of rudraksha seeds, representing the tears of Lord Shiva, shed for all living creatures. :)

LadyMedusa	04 Mar 2004
What do I keep in my tarot bag? A deck, the LWB, and a bit of incense. I make my own bags for each deck. (With only 1 exception so far.) It's kind of my own personal way to say "welcome to your new home". I got the idea to leave a small opening in the side seam. Just enough room to slip in a piece of stick incense between the layers. LadyMedusa

Star Spirit	04 Mar 2004
I don't keep anything other than the cards in the bags. My first deck, my Hudes, is wrapped in a silk scarf and in a beautiful hand-carved and painted box. When I started collecting though, I made all my bags (with linings, and ties that I make out of 3 different colours of thread in a double-knot weave), except for a green velvet bag that I found laying around for my Celtic Dragon Tarot. Most of the bags that I make are quite small, due to lack of fabric (read: I've been cutting up old clothes) so there's not really any room for anything else in them. They just fit the deck perfectly and protect it nicely. They're washable as well. I've made them mostly out of old shirts that are too small for me to wear but that I've been too chicken to ever give away because I'm so attached to them (I am also a packrat). This way I can keep a part of them forever.

Phoenyx*	04 Mar 2004
Well, right now I have my mini Hanson-Roberts in my schoolbag that I lug everywhere with me. In there as well I've got in one compartment my clinical rotations notebook, my current textbook of choice (now it's my Micro textbook for the next two weeks) and...something else, can't remeber. In another compartment, I've got a wirebound notebook, supposedly for me to write down any spreads that I do, as well as 78 Degrees in there on Saturdays when I'm working. In the smallest compartment, I've got a calculator. And in the compartment with my Hanson Roberts, I've got my needlepoint stuff, some change and...some other stuff. I'm really not too organised.

mj07	04 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by punchinella What's a mala? Malas are prayer beads. if I'm not mistaken, most have 108 beads along with a Buddha bead, the one that marks the end of a cycle when you're chanting. You usually see Buddhist monks wearing them.

snuffy	04 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Triquetra Well, right now I have my mini Hanson-Roberts in my schoolbag that I lug everywhere with me. same here, although i've become a fanatic for the tarot of the animal lords, so it quickly replaced my mini hanson-roberts. the shame of the situation is that i have no tarot bag to put (and protect) it in, so most unfortunately, the box is starting to show some (loving) wear and tear.

Shesawolf	13 Mar 2004
I'm having a friend create wood boxes for each one of my decks (I have about 10, a palsly amount compared to some of you out there!)... I'm designing each box to fit the deck w/a reading cloth perfectly. I'm planning on lining each with a material that 'matches' my deck (not so much in color, but more in texture and design). I can't wait until the first one is completed... I'm choosing to use wood boxes because a) they're easier to stack and keep ordered, b) because I love the smell and texture of wood, c) wood ages so much more gracefully than cloth, and d) I think they'll be protect my cards better than a bag (I like to carry around at least one deck at all times). I hadn't thought about making room for gems, stones, or crystals... but I like the idea. hmmm.....

brandi124	13 Mar 2004
Well in my short time with my cards I have been through a few stages as far as card storage goes. First I just kept them in the box they came in however the bottom has a tendency to come loose which made for an unfortunate incident in my front yard when all my cards fell to the ground and a few blew down the street (got them all back though, whew!) so then I put the box away and started looking for another way to tote them around but couldn't find anything that felt right to me. The pressure was on to find a place to keep them out of sight because my daughter can't seem to keep her hands off my deck-- she's two and if she has her way with them I will never see them again or if I do they will have green crayon all over them. I ended up finding the perfect bag at Michael's craft store of all places. I was actually there looking at canvases and paint sets and came across a cream colored silky bag with a satin drawstring closure. Turns out it was the perfect size for my cards and also for an amethyst and quartz that were given to me as well. It's perfect. The only things I wish I could cart around as well are a purple cloth that I would like to use to spread on and a really cool stick my daughter and I found on a walk that she picked up and declared was magic. :)

thanatos	13 Mar 2004
with me .. I have my main deck in a small compher wood box along with a amathyst cluster and a clear quorts cluster both have clensing and chargeing properties

Dexter	13 Mar 2004
My tarot decks, cloths, journal, incense , candles. cleansing spray made from herbs and crystal essences etc are all stored in a cedar lined wooden chest. It has a lovely scent when opened and is guite calming. My cards are stored in a bag just the right size for the deck and in this bag with the deck is a small black velvet bag that holds my crystal pendulum. Which I use to clease the deck after each reading. Or if someone is having a hard time with a guestion I let them use the pendulum to help them pick a card that represents what their question is really about.

smokey	13 Mar 2004
Greetings everybody, I discovered Aeclectic around the first of the new year, what a wonderful surprise!!! Anyway, I keep sage for cleansing the deck, a small charm my boyfriend made me of beads, leather, & a tiny bell plus a couple of small gemstones, though I've no idea what they are. I intend to get a coupla' crystals when finances allow; maybe a moonstone , and or spectrolite to help my intuition. That's about it for now, I look forward each morning to "seeing" everybody, my best to you and yours. Smokey

ScarabFlight	13 Mar 2004
When I made my tarot bag, made two little pockets on either side on the inside. I keep insense in those little pouches because they make my decks smell nice, and the pockets keep it from actually scratching up on my cards. If I'd had a sewing machine I'm sure it would've been much easier! :D That's all I really keep in the bag.

tmgrl2	13 Mar 2004
I love this thread....Since I have so few decks...and am learning...I bought two Rider-Waite decks...one I put in a small leather-bound photo album with a tie around it...this is my deck that I am studying so it is a "study album" ....the other deck that I am beginning to use for readings I keep in a black velvet pouch that I unfancifully bought online (6 different colors for decks to come)...it has a drawstring close with beads/crystals on drawstring. I also got two Tarot of Prague decks and since one has a lovely inscription from creator...(thanks Karen and Alex) I will use that one as a study deck when I am ready for it...the other to read with... I also have Thoth and book...and am ordering the Blue Rose Tarot. I also am awaiting a set of Onyx stones and Animal Rune stones...not sure yet how I will carry and use, but have always been interested in at least, the Native American animal symbolism. So, for now, just the deck in the bag...no silk cloth...I just look for a smooth surface and sit opposite the Q....I'm sure I will add as I go...but that is what makes us who we are as readers....knowing me....there will be more but not for now....terri

colusaskye	14 Mar 2004
I wrap my cards in a dark blue crushed velvet cloth, but I don't use it as a spread cloth. I have an amethyst stone and a turtle carved out of some translucent white stone, which I put in the bag (outside of the cloth). My deck comes with a title card and an author card - I put one on the front and one on the back of the deck when I'm storing it. When I take the deck out, I place these two cards on the cloth and place my turtle and amethyst on top of the cards (for protection and good energy and whatnot). That way, when my deck is put back, I've got the 2 cards protecting it and whatnot. The bag itself used to hold an electronic guitar tuner. It's black and fuzzy. My fiance gave it to me to use when he saw me throwing the material across the room while trying to hand sew a bag (I cannot sew in a straight line for anything, not even with a machine)

Phoenyx*	14 Mar 2004
As I changed a bit, I thought I would update. I've got all my decks right now wrapped in their own different cloths, which are mostly big enough to use as spread cloths at the same time. My mini H-R and my Sacred Circle have both blue and green plaid cloths, the rest have black cloth (mainly because I got only two colors :() My Inner Child that I got yesterday, will be getting a pink cloth, and will have lavender incense and rose quartz with it at all times.

mysticali	15 Mar 2004
Eachof my decks is individually wrapped in a silk - the silk is not used as a reading cloth - as i use a big black velvet cloth for that. The cards in their cloths are then kept in a wooden box alongside a small bottle of perfume oil (i need sandalwood to get me in the zone for a reading) and some polished healing stones/crystals. - Most importantly the box has a lock - the key to which i wear on a chain around my neck - always.

thanatos	15 Mar 2004
A new addition to my tarot bag/box/chest is a dark red velvet spread cloth if/when I start to do public readings I will be putting some insence in it aswell

tmgrl2	15 Mar 2004
good thread...where you those of you who use cloths, get the cloth and what kinds ...for reading and/or wrapping...Do you just buy the cloth and ....???? terri

Theia	15 Mar 2004
Lets see, I made a bag and cloth for my cards and then soaked them in mugwart tea. And I also have a piece of citrine wrapped with the cards.

tmgrl2	15 Mar 2004
Thanks, Theia....I'm not too good at making things...but maybe will buy some cloths at a fabric store...like your ideas and will follow thread for more....terri

Ilithiya	15 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by tmgrl2 good thread...where you those of you who use cloths, get the cloth and what kinds ...for reading and/or wrapping...Do you just buy the cloth and ....???? terri Some of my decks are wrapped... one's in a fuschia silk, one's in a mottled purple/aqua handdyed silk... some don't have wraps, and some live in their boxes. What I use for my readings are quilted "mats" my mom makes for me... I have a purple & green nine-patch type with lizards, and an elemental one that's almost finished now. There's nothing quite like seeing the joy on her face when I plop down my fabric stash in front of her and telling her to go nuts. ;) That is, I use those unless I'm lazy or have a huge spread and I then I just use my bed for those. :) Illy

tmgrl2	15 Mar 2004
That's hilarious, Ilithiya, about the bed! Great ideas...I usuall use my dining room table with cloth...or if reading online, my office desk...smoot and lots of space...but when I venture "out there" I will probably bring a cloth....I do keep the decks in velvet bags...like them . Bought them online from Midnight-muse....love the colors..wish they had more than the colors they offer. terri

Phoenyx*	15 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by tmgrl2 good thread...where you those of you who use cloths, get the cloth and what kinds ...for reading and/or wrapping...Do you just buy the cloth and ....???? terri Terri, I buy a cloth in a color that suits the deck. For instance, my SC has a green and blue plaid that reminds me of kilts (LOL!), and my Inner Child just got a pink cloth. I got both of the cloths over at WalMart, bought a yard for $1.

The What do you keep in your tarot bag? thread was originally posted on 02 Mar 2004 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.