Fer shame - Hail ye fellow collectors!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Eco74	17 Jul 2004
I´ve done it again! Thinking (quite errantly) that I´ve now found the decks of my choosing (albeit only 5 sofar, one of which seems to be constantly out of stock) I´ve fallen again.. This time for the comedial Phantasmagorical Theatre Tarot. Ordered and me eagerly awaiting deliverystatus I came to wonder a little on how other collectors gather their decks. I´m already running out of "separate places" to keep the ones I have and if my collection continues to grow at this alarming rate there is just no telling how many decks will be sitting there, rubbing off on oneanother and causing conflicting energies. (I already have two decks that don´t quite get along and this is a hassle that could well grow if I don´t get ahead of it. Do you have any tips on how to keep the many various decks from getting on eachothers edges too much? I have plans on getting each a separate wrap, but am hesitant as to wether this will be enough if they are kept in a box or cabinet together.

inanna_tarot	17 Jul 2004
Sometimes decks like people just dont wanna be with eachother, BUT they are all your decks, and they will have to live to love you together. Well thats what i tell my cards :P A few of my decks (like 10) have their own bags, made from cotton (always important to me for some reason) and so they sit in a bag full of my energies and creativeness as i handsew them together and braid my own pull cords. I also keep my incense in the same drawer so they all smell nice :) I think my energies are more potent then theirs, as its what i make of them thats important not the cards themselves. If you cant have the decks sitting by side, put some cards inbetween and that should sort it out. If you get like some people here with hundreds of decks, you'd run out of places to keep them all seperate in the end lol Blessings, Sezo

Logiatrix	17 Jul 2004
All of the decks I use regularly get a bag and cloth each. I wrap each deck in a coordinating cloth, then slide it into it's own matching drawstring bag. They usually number about five or six at a time, and they are typically sitting together on the same shelf, or traveling together in the same tote. I've never noticed any negative "vibrations" from keeping my decks next to each other; I figure any "energy" exchanged is mine to begin with, since I'm the one who reads them, cleanses them, and pampers them. I think it's all in the mind of the beholder, anyway. The belief is valid, whatever it is, if it works for the believer. :) On a more practical note, I think it is important for the physical preservation of the deck to have it wrapped or otherwise housed in a protective receptacle of some sort; it also saves the original box from falling apart (especially important for collecting or trading). I've always liked to travel with my decks, so I saw the need for tarot protection very soon after I got my first deck; now, I search out bags and spreadcloths almost as avidly as I accumulate tarots! PEACE, Logiatrix :D

ferrous	17 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Logiatrix On a more practical note, I think it is important for the physical preservation of the deck to have it wrapped or otherwise housed in a protective receptacle of some sort; it also saves the original box from falling apart (especially important for collecting or trading). I've always liked to travel with my decks, so I saw the need for tarot protection very soon after I got my first deck; now, I search out bags and spreadcloths almost as avidly as I accumulate tarots! If you're interested in some new bags (for anyone, of course, not just Logiatrix) myself & a couple of friends have been making some unique bags (well, we think so) for sale online. I know we're not meant to advertise here, so I'm not going to post the link here in this thread. If you want to see what's available, click on the website link at the bottom of my post, near the PM & all that. I hope I'm not out of turn telling you that they're available. We're just really proud of them & want to share. heh. :)

dolphingirl	18 Jul 2004
I just keep all of my tarot decks together in alphabetical order in a couple of drawers without a problem. If you feel that there might be a problem you could try wood tarot boxes for the couple of tarot decks that you feel shouldn't be kept together. Wood being a natura product would be a great alternative :) Samantha

Eco74	18 Jul 2004
Now that IS an appealing thought. Having two cabinets or chests to keep the cards in would solve the problem since the two decks only seem to be rubbing off on eachother but not having problems with any of the other decks. That and if need be individual wraps will be the solution. Thankyou all for sharing. :o) (On a sidenote I think I will also see if the decks actually might be getting along now. The irritation was present when I first got them packaged alongside oneanother in a box and being here, kept separate and both getting the energies of the place aswell as my appreciation, may well have resolved any problems they developed during transport..)

ferrous	18 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Eco74 Having two cabinets or chests to keep the cards in would solve the problem since the two decks only seem to be rubbing off on eachother but not having problems with any of the other decks. Bit of wishful thinking here, but imagine one of those gorgeous wooden 'tall boy' type sets of drawers with all those tiny little drawers in them, chockers full of lovely tarot decks. :) Quote: Originally posted by dolphingirl I just keep all of my tarot decks together in alphabetical order in a couple of drawers without a problem. Speaking of how you keep them in drawers, when you have more than one deck in the one drayer, do you keep them wrapped separately? I read somewhere that you shouldn't keep them held together with a rubber band. Anyone know why? I have a second deck now & it comes in a big box, so I've been keeping the cards held together with a rubber band until I make the perfect bag for it.

TaranRavenfrost	18 Jul 2004
I kept my RWS together with a band after I heard the "Dont put a deck back in its box" myth. I dont know why this is. Maybe the band bends the cards or something, IDK.

tao51	18 Jul 2004
Now I know the reason for several of my decks thrown off the shelf. Ah...incompatibility...or maybe sibling rivalry! Truthfully, I keep my decks on shelves is a corner hutch. It is a wonderful place to display them.--Tao

dolphingirl	18 Jul 2004
I don' t wrap any of my decks seperatly they are just one next to the other lined up in the drawers. I think each drawer I have holds probably about 50 decks. I also painted a cabinet for some of my decks that I use most often, I keep the cabinet in the room with my computer :) . If you would like to see it it is at http://home.comcast.net/~dolphin-daze/assets/images/sam5Sm.JPG http://home.comcast.net/~dolphin-daze/sam3.jpg Also you don't want to use a rubber band to hold cards together because the rubber degrades (rather quickly ) and will leave a brown stain on the cards where the rubber band touched them. Samantha

ferrous	18 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by dolphingirl I don' t wrap any of my decks seperatly they are just one next to the other lined up in the drawers. How do you stop them all sliding around & getting mixed up? Quote: Originally posted by dolphingirl I also painted a cabinet for some of my decks that I use most often, I keep the cabinet in the room with my computer :) . If you would like to see it it is at http://home.comcast.net/~dolphin-daze/assets/images/sam5Sm.JPG http://home.comcast.net/~dolphin-daze/sam3.jpg Ah yes, I've seen these before. Nice job. :) Quote: Originally posted by dolphingirl Also you don't want to use a rubber band to hold cards together because the rubber degrades (rather quickly ) and will leave a brown stain on the cards where the rubber band touched them. Thanks for the advice & explanation. :)

dolphingirl	18 Jul 2004
I keep all my decks in the orginal boxes that they come in from the store, if there a boxed set without an individual box for the deck I use a plastic bag that I found any my local Paper Zone stores that fits the decks really well. There really isn't any room for the decks to slide around in the drawer. They stand on end and I have them lined up from left to right.

Eco74	19 Jul 2004
Dolphingirl; That cabinet is lovely. And I must say I´m developing similar plans myself. Having a father who is handy with wood is indeed a good thing. Having a mother who is working with a glass-artist is another.. Must draw plans... *starts measuring and drawing in my head* Must also find the right image for the front of the cabinet, or possibly combine a few? *starts nearly drewling thinking of the beautiful images I could have but manages not to drewl out of consideration for potentially worried coworkers* On a sidenote (yes, another one) I still keep the decks in their original boxes. Too bad on the Fantastical deck where the cards and the LWB are sharing a space that seems just a little too narrow and have to be coaxed into the box each time I have taken it out. Will probably make a sachet for it so the LWB can be kept outside of the box leaving the deck room to roam free inside.

Xarokys	19 Jul 2004
I found a plastic, 8 drawer cabinet on wheels for my favorite decks. The drawers are about 2 1/2 inches high, and about 11 inches wide x 14 inches deep. The top is just big enough to lay out a five or six card spread. I can wheel it next to me when I'm using them, and when I'm done I just push it back against the wall. It fits loads of decks, and I can separate them according to type, Marseilles and historical in one drawer, Thoth and clones in anther, and so on. The top drawer is where I keep my journal and notebooks, pens, etc. I bought it at an office supply store. It was meant to hold paper but it's just great for storing decks. Looks good, too!

crystal cove	19 Jul 2004
FYI- Use a cloth covered pony tail holder instead of a rubber band. It won't damage the deck in any way. I've used them for 5 years and my cards are in great shape.

Little Baron	19 Jul 2004
Bit off of topic but ..... "The Phantasmagoric!!!!!!!". Another one falls under the spell of the big heads and yellow blob. Look forward to hearing how you get on with it. Has it arrived yet? There are many a post (one for each card I think) in the study group. Makes learning it so much easier. Didn't have that option when I got it. Best wishes Yaboot

Eco74	19 Jul 2004
There is the Montegna, Swedish Witch, Robin Wood and the Fantastical. Soon to be (if all goes well) also the Hanson-Roberts and the Phantasmagoric. See a pattern?? No seriously, do you?? Because if you do I really want you to tell me about it. I see none, except maybe for the link between the Robin Wood and Hanson-Roberts for the "happy people artwork".. Still no confirmation on shipping, but the orders have been seen and registered so there is hope... *crosses fingers, toes, arms, legs and eyes while trying to get the universe to help get the decks delivered asap*

Fulgour	07 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Eco74 Do you have any tips on how to keep the many various decks from getting on eachothers edges too much? I have plans on getting each a separate wrap, but am hesitant as to wether this will be enough if they are kept in a box or cabinet together. What I've done, or it sort of happened anyway, is created a Tarot Menagerie. After all, it's not just about the decks, and there's a whole world of collectible keepsakes out there. Sometimes I find myself on a Cosmic Easter Egg Hunt, dicovering the simplest things that add beauty and meaning to my life ~ almost anywhere you look, and Tarot is about visual impressions, there will appear a quiet treaure to enhance the (growing) area where you keep your decks. Also gifts, and things you make... ...oh, and right now, my Phantasmagoric is snuggled in-between Nigel Jackson and The World Spirit :laugh: :joke: :laugh:

Kiama	07 Aug 2004
I've never had any problems keeping my decks in the same drawers... Probably because I see them as just as inanimate and thus incapable of not getting on with their fellows, just as my clothes in my wardrobe are, or my books on my bookshelf, or my jars and boxes of food in my kitchen cupboards... I pretty much do the same as dolphingirl: decks lined up in rows in drawers, most in their original boxes. Blessings, Kiama

Emily	07 Aug 2004
I keep all of my decks in their original boxes and some in tarot bags in a glass fronted bookcase. The only problem i have now is that some of them are at the back and covered from view so sometimes I forget just how many and what decks i have. I do get them all out occasionally just to let them know I haven't really forgotten about them :D

Eco74	07 Aug 2004
All my decks seem to be getting along quite well now, and my plans for a cabinet have been drawn up (though are likely to change slitely) and will be taken to my dear father who has agreed to build it for me. Oh, I am such a lucky girl to have a father with a nack for carpentry, a wealth of good material to work from, and a passion for making things that are meant to last for a very very long time... It will be well made and should proove to be a good home for my decks. I'm also making bags for them all. Just have one finished yet, but soon there will be another, and another... And eventually they'll all have bags to match them. Handstiching is taking forever though so the trusty little sewingmachine might come into play at some point...

The Fer shame - Hail ye fellow collectors! thread was originally posted on 17 Jul 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.