Tarot deck overload

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kittaine	21 Jul 2004
Did you guys ever want like 3 or 5 decks all at the same time and bought all of them at once? Well...I did just that, and...O_O I never spent so much money under 60 seconds in my entire life. My tarot cravings are coming back and in a big way. I not only bought decks for myself, I bought some for my friends, which I'm actually happy about. It's my own cravings that worry me. I have the Osho Zen and the Tarot of the Saints right now, and I want to study both of them so badly. But I can't seem to find the time. Sigh...I know those decks are always gonna be there when I find the time to study them, but...I don't know. I feel like I'm having a tarot overload. So many decks I want to study, so little time. O_O

aneski	21 Jul 2004
See, you have validated your purchases by buying for others! ;) I'm trying so hard to wait and buy more decks and just concentrate on what I have. It's just so damn easy to buy off of Aecletic!

Eco74	21 Jul 2004
I've slitely come to my senses though.. but only slitely. Two decks are ordered but not delivered, I'm learning one deck while evolving with a second, finding daily draws in a third and feeling slitely guilty for leaving the fourth in a box without doing anything with it for ever so long.. However will it end. For now though, I've decided to stick with the soon to be 6 decks until I can atleast use 2 of them "freely" and have learned to atleast understand the rest. By then though my wishlist will probably be verrrry long indeed. But I'll have time to save up some wish-funds too so I should be okay... *s*

Majecot	21 Jul 2004
Oh Kittaine.. I know exactly what you mean.. I go in spurts.. I always have my old faithfuls, but when I see those pretty new decks.. and smell that new deck smell.. I think I have purchased at least three decks at once.. one for me and one for my best friends birthday, and one for my niece.... oh and I did the same at Christmas too... (my bad...sigh)

morandia	21 Jul 2004
there's no such thing as overload!!! .............. must......... buy............. more............ hehe.. I really do need to at least shift into neutral on buying and get acquainted with what I have..... I only have 2 more on order at the moment.... (got 2 in 3 days ago, and 1 more the week before that.....)

Aun	21 Jul 2004
I just bought 3 decks and 2 books in the same shot on Amazon... My wife usually goes ballistic with my shopping sprees, but its the best investment of my spare money :cool:

13thFaeChylde	21 Jul 2004
I bought 3 decks in one fell swoop a week ago, but two of them were for my children, so that can't count against me!! So what if I keep their decks on my shelf...it's the only way they'll be safe and protected. ;)

Galiana	21 Jul 2004
I have three decks on my wish list. I will probably purchase two of them at the same time when one of them is released, which should be pretty soon.

Tarot Sparrow	21 Jul 2004
I know exactly how you feel! My wishlist is so long, but I'm trying to stay calm and study what I have. The fact that I don't get to use the decks I have very often is enough to keep me from buying too many too fast.

tao51	22 Jul 2004
but sometimes it is just too difficult! I have several decks--I refuse to count. They all are used in the process of a week. My favorite decks several times daily. I have one rule in buying a deck. If it doesn't feel right--don't buy it! Fortunately, many feel just right! I really want each deck to be important to me. I have not reached an overload--yet!--Tao

VGimlet	22 Jul 2004
Yes. I was doing so well, sticking to my plan of buying only 1-2 decks a month, and not getting crazy or impulse buying. Until this month. I got seven decks this month! Plus another deck for my anniversary! Aghhhh! Granted, two of the decks were for the collection, not for reading, and one is for my upcoming "Year of the Marseille Tarot". See how I can rationalize? :eek:

TheLovers2	22 Jul 2004
VGimlet: Seven in one purchase or was it seven in a month? My goodness. To each and everyone - YES! YES! YES! Ok. Do you ever say, "After this one, I'll definitely cool out for a while. I just have to have - (say, the Golden) and I know that will be it. I'll be satisfied - I have lots of decks; I really don't need more. I will just use and study the ones I have -- I need to spend more time with the decks I already have, like my Secret Tarot - hey, that's an interesting deck and I've really been meaning to explore it. I really do have some very nice decks -- what about my World Spirit and I really haven't done anything with my Old English - such a calming deck - I need to do a Reading with it. Yes, I really do have enough after I get the Golden." (Got the Golden) "Wow! OH THIS IS IT! (moved practically to tears just looking through it) "I'm in love. Oh, I am soooo glad I got this deck! I knew it - yes, yes, yes. I'm content now. Ok." (Two weeks later) "That Tarot of Prague is truly fascinating -- no, really. I've seen every card online and it really does move me. What a truly special deck -- I love the colors -- no really -- I DO LIKE A LOT OF COLOR." (Thinking of purchasing it) Said in a contemplative, especially serious tone, "You know what I like? It's very eclectic; I mean the cards are not styled the same throughout the deck. It's very interesting to me. Now, this could be my favorite deck. This really will be it for a long time. I can't think of anything else that I want. Afterall, I do refuse some decks. I wanted the Parrot AND I DIDN'T GET THAT." (feeling pleased with myself) So, there! This will be it. There's only one deck that I know of that I might want later; it's not even published yet and I wouldn't need it right away anyway." (Got the Tarot of Prague) "Wow! NOW THIS REALLY IS IT. Ok. I knew it would be like this. I'm happy." (Looking through the deck) I knew it - yes, yes, yes! I am so glad I got this deck . . . Ok . . ." infinitum. MAYBE WE ALL NEED AN INTERVENTION. You know, well meaning, obviously, non-Tarot types who couldn't begin to understand, to sit us down and say to us, "We're getting just a little concerned about you. We're only saying this to you because we care," as you sit there, decks spilling out of your lap all over the place. You know it's really bad, if you have to start hiding them from your loved ones - stashing them here and there, where you think no one will look. Not that I do . . . I'm just saying, "That would really be bad." Anyway . . . it's all a mystery to me. I know there are people out there with just one deck, ok, maybe two (I can't even write one deck) but, I don't know what those people do. I would consider that person an anomaly. I would want to sit them in an interrogation room with one flourescent light above their head. "OK, YOU WILL TELL ME HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THIS?" Just kidding. I'd be more likely to have them over for coffee (a one or two deck person probably doesn't even drink coffee - but, I digress) and we would relax on the sofa and after I served them some sort of pastry and they're feeling all comfy, I'd say, "SPILL IT! WHAT'S YOUR SECRET - I NEED TO KNOW!" Ok . . . ok . . . I'm alright now . . . ok . . . TL2

magpie9	22 Jul 2004
OMYGAWDIjustboughtanotherone!! My poor mailman is staggering up the walk to the mailbox again....it's been going on for a month. There's practicaly nothing left on my wish list...(well, maybe I could rethink that a little)...practicaly nothing Immediatly Pressing. It's probably a bad sign that I don't feel (horribly) guilty.....I'll get to know them all eventually. I only have 2 (maybe3?) more I want to get this week.. please don't tell my family, they'll Do Something About It. I'm knee-deep and Unrepentent! :D :D :D The very good news is that none of us is alone in this, AND we can trade off the ones that don't work out !! Thus continuing the supply of New Decks without spending any more Valuable Money. I figure it may be possible to acquire decks AND buy groceries. :D

TheLovers2	23 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by magpie9 OMYGAWDIjustboughtanotherone!! It's probably a bad sign that I don't feel (horribly) guilty.....I'll get to know them all eventually. I only have 2 (maybe3?) more I want to get this week.. :D :D :D Magpie9: THIS WEEK??!!!! Just breathe slowly, Magpie . . in . . . and . . . out . . . in . . . out . . . in . . . Very bad. :D TL2

magpie9	23 Jul 2004
*blush* well, I kinda figured I'd reform NEXT week....I can stop anytime, really. I know I'll stop next week, or possibly this weekend.....especially if I go grocery shopping soon... :D There's this wonderful poem that goes: "When I am old I shall wear purple with a red hat that dosen't go..." one of the verses is about spending money: "And I shall spend the butter money on white gloves, and you'll eat three pounds of sausage at one go".... Perhaps it is just that I have entered, all unaware, into the state of absolute freedom ? Sort of like a retired Ballet Dancer who has gotten fat and jolly and exceedingly happy? But yes, TL2, I will take some nice deep breaths now, nice and slow, lovely deep breaths. thank you for the idea, I'm sure it will help. :)

linabeet	23 Jul 2004
Dangerous combination: A little spare time. A little depression. Free access to Ebay. One has arrived, 2 are on the way. Justifications can smooth them all in my mind; cheap, useful, historic, pretty... But really, it's just the pleasurable vice of consumerism. At least I'm not shopping at the Gap.

Kittaine	23 Jul 2004
WAHAHAHHAHAH!!!!!! :D I laughed my arse off reading your post. That's not my pattern of buying though. Mine's more like--*WOOOOSH!* "I want more decks! More! More! More! And I'll study all of them and I'll be smarter and wiser and better and whooo it'll be so fun!" Seven decks later...the Tarot of the Saints sits there unopened. The Osho Zen is lying in the shelf, opened and explored, but largely ignored. Papers are scattered all over the place--school work. Cards are on your reading table...your older decks which you've taken to using since you want to study your newer decks at a "special" time. Of course that special time rarely comes, or gets delayed. And then you've just bought 5 more new decks and they'll be arriving next month. Hopefully by that time you've at least studied the Osho Zen and the Tarot of the Saints...*Hopefully*... Quote: Originally posted by TheLovers2 Ok. Do you ever say, "After this one, I'll definitely cool out for a while. I just have to have - (say, the Golden) and I know that will be it. I'll be satisfied - I have lots of decks; I really don't need more. I will just use and study the ones I have -- I need to spend more time with the decks I already have, like my Secret Tarot - hey, that's an interesting deck and I've really been meaning to explore it. I really do have some very nice decks -- what about my World Spirit and I really haven't done anything with my Old English - such a calming deck - I need to do a Reading with it. Yes, I really do have enough after I get the Golden." (Got the Golden) "Wow! OH THIS IS IT! (moved practically to tears just looking through it) "I'm in love. Oh, I am soooo glad I got this deck! I knew it - yes, yes, yes. I'm content now. Ok." (Two weeks later) "That Tarot of Prague is truly fascinating -- no, really. I've seen every card online and it really does move me. What a truly special deck -- I love the colors -- no really -- I DO LIKE A LOT OF COLOR." (Thinking of purchasing it) Said in a contemplative, especially serious tone, "You know what I like? It's very eclectic; I mean the cards are not styled the same throughout the deck. It's very interesting to me. Now, this could be my favorite deck. This really will be it for a long time. I can't think of anything else that I want. Afterall, I do refuse some decks. I wanted the Parrot AND I DIDN'T GET THAT." (feeling pleased with myself) So, there! This will be it. There's only one deck that I know of that I might want later; it's not even published yet and I wouldn't need it right away anyway."

magpie9	23 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by linabeet Dangerous combination: A little spare time. A little depression. Free access to Ebay. One has arrived, 2 are on the way. Justifications can smooth them all in my mind; cheap, useful, historic, pretty... But really, it's just the pleasurable vice of consumerism. LOL! Good one, linabeet :D Personally, I think the ebay addiction (at least in my case) is supported by our long-time human ancestreal hunter/gatherer behavior. I mean, it's genetic, a survival skill. and ebay feeds into it, bigtime!! do you think so?

tao51	23 Jul 2004
PREORDERS!!!! Wow! Now that is so much fun! Will it ever stop? Or will I live in a house of cards!!!! LOL!!!--Tao

Eco74	23 Jul 2004
What does coffee have to do with tarot-overloads??? I am quickly turning into a tarot-junkie and i NEVER drink coffee. Do you think there might be something wrong with me? As far as the coffee goes I mean.. Collecting tarot-decks is as normal as anything, but _Not Drinking Coffee_??? Gee, I wonder if I need to be reprogrammed... *Starts looking around for suspicious men i white robes wielding coffepots*

tao51	24 Jul 2004
Sometimes coffee may help keep me awake to find more tarot cards. Sniff!--breathe deeply--ahhhh-That tarot high!! Now how can that--sniff-ah-be that bad!--Tao

Emily	24 Jul 2004
It took me a long time to actually find 'the one' (which is now two decks lol) - the Morgan Greer and the Golden (Kat Black). The thing is the buying of tarot decks doesn't stop when you have found the ones that you could work with forever. I find I buy decks now because they catch my interest or because I think they would be a welcome addition to my collection. Since finding my 'ones' I have added at least 6, maybe more, decks to my collection - 3 of which I will probably never read with - one of these, the Liber T, I still can't get a feel for. I have now gone a while, well a month, without buying a deck or decks and even though I want to order another Golden - I can say that I have no decks on my wishlist and none have caught my eye so for the time being my collection is complete. :) (Now just have to make sure I don't go the Amazon or Alida or Somerville sites :)

LadyMedusa	24 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by TheLovers2 You know it's really bad, if you have to start hiding them from your loved ones - stashing them here and there, where you think no one will look. . . . TL2 I have around 50 decks. They and my books take up 4 of 5 shelves on a 6ft x 3 1/2 ft x 1 ft bookcase. My hubby collects NASCAR diecasts and related stuff. His collection takes up a room that is 12 ft x 20 ft x 8ft. Including the posters on the ceiling. What's wrong with this picture????? LadyMedusa

jema	24 Jul 2004
I once sent my mother off with money and a list when she went to stockholm and she got back with about 6 or 7 decks. The odd thing is that today I don't have any one of them left. I didn't like any of them. I think it was due to overload. I just could not focus on one deck at a time and in the end I traded all of them away over a period of a year. I went through a lot of tarotdecks a while there and when I checked adlibris decks, a swedish on-line store, I found that I either owned or had owned 90% of them. New decks are fun, but these days I prefer to get just one or two at a time and not 7.

Kittaine	25 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by jema I once sent my mother off with money and a list when she went to stockholm and she got back with about 6 or 7 decks. The odd thing is that today I don't have any one of them left. I didn't like any of them. I think it was due to overload. I just could not focus on one deck at a time and in the end I traded all of them away over a period of a year. WOW! I hope that won't happen to my new decks! Hm...maybe you just didn't have enough time to get to know your new decks better? When I first got Vargo's Gothic, I wouldn't even look at it even though it was the only new one I got. But about 2 months later, it became my study deck! Odd. Too bad about what happened to those 7 decks of yours. :( Oh yeah...I just bought another deck....... :( I don't know what's happening to me. Is it the depression? *sigh*...If we were filthy rich, I wouldn't be worried. But with the crisis and all...*gasp* I'm seriously addicted to tarot!

Kittaine	25 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Emily It took me a long time to actually find 'the one' (which is now two decks lol) - the Morgan Greer and the Golden (Kat Black). The thing is the buying of tarot decks doesn't stop when you have found the ones that you could work with forever. Emily, I wonder when or IF I'll ever find the ONE...? :( I hope one of the new decks I've ordered will be IT, so that I'll just stop buying! :( Btw, Emily, how many decks do ya have?

Emily	25 Jul 2004
Hi Kittaine, I think about 35 decks now but most of them have been read with, some bought on a whim but all sort of called to me :) - its the artwork that seems to attract me now. I learnt with the Original Rider Waite although my first deck was a 1JJ Swiss and its the Rider Waite symbolism I can read with best. I try to experiment with other type decks, the Quest, Haindl, Crows Magick etc, -decks that are not traditional but I always seem to go back to the Rider Waite symbolism. Then I found the Morgan Greer, I could read from this deck straight from the box, no learning of new systems - just adding on the new symbolism to what I already know because the artwork is slightly different in the Morgan Greer - The Golden is the same, its very easy to read with and the artwork is beautiful to look at but some of the symbolism is changed so it just adds to what I already know. These decks are very easy to read with and these two are the one's I've been looking for. :)

Alta	25 Jul 2004
I can generally read with most of my decks. Some have been mistakes so serious that I couldn't get rid of them fast enough, but generally I enjoy having a selection for a particular reading.

Emily	25 Jul 2004
Actually I forgot lol - In my post up there I've put that I haven't bought any new decks for around a month. Well not strictly true :D - i bought the Tarot of Mermaids last week on holiday - but it is a deck i intend using and not just looking at. :)

The Tarot deck overload thread was originally posted on 21 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.