Rituals for new tarot decks

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

sassygirl3124	22 Aug 2004
I was just wondering what everyone does when they get a brand new tarot deck and how they get to know this deck but more importantly what you do to get the deck to know you? For me I believe that the more you use a deck and the longer you have it the better the readings are going to be for you. When I get a new deck I like to first see if I am even going to connect with it and when I decide that I am going to connect with it, I like to shuffle it for awhile and look at the cards and get to know them I also like to leave it out of the box and put it somewhere, where I spend most of my time so that the cards can get my strongest energies. But like I said I was just curious what everybody else does when they get a new deck or if you even do anything at all. Julie

skh	22 Aug 2004
Free them, feel them, sniff them, look at them, shuffle them and sort again (or sort in the first place when they are in some weird order). Slowly look through the deck. Again. Compare with meanings in my head. Read LWB. Discard LWB (well, I keep them in a drawer in case I'll ever need them). Sniff, shuffle, look, repeat as needed.... I've only once done the Umbrae break-in (see http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/process_one.shtml ), with the german pocket Universal Waite which insisted on staying very slippery even after a few weeks. No special ritual, I'm a terribly pragmatic person. Most of the time. Sonja

anubis	23 Aug 2004
i have my own rituals... i connect my tarot to my physical form. i claimed i m the master when i bought it. i "cleanse" it with my blood.... u know, its pretty cool to paint some of you own blood on the scythe of the Death

full deck	23 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by skh Free them, feel them, sniff them, look at them, shuffle them and sort again (or sort in the first place when they are in some weird order). Slowly look through the deck. Again. Compare with meanings in my head. Read LWB. Discard LWB (well, I keep them in a drawer in case I'll ever need them). Sniff, shuffle, look, repeat as needed.... I've only once done the Umbrae break-in (see http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/process_one.shtml ), with the german pocket Universal Waite which insisted on staying very slippery even after a few weeks. No special ritual, I'm a terribly pragmatic person. Most of the time. That's like me, more or less. I like smelling the ink, if nothing else. I liked Umbrae's piece too.

liz926	23 Aug 2004
some may laugh but all three of my decks were blessed with holy water ,and i asked for good readings ! when i read my cards they seem to be very accurate . i have also cleared one deck of cards with insense . i guess its what feels comfortable oops by the way the deck i cleared was after about 6 months of using them . sorry didnt mean to change the topic

Original Destiny	24 Aug 2004
I guess I dont have a particular ritual, for me its the imagery that matters. If its a new deck that really differs from RW imagery I have to let the images speak to my sub-conscious. so its a case of familiarisation I suppose, getting used to the images so that i can easily translate the feelings and impressions generated during a reading into words

Thordia	24 Aug 2004
I'm a big fan of shuffling! When I get a deck I tend to shuffle them for ages- they always feel like they are 'mine' after I have had a good shuffle :)

Eco74	24 Aug 2004
I just feel them in. Find a quiet spot (though usually at the kitchen table while my SO is at home to answer the phone so I don't have to get interrupted) and open the package. Revel at every little detail. Bits of cardboard from the cornercuts falling out? Great, I gather them up in a pile for the time being. The plastic clinging to my fingers? Usually really annoying, but now kind of fun to try to dislodge while still holding the deck. Then, look through the images from start to finish. Then look through it again oohing and aahing through it all and checking out some of the cards a little more closely. Look through it again, maybe at a later time after replacing the deck in the box for a while and when I feel familiar with the cards, I shuffle and draw. :)

The 78th Fool	25 Aug 2004
I don't have any particular rituals but like Eco, I spend quite a lot of time just getting to know and taking pleasure from my new deck. I only buy a new deck now if I'm sure it's going to resonate with me. As such it's no effort and a lot of pleasure to acquaint myself with the new images. I often carry the new deck round the house with me and just leaf through them on impulse. It's better than a comfort blanket! Chris. xx

Moonbow*	25 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by The 78th Fool I often carry the new deck round the house with me and just leaf through them on impulse. It's better than a comfort blanket! Chris. xx Ohhh... so sweet! a Thothy instead of a blankey :)

The 78th Fool	25 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Moonbow* Ohhh... so sweet! a Thothy instead of a blankey :) Much more portable too!!

Gardener	26 Aug 2004
Hey 78th fool, I also carry my tarot decks around for comfort. I travel a lot so I always have at least one deck in my bag, usually my Victoria Regina but sometimes the Tarot of Prague. Or the Voyager. The Voyager has been great company while I wait through the line at Customs. I like the Tarot of Prague for traffic lights. I met up with Contrascarpe and Songdeva for lunch and neither of them had cards with them! I was shocked, shocked I tell you. They were too. Once they realized it, they got all twitchy and started casting covetous glances at my Prague. I got out of there quick!

skh	26 Aug 2004
I always carry my Thothy with me when I leave the house. ;) Sonja

skh	26 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by full deck I like smelling the ink, if nothing else. I've wondered if they add special solvents to make the first few readings with a new deck a bit "easier". The Liber T really smelled weird when I opened it. Sonja

sassygirl3124	26 Aug 2004
I don't know why but I love the smell of a new deck. Julie

WolfSpirit	26 Aug 2004
When I get a new deck I first check if all the cards are there. Then I can also have a glance at all the cards. When that is ok, I often put the cards aside, do whatever business I still have to do, then when I have more time I take the deck for a deeper acquaintance. What i often like to do is go through the deck and pick out the cards I like most or have a deep impact on me for some reason. If there is a book with the deck I will look through that as well. I don't use a deck for readings until I feel I know the deck well enough - I just go with my intuition for that. I don't have the deck with me all the time ;) but it is often at the back of my mind until I can get back to it and give it some more attention.

The Rituals for new tarot decks thread was originally posted on 22 Aug 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.