Which deck for "live" sitters?

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

tmgrl2	21 Nov 2004
Now that I have started reading for "live" sitters (LOL...not as opposed to "dead" ones)....I wondered after a bit of a PM chat with a friend here, How do you all decide which deck to use when you offer readings? Right now, I am using the Hadar Tarot de Marseille. I am wondering, though, if I should have several or more of my favorite decks available when I do a reading, perhaps fanning them slightly with images up and asking my sitter to choose a deck? If I did that, I would bring my Hadar, my Gilded Tarot, Radiant Rider Waite, Morgan Greer, Camoin, perhaps a Bruegel and maybe my Medieval Scapini Tarot. Maybe that would be too many? I don't know. Just thinking out loud. So far, I have only used the one deck that I happened to be carrying with me. I know some people have said here in the past that they bring them in bags and have the sitter pick the bag, not knowing which deck was inside. So, fellow readers...how do you choose? terri

HudsonGray	21 Nov 2004
Offering choices is good. But I've found that offering more than 3 choices to people (in whatever circumstance) makes them bog down quite a bit and things drag out longer than they need to while they decide. 6 or 7 may be too many decks.

Moonbow*	21 Nov 2004
Hi Terri I don't have experience with live sitters (just friends - but live ones!) but if I put myself in the sittters place I think I would like a choice of a few. Some with pictures and some without may be a good idea, although I kind of think that the client is expecting something like a Marseilles deck.

Cielo	21 Nov 2004
I usually read from the deck I feel most connected to that the time of the reading. Sometimes that would be a traditional deck such as the RWS and at other times something like my beloved Osho Zen....depends on the mood, I guess....but usually I carry 2-3 different decks around with me....could be interesting to ask people to choose for a change....never even thought about that before :). I also think that there probably shouldn't be too many to choose from so as not to destract from the reading itself.

Keslynn	21 Nov 2004
I offer clients a choice of 3 decks. The two I always bring that get a good reception are the Spiral and the Gilded. I switch up which is the third, but right now, it's Morgan-Greer. Before it's been the World Spirit or the Fey. Some insane people actually thought that the Fey looked scary! :( I show them the actual deck and even let them flip through it if they want. :) Kes

tmgrl2	21 Nov 2004
Cielo wrote: I usually read from the deck I feel most connected to that the time of the reading. This is what I have been doing Cielo! Welcome! I do agree 6-7 may be too many. It seems that certain decks call to me at certain times for me to read with them. terri

tmgrl2	21 Nov 2004
Moonbow* wrote: Hi Terri I don't have experience with live sitters (just friends - but live ones!) but if I put myself in the sittters place I think I would like a choice of a few. Some with pictures and some without may be a good idea, although I kind of think that the client is expecting something like a Marseilles deck. So far, no one I have read for has seen anything but a traditional RWS type deck. A few have had readings done with regular playing cards. I also noticed this at the psychic fair I went to this year...in fall. There were about a dozen readers in one room and all of them, except the one who used the regular playing cards, seemed to have a RWS deck. This surprised me, Moonbow. I thought I might see something other than the Universal RWS.... In fact, the first "different"one that I saw a reader use was the Morgan Greer, which I immediately had to have. It is now my "dark" deck or my "deep" deck. I know just when I feel like using it. terri

DarkElectric	21 Nov 2004
I offer my readers a choice too, but I've gotten pretty good as to being able to determine which decks to offer them the choice from. I read with a lot of different decks, and someone who would go for, say, the Rohrig would be less inclined to dig Hanson Roberts, for example. So I would offer them a choice between the Rohrig, Cosmic Tribe, or Thoth. I also find that "timid about tarot" clients tend to choose the Connolly. I read at fairs, and occasionally I'll be asked to read for kids, like 10 or 11 years old. I've discovered that the Celtic Dragon is the best one there. I haven't met a kid yet who didn't love dragons (me included). The decks my clients choose most, are: Spiral, Voyager,Sacred Circle,and Connolly.

tmgrl2	21 Nov 2004
Thanks, DE. The only deck you mentioned that I own is the Sacred Circle. I haven't read with it at all, just looked at it. I think I may bring more than three with me...but based on who the person is, choose three for them to select from. I like that idea. That way, I get to intuit something right from the start about which three decks to pull out for them to look at and choose. terri

Lurea	21 Nov 2004
I just got the Spiral deck in yesterday, and it gives me a nice warm feeling to read these positive comments about it. ;) (There are people who think the Fey are scary?!) Wow. So tell us, tmgrl2, how did you get hooked up with 'live' (as opposed to the non-live :D ) sitters? Apologies if the story is in another thread somewhere...

TemperanceAngel	22 Nov 2004
Whatever deck you feel comfortable with terri! I have used the same deck for 15 years (that's a fib actually it had a two year break). I incorporate other decks as I please, I always get my client to choose from an Oracle deck at the end, it basically confirms all that has been said and brings a bit of light in for them :)

tmgrl2	22 Nov 2004
Lurea_aure wrote: I just got the Spiral deck in yesterday, and it gives me a nice warm feeling to read these positive comments about it. ;) (There are people who think the Fey are scary?!) Wow. So tell us, tmgrl2, how did you get hooked up with 'live' (as opposed to the non-live :D ) sitters? Apologies if the story is in another thread somewhere... There are a couple of threads I started but many by others. If I have a chance later today, I'll do a search and PM you... terri

Majecot	22 Nov 2004
Terri.. I read with what ever strikes my fancy.. I say use what ever you feel comfortable reading with. I like a variety of decks too, I used to use my old stand by Arthurian or Rohrig for live readings...(I am better with Rohrig, I am not as up on Arthurian ledgend as I thought when I first bought it...hehe) But then I switched to Quest for a while..now I use my new favorite Druidcraft, even though I have only done a couple of live readings with this deck.. I feel pretty comfortable with it. To have a choice is nice.. but I leave the choice up to me.. not them (since I am the one reading them). Sopmetimes I think it depends too on the person you read for.

DeLani	22 Nov 2004
I don't let the client choose - I choose for them. I usually bring 3 decks: 1. The Nigel Jackson - this is my "safe" deck, for use with little old ladies or others who might get spooked by any "weird" or "dark" imagery. 2. The Osho Zen. I like using this one a lot, and will use it with anyone who either shows some sort of bent toward Eastern Mysticism, artists, or just open-minded types. Sort of my default (of course I live in a pretty hippy-fied city). 3. World Spirit. For open-minded people, but who might "get lost" with the Osho Zen. So that's how I do it. Think about the 2 or 3 types of people you most deal with, and bring a deck for each.

tmgrl2	22 Nov 2004
Lurea_aure wrote: So tell us, tmgrl2, how did you get hooked up with 'live' (as opposed to the non-live :D ) sitters? Apologies if the story is in another thread somewhere... \ Basically, I put out the word to people I work with, people in our community and handed them a flyer and ....in they came. I'm just beginning. terri

tmgrl2	22 Nov 2004
DeLani, I have done that...except my "basic" decks are the ones I mentioned in the opening post of the thread. Certainly they have to be decks we have worked with somewhat, although I do run in moods where I want to only use Tarot de Marseille and then, Morgan Greer.... It depends. terri

Lurea	23 Nov 2004
tmgrl2 wrote: Basically, I put out the word to people I work with, people in our community and handed them a flyer and ....in they came. I'm just beginning. Whoah. I salute you. I wish I could be that courageous. I wish you all success and happiness!

The Which deck for "live" sitters? thread was originally posted on 21 Nov 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.