How do you choose a deck from which to read?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Elven	15 Mar 2005
Hi all , This is sort of an off shoot from the post "How often do the deck you use flavour your reading". I was posting that I will sometimes ask a querant to choose a deck from which I will do the reading for them. I was interested to know if you do this or have tried this, and do you think it adds (or influences) anything to the substance of the reading? Maybe you do under certain circumstances or you dont and wont do it at all. I'm really curious to know how you feel about this method of choosing card decks. Thanks so much Elven x

snowy25	15 Mar 2005
Hi Elven, I can only speak for myself in this. My friends know wich decks I can do readings with. They can pick any of them they like. On the internet I chuse a deck myself. This because I have to explane it and have to post a list what makes me feel uncomfertable. I think you do learn different things with each deck. And I sertanly would influance the question and awnser by a deck of my choice. But I would do this to get closer to the querrent during the time I read for him/ her not for the outcome. I would do this so the 'energy'of the reading is more focused and combined between the two of us, thruw the cards towards the querrent. I like it when the person i read for is comfertable and when I am all focused and ready to interact. i'm curiouce too how others opinions are about your question. Love and light Snowy

Ahria	15 Mar 2005
I usually choose the deck, and its usually the deck that sort of pops into my head when I am thinking about doing a reading. Or it depends on the personality of the deck.

Keslynn	15 Mar 2005
When I'm reading "professionally" I take 3 decks with me and allow the client to choose which of those they'd like to use. I prefer people to at least be able to have artwork that they like. At first, people might be a little uncomfortable and always want to know if it makes a difference in the reading. After I assure them that it doesn't, they're usually quite comfortable flipping through the cards and choosing. :) Kes

psychic sue	15 Mar 2005
I only use 2 decks, and I choose which one I'm going to use just prior to the reading, using intuition. I ordered a Thoth deck recently and I just could not get on with it. I didn't like the art work, and it felt like a very "dark" deck to me. Of course, other people love it. Once again, I think it's just personal preference. Sue x

Elven	15 Mar 2005
I find it amazing how people react to a collection of different decks if they have a choice to pick one for their reading. The question that Kesslyns clients ask I find is quite common. I read from home and provide a selection of about 7 decks to choose from. Sometimes each deck is looked over to a great degree, other times the opposite - 'That one 'll do' type response. Each deck I find 'fits' the person. Just adding some notes to what I've noticed too. Elven x

Eco74	15 Mar 2005
Sofar, I've not offered a choice of decks but rather chosen on my own. Going by feel has given me good results sofar and I believe that if I ever get to the point of in-person-readings I'll take a few decks with me to choose from or to let the querent choose from. Usually I go by the tone of the querent, the theme of the question and then a deck "presents itself" in my mind.

Dave's Angel	27 Mar 2005
I own three decks, I suppose really you could say two: A Rider Waite, a mini Rider Waite, and a Thoth. Like you psychic sue, I just cannot get on with the Thoth deck for readings. As interesting as it is for study, I find it just too intuitive. When I'm sat with the book next to me and read the meanings I can see it in the card, but I can't just look at the card and extract that meaning. What counts for me is that I have a notion of the general meanings of each card, and when I'm looking at decks on sale (and at this site!) if I can't see these meanings present in the pictures on different decks then I'm not interested in having them from a reading point of view. Sometimes when I've done a reading with the RW though, and it might be a bit fuzzy on some cards, I'll take the corresponding card from the Thoth deck and see if the two cards together can shed any light on the subject. Now here's a funny one for you - my RWs are like a newspaper. But I struggle with my mini RWs that are EXACTLY the same, just smaller. Do I have a "one-deck-fetish", or do I just need an optician??

Ahria	27 Mar 2005
The one that pops into my mind...

Hawks_girl_dove	28 Mar 2005
I have over 2 dozen decks now. Some i have strictly for their art. I dont res with them. My favorite to read for myself is the Goddess deck. It is also a good deck that i use when reading for close FEMALE friends. It doesnt give a very good reading for men, unless the man in particular is gay. (Just my own experience with it...wonder if others have also found this to be true?) The decks i like to use for other people who i don't know real well are: Spiral Tarot, New Palladinni, Robin Wood, and the Morgan Greere, Tarot of the Cat People ....I think are Ryder based decks. I learned on the Rider deck years ago....so its just easier for me to read other decks that use that as its base in their artwork. the funny thing is....The Taort of the Cat People was given to me a few years ago. I absolutely HATE the artwork. It is so... not me! Too dark, and just.....i dunno. Anyway, the thing i dont understand about it......It gives really great readings! Anyone else have a deck they dont find asthetically apealing that gives them great reads too? If so, why would a deck, one doesnt really like, give such great readings? When reading for others.i generally let them choose a deck that they feel comfortable with.....from a stack of decks i am comfortable reading with. I think that their comfort level with a given deck, will help the to relax, and make for a smoother reading, and flow of energy.

Moongold	28 Mar 2005
I know some decks better than others and have deliberately set out to be comfortable with them. You discover new things in cards every day and I've found it helpful to know some decks quite well so you become very fluent with them It's like knowing language well. The better you know the language the better you can use it in any situation. So it is often a fairly quick decision about which to use. However, sometimes I have felt that a particular deck would be better for a querent or a question. That is always a matter of judgment. I have 26 decks and have read with every one but the Pythagorean and to be honest, I'll probably never read with this one. The people for whom I read don't know Tarot that well and generally prefer me to make the choice. Moongold

Elven	28 Mar 2005
Hi Hawkes Girl Dove, that is such a good observation and so true. I have a deck called the Astro Tarot which has written meanings on it - I find this distracting, and I find that clients are straining their knecks to do their own interpretation of the reading. I almost have to poke them off the table with a big stick (LOL just kidding), but Ive got to say this deck gives a good clean easy reading. I use it sometimes to clarify an exhaustive reading, but I dont offer it as one for the client to choose from. I keep it hidden in my personal stash cabinet. I also dont offer my Visconti-Sforza deck - only to people I know like friends or clients who need a very serious reading. Usually they choose a Thoth to start with. Some decks I only resonate with at certain times and then I have no trouble reading with them at all. Other times I am totally unispired and may not use them for years and years. Daves Angel and Psychic Sue, Ive got to agree on the Thoth deck. It has taken me ages to adjust to this after my first teacher told me I shouldnt read with it. She forgot to put the word 'yet' at the end of the sentence. My cousin is quite different - it was the first deck she ever got and reads like a breeze with it. I love the idea of different decks and different readings from them. The way they interpret a client so personally, and Hey - if it feels like the right deck - then it is! And you have the freewill to change your mind anyway if its not working out. Its all so adjustable. Just some more thoughts Thanks everyone Keep posting!!! Elven x

The How do you choose a deck from which to read? thread was originally posted on 15 Mar 2005 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.