where to put your tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Mad Dragon	15 Apr 2002
I once read you must wrap your tarotgame in a silk towel so evil spirits can't touch it. Is this true and is it bad if I don't do it? Does it affect my cards? So far all my predictions have come true and the cards really help me. What is the best way to treat your tarotgame?

sarahenglish	15 Apr 2002
Mad Dragon, From what I have read here at Aeclectic, the answer is what ever you are comfortable with. My decks are luxuriating in their velvet lined bags that I made for them! They seem very happy to me! :)

Diana	15 Apr 2002
edited

Original Destiny	15 Apr 2002
I treat my cards with respect..I keepthem in an assortment of boxes given to me by my daughter and my partner..I keep my Sacred Rose deck in a Jack Daniel's tin...Do what you feel is right :TFOOL

slinky_jo	16 Apr 2002
Tell ya what - go to an ethnic shop, like an Indian Emporium, and you buy cheaply purchase wonderful little silk bags, made of beautiful sari bags - very cheap, and very pretty. Or go to a fabric shop, and look at their "off ends" (scraps of material left) - you might find some nice fabric there to wrap your cards in, or to make into a bag to hold them. ...just ideas :D

Nightwalker	16 Apr 2002
Right now I'm keep my decks in their original boxes, if they came with one. Then I put these into a small plain white tin box that has a handle on it. I picked this up at a craft store and will decorate as inspiration strikes. Right now I have put some stickers of lilacs on it as these are my favorite flowers. And like everybody else has said treat them with respect. Nightwalker

Liliana	16 Apr 2002
Mine have their own bags and are hanging off a decorative metal thing that has 5 hooks and has moons and stars on it. Except for the 3 (cry) decks I cant find :P

Menmay	19 Apr 2002
Hi I love my cards and I want them to be happy! So I keep them wraped up in a nice black velvet sack. They love it there but Im going to buy them a scarf with dragons on it!!! Just like everyone elese has said do what you feel is right for your cards. =) Menmay

fairyhedgehog	20 Apr 2002
I keep my decks in their boxes, but I keep the Little White Books (LWB) separately, as they are too squashed in the box. I have three silk scarves I use to lay the cards on - they make a nice plain background instead of the floral material of my quilt. (I usually lay out the cards on my bed.) I wrap one box in each silk scarf - they all look nice and snug. I also have a new wash bag/makeup bag in glorious purple and gold that I was given for my birthday. It's just the right size for a tarot box, so I can take a deck out with me :) The deck/book sets didn't come with a proper box, so I got cotton tarot bags from a company called 'tarot totes' - lovely bags with silver or gold designs on them. I don't believe in 'treating the cards with respect' for any superstitious reason. But they cost a lot of money, so I don't want them damaged. And looking after them is part of the fun :) All the best, FH

cjtarot	20 Apr 2002
hi all I keep my decks in the bags I make and sell. The latest Guess what I learned is embossed velvet.. I have my main deck in a dark purple velvet bag with a butterfly (transformation complete). I love Lilian's idea: Mine have their own bags and are hanging off a decorative metal thing that has 5 hooks and has moons and stars on it. I think I'll try it. MY biggest problem is when I get a new deck, I won't even shuffle it until I have found the PERFECT material for a bag for it. cj "the bag lady"

owen glendower	20 Apr 2002
The storage and care of your cards should reflect your own private ritual. As your cards become attuned to your personal energy it is only important to keep them in a manner that you are comfortable with,boxes bags, etc.. It is only a technique to maintain the positive energy that you have given the cards.Remember as Andy Kauffman said "It is only ignorant superstition,and meaningless ritual,that separates us from the lower beasts."I keep my cards in a variety of bags boxes,and other such things. what ever seems right.

Bings	20 Apr 2002
Sense I'm an avid sewer I have a huge container of scrap material. When I'm going to make a tarot bag for myself or a friend I will sit down with the cards and the container of scraps and let the cards pick the material. Most have chosen something cotton, light and breathable. One deck choose to have a bag made out of a piece of deer suede that was given to me by a friend who hunts. It was truely a magnificant piece of suede that I was saving for "that something special". My Sacred Circle deck screamed for a bag made out of it. Listen closely and the cards will tell you what they want as a home. Dianne

Emily	21 Apr 2002
I try to keep my decks in their original boxes then either inside wooden boxes or tarot bags. My new Celtic Dragon came in a large box with its book and a white cardboard box bigger than the deck so, the first time I've done this, I've wrapped the cards in a piece of cotton cloth (burnt orange, light brown, autumn colours really) and then keep them inside the white box. This works for now but I really prefer them to fit snuggly in their boxes. lol :)

Lion-O	21 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Mad Dragon I once read you must wrap your tarotgame in a silk towel so evil spirits can't touch it. Is this true and is it bad if I don't do it? Well, many have already answered this and I agree with most things being said, still would also like to add something ;) Its not about how you package your cards; its how you treat them. From all the things I've read so far some people indeed keep their cards out of their original boxes (most aren't that fancy anyway) and put them into something else. A self made bag or a wooden box or... You name it and I guess its being used. But storage isn't the key factor here; you store your cards as best as you can. IMO its about respect; you respect the cards, either being a major factor themselves or simply a 'medium', and thus make sure they're well protected from harm. That is the main issue. As long as you're happy with the way your cards are stored and have confidence in they way they are protected then thats good enough. The silk bags and all mostly originate (from what I've read) from respect. You respect the cards and thus store them in a very luxe way. That way, every time go grab the bag, you immediatly feel that you're holding something special. I like the idea myself but I somehow don't like the idea of wrapping them and/or 'bagging' them :)

Sorceress_Jade	28 Apr 2002
I ended up using scraps as well, from a cloak that I had just finished making. Wool, they're neat. I actually made one bag before I purchased the deck that fits inside. It was way way to big, and then when i bought this deck i kept thinking... why did i buy such a huge deck i can't shuffle this.... but it fit into that mis-made bag perfectly. I was ment to have that deck. On one, I beaded the case to match the back of the cards. The care and thought that you put into storage reflects your caring toward the deck. I think that silk was probably the mode of choice because of it's luxurient rarity. Choose something that seems special to you. http://www.geocities.com/sorceress_jade/cards.html to see them :)

Summerdream	28 Apr 2002
Hi! I purchase all my tarot totes from a website called Tarot Totes. The link is www.tarottotes.com The bags are gorgeous and very well made. They are all mostly around $5 too. They have a search engine where you can type in what deck you have and it will list the matching bags. The personal service is excellant and they will reiki energy on your bags for no additional cost. Bravo to all those that make their own bags; however I'm not a seamstress.

Phoenix	28 Apr 2002
I usually keep mine in their original boxes. I wish I could make the stuff from Tarot totes. I think that I just might try my hand at making a bag or spread cloth, or something.

Mad Dragon	30 Apr 2002
Thanks everyone for your tips! I've decided to make my own bags, but what is the best way to make them? (I'm not very good with a needle) Mad Dragon

kayne	30 Apr 2002
I'm not so great with a needle either Mad Dragon... but I worked it out :D I used the sleave from an old black velvet shirt which my friend was chucking away... I chopped it off, sowed up one end and hemmed the other - perfect! I use a little string of beads to tie it up... I love it! :)

wavebreaker	30 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Mad Dragon I've decided to make my own bags, but what is the best way to make them? (I'm not very good with a needle) ' Neither am I, so I've decided to try and make one using crochet, which I am quite good at. I'm halfway through the first one and it's actually quite nice, if I may say so myself... ;-)

Dagda	30 Apr 2002
I keep my decks in wooden boxes and tarot bags, made and purchased. I wrap my decks in my "laycloths" that match the bags or silk scarves. They all seem quite happy. There are a couple decks I keep in the original boxes, but those are decks I don't read from.

Wishcrafter	01 May 2002
Greetings, Momof 3girls I just wanted to give you a Great Big Thank You, for the link to Tarot totes. ......and to think I almost did'nt check it out because I thought they would be 12.00 or more.If I'd try to make them it would end up being so much more, of course I'd want the most costly fabic. ( Leo ) lol. Now my decks can have themed bag to match their personalities. We thank you. I have 3 boys myself. Blessings & Gratitude, Wishcrafter

The where to put your tarot thread was originally posted on 15 Apr 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.