Reading with two decks...together!

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

lunakasha	21 Mar 2004
I just did a reading, using a variation on the Celtic Cross spread, except that there were two cards placed in each position. I decided to try something different, something I had not considered before: I used two different decks in my reading, placing one card from each deck in all 7 positions! I was very surprised at how nicely the cards complemented each other, even though they are very different decks...I was able to read each card separately, and then together for each position. On a more shallow note.....I was AMAZED at how beautiful the cards looked, all laid out together! As different as the decks seemed initially, when I saw them laid out together it was almost as if they were "meant" to be there....side by side! Question: Has anyone else done a reading with two or more decks??? If so, what was your experience, pros and cons.... Which decks did you use, and what kind of spread(s)? Finally....if you have never tried it, but would consider it, which decks would you put together....and why??? :D Luna

lunakasha	21 Mar 2004
OK.....I should start by answering my own questions, right? :P For my reading, I used the GOLDEN Tarot (Kat Black) and Madame Endora's Fortune Cards (Christine Filipak). Now, I know what you're going to say: how can you combine a tarot deck with a non-tarot, fortune-telling deck???? YIKES!!!!! :eek: *gasp* Well, it didn't seem all that strange to me, but then again I am pretty open-minded when it comes to oracle or non-tarot decks, and I realize that there are those who prefer using tarot cards only, which is fine. I just felt compelled to use these two together....(I have my reasons;) ). And, for me, it worked! I would advise people to do whatever feels right to you....how can you go wrong, really? :P The spread I used was borrowed from a dear friend; I actually used a significator card from the Endora deck to represent my "half-man/half-beast" friend....;) Then I shuffled both decks--separately--cut each deck, and dealt them to the seven positions of the spread: Golden on the left and Endora on the right.... And I think that is enough information for now.... :) Luna

Nevada	21 Mar 2004
Lunakasha, I've been experimenting with doing this two different ways: 1. Draw the cards from one deck and then select those same cards from another deck for comparison. 2. Draw two cards for each position randomly from two different decks. The first method just helps me see a wider range of possibilities for each card. The second adds a lot more depth to the reading, raising it, in a sense, from one dimension to another. It gives me a broader perspective, and opens up the range of what the querent can expect or is experiencing. I find both methods helpful, but I'm most intrigued with the second, and I plan to do more of these readings. Some combinations I've tried so far: Goddess Tarot / Thoth Tarot of Transformation / Voyager Notice these decks that I've paired are quite different from each other. I think this is what gives this method its depth, the contrast between the decks. If you were to use two different RWS clones, you wouldn't get the same kind of synergy between the cards. The one drawback to this is that it takes longer to interpret, at least for me. If I were being paid to read, I would want to take that additional time and effort into account. For that reason I keep my spreads fairly simple, but I do seem to want to go for more cards for what I consider a "big" question with many ramifications. I also tend to want to design my own spreads as I go along. :) I've seen others here at Aeclectic draw from one deck for a portion of a spread, and from another deck for another portion or for a second, clarifying spread. I plan to try that as well. Nevada

Imagemaker	21 Mar 2004
I've done a few of these double-deck readings where I used separate draws for one position with, for example, World Spirit/Victoria Regina together or Inner Child/Rider Waite. All RWS decks, but with different enough images to give interesting new combinations for messages. As others have said, the 2 cards in one position seem to complement each other amazingly well. I'm experimenting with other combinations of decks.

jema	21 Mar 2004
Yes, I often read like this, it is called "comparative" readings and is really useful. Some of my fave decks to use this way are Thoth/Gill, Gill/RW, Spirit/Spiral. I usually like to have the decks play off each other with their symbolism wich is why I prefer not to use two decks that are too similar.

DesertHowler	21 Mar 2004
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18359 This is the first time I've included a link. I hope this works. I use the Universal Rider Waite and the Osho Zen (my favorite deck) DesertHowler

jema	21 Mar 2004
another link http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3343&highlight=comparative oh and there is even a Comparative Tarot deck on the market:) I don't have that one though since it uses decks I don't really care for that much.

lunakasha	21 Mar 2004
Thanks for the links, DesertHowler and jema! :D Very interesting....I agree with everyone who said that using different decks (as opposed to very similar ones) will be more interesting to compare, and does add another dimension to the reading. This is what I found in my first "two-decker" reading.... Great stuff....hoping to hear from others who have tried this, or would like to... :D Luna

tmgrl2	21 Mar 2004
Firemaiden just did one for lunalafey that was pretty amazing...7 decks I think... I typed in the URL but it didn't come out...called "A Voyage to Somewhere with Luna... read by firemaiden terri

contrascarpe	21 Mar 2004
Hi Lunakasha - I think I had a thread going somewhere where I asked a similar question. I do not think it odd to combine readings from a Tarot and a non-Tarot oracle. I have been doing readings where I pull one of my Soul Cards to get a general idea of the situation, then use my Tarot for the reading proper. As you said, go with what works with you. Dan

ros	21 Mar 2004
I am going to try this later also. A few years ago I put two same size RWS decks together & did a fifteen card spread to see if I got any repeat cards. Also the reverse cards I pulled another card. At the end you can have a nice large reading. Thanks for this idea with two different decks.

firemaiden	21 Mar 2004
I used seven decks in a seven position spread in A voyage to SOMEWHERE with Luna. I used the Bruegel tarot and the Tarot of Prague side by side for Umbrae Hears a Who. I used the Celtic Tarot (lo scarabeo) and the Crystal Tarot (lo scarabeo) side-by-side for zorya through the looking glass. I'm working on a reading now that puts the Leonardo Tarot and the Crystal side by side. I really like using contrasting decks. In the last example, one deck is almost in black and white, and the other is in vibrant colour. I love to see the correspondances between cards when you line them up side by side. It's fun, fun, fun, and brings a whole new dimension. :)

lunakasha	21 Mar 2004
YES firemaiden....I remember that now! LOL....I remember that it was very interesting to compare and contrast the cards the way you did...especially posting links so we could see some of them... It is definitely FUN to look at different cards together--especially, as you mentioned, the "opposite"-looking cards.... I am sure the Leonardo and Crystal will be a GREAT combination...will you be posting that reading???? :) Luna

firemaiden	21 Mar 2004
Yes, LOL, soon! (maybe tomorrow)

tmgrl2	21 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden I used seven decks in a seven position spread in A voyage to SOMEWHERE with Luna . I used the Bruegel tarot and the Tarot of Prague side by side for Umbrae Hears a Who. I used the Celtic Tarot (lo scarabeo) and the Crystal Tarot (lo scarabeo) side-by-side for zorya through the looking glass. I'm working on a reading now that puts the Leonardo Tarot and the Crystal side by side. I really like using contrasting decks. In the last example, one deck is almost in black and white, and the other is in vibrant colour. I love to see the correspondances between cards when you line them up side by side. It's fun, fun, fun, and brings a whole new dimension. :) thanks, fm...I had trouble...typed in URL and came up "page expired" ...so now we have several good links to read these multiple deck readings...terri

lunakasha	21 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by ros I am going to try this later also. A few years ago I put two same size RWS decks together & did a fifteen card spread to see if I got any repeat cards. Also the reverse cards I pulled another card. At the end you can have a nice large reading. Thanks for this idea with two different decks. That sounds interesting too...shuffling two decks together and then dealing them out randomly to see which cards come up! I did condider doing that...just for a moment;)...because both of the decks I used happen to be very close in size...not exactly the same, but close enough that you could shuffle them together....maybe someday! :P :) Luna

Ravenswing	22 Mar 2004
well... I guess this idea springs forth out of being a tarotaholic (insert your favorite term here). One deck'll remind you of that one -- or this one--- or maybe like that, but only a bit... And if you've got enough decks, two of them have GOT to be the same size. :laugh: While I was designing the tarot of the four worlds with Laurel (oh to only be able to finish that one!!! :( ), I used four decks for 'inspiration'. the Thoth from the east, the rws from the south, the deva from the west, and robin wood from the north. I set them out this way on my altar with a blank piece of canvas paper cut in the shape of a hexagon in the center. Worked for me. fly well raven

The Reading with two decks...together! thread was originally posted on 21 Mar 2004 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.