can you buy a deck for yourself??

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Gallagher&Stark	05 Mar 2005
Hi Everyone I have been told that you cannot or should not buy a deck for your own use but have it bought for you as a gift? Is this true because we are designing our own deck at the moment and would like to use it in the future. If the former arguement is preferable then I would have to get a friend to buy my own deck and give it to me as a gift?? Please advise Cheers all G&S

AmberWolf	05 Mar 2005
At the limit I can understand the value of a deck being a gift instead of flat out bought, but I do not abide to that as a rule. But to go as far as asking someone to buy a deck you designed and give it to you? No way! A deck you designed, worked on for how long, think how much of yourself you put on it. The time, the creative effort, the energy. Think of that deck as a gift to yourself. ;)

Fudugazi	05 Mar 2005
It's not true at all. Just old mumbo-jumbo. Good luck with the deck design!

Emily	05 Mar 2005
This always seems to be a question that is asked the most - I'm all for other people buying decks for me :D - but alas its never happened. Its not written in stone that your first deck has to be a gift - A first deck is special , I can remember the nerves and anticipation as I went for my first deck - it just wouldn't have been the same if someone else were purchasing it for me - plus its different for you because you're designing your deck. I've only ever had one deck gifted to me and that was the Diamond. It doesn't read any better because I didn't buy it but its special because it was given to me by a friend. This 'First deck must be bought for you' seems to have gone down in Tarot lore but it makes no difference to your relationship with the deck whether you bought it yourself or were gifted with it. Good luck with your deck. :)

Grizabella	05 Mar 2005
I think Miss Cleo started that rumor in hopes of keeping down the competition. Whoever started it, it seems like everyone has heard it. If it were true, then most of us here would never have gotten our first deck. :) I know I wouldn't have.

Khatruman	05 Mar 2005
And do you worry about breaking mirrors, stepping under ladders...ad nauseum? Seriously, trust you own instinct, not someone's silly rules.

Elektra	05 Mar 2005
Lyric wrote: If it were true, then most of us here would never have gotten our first deck. :) I know I wouldn't have. Total ditto. And the deck I bought myself (Gilded) reads way better for me than the one that I was gifted with (Dreaming in Color, which is actually an oracle so it's not a fair comparison...but the point is that I haven't had any trouble reading with my first self-purchased deck).

HudsonGray	05 Mar 2005
Forget the stupid superstitions and go on and design your own deck. When do we get to see pictures of it?

Rusty Neon	05 Mar 2005
If there is a rationale for the adage that one should be given a tarot deck rather than buying one, I think it lies in some people's idea that you need to learn tarot under a master's guidance. Thus, it would be the master that would give you the tarot deck. If that's the rationale, then there's really no distinction between your buying a deck yourself versus asking a friend or family member who isn't your tarot master to gift you a deck. For the record, I don't buy into the adage. In my view, you can buy your own first (and subsequent) decks. Would that the adage were true. Look at all the money I would have saved on decks. :) I wouldn't have even got my first one to get me started on my buying rampage.

Rosanne	05 Mar 2005
I did'nt even know that adage until I got a computer, so I had years of purchasing where my Heart went. I have been given a couple once anyone knew I collected. Would you even consider giving your work all away as Gifts? That would be a wrong option IMO. Remember a Labourer is worthy of his hire (in this case art work). I also would love to see your work. Regards Rosanne

Le_Corsair	05 Mar 2005
Maybe Solandia should provide an additional section in the FAQ, this one concerning questions just like this, which seem to come up weekly. Bob :THERM

Tsuzuki	05 Mar 2005
Consider it a gift from the Muse.

jmd	05 Mar 2005
It was probably true that even in the sixties, most people simply couldn't buy a deck for themselves - there wasn't one around in their local shop, and thus had to rely on somebody giving them one. It is likely that from such social constraints, it came to be said that if you wanted a deck, you would have to await that someone gave you one. This does not mean that one should not have bought oneself one if the opportunity arose. Likewise now. By all means, buy or design one for yourself!

Rusty Neon	05 Mar 2005
jmd wrote: It was probably true that even in the sixties, most people simply couldn't buy a deck for themselves - there wasn't one around in their local shop, and thus had to rely on somebody giving them one. I thought that by around the 1960s (in the USA, at least), tarot decks were available in occult shops locally.

SunChariot	05 Mar 2005
Gallagher&Stark wrote: Hi Everyone I have been told that you cannot or should not buy a deck for your own use but have it bought for you as a gift? Is this true because we are designing our own deck at the moment and would like to use it in the future. If the former arguement is preferable then I would have to get a friend to buy my own deck and give it to me as a gift?? Please advise Cheers all G&S The short answer is yes you can buy your own decks. :-) I have 9 decks now, all of which I have bought (online). They have all been amazing for me. I would never give any of them up. :-) On top of that I can only imagine that a deck you design yourself should work even better for you as it will be really in touch with your subconscious needs. Best of luck with it all, Bar

Major Tom	06 Mar 2005
Gallagher&Stark wrote: Is this true because we are designing our own deck at the moment and would like to use it in the future. There is actually no better way to both learn tarot and how to use tarot than to create your own tarot. ;) Now anyone is welcome to disagree with that view. :laugh: You're doing the best you can. Allow me to share the lyrics of my current favorite song: If you believe we've got a picture perfect plan. We've got you fooled. We're only doing the best we can. 'Cause sometimes we make it. And sometimes we fake it. But you know each and every day We figure it out on the way.

AmberWolf	06 Mar 2005
SunChariot wrote: On top of that I can only imagine that a deck you design yourself should work even better for you as it will be really in touch with your subconscious needs. Exactly, you expressed what I meant better than I did.

Elektra	06 Mar 2005
Rusty Neon wrote: I thought that by around the 1960s (in the USA, at least), tarot decks were available in occult shops locally. I read in another AT thread that tarot decks were illegal in Connecticut until the early 80s. Not sure how true it is, but thought I'd throw it out there.

WalesWoman	06 Mar 2005
If I had waited until someone gave me a deck, I would still be trying to figure out how to get more Karma coins at tarot.com and not have a clue about reading at all.

Raven Reed	07 Mar 2005
I bought my deck because I didn't trust anyone else to get the right one. I am VERY picky.

Clau	07 Mar 2005
But OF COURSE you can buy your own deck! There are millions of superstitions about tarot and its culture. You can follow them or follow your own intutition, it would work exaclty the same. belssings, Clau Great luck on your deck creation!

Majecot	07 Mar 2005
Yes yes yes!! Gift yourself!! If you look at my profile...you will see that I have gifted myelf quite a lote :D

The can you buy a deck for yourself?? thread was originally posted on 05 Mar 2005 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.