Using different decks

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Pipistrelle	27 Mar 2005
The "What's your favourite tarot card?" thread has just had me looking through my four favourite decks: the Crystal, Morgan Greer, Sakki-Sakki and Thoth. Apart from trimming the borders off my Thoth this weekend, I have not looked at any other deck since I got the Morgan-Greer (as I'm studying it). However, looking through these other decks has really made me want to use them again, but I don't do many readings. I know people here have many more decks than I do, so how do you get round to using them all (or at least your favourites) and stop them from just gathering dust? Pip

snowy25	27 Mar 2005
I think it's personal choice. I often buy more decks then I can study but for readings with my decks I took it one deck at the time. If I've studied the whole deck I try to do the readings only with that one for a while. In the mean time I get a notebook for that deck only and make notes on every card. This whole process can take months, a half year even because I don't study on it every day. When the process is over the deck becomes one of my regulairs if I like it or a colectors deck if it doesn't work for me. (the last thing doesn't happen very much.) But this is just my path with the tarot. It can be differend by others. Love and light Snowy25

daveyboy	27 Mar 2005
Hi there, I have quite a few :) during a reading as I sometimes read for groups of people i'll ask them which deck they prefer. Normally people prefer this one: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/celtic-2/ The morgan greer deck, as they think it is a bit too dark. The Celtic ones look friendlyer. This is the other deck that gets a rollout - depending upon what the enquirer wants: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/mythic/ I've not had chance to give the guilded ones a go yet. I also have some Marsellie ones that are only for me to use. I let the enquirer pick the cards to use as I want them to be able to understand the images on the cards as well as the information from them. (It's empahsises points sometimes). Dave

firemaiden	27 Mar 2005
Well, I love variety. I used to have all my decks in an upright shoe-box on my desk, and I would try to use a new deck (or bunch of decks, cause I like tod do multiple deck readings) for each reading. Now I don't have my own space, but when I do, I think I'll put them back up within easy reach. (Although its getting harder, I have about 45 decks, now, LOL).

bassetized	27 Mar 2005
I use the comparative tarot method for studying. So I may look at the High Priestess card in 20 or 30 decks, over time, and see how each one deepens my base knowledge (I learned on RWS). I take notes on cards that represent different important aspects of the card for me. I store scans of those cards in a file so I can pull them up all at once. I don't have all the cards done yet--not even close--and I work on them as they come up in important readings, not in order. When I get a new deck, I do my daily card draws from that deck for a moon cycle. At the end of that time, I have a pretty good idea how I'm going to relate to a deck...or not. I have some decks that I never read with and may never, but I read with most of them some of the time. I have decks I use for different purposes--I don't use the same deck for spiritual questions as for physical ones, and I have decks I find particularly useful for unconscious or shadow aspects of a situation. I also try and have decks that represent each element. I have a few that seem to give good readings across the board. Sorry for the rambling... :) --bassetized

seneris	27 Mar 2005
I've done a few readings where I used another deck alongside my Rider-Waite. When I had drawn my cards I looked up the same cards from another deck and placed them next to the corresponding ones. It's a way to get more depth in a reading (and to see how much an image can differ from one deck to another) I haven't studied all the decks that I have yet, but it's a start.

daveyboy	27 Mar 2005
I sometimes show people pictures from other decks, although I understand the cards and can explain the images. It's always nice to go for the ahhh I c factor :) Not meaning to sound funny but: http://www.tarotmoon.com/CP2_Wands_8.gif Compared to: http://www.taroscopes.com/originalriderwaite/minor-thumbnails/8-wands_2.jpg Mebe it's easier for someone you are reading for to understand the top one? Dave

bassetized	27 Mar 2005
To build on what daveyboy and seneris said, Jeannette came up with a method that uses the same cards from two decks to show differences in perspective that two people might have about the same issue. I've tried it several times and it's really helpful. It's the Rosetta Stone Method, if you're interested, thread [thread]37988[/thread]. --bassetized BTW, daveyboy, I love that first 2Wands you posted. :)

Pipistrelle	28 Mar 2005
Thanks for your replies everyone. I know it was a bit of a silly question but I also was curious how everyone keeps up with all their decks. I can be very impatient sometimes and getting to know a deck is a slow process. But your replies have convinced me (or at least reminded me) that there are no rules about these things. I don't HAVE to stick to the Morgan-Greer until I know every card inside out, and if I want to do a reading with the Sakki-Sakki then I probably should etc. I'm quite happy to take my time over something, but I also like to dip into things here and there so I shouldn't restrict myself either. Anyway, now I've put all four decks out on my desk and as I only read for myself at the moment, I can be the querent and pick the deck I want :) Thanks for the link to the Rosetta Stone Method bassetized - it looks like a really interesting way to do a reading. I bet the best bit is deciding which deck the other person is most like! I'll have to try it sometime. Anyway, I'm off to do a reading for the coming week...after I've decided which deck to use ;) Pip

Scorpion	28 Mar 2005
I've also offered querents a choice of cards and it seems to work quite well - I think they feel more "involved" if they have a choice. It can be a bit time-consuming, of course, as they dither between this deck and that - and then choose the one you were hoping they wouldn't because you don't feel quite in tune with that one today! I used to have the Nefertari and while I loved the look of it, I found it incredibly hard to read with - all the gold foil did absolutely nothing for me when I was trying to interpret for others. I took it out with me one day and needless to say, querent after querent chose it. I ended up putting it away because I really wasn't enjoying the readings. On an everyday level, I keep at least one deck in my desk at work and pull three cards from it daily. At the moment, this is the Bosch. I'm probably due for a change. I'm doing a 12 month spread for a friend using the Fantastical. My ReVISIONed travels everywhere with me for on-the-spot readings for others - just one card gives me enough for the next 2-3 months. The Portal is my meditation deck and other decks will come out from time to time. It's like discovering an old friend when I delve into their box and ferret through to see which "feels right" at the time.

daveyboy	28 Mar 2005
It's rather a bit whooshy isn't it? I have a couple of really nice ones in some other decks. One with neptune (I think) thrashing through the sea with a bunch of wands on his back. If you are going to give someone a choice try and keep at it 2 decks no any more. Otherwise they do spend all day. Dave

SunChariot	28 Mar 2005
Pipistrelle wrote: The "What's your favourite tarot card?" thread has just had me looking through my four favourite decks: the Crystal, Morgan Greer, Sakki-Sakki and Thoth. Apart from trimming the borders off my Thoth this weekend, I have not looked at any other deck since I got the Morgan-Greer (as I'm studying it). However, looking through these other decks has really made me want to use them again, but I don't do many readings. I know people here have many more decks than I do, so how do you get round to using them all (or at least your favourites) and stop them from just gathering dust? Pip Well, I know people have a lot more than I do too. I have one mini one I carry in my purse to play with, AND 8 "real" decks. In this order: 1) The Haindl Tarot 2) The Ancestral Path Tarot 3) The Wheel of Change Tarot 4) The Goddess Tarot 5) Madame Endora's Fortune cards (really an oracle deck) 6) The Lover's Path Tarot 7) The AC Thoth Tarot 8) The Gendron Tarot (and my mini Tarot Art Nouveau) I keep all eight of the decks that I use on my table that I read on, in their pouches. I try to use them each equally, as if they are children who might get jealous of each other. :-) Also seems to keep things more balances as they all have somewhat different lessons to teach. Basically, after I have used a deck a number of times, I get to know its distinct personaity. I even went so far to write down each's particular characteristics. E.g. my Goddess deck is my confidence building deck, the Ancestral Path is good for issues about my past and issues that starting with my family/ancestors.... Then when I get ready to do a reading, I pick the deck best suited to the question. For a love -related question, I would use the Lover's path, questions about my childhood....the Ancestral Path....questions about an area I don't feel confident enough about--the Goddess deck.... Hope this helps, Bar

Pipistrelle	29 Mar 2005
Thanks SunChariot - what you and others have said about choosing the deck that "suits" the reading or question is interesting. It's made me realise that I haven't really thought about the qualities of each of my decks...it would probably help me if I could get a proper "feel" for each deck and it's style. But I suppose that's something that comes over time, after you've used a deck for a while and most of mine are sadly under-used ;) I was also intrigued by what bassetized said about decks that are connected with elements (there was more of this in the Rosetta Stone Method link). I'd never heard of that before (believing that each deck covered all the elements equally) but it's something to think about. I don't know at the moment what my decks would be. Although, off the top of my head, I'm thinking the Thoth is probably air. :) Pip

ThePlayerOfGames	03 Apr 2005
Interesting topic, I was actually thinking on this myself at the moment as I'm fairly new to the tarot and am learning three decks at the same time in order to give myself a better overview of the cards (now I've covered the very basic meanings). I'm finding each deck has a very distinct feel to it and I'm wavering towards certainly for myself picking the deck which best suits the question. For other people it's different and I think it's nicer if they pick the deck as they pick one which they feel in tune with although there were some relevant points made earlier which I fully agree with: using a deck you aren't resonating with is horrible as a reader, letting them pick can take a while but I think whilst I only own three it's a good number and just turn the top cards over for the querent to look at. I'm not sure how I'd work things if I got a huge collection of decks but at the moment I'm only planning on one more and that will be for myself only. Interested in hearing how people with a large collection of decks work round that and read with all of them? I think for the moment after letting someone pick and having them pick out the gilded tarot (which I sometimes have real objections to depending on my mood) convinced me to just pick the deck I feel best suits the question. It may be my lack of experience but reading with a deck you aren't vibing with is just not worth the small amount of extra involvement from letting someone pick a deck. Regards

The Using different decks thread was originally posted on 27 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.