What is enabling? / How do you know a deck works for you?

[Kgirl]

Originally Posted by Sinduction

I found my "one" deck but I still have others. I don't like other people touching my "precious!"

I also have a crap deck that I leave in my purse. I don't care if it gets dirty or creased as it is easily replaceable and I hate it anyways. Then I have others that I like to look at but don't use that often.

A lot of times I can't tell if a deck is readable unless I sit down and use it a few times. It helps if I spend some time just looking through it. This just happened to me last week the the Legacy of the Divine. I hadn't used it at all and then decided to try it out and it works just fine for me. I always start by looking at as many images as I can find before I commit to buy. Or I pop into the enabling thread and ask about it.

It's really something I don't know until the deck is in my hands. I think all decks are readable but I don't want to look at images that are not pleasing to my eyes.

Hi Sinduction! Yes I don't think I'd like anybody using my cards either.

Thank you for your insight. I think my approach will be to connect with the artwork, read the enabling threads and then hope that once its in my hands, like you said, I will connect with it.

Thank you all again for indulging my very newbie questions!

[Kgirl]

Originally Posted by firefrost

There's no easy way, unfortunately. If you think a deck is beautiful, then all I can say is that that is the main reason for those of us who aren't collectors to buy the deck. I think the majority of us have been through the deck buying frenzy looking for the one, hence the trading forum, but it rarely happens that we find it. Most readers have a few favourites.

In my own personal experience, I got rid of the decks that just made me feel cold when I tried to use them.

Thanks so much firefrost. That is the one thing that worries me with Mary-el ... I love the look of that deck but I also feel a little bit cold about it. So I think I will check out the enabling thread and suss it out. I would hate to get a deck and then I can't relate to it.

[closrapexa]

I have found my "one" (for several years now and at least for the foreseeable future) but I actually like people handling my cards, it makes the cards feel more friendly, and removes the forbidding aura of mystique some people equate with reading cards. Of course, I don't let people riffle-shuffle, but apart from that people are usually respectful and treat them gently. I'm very monogamous when it comes to decks, and in more than seventeen years of reading, the collection, if it can be called that, that I have amassed consists of about seven decks, five of which I rarely use, one I use sometimes and the Thoth I carry around with me everywhere.

Choosing a deck also depends on your style and "what you want to get out of it." I for example, discovered the Thoth a few years ago and decided I wanted to know everything about it. Sure, it gives great readings, but it is also a vast spiritual encyclopedia, a map of a spiritual journey. This is not to say that it cannot be read inuitively, the artwork is breathtaking, but everyone`s needs are different (in fact, I love it so much, it is practically always my default recommendation for any reader), but the Thoth does let you start simply, and reach whatever heights you wish with it, especially if you are interested in the Mary-el, which is based on the Thoth.

[Kgirl]

Originally Posted by closrapexa

I have found my "one" (for several years now and at least for the foreseeable future) but I actually like people handling my cards, it makes the cards feel more friendly, and removes the forbidding aura of mystique some people equate with reading cards. Of course, I don't let people riffle-shuffle, but apart from that people are usually respectful and treat them gently. I'm very monogamous when it comes to decks, and in more than seventeen years of reading, the collection, if it can be called that, that I have amassed consists of about seven decks, five of which I rarely use, one I use sometimes and the Thoth I carry around with me everywhere.

Choosing a deck also depends on your style and "what you want to get out of it." I for example, discovered the Thoth a few years ago and decided I wanted to know everything about it. Sure, it gives great readings, but it is also a vast spiritual encyclopedia, a map of a spiritual journey. This is not to say that it cannot be read inuitively, the artwork is breathtaking, but everyone`s needs are different (in fact, I love it so much, it is practically always my default recommendation for any reader), but the Thoth does let you start simply, and reach whatever heights you wish with it, especially if you are interested in the Mary-el, which is based on the Thoth.

Thanks so much closrapexa ... that's fascinating. Yes I've been thinking I can't avoid the Thoth deck!

[Masa]

Originally Posted by Kgirl

I would hate to get a deck and then I can't relate to it.

No worries--all that means is you have something to trade with!

[Kgirl]

Originally Posted by Masa

No worries--all that means is you have something to trade with!

LOL very true!

[merissa_88]

Originally Posted by SunChariot

For what it' s worth, and opintions vary on this, I don't beleive in "the one" that there is one Tarot deck that can meet all your needs. I have 114 decks now I believe and I use each and every one.
Babs

Wow! That is inspiring, 114 decks! And that you use them all. I think it takes time to get to know decks and some you want to know better than others. And this forum taught me that one deck can't do everything. I had an oracle deck for 5 years that was all I used before I joined AT. I thought it did everything but I was wrong. It's been fun finding that out.

Deck of the Week group is fantastic.

[Dan181]

I have bought quite a few decks, this year alone. I was a "one deck" person before I bought my second and third deck. I bought them in a new age store for almost sixty dollars. However, I was able to buy four more decks from amazon for the same price. It seems cheaper to buy off amazon if you getting two or more decks. Shipping is free over a certain amount and they are a few dollar less than the retail price. Anyway. I have been using certain decks for specific reading, related to the deck's theme. I have been testing a "the card of the day, with commentary" by using differant decks for each postion. I have also been triying this with the celtic cross and the three card "past, present, and future" with intresting results.

[Dan181]

I have bought quite a few decks, this year alone. I was a "one deck" person before I bought my second and third deck. I bought them in a new age store for almost sixty dollars. However, I was able to buy four more decks from amazon for the same price. It seems cheaper to buy off amazon if you getting two or more decks. Shipping is free over a certain amount and they are a few dollar less than the retail price. Anyway. I have been using certain decks for specific reading, related to the deck's theme. I have been testing a "the card of the day, with commentary" by using differant decks for each postion. I have also been triying this with the celtic cross and the three card "past, present, and future" with intresting results.

[Kgirl]

Originally Posted by Dan181

I have bought quite a few decks, this year alone. I was a "one deck" person before I bought my second and third deck. I bought them in a new age store for almost sixty dollars. However, I was able to buy four more decks from amazon for the same price. It seems cheaper to buy off amazon if you getting two or more decks. Shipping is free over a certain amount and they are a few dollar less than the retail price. Anyway. I have been using certain decks for specific reading, related to the deck's theme. I have been testing a "the card of the day, with commentary" by using differant decks for each postion. I have also been triying this with the celtic cross and the three card "past, present, and future" with intresting results.

Thanks Dan

Yes I noticed you can buy from Amazon and it helps the site so that's an incentive too

That's actually a great idea to 'test' a deck ... doing a card of the day on each of them.

Thank you for your insight