Calcifer
Silk pocket squares ? Try this place - it is where I get mine:
http://royalsilkusa.com/index.html
Michael
http://royalsilkusa.com/index.html
Michael
Deck Protection
Tanga
"Deck Protection"
I do all the usual to keep them in pristine condition for as long as possible - clean hands, cleans surfaces, handling with care, etc. Storage ultimately is in two plain sealed plastic boxes under my bed (so the cat can't sleep on them or chew them!) - except that half of them mostly end up sitting on the shelf behind my bed for easy access as I fiddle about with them daily.
Specific 'protection' I would say is just the act of putting them away with care - a ritual of 'completion' in my head. They go back inside their box (If they still have one - I've found it's better keeping them in their original box as this prevents them from warping), I wrap the box in a piece of silk/cotton or whatever pretty material I chose for them at the time, then place this lump in a bag of some sort. The bags vary from fancy satin ones with designs on to fluffy children's pencil cases or toilet bags. All this rigmarole I originally did by rote - as 'read about or advised' when I first started out studying all this.
However, as has been wonderfully stated by Grizabella - the cards are just the tool - the beautiful bridge that fires your imagination and facilitates your connection with 'The Great Beyond'.
I'm not so much for the idea that objects pick up negative energy. More that it's all in your mind and nervous system - as a 'sensitive' you will 'tune in' to the magnetic fields of others
and 'take on' - or not, what they carry with them. It's up to you to discover if you need to create a personal ritual to help 'shut yourself off' from this sort of thing.
I've always liked the idea of a sage smudging ritual - but I don't like the smell.
And, my mother is asthmatic and lives with me so I have to be careful with scent.
For energy space clearing rituals - I usually use sound. Either with my tibetan brass bowl, or a rattle or small altar bell (I even have a small gong. I only use that when no-ones in the house or I'd never hear the end-of-it about the noise). Or quite simply singing and/or clapping in each corner of the room. ... And so I figure if I thought I needed a tarot deck clearing ritual - it would be with sound. Or - I'd default to a magic circle, as I'm Wiccan and magic circles are all-the-rage for us.
I do all the usual to keep them in pristine condition for as long as possible - clean hands, cleans surfaces, handling with care, etc. Storage ultimately is in two plain sealed plastic boxes under my bed (so the cat can't sleep on them or chew them!) - except that half of them mostly end up sitting on the shelf behind my bed for easy access as I fiddle about with them daily.
Specific 'protection' I would say is just the act of putting them away with care - a ritual of 'completion' in my head. They go back inside their box (If they still have one - I've found it's better keeping them in their original box as this prevents them from warping), I wrap the box in a piece of silk/cotton or whatever pretty material I chose for them at the time, then place this lump in a bag of some sort. The bags vary from fancy satin ones with designs on to fluffy children's pencil cases or toilet bags. All this rigmarole I originally did by rote - as 'read about or advised' when I first started out studying all this.
However, as has been wonderfully stated by Grizabella - the cards are just the tool - the beautiful bridge that fires your imagination and facilitates your connection with 'The Great Beyond'.
I'm not so much for the idea that objects pick up negative energy. More that it's all in your mind and nervous system - as a 'sensitive' you will 'tune in' to the magnetic fields of others
and 'take on' - or not, what they carry with them. It's up to you to discover if you need to create a personal ritual to help 'shut yourself off' from this sort of thing.
I've always liked the idea of a sage smudging ritual - but I don't like the smell.
And, my mother is asthmatic and lives with me so I have to be careful with scent.
For energy space clearing rituals - I usually use sound. Either with my tibetan brass bowl, or a rattle or small altar bell (I even have a small gong. I only use that when no-ones in the house or I'd never hear the end-of-it about the noise). Or quite simply singing and/or clapping in each corner of the room. ... And so I figure if I thought I needed a tarot deck clearing ritual - it would be with sound. Or - I'd default to a magic circle, as I'm Wiccan and magic circles are all-the-rage for us.
agviz
Lots of selection, thanks!
tarotbear
A 16" x 16" hemmed silk pocket square for $12 is very inexpensive.
seven stars
The buckskin bag Grizabella made for Gregory - I LOVE THAT. When I "sew" bags, I do a similar design with the fold-over flap - it's not the same pattern, but I really do like her pattern. Love the idea of doing it in buckskin, too - I usually use a polyester that feels like velvet, or velvet - anything super soft.
Of course, I also keep decks in the zippered padded pouches that I make & sell on Etsy & my website - the reason I like those, are because there is room in the bags for them to move around, it's easy & quick to get the cards in & out, and I have so many decks that it's nice to have a lot of uniform, all-alike pouches - it just looks more professional I think - & I can tell which deck is in which pouch quickly & easily because the picture of the deck is printed on each pouch.
I also do use the reading matts. This is no different than why they use matts in casinos - because placing the cards on a hard or rough surface for years over & over will eventually scratch them. And I never have liked reading clothes - they wrinkle & blow away & they're just "in the way".
Regarding protection of the decks with waterproof cardstock: Although these decks are 100% PVC & completely safe around drinks & water, they're not indestructible. I have found that over time, they're similar to having plastic lenses in your glasses - if you take care of them they're fine, but they'll never last as long as "glass" lenses because they will eventually get scratched up from use. They will also bend & crease if you bend them & crease them, and you can't leave them in a hot car or near extreme heat - they'll melt. I recommend storing them in a pouch. I don't like boxes unless they're fabric lined.
Other protection rules of mine: I don't let anyone set a drink of any kind on my table when I'm reading. I quite often & where space permits have two tables, a little one and the reading table & I have people set their drinks on the little one.
Another is that this new "thing" people seem to be doing where they throw their cards all over the room - I think it's like, casting bones but with Tarot cards - I don't like that. It makes me cringe every time I see someone do that. I would never do that. I know WHY they're doing it & I like that idea but not with tarot "cards". I have lost too many cards over the years & dropping decks on the floor puts me in a panic. I just yesterday, however, bought all the materials to try to make a miniature tarot deck on little planks of wood, the idea being, you could cast them like you cast bones & they'd be smaller & more manageable than a large deck of cards over a large surface. I'm not entirely sure where I'll end up going with this project, I'll let you know.
I don't do anything consciously or ritually to "protect" my decks other than to have good intentions, which of course is what the route to hell is paved with. Sometimes I do put gemstones with them, & I treat them with respect as in, I have them nicely placed at home, & I don't throw them around.
Of course, I also keep decks in the zippered padded pouches that I make & sell on Etsy & my website - the reason I like those, are because there is room in the bags for them to move around, it's easy & quick to get the cards in & out, and I have so many decks that it's nice to have a lot of uniform, all-alike pouches - it just looks more professional I think - & I can tell which deck is in which pouch quickly & easily because the picture of the deck is printed on each pouch.
I also do use the reading matts. This is no different than why they use matts in casinos - because placing the cards on a hard or rough surface for years over & over will eventually scratch them. And I never have liked reading clothes - they wrinkle & blow away & they're just "in the way".
Regarding protection of the decks with waterproof cardstock: Although these decks are 100% PVC & completely safe around drinks & water, they're not indestructible. I have found that over time, they're similar to having plastic lenses in your glasses - if you take care of them they're fine, but they'll never last as long as "glass" lenses because they will eventually get scratched up from use. They will also bend & crease if you bend them & crease them, and you can't leave them in a hot car or near extreme heat - they'll melt. I recommend storing them in a pouch. I don't like boxes unless they're fabric lined.
Other protection rules of mine: I don't let anyone set a drink of any kind on my table when I'm reading. I quite often & where space permits have two tables, a little one and the reading table & I have people set their drinks on the little one.
Another is that this new "thing" people seem to be doing where they throw their cards all over the room - I think it's like, casting bones but with Tarot cards - I don't like that. It makes me cringe every time I see someone do that. I would never do that. I know WHY they're doing it & I like that idea but not with tarot "cards". I have lost too many cards over the years & dropping decks on the floor puts me in a panic. I just yesterday, however, bought all the materials to try to make a miniature tarot deck on little planks of wood, the idea being, you could cast them like you cast bones & they'd be smaller & more manageable than a large deck of cards over a large surface. I'm not entirely sure where I'll end up going with this project, I'll let you know.
I don't do anything consciously or ritually to "protect" my decks other than to have good intentions, which of course is what the route to hell is paved with. Sometimes I do put gemstones with them, & I treat them with respect as in, I have them nicely placed at home, & I don't throw them around.
tarotbear
You mean - people are doing something like '52-Pick-Up' with their Tarot cards? 
Fastest way to damage anything is to have no concern about how it is used.
I may not do anything to 'protect' my cards - but I would not do anything to 'destroy' my cards!
Fastest way to damage anything is to have no concern about how it is used.I may not do anything to 'protect' my cards - but I would not do anything to 'destroy' my cards!
gregory
I'm delighted - when do I get to see it ??? (I am baffled here. Griz hasn't made me a bag that I recall...)
Firewithoutaspark
Is this a good place to keep my deck. They are kept in what I think is an old jewelry box but that I bought from a charity shop it smells nice someone kept perfume in it but my main worry is that it is mirrored but only on one side can this affect my cards or am i just being an idiot?
Kathryn.
Kathryn.
Tanga
"Deck protection"
'Affect' in what way Firewithoutaspark?
Do you mean 'energetically' in that in some traditions it's believed that spirits can enter through mirrors? Or do you mean will the mirror whilst being in physical contact with your cards damage them in some way?
I say no to either - unless the mirror has a scratchy surface and the cards can sort of slide against it when you move the box around...
The 1st bit is entirely up to what you believe.
I think a jewellery box sounds perfect - and obviously a previously well loved one.
'Affect' in what way Firewithoutaspark?
Do you mean 'energetically' in that in some traditions it's believed that spirits can enter through mirrors? Or do you mean will the mirror whilst being in physical contact with your cards damage them in some way?
I say no to either - unless the mirror has a scratchy surface and the cards can sort of slide against it when you move the box around...
The 1st bit is entirely up to what you believe.
I think a jewellery box sounds perfect - and obviously a previously well loved one.
nisaba
Nup, in Tarot it's 78-card pickup.
I object to the riffle-shuffle a lot more than I do to 78-card pickup.
