The Noble Pagan Forums - Picking your tarot deck and more

Picking your tarot deck

There is an old saying that says that you aren't supposed to buy your own deck. I guess it goes along the lines of "If you are meant to work with Tarot it will come to you." That's pretty limiting though isn'tit? I mean you could either wait forever until one pops up or you could always do the subtle hints for birthday or holiday gift requests. Still I personally don't see anything wrong with purchasing one for yourself.

So you want to purchase a tarot deck. Where do you begin? How do you know which one is the right one for you? Well you could always start off the way some do and just get a regular deck of playing cards and practice with those until you get the knack of it. They lack the pretty pictures but they have very similar meanings. If you feel that you want a deck with meaningful pictures then you can always go to your local pagan/occult/magick shoppe/store. And if there isn't a local one of those around then what?

Try this link:

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/list.shtml

That is an alphabetized listing ( with pics) of hundreds of decks (many of them available for purchase). My suggestion is to look through them and make a list of the ones that stand out to you. Don't force yourself to get a deck because its on sale or was made by someone famous.

All in all have fun and take it easy. Don't be too disapointed if you pick out a gorgeous deck and it just doesn't "click" for you. That happens sometimes. I have found when that happens, it means the deck will eventually go to someone I know ( or will know but havent met yet).

O and remember its okay to have more than one deck. There is no rule saying that you can only have one deck and that is the deck you shall always use. Many people I know ( including myself) have more than one deck for various purposes.

Cleansing your cards

Let's talk about cleansing your cards. By this I do not mean running them through the rinse cycle.
Unless you have made yourself a deck of cards for reading, then they haven't really become yours yet. They have been manufactured and handled and handled and handled again and again. If you keep in mind that everything leaves an energy fingerprint on something then you get an idea how"clean" and "new" your cards really are.
Ick.

There are a few ways to rid your new deck of excess energy. One is to smudge them. I know it sounds like inking them up and rubbing it all over but that is not the case.
Smudging is using herbal smoke to carry away the impurities of an object, person or area. Sage, Cedar and Sweetgrass are popular for smudging ( you can find smudge wands, cedar chips and braided strands of sweetgrass at most metaphysical/occult/esoteric/pagan/ you get the idea stores).

When you have your source for smudging lit you can pass the deck through it (the smoke that is) or you can take one card at a time and pass it through the deck. Whichever works for you. You will notice your cards will retain some of the smell ( so make sure it agrees with you) but do not fret. This is only temporary.

If you are familiar with energy then you can cleanse the cards by "burning out" the excess stuff with your own energy. Hold them in your hands. Feel them. Feel your energy. You may see a color and that is fine. That most likely is your own energy color. Concentrate on it . Make it brighter and brighter. If you can brighten it to white thats great! ( White is a purifier). Now see the cards ( in your minds eye) and see your energy flowing into them. Slowly changing them the color that you saw. Pour your energy into it and watch it brighten. Brighten . Brighten till it is white and glowing. When it's white and feeler friendly you know you have "burned out" the excess energy and are closer to making it your own.

Moonlight. A lot of people believe in Moonlight ( and Sunlight) as a purifying agent. You can set your cards out in Moonlight ( or Sunlight). Some feel that Moonlight not only purifies but adds a mystical quality ( knower of secrets) to the deck. Some feel that Sunlight not only purifies but adds a knowledgable quality ( wisdoms and healing of light) to the deck.

Try what you feel will work best for you. Remember there is no ONE RIGHT WAY.

When you are done cleansing your cards find a special place for them ( like a cloth to wrap them in or a box to store them in). Think of your storage spot as an area of keeping your cards "fresh".

Also even after you have cleansed your cards you may want to do it again at a later point after so many readings. Once you get to know them and use them often you will notice their "feel" will change ( and I just don;t mean the physical feel to them). It's good to cleanse them again after awhile. It helps in keeping up with accurate readings ( IMO) especially if you let others handle your cards.

Getting to know your cards

So you have gone out and found a deck that said TAKE ME HOME!!!! You went a head and even cleansed it because you feel it will be important somehow to you. Buuuuut you still don't really know your deck or what to do with it. So what is next?

Getting to know your cards. These are going to be like your own special set of personal friends and guides so always take care to treat them with respect. That is rule number one. You will get out of them what you put into them.

Speaking of putting into them. One way to get to know them is by programming them ( building an energy/psychic/whatever you want to call it connection with them). If you read the cleansing section then you will be familiar with the energy cleansing technique. If not I will run through it real quick again:

Hold them in your hands. Feel them. Feel your energy. You may see a color and that is fine. That most likely is your own energy color. Concentrate on it . Make it brighter and brighter. If you can brighten it to white thats great! ( White is a purifier). Now see the cards ( in your minds eye) and see your energy flowing into them. Slowly changing them the color that you saw. Pour your energy into it and watch it brighten. Brighten . Brighten till it is white and glowing. When it's white and feeler friendly you know you have "burned out" the excess energy and are closer to making it your own.
Now as you feel them glow ( maybe even tingle) let them know your desire. What your goal is in working with them and how they are going to help you. Their job is to help you and you are actively programming ( think quick training session ) to do just that.

Another way to get to know your cards is to sleep with them under your pillow at night ( so I have heard).

Yet another way is to draw a card a day and use it as an affirmation or meditation tool ( "Today's message is blargy blarg blarg")

Of course there is the old fashioned way of just usign them. Practice ,Practice, Practice. The more you use them the better you get at in knowing them (not just their meanings but how they feel too).
In time you will find you have built a wonderful and working relationship with them. Remember you will get out of them what you put into them. In essence they are an extension of yourself and more.

C.S.

This was really informative.

I personally use the Thoth Deck which has gone out of Print. There is talk of them making a Second addition Thoth Deck, which I think is pretty ridiculous considering its maker is...oh, I dunno...passed on?

I'm waiting on Stephanie Law's Tarot deck to come out. Those are just beautiful. They really speak to me.

One thing I've decided to do is purchase a number of tarot decks and keep them 'on hold'. I want to find them good homes to the people they belong with

Do you suggest that I play around with each deck to get my own personal feel for them so I can find the partner they need or will they call to me in a different way without actually having to get hands on?

__________________

I have the Thoth deck too (in fact it was me first deck awww). For some reason it scares some peeps so I also have The Halloween Deck ( which is loud and fun).

I'm glad that post helped you out.

C.S.

See it was my first deck too! I don't understand why people are so afraid of it. I mean, I admit, its one of the more 'advanced' decks of cards and sure it can be a little difficult to work with at times (My cards have a distinct personality of their own) but its no reason to shun them away.

It could be just the artwork. It is unique. Personally I find the deck works well for me ( I loves its!).

C.S.