|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:05 pm
Some basic guidelines for the choosing and caring for a deck.
Things to consider when choosing a deck:
What purpose do you want to use it for
Does the overall energy of the individual deck appeal to you
Do you connect with the imagery
How experienced you are
There are various decks that are aimed at romance or internal spiritual reflection and any multitude of other purposes. There are also decks that are more diverse and read well for any topic.
If you are new to tarot and unfamiliar with the basic meanings of the cards you would probably be best off getting a deck that utilizes the classic meanings and reads well for all subjects. The traditional deck is the Rider Waite deck though there are a few such as The Herbal Tarot that differ slightly yet retain the traditional elements.
There is conflicting lore regarding deck acquisition. Some say that your deck must be a gift, others say you must buy your own. I have decks acquired through both methods and there is no difference among them.
Another note: If you don't mind cleansing your deck upon purchase a display deck can usually be purchased at a discount.
Once you have found your deck you may wish to cleanse it of the store vibes. This is an optional step unless it was a display deck in which case it should be done before the first reading. Other times to cleanse would be if they don't seem to be reading as well for you as they used to, someone has handled them and they no longer "feel" right, or if it has been over a year since the last cleanse.
My favorite method of cleansing is to simply use a bundle of sage smudge and pass each card through the smoke individually. You can add or substitute rosemary, lavender or cedar. Nag Champa and Dragon's Blood incenses are both effective as well. If you have circumstances or preferences that exclude smoke you can also use the dried herbs in any combo place them into a zip lock and place the cards in one at a time and give them a shake.
Feel free to add to this list. These are simply guidelines, tricks and methods I have personally used through the years of my practice and thought would be helpful to those starting out in the study of Tarot.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:18 pm
I'm relatively new to Tarot. But I do agree with using smoke to cleanse. However, I've also found that wrapping twine around the deck and keeping a crystal near it seems to keep it from having to be cleansed as often. Though I do suggest keeping an eye on the crystal.
I'm not sure how others would put it, but if the crystal has obsorbed something strong it feels 'cloaked.'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:25 pm
This pickled vegetable...I have three tarot decks and I never use any of them.
The first is called a "Celtic Spiral" deck and I got it back in high school. I did a few readings on them and they were fairly accurate. But then again, that's not saying much since the meanings of the cards are so vague that they could be applied to almost anything if a person wants them to.
The second deck is the standard Raider-Weight deck. It came free with a "Tarot for Dummies" book that I got as a bit of research for a story that I ended up never writing.
The third is that crappy-a** "Manga Tarot". I got it mostly just for the heck of it and the art. I was severely disappointed. Worst. Deck. Ever. The info book that came with it started with, not an introduction to tarot, but rather a two page bio on the artist. I don't give a flying ******** about the artist. Then, when it actually got to "explaining" the cards, every single card seemed to mean "boy this", "boy that", "relationship this", "relationship that". It was like reading a high school fan fiction rather than a book on tarot. It was disgusting. ... could kick your a** !!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 12:52 pm
Wow. Sounds like something one of my ex-girlfriends would be into. Haha~
But seriously, I only have one deck, which I use...sometimes. It's called the Celtic Dragon Tarot, and I suppose I could say it's perfect for me so far. I've never had any other tarot, so I can't really compare or judge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 4:36 pm
I use tarot cards, usually doing readings for myself. This is only because I'm still learning, so I don't like giving other people readings when I still have to check the booklet for some cards, as I feel that makes it less meaningful. It's better to learn to interpret the cards yourself, given the situation. I'm getting much better, though.
So, I have a few questions about giving readings to others:
1) When you're reading for another person, is it better that you shuffle the cards while they concentrate on the question, or that they shuffle the cards themselves?
2) When a card is chosen, is it upright when facing the reader, or the querrent?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 11:25 pm
I keep my favorite decks in hand-sewn bags and put either rose quartz or amethyst in with the cards to help cleanse them in storage. I have a little over 20 decks, some amazing for reading and some just for looking, so I may end up posting reviews for them at some point. >.> Keeping them in a bag seems to help me get better readings than keeping them in their box, unless I rushed or made the bag on a really bad day. I tend to find that what energy I put into any given bag will stay there. I've had to trash a few simply because I made them the day my best friend's cat died and I was her shoulder when she needed it.
I've heard that cedar boxes also work wonderfully for keeping cards "fresh." However, I haven't found a suitable box for the right price yet, so I haven't tried it.
Little Batwing:
Mostly, it is up to you. When I read for others, I shuffle, then fan the cards out and tell them to concentrate on the question and feel out the right card. They are face-down, of course. >.>
As for reversals, I always choose upright when facing me, simply because I am the one interpreting and I need to see the images for me to read.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 12:54 am
I have one tarot deck, the Zerner-Farber Tarot. It was a gift from a friend of mine. I can work with it somewhat but it feels awkward. Can't get a new deck right now though but I'd like to get something that is closer to the Rider-Waite symbolism
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 6:53 am
ShoujoAiKat I keep my favorite decks in hand-sewn bags and put either rose quartz or amethyst in with the cards to help cleanse them in storage. I keep all my decks in hand sewn bags. The bags I make are usually two fabrics, one for the outside and one as a liner. I sometimes put dried herbs like lavender, rosemary, or bay leaves (kind of depends what I have on hand) in between the fabrics. I do that to help cleanse them and keep them from absorbing stray energy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:08 am
MercyWild ShoujoAiKat I keep my favorite decks in hand-sewn bags and put either rose quartz or amethyst in with the cards to help cleanse them in storage. I keep all my decks in hand sewn bags. The bags I make are usually two fabrics, one for the outside and one as a liner. I sometimes put dried herbs like lavender, rosemary, or bay leaves (kind of depends what I have on hand) in between the fabrics. I do that to help cleanse them and keep them from absorbing stray energy. I will try that once I find a pedal for my new sewing machine (I'm very excited about it. It has buttons!). Do certain herbs work better?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:58 pm
Buttons are fun biggrin
As for one herb working better than another, I haven't really noticed any difference. I do try to follow my instincts when it comes to deciding which herb to match up with a certain deck, though. I want the energies to work well with one another.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artistic Genocide Captain
|
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:16 pm
Is it weird that I don't use the little booklet what-so-ever when interpreting my cards? I go by the symbolism within the pictures on the cards and what calls to me through a certain combination of cards. I've always had accurate card readings when I did it this way. The first time I bought a deck of cards and tried to use the meanings in the booklet my readings never came out right. >_>'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:22 pm
I don't think it's weird at all, that is how you are supposed to read cards as far as I know. The little booklet things are just meant to be a guide, not the definitive text on card meanings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Artistic Genocide Captain
|
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:39 pm
Ah! well okay then. I just had someone confront me about the way I read my cards and did my process and said "YOUR DOING IT WRONGZ!1!!!"
Granted if I'm doing a reading for someone else I general let them shuffle the deck, and cut it themselves. To my knowledge I'm one of very few people that do it that way. Doing it the way I do it, though, does tend to lead to have to cleanse my deck more than normal(?).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 9:26 am
ShoujoAiKat Mostly, it is up to you. When I read for others, I shuffle, then fan the cards out and tell them to concentrate on the question and feel out the right card. They are face-down, of course. >.> As for reversals, I always choose upright when facing me, simply because I am the one interpreting and I need to see the images for me to read.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 12:30 am
I have many decks. Most are gifts from friends or my sisters. BUt the one deck I use the most is my Moon Oracle cards.
I have a deck for dreams, servants of the light, venus and mars, and a few others.
I used to have an Egyptian Oracle deck, but I was never connected to them.
My Moon Oracle deck is the one that I always use. Ever since I saw it in Chapters I have been in love with it. It's helped me with a lot of my questions. It showed I would be moving in January, which did come true and many other things.
I generally use the Elemental Cross spread for all my readings since I tend to draw from all the elements fairly well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
