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Author
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Topic: How do I select a Tarot deck? Any pointers?
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Virgo-AriesArtist
Moderator Posts: 852
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted October 14, 2003 11:04 PM
 
Hey my wise friends,
I am extremely interested in buying a Tarot deck to begin my studies....Are there any rules governing the purchase of a deck? I know as far as I Ching decks go, you can't buy your own, but didn't know if Tarot had similar regulations.
At Borders bookstore, I came across several intriging potential decks that I felt a connection with, one with Russian art, another with Egyptian designs, and a third with Renaissance art. Any suggestions on how I decide?
Any and all other suggestions for a hopeful Tarot student are very welcome.
 and  ------------------
-K
"Most people love with restraint
As if they were someday to hate
We hated gently, carefully
As if we were someday to love"-Venus Trines at Midnight IP: Logged |
Annie Kuzma
Knowflake Posts: 363
From: Kettering ,Ohio ,USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted October 15, 2003 08:08 AM
I'm no expert on Tarot cards, but I would say that basic Tarot 101 is the Rider-Waite pack. That way you can see the basic symbolisms and study those before you add alot of graphics.
Also, whatever one feels right in your hand is the right one. Look through them, and if they don't feel comfortable or look right to you, pass. There are many out there.------------------
Peace and Love
L.V.X. Annie
"Bind the consciousness of the denial of self-worth that says, "I am not worthy." I AM is the Name of God. To say this is to say, "God is not worthy. God in me is not worthy. I am worthless." When you are worthless and so say it, beloved, you have denied all God within you". IP: Logged |
juniperb
Moderator Posts: 4409
From: www.Heaven.Home
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted October 15, 2003 08:48 AM
Hi VAA, A. said basically there are no rules. I went to a tarot site and looked al the different decks over, jotted down what interested me then specifically looked those up and chose what spoke to me in a personal way. I chose the Rider Tarot Deck as it`s simple beauty and flowing design felt familiar, confortable and some how reassuring. Like an old friend come home.  You will chose the right deck for yours-elf Just let your thoughts and feelings flow when you`re viewing them. juniperb  IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 17124
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted October 16, 2003 01:24 PM
What's the rule on I Ching decks?  ------------------
"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
Aselzion
Moderator Posts: 881
From: Peabody, MA USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted October 16, 2003 04:18 PM
Greetings...Sorry for being so remiss, I'm currently vacationing in Hawaii, so I've been taking alot of "me time".  In terms of picking a deck... I agree, one should pick what one feels good about. BUT, in terms of learning Tarot, I always suggest for a beginner either the Rider-Waite (or Universal Rider Waite which was redrawn and colored by Mary Hanson Roberts) or the Morgan Greer deck. I chose these because they are easy to learn and have a full picture for all of the Lower Arcana cards. Some decks with beautiful representations for the Higher Arcana will have only pips, without a symbolic picture, and I find that nearly impossible to work with. That being said, one should not confuse Tarot decks with "oracle cards" as the "oracle cards" may or may not contain the traditional 78 cards, and would be of no use when trying to learn TAROT. That aside, there are many lovely oracle decks that I have in my collection! So, for our purposes, and for the sake of the online lessons here, I highly recommend Morgan Greer or one of the Waite decks. Hope that helps a wee bit. Blessed Be...
A  ------------------
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." - Antoine de Saint Exupery, The Little Prince IP: Logged |
Motherkonfessor
Knowflake Posts: 373
From:
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted October 17, 2003 02:16 AM
Just thought I would share.. you will Know when you spot the right one..My best friend and I were both trying to find the right deck for our respective Selves. She spent 3 months trying to find the Motherpeace Deck, and it took another 6 months for them to come in.
She and I were very "in sync" with each other, and she constantly had odd dreams. She had recently had one where I was a High Priestess in some other time. One day soon after you got the deck, she is trying to do her first reading for me. She had difficulties shuffling the deck, and the cards High Priestess and Priestess of Swords lept from the cards onto my lap. The P of Swords has always been me in a reading. She handed the deck to me, saying they were meant for me. I consider it the best gift I have ever been given..and altho I have many decks, this is the one that "works". You will Know.
K IP: Logged |
moth
Knowflake Posts: 54
From: New York
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted October 20, 2003 09:38 PM
Hi VAA--I have about 35-40 different decks (really enjoy looking at the different interpretations--sort of a collector, I suppose) I have acquired over the years and the one I have the best connection with is the Albano-Waite deck. I tried in the beginning to go cold with all these other lovely decks, but I couldn't get the intuition going as I can with the Waite decks. Seems like if you get the interpretation down pat with the Rider-Waite, the other decks you acquire later on aren't so difficult to read. Another note--I have had my cards read by professional readers, twice--and both times they used old, worn Rider-Waite decks. IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 17124
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted October 21, 2003 01:55 PM
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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
pidaua
Knowflake Posts: 1957
From: Annapolis, Maryland USA
Registered: May 2002
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posted October 22, 2003 03:28 PM
HI all, As for picking out a deck, there is a great site that you can check out to get a feel for the cards, but you will probably go through a few types before you choose "the deck". Even then you might change after a while. I started out with the Morgan Greer deck then moved on to a more Southwest Tribe deck because of my ethnicity. I like the cards, but didn't get a feel at all from them. Now I use the Robin Wood Tarot. I love the way the cards are illustrated and can actually see myself in a few of them - so in a way, they spoke to me.
Here is a link to a great site:
http://www.tarot-decks.com/
Good luck! IP: Logged |
Xelena Ben
Knowflake Posts: 86
From: New England
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted October 22, 2003 08:01 PM
I use one called the Londa deck - Londa Marks is the name of the artist. The High Priestess originally caught my attention, and even though a lot of the traditional symbolism has been dropped, I love the intense looks and energy of the illustrations. And she threw in an extra card that asks "Who are you really?"
I crack up every time I get that one!You can see some here: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/londa ------------------
namaste,
xelena IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 17124
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted October 23, 2003 02:14 PM
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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 17124
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted March 02, 2004 11:39 AM
To the top!  ------------------
"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
tahariel
Knowflake Posts: 143
From: south wales
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted March 02, 2004 09:43 PM
I would say the number one rule is to buy a pack that you feel a bond with. I bought the Glastonbury Tarot as I love the place and all the cards were hand painted.
Second most important thing is to bond with your cards. Spend time looking at each card, spreading your energies on them, putting your hands on them and rubbing them over to completely ensure they are filled with you.
Third, wrap them in silk if you can and store them someplace in the room you spend the most time in, so no one else can get at them. Some say you should never let anyone touch your cards due to the energies being confused. I am the only person to have ever touched mine and they work wonderfully.
Fourth, when you're ready to do a spread, trust the cards. Know that they will give you the answer you need. If you need to ponder the message a while, go with it. I had a book with mine to explain each card so I advise this also. Don't worry about not knowing what they mean, it's fine to check the book.
Fifth, enjoy ! I hope your cards bring you many insights, I know mine have helped me out on many a difficult situation. IP: Logged |
Isis
Knowflake Posts: 334
From: CA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted March 03, 2004 04:24 PM
I agree that you should buy what feels good to you. I've had a love of ancient Greece since I was a child - when I became seriously interested in getting a deck I came across the "Mythic Tarot", which is a deck based on various greek mythologies. Perfect for me - however in terms of learning Tarot, because the author of this deck doesn't formally "recognize" inversions and thus doesn't use them, I had nothing but my knowledge of the upright positions and intuition to guide me when I got an inversion. I thus have stopped using these particular cards inverted, but I felt it left a hole in my knowledge so I had to go back and kind-of re-learn, so I would suggest buying two, one like the Rider Waite that's fairly universally used and understood, and a deck that's uniquely you. Just my two cents, good luck  IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 17124
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted March 04, 2004 01:27 PM
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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
Aselzion
Moderator Posts: 881
From: Peabody, MA USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted March 04, 2004 05:16 PM
Greetings...All well said. I think it also depends on what you want to USE the cards for. You may find one deck particularly good for "mundane readings", another good for things of a spiritual nature, and yet another for meditation/contemplation/elation. I think the bottom line is still to find a compromise between a deck that "speaks" to you, and one that "feels" appropriate to its intended use. Just a thought. In the Light...
A ------------------
"The ALL is MIND; the Universe is Mental." *** The Kybalion IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 17124
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted March 05, 2004 11:03 AM
Wise words, A.  ------------------
"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged |
vinita
Knowflake Posts: 7
From: mumbai,maharashtra,india
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted May 08, 2004 08:34 AM
annie kuzma echoes me....wat id suggest is that rider waite is the easiest and the best so far for beginners....
robin wood is another....its absolutely excellent....
id suggestr go to buy yur packs from not very popular places....even though it will be difficult...n go when yur feeling all intuitive...pick up according 2 yur gut feeling and what attracts u the most also if ur more on the tex side read alil from the manual first....IP: Logged |
Lindaland
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