We've come a long way baby! From having a very limited choice a few years ago there are now thousands of different Tarot decks to suit every possible interest from pirates to philately. But how do you choose a deck?
Let's examine some rather weird and wonderful superstitions first:
- You shouldn't buy a Tarot deck for yourself. I don't know where this came from, but it is complete nonsense and of course you can buy a deck for yourself! You deserve it, don't you?
- You shouldn't let anyone else touch your Tarot cards. If you do face-to-face readings this is going to be quite hard. I guess you could make your clients put on those rubber gloves inside a box like you see in laboratories on TV when they're handing radioactive stuff. Or you could always ask them to use tongs. Seriously, I like to keep one deck for giving readings and another (few) for myself.
- You need to cleanse your deck with sage smoke or by leaving it in the moonlight. Don't laugh, but I have actually done both of these. Is it necessary? Absolutely not. Did I feel better after doing it? Yes. But the bottom line is that the cards are a tool to access your subconscious.
- You need to keep your Tarot cards in a special box. No, you don't have to. But thinking practically, you have paid up to twenty quid for them, so it makes sense to protect them. And it's nice to create a special place for them, too. My husband looked at my Gilded Tarot deck the other night and said 'These are in a bit of a state aren't they?' I realised that keeping them in a gauze bag attractive to an English Setter probably wasn't a good move.
My favourite deck
Much loved by my clients and described in reviews as 'breathtakingly beautiful' and 'buzzing with life through its imagery', I use the incredible Robin Wood Tarot deck for readings.I clicked with this deck immediately and it always delivers for me. The symbols and colours and the quality of design are all excellent and I believe it took ten years for her to design.
How do you choose the deck for you?
If you are lucky enough to live near a shop stocking Tarot decks (and in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, I don't) then there's nothing like getting a bit hands-on. Consider these points too:
- Choose cards you feel a rapport with, that appeal to you. I know that sounds a bit touchy feely but you are going to be using them a lot, so you might as well get something you won't get fed up with and love looking at.
- If using them for readings for others, then choose something that will appeal to a wide range of people. Not all your clients may appreciate the frisson of the VoodooTarot for example.
- Unless you really need it, try to avoid cards with key words on them. I know it helps to learn, but it is also very restricting later. You try giving free rein to your imagination while a card is screaming the word 'Intellect' at you.
- Use the Internet to search. There are some fabulous sites there which do Tarot reviews and give images and descriptions of the cards. The Tarot Garden is one. The forum of TABI is another place to read reviews as is the Aeclectic Tarot Forum.
- If a deck isn't working for you, consider swapping it or selling it or even giving it away. There's no point in trying to flog a dead horse. A personal example: I bought the Sacred Circle Tarot after reading rave reviews about its beauty, wonderful accompanying book etc etc etc. I disliked it on sight, I have no idea why, and now I hardly ever use it so I will be swapping it asap.
Of course, there is always the one thing I have been longing to try, but balk at the time it may take, and that is to design your own Tarot cards! Remember, the earliest decks were hand-made and what better way to really develop a one-on one relationship with your cards?
