How many Tarot decks?

How many Tarot decks?

As I have said, there are thousands of Tarot decks to choose from!  I started with the Buddha Tarot, by Robert M. Place, and then moved to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.  BUT, now I have so many Tarot decks.  As an artists, I love seeing all of the different kinds of decks. 

You can finds decks with pretty much any theme that you can think of.  There are angels, animals, herbs, flowers, crystals, ones from movies, even some from DC Comic, the list goes on and on.  It is also interesting to see the ones from different countries and how the history plays into the artwork, such as Anime, Japanese Block-prints, or the Santa Muerte Tarot.

There are also different shaped decks, mostly rectangle, but there are also the circle decks. The Motherpeace Tarot by Karen Vogel and Vicki Noble is probable the most well know circle deck (which is on my wish list). Then there are different shaped boxes that they come in, too!  My most unusual shaped box is coffin shaped and when it is opened it has a recording that sounds like the squeaking wood of the coffin door. Pretty creepy!

Do you need so many?

No, one deck is all that you need.  Some people connect to their first deck and that is the only one that they will ever have and use, and that is perfectly fine.  But, it can become addicting to search out new decks and see what they have to offer. You never know which ones you might connect to.

Do I use all of my decks?

No, I actually have some that I have never used. I really like to get to know my decks, so I spend a lot of time using just one deck before moving onto another one.  Sometimes, I may use one deck for a very long period of time because it feels right.  Then I have some that I have used a couple times and really just didn't connect with.  (Those decks I have gifted to someone else.) 

Do I have to be gifted a deck to start?

NO!  I am not sure where that idea came from, but don't pay attention to it.  If that was the case there wouldn't be that many readers out there today. If you see a deck that sparks your interest, go for it. 

Do I have to have one deck for myself and then a different one to do readings for other people?

No, I think this is purely a personal choice.  I use the same decks for myself and for others. I do cleanse the decks between using them, so I feel like they are a "new" deck each time.  Because I really want to "know" the decks, I like using them for myself and for others and this helps seeing the cards in different ways. 

How many decks do you have?

As of this writing, I have 35 Tarot decks and 10 Oracle decks.  That really is not too many, lol.  (Plus, the couple that I got rid of because they didn't suit me.)  I have the space in my home to store my decks and I have the means to be able to purchase them.  But, if you do not - then don't buy them! The number of decks you have doesn't matter!  If you connect to one, that is all you need! 

I have a long list of decks that I still would like to buy.  Sometimes, I come across them on sale, so I may buy it even if it wasn't at the top of the list or may not have been on the list at all! I would buy them used too (if I knew all the cards were there), because of how I cleanse my decks.  I will be talking about that also in a future post. 

What is your favorite deck?

Ohhhh, this is a hard one to answer.  I think it depends on my mood of the day or how my week is going at the time.  So, I think that I will save this question for another post. I will be sharing more in depth about different decks in the future.  There are many different reasons why I may like (or not) a particular deck. 

The Major Arcana - A brief introduction

There are so many books out there about Tarot and what the Major Arcana's individual cards mean.  So, I don't want to duplicate two much of what is already out there.  Instead I want to take you on a walk through the FOOL'S JOURNEY.

0 – Fool  – 0  - The Fool is the Main Character through this story.  He is basically a toddler that doesn't know his way, he doesn't know what lies ahead for him.  He is innocent and doesn't have the knowledge to make clear choices. 

The following characters are who direct the Fool along his path.  They can be "others" or they can be The Fool himself.  They can be male or female (or both or neither). 

1    Magician  –  I - The Magician is someone who is not from this world.  He can pass both, in space and time.  He has all of the tools laid out before him - Wands, Cups, Pentacles, and Swords.  He has the expertise to choose wisely.  He can manifest what you desire.

2    High Priestess  – II -  The High Priestess can also pass between worlds.  She is of both shadow and light, above and below.  She is a mystery - the future can be cloudy.  Her decisions are based on intuition rather than being logical.  She has the hidden knowledge.

3    Empress  –  III - The Empress is all about nurturing slowly and growth.  She is the feminine energy of the Physical world. 

4    Emperor  –  IV - The Emperor is all about authority of the physical world. He is focused on his leadership and follows a rigid structure. He can make things happen.

5    Hierophant  –  V - The Hierophant is the teacher (both spiritual and secular). He is the guidance for personal development and inner wisdom. 

6    Lovers  –  VI - The Lovers are all about relationship: family, romantic, and friendships.  They are also about commitment and duality.

7    Chariot  –  VII - When we think of the Chariot, we are moving fast in a forward direction.  There is advancement, progress, making headway.  It can also mean travel or physically moving.

8    Strength  –  VIII - Strength is our willpower - it is our inner strength.  It is our energy and our drive.

9    Hermit  –  IX - The Hermit is often associated with isolation and giving us a space to think, taking time off.  It is a time to work through changes to find our way. 

10  Wheel of Fortune  –  X - Let things move on their own. Things are evolving, changing and there are new opportunities, so this is a sign that you need to be ready to act - be prepared!

11  Justice  –  XI - Justice is all about Truth. Being on the right path, your true path, your soul's journey.

12  The Hanged Man  –  XII - The Hanged Man usually pops up when there will be a delay or a distraction.  However, the Hanged Man also reminds us to look at things from a different perspective. Take a new look at things.

13  Death  –  XIII - The Death card is all about a transition or a transformation. You have to "die" before you can be reborn.  You have to have an ending, before you can have a new beginning.  (I also like to point out that the Death card is number 13 - Lucky 13) 

14  Temperance  –  XIV - Temperance is telling us to be cautious.  Make sure we balance out things and don't do anything too impulsive. 

15   Devil  –  XV - The Devil is the one sitting on our shoulder making us procrastinate, or have self-doubt.  He puts up barriers and negative blocks that make us question ourselves. He is the little distraction - the next sparkly object.

16   The Tower  –  XVI - There are two ways to look at the Tower.  The first is destruction or disruption, such as a sudden life changing event.  The second is rebuilding/building - a time to start over.

17   The Star  –  XVII - The Star is about long term goals or plans and what direction are they going to take. Optimism!

18   The Moon  –  XVIII - When we walk in the moonlight of The Moon card, we are walking a mysterious path, maybe even an unknown path. Some times it is fate that brings you on that path; you won't be the one in control.

19   The Sun  –  XIX - Just as the Sun comes out and shine brightly down on us, it is nurturing and a time for healing and growth.

20   Judgement  – XX - Judgement can help us see taking a different path.  It gives us awareness - an awaking.

21   The World  –  XXI - This is where The Fool wants to get to.  This is a place of fulfillment, of balance, harmony and peace.

 

The Journey -

   As you read through each description, could you see the actions that The Fool would (or wouldn't) take?  Can you see how he grows from a child into an adult, having to make decisions on his (her) own?  

Please leave any questions or comments below!