Buying vs. Receiving a Tarot Deck

[Firaza]

I once got so irritated about the persistence of it that I started a thread asking about its prevalence and regionality, and what people might know about its origins - it's here.  The short summary of the thread is that it can have significance and usefulness, depending on circumstances (Monsnoleedra's "family myth" is an example of this; see also Marilyn's and Jorgath's posts in the archive thread - there may well be others there too; I didn't reread the whole thing), but that it's not universal and is most often superstitious (or manipulative) in how it's presented/applied.

 
Thank you for the link, Sunflower! I knew I should have looked in the old forum, too.

As for manipulation, I can definitely see how that might apply in certain scenarios. I always wondered how to go about convincing people to buy me a tarot deck without seeming like an annoying, ungrateful child or friend, haha.

[Firaza]

Sometimes if you look on the artists' websites they'll have images of all the cards in a deck, but if they don't, AT usually has sample cards up.

 
Thank you both. I briefly browsed the "popular decks of the year" lists the other day but didn't find anything I liked. Maybe I'm just too picky!

[SatSekhem]

Maybe I'm just too picky!

 
That's not a bad thing. This is something that you'll be using fairly regularly.

[Lokabrenna]

Thank you both. I briefly browsed the "popular decks of the year" lists the other day but didn't find anything I liked. Maybe I'm just too picky!

I don't like a lot of the popular decks either (I HATE the art style of the Deviant Moon and have no idea how it managed to be #1 at the time) and some of them are just hard to find. But there are so many decks out there that are readily available that aren't members of the popular crowd.

[MadZealot]

Thank you both. I briefly browsed the "popular decks of the year" lists the other day but didn't find anything I liked. Maybe I'm just too picky!

Already been said: being picky ain't bad.

In addition: there's nothing saying that your first deck will be your only deck ever, or even your favorite.   I'd suggest simply taking the plunge.  Use some of the  $$ the Universe has gifted you and pick up a Rider/Waite deck, as it is the inspiration/blueprint for so many other good decks out there.  You will certainly acquire another deck down the road (and even abandon R/W symbolism altogether) but hey, you've got to start somewhere.

[Stardancer]

My personal encounters with it have been mostly "teenage superstition". or maybe I should say "teenage bullying" - teen #1 buys a deck, teen #2 covets it and tries to manipulate teen #1 into giving it to them.

 
In my case it was probably meant as a romantic overture.. Giving a potential GF a tarot deck when you know she's interested in that sort of thing? Can't be bad. : (Well, except that nothing came of it 'cause I didn't figure out the romantic part...)

[monsnoleedra]

Thank you for the link, Sunflower! I knew I should have looked in the old forum, too.

As for manipulation, I can definitely see how that might apply in certain scenarios. I always wondered how to go about convincing people to buy me a tarot deck without seeming like an annoying, ungrateful child or friend, haha.

Potentially off subject but the idea of getting someone to buy it for you may also be reflective of being trained within a group setting or family tradition.  Those I personaly know who had them purchased for them or handed down originated within that type setting.  I can't think of any of them that started out in a solitary pathway, but that is just my experience.

[Firaza]

Already been said: being picky ain't bad.

In addition: there's nothing saying that your first deck will be your only deck ever, or even your favorite.   I'd suggest simply taking the plunge.  Use some of the  $$ the Universe has gifted you and pick up a Rider/Waite deck, as it is the inspiration/blueprint for so many other good decks out there.  You will certainly acquire another deck down the road (and even abandon R/W symbolism altogether) but hey, you've got to start somewhere.

 
That's very true, and I knew it in the back of my mind. Perhaps it'd be better to use a R/W deck to get used to tarot first, and then pick up a deck I like better after I've gotten the hang of readings.

[MadZealot]

That's very true, and I knew it in the back of my mind. Perhaps it'd be better to use a R/W deck to get used to tarot first, and then pick up a deck I like better after I've gotten the hang of readings.

That was the advice I had received about 6 years ago.  It served me well.  I've collected other decks since then, but I still love that good old R/W.  To me it's just the 'classic' deck.

[RandallS]

That's very true, and I knew it in the back of my mind. Perhaps it'd be better to use a R/W deck to get used to tarot first, and then pick up a deck I like better after I've gotten the hang of readings.

Given that the majority of general Tarot books out there are based on the R/W deck, I think that it is a great first deck.

[Dragonfly68]

That was the advice I had received about 6 years ago.  It served me well.  I've collected other decks since then, but I still love that good old R/W.  To me it's just the 'classic' deck.

 
My first deck was a R/W.  I hate it, it hates me.  Plain and simple.  And ever time I try and get rid of the ---- thing it hides itself, no joke.

[monsnoleedra]

My first deck was a R/W.  I hate it, it hates me.  Plain and simple.  And ever time I try and get rid of the ---- thing it hides itself, no joke.

My family would say that your trying to force the results vice receiving the results the cards are trying to tell you.  Yet the deck has a hope you'll quiet the mind and listen to what it says not what you want it to say or think its saying.

[Lokabrenna]

My first deck was a R/W.  I hate it, it hates me.  Plain and simple.  And ever time I try and get rid of the ---- thing it hides itself, no joke.

I'm in the same boat, but as Randall said, there are plenty of decks out there that are based on the R/W but with a different art style. The Celtic Dragon is one that is pretty in line with the traditional images (Justice being a notable exception), as is the recently released Crystal Visions Tarot but those are just two decks of many.

[AthenaiiseSofia]

I've decided to try my hand at other forms of divination besides the pendulum, and since there are many resources available for tarot, I decided to start looking into getting a deck.

I remember being told years ago, though, that you're not supposed to buy your own deck(s) — that you're supposed to receive it as a gift. I know that from the other threads on this forum, people buy their own decks all the time. Is there any significance behind receiving a deck instead buying your own, or is it just teenage superstition?

 
Like most of the others said, it really doesn't matter. My mother in law swears up and down that tarot cards absolutely MUST be a gift. However, I bought my own deck and it works the best for me. Plus, if you buy your own, you can choose one that suits you best. My mother in law picks out what she wants and someone else buys them for her, but that seems a bit redundant to me. Unless they're a holiday gift or something, I'd say choose whatever you want and enjoy. =)

[BlueCat]

I've decided to try my hand at other forms of divination besides the pendulum, and since there are many resources available for tarot, I decided to start looking into getting a deck.

I remember being told years ago, though, that you're not supposed to buy your own deck(s) — that you're supposed to receive it as a gift. I know that from the other threads on this forum, people buy their own decks all the time. Is there any significance behind receiving a deck instead buying your own, or is it just teenage superstition?

 
Just a superstition. You'll work up a "relationship" with cards as you use them more, regardless of wether bought or gifted.