New or used decks?

[Aliki]

Do you prefer new or used decks?

If you don't mind how you cleanse and connect with them?

Personally if it's a rare one/I can't find and on a good condition i don't mind

 I personally cleanse all my decks and at the same way especially when i first get them so pretty much i just put the deck in order and usually just choose an incense and i pass through it the whole deck few times before and after i pass each card through it then i put it on my selenite bar overnight with some intentions and cleansing crystals above it according to deck type i like full moon baths too and also hold it and see study its cards for a while maybe start with one card a day before i read with them or even do a mini tarot interview spread on a nice respectful space with some candles incense crystals a cloth under it and on the first readings too it may be a bit too much but i like to perceive the process of getting a deck as a ritual connect bond a bit with it and be respectful it's different and personal for everyone so that's how i prefer to do it 🙏

[Grandma]

I prefer new decks because I am a bit obsessive about the condition of the cards. (C'mon Grandma - a bit obsessive?)  I've bought several used decks from friends here at TT&M and from AbeBooks but would hesitate to do so from a random internet seller. There are a few unicorn decks I would pretty much pay a whole lot of money for with less concern for condition, but I am unlikely to get the opportunity. The only ritual I ever perform is putting the cards in order after every reading or study session, and that has everything to do with my OCD-like tendencies and nothing to do with anything magical about the cards. 

[Guest]

I think that given a choice, most would go for the brand new. At least I would. I've bought quite a number of decks for myself and I could count on one hand those that were not sealed when I got them. Those were pristine decks that were basically unused too, so yeah. 

[Scarlet Woodland]

I really and truly don't mind as long as they're in consistently decent condition, all the cards are there and they don't smell of stale cigarettes. Trimmed, incense scented and in a random pouch, without the original box? Cool, they've had a life.

 

If a deck had really bad vibes for some reason, then I'd take steps to cleanse it but not before I'd asked it about itself.

[Raggydoll]

I prefer new because I’m very sensitive to incense. I have had the luck of finding one or two vintage deck that didn’t smell, but most do. The worst thing though is when indie creators decide to perform a ritual with incense before they send out their brand new decks. 
 

I did have brilliant luck the day I found a cheap vintage Roots of Asia deck. It arrived without any smell and I was over the moon. It had been on my wish list for a long time. But I have had to sell on several vintage RWS due to smell. It doesn’t really help to ask the seller if it smells, because those who use incense can typically not tell. And I’ll have people assure me that they never use incense near their decks, yet the deck will show up with a really difficult smell. If I could know for sure that a deck was fine, I’d have no problems buying more vintage. But I don’t buy many decks these days anyway. 
 

Oh, and I forgot to add that I do not cleanse. I will clean a dirty deck and I’ll also put it in order to make sure the cards are all there. I have never had issues connecting with decks. If the deck is a poor reader then it’s because the artwork simply doesn’t work for me, not a lack of connection. 

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by Raggydoll

[Teemu]

I prefer new as well. That way I can be pretty sure the deck is in excellent condition. Smells and creases would anny me greatly. And, I do not know if I am energetic, strong or plainly blunt - so far every deck felt tuned to myself pretty quickly. I dislike rituals, so I I just open the deck and browse through it quickly to check if everything is present, that is it.

[Strength]

I much prefer new, but then I am not a collector. I have 4 Tarot decks and an oracle deck. 

As for cleansing them, I usually put my selenite on top of the deck I have read from for the day. 

[Aliki]

9 hours ago, Grandma said:

I prefer new decks because I am a bit obsessive about the condition of the cards. (C'mon Grandma - a bit obsessive?)  I've bought several used decks from friends here at TT&M and from AbeBooks but would hesitate to do so from a random internet seller. There are a few unicorn decks I would pretty much pay a whole lot of money for with less concern for condition, but I am unlikely to get the opportunity. The only ritual I ever perform is putting the cards in order after every reading or study session, and that has everything to do with my OCD-like tendencies and nothing to do with anything magical about the cards. 

Same I'm obsessive about decks condition too 😅 i would only reach for decks I can't find anymore on used and I'll search so much to see if they're at a good condition when choosing seller

[Aliki]

8 hours ago, Akhilleus said:

I think that given a choice, most would go for the brand new. At least I would. I've bought quite a number of decks for myself and I could count on one hand those that were not sealed when I got them. Those were pristine decks that were basically unused too, so yeah. 

Same but if I can't find something i want and it's at a good condition not cards missing i wouldn't mind much and of course not crazy expensive I don't understand why a used deck could be so expensive even if it's oop 

[Aliki]

8 hours ago, Scarlet Woodland said:

I really and truly don't mind as long as they're in consistently decent condition, all the cards are there and they don't smell of stale cigarettes. Trimmed, incense scented and in a random pouch, without the original box? Cool, they've had a life.

 

If a deck had really bad vibes for some reason, then I'd take steps to cleanse it but not before I'd asked it about itself.

I love what you said ask it about itself cause I've thought of that too how do you do that if you don't mind?

[KiMo]

I tend to try and source as much as I can second hand (within reason), and that includes decks. I don't mind that they're not brand new, but that said most of the second hand decks I've gotten so far have hardly been touched. I am very careful when I check a listing and won't buy if I can't get a good idea of how the cards appear in terms of wear and tear. 

 

My one bad experience was a deck that had obviously been stored with a scented candle and I got a headache any time I tried to use it. Thankfully another copy came up so I bought that one to replace it. 

 

I personally don't feel the need to cleanse the decks in any way. I'll check them through and put them in order, and when I get to using them I'll do a visualisation before reading with them, like I do with all decks.

[DanielJUK]

I may have watched too many horror movies but I have a fear of bring in something bad or a curse with buying random used decks, like buying a doll or haunted piece of furniture 😆. My rational mind says there is 95% this can't actually happen but still a tiny worry you know 🙂 .

 

But then you buy a new deck, it comes shiny and new, many decks now have that plastic lamination and they smell of plastic and chemicals, there is something nice about the old decks and their old book smell!

It's probably better for the environment and your wallet to buy used (not rare or oop) decks but then new keeps the publishing world and artists going!

 

There are probably 3 classes of decks here for me....

 

- Most bought - Brand New. I want this deck and it's just out or it's available in many shops as a mass-market deck. I have always owned it and look after it.

- Second Place - Used but has a connection. Tarot friends over the years have sold / traded or given decks to me. These used decks have a special connection to me as I think of them when using them. Decks are lovely gifts, like books you alway think of the person who gave it to you (if you remember).

- Third Place - Used from random unknown places. I have bought some rare and out of print decks on ebay and Abebooks and other places. Some in good condition, others not. It doesn't affect the reading at all, I don't really believe that someone's energy could affect them or something. But this is probably where I feel least comfortable, I have to have a reason for it because you are never sure entirely what you will get 🙂

[Aliki]

5 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

I prefer new because I’m very sensitive to incense. I have had the luck of finding one or two vintage deck that didn’t smell, but most do. The worst thing though is when indie creators decide to perform a ritual with incense before they send out their brand new decks. 
 

I did have brilliant luck the day I found a cheap vintage Roots of Asia deck. It arrived without any smell and I was over the moon. It had been on my wish list for a long time. But I have had to sell on several vintage RWS due to smell. It doesn’t really help to ask the seller if it smells, because those who use incense can typically not tell. And I’ll have people assure me that they never use incense near their decks, yet the deck will show up with a really difficult smell. If I could know for sure that a deck was fine, I’d have no problems buying more vintage. But I don’t buy many decks these days anyway. 
 

Oh, and I forgot to add that I do not cleanse. I will clean a dirty deck and I’ll also put it in order to make sure the cards are all there. I have never had issues connecting with decks. If the deck is a poor reader then it’s because the artwork simply doesn’t work for me, not a lack of connection. 

 

I totally get that i don't see the point not saying it some may just did that due to sell but it's wrong I don't know if it's possible to smell by just using incense on readings but not the cards though cause i use incense a lot in general and especially the non chemical ones have such a strong smell it could probably go on anything around the room than of course there are smudges and palo santo some may used instead of incense about the smell

[KiMo]

2 minutes ago, DanielJUK said:

many decks now have that plastic furniture and they smell of plastic and chemicals

 

I was going to mention this as well and I forgot! This is something that really bothers me, 'new product' smell that is overwhelmingly chemically. I bought my first copy of the Thoth new, and I really love it but honestly the smell that comes off the deck is overpowering 😞

[Aliki]

1 hour ago, Teemu said:

I prefer new as well. That way I can be pretty sure the deck is in excellent condition. Smells and creases would anny me greatly. And, I do not know if I am energetic, strong or plainly blunt - so far every deck felt tuned to myself pretty quickly. I dislike rituals, so I I just open the deck and browse through it quickly to check if everything is present, that is it.

I totally get that I'm obsessive about my non second hand decks too on condition 

[Aliki]

38 minutes ago, Strength said:

I much prefer new, but then I am not a collector. I have 4 Tarot decks and an oracle deck. 

As for cleansing them, I usually put my selenite on top of the deck I have read from for the day. 

I love that i love selenite when it comes to cleansing and in general i use it to cleanse anything 

[Aliki]

14 minutes ago, KiMo said:

I tend to try and source as much as I can second hand (within reason), and that includes decks. I don't mind that they're not brand new, but that said most of the second hand decks I've gotten so far have hardly been touched. I am very careful when I check a listing and won't buy if I can't get a good idea of how the cards appear in terms of wear and tear. 

 

My one bad experience was a deck that had obviously been stored with a scented candle and I got a headache any time I tried to use it. Thankfully another copy came up so I bought that one to replace it. 

 

I personally don't feel the need to cleanse the decks in any way. I'll check them through and put them in order, and when I get to using them I'll do a visualisation before reading with them, like I do with all decks.

Same i prefer to know the condition of a deck very well like pictures video description etc cause fr some I've seen were not treated very well and I'm a bit obsessive 😅

[Aliki]

18 minutes ago, DanielJUK said:

I may have watched too many horror movies but I have a fear of bring in something bad or a curse with buying random used decks, like buying a doll or haunted piece of furniture 😆. My rational mind says there is 95% this can't actually happen but still a tiny worry you know 🙂 .

 

But then you buy a new deck, it comes shiny and new, many decks now have that plastic lamination and they smell of plastic and chemicals, there is something nice about the old decks and their old book smell!

It's probably better for the environment and your wallet to buy used (not rare or oop) decks but then new keeps the publishing world and artists going!

 

There are probably 3 classes of decks here for me....

 

- Most bought - Brand New. I want this deck and it's just out or it's available in many shops as a mass-market deck. I have always owned it and look after it.

- Second Place - Used but has a connection. Tarot friends over the years have sold / traded or given decks to me. These used decks have a special connection to me as I think of them when using them. Decks are lovely gifts, like books you alway think of the person who gave it to you (if you remember).

- Third Place - Used from random unknown places. I have bought some rare and out of print decks on ebay and Abebooks and other places. Some in good condition, others not. It doesn't affect the reading at all, I don't really believe that someone's energy could affect them or something. But this is probably where I feel least comfortable, I have to have a reason for it because you are never sure entirely what you will get 🙂

Yes oh my i really do know i was so not wanting used decks for that and for so much time i recently started to not mind that much but maybe my obsessive cleansing rituals helped on be more open about them 😅😂