What is the "Right Size" for your Tarot Collection? Are you there?

[Therese]

Optimal size? Interesting that you mentioned 10 decks you are using at the same time. I agree. And this have to be not the same decks for different times. So I think my optimum would be 20 to 30 decks. I think I reached this?? Can't say it for sure as my partner is collecting too and there is some oberlap. I have maybe 2 decks I would like to obtain, but it is not soo important. I rather feel satisfied with my collection at this point. 

[Misterei]

On 1/17/2023 at 7:42 PM, Akhilleus said:

I think reducing my collection to just 40 or 44 decks would be my personal sweet spot. 

That's where I was for the 7 years of living in the Tiny house. I prolly started at around 10 or so ... got into collecting ... had to stop around 40 ... because that's what the shelf could hold. It was a good place to be ... I had PLENTY of decks with 40. When I wanted a new one ... I had to do one-in-one-out. 

 

Since that was the start of my collecting ... I made mistakes ... the mistakes were easy to let go. Now I've gotten better and more targeted ... so it's more difficult to let go of a deck. Every deck has some "reason why".

 

 The increase from 40 to 60-ish was partially due to empty shelf space. All the books and cards that barely fit into my cottage ... filled like 1/4 of the shelves in a normal house. They looked lonely.

On 1/18/2023 at 2:25 AM, gregory said:

Oh dear. I am going to hell.....

Well, you'll be in good company. Prolly a bunch of witches and Tarot readers there. In the nice section. They save the really bad parts for politicians };> Anyway I think "right size" is different for different people. That's what I'm seeing on this thread.

[RunningWild]

I have just under 100 tarot decks and maybe just under 10 oracle decks of various sorts (maybe more but I don't keep track of them as much).  There are decks I'd still like to get but the funds aren't there right now.  How many would I think was enough?  Hmm that's a tough question.  I might not add too many more to my personal collection but I'd be perfectly happy if I was ever able to look at some tarot collectors' stock.  

[Wanderer]

Um... two (RWS and Wildwood). And one of them I don't use except for teaching. Have I come to the wrong place? 😀

 

(To be fair, I'm occasionally pondering whether to get another in order to have a complete contrast in reading style, but haven't succumbed yet... but I'm sorely tempted by the Chinese Tarot and the Prisma Visions.)

[Raggydoll]

Just now, Wanderer said:

Um... two (RWS and Wildwood). And one of them I don't use except for teaching. Have I come to the wrong place? 😀

 

(To be fair, I'm occasionally pondering whether to get another in order to have a complete contrast in reading style, but haven't succumbed yet... but I'm sorely tempted by the Chinese Tarot and the Prisma Visions.)

You’re not in the wrong place 😊. I do have more decks than that, but they all fit in a drawer. And when I tried to come up with top ten favorite tarot decks for the other thread, I gave up. These days I reach for the same divinatory tools over and over, and not many of them fall in the tarot category. I think it’s so nice to see the diversity among readers here, it’s all good! I acknowledge that I go through phases and maybe at some point I’ll be drawn to collecting decks again. Who knows! 

[Wanderer]

1 minute ago, Raggydoll said:

You’re not in the wrong place 😊. I do have more decks than that, but they all fit in a drawer. And when I tried to come up with top ten favorite tarot decks for the other thread, I gave up. These days I reach for the same divinatory tools over and over, and not many of them fall in the tarot category. I think it’s so nice to see the diversity among readers here, it’s all good! I acknowledge that I go through phases and maybe at some point I’ll be drawn to collecting decks again. Who knows! 

Phew - I'm in good company, then! I was joking, honestly, but it's true that I'm aware it's really unusual here to not collect decks to some extent. I'd be interested to hear whether there are others who just use one deck (and not just because they haven't got around to buying the other fifty), but are too embarrassed to say. Me, I'm beyond embarrassment!

[Raggydoll]

1 hour ago, Wanderer said:

Phew - I'm in good company, then! I was joking, honestly, but it's true that I'm aware it's really unusual here to not collect decks to some extent. I'd be interested to hear whether there are others who just use one deck (and not just because they haven't got around to buying the other fifty), but are too embarrassed to say. Me, I'm beyond embarrassment!

😊 I used just one deck for many years when I started out. But once I became active on tarot forums, that all changed 😄

[Misterei]

15 hours ago, Wanderer said:

Um... two (RWS and Wildwood). And one of them I don't use except for teaching. Have I come to the wrong place? 😀

Not at all. The first 15 years of my Tarot journey were in a monogamous relationship with ONE RWS deck. I had been reading tarot for more than 30 years before I got into collecting. Better to have 1 deck you really use than 1001 you don't!

[Wanderer]

6 hours ago, Misterei said:

Not at all. The first 15 years of my Tarot journey were in a monogamous relationship with ONE RWS deck. I had been reading tarot for more than 30 years before I got into collecting. Better to have 1 deck you really use than 1001 you don't!

Sounds like I'm about due to start, then..! 🤣 It is interesting, though, how so many gravitate towards loads of decks. I can totally understand the collecting urge (I have that in spades), but for me it just doesn't apply to Tarot, for some reason - I feel as though something is likely to be lost from the depth of readings that you get with dedication to a single deck, or at least blurred... but I'm sure that others would say that it deepens it instead, because you can focus more on the subtle (or blatant) differences between them.

   Having a collection purely for the artwork or historical context is something I coulds easily relate to, though. Mussst ressisssttt...

[Emily]

I never started out as a collector but as the years have gone by, I do have a sizeable collection of tarot decks, 200 plus, (collected over 21 years) and all were meant to be used - each one was bought with the best of intentions 🙂 And yet the only decks I seem to use are RWS or clones and the Liber T Tarot of Stars Eternal - The Liber T is my special but I'll use just about any RWS that appeals to me - but not the standard one, I really dislike the yellow used all through the deck.

 

I've been out of tarot for quite a few years but my interest has come back so I'm starting again with a couple of new decks, the Tarot Vintage (LoS), a RWS from IXIGER (not sure if this is a knock-off, it was cheap and the backs are black and gold, the quality are good though) and the mini Radiant Wise Spirit Tarot.  All are clones of RWS but are each differently coloured.

 

I think anyone starting out should just go with the decks that appeals to them.  The RWS deck is the most recognised, so many books are illustrated with the images but any decks based on the RWS can use these books.

 

I think deck collection sizes will vary and I don't think you can have too large a collection or too small of a collection.  When I downsize I'll probably only keep maybe 12 decks and that will be it.  🌟

[FindYourSovereignty]

My decks are little art collections to me. Like @DanielJUK described his experience, I do need to be alert to why I am buying because I know it has at times been simply the shopping experience. I have over the years released over 100 decks with several that I’ve ended up repurchasing so, I am reluctant to release decks that maybe it just isn’t the right time for them yet. I am making an effort to be more selective of the deck choices, but with so many people putting their own artistic spin on tarot, it can be difficult for me to pass by. I was surprised to discover my oracle collection isn’t that far behind. 😊

Edited January 30, 2023 by FindYourSovereignty

[Misterei]

12 hours ago, Wanderer said:

Sounds like I'm about due to start, then..! 🤣 It is interesting, though, how so many gravitate towards loads of decks. I can totally understand the collecting urge (I have that in spades), but for me it just doesn't apply to Tarot, for some reason - I feel as though something is likely to be lost from the depth of readings that you get with dedication to a single deck, or at least blurred... but I'm sure that others would say that it deepens it instead, because you can focus more on the subtle (or blatant) differences between them.

   Having a collection purely for the artwork or historical context is something I coulds easily relate to, though. Mussst ressisssttt...

Interesting comments about the depth of connection with a deck. I’m glad i spent 15 years ONLY with RWS. I really learned that deck! The beginning of collecting was motivated by study for me. Either a deck I wanted to study or a deck I wanted to show to students. Thus it was historic decks at first. It sort of grew from there … sometimes into moments of pure consumerism or lust for eye candy. I think the decks that came from a place of consumerism will be the first to go if/when I downsize. @FindYourSovereignty mentioned some decks as little art collections. I think this describes it for me too, Part of the growth of my collection arose from getting into TdM and Tarocchi cards after many years only reading RWS types. I needed to challenge myself so made myself work within the older systems and found I loved it.

 

11 hours ago, FindYourSovereignty said:

My decks are little art collections to me. Like @DanielJUK described his experience, I do need to be alert to why I am buying because I know it has at times been simply the shopping experience. 

Yep … that fine line between collection and consumerism. There IS a difference …  sometimes I get lost … but I’m getting better at discerning

[Karrma]

I have 22 tarot decks and one on the way, the Spirit Keeper's Tarot.  I have one lenormand and a couple of oracle decks.  I love decks with lots of symbolism in them and have 5 decks from people I know as friends.  I love decks from which I can learn new things, such as the Dark Goddess Tarot, where I learned so many new goddesses and learned their true power rather than a small role, and the Mythologia Fennica, which is a way to learn the Kalevala. Only 100 words is my limit and I am at 99.

[Jewel]

I think I have over 200 decks (Tarot and Oracle combined) now, but I also started tarot close to 30 years ago.  Early on I just could not resist tarot decks, so I bought a lot on impulse.  I have really mellowed since then and I have also learned what I like so have if opportunity presents itself I would have no problem selling or trading some decks.  I have no ideal size, as long as I like the decks then I will keep or buy them.  I mainly get decks around X-mas and my b-day, usually no more than 6-10 per year depending if there is anything out there I am interested in.  I enjoy reviewing decks, so I like trying to do a deck of the month where I pull a deck I have not worked with off my shelf and spend a month working with it, review it, and determine if it is something I want to keep or would like to let go of.  I already found my "Grail" deck, so I am no longer motivated by finding "the one" but I do enjoy changing up the decks I read with depending on question or mood so I like I having options.  I do not have any no buy rules, but I usually keep to using the "mad money" I get at X-Mas and my b-day to cover my tarot expenses just because it works out in terms of things I want and finances.  When I am wanting an expensive deck I also usually just tell my husband that is what I want for X-Mas or my b-day and he abliges, I use my "mad money" for the mass market decks I like.

Edited March 8, 2023 by Jewel

[Misterei]

@Jewel what is your Holy Grail deck? If that's not too personal. With a collection of 200 I'm curious which one gets that honor!

[Jewel]

16 hours ago, Misterei said:

@Jewel what is your Holy Grail deck? If that's not too personal. With a collection of 200 I'm curious which one gets that honor!

For Tarot The Alice Tarot by baba Studios/Magic Realist Press.  That deck is just pure magic to me, and everything I could have ever dreamed of in a Tarot deck.  Its quirky, absurd yet makes so much sense just like Wonderland.  For Oracles, the Faeries Oracle by Bryan Froud (which I have had for over 20 years).  If I had to choose between the two - heaven forbid - I would be in a real pickle LOL.

[Misterei]

@Jewel thanks for sharing. Interesting that you love an oracle as much as a tarot.

I have oracle decks ... but I'm not attached to any of them. My Tarots are a different matter, though. I love them waaay too much };>

I don't know if I can say I have a holy grail deck. I have contextual favorites and one that is my "artistic" holy grail.

 

[akiva]

I've never even thought about what the ideal size of my collection would be. Originally my partner and I had an agreement that I could fill this chest I had (it wasn't very big) and when that was full I would stop buying them. Or at least sell one before buying another.

 

Then we bought a wall to wall shelf and drawer unit... 😁 

[Misterei]

1 hour ago, akiva said:

I've never even thought about what the ideal size of my collection would be. Originally my partner and I had an agreement that I could fill this chest I had (it wasn't very big) and when that was full I would stop buying them. Or at least sell one before buying another.

... Then we bought a wall to wall shelf and drawer unit... 😁 

@akiva scope creep haha. It's interesting that you also think in terms of space to put your collection. Not everyone thinks from that angle.

 

I had a similar process when I lived in a tiny house ... there was one shelf unit. If I got a new deck ... an old deck had to go. Then we moved to a normal big house. With built-in shelves and a reading nook. LOL even after putting all my books and cards there ... the shelves were EMPTY. So I started buying cards and books until the shelves looked more full. I realized I was at about 70 decks and I didn't want any more even tho there's still some empty shelf space. It started to feel overwhelming. I want to experience and integrate all the cards and prolly eventually get rid of a few. So approximately 70 feels right sized to me. And fits nicely on my reading nook shelves ... I can see all the decks ... which is super important to me.

[Leila_al_Tolkien]

For me I have two types of tarot and oracle decks. The ones I use normally for personal and work needs, and the ones I buy just for decorative or collecting purposes. I usually only buy decks that I REALLY love the designs of and avoid buying too much by limiting how I store decks. I have a tarot drawer so if it can fit, we don't buy it. xD I also rarely buy decks unless its cat, goth or vampire themed. Occasionally I'll buy anime themes but its only if I really liked the series. There are some decks I liked but later lost interest in that I ended up throwing away cause I never used it and no one I knew wanted it. lol It only really happened twice but after that I realized just being more cautious with what I buy is the best policy.

[Misterei]

15 minutes ago, Leila_al_Tolkien said:

... There are some decks I liked but later lost interest in that I ended up throwing away cause I never used it and no one I knew wanted it. lol It only really happened twice but after that I realized just being more cautious with what I buy is the best policy.

Oh! Sad. I donated decks to my local thrift store ... but this is very convenient for me b/c they're just down the street. Maybe you don't have a thrift store close by.  But yes ... I also had to go through a process to learn what NOT to buy and get very discerning. Sometimes I really like a deck ... but I don't need to BUY it };>

Edited March 11, 2023 by Misterei

[akiva]

7 hours ago, Misterei said:

@akiva scope creep haha. It's interesting that you also think in terms of space to put your collection. Not everyone thinks from that angle.

 

I had a similar process when I lived in a tiny house ... there was one shelf unit. If I got a new deck ... an old deck had to go. Then we moved to a normal big house. With built-in shelves and a reading nook. LOL even after putting all my books and cards there ... the shelves were EMPTY. 

Tarot cards can end up taking up a lot of space, we didnt have the storage even though we live in a normal sized house, and my partner didn't want them littered everywhere!

I absolutely love that you lived in a tiny home, I'd do that in a flash if I had the money and didnt live with two cats 😂

I do still have empty shelf space. Which looks weird to be honest. But i find deck collecting difficult... 

 

7 hours ago, Misterei said:

So I started buying cards and books until the shelves looked more full. I realized I was at about 70 decks and I didn't want any more even tho there's still some empty shelf space. It started to feel overwhelming. I want to experience and integrate all the cards and prolly eventually get rid of a few. So approximately 70 feels right sized to me. And fits nicely on my reading nook shelves ... I can see all the decks ... which is super important to me.

70 is definitely a workable collection for integrating! I think mine is a similar size. It would be easy to reduce mine as theres a few that never see the light of day (which I feel guilty about).

Your reading nook sounds amazing 😁 I'd love for an area like that!

Is it important to see them all to make sure you use them all?

[Misterei]

14 hours ago, akiva said:

I absolutely love that you lived in a tiny home, I'd do that in a flash if I had the money and didnt live with two cats 😂

Here's the thing. Our house isn't the trendy artisan tiny house. It's how working class ppl lived back in 1926. 600sf for 2 people. I suspect the original inhabitants were prolly a whole family. ALL the houses in the neighborhood were built this way. They were for oil company workers. Over the years most houses have been expanded ... but lucky us ... ours is still original. I've also lived in trailers. 18 ft and 35 ft. I've experienced enough of the "tiny" lifestyle to say it pretty much sucks. It got very romanticized ... but it's a difficult lifestyle ... even if you get one of the fancy artisan "tiny houses".

14 hours ago, akiva said:

70 is definitely a workable collection for integrating! I think mine is a similar size. It would be easy to reduce mine as theres a few that never see the light of day (which I feel guilty about) ... Your reading nook sounds amazing 😁 I'd love for an area like that!

Is it important to see them all to make sure you use them all?

Yes ... 70 feels kinda maximal for me. Any more and I couldn't really know them. And yes ... I also feel guilty for the ones I don't use or enjoy. Will sell/dontate/give them eventually.

 

I need to see them all to love them all. It makes me happy to look at them ... my little cardboard darlings 🤣

On a practical level ... If I don't see a thing ... I forget I have it. I've learned to NOT pack stuff away where I can't see it. Cards or anything else.

Also, since I read for clients ... if I want a particular deck for a particular client ... I want to put my hands right on it ... not bumble around looking for it ...

[akiva]

9 hours ago, Misterei said:

Here's the thing. Our house isn't the trendy artisan tiny house. It's how working class ppl lived back in 1926. 600sf for 2 people. I suspect the original inhabitants were prolly a whole family. ALL the houses in the neighborhood were built this way. They were for oil company workers. Over the years most houses have been expanded ... but lucky us ... ours is still original. I've also lived in trailers. 18 ft and 35 ft. I've experienced enough of the "tiny" lifestyle to say it pretty much sucks. It got very romanticized ... but it's a difficult lifestyle ... even if you get one of the fancy artisan "tiny houses".

You know, I never even considered for one moment that the tiny house movement might be romanticized! But it makes a lot of sense. Did it have a second floor?

We have old worker homes here still too. Though I dont think as small as 600sqft.😯 

I can imagine it's difficult living in one  Especially in a consumerist world.

I guess one difference would be if someone chooses to do it rather than has to do it, they may get more from that lifestyle.

 

9 hours ago, Misterei said:

Yes ... 70 feels kinda maximal for me. Any more and I couldn't really know them. And yes ... I also feel guilty for the ones I don't use or enjoy. Will sell/dontate/give them eventually.

I always wonder what it was like back in the day when people only ever had one deck. If they were satisfied with it, or if they wanted more. How would they look at us with our 70ish decks? 

The guilt is real, it might be worth trying to use that feeling to push ourselves to use the ones we dont a bit more.

 

9 hours ago, Misterei said:

I need to see them all to love them all. It makes me happy to look at them ... my little cardboard darlings 🤣

On a practical level ... If I don't see a thing ... I forget I have it. I've learned to NOT pack stuff away where I can't see it. Cards or anything else.

Also, since I read for clients ... if I want a particular deck for a particular client ... I want to put my hands right on it ... not bumble around looking for it ...

I'm kind of like that, except I have to have things near me/on my coffee table. I can end up with various piles of things around me if I don't keep it in check 😂 drives my partner nuts. 

Accessibility is essential (hence my bad habit) it's almost an intuition killer if you have to get up and start bumbling (love that word!) for that one thing you need but cant remember where you put it.

[Misterei]

7 hours ago, akiva said:

You know, I never even considered for one moment that the tiny house movement might be romanticized!

TOTALLY. I got into all the shows and magazines for the design tips ... I've remodeled every space I lived-in ... including the trailers and the 600 sf house ... but having lived in an 18' trailer ... I had no illusions about how great it is.

7 hours ago, akiva said:

... Did it have a second floor?

Nope. 600 sf all on one level. The size of the closets really shows how LITTLE clothing working ppl had back in the 1920s .... before fast fashion and throw-away clothes became a thing.

7 hours ago, akiva said:

We have old worker homes here still too. Though I dont think as small as 600sqft.

In the words of Tupac ... California knows how to party ... The houses are worth crazy amounts of money now b/c next to the beach.

7 hours ago, akiva said:

... I can imagine it's difficult living in one  Especially in a consumerist world.

Exactly. During an extended stay in an ashram in India ... I had very little stuff ... and was completely happy. Back in the USA? It all gets so complex again.  LOL and I'm close to minimalist by normal USA standards. I'm shocked on the DAILY by how much STUFF people have.

7 hours ago, akiva said:

I guess one difference would be if someone chooses to do it rather than has to do it, they may get more from that lifestyle.

The "influencers" all live the artisan tiny houses on 1001 acres of pristine mountain top or beautifully landscaped gardenscape or whatnot. And I can tell you MOST of those ppl have the rest of their shizz in storage somewhere. I am proud that I never put my personal stuff in storage ... it all fit in the house. We did build a shed for tools and whatnot since there's no garage.

7 hours ago, akiva said:

I always wonder what it was like back in the day when people only ever had one deck.

It was fine. I had one deck from 1979 until the mid 90s. I worked the phone lines and wore-out my decks ... so I would burn it an buy another just like it. Then I only had 2-3 decks until about 2018.

7 hours ago, akiva said:

Accessibility is essential (hence my bad habit) it's almost an intuition killer if you have to get up and start bumbling (love that word!) for that one thing you need but cant remember where you put it.

Exactly!