Reading Mat Recommendations?

[BradGad]

I’ve been laying out my cards and my other stuff (candle, crystals, smudging shell) on the silk scarf I keep my deck wrapped in, but for a variety of reasons this isn’t very practical (the silk is slidery and slickery; I have to assemble/disassemble everything every time).

 

I’ve decided I need to outfit the Cosmic Command Post with an actual reading mat.

 

Ideally I’d like something that has some warmth and a relatively organic feel.

 

Oh, and my desk in the Cosmic Command Post is only 20” deep… it would either need to be something not-that-deep, or something that can drape over the edges.

 

Any recommendations? 

 

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by BradGad

[stephanelli]

Hiya @BradGad

 

I like wool or cotton personally.  I knit/crochet/weave and sew, so mine are all handmade but if you don't, you could look for a small table cloth or table runner, or perhaps some cloth table mats.  They are often in cotton. You could look for a wide scarf or wrap you like and then fold it till it fits.

 

Lots of esoteric shops sell reading cloths in a variety of fabrics so you could have a look in your local shop if you have one.  They are often heavily printed which wouldn't work for your organic feel.

 

(Or commission a friendly crafter to make one for you!)

 

Hope that's given you ideas!

[Scarlet Woodland]

I'm mostly using A4 pieces of craft felt these days but might just take up that suggestion to knit or crochet a larger one soon.

 

If you don't mind a bit of hemming round the edges, a piece of heavy canvas or cotton drill would work great, without creasing too much if packed away. If you didn't fancy sewing, then a good sized, calico shopping bag with the handles snipped off could work great actually. I'm sure there are lots of pretty, cotton spread cloths on etsy too.

[Grandma]

Hi @BradGad -

 

I don't use a reading mat. I prefer to spread my cards on bare polished wood. One end of my dining room table is reserved for reading. 

 

[DanielJUK]

Yeah a reading cloth or mat isn't compulsory. Some people have them for spiritual reasons to protect the energy of the deck, some people have them to physically protect the cards. Others for the cute instagram and social media photos with a few crystals and candles 😆

 

I have some I bought from a friend with a small tarot fabrics (bags and such) business, they are velvety on the top side with a backing which stops them slipping, both sides are cotton. I am sure you can easily find fabric cloths from shops or etsy sellers near you or find your own solution, really you can try and find whatever works for you. Often tarot type little shops online do a variety of sizes and will even make to the size you ask for, custom creation. You can often buy small sections of fabric from a fabric shop or haberdashery for not much at all. I wanted some purple silk to wrap a deck in when starting out and a fabric shop gave me a section from off cuts for free! I just got my Mother to make a stitch around the borders. My premade reading cloths are far better and some decks now even come with a matching reading cloth!

 

I do find that the cloth protects the cards from dust and things on the table. I gently washed one of my cloths recently and was horrified how much dust and dog hair the back picked up! Also using it does give me cute photos of my cards with a blue fabric background  😉 I don't use it in every reading.

[gregory]

Never use one myself. Like Grandma, I find a table perfectly fine. I'm more interested in the cards than in appurtenances and rituals which serve to divert attention. YMMV!

[Grandma]

8 minutes ago, gregory said:

I'm more interested in the cards than in appurtenances and rituals which serve to divert attention.

Me too. I can work with solid-colored mats although I prefer not to so there is no reason to use them. Patterns distract the heck out of me. I clear everything off to the side before I read, which is easy to do and fun to undo as I love holding and looking at all my little things and placing them just so. I do smudge with sage before reading, not for the sake of ritual per se - well maybe a little bit - but because I love smudging with sage.

[KiMo]

As a person living in a small property with pets, a young and messy child and an equally messy partner, I can't not use a reading cloth otherwise my cards would end up covered in all sorts of unmentionable yuk 😅 I also have to fit my readings into whatever is the least messy space that day so I like to have a cloth that I can easily fold up and keep somewhere clean and dry until the next time.

 

100% cotton is my preference, not too heavy that it can't easily be stored but not so light that it'll slip around. I also can't use patterned cloth as it's too distracting for me personally. So far I have been able to find some nice second hand cotton scarves in charity shops that work well.

 

With that said, I'd like to start making my own wraps that both protect the cards when they're not in use and also double up as a reading cloth. So I can just grab a deck and unwrap the cloth then and there. If you're so inclined they're very simple to make, just essentially a double sided reading cloth with a ribbon or cord sewn onto one edge to secure the fabric once wrapped.

[Esclarmonde]

I used to use a small square tablecloth for readings, but it wasn't ideal because it was thin and too slippery, so I finally bought a velvet reading cloth. I also find patterns distracting, so the cloth is plain, i.e. one colour. But I could lay out the cards on a bare surface just as well, though the cards slide around too much on a table. 

[BradGad]

Wood would be good, but my desk is glass.

 

Thanks all!

 

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by BradGad

[gregory]

Nothing wrong with glass. As long as the cat isn't under the table.