Guest Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 I've just bought several decks and also got velvet bags to store them in, which has me thinking about the best ways to store my decks when not in use. Obviously, out of direct sunlight and not near heaters and so on, but I wondered how others store their decks when not in use. Do you have a special rite or ritual when putting the cards away or taking them out? Do you have a special box or cloth you wrap them in? Do you display them somehow? (Daniel, if this is in the wrong spot, please move to the right one, thanks!)
gregory Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 NEVER in sealed plastic. Moisture will breed in captivity with ghastly results. I have some that are in a glass fronted bookcase, and some in Big Boxes that are stored like books on shelves, but I hesitate to "display" as such - I have a couple that I bought used that have suffered from long exposures to light. Mine are in chests of drawers and blanket boxes. Those that came without packaging are in bags, mostly from dollar stores - I have a stock of them - or in wooden boxes, also form dollar stores. I do not have any rites or rituals in my use of tarot at all, not when reading, not when shuffling or taking out and putting away.
Sar Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 Preferably in their original boxes. Some have knittet bags, though.
FindYourSovereignty Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 7 minutes ago, gregory said: NEVER in sealed plastic. Moisture will breed in captivity with ghastly results. question for you: sealed plastic meaning airtight plastic containers and/or plastic bags? I ask because we are packing for a move and some will need to be stored for several months. I was intending to use a plastic bin for ease of identifying, stacking and transport, but mostly because I didn’t want water damage or critters, just in case. Now I am questioning this. Thank you for clarifying this further.
Guest Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 36 minutes ago, gregory said: or in wooden boxes, also form dollar stores I never thought of that, and then you can decorate as you like and all for a few bucks. Fantastic tip, thank you! Oh goodness, you have an incredible collection, so you're the expert! Where do you find the space for all of them?
Guest Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 29 minutes ago, FindYourSovereignty said: question for you: sealed plastic meaning airtight plastic containers and/or plastic bags? I ask because we are packing for a move and some will need to be stored for several months. I was intending to use a plastic bin for ease of identifying, stacking and transport, but mostly because I didn’t want water damage or critters, just in case. Now I am questioning this. Thank you for clarifying this further. Take @gregory's advice when they answer (definitely the expert, have you seen their deck list?), but my thought is, unless you're sure it'll be stored in a climate controlled environment, plastic might be your only choice so I would gather some of those packets they put in shoes to get rid of moisture and throw them in the box with the decks. I probably wouldn't wrap them in cloth, because I would imagine that would hold any potential moisture in.
gregory Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 (edited) If you have to do that, get some silica packs like you get in posh electrical things in the mail. (Oh - I see I was ninjaed !) https://www.amazon.co.uk/desiccant-silica-gram-sachet-dessicant/dp/B08QZDPH93/ref=asc_df_B08QZDPH93 Plastic bags - I wouldn't use sealed ones; I'd pierce the odd hole. Bins - a few months shouldn't be too awful, I imagine, specially if you get some silica. But I do know people who have got airtight bins and kept things in them in storage for long periods - and regretted it.... Make sure and cloe them on a very dry day ?! Edited February 12, 2024 by gregory
gregory Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 9 minutes ago, OTarot said: I never thought of that, and then you can decorate as you like and all for a few bucks. Fantastic tip, thank you! Oh goodness, you have an incredible collection, so you're the expert! Where do you find the space for all of them? See this thread.
Sar Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 @gregory I could not imagine having som many deck. How many do you use as working decks?
Misterei Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 48 minutes ago, FindYourSovereignty said: I ask because we are packing for a move and some will need to be stored for several months. I was intending to use a plastic bin for ease of identifying, stacking and transport, but mostly because I didn’t want water damage or critters, just in case. Now I am questioning this. Thank you for clarifying this further. @FindYourSovereignty If you must put them in plastic bins for moving ... use DESSICANT PACKETS. You can buy these on amazon or prolly hardware store for cheap. They will solve the problem at least temporarily.
Misterei Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 1 hour ago, OTarot said: I've just bought several decks and also got velvet bags to store them in, which has me thinking about the best ways to store my decks when not in use. Obviously, out of direct sunlight and not near heaters and so on, but I wondered how others store their decks when not in use. Do you have a special rite or ritual when putting the cards away or taking them out? Do you have a special box or cloth you wrap them in? Do you display them somehow? Usually original box, some in wood boxes or fabric bags. On display. I'm obsessive about seeing them all. No special ritual but i am neat and tidy with them. I treat them as ritual tools that need respect.
Guest Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 Beautiful! Great display, I love that bookcase. I see you have the Steampunk deck, how do you like it? I was thinking of getting a set.
Misterei Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 2 minutes ago, OTarot said: Beautiful! Great display, I love that bookcase. I see you have the Steampunk deck, how do you like it? I was thinking of getting a set. Thanks. I never had all my cards AND cartomancy books in one place before. My virgo moon is beside itself with joy. I especially like the book that came with Steampunk. Written by Barbara Moore. Her writing about the Courts' personalities is a pleasure to read. I used the deck quite a lot 2017-2019. I read a couple of times at Steampunk Festivals with it. Nearly wore it out! Steampunk has a lovely sense of humor. The High Priestess card of that deck is one of my all-time favorite HP cards. At that time I especially liked it for gay, trans, or gender fluid clients. Now I tend to use Pavlov deck for my gays & theys. In either case ... I like to have a deck with some gender-bending imagery in the courts.
gregory Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 (edited) On 2/12/2024 at 8:33 PM, Sar said: @gregory I could not imagine having som many deck. How many do you use as working decks? What EXACTLY does anyone mean by working ? (Were you on AT when someone went for me for keeping them and said I should pass them to other who would use them properly....) Probably a dozen regularly for readings, but I very often take out all sorts when someone asks me something or I want to check a different image and so on. Study as well as reading, like. Edited June 9 by gregory
FindYourSovereignty Posted February 12, 2024 Posted February 12, 2024 @OTarot, @gregory, @Misterei, thank you! I have the packets on the way. I had no idea this could happen and am grateful for these details.
Sar Posted February 13, 2024 Posted February 13, 2024 10 hours ago, gregory said: What EXACTLY does anyone mean by working ? Reading decks, probably. 10 hours ago, gregory said: (Were you =on AT when someone went for me for keeping them and said I should pass them to other who would use them properly....) No, I would never disrespect you and suggest that. You enjoy your collection. ❤️ 10 hours ago, gregory said: Probably a dozen regularly for readings, but I very often take out all sorts when someone asks me something or I want to check a different image and so on. Study as well as reading, like. Sounds amazing!!
Misterei Posted February 13, 2024 Posted February 13, 2024 @gregory and @Sar Interesting bit of semantics ... I find I have different "classes" of decks. Working decks are literally the decks I use to read clients. They go to work with me and make money. Private decks are decks I tend to use for self-reflective readings. Study decks are often historical. I have them to study the visual history of Tarot and to show historic examples to students. Eye candy decks are decks which I have just for the art. I don't read or study with them ... I just periodically look at them as I would a mini art exhibition. Going back to the original topic ... I organize them according to modern / RWS system on one shelf, Tarocchi / TDM / Historic on one shelf, Lenormands and Oracles on one shelf.
Marina Posted February 13, 2024 Posted February 13, 2024 (edited) I keep my decks mostly in their original boxes, unless they were lost over time (or if the deck never came in a decent box). In this case, I have fabric bags for the decks. Never plastic. Half of my collection is in a drawer by my bed, the other half (the ones with the big boxes actually) is in a bookshelf. My collection isn’t big though. Edited February 13, 2024 by Serpentia
Pio2001 Posted February 14, 2024 Posted February 14, 2024 On 2/12/2024 at 9:20 PM, gregory said: But I do know people who have got airtight bins and kept things in them in storage for long periods - and regretted it.... Make sure and cloe them on a very dry day ?! Hello, I think that the main danger is cold, rather than airtight bags. If the storage place gets below 12 °C, water may appear by itself, according to the weather. A cosin of mine got her books ruined because they were stored in a ventiled place, but at freezing temperatures.
Misterei Posted February 14, 2024 Posted February 14, 2024 2 hours ago, Pio2001 said: .. that the main danger is cold, rather than airtight bags. If the storage place gets below 12 °C, water may appear by itself, according to the weather. A cosin of mine got her books ruined because they were stored in a ventiled place, but at freezing temperatures. Any temperature fluctuation can cause condensation. That's why dessicant packs are so useful to solve the problem. Pretty much any product you order these days has a dessicant pack in the box for exactly this reason. For a bin of Tarots I would of course use a larger dessicant pack or several smaller ones just to be safe.
Morwenna Posted June 16, 2024 Posted June 16, 2024 Mine are all in their original boxes if possible, or in fabric. Then they're in wooden chests, or if they're in boxed sets they're on bookshelves. There's one group in a duffel bag. And all in my bedroom.
Mab Posted June 9 Posted June 9 Mine are in original boxes as much as possible and I have used other suitable sized boxes when needed. For example, I have found a box previously containing posh mint chocolates that fits one of tarot decks perfectly, now with a pleasant minty scent! I finally achieved my dream of a huge (and hidden) built in cupboard at the end of the landing, so most of my collection are there now.
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