Your Decks' 'True Name'

[alyce]

For some years now I've assigned personal names to the decks I use most, or otherwise feel the strongest connection to. I feel like the careful deliberation this requires really puts me "in tune" (so to speak) with the character of each deck and its artwork. At the same time it feels suspiciously like kid stuff-- but only outside the comfort of my own home. Who else names their decks? And why/why not?

 

Sincerely looking forward to your answers 😄✨

[euripides]

Interesting. I don't think this would work for me as there are so many characters within a deck. I can see how it works though, with decks that bear their creators names - the Rohrig and the Blake - they are certainly their own selves. But I'm not sure that I'd confer a different name on a deck. But I do have difficulty with names, never like the user names I choose for myself in forums.

 

So the next question is, what have you named your decks, and why? Please share if you're comfortable to do so!

[alyce]

On 8/31/2019 at 8:38 AM, archimedea said:

Interesting. I don't think this would work for me as there are so many characters within a deck. I can see how it works though, with decks that bear their creators names - the Rohrig and the Blake - they are certainly their own selves. But I'm not sure that I'd confer a different name on a deck. But I do have difficulty with names, never like the user names I choose for myself in forums.

 

So the next question is, what have you named your decks, and why? Please share if you're comfortable to do so!

 

Decks do have many characters, yes, but don't you find that taken together a deck leaves its own character impression? The working names of my decks I'm a bit hesitant to put out there, but I considered names like Atollie for the Mermaid tarot, and Lyssandère for my Centennial Smith-Waite. Fancy things but not necessarily long (and definitely not with apostrophes-- that would be the domain of generic fantasy 😅). As for why, an atoll is a type of aquatic island formation so links with the theme. But many decks don't have very many related words to adapt, so another naming approach is needed. I appreciate the interest.

Edited September 1, 2019 by alyce

[zedekiel]

Hi @alyce, im really interested in your process for this! You said you consider certain names and use deliberation to find the right ones for a bit. What are the steps you take? Is there any involvement with your decks that you do? Such as, doing a reading for the deck's name to see where it sits on its own title or if it has any ideas of its own for themes/directions to go? I think I would love to name my deck so I'm very interested in your process.

[bookshop]

I've definitely named other things in my life; I named my piano Maayah (an anagram of Yamaha) and my guitar Rex Stout, and my spider plant Arthur after the wiry little point man from Inception, haha.

 

I think this is potentially a really nice idea, and maybe if I named certain decks I would feel more drawn to them than I am. But I don't think it would work for all decks. I love love love the Sakki-Sakki deck but there's something about that name that fits the spirit and energy of the deck so well already that I can't see myself gravitating towards another name for it. The Brady Tarot is another one where I feel like the deck gains a bit of appropriate gravitas from the name.

 

I can definitely see myself giving a name to my cantankerous Slow Holler deck, though, or to the Radiant Light tarot, whose name just doesn't quite reflect what an extraordinarily beautiful deck it is to me. 

 

What other decks specifically would you like to rename? If it were me, I think I would focus less on the keywords associated with a deck and more on their general vibe and spirit. 

 

You can also try naming decks after fictional characters you love to see if that sparks any connections. For instance! My mermaid deck is Dame Darcy's Mermaid Tarot and I looooove it, it has a nice blend of both South Pacific and Caribbean-influenced cards throughout it as well as a wide historical mix, from World War II-era sea stuff to British Victorian navy vs pirates. It's a really hard deck to name just based off keywords because there are so many different ideas in the deck.

 

But if I think of it in terms of fictional characters, I might be inclined to name it after, say, Timoune, the heroine from Once On This Island, which is a retelling of the Little Mermaid! Timoune ends up undergoing a metaphysical transformation that fits the spirit of the deck, as does the musical's oceanside Caribbean tone.

 

Just some thoughts!

[zedekiel]

A few days ago I was doing some very intensive tarot ritual. At the end (after 8 hours of... loose ritual. I had washroom breaks ) as I sat with my deck and thanked it and the universe for all the work that was put in my mind started to wander and I almost was just having an absent chat. I said to my deck, "Oh yes, I forgot I still will like to find a name for you. I wonder what your name is." and very clearly I heard "Wilgrim." My mind, very exhausted from all the work (I had started at 12am and it was now 8am) almost completely missed it even thought I heard it, and I absently turned my attention towards a plant in my room that ive also been looking for a name for. I said, "Hm, I also need to find a name for that plant." and then louder I heard "Wilgrim!" to which I was like "Oh, Wilgrim, I've never heard that name before. What a lovely name for a plant." I almost heard the slap of my deck facepalming and all of a sudden I came to full awareness and got very excited: "Wait! Wilgrim! Wilgrim! That's your name, isn't it!?" It was a very funny and nice moment and now my deck has a name aha

[Jewel]

I have plenty of other things with names (like my 🚘) but the only deck with a nickname is my Cosmic Tribe who I call “the naked people deck” for obvious reasons 🤣

[Carla]

On 9/19/2019 at 7:08 AM, zedekiel said:

A few days ago I was doing some very intensive tarot ritual. At the end (after 8 hours of... loose ritual. I had washroom breaks ) as I sat with my deck and thanked it and the universe for all the work that was put in my mind started to wander and I almost was just having an absent chat. I said to my deck, "Oh yes, I forgot I still will like to find a name for you. I wonder what your name is." and very clearly I heard "Wilgrim." My mind, very exhausted from all the work (I had started at 12am and it was now 8am) almost completely missed it even thought I heard it, and I absently turned my attention towards a plant in my room that ive also been looking for a name for. I said, "Hm, I also need to find a name for that plant." and then louder I heard "Wilgrim!" to which I was like "Oh, Wilgrim, I've never heard that name before. What a lovely name for a plant." I almost heard the slap of my deck facepalming and all of a sudden I came to full awareness and got very excited: "Wait! Wilgrim! Wilgrim! That's your name, isn't it!?" It was a very funny and nice moment and now my deck has a name aha

Wilgrim is an awesome name! What a great story. 

[zedekiel]

@Jewel That name is most certainly a good way to remember and evoke the images of that deck hahaha

 

@Carla Thank you! It fits the deck quite perfectly I think and is especially interesting since I very sincerely have never heard it in my life before

[Jewel]

6 hours ago, zedekiel said:

@Jewel That name is most certainly a good way to remember and evoke the images of that deck hahaha

 

@Carla Thank you! It fits the deck quite perfectly I think and is especially interesting since I very sincerely have never heard it in my life before

I love my “naked people” deck they are comfortable in their skin and as natural beings of this earth. Never thought that deck would be so special to me, but it “sang” from the moment I looked through it for the very first time. I have other decks that “sing” but that one is bold and proud 🤣