Others using your decks?

[Morrigan_Wolfwind]

Yesterday, I bought a very nice set of Tarot cards from a company or manufacturer called Cachet. One of my favorites is Strength :). It came in a box with an nice but rather incomplete book (incomplete in the fact that they only had reversed meanings for the Major Arcana, "because it's the older part of Tarot") and there are only three problems I have with this deck.

One, the cards are REALLY slippery and that makes them hard to shuffle them right. Two, they seem a little bigger than a normal Tarot deck (with height being 5 inches and width being 3.5 inches, but the deck itself is very pretty anyway) and it's kind of hard to hold them since I'm more used to standard playing cards and my hands are small. And last but certainly not least, my sister and neice are using them more than I am.

The most I've managed to do is pull two cards--at different times of day (reversed queen of cups and upright High Priestess later on) and attempt to meditate on the High Priestess at around 1:00 AM because I couldn't sleep, because I ate too much at Applebee's. I have not cleansed the deck yet, although I definitely plan to because... well, read the next paragraph.

My neice and twin sister by contrast have attempted around three readings altogether (in order of sister, neice, sister). They have ASKED if they can do readings on themselves, but so far have not waited for me to ANSWER them. (My whole family is like that including me, and as we're all very close, we're okay with it.) Mind, I would have let them anyway, and thus they generally have my permission, but more to the point: Is it okay if others use your Tarot decks?

[Rurik]

I think it's really more a matter of personal choice. Some of my friends have the querant handle the cards when they do readings and just interpret it for them. But I refuse to let anyone but my girlfriend touch them and only if I say she can because I'd prefer only my energy be on them, and I'll only let her handle them because our souls are so intertwined.

[Temptation]

I don't let anyone touch my Thoth deck. I don't mind people touching my other decks but not this one. The reason is that it's the only deck I use to read for myself and I don't want anyone else's vibes on it.

Like Rurik said, it's a personal choice. If you're comfortable with other people handling your deck, there shouldn't be a problem.
You may experience a little difficulty reading with it if other people use it more often than you do, though.

[Amber Wynd]

When I started reading, I used to ask the querant to cut the deck. From time to time I still do so, but only if I'm having a hard time picking up on that person's energy. Mostly, I don't like anyone except my daughter to touch my cards and I wouldn't be comfortable letting anyone touch them more than I do. But I agree that it's a matter of personal choice and as long as you're okay with it then it's alright.

[Mouse]

I think it's really more a matter of personal choice. Some of my friends have the querant handle the cards when they do readings and just interpret it for them. But I refuse to let anyone but my girlfriend touch them and only if I say she can because I'd prefer only my energy be on them, and I'll only let her handle them because our souls are so intertwined.

Same here!!

[~Elise~]

They are my decks--it doesn't matter who handles them... they are still mine. Their energy doesn't end up on them.

I read professionally and I allow the querent to hold and shuffle the deck. Have never had any problems with anyone else's energy staying in the cards.

Keep in mind that cards are just a TOOL to open up to the other side, nothing more. It is the reader's ability to connect that is important--they are the ones actually doing the diviniation, not the cards.

Elise

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

I allow a few people whom I am close with to handle my decks, just as I would allow them to handle any of my tools. As it was said, I've never had any problems with their energy staying within my tools.

[Rurik]

Like I said, it's a personal choice thing, I won't let anyone handle ANY of my trade tools save for a few trusted people, whether it's my tarot deck and ritual sword, or my chef knife and recipe books, I just don't like other people to touch my tools.

[2steps]

I wouldn't like anyone else to use my cards or any of my tools really. It's not so much that I am worried about their energies but I feel that they are invading my personal space somehow (does that make sense?) I am a very private person and do perfer my things to be for me, that sounds really selfish :ugh: but I don't mean it to

[Morrigan_Wolfwind]

Ah. So it's not so unusual for people to not want others to handle their decks. I guess for me it's a personal thing, because it's MY deck, *I* bought it, and why are you reading it without at least waiting for me to say you could?

I form attachments very easily--just look at my post in the "Do you talk to your deck" thread. Really, I'm finding it harder to let even my twin handle my deck now because I'm getting so attached.

[Verthandi]

When I'm reading for someone that's there physically (as opposed to over the net), I'll have them handle the deck. I don't mind if people use my cards either--friends and the like--as long as they ask. But that rings true with any of my belongings; I usually don't mind, as long as the person is curteous enough to ask for permission.

[stella01904]

It came in a box with an nice but rather incomplete book (incomplete in the fact that they only had reversed meanings for the Major Arcana, "because it's the older part of Tarot")MM ~ Well, they've only HAD since maybe the 1400's to come up with reversed meanings for the pips...c'mon, give 'em a break... :stooges:
One, the cards are REALLY slippery and that makes them hard to shuffle them right. Two, they seem a little bigger than a normal Tarot deck (with height being 5 inches and width being 3.5 inches, but the deck itself is very pretty anyway) and it's kind of hard to hold them since I'm more used to standard playing cards and my hands are small. That's how it is with the Druid Animal Oracle. They were trying so hard to make a big beautiful deck that they made cards the size of TV trays (well, almost) that are very difficult to shuffle. And my hands are not that small.
Note to Tarot and Oracle deck Manufacturers: KNOCK IT OFF! Nothing larger than a standard Tarot deck! And last but certainly not least, my sister and neice are using them more than I am.
THAT is a big metaphysical no-no!
http://www.worldofboxes.com/
Get one of these with a lock on it. Big enough for this and any other heavy-rotation oracle stuff of yours they try to use. Wear the key on a necklace 24/7.
Divination tools should never be handled by others!!!! The exception would be allowing someone to shuffle or draw a card - but only if this is okay with you AND the oracle. My neice and twin sister by contrast have attempted around three readings altogether (in order of sister, neice, sister). They have ASKED if they can do readings on themselves, but so far have not waited for me to ANSWER them. (My whole family is like that including me, and as we're all very close, we're okay with it.)Well, you know what to get them for their birthdays, then! Mind, I would have let them anyway, and thus they generally have my permission, but more to the point: Is it okay if others use your Tarot decks?Only if you are okay with them using your underwear!
BB, Stella

[Astara Seague]

I allow them to look but not touch,{except if I am reading for them then they shuffle them and hand them to me} to me my decks are like my crystals or my tools they are a part of me filled with my energy so I do not allow it, but it is a personal choice

[Morrigan_Wolfwind]

I'm somewhat glad to tell you all that they're not using my deck anymore. I still have yet to cleanse it, (I think I'll use sunlight because I keep forgetting to check the moon outside) but they seem to have lost pretty much all interest now that it's been a few weeks.

And to stella--thanks for your advice. And no, I wouldn't be comfortable with them using my underwear. 8O

Thanks to the rest of you for the advice as well. :wave: