might be a dumb question...but

[ckynes1968]

I belong to some group on yahoo and this person emailed me that in order for your tarot cards to read correctly, the cards have to be from a gift and not purchased by you. Is this true? I was all set to buy a beginners deck/book. I don't know how I could talk a family member into buying me a set.

[Ryhla]

That to me doesn't make sense. What if the deck was not meant for you? I would think that by getting your own deck they would be a bit more in tune with you. Not to mention, if you're a beginner, you could get a deck that would be easier for you to learn with by finding one for yourself. Of course, you can suggest a deck for someone to get you and they can buy it and then give it to you.

[Rain Gnosis]

There's at least one other recent thread on this here in Tarot. The short answer is many people, including myself, disagree with that. I've never been given a deck, and yet all mine work beautifully - perhaps more so because I *chose* them.

[Morrighana]

The deck I use most happens to be a gift, but that is sheer coincidence. My local bookstore happened to begin carrying it a few weeks before Yule, so I didn't have a chance to buy it myself before one was given to me. I knew it was the deck for me the moment I saw it's images, not when I unwrapped the box, you know?

[Azure]

I have several decks, all of which I have bought for myself, and they all work just fine.

It has more to do with how you relate to your deck than anything else - chose a deck because you like it and want to work with it.

[Old Witch]

I bought my decks and they work wonderfully for me.........

[AmbivalentMirage]

I bought one deck and made one... they both work magnificently. :) Do whatever feels right for YOU. If YOU want to buy them, then go ahead with it!! :)

[Tiarcana]

WHAAAATTTTTT? I'm 28 and bought my first deck at the age of 12... that's where I got my name (I usually go by just Arcana which my non-pagan friends labeled me in high school after I tried to explain the cards to them)! I'm not a pro and I have only done spreads for about three others in my life (not counting my amateurish tries at a young age), but am very confident in my "skill" to interpret my own draws and no one I know would even think of buying me a deck of tarot cards... half of them think regular playing cards are sinful!

That is the wonderful thing about paganism... it is unrestricted and you don't have to live by a book of rules. Go with what feels right!

...and god/gods forbid, don't expect the same results Madame Cleo can produce, it just doesn't happen! I usually use the deck to help make a decision when I come to a crossroads situation. I sometimes go for a year in between readings now simply because being a married mother does not carry a lot of necessity for decision making.

:p -Tiarcana

[AmbivalentMirage]

WHAAAATTTTTT? I'm 28 and bought my first deck at the age of 12... that's where I got my name (I usually go by just Arcana which my non-pagan friends labeled me in high school after I tried to explain the cards to them)! I'm not a pro and I have only done spreads for about three others in my life (not counting my amateurish tries at a young age), but am very confident in my "skill" to interpret my own draws and no one I know would even think of buying me a deck of tarot cards... half of them think regular playing cards are sinful!

That is the wonderful thing about paganism... it is unrestricted and you don't have to live by a book of rules. Go with what feels right!

...and god/gods forbid, don't expect the same results Madame Cleo can produce, it just doesn't happen! I usually use the deck to help make a decision when I come to a crossroads situation. I sometimes go for a year in between readings now simply because being a married mother does not carry a lot of necessity for decision making.

:p -Tiarcana
I don't know many people who WANT Miss Cleo's results! I certainly don't envy her jail time. ;)

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Ckynes, you might find this thread interesting
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?threadid=20181&highlight=tarotbear

[zakzekezedd]

There is no reason not to buy yourself a deck of tarot cards. I know a lot of people do believe that you can not buy a deck of cards for yourself, but that's just another one of those weird "tarot myths" that are hanging around. If you have found a deck that speaks to you I would advise going ahead and buying it.