Tarot Taboos

[Ivy Artemisia]

What do you think of the popular traditional tarot taboos/rules?

-No one else should touch (or read) with your cards
-You should keep them wrapped in silk
-You should have a special cloth to read your cards on

Can anyone think of any other ones? What do you think of them? Do you put a lot of stock in the social rules of tarot? :)

[LittleRhiannon]

I used to keep mine in silk, but now their just wrapped with this random green fabric that I found to keep them together, and are in a small wooden box. Just convienence, really.

I don't like people touching them unless I'm reading for them, but other than that I don't take much stock in most of the taboos.

[Mab]

Well, other ppl touch my cards. Doesn't seem to bother them.

I have them in a silk velour bag, but only b/c the cardboard box they came in broke, and the bag was cheaper than a spendy box.

I have special cloths, but only b/c my cards tend to slide on the kitchen counter, and they gather fuzz & pet hair on the floor.

It's all about practicality for me.

[LisaT4P]

Most of the "rules" you'll hear about tarot are a bunch of *insert expletive here*. I think my very favorite one is "Your cards have to be given to you, you can't buy your own." :meanface:

So as far as these you've listed go:

No one else should touch (or read) with your cardsI let people look at my cards all the time. I have several decks and many people don't have that luxury. So, I let them paw through my collection to see if there's any thing in particular they like. I always appreciate it when they do the same. Many times you don't want to purchase a deck unless you see all of it, so sharing my decks with others allows them to make an informed decision about which ones they want to buy.

Recently I attended a group circle where we discussed tarot and about 20 or 30 people handled all of my decks. They are just fine. :)
You should keep them wrapped in silkI don't have any of my decks wrapped in silk. This is based on the theory that your deck will somehow "pick up energies" from the surrounding area. Bullcrap. They are pieces of cardboard. I've left many of my decks in the original boxes they came in. The only ones that I happen to have in special bags are the ones where the boxes wore out, or they came from a trade with a bag.
You should have a special cloth to read your cards onThis actually is sort of practical depending on where you are reading. Like Mab said, if your table or counter is slippery, you may want a more stable surface to read on. I've found cloths to be nice for reading in public places like bars because you never know what might be on that table, and I don't want the cards to get beer or food all over them. Mostly at home I'll read whereever I am, on the desk, on the carpet, on the bed, etc. A special cloth can be a nice thing, but it's not necessary.

Take anything anyone tells you as the "gospel of tarot" with a grain of salt. While there are some rules (see my rant thread) most of the things people tell you is just a bunch of superstition. :)

[elfmage]

I keep mine wrapped in silk in a black velvet bag, but that's because a) it looks preeetty, b) the cardboard box has....... disappeared, and c) the new age shop we used to have here closed down and had a massive clearance sale before it did, so everything only cost me about $7 Australian!

No, I don't really agree with the "rules" regarding the keeping of cards, and the handling of them by others. If anything, are you nto simply going to add different views to your cards, thus giving you a wider insight?

[Draco Celtae]

Sometimes I wonder who had enough spare time to come up with those taboos. haha
As far as Im concerned, none of them hold true (for me anyhow),
The cards are just that...cards, and no matter how much silk or anti-socialism you wrap around them, that fact wont change. I suppose its all pesonal preference though. :)

[coyoger]

Hummm, no.
For one, if you are doing a reading for someone else it is benificial for them to touch the card they want to choose.
Two, silk is fine, but I have always kept mine in a bandanna. They don't seem to mind. And as mentioned, the box it LONG gone.
Three, what's with a special cloth? I use what ever is handy; floor, carpet, desktop. Unless there is some kind of nastiness on the surface, I don't bother.

It really all comes down to being a personal thing.

[Aleigh]

Well, I've never done a reading for another person, but my husband and kids have touched them. I keep them in little cotton bags, wrapped in my lay cloth which is some kind of cotton fabric, and I only use that to keep them from getting coated in cat hair on my floor, which is where I usually read. And I bought both decks for myself. :lol:

[Aidron]

I don't much pay attention to traditional taboos, but I do have my own that may or may not coincide with more traditional ones.

No one may ever (EVER) touch my cards. I don't need your filthy hands and funky energy all over a sacred tool of mine to accurately divine anything. Hands off completely.

They must be cleansed in some form after every reading, whether it be on the phone, online, or in person. I have various ways of doing this, such as energy manipulation for when speed cleansings are necessary or more elaborate ones when time is not of the essence.

When not in use they are properly stored away. I wrap them in a black cloth I use for readings which goes inside a black crushed velvet (or velveteen, I'm not really sure) bag that has an imprint of three feathers on it, which further goes inside a box in my room. The theme of black is important, as is the symbology of the three feathers, but I won't go into that here.

My tarot guide must be invoked before each reading, conversed with often, and has its own shrine in my room. I don't need anymore surprise visits full of "How dare you ignore me" lectures-I've learned my lesson. :holycow:

[Sirène Fantôme]

Let's see. I own two decks. I bought one for myself (another tarot taboo) and the other was a gift from a surprising source. I keep one in a little cotton bag. I still need to get something to keep the other deck in because the cards are just loose right now. I don't think it needs to be silk and I don't even know what that idea is founded upon. I don't have a special cloth to read on, although it would be nice I suppose. I don't like to read my cards on the floor, though because my carpet is a filthy mess. I sometimes use this one particular bedsheet that I no longer have on my bed. I spread it on the floor and then read the cards on that. Other times I read my cards on my bed on top of whatever is covering my bed. I do let others touch my cards, but I would draw the line at certain people. Some people I do not want putting energy into my cards. I'm not so sure about strangers either...... but then again, if you are doing a reading for someone I think it's best to let them touch the cards and shuffle/arrange/pick the cards for themselves. You can always clear the cards later. I don't think having someone else's energy in the cards is always a bad thing, though. The cards that were a gift were purchased at a flea market and had been used. I origionally thought about clearing them, but I don't think I will. They feel good to me.

[Luminessence]

I prefer to have the person I'm reading for shuffle the cards, if I'm doing an in-person reading. My decks aren't wrapped in anything - they're stacked on my bookshelf. And I usually lay them out on the floor when I'm doing a reading, or occasionally on the dining room table. I've never seen the need for a special cloth to lay them out on. Oh, and the one deck that was given to me as a gift is also the one deck that I've never been able to read accurately with (of course, I think that has less to do with the fact that it was given as a gift and more to do with the fact that it was somebody else's deck before it was mine).

[Temptation]

Like someone else said, NOBODY touches my cards unless I'm doing a reading for them. I'm very particular about this. I don't like anyone touching the tools I use for divination. Same goes for my pendulums, NOBODY touches those either.
I always know when someone has touched them because they just don't feel the same anymore. And I'm always right, I usually figure out pretty quickly whose little or big hands have been touching my stuff. ;)

Other than that, I don't care about the other "so called" rules. My cards are all wrapped in some kind of fabric, but not necessarily silk and not always black. I have bought many of my decks and they work better than the ones I have received as gifts.
I like to read my cards on my special cloth, but only because I think it's really beautiful. If I'm not at home I'll read on any surface, preferably natural though, like wood. I tried reading on a metal surface once but it just felt wrong.

[Lunacie]

Another taboo is not getting paid for your readings because you're using a "gift" from the gods and that would be rude. To which I reply, singing is a gift, doesn't stop a lot of singing stars from getting paid, and lots of other similar examples. I figure I'm putting out energy and it's only fair to ask for something in return. Usually I ask for a reading in return, or at least some feedback.

[Aidron]

Another taboo is not getting paid for your readings because you're using a "gift" from the gods and that would be rude. To which I reply, singing is a gift, doesn't stop a lot of singing stars from getting paid, and lots of other similar examples. I figure I'm putting out energy and it's only fair to ask for something in return. Usually I ask for a reading in return, or at least some feedback.


My thoughts precisely. However, I often reply: "It is not a gift, but a skill, and if that is your line of thinking then perhaps you should simply quit your job for you are being paid for your skill, whatever the job may be. Go ahead, live in poverty with your morals. See if I care."

When you offer people a service, it is only fair to be compensated in some respect or another. With me, right now all I want is feedback and practice, that is my compensation. In the future, if I excel at it enough, I have no qualms about using it to provide myself with a bit more income. That money provides me with things that enhance the service, sage bundles for cleansing my deck as well as other ritual ingredients that may very well be used to enhance my own skill with the tarot.

[gillian_greenleaf]

I keep my tarot decks in bags that I like ... no significance other than I want them to be protected and that they aesthetically appeal to me. I sometimes have too little time to create an "ambience" to do a reading, so I center and then use whatever surface is at hand. It doesn't matter to me what that surace is as long as it's clean and doesn't harm the deck. I've bought some of my decks and received others as gifts ... they seem to work equally well if the deck and I respond well to each other. I was trying to use the Fantastical Tarot for a while -- love the drawings -- but we were resistant to each other. I use Robin Wood and the Spiral Tarot now. I'm not picky about not having others touch my decks ... it just depends on the others. Some people I don't want in my breathing space much less touch my tarot.

[colusaskye]

-No one else should touch (or read) with your cards - ONLY people I let touch my cards, can touch my cards. I have issues with germs. What's more, someone decided to read with my cards, shuffled them funny, and permanently creased one of my cards. I don't touch their stuff without permission, don't touch my stuff without permission.

-You should keep them wrapped in silk - meh. Sometimes I just don't have silk. Why go to the store to buy some? I have random fabric that happens to be really nice, laying around the house. If I think it fits the deck, I'l wash it and use it.

-You should have a special cloth to read your cards on - dude, how big is the cloth supposed to be, 5 sq. feet?! I have some big spreads. I have a cloth big enough to wrap my cards in, my spreads are done on the carpet. Tadaa!

I basically go with what works for me.

[cjtarot]

hi,

the other rule i heard is keep your cards in a natural material..cotton/silk...
we skipped the Reading rules..

devide the deck in 3 piles, pick them up with your right hand, deal from the top (I never do), if the person u read for shuffles, they should hand u the cards from their left hand to your left hand (heart to heart-I still do that)...and so on

as far as storing the cards..

I make velvet bags that 1 line with cotton (cause I like it and its easier to sew). I read on a black cloth (my "readiong cloth") just cause I can focus on the cards better and the dark color helps the colors in the cards pop. I keep them in a basket on me dresser

I usually let people see my cards, but I also put the ones I read with most in order or thru insense smoke to clense them from time to time. I love decks and love to show them off (have quite a few..)

oh, the bags and reading cloth are at: www.geocities/magickcottage (I have no problem sharing directions)

BB

cj

[Lunacie]

Hmmm http://mysticwicks.com/images/smilies/ponder.gif, that link isn't working for me.

[Kadynas]

I don't have many "rules" for mine... one they're not covered in anything, just held together with a fancy ponytail holder. :lol: Two, on the rare occasion that I read for someone else, I have them shuffle the deck while thinking of their question to get a reading better "in tune" to them. :)

I also bought my own deck, so there goes that superstition about getting your deck as a gift too! :lol:

[~*Ginger*~]

Hmmm http://mysticwicks.com/images/smilies/ponder.gif, that link isn't working for me.
Try this one...

http://www.geocities.com/magickcottage/

[halfwaynowhere]

well, i keep mine stacked up in thier original boxes on my shelf... the one deck that didn't come in a box used to be wrapped in a silk scarf, but not anymore, i got too lazy... when i let other people touch my cards, i always make sure to handle them before and after, to make sure they keep my energies on them. when reading for someone else, i shuffle the cards first, then ask the person to cut the cards for me, that way they get to put their energy into the reading as well. while i shuffle the caards, i have the person talk to me about their problem so that i keep focused on that issue. i'm really not too traditional about the cards.

[Lunacie]

Try this one...

http://www.geocities.com/magickcottage/
Yep that one works. :)

Quick question: how large do you make your reading cloths?