Why do people sell their deck collections?

[Morwenna]

I only have 30-someodd decks so they don't take up much space. But the more I think about them, the more I realize there are some that I'll probably never use. There are a couple that I've been dithering over releasing to the cosmos, but I still haven't decided; and now I can think of a few more. As for my wish list, the finances (thank heaven!) won't permit me to go hog wild, and most everything on it won't be acquired, though the list stays as it was just for me to decide among when the time seems right. I'm not adding to the wish list so often anymore either. I have no backups or sub-collections and I don't want any. If I had every deck that ever attracted me, I would be looking to thin the herd right now!

 

[DownUnderNZer]

In my case, I rather inadvertently ended up with a Tarot deck "collection". I honestly wasn't trying to accumulate decks, but, rather, found myself attracted to and purchasing decks that I wanted to try on for size. After a while, I realized I had multiple shelves as well as a large dresser filled with beautiful decks that simply weren't ever being used by me. Thanks to gifting, selling on the trading section here on Aeclectic as well as selling on Amazon, I managed to find homes for all those beautiful decks that had been languishing in my home. As others have mentioned here, the clearing out of so much space felt good. That was several years ago. Since then, I have never regretted my decision to radically scale back the number of decks I own.

I went through my decks tonight because of this topic and I, as some are still in boxes somewhere, have maybe between 30 and 40 decks.

On the most part they are decks I have bought because I thought they were COOL at the time or I had seen them used on here and seemed...well...on to it. eg Hidden Realms & Madame Endora.

Newest ones added are Froud's Fairie decks.....and I have yet to give them a good go!

And there is one I want to get when it is released ONLY right now I cant remember what it is called, but it is bound to come up on here as there are threads about it. So, I will wait and see...

I love these decks in order:

Both No 1:

1: Radiant RW (Tarot) & Blue Owl (Lenormand)
2: Russian Gypsy
3: Tea Leaf
4: Voyager.

Outside of these the other ones really have lost their novelty.

So, Im now wondering if it worth my time buying new ones especially if they only bring my 5 minutess of happiness and are never used.

Will think on it more....

 

[novenovembre]

I guess for the same reason why they sell old clothes that they used to love, or books they don't intend to read again....or anything else, really....I sold part of my tarot collection last year.....When I began to study tarot, years ago, I bought lots of different decks, but then I decided that I was only going to use the rider-waite to read, and for a long time the other decks were left in a box in my grandmother's loft, because my flat was so small I couldn't keep anything that I didn't really need.....and then one day, last year, I had a chance to sell them, along with books and other things, and I decided that it didn't make sense to keep decks I was never going to use, and I only kept the ones I really liked, and, of course, the ones I use for readings.....selling one's books is just as hard.

 

[MantraTarot]

It's funny... I've asked myself the same question recently.

When I look at my decks, even if I wasn't into tarot anymore, I still would appreciate the art itself. I find all my decks to be beautiful and worth keeping. I bought them for a reason and when giving away decks id rather just buy someone a new one than give away one that I chose carefully for myself and have bonded with. So that's one of the main reasons why we tend to collect so many decks; we only need one, really, but the art can be so captivating and fun to work with.

However in terms of giving away and selling decks, I would then have to think that the main reason would be finances, and a close second reason would be due to a loss of interest/renunciation. I've always felt that if the time ever came for me to sell or giveaway my decks, that it would mean I was done with tarot for good and was going to become a nun or something.

 

[novenovembre]

It was exactly the opposite for me.....I lost interest in the other decks when I got seriously into reading tarot, and realized I wasn't ever going to use some of them.....I guess I hadn't "bonded" with them..... I did keep the ones I liked the most, though. And one that was a gift from a friend.

 

[VGimlet]

Right NOW I am not interested in getting rid of any of my decks. As a collector as well as a reader I have some decks just because I like the art, or whatever, so I'm in no hurry.

I have gifted and passed on decks to other when I get duplicates (I have a standing request with the library book store for any tarot decks that come through, and people will gift me decks I already have...)

Aside from needing money, or wanting to clear space, I can also see someday wanting to downsize my collection to the decks I like, and getting rid of decks I don't love. I love a lot of decks.

 

[Chiriku]

In the 17-odd years of my deck acquisition, I have divested myself of one (1) deck; I'm the wrong person to offer insight into why people get rid of decks short of financial devastation.

I am all for selling and clearing clutter I just sold all my baby stuff on gumtree but tarot decks gosh I couldn't do it, well not right now but you never know.

As a stuff-oriented person down to my bones (who has, many times, had Le Fanu's experience of striking up a beneficial acquaintance with an item that has theretofore spent many dormant years under my roof), yes, even I feel an organic need to "downsize."

There is no doubt about that--I would be happier with less things around me.

However, there are about two thousand and one different "things" of which I'd sooner divest myself---documents that want shredding, books, clocks, old winter coats, boots, watches, an electronic keyboard I haven't turned on in 7 years, furniture, a scanner/printer I recently replaced, and half a dozen kitchen appliances I can't be bothered to use---before getting rid of even one of my lesser-liked tarot decks.

Of all the things I own, tarot decks take up the least amount of space, even en masse, and provide the greatest potential benefit in the long run.

They don't go out of season or style (not that I really attend to such things), you can get a lot out of artwork even when you don't like it, tastes in art often change over time, and anyway---decks have a built-in function independent of my feelings about their artwork. (And failing that, there are various ways to press into service a deck one doesn't use for reading or playing games).

Nope, tarot decks will be the last thing to go unless I find myself in emergency need of money for a greater good (i.e. besides my own frequent need for rent/food)--bailing out a relative from jail, for instance, or raising funds for an overseas plane ticket to visit an ailing loved one.

I can only speculate that for those who get rid of decks, "downsizing" is much more essential to their immediate mental health and well-being than it has been to mine. Or they could come from families or cultures in which spartan environs are the norm and in which having large amounts of personal possessions has never really been an acceptable option.

 

[Lourdez]

I went through my decks tonight because of this topic and I, as some are still in boxes somewhere, have maybe between 30 and 40 decks.

On the most part they are decks I have bought because I thought they were COOL at the time or I had seen them used on here and seemed...well...on to it. eg Hidden Realms & Madame Endora.

Newest ones added are Froud's Fairie decks.....and I have yet to give them a good go!

And there is one I want to get when it is released ONLY right now I cant remember what it is called, but it is bound to come up on here as there are threads about it. So, I will wait and see...

I love these decks in order:

Both No 1:

1: Radiant RW (Tarot) & Blue Owl (Lenormand)
2: Russian Gypsy
3: Tea Leaf
4: Voyager.

Outside of these the other ones really have lost their novelty.

So, Im now wondering if it worth my time buying new ones especially if they only bring my 5 minutess of happiness and are never used.

Will think on it more....

Gosh you and I have similar taste in decks. Great minds huh hehe!

Ok so the Russian Gypsy I have had for probably around 10 years but never read with it can you believe it? This thread has made me rotate again. I am going to reach every single deck if its the last thing I do hehe!

I'm on Madame Endora this week gosh she's straight up isn't she? Love a harsh deck.

 

[Inconnu]

I've done this. About 6 years ago I hadn't been active in Tarot for long enough to allow me to rationalize I'd permanently lost interest. So I sold off 30 packs, (some collectable) on ebay. Just a couple of months ago while doing on line research on the Golden Dawn I found this site & it rekindled my interest & I've been pursuing it again with great enthusiasm.

I've also sold off guitar & amp collections a few times through the years when I was sure I was spent musically. I was really sure.

I'd love to have some of those chestnuts back, (both guitar & Tarot).

But I was really sure...

Oh well, can't help it bout' the shape I'm in...

 

[DownUnderNZer]

Gosh you and I have similar taste in decks. Great minds huh hehe!

Ok so the Russian Gypsy I have had for probably around 10 years but never read with it can you believe it? This thread has made me rotate again. I am going to reach every single deck if its the last thing I do hehe!

I'm on Madame Endora this week gosh she's straight up isn't she? Love a harsh deck.

I have decided that with what decks I dont resonate with I will give to family or friends if they are into cards and respect Spiritual & Esoteric things etc.

I will never part with Blue Owl, RW, Russian Gypsy and/or the Tea Leaf.

My main two are Blue Owl and RW though and they go with me everywhere.

I dont think I will part with Froud's Fairie sets either or the Hidden Realms or Madame Endora.

I think I will still buy more just to see if I can work with them or at least appreciate the artwork as it is so exquisite and colorful. Any new ones that dont "connect" though depsite the artwork I will put aside to give away.....

That is my decision.