on NOT buying decks

[nisaba]

Is anyone else *not* buying decks at the moment?

Buying decks can be an addiction, I think. When I was buying, a week without a parcel was a dark, cold week, and I craved parcels and trawled ebay and all sorts of other unlikely places.

Then for a raft of reasons, I consciously didn't buy for a year. To start with, it was awful. It felt like coming off cigarettes or coffee: I really, really wanted to do whatever it was, and felt slightly ill and very flat without it. I think I really did have mild withdrawal symptoms, not that it felt mild at the time.

After some time, I realised I wasn't distressed by it any more. Not buying Tarot decks had become normal (I was buying something else to flesh out one of my other collections, for a while). I wasn't just resigned to it, I was quite content. Not ecstatic, but content.

Over the last however-many months, instead of buying new decks I've been trawling my collection for decks I haven't used in a while. Each week or so I'm pulling out another deck I haven't used in a year or two and spending quality time with it. And honestly, it's almost as good as buying new decks! Better, in a way, because I can look through a deck and think "wow. I already own this, I don't have to pay for it. And I already have fond memories of using it ..."

I *will* buy decks again - 160ish decks isn't even a skeleton crew or a scaffolding for a decent collection. But while I am still content with reviewing decks I already have, I'll continue to do it rather than buying new ones.

 

[Sar]

I did the same as you, tried to be happy with the decks I had, and it worked, but now I am in a route where decks is calling to me again and today the original Mythic came. But I am no collector, I get rid of decks I can't read with.

 

[Barleywine]

I've gone through a similar transition, including pulling out decks I've had for a long time and actually using them. There are now very few decks I seriously crave, and if I buy half-a-dozen a year that's a lot (so far this year I've bought two, and have two more likely candidates, in addition to the Alchemical update I've already backed). I've been burned too often with decks that get rave reviews and then turn out to be nothing special, so I stick any I'm drawn to on a wish list and let them sit there. If they still appeal after a few months, I keep them there a while longer; if they don't I delete them and never look back. Right now I don't need any more "clones" of anything, regardless how inspired or pretty they are. I don't think I'll ever get to "none," but "few" is already achieved.

 

[RunningWild]

Out of economic necessity I've seriously slowed down on the deck buying and I don't have anywhere near what Nisaba has. What I've found from that is that I don't actually want most of the decks I've seen come out lately.

 

[Disa]

A couple of years ago I spent too much buying the out of print decks I just thought I HAD to have... 1st edition Buckland Romani, Victoria Regina, maybe one other I can't remember atm. I'm very glad I bought them and I was convinced I had everything I needed or craved.

I have been very good limiting my deck purchases since, except when Seven Stars makes new things, then I'm not very good at limiting anything

I haven't bought any decks this year that I can remember. I looked at the Hecate Tarot yesterday and thought I might cave, but then I saw the price and I said, "Nope, I'm good".

So, for now I'm not buying decks. I should probably actually get rid of a few when I have the time and inclination to sort it all out. I've got plenty of decks I love and use regularly and plenty I don't use much at all so I think I should put my money to other things.

 

[Le Fanu]

This is so odd you should post this, nisaba. I have been going through the same thing.

I just sort of started noticing a cycle - excited over decks ---> buy decks ---> receive decks ---> gush over decks --> put decks on shelf ---> use old favourites.

This was happening more and more. Plus other things in my life. An urge to buy other things - non-tarot books. Then a new addition to the family in the form of a baby whippet and taking him out and playing with him and watching him grow and run sort of consumed my time in the best possible way. Weeks and weeks went by without tarot purchases and then I would have the occasional Sunday when I could relax in my reading room and play with my cards and I started discovering all those old treasures I have and using them and I have felt the desire for new decks off ebay etc diminish. A significant sign for me was going into a tarot shop earlier this year, seeing decks I don't have - there, right in front of me! - and I couldn't be bothered buying them.

Most of all it was the sense that nothing magical really happens after a new deck arrives. It just goes on the shelf and you find something else to crave.

I have really been enjoying the pleasure of going out in the fresh air with my partner for long walks with the dog. I think it's this. Plus it somehow gets easier to admire decks, think they're beautiful but then never get round to buying them. There are so many decks now that I think "I'll get that one day" but the urge and excitement isn't there. There is no rush, the enthusiasm wanes. And then I don't buy it and my life doesn't feel poorer because of it.

 

[chongjasmine]

I am saving up money to buy new decks.
All from us game system.
Hope I can have enough money to buy them soon.

 

[rylla]

Le Fanu, Barleywine, Nisaba,

isn't this called 'saturation'?

I have the Dark Angels tarot and I like it. The Dark Fairytale Tarot seemed to be the same style so I thought I'd like that too. And yes, it was made somewhat in the same style. When I've got it I looked through it almost in boredom. It's nice, but it did not bring plus value to my other decks that I already have. Of course it's nice to get new decks and look at them - but if this is the only thing I get out of it than it doesn't worth it for me (I have to win the lottery first!).

Since slowly I've realized (with much sadness) that there is no 'perfect' deck out there(which I was chasing for years and years), I try to buy the best in each category and stay away from the rest. (for example there are so many steampunk decks; one of these - hopefully the best one - is enough for me).

So I am in the category of those who did not stop but slowed down buying decks.

 

[Thunder]

I am on a budget and most of the time I don't really have money for anything and I mean sometimes I don't have money for food, clothes, etc. - what can I say, the "good" things about living in Bulgaria So yeah, I am not buying a lot. I have four decks and I use Tarot for 8 or 9 years. If I had the money I would rather spend it on decks than other things or other hobbies because I really love Tarot.
The thing is I know this stuff is seriouly addictive. Soon I will have a b-day and I decided that I want a new deck for a present. So I watched a few reviews on youtube, I checked the online stores to choose something and well ... I chose a lot of things. I really liked five (or maybe more) decks and I had a plan in my head how to buy all of them - it seriously isn't going to work, but hey, dreams are free There were a few nights I fall asleep really late because I was thinking about that decks Then I said to myself that if I couldn't choose which Tarot deck I want I probably should check the oracle decks because I don't have any and it would be a great idea to use another system. This was such a bad idea, I shouldn't have done that.
Anyway ... what I wanted to say is when you are not buying this addiction goes away in a while, that's how you deal with it. But if some deck doesn't go out of your head in a few months perhaps it's time to join your collection (if you have the money of course) and there is a high chance that you would love to use it and it woudln't be something gathering dust in your shelf.

 

[Marcus R]

I only have a small collection...very small. I know I could buy cards any time I wanted, even wanted to spend $65+ on a plastic Ellis. I realised with my level of experience, (naive apprentice I call myself), I don't need to spend big, just study what I have. I decided to only purchase my desired decks if I came across them in a store. Found the Hermetic and Druidcraft this way. Picked up a cheap Conver Marseille too, but am putting a stop to new purchases.

I feel I now have a good representative collection and don't need to surf the net for new bling. It really is a temptation to buy whatever takes our fancy.

Good to see you back Nisaba.