Up until I moved to Seattle, I seriously always had a standard deck of cards on me. You never know when one will come in handy.
My favorite deck actually lives on my window sill next to my bed and desk, never far from reach, and even closer to the deck I actually want to talk about- one of my tarot decks.
I know what you’re thinking, but tarot decks are actually fairly useful little beasts. I have two. My first was given to me when I worked in a game shop. A friend bought it for me as a birthday present because it was Lord of the Rings and the artwork was very Celtic in nature. I thought it a bit odd at first since I’ve never actually expressed an interest in owning a tarot deck. I didn’t really see the point in owning one.
Shortly after that deck came into my possession, a favorite blogger gave me a great idea for using a tarot deck, which in turn led to another favorite use. He uses it in his coaching to help people focus on things. It’s a great idea. The art on these decks tends to be very vivid and full of symbolism. Find one that speaks to you and reflect on what it makes you think about, or how it makes you feel.
Very quickly, I realized that deck was also great for breaking through writer’s block. If I needed to write, but just couldn’t, I’d pull out a random card and tell a story about some aspect of the card’s art. I actually have some interesting short stories that came from drawing a tarot card.
I have a second deck now, and I use it for the same things. I write stories with it. I just think on the art. I think I’ve actually thrown tarot a couple of times for friends who seriously didn’t get it. (I also made one of them use it for reflection…I don’t think she got that, either.)
Oddly enough, the tarot was actually designed as a deck of cards…just like my standard decks right next to it. I could eliminate roughly twenty cards from it and start up a great game of Egyptian War or Crazy Eights with it. Actually…that would be rather fun with the LotR deck…
The tarot deck…more than a new age divining device. Who knew!