Peggy’s Guide to Saying Yes to the Deck – A Semi-Official Checklist

1. Swearing. There will be swearing.
2. There will also be no other disclaimers, because you are a grown-up (I assume) and don’t need that shit

Now, let’s dig right in.

1. What’s your budget?

 Money first.

If you’re choosing between decks with very different costs, will you actually  benefit from choosing the cheapest deck? Obviously, it’s a bonus if the deck  you want the most is also the cheapest. On the flip side, buying a deck you aren’t excited about, just because it’s affordable, isn’t always the best choice (don’t tell Lisa I said this).

Maybe that can be the deck you ask for as a gift or it can be the thing you buy when you just need a little shopping therapy. But, making a purchase solely based on cost can lead to disappointment (shhh, seriously our little secret, mkay?).

Five $20 decks, that you might use a few times before getting bored and never use again, is a far bigger waste of money than one $100 deck that really excites you and gets you engaged in your tarot practice.

Also, don’t forget…

(math lesson in 3..2..1..)

… that those 5 decks, once you add shipping and taxes and sometimes duties, will cost you far more combined than that single expensive deck. Consider setting aside the money you have now, and come back once you’ve added a little more cash to the pile.

Now, which deck(s) are still catching your attention? If you’re into collecting decks (having little to no concerns about whether the deck gets used), then being able to afford all 5 cheaper decks at once can end up being a major bonus. If you’re looking for a deck to cuddle up with, then saving your way to the most expensive deck on your list will feel just as awesome.

Regardless of what final choice you make, you’ll feel much better if you can choose what you really want instead of settling.

As your Queen, I demand the best for you – never settle!

If you don’t have a budget, why not?

You don’t have to have a budget, or an apology or an explanation (unless you’re Lisa) for why you don’t have a budget. But, it’s always important to inject a little self-awareness.

Do you just not buy decks all that often? Are you comfortable enough financially that it’s not an issue for you? Or (…drumroll…) Do you really need to consider a budget and are just avoiding the issue?

Sometimes the ability to make purchases without a lot of thought means you can end up with a large amount of stuff that you continue to put no thought into once you have it home. I say sometimes because if your focus is on  collecting, then that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you’re working towards a deeper tarot practice, and other personal goals, you may want to put yourself on a budget just to give yourself a reason to think about what you want from any particular deck that’s caught your attention.

Sometimes a budget isn’t about the money, and it could be a helpful tool for you. Then again, you could be like “nah. I’m good” and that’s fine too, but at least you’ve taken a minute to have a little check-in with yourself, which is never a bad thing.

Wait, why is the first question about budget/money?

As with most things in life “how much?” is usually the first question. It’s the single biggest hurdle most of us will face when buying anything and frankly, there’s no point in shopping for things you might not be able to afford or, more often, might not be willing to spend the money on.

There really isn’t much more to it than that. As they say, money makes the world go round, and whether it’s the first, or the last thing you look at, you WILL have to look at it just like you would with any other purchase.

Start with a plan, instead of ending up at a roadblock.

2. What do you like about it?

Ok, this one can ramble all over the place. (ok let’s face it, everything I do rambles)

First, you have to sort out why you want any particular deck, then you have to work out whether that’s a “good enough” reason to want it. Fun times!. As Lisa often says “some decks come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime” (though I’m sure it was about friendship, and she ripped off the original quote – she’s shameless).

Why did this deck end up on your wishlist in the first place? What is it you like about it?

You can sometimes talk yourself out of wanting a deck for exactly the reasons why you originally talked yourself into wanting it in the first place. “The fuck?” you say?

Most of the time our initial reasons for wanting something are reactive:

“OMG!! it’s so pink!”
“Look! It has a Uniiiiiccccccoooooorrrrrrrrnnnnnn!!”
– Excerpt from The Book Of Lisa

Making a decision from our ‘reactive place’ can end badly:

“WTF?! There’s only one unicorn in the whole deck!”
“…and none of my bags match the shade of pink on the backs!”
-Also from the book of Lisa (…send help)

So with that in mind (and Google powers activated), taking the time to think about what you like about a deck can also give you a chance to cool off and notice anything that might make buying the deck a bad idea for you. This doesn’t mean any deck is inherently good or bad. But, the truth is a great deck for someone else can end up being a really bad deck for you. 

3. Do you already have a deck with a similar theme or idea?

If so, do you have too many?

So let’s say you love cats and you already have 18 cat decks. How will getting yet another affect how you use your current decks? Will this even matter to you? If you’re determined to use every deck to its fullest potential, then another cat deck could either be a bad idea, or require you to give up one (or more) of the cat decks you currently
have. Are you so confident in the awesome amazingness of this new deck that you’ll have no regrets over having to make room by getting rid of one that you already know and love?

On the other hand, if collecting cat decks is your thing, then the only question is, “is there really any such thing as too many cats?” Don’t worry.. the cats aren’t real, and you won’t be asked to submit your answer for evaluation. (Note to self: don’t forget to use the word ‘fuck’ soon, it’s been a while)

If no, why not?

Welcome to yet another “what the fuck” moment. 

If you collect decks and the one you want will fill a gap in your collection, that’s probably a good thing. It’s also a good thing if you’ve been really wanting a deck to fill a particular niche you’re interested in with a more  relatable/targeted deck. 

Not so good if you want it only because it fills a niche, but you don’t collect and have no interest in reading on the topics that the deck is best suited for. 

Like seriously, it’s not a question, it’s a fucking trap. 

Sometimes I like to suggest making a pro/con list of what a “gap filler” deck like this will and won’t do for you so you can visualize and contemplate each individual point.

It’s a problem when you want a deck because it fills a niche that you ‘might’ want to explore ‘someday’, but you also know having a deck that just sits without being used will bug the shit out of you. If it’s your style to purchase for the future that’s great, but if you want a deck you will use right away then that deck is probably not for you. 

Many decks these days have some kind of theme around them. So the trick here is to identify the theme, determine if it’s something you want to explore, and decide if that deck will work for you, especially if its intended focus is not of interest to you. IE the aforementioned cat deck is a waste of your money to fill a gap in animal decks if you happen to be one the world’s truly evil people who dislike cats (sorry, I’m projecting a little).

I’ve passed on some truly amazing decks for no other reason than that the theme of the deck was not related to any kind of reading that I would ever want or need to do, and I do not generally collect decks. I also make it a point to keep my collection very small. 

It’s not about the quality of the deck, but the quality of what it will bring to your active practice and/or your collection. 

If yes, how often do you reach for that deck?

Obviously it’s your practice and your money but if you are someone who does not collect decks then it’s a bit of a red flag if other decks of a similar style/theme are currently gathering dust (because you didn’t put it in a bag, but that’s a different problem). If you collect – great. 

But if your intention is to actively use the deck, and some or all of your current decks with a similar feel are being ignored… yeah you’re probably not going to use this deck either. Sorry to burst your bubble. Here’s an arbitrary “fuck” to make you feel better 🙂

4. Will you be able to read this deck right out of the box?

Is it based on a familiar-to-you system? Do you roll with RWS? Thoth? Marseille? Do you love pip decks?

If the answer is yes, you’re good – unless the whole idea is that you’re looking for something new to learn. No worries, we have questions for that. This is your interrogation after all. We aim to please.

Back to collecting. As a collector, consider whether you’ll be more satisfied with decks you can use vs decks you can’t because you don’t have the time or interest for deck studies. Obviously this is very much dependent on where you reside as a collector. It’s been my experience that most collectors also use their decks and enjoy the learning process. How much importance you place on out-of-the-box usability is really a sliding scale that you have to determine for yourself.

If not, do you enjoy learning the meanings and symbols of a new deck?

Many a deck has ended up in deck purgatory for having a learning curve. If you don’t enjoy the process of learning a whole new system, it’s not your fault, it’s not the deck’s fault. It’s just a relationship that was never meant to be. It’s also a deck you probably shouldn’t buy. 

Okay, so you don’t mind the learning curve. But do you have the time for that?

Learning new things can be fun and rewarding. But not if you’re so busy with life, adulting and other things, that you just really don’t have the extra time to spend. 

Or, maybe you’ve already filled up the extra time learning with another deck and don’t have the time for two learning curves at the same time. Multiple deck studies isn’t a lifestyle for everyone and you shouldn’t be ashamed. (polyamory joke… I’m hilarious) 

Just be honest about your needs and focus on the learning curve that works best for you.

No, seriously, is this deck going to sit because you won’t have the time to actually learn about it for weeks or months?

Learning new things can be hard especially if you don’t have the time to really give it your full attention. Also, remember that passing on a deck now doesn’t mean you have to pass forever. The point here is that if you’re deciding between multiple decks, there’s no point in considering the deck you already know you won’t use.

Decks range from beginner friendly with keywords out the wazoo (my fave) to decks that need a very involved process to even get started. Being aware of what you want to get out of a deck is IMPORTANT. Being aware of your experience level and the learning curve of a deck will go a long way to helping you decide whether it’s the right deck for you.

5. Does this deck have a limited use?

There’s niche/theme decks – animals, self care, relationships etc. But has this deck gone full niche-ception? Is it so specific that you feel you can only use it for very specific circumstances? Like every May 12, at midnight, but only if it’s a full moon, and you can only pull 3 cards? If a deck revolves so closely around a specific person(s), ruleset, event or idea, that it’s useless in almost all other situations, then you really have to assess its value to you as a collectible item. Because, honey…. You will forget about this deck almost as soon as you finish opening the packaging. Some decks are great in theory, bad in practice and have a very, very (oh so very) limited appeal.

6. Did you research this deck?

Google that shit – I’ll wait.

….

…

..

Did you do the google or are you pulling a fast one on me?

This isn’t going anywhere – now off you go…..

Seriously? What did I JUST say?

Google, watch videos (my wife has a YouTube channel… just saying), or post online (cough Supportive Tarot facebook group cough). The last thing you need is a house full of decks you don’t like. It’s not only frustrating, but it’s  demotivating.

Even as a collector, you may eventually come to regret a house full of decks you can’t or won’t actually be able to use.

So, what deck is left on your list after all this? 

Congratulations! That is the deck to say YES to!! 🙂 Yay you!

Enjoy your new deck, guilt-free, because you really took the time to make sure it was one you felt most confident about buying!

If no decks are left on your list…

Congratulations! You’re not buying anything. 

Just remember, you don’t HAVE to say yes to a deck right now. You can always come back later when it’s the right time or the right deck.

So there you have it.

I hope this has given you some insight into your own habits and choices. Obviously, no two people want or need the
same things, and this is far from being an exhaustive guide. I’m already collecting questions for part 2, so yeah, far from complete. But I hope this will help you to make a more informed choice and, then, when you do choose a deck it’s from a positive place of self-awareness and satisfaction, and not from that place where “why the fuck did I ever think this was a good idea?” lives.

Like I said earlier. As your Queen, I demand the best for you – never settle!

I really hope this little guide has helped with that.