Alright, folks, buckle up because this whole “finding the Celtic Dragon Tarot” thing turned into a bit of an adventure. I’ll walk you through exactly what I did, step by step, warts and all.
The Obsession Starts
So picture this: I saw a picture online – you know how it goes, scrolling late at night – and boom! This Celtic Dragon Tarot deck completely caught my eye. Lisa Hunt’s artwork? Those dragons swirling around? Absolutely stunning. The description kept popping up about it mixing ancient legends and being popular for over 15 years because of its power and beauty. Honestly, it just clicked. I just NEEDED it.
Hitting the Usual Suspects (And Striking Out)
My first instinct? Head straight to the giant online spots everyone uses for stuff like books and games. You know the ones. I figured they’d have it for sure. Wrong!
- Searched “Celtic Dragon Tarot physical deck”. Kept getting digital app results – tons of them! Stuff about it being available on iPad and iPhone for like 5 bucks or 25 bucks, mentioning “The Fool’s Dog, LLC”. Super frustrating. I don’t want pixels, I want cards in my hands!
- Tried variations: “Celtic Dragon Tarot deck”, “D.J. Conway Tarot”, “Lisa Hunt dragon cards”. Same thing. App descriptions, app screenshots, app features. It kept talking about interfaces, journals, animated shuffles… not helpful for finding a physical box!
- Checked a few other big names in “metaphysical” or hobby shops online. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Maybe listed as “unavailable” or just not there at all. This deck felt like a ghost!
Digging Deeper & The Pre-Owned Angle
Frustration set in big time. Was this thing even printed anymore? Then I remembered something. Sometimes, treasures hide in the pre-owned corners. So, I changed my search:
- Tried adding words like “pre-owned”, “used”, “second-hand”, “vintage” to “Celtic Dragon Tarot deck”.
- Bingo! Starting seeing scattered listings pop up that felt different from the app noise.
- Saw mentions of things like “Pre-Owned condition”, prices ranging around the $35-$85 mark depending on condition, things like “Very Good”. One even mentioned Boulder, CO as the seller location. Another mentioned Tucson. Specific places, actual sellers.
- The real kicker? Seeing references to “Julian De Burgh” and “Anna Franklin & Paul Mason” decks mixed in – meaning I was definitely in a physical cards marketplace now, not an app store. Some listings specifically called it a “Deck/Book Set”. That was the physical combo I wanted!
The Trust Factor (Avoiding The Sketchy)
Finding listings is one thing. Trusting them is another, right? With pre-owned stuff online, you gotta be sharp. Here’s how I narrowed it down:
- Seller Ratings are KING. Looked for sellers with high “positive” percentages – saw things like “100% positive (3.6K feedbacks)” and similar. Big numbers and a high percentage = safer bet.
- Detailed Descriptions & Photos: Skipped anything vague. Wanted sellers who actually described the condition clearly (“Very Good”, minor flaws mentioned) and crucially, showed actual photos of the deck and box, not just stock images.
- Communication: Chose platforms where I could easily message the seller with questions about the deck before committing.
- Sticking to Known Platforms: Went with bigger, established marketplaces known for used goods that have buyer protection stuff built-in. Avoided random standalone websites like the plague.
Pulling the Trigger (& The Aftermath)
After maybe more searching and comparing than I care to admit (like, seriously, wiped out my cart twice accidentally during comparisons!), I found a listing. Seller had great ratings (like that 100% on over 1K feedbacks), clear photos showing it looked clean and complete, and the description matched what I wanted. It wasn’t cheap, landed in that middle price range, but for a well-looked-after copy of this stunning, apparently tricky-to-find deck? Worth it.
Clicked “Buy”. Held my breath for a few days while it shipped.
It Arrived!
When that box finally showed up? Man, pure magic. Ripping it open carefully, seeing the actual box… the artwork is even more vibrant in person. The cards feel good, the guidebook by D.J. Conway is substantial. It instantly became my prized deck. All that searching? Totally worth the hassle.
What I Learned
So here’s the real deal for anyone chasing this specific deck now:
- Forget the Big Guys (for new): Seriously, they won’t have it brand new. Seems like physical new stock is dried up. The apps are everywhere, but the cards? Nope.
- Pre-Owned is the Way: You gotta dig into the second-hand marketplaces. It’s the only reliable route right now.
- Trust Sellers Wisely: Ratings, ratings, ratings. Real photos. Good communication. Don’t settle for sketchy.
- Patience Pays Off: Be prepared to hunt a bit. Check different sellers, refresh searches. Set up alerts if the platform allows it.
- It Exists! (But Costs): Yes, the physical deck is out there circulating pre-loved. Just be ready for the price tag to reflect its demand and scarcity.
There you have it. My entire journey, from late-night desire to finally holding the Celtic Dragon Tarot. Tough hunt? Yeah. Satisfying outcome? Absolutely. Happy hunting if you go for it!
