Alright folks, so I finally tackled figuring out what kinda stuff you really need for your tarot cards. Not the fluffy, unnecessary decorations, but the things that actually keep your cards safe and make using them nicer. It was a bit of a journey, lemme tell ya.
Starting Out Totally Clueless
When I first got into tarot, I saw all these pretty pictures online. Fancy silk cloths with complicated patterns, like, intricate castles and stars all over. And those velvet bags in every colour imaginable, tied with shiny ribbons. Honestly? I went nuts. I grabbed:
- A couple of those velvet drawstring bags, one deep purple, one black.
- A silk cloth with sun and moon symbols woven all over it, looked gorgeous online.
- Those little cloth pouches with crystals bundled with them.
- This giant, ornate wooden box that was supposed to be “for tarot”. Felt fancy.
Seemed like the complete setup, right? Ready to roll.
Actually Using This Stuff? Hmm…
Reality hit pretty quick. Carrying cards in the velvet bag? Felt okay at first. But after shoving it in my backpack a few times, that soft velvet started grabbing onto every bit of lint, dust, and probably a few cookie crumbs. The bag looked grubby real fast. Plus, zero protection. Cards could bend super easy.
That beautiful silk cloth? It was slippery! Like trying to shuffle cards on an ice rink. The cards slid everywhere, wouldn’t stay put. Trying to do a spread? Forget it. That sun and moon pattern just got hidden under the cards anyway. Total waste of that detailed design.
The little crystal pouches? Well, the crystals were nice, I kept them. But the pouches were too small to hold anything properly. Maybe for herbs or something, but useless for cards.
The big fancy wooden box? Felt solid… but it was heavy! And clunky. Not something you just toss in your bag for a coffee shop reading. Mostly gathered dust on my shelf. Too much fuss.
The Turning Point
I spilled coffee near my deck. Panic time! Grabbed the cards quickly, but a corner still got a tiny bit damp. Lesson learned big time. Also saw the edges starting to wear down from handling them with slightly dirty hands sometimes. Needed better protection, seriously.
Okay, Time to Get Real
Ditched the fluff. Started looking purely at function. What keeps cards:
- Clean? (No dust, oils from hands)
- Protected? (No bending, moisture, spills)
- Easy to use? (Simple setup)
What Actually WORKED
Here’s what I kept and started using daily:
- A Sturdy Simple Box: Found a plain, cardboard box. No fancy engravings, just solid construction. Fits the deck perfectly, no rattling. Much lighter than the wood box. Actually fits in my bag. Does the job.
- A Plain Cloth: Ditched the slippery silk. Got a piece of thick cotton cloth. Dark grey. No patterns, totally smooth surface. Guess what? Cards don’t slide! It’s easy to clean, no drama. Just lays flat and does its job. So much better than trying to deal with that slippery silk.
- Skip the Extra Pouches: Seriously, didn’t need them. The box holds the deck. That’s it.
I might add one more thing later: a lightweight satin bag made of that thick cotton type of material. I’m eyeing one in plain black without any ribbons or fluff. Simple closure. If it’s robust and just slightly padded, it might be handy for extra protection inside the box or for a different deck.
What I Learned The Hard Way
Forget the expensive, ornamental stuff. You’re paying for decoration, not function. That fancy wood box? Looks great, sucks to use daily. That intricate cloth? Slippery and distracting.
Protection is key. A good box keeps them safe from bends, spills, dust, and squishes. Worth every penny for something basic and sturdy.
Simplicity wins. Plain, functional accessories let the cards and the reading be the focus. They don’t get in the way.
I wasted money on the pretty-but-useless junk. Focus on protection (box) and a good surface (plain cloth). Keep it clean, keep it simple. Your cards will thank you. Mine definitely do!
