Hello! I had such an amazing time participating in #Tarothon this year! Simon from The Hermit’s Cave YouTube channel began a 24 hour “tarothon” on his channel and it has been going strong for the last 4 years. This year, Jen’s Balanced Tarot hosted and was the MC of #Tarothon2021 and did a phenomenal job in keeping the Tarot conference feel to this fun, virtual event.
I hosted the segment, The Heart of the Matter: Creating an Enjoyable Love Tarot Reading Experience. Watch the replay in the above video.
Books: Hoodoo For Beginners: Working Magic Spells in Rootwork and Conjure with Roots, Herbs, Candles, and Oils, by Angelie Belard. Boundary Boss: The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free, by Terri Cole Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain
ALT’s Tarot Study Group’s deck we’re exploring is The Herbcrafter’s Tarot. In this video, we take a look at the Adelitas (or the Knights) in all four elements – air, fire, water, and earth.
I recently culled my deck wishlist, with the help of my friends on YouTube. During my YouTube live, I was able to cut my wishlist from 50 to 23. After a couple of days of tidying up my wishlist even further, I was able to get it down to 11 Tarot and Oracle decks.
I had to be really honest with myself on why I really wanted a particular wishlist deck to be added to my collection. Oftentimes, I found that the desire for that deck has waned and I no longer really want it. Other times, I was able to discern where a particular wishlist deck had qualities in some of my decks that I already own.
I added a “date added” column on my spreadsheet to track when I added a deck to my wishlist. This will help me to see how long a deck stays on the wishlist before I make a decision about it. I do track how much money the total cost of decks are on the wishlist and the grand total is $486.11, which includes shipping and customs costs. Out of the 11 decks on my wishlist, I identified five that are very likely to be added to my collection at some point in the future. The total cost of the decks that are “very likely” to be added to the collection is $186.17. All but four decks that are very likely to be added were placed on the wishlist this year.
It feels reassuring to have a solid wishlist that includes decks I want in my collection, reflects my current tastes, and is realistic in terms of my budget. My wishlist ballooned to 50 last year because I was in a Depth Year (where I refrained from making new deck purchases). A sweet spot would be about 5 decks at a given time on my wishlist, as I plan to limit deck purchases to no more than 5 in 2022.
A beautiful surprise happened for me during this culling wishlist process. A dear friend who was on the YouTube live session with me saw one of my wishlist decks and offered to give it to me, which is such an unexpected miracle – as it is out of print and very difficult to find. I did not expect that and I am so grateful.
I now have the task of updating my Tarot and Oracle tracking spreadsheets to reflect what decks are still in my collection, which ones have been sold/given away, and which ones I plan to send to my new home. I will also identify more decks to sell and giveaway, too, as I plan to cut my deck collection by up to 50%. I have my work cut out for this project, but it is a worthwhile endeavor and I promise myself that I will see to it that all of my decks make their way to their proper home – whether that’s to me or to a new person.
Not everyone needs a wishlist, but for those who do, it can be a great way to analyze your tastes, see your anticipated costs (don’t forget to add shipping!), and to help stay on track of getting decks that do not have “non-negotiables” or has qualities that are already found in another deck that’s already in the collection.
Do you have a wishlist? What do you find really useful about them? Where do you struggle with wishlists? If you don’t use a wishlist, what are ways you track your desired decks or changing tastes?
I’m starting a new ongoing series called Gettin’ to Know with Abundant Life Tarot! I want to get to know you better and now is the chance for me to do so in a one on one or small group setting.
The first Gettin’ to Know will focus on the Hoodoo Tarot. If you’re interested in being interviewed or discussing he Hoodoo Tarot on the channel or on FB, please submit the contact form below:
The time has come to update my massive wishlist. I am in the process of updating my Tarot/Oracle/Lenormand tracking sheets and I hope you join and keep me company as I choose which decks stay or go.
With your help, I was able to chop my list of 50 down to 23. And, I was able to identify 5 “very likely” decks I would ultimately purchase at some point in the future. This process helps me to stay grounded in my current tastes and to realize that I CAN let go of decks that I no longer really am called to get at this time.
As a Tarot reader, which do you gravitate towards – long versus short style readings? As a Tarot client, which do you prefer to receive? What are the considerations and factors when choosing what length of readings you offer or purchase?
The time has come for me to reckon with my deck collection tracking list spreadsheets. I will be cleaning up my deck wishlist – omitting ones I am no longer called to get and taking note of the ones that will remain.
In future lives, I will be updating my Tarot and Oracle tracking lists, as I’ve sold and gave away decks before I moved. I also need to determine how many decks are at my parents and how many are here with me. This, my friends, is my process of managing a splintered deck collection.
These upcoming lives will be added to the free course on my website: Choosing Your Next Deck, Curating Your Collection.
Abundant*Life*Tarot 