Chapter Two, Page Three: Choosing the Proper Deck

Tuesday, November 3: My first deck, when I started out in 1992, was The Witches Tarot.

I wanted to use it primarily because I liked the name.  I liked the back of the card, a crisp silver pentagram on a stark black background. The images were rich in color and symbolism.

If only they made sense to me.

The book I purchased to help me unlock the mysteries of the deck confused me even more.  I read Reed's book, found a few others to aid me in my quest, studied them diligently.  I looked for clues in the images that would help me understand what they meant.  Alas, the cards remained silent.

Additionally, many of the specific clues provided by Ellen Cannon Reed were contrary to commonly held understandings of what the cards meant.  There was much discussion about and association with Qabala, which I also did not understand.

I was lost, and I was positive it was all my fault — until just a few years ago, when by chance I stumbled across the Three of Swords as represented by the Rider-Waite deck.  I caught my breath.  That was my card.

I found a local metaphysical store in the next town and drove over there from work on my lunch hour. I promised myself that I'd look at a few other decks, just in case I was wrong.  But I wasn't.  When I held my new deck, it felt like I came home.  The proprietor watched with a small smile as I blinked away tears.

"I thought it was me," I whispered.  "All these years, I thought it was me."

A few years later, I discovered the Universal Waite Tarot.  It was just like the Rider-Waite, only crisper and more vivid.

I'm sure there are many who use and love The Witches Tarot.  I respect them and their decision.  However, I am happy in my decision.  (Now, if only Meredith Green would publish her illustrations as a deck.....)

Today, I really surprised David by shuffling until he said to stop, then handing him the top card on the deck.

"What's this?" he asked.
"Your reading," I explained.

I think he felt cheated.  One card?  Really?

Really.

It was a good card: the 8 Swords.

(I didn't write down what we both drew that night, but David remembered his the next day.)