Anticipation, excitement and a burst of magic. That’s the feeling I get when diving into a brand new deck of Tarot.
My routine with opening up a new deck is very detailed. How thick are the edges? Is the card stock shuffleable? Is the image on the back ho hum or frame worthy? Is Strength IIIV of XI? Do I connect with my favourite cards? Is the guide book full of ‘AHA’ and magic moments or basic and consistent? Honestly, the list can go on when it comes to examining a deck for the very first time.
It’s the next step after you’ve made your “is this deck worthy of my spiritual journey and Divine ritual” that can really make or break your connection to your deck. In nine interview style questions, I’m going to show you how you can build a personal relationship with your deck.
Welcoming a new deck into your life is like welcoming a lifelong friend. The amount of energy, stories, life, emotion, blood, sweat and Tarot tears is Source based and raw. Tarot is your ultimate gatekeeper when it comes to your deepest desires, traumas, and life experiences.
With all this energy going in, it would truly behouve you to think of each deck that you bring into your life as an energy with a force of its own. Capable of bringing a unique voice and flavour, by getting to know your deck on a personal level, you’ll know how and when to best work with it. For example, I have a shadowy deck that’s a little more dark and introspective that I work with when wanting to explore grief based challenges that I might be working through. On the other hand, I have another deck that’s light hearted and full of fairy magick that I love working with when I’m doing Wheel of the Year celebrations like Lammas, which is also a day before my birthday.
Tarot is the ultimate gatekeeper when it comes to your deepest desires, traumas, and life experiences.
I like to do my deck interviews after I’ve bathed them under a full moon and perform a sacred smoke cleanse on each card. Doing this allows me to feel like I’m working with a freshly charged deck, released from any ties that bind on the way to making it into my life.
When working with the following spead, make sure to have your journal handy, and if you can, find a way to mark the section that will include your responses so that you can easily refer to it down the road. Keeping a copy of the interview in your deck’s bag is a great way to keep it on hand. It’s also a great way to compare earlier and future deck interviews you might have to see if there are any overlapping themes, or if each deck is truly a unique and autonomous voice.
Shuffle and pull the cards however you feel compelled to do, and place them in the following spread:
9 Card ~ New Deck Interview Spread
Introduce yourself ~ This is Tarot’s time to shine and give you their 20 second elevator pitch. If you were to only ever pull one card as a part of your deck interview, this would be the question to ask, as it’s really going to give you a feel for the energy it’s capable of sharing with you. I do a lot of work with Signifier cards, and this is really another way of looking at the energy you’ve pulled; ultimately it’s your decks signifier. Every card you pull from here can be referenced back to this card as a clarifier.
What are you here to teach me ~ be prepared to receive some serious Tarot boldness. I’ve yet to see an answer to this that didn’t make me go hmmm. The answer to this question is really going to help you with theming your readings based on how you’re feeling and the type of messaging you’re looking to receive. Alternatively, if you read for others, this is a great way to match up your decks with their vibes. A few qualifying questions from your querents, and you’ll be better able to choose an appropriate deck.
What is your strength ~ think of this question like you’re building your olympic Tarot team. You’d want to know what each player brings to the table so you can foster that, work with it, elevate and learn from it.
What is your weakness ~ you don’t want to waste your time trying to figure out what Tarot is trying to tell you, and it’s never a good idea… or at least not recommended, to spend your time continuously pulling additional qualifying cards. Your deck should be able to give you a good strong answer, regardless of your experience. As an example, if you pull The Tower, I would suggest that this might not be the best deck to work with whilst in the throes of crisis.
Describe your Light ~ as with all 78 cards, your deck has a Light energy. Understanding this will help you dive deeper into the meaning of your messages as a whole, as well as ‘shed some light’ on the more challenging questions and cards you might be working with.
Describe your Shadow ~ As above, so below… and as it were with your cards. Understanding the Shadow side of your deck is going to have a profound effect on how you manage and communicate cards that show up in RX, as well as add perspective to some of the lighter questions and cards you might be working with.
What is the current season we’re in ~ Even though you’ll most likely be working with your deck for years to come, it’s good to have an understanding about why this deck has entered your life at this time. It’s kinda like songs, sometimes you just need to hear songs from a certain time in your life to connect with the energy and feelings you’re working through. Some decks resonate when you’re up and having a mood, or notice repeat behaviours, thoughts and emotions. Through residual healing and cosmic memory, you can return to your decks based on aligning them with your current situation.
How can I honour you ~ alter work, elemental offerings and ritual are just a few ways you can do this. Iintuitively connect with the image on your card, so that you can ensure that you’re not constantly taking from your cards without giving some kind of gratitude in return. This can be done with the rhythm of the moon, Sabbats, or annually. Truly, whatever suits your practice is best. Intention, as with any Divination practice, is key.
How do you connect to my ancestry ~ this one is optional as I know not everyone is looking to do lineage work. If you are looking to work with your ancestors, whether it’s simply to connect with their magic and medicine, or on a more deeper level in which you’re looking to heal generational trauma, this card is a reflection on how you can communicate when working with this deck. Similar to card 8, reference the traditional message of this card, take in the symbolism and the illustrator’s artisty, and intuitively honour your connection however you see fit. Again, this could be through alter work, or maybe you’re being called to create ritual or spell work. Be open and trust your intuition, your Guides will help you find the best way to honour and represent your ancestry.
I hope this will help you unlock the personality of your new deck, giving you the space to really embrace the unique voice of each deck that comes into your life. Be sure to share your experiences or feedback in the comments section, Pinterest, or tag me on IG!
Have a read of my New Deck Interview Spread for the Afro Tarot Deck for some insight and inspiration.
Creating starDust & Chasing Duending,
Amanda
)o(
Click below for a printable PDF copy