| I bought my first tarot deck when I went through what | | | | I know that I am a terrible drawer. If I ever wanted to |
| I like to call a mystical phase in college. I had watched | | | | create my own deck, I would probably do as Aleister |
| dozens of witch movies and thought that tarot had | | | | Crowley did and find myself a good artist to illustrate |
| everything to do with witchcraft and spells. | | | | the deck for me. |
| I was wrong. | | | | You have to realize, though, that there is always the |
| Tarot has been around for centuries, even though no | | | | possibility that you and the artist might lock horns about |
| one quite knows where it came from. There is | | | | the design, especially if the artist has a lot of pride in |
| evidence that it was in Egypt for a time, as well as in | | | | their work and are not getting paid for the project. |
| medieval England. | | | | 4) The bottom line |
| More commonly it is believed that gypsies are | | | | If you do decide that you would like to create your |
| somehow responsible for endowing the world with the | | | | own deck, you need to be prepared for a number of |
| mystical, magical tarot cards. | | | | things. For starters:a) Be prepared to spend some time. |
| Tarot cards are not about witchcraft or spells. They | | | | It take a long time to make quality tarot decks, so do |
| are, instead, about looking into the soul of another | | | | not get discouraged if it seems to take a few months |
| person. | | | | or even a few years. At the end of the process, you |
| 1) How to get started | | | | will have a beautiful deck that you can be proud of. In |
| It is actually extremely easy to get started reading | | | | addition, the cards will be imbued with your own |
| tarot cards. If you have never used tarot before, and | | | | energy; and you might find that you are able to read |
| know nothing about it, you should find some | | | | into more information when you are doing a tarot card |
| instructions. | | | | reading whether it is for yourself or even for your |
| There are dozens of books available for purchase, as | | | | friends.b) Become a tarot expert. In order to make a |
| well as hundreds of websites devoted to tarot reading. | | | | good deck, you need to understand all of the pieces of |
| Then you have to pick a deck. There are dozens of | | | | the deck, as well as why they mean what they do. |
| different types of decks out there, and most of them | | | | The pictures are there for a reason, and should help |
| are fine to use. | | | | you to weave a story together, when they are laid |
| Eventually, after you get some practice under your | | | | down properly. You can start by doing regular practice |
| belt, you may find yourself wondering if you can, and | | | | of meditation on each of the cards, and do not be |
| should, make your own tarot deck. After all, it is just | | | | afraid to ask your higher, intuitive self for directions in |
| some cards with pictures on them, right? It should not | | | | making your own tarot cards! You might find that you |
| take that long to make some pictures and color them | | | | will receive signs and information in your dreams!c) |
| in, right? | | | | Size does count. Most tarot decks in the store now a |
| 2) The Conundrum Of Crawley | | | | days are overly large. The reason is because the |
| Let us take the example of Aleister Crawley. Aleister | | | | artists create very large illustrations, and then the |
| believed that he could make up a deck of tarot cards | | | | publisher scans the picture down. If they go too small, it |
| within a very short time. As a matter of fact, he | | | | will be very difficult to see anything in the picture. Big |
| believed that he would be done the deck within two | | | | decks, though, can be uncomfortable if you are not |
| weeks. | | | | used to them. Most professional tarot readers us |
| He requested the help of skilled drawer, Lady Frieda | | | | cards that are the same size as regular playing |
| Harris, in helping him complete his task. For months and | | | | cards.d) Do not scrimp. If you are making your own |
| years the two went back and forth, doing their best to | | | | tarot deck, you are going to want it to last for quite |
| create the perfect deck. Finally, the deck was | | | | awhile. What is the good of making a deck that gets |
| published, but not until both Crawley and Lady Harris | | | | destroyed in a few months? Use good material and |
| had passed away. | | | | your cards will last a long time.e) It is not necessary to |
| His deck was named the Thoth deck, and is absolutely | | | | make your own tarot cards to read them. There are |
| breathtaking and very unique. But keep in mind that this | | | | dozens of beautiful decks out there that have been |
| beautiful deck of tarot cards took over five years to | | | | around for hundreds of years, and you can easily use |
| create. | | | | one of those if you prefer. Listen to your inner voice |
| 3) To draw, or not to draw your own tarot cards | | | | and trust your intuitive higher self. It will give you signs |
| There are some people who believe that you do not | | | | and indications if you should proceed to create your |
| have to draw pictures on your tarot cards. Personally, I | | | | own tarot cards. |
| find this just plain wrong. | | | | Do not be discouraged from creating a deck. If you |
| Tarot cards have a history of being as beautiful as | | | | have the desire to do so, go ahead! After all, tarot is all |
| they are prophetic. The question then arises, if you are | | | | about knowing yourself so that you can create the |
| planning on drawing your own tarot deck, of how good | | | | future that you want! |
| an illustrator you are. | | | | |