In the last 18 months I feel like I’ve moved house so many times.
Over and over, I’ve packed my belongings into boxes and moved my life into yet another temporary new home, inevitably losing clothes, books, letters, tools and half-finished projects in the process.
I don’t, however, lose my tarot stuff, because my favourite and most essential items are all packed in to one tardis-like box. Example: I’m currently house-sitting for a friend, whilst I’ve barely brought enough undies to last me the week, sure enough my tarot box is here, so I know I have all I need to do my job.
Since it’s always fun to nose into each others’ belongings, I thought I’d share some pics!
As my main reading deck, the Wild Unknown Tarot is always close to hand. Here also is a piece of labradorite gifted to me by the lovely Lis, of Little Fox Tarot, when we met in Portland last year.
The wooden lightning bolt is made from cherry wood by my friend Sara Blackthorne. There’s a piece of Celtic quartz – my favourite from a batch bought from a man in Wales who digs them carefully by hand from the hills around his home.
The pink deck is Dori Midnight’s Dirty Tarot, a beautiful, DIY, queer oracle made my one of my greatest witchy heroes. The key opens the box.
The blue and white reading cloth is my favourite – it was a gift from another hero and friend, community activist Mary Clear, of Todmorden.
I made this magic wand on the beach at summer solstice (admittedly this doesn’t fit in the box!) It’s a green-cut rowan branch painted with India ink and dried and charged beside the solstice fire.
There’s a compass, which I often use in tarot readings, a shell, which represents the element of water, rose quartz bought on my birthday last year, and a handmade beeswax candle.
The shells and pebbles in the bowl here are from the Oracle Adrift, a ‘beachcombers oracle’ that I created recently. The candle is another I use for tarot readings, I have no idea where the little holder came from. Secret Soul Sheild is a ‘boundaries’ spray I made to protect me from bad vibes, and behind this is a cleansing mist I made to clear the air before a reading.
I use the Earthbound Oracle regularly to round off readings or just for myself. And the tin is a tiny altar I made last year when I needed something portable.
The tiny talisman is a grounding, focusing tool created for me by Asali Earthwork. Tarot and Transform gem and flower essences were gifts from Alexis J Cunningfolk and Emily Plumtree. There are matches for lighting candles, and a postcard illustrated by Glennie Kindred.
The decks I actually keep in my box are Thea’s Tarot, the Dreaming Way Tarot, the Tarot of the Cat People, the Collective Tarot, the Wildwood Tarot, the Shadowscapes Tarot the Rider Waite Smith Tarot, the Kitty Kahane Tarot and the Laughing Eye, Weeping Eye majors-only deck. I also have both Crystal Portraits decks.
Some of these bags I knitted myself, others were gifts. The lovely crescent moon bag (which holds Thea’s Tarot) was made by my friend Polly. The silky blue-green one holds the Shadowscapes Tarot and was made by tarot reader Roz as a thank-you for making her website.
The tiny vessel you see on the right is an antique gin measure, a Christmas gift from Emma.
The Collective Tarot and the Wild Unknown Tarot live in their own special bags, both custom-made by the wonderful Bobby (who is astrologer Tabby Besley‘s mum, by the way!) They are strong and beautiful and I treasure them. You can order your own bag from Bobby right here.
Your turn!
Do you have a tarot box, altar, reading space or bookshelf where you keep your favourite tarot things? Please share! Send a nice clear photo and a description of the contents to beth@littleredtarot.com.
I’m a 30-something writer, artist, tarot reader, and perpetual explorer of the space between thought, feeling, and action.
I believe that spirituality and ritual are for everybody. I’m about the journey, in all of its messy, non-linear, chaotic iterations. I am excited by anticapitalist business and living with my whole entire self present. I use tarot cards to bring forth hidden truth, and ritual to affirm my commitment, over and over, to my ever-shifting path.
I love this look inside your tarot box, Beth, very special <3
MM, I love it. I’ve got a small trunk where I keep all my occult-ish stuff, but it’s not nearly as portable as yours.
I have a simple altar on a bookshelf consisting of objects representing the elements, seasonal cards from the Wildwood Tarot, and a recent spread that I’m stewing over. Nothing fancy. My decks, on the other hand, are in a pile on my living room floor. :/ You’ve inspired me to think of something better. I only recently found a deck I’d lost months ago, and should probably store it properly before I lose it again!
Also, how do you use a compass in readings?
I absolutely love this and it really inspired me to create my own box! While I don’t travel as much as I used to, I tend to keep all my tarot decks and altar in my studio, but I love to work out in the dining room so I’m constantly dragging all my things to the table and back.
I love it! We are definitely in the same tribe! When I sent email pics of my tarot box (which is constantly evolving) and my tiny sacred rock space, I didn’t provide nearly the detail or fun. I suspect I will change that when I blog about creating special places in our everyday. Thanks for sharing something so very beautiful and so very close to your heart.
I can’t believe you manage to fit all that in just that box. Superb! My “tarot box” consists of my desk, a couple of shelves, the grate in the unused fireplace, and a couple of DIY “shelving/storage units” made by stacking up sets of nested baskets. 😛
PS. How do you use the compass? Apologies if you’ve written about this before.
Hi Judy! I place it beneath or beside the cards when I’m carrying out a reading where the querent is seeking direction. I’m using it as a symbol to represent ‘finding the way’.
Ah, I see. I like that.
I love the Wild Unknown Tarot. I haven’t read with it really, but it’s such a compelling deck and I love to just stare at the cards.
Hi! I love this idea. I’ve been looking around for a box to do the same thing. How big is your box? I’m spatially challenged and can’t really visualize how big the box needs to be to fit about this same amount of items. Thanks!
Thanks! This box is about 33 x 23 x 13cm.