I have been collecting Tarot and oracle decks for about 20 years, and amassed a collection of around 650 decks (a small collection by some standards!). They were kept on 5 bookshelves, and eventually began rising from the floor in various stacks. Mass market, independently published decks, limited editions, signed and numbered, and OOP decks all filled my living room. For awhile, I did go through them all at least once a year, but that eventually became overwhelming. It was just so much stuff!
Simultaneously, after nearly four years apart (for graduate school and work), my partner got a job and moved back here. The week before Thanksgiving, we began the daunting task of combining two households. On his end in California, Phil began to seriously evaluate his stuff to see what could be let go of. And he suggested I do the same! The idea of trimming my collection (we had a party when I hit 500!) was not what I wanted to hear. But after some earnest thought, I realized he was right. It was time to let things move on…and I had begun to lose the urge to collect just for the sake of collecting. I had not bought a deck in several months, so it seemed a perfect time to go through my collection.
I sat on the floor and began to pull decks of the shelf that I knew I would never miss — that was the easy part! Next came the decks that I absolutely could not live without, and into a pile they went. Finally, I was left with several shelves of decks that required careful consideration about whether to keep them or let them go. After several days, the process was over, or so I thought…
Not wanting the hassle of advertising them for sale, boxing them up and going to the post office, I had an idea. I called several friends and told them to come armed with boxes and bags. They arrived and took what they wanted, and the pile began to diminish (and their collections grew exponentially!) I also filled up three boxes of decks (and books) to donate to a beloved Tarot organization. The rest of the piles were given to a friend to sell on eBay to help her raise money to begin the adoption process.
I had done it! From a collection of 650 or so decks, I kept around 200-250 or so ( I have yet to do a final tally). I now have a collection of decks that I actually want, instead of having them for the purpose of collecting. It was an amazing feeling! The new collection is very eclectic, with a mixture of historic, themed, well-known, virtually unheard of, and collector’s item decks. They are now housed in the living room in a colorful set of fabric drawers in a wooden display (with a bit of overflow onto a small bookshelf). Here is their new home:
My partner and I have moved into a beautiful three-bedroom home, and are working to make it our own. We are combining things and still downsizing. Clothes, books, kitchen items, knick-knacks, furniture and other things are being donated to local charities. Instead of just having stuff, we have only what we enjoy having around us. Phil took fantastic pictures of many of the items I let go of, and the photos take up virtually no space at all. We are so happy with our new home, and look forward to living with much less clutter around us. It is a good beginning to 2012!
Happy New Year to everyone! May 2012 bring you peace and joy and love.
