Blog
Is It Bad Luck to Buy Your Own Tarot Cards? Common Tarot Myths and Practical Habits
Buying your own tarot cards is completely fine. Receiving a first deck as a gift is a personal custom some readers enjoy, not a mandatory rule required to learn the cards. Choosing a deck yourself is a practical way to start because you can pick artwork that is clear and comfortable to read.
Many widely repeated "tarot rules" are optional traditions or personal preferences for handling and studying a deck. In a reflective learning approach, skipping them is simply a personal choice rather than a barrier to reading the cards. If you are exploring the basics in our tarot learning hub, understanding the practical reasons behind these customs will help you build a calm, low-pressure study routine.
Why Do Some People Say Tarot Cards Must Be Gifted?
Available reference sources do not establish a verified historical origin for the claim that a tarot deck must be given to you. In practice, waiting for someone else to guess that you want to study tarot—and hoping they choose a deck you actually like—can keep you from starting at all.
When you buy your own deck, you get to inspect the illustration style, card size, and legibility before you begin. For example, in Arthur Edward Waite's The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910), the 22 Major Arcana descriptions rely on visible symbolic details—such as the four suit emblems on the table in the Magician (I) or the figure holding a lantern with a star in the Hermit (IX) (Wikisource). When you can see those details clearly, you can connect the picture to a reflection prompt without memorizing rigid formulas. If you are deciding what to look for, our guide to the best tarot decks for beginners walks through choosing clear, readable artwork.
If someone does gift you a deck, that can be a meaningful gesture. If you buy one yourself, you can still study the imagery and practice reflection.
Common Tarot Myths vs. Practical Realities
Most traditional warnings about tarot cards make much more sense when you look at them as everyday habits for care, focus, and personal boundaries rather than strict laws.
| Common Myth | Practical Reality | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| "You must be gifted your first deck." | A personal custom, not a requirement. | Pick a deck with clear illustrations that help you notice details and practice regularly. |
| "Never let anyone else touch your cards." | A matter of physical care and personal consent. | Decide based on comfort: let others shuffle if you like, or keep your deck private to prevent bent corners and sticky hands. |
| "You have to sleep with your deck under your pillow." | An optional bonding idea that can damage the box or cards. | Get familiar with a new deck by flipping through the cards at your desk in good light. |
| "You cannot read tarot for yourself." | Self-reading is a practical way to study the cards, though strong emotions can make it harder to stay objective. | Write down a clear, open question and take brief notes so you do not keep pulling extra cards when you feel anxious. |
| "You must read reversals from day one." | Reversed (upside-down) cards are an optional technique. | Start with upright cards only if you want a simpler foundation, and explore reversals later if they interest you. |
| "Skipping a ritual or storing cards loosely brings bad luck." | Rituals are for focus, and storage is for protecting cardboard. | Keep your cards in their box, a pouch, or a dry drawer so they do not warp or go missing. |
Letting Other People Touch or Use Your Deck
Some readers prefer that nobody else handles their deck; others ask a friend or querent to shuffle before a reading. Both choices are normal in reflective tarot study, and you can also use a second-hand or borrowed deck if its physical condition suits you.
The practical reasons to set a preference here are consent and upkeep. Paper stock picks up oils, dust, and edge wear. If a deck was expensive or has delicate edges, you might prefer to shuffle it yourself. If you are reading with a friend and want them to feel involved, handing them the deck to cut or shuffle is a welcoming option. You can change your mind depending on the setting and the deck.
Sleeping With Your Cards and Resetting a Deck
Tucking a deck under your pillow is sometimes suggested as a way to connect with new cards, but tossing and turning at night mostly bends cardstock. A simpler way to get comfortable with a new deck is to sit down, look through each image one by one, and notice which visual details stand out to you.
Similarly, resetting or "cleansing" a deck does not require strict schedules or complicated supplies. In a 2011 article on card care, tarot author Barbara Moore notes that cleansing routines are personal choices without fixed timing, and that one straightforward approach is simply looking through the deck and placing every card upright in order (Llewellyn). Sorting your deck upright is a dry, simple way to check that all 78 cards are present, give your mind a brief pause between readings, and start fresh. For more ideas on resetting a deck between readings, see our guide on how to cleanse tarot cards.
Reading Tarot for Yourself
Another persistent myth claims that reading your own cards is forbidden or inaccurate. In reality, reading for yourself is a direct way to practice learning the meanings of the cards.
The practical catch is emotional bias, not superstition. When you are worried about a personal decision, it is easy to read your worst fears—or your wishful thinking—into every symbol. For instance, if you pull the Chariot (VII), which Waite describes as showing a figure with two sphinxes, you might use that image of two distinct pulls to reflect on how to balance two competing priorities in your week (Wikisource). Keeping the focus on self-reflection rather than trying to predict a guaranteed outcome makes solo practice much clearer. For step-by-step techniques on staying grounded, see our guide on reading tarot for yourself.
Using Reversals, Rituals, and Storage
As you read more about tarot, you will encounter many personal preferences presented as rules:
- Reversals: Reading upside-down cards is optional. Even when a card appears upright, its imagery already contains plenty of nuance to explore. You can keep your entire deck facing the same way for months—or permanently—without missing out on thoughtful readings.
- Opening rituals: Taking three deep breaths, clearing clutter off your table, or shuffling three times can help you slow down and focus on your question. If you are short on time, you can also pull a single card at your desk without any ceremony.
- Putting cards away: Wrapping a deck in silk or keeping it in a wooden box is a personal choice for presentation and storage. For basic upkeep, keeping the cards away from moisture, pets, and direct sunlight helps the paper stay flat.
A Simple Checklist for Your First Deck
Instead of worrying about unwritten rules, use this four-step routine whenever you bring a new deck home:
- Count and inspect the cards: Flip through the deck from start to finish to make sure no cards are missing or stuck together from printing.
- Pick three images to observe: Set aside three cards—one you immediately like, one that looks complex, and one that feels unfamiliar. Spend a minute naming two or three literal details you see in each picture before looking up any meanings.
- Decide your handling preference: Choose whether you want to keep the cards all upright for now, and whether you feel comfortable letting friends shuffle them.
- Choose a dry storage spot: Put the deck back in its tuck box or a simple cloth bag on a shelf where you can easily reach it for practice.
Sources
Tarot is for reflection and entertainment, not medical, legal, financial or psychological advice.