Tarot crisis

[Chiriku]

I wouldn't say I've experienced a tarot crisis, but I have gone on an extended, multiple-year hiatus before. I take hiatuses from things that interest me because I am the sort of person who, while they are focused on a subject or skill/hobby, focus on it completely and totally, spending all their free time interacting with it and honing their skills in that area to the exclusion of other things that interest them.

Because I like to immerse myself so fully in whatever subject is at hand at a given period in my life, it is all-consuming and can become impractical and tiring to keep up indefinitely over several years. So I take breaks and return with my interest/energy renewed.

It seems you've already taken your "break" but your energy is not renewed. In such a situation, what puts me off diving back into tarot is the way I instinctively have always approached it, feeling I "need to" or "should" work through X, Y and Z deck methodically, do spreads with X frequency and write-up my analysis in my tarot journal or blog, read so-and-so-'s book about the historical backdrop of XYZ...and this is all understandably daunting when one has limited free time!

So I've promised myself to shake up my approaches, interact with the cards in a different way that disrupts my old expectations. Maybe you might consider that. I'm talking about things like just carrying around a deck with you and a few times during your day, looking idly through the cards. Or drawing a card whenever you feel like it (no schedule) and making up a mental story about it; no need to write it down. Or watching TV and drawing a card, either by choice or randomly, to describe what's going on on the screen.

I feel that eventually, all that low-pressure interaction with the cards will kindle a spark within you that leads you to put your whole heart and soul into the sort of interactions you want to experience but, at the moment, do not have the energy for or emotional/spiritual resonance with.

Best of luck.

 

[HOLMES]

hmm

yeah i would agree that perhaps try offering some readings in the reading exchange and see if that get your mojo going.

i am thinking as well to look at yourself and ask yourself what is it that you want out of the tarot this time ?
do you want to read professionally ?
use it for your own personal development ?
use it for fun ?
the focus as to why you are attracted to the tarot again could help you get the magic back.

 

[Maskelyne]

My experience has been that after going through one of life's rough spots it takes time to integrate what I've learned. In other words, it's natural to feel disconnected from your past practices because you have outgrown them. Relax, enjoy your new, calmer life, and explore. Shuffling and enjoying the pictures sounds like a good place to start. Don't be impatient with the cards or yourself. I'd play around with a variety of decks and try different (and new) things and see what resonates, before committing to anything structured.

Peace, joy, and good luck.

 

[desertrat]

It seems you've already taken your "break" but your energy is not renewed. In such a situation, what puts me off diving back into tarot is the way I instinctively have always approached it, feeling I "need to" or "should" work through X, Y and Z deck methodically, do spreads with X frequency and write-up my analysis in my tarot journal or blog, read so-and-so-'s book about the historical backdrop of XYZ...and this is all understandably daunting when one has limited free time!

So I've promised myself to shake up my approaches, interact with the cards in a different way that disrupts my old expectations. Maybe you might consider that. I'm talking about things like just carrying around a deck with you and a few times during your day, looking idly through the cards. Or drawing a card whenever you feel like it (no schedule) and making up a mental story about it; no need to write it down. Or watching TV and drawing a card, either by choice or randomly, to describe what's going on on the screen.

I feel that eventually, all that low-pressure interaction with the cards will kindle a spark within you that leads you to put your whole heart and soul into the sort of interactions you want to experience but, at the moment, do not have the energy for or emotional/spiritual resonance with.

Best of luck.

Wow! I LOVE your low-pressure tarot ideas. I also tend to succumb to self-inflicted "shoulds" and I think your suggestions are wonderful. I am going to try some. Thanks.

 

[Chiriku]

Wow! I LOVE your low-pressure tarot ideas. I also tend to succumb to self-inflicted "shoulds" and I think your suggestions are wonderful. I am going to try some. Thanks.

You're most welcome. I am always on the prowl for "low-pressure" non-reading ways to interact with the cards. Honestly, even back in the first few years I was learning, I've never been much of a reader, and certainly not a self-reader; reading for myself feels virtuous in the way writing in one's journal or setting New Year's resolutions does...and all three are ripe for procrastination and subject to my avoidance measures!

 

[hunter]

About a year ago, I would start a thread about the negative emotion I was feeling, and ask for suggestions of a deck that would treat that emotion.

Decks that are grounding, are entirely different than decks that cheer us up. Fear and depression are both negative emotions--and they can even overlap--but the treatments are NOT the same.

Shadowscapes is a soothing deck with all it's swirls and cool colors. Shining Tribe is grounding with it's warm color and primitive artwork. Cute decks can be cheering. The Vanessa can be empowering.

If using the RWS, the colors in the different versions can affect our moods. The artificially antiqued cards can be grounding and good when afraid, but depressing. The Radiant is a better choice when sad.

What are you struggling with the most?

 

[Bhavana]

how about the rider waite decks? Have you ever worked with them? I also drifted away and then back to tarot, and it took me a while to re-establish myself...then I felt compelled to buy a rider waite deck, and got back into it by learning more about the history of tarot - now I don't know how I ever lived without it!

 

[Morwenna]

I like to just go through the deck (whichever deck) and absorb the cards, whichever ones speak to me at the time. Sometimes one or a few will suggest a story. Sometimes a character will pop out and have something to say. It needn't be--and often is not--anything that is usually connected with the particular Tarot cards. But that in itself can be liberating. It's a way of getting to know (or re-acquaint oneself with) a deck without having to do it the "right" way.

 

[hunter]

Tonight I played solitaire with the bunnies. I find that playing solitaire with a deck is a good bonding/learning activity.

You can read the deck while playing the game, by noticing WHICH cards are playing significant roles in the game, and what those ROLES are. for example, is one card blocking other cards? Which key card did you have to wait for? If you lost the game, what card/s were the cards that lost the game? Which card started the roll towards winning?

 

[Minotauro]

if I were you , and Im in a similar position for I am bad at desisicons too.

I d's say draw a card a day with the deck that calls you or the first one you grab , journal it as usual and then search for that same card in some other deck or all of them if you want , and compre them , tht way compring each card side to side you'll see with wich one you click , you'll see diferent aspects of the same situation perhaps.