Advice for a newbie?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Jul 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

5starshine	19 Jul 2002
I'm so glad to have found this place! I look forward to spending a lot more time here. I'm new to tarot and the deck I chose to work with first (after I lost 3 Rider-Waite decks I felt the universe was telling me something!) is the Hudes deck. I'm trying to discover what the best way to try to learn the art of reading tarot is. I've heard of two decks that can be a study aid ...The Quick and Easy Tarot Deck and The Starter Tarot Deck. What are the difference between the two? What are the pros and cons of each? Are the meanings on one more textbook while the other is more interpretive? I'm a visual learner so I think one or the other might help me. What, in general, seems to be the best way to learn to read tarot? It seems so overwhelming. Thanks in advance for any advice!

the hermit	19 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by 5starshine I'm so glad to have found this place! I look forward to spending a lot more time here. I'm new to tarot and the deck I chose to work with first (after I lost 3 Rider-Waite decks I felt the universe was telling me something!) is the Hudes deck. I'm trying to discover what the best way to try to learn the art of reading tarot is. Lost 3 decks? Ouch! But you do have a Hudes deck? Ok, if that's so you've already spent enough for now and the Hudes deck is a nice deck. Try visiting Joan Bunning's website AND the posting by Thirteen here, on the Aeclectic Tarot site... just click on the links below and bookmark them or add them to your favorites in your browser-- Joan Bunning Thirteen's Tarot Basics Both of these sites are great resources of information for beginner and experienced readers. What else should you do? Read the cards daily as suggested on Joan's site, try some of her exercises. Work with the cards, shuffle them, look at them, think about what YOU see in them. What does the artwork tell you, what does it make you think about. Also, visit this link, another here on Aeclectic... Tarot Text: Articles and Essays It has links to other sections here on Aeclectic Tarot with more info. AND DON'T FORGET TO READ THE FORUM AND POST YOUR OWN QUESTIONS! and have fun. Then, after we have you really interested, you can go out and spend a TON on more decks, books and more, more, more decks! :D

mondk	19 Jul 2002
was to get a notebook and a pen and sat down and went through every single card and wrote down all the meanings I could think of with each card....then, I would go through the little white book to see if I was close and jot some notes down. Then, I would do "sample readings" mainly by thinking of family and friends...once I felt comfy doing my "sample readings" I moved on to real readings for family and friends, and through word of mouth now, I read for people I don't know as well. I keep a "tarot journal" and jot notes down on each reading I do...then if I am unclear about certain meanings, I will consult my tarot books. One of the best things I did though, was to basically put all the little white books aside and go off of the "feelings" the cards gave me. Hope this helps...you will love it here!! I also have the Hudes deck; it is my newest and I'm learning it quickly. Let me know if you have any questions about it!! Blessings, Michelle

Lee	19 Jul 2002
Hi, 5Starshine, welcome to the Aeclectic Forums! :) The Hermit and mondk have given very good advice, I couldn't improve on it. Frankly I think the things they recommend will keep you plenty busy for a while. However, just to satisfy your curiousity, you can read reviews of the Quick & Easy and Starter decks here and here and here and here. -- Lee

Rhiannon	19 Jul 2002
Hello newbie! LOL Welcome to the forums. I did pretty much what mondk described when I first REALLY started studying the tarot. As far as the Starter decks are concerned, I don't think you need them. Go ahead with the Hudes deck. It might help to purchase a book (a real one, not a LWB) like Tarot Reversals, Tarot for Yourself... etc. Those are my two personal faves, though. Good luck with your studies, and don't be afraid to ask questions! R :)

Lee	25 Jul 2002
Since the discussion seemed to be turning entirely to learning to read and away from specific decks, I've copied the entire thread to the Using Tarot Cards forum, and I've deleted the non-tarot-deck posts from this thread. So, if you'd like to post about advice for learning Tarot, go to the "Advice for a newbie" thread in Using Tarot Cards. If you'd like to post about advice re decks, post here. -- Lee :)

Nancimila	29 Jul 2002
I'm also new at this... and I bought a goddess tarot deck a while back. I did'nt get the workbook at the time, and now it is impossible to find. Is this something I really need or is there a better way to learn?

Olympia	31 Jul 2002
Throw the book under the bed. Have fun! The cards will take a bit to become familiar, but let the reveal themselves. Think of how many readings you've been to or seen that didn't make much sense unless you stretched it. Besides, the book is only what someone else thought. What do YOU think they mean? You're readings will be so much more accurate when you adjust your meanings to where they fit. No pat answer or meaning is ever, ever going to fit every single situation or question. That is plain silly and I've rarely seen it work. Then, maybe a few months later...read some parts of the book if you're totally stuck on some cards. Good luck on this!

Nancimila	31 Jul 2002
I'll keep at it. Thank you ! Nancimila www.gypsyboutique.com

The Advice for a newbie? thread was originally posted on 19 Jul 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.