Recieved Fantastical Tarot Deck!!!!!!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Maly	21 Jul 2004
Wooooooohoooooooo!!!!! I just got my Fantastical Tarot deck by Natalie Hertz in the mail today!! So far I have: Recited my own prayer for my tarot deck Looked at all the cards Tried to shuffle (failed :( ) Soon today, I need to start writing in my Tarot Journal. I am also going to start a Daily Card Draw, tommarrow. I also recieved a general book for beginning tarot: "Learning the Tarot A Tarot Guide For Begginners" If anyone has that book, can you tell me how you liked it, and how you learned to understand the cards meanings.

Eco74	21 Jul 2004
Very good choice of deck indeed. I don´t have the book you mention but started out using the companion book that came with my first deck (Swedish Witch) to learn basic card meanings. With the fantastical I've only been taking in the cards sofar. A very good thing I've discovered is a somewhat unoffcial but still sortof studygroup on the Fantastical Tarot, dealing with themes and some of the cards. There are a few additional views on the cards there if you want to venture into other peoples perceptions of the cards. (The studygroup can be found under General since it does not have a main thread of its own.) In the beginning, look at one or a few cards per day. Think about their meaning but first just feel the card, look at the symbols, get a feel for what the card is saying to you. Look at the way the person or persons are standing in the card, how the symbols are placed, what colors and patterns are used and why not try to have a short conversation with the people in the pictures? It may sound a bit silly but really is a good way to get to know the cards. When you feel you have a slite grip on the meanings of the cards lay them out three by three and make up a story to show how they connect. What are the cards telling you? Think of it as past-present-future or as if for a specific question you make up to get a more concrete reading.. And above all. Force nothing. If a card feels uncomfortable, put it aside for another day. If a card takes up all of your attention, focus only on that card for a day. There really are no wrong answers for how to do this. Just do and all will be revealed when the time is right. Have faith in the cards and they will speak to you. :o)

TaranRavenfrost	21 Jul 2004
I am so happy for you! Too bad you blocked me on AOL because of a quarrell about Dungeons and Dragons. So Childish. Anyway, Just keep trying to shuffle your deck, you will get it in no time! I am sure you will go far with your Tarot Study.

Maly	21 Jul 2004
Hehe, very childish indead D&D racist...... Anyways, thanks for all the feedback, my deck is very great. :p However, I cant do a shuffle, :p Any ideas how to?

Eco74	21 Jul 2004
Just do it diffrently... ;o) Seriously though, practice makes perfect and tarotdecks tend to feel quite large and unruly before you get used to them so cards are bound to drop out in every which direction. There is a sticky thread about shuffling.. I think under "using your deck" or whatever the subject is called. Check it out for some hands-on-tips..

TaranRavenfrost	21 Jul 2004
Are you trying to Riffle, or do the hand over hand? Riffle is where you take two piles and you put them together um, I have no idea how to explain this. Hand over hand is where you grab some cards out of the deck, and put some on the other side of the deck. But yes, the deck will soften up over time. Try Umbrae's method of softening the cards. O, and after about a week of shuffling Tarot, get out a deck of standard playing cards and try to shuffle them. They seem SO small! And as a side note, I dont dislike D&D, I just would rather play Vampire or Mage. Its a matter of opinion. Now take me off you block list so that we can talk! Its so stupid to block me because of a stupid fight about a game!

morandia	21 Jul 2004
congratulations on the deck!!!

Little Baron	21 Jul 2004
Congratulations also; this is going to be the start of a love affair for you, I can see it. The Fantastical will unlock all of those corners that worry you and you'll find it a great one to start off with. Take your time and you'll enjoy the journey. Is the book the Joan Bunning one? If so, I used that also and still refer occasionally when stuck for a general overview of a card or want to try out some of the exercises again. It has the Rider Waite as illustrations which may be good so you can compare and contrast the simbolism/images with that of the Fantastical, which may be a nice edge on your study. Let us know how it all goes and look forward to seeing your posts in the Fantastical study group for me to respond to when I can. Best wishes Yaboot

inanna_tarot	22 Jul 2004
YEY!! Another voice for the study group. UNOFFFICAL!! I'll have your guts for some pretty garters Eco :P I had a dream and everything! I'll post some more cards tonight so you've got something to keep you going BUT if you want to post about a card not already discussed just put ' Fantastical SG -- two of cups' or whatever the card is. Let me know if you start a thread so i can put it on the overview. Its a brilliant deck and Joans book is really good! Great to have you on board Maly - and in tarot, everything takes practice so keep shuffling till you find your way of doing it! Plus shuffle helps you connect with the cards and puts your energies on them, making them more useful to you. HUGS sezo x

Eco74	22 Jul 2004
Wouldn't you rather have some of my hair, all braided up with some nice ribbons for garters instead??? *Holds out a strand of golden brown hair and makes sure the light shines particularly vividly off the flowing curls* Now, doesn't that look ever so much nicer than guts? And it will absolutely provide enough length too since it reaches halfway down my back... *winks* As for the studygroup ofcourse I will add more and more and more and more... I only just finished sifting through the deck this morning though. Having cards speak to you and tell you things makes looking through a deck take ever so much longer than if the cards just sit there and look pretty. *sigh*

Maly	22 Jul 2004
:p Well, I have succeded with shuffling *Cheers* And I have slept with my tarot deck beneath my pillow I have decided to do a Daily Card Draw, so if the card isn't studied yet, should I post it then? Or would that be to short of time to study the card?

Eco74	22 Jul 2004
They also include several parts, one of which is the primary reaction to the card. Which means; If the card is not yet posted, you are free to post it (just follow the topic so inanna_tarot can add it in the summary) along with any comments you like. Others (myself included) will tag along. :o)

The Recieved Fantastical Tarot Deck!!!!!! thread was originally posted on 21 Jul 2004 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.