deck problems

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 May 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

tarotwitch	24 May 2002
I have been experiencing a problem with my tarot deck lately. I have the Tarot of a Moon Garden, and she won't talk to me unless I'm reading for someone else. I do readings for my friends and co-workers and they're dead on accurate, however when I attempt to read for myself, I get nothing but gibberish, every card contradicts the one before it. I also have a problem keeping a deck, every time i seem to finally get familiar with one, it decides it wants to go live with someone else. i have a feeling that my current deck wants to move on soon, so i've bought a new deck. i feel like i'm always getting to know a new deck, and i can't really click with one. Any suggestions at all would be appreciated Goblin Hugs and Fairy Kisses Jessie

Umbrae	24 May 2002
If it knows you are going to send it to live with someone else, why should it read for you? Are you sure it want to move on? You already bought a replacement! Remember how errant children always want to ‘run away’ from home? You may have to stand firm. Then again, I have never been able to read for myself very well. Stick with it, and do not let it go...

lunalafey	24 May 2002
no, don't let it go if it works. Maybe not on yourself, but there's a reason for it. Be paitent. Maybe someone's going to give you a deck, and at first it seems odd to you, then as you work with it, it busts out with an accurate intense reading for you...EUREKA...

Red Emma	24 May 2002
This has been a recurring problem for me. The strangest was a new deck, Shapeshifters. I fell in love with the art work and the concepts right away. However, it seemed to give me very harsh readings. A couple of times I had the feeling it was trying to control me. I know that's very weird, I suspect it had me spooked. One morning as I was laying it out, I said several times, "Okay, Guys. Give me good news!" And it did. Had I believed it I would have thought I'd win both the national lottery and the Oregon lottery on the same day. AFter that, it gave me nothing but gibberish. I felt as if it were mad at my trying to manipulate it. I put it away for a couple of months, then tried it again. I guess it was still pouting. I have it wrapped in silk, sitting in wooden box with both a quartz crystal and a hematite to keep it company. The hematite to drain off negative influences, and the crystal to charge it with positive energy. One of these days I'll try it again.

Emily	26 May 2002
I had never had this problem before I bought the Robin Wood, I'd heard so many good reviews on this deck so I bought it - It seems to be a major mistake, at first I though it was just me having to get used to the deck, but even though I've been keeping it near, slept with it a few times (had very wierd dreams), shuffling it constantly lol, and it still gives me gibberish, readings so mixed up as they are unreadable. Its been a little bit of a comedown, I'm still a newbie and though I was doing well. My Spiral has given me good clear readings from the first day I had the deck, so I've told the Robin Wood that its fine if it doesn't want to work with me, I won't trade it on, just keep it. Maybe someday I'll have the experience this deck seems to require to use it lol :)

MeeWah	26 May 2002
Tarotwitch: If the deck in question serves you well in readings for others, by all means, keep it for that purpose. It is not easy to read for oneself & difficulty with it is not necessarily due to the deck, though one may be more attuned to some decks than others. Try experimenting with different decks for self-readings & see. Perhaps you have not developed an attachment to your decks or lose interest in a deck after you are more familiar with it? You do not indicate how long you keep your decks. Maintaining an active & a longer term relationship with your decks may prove to be a more viable as well as a practical solution.

MeeWah	26 May 2002
Emily: Perhaps your deck needs to be cleansed. It may have picked up some energy in transit prior to you acquiring it. Try conducting a ritualistic cleaning of it & see if that helps. The Robin Wood deck is generally considered a good deck for beginners. Although it is a Pagan-oriented deck, its design echoes much of the traditional symbology & is known to be user-friendly.

AmounrA	26 May 2002
Perhaps the cards aren't giving giberish readings. All people are full of contradictions.......perhaps the cards are trying to tell you something...... you say you have a feeling the deck wants to move on , so you have already bought a new one [to replace it].....are you sure its the deck that wants to go?......or is your heart of hearts wanting to ditch it?.........this might well cause readings showing contradictions:-).perhaps instead of 'tarotwitch' it should be 'witch tarot'? Have you ever pathworked through any of your decks?...........I find it a great way to make a deck a 'click'. I have had the thoth deck for many years now, and find it perfect. It hasn't wanted to go.....but a few people wanted to take..........I told them no:-)

DeLani	27 May 2002
Hi, I went through a long period of time when all my self readings were either gibberish or outright wrong. So I went back to Mary Greer's "Tarot for Yourself," and have been doing good readings ever since. In addition to recommending working with that book, I would suggest you consider the questions you ask. Sometimes the Tarot tells us what we need to know, not necessarily what we ask. Keep your mind open to possibilities when you read the cards. Also, how are you phrasing your questions? If your questions are vague or you're asking several questions at once, you will get gibberish. I don't know if either of these apply to you, but I hope it helps. When I do a reading, I take a brief moment to ask my Matron Goddess (Sarasvati) to let Her wisdom flow through me, directing me towards my highest good. this simple prayer can be addressed to whatever Higher Spirit you feel comfortable with. It might help you focus and connect to your higher wisdom. DeLani

Sam	27 May 2002
smugde it! smudge it! smudge it! ~or~ clense it in the moon or sunlight!

Faerie Lin	27 May 2002
Perhaps the cosmos is telling you your purpose to help and guide people more. Not such a bad thing to notice a deck liking you to read for other people. Thats actually kinda cool. Lin

Red Emma	27 May 2002
About cleansing one's decks by smudging, or by putting them in the rays of the sun or a full moon, does one fan them out so every card is exposed to the smoke or the sun/moon light, or just leave them in a deck mode?

MeeWah	02 Jun 2002
Red Emma: It is the intent that carries, so either way according to the personal understanding & preference will do. It is often in the doing that the best way is found.

The deck problems thread was originally posted on 24 May 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.