Help

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kali_S_R	09 Oct 2002
hello all, i am in desperate need, i have resently got a new tarot set and as hard as i try am umable to bond with them, they feel cold and lifeless...if any of you have any ideas that could help me out i would be very greatfull blessed be -Kali (email - ravenirae@hotmail.com)

truthsayer	09 Oct 2002
first take a few deep breaths! not being able to feel bonded to a deck isn't like switching a light on and off. take your time and relax. draw a card a day and journal about it. maybe play tarot solitaire. sleep with it under your pillow. treat your deck to a nice home like a special box or bag. protect it with crystals or good smelling potpouri. choose a card to meditate on. learn to associate touching and playing w/ your deck to pleasant things. we tend to bond to things that give us memories of pleasant experiences. if all you associate w/ your deck is anxiety and discomfort, i doubt you'll never feel bonded to your deck. think of it like you are "dating" your deck. occasionally you'll experience "love at first sight" but most relationships take time to grow and develop. so take it easy. BREATHE!! never forget tarot is a journey not a destination. i've studied tarot 27 years and i'm still learning. i plan to continue learning from tarot til i leave this plane of existence.

RedWood	09 Oct 2002
How do you play tarot solitaire?

Thirteen	09 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kali_S_R i am in desperate need, i have resently got a new tarot set and as hard as i try am umable to bond with them, they feel cold and lifeless...if any of you have any ideas that could help me out i would be very greatfull Truthsayer has some good ideas--but you should consider that the deck just might not be for you. There's been many a discussion, for example, of those who purchased the Sacred Circle Tarot--they liked how it looked on-line and/or in the store, but when they got it home found it cold and not to their taste. That can happen. You see a deck, think you'll get along with it, and it just turns out to not be for you. What to do? Well, try Truthsayers ideas first. But if it doesn't work out, hey, tarot exchange here on aeclectic. Your deck goes to someone who will find it warm and responsive, and you find one that speaks to you in turn. Let us know how it turns out, 'kay?

Teranar	09 Oct 2002
I guess I instantly bonded with my deck. It was very dusty and my friend said , "I just found it and since you're into magic stuff I fugiure you could use them." But tarot solitare? Since our playing cards came from tarot cards you just take out the non-suit cards, except the fool and another card, and use them as normal cards, but I don't think thats what truthsayer ment.

Kali_S_R	10 Oct 2002
well thank you all for your help, ill try both of your ideas. if anyone else has any other ideas i am still happy to here themblessed be -Kali

juice	10 Oct 2002
I'm in the same place with the rohrig deck. I've drooled over it in the store for a long time and finally bought it recently. But when I got it home it and I just didn't connect. If you follow the bonding advice but don't want to trade it just yet, you can set it on a shelf for a while and study another deck for a while. Read a book about it. Maybe it wants you to work harder. Maybe it IS yours but it is waiting for you grow a little first.

MystiqueMoonlight	10 Oct 2002
By the way what deck is it you have? I'm sure there are a few people here curious....

Rhiannon	10 Oct 2002
And I can't believe no one has asked..... Which deck is it??? R :)

Umbrae	10 Oct 2002
What deck is it and why did you buy that particular deck? For myself, I cannot stand cute decks, or morose decks. So, if the artwork does not speak to you, buy another deck. If you love the artwork and the deck feels wrong – perhaps it is like an arranged marriage. You’ll either get to love it, or toss it and buy another…

Eyes of Night	10 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by RedWood How do you play tarot solitaire? I think it's the same way as if you play normal solitaire. Take the majors out. Associate cups as hearts, wands as clubs, pentacles as diamonds, swords as spades (atlest that's how I associate them). It should be the exact same thing, except of having 13 cards per suit, you have 14.

Kali_S_R	11 Oct 2002
i have a dragon tarot by peter pracownik and terry donaldson, its absolutly beautiful, i think they have a preview on this site, so have a look if you want -Kali

Jewel	11 Oct 2002
Ohhhhhh do give the Dragon Tarot some time!!! What you might want to do is get a deck such as the Raider Waite and any number of good beginner books (you can find those in the Tarot Media Forum or ask here if you are interested), and study your Dragon Tarot side by side with the Raider Waite. I think that might help you understand the symbolism of the Dragon Tarot a little better in terms of Tarot. The Dragon Tarot has one of the best representations of the Death card that I have ever seen! ... if you do not connect with the deck I am sure you will not have much trouble trading here at the forum.

Thirteen	11 Oct 2002
The Dragon Dech, eh? That explains a lot. The reason you find it cold is because... It is. Here's the secret to this deck: it's a "Air and Fire" deck. All intellect and energy. Nothing soft and fuzzy about it. I use to use this deck on an Aquarius with Leo rising--worked like a charm. Look at the ace of Wands--there's your clue to this deck. This is the deck of a mad scientist. Filled with ideas, filled with unstoppable drive, invention, creation, exploration. It's much more of a Crowley deck than a Waite deck in that way--note how it has all the little bits in the corners--it wants you to use your mind, to think, puzzle, peruse, multitask, read and learn. That might not be for you--but if you can get into the groove, this is a great deck. If not, there's many a person who would likely take it off your hands. This is a very popular deck; people tend to gravitate to it. So here's one last recommendation for you--don't use this deck for a personal reading, alone at home. Use it to read for someone else, preferably at a party. This deck likes the work and likes the attention. It'll do well for you in a social circumstance. Consider it your spin doctor, your p.r. man. This is a chatty, talkative and very social deck.

Zhritza	12 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Thirteen This deck likes the work and likes the attention. It'll do well for you in a social circumstance. Consider it your spin doctor, your p.r. man. This is a chatty, talkative and very social deck. what a beautiful description this is! gorgeous :)

Kali_S_R	12 Oct 2002
well thank you for your help, it gives me somewere to start, if anyone knows of any sites that could help me learn more about them, i would be greatful -in reply to trading them- its just i dont want to(not ment to sound rude), its like they feel cold but its like behind that outer shell there is so much more, and there playing hard to get, like i have to prove myself to them, but i didnt know how, and in some way i feel like if i let them go, it will be like im giving up, and i will never give up because i know that if i try and my will is strong that i will acheve it, even though sometimes the goal isnt what you used to think it was, but you still got there in the end i hope that all made sense- thank you again bb -Kali

WolfSpirit	12 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel The Dragon Tarot has one of the best representations of the Death card that I have ever seen! ... if you do not connect with the deck I am sure you will not have much trouble trading here at the forum. I love the Hierophant in the dragon tarot, he is a puppeteer and has a little dragon as his puppet. And I also adore the hanging dragon sliding down a tree. I think the whole deck is really cool and I love it very much, although I don't use it for reading.

Thirteen	12 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kali_S_R in some way i feel like if i let them go, it will be like im giving up, and i will never give up because i know that if i try and my will is strong that i will acheve it, even though sometimes the goal isnt what you used to think it was, but you still got there in the end i hope that all made sense Makes lots of sense actually. And you're probably right. When you do a reading, make sure to point out all the symbols, what they mean, and something of their history or alchemical indications. That should make those dragons roll over and surrender ;)

WillieHewes	12 Oct 2002
I've got the dragon tarot too, in fact it was the first deck I got and I never got along with it. I didn't do many readings with it, and because I could not rhyme the meanings to the pictures, or the pictures just didn't seem to mean anything, it turned me off to Tarot for a while. That said, the deck's apparently got some fans, so you might get it to work for you after all.

jacx57	12 Oct 2002
I know what you mean, my first deck was a cheap beginner's deck. We never really got along. It doesn't like company. But it works well enough for me...and me alone. So I've been looking for a new one. But none of them really seem to "click." So I'm making my own...but it's a big, long, time consuming project, but me and the ones I've printed out are definitly clicking. ^_^

The Help thread was originally posted on 09 Oct 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.