tarot courses

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

anjocoxo	10 Nov 2002
Do you all have tarot courses? I'm asking this because I was planning to do a tarot course, but in the meantime (while I was saving money for it) I started to study the cards (with several books and with my own intuition) and I've seen the several different spreads you pass around. Well, if tarot is all about intuition, what will the course show me? I know the meaning of the cards, I know several spreads, I know how to use my intuition to use the cards, so why am I going to do a tarot course? Have you done a course and did it showed you anything new? Thanks Anjo ;)

wavebreaker	10 Nov 2002
I started with Joan Bunning's online course and I found that a great help to get me started. After that, I haven't done any courses, Aeclectic became my continuous online course... ;) I recently did a workshop (with two other Aeclectic members!) and what I liked about that is to actually meet other tarot readers IRL and be able to exchange views and experiences with them. So if I would find a course near me, I'd probably do it mainly to meet other people IRL.

jema	10 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by anjocoxo Well, if tarot is all about intuition, what will the course show me? I know the meaning of the cards, I know several spreads, I know how to use my intuition to use the cards, so why am I going to do a tarot course? i may be a bit old-fashioned. but for me tarot is not just about intuition. sure that is an important part but i really do think you need to know the basics too. if you learn those from a course or on your own is a metter of taste (and money) though. intuition works best when your intellect already knows the meanings by heart. it takes time to learn the tarot. you won't do it in a few months. let it take time. don't rush it. use a really good book and then another and another. compare, take notes, meditate, but above all - read and write about the cards. your mind must understand the symbols for your intuition to be of any real use. sure, i can give the deck to a friend who never held a deck of card in his life and he might be accurate. but if i give it to someone with a solid base of knowledge and experience i will probably get a reading that will blow my socks off;) my suggestion is to go with Pollacks 78 degrees, bunnings book, perhaps a deck specific book, a general lexicon on symbols and an empty notebook. as tarotlady says a course can be a great oppertunity to exchange ideas and get inspired though. so kep your eyes open for them. but to pay money for on-line courses i would not recommend. there are a lot of free ones that will be just as good. taking a course where you live - well, check up the teachers, get some recommendations. for example - we have some "teachers" of tarot in sweden i wouldn't even wanna get paid to see. they have zero credability and still make themselves out to be the only real experts on tarot in all of sweden.

WolfSpirit	10 Nov 2002
I agree with tarotlady: it is mostly for practical reasons I don't follow a course, I don't think there's anything near here. I would like to meet other tarot users, I think you will always learn from others. But I learn at AT almost every day so I don't feel I really need a course.

Pollux	10 Nov 2002
If you have the opportunity (there's one) and the possibility (you got cash) then maybe going to a course would be a good idea. Of course, try to scan through and see which ones seem to be the most effective, with best teachers and all - no need to point that out. As others here, there's never been a tarot course in my area, so I had to go for slef-teaching. There are many sites with basics and information, and don't foget about Thirteen basics too :P. I agree with jema when she says that tarot is more than just intuinion - there must be a certain layer of experience and simple knowledge of the cards. Nut at the same time you are the best teacher for yourself. :) I would not attend classes and courses to learn the basics - I even doubt that teachers bother to do this, since it is much easier, more practical and effective to have reference books for that, and use the time at the course for further learnings. They are a good occasion to meet people, exchange views and experiences, and discuss more intermediate elements, in my opinion.

Sunburst	10 Nov 2002
Hi anjocoxo. I am brand new to tarot, and I was looking around for a free online course when I came across this one at http://lotustarot.com/learn/index.php It sounds like you're ahead of me in your knowledge of tarot, but here is the course schedule, if you're interested in taking a look: Course Schedule week 1 - 78 cards of pure magic - overview of the Tarot cards week 2 - Major Arcana part 1 week 3 - Major Arcana part 2 week 4 - the suit of wands 1-10 week 5 - the suit of cups 1-10 week 6 - the suit of swords 1-10 week 7 - the suit of pentacles 1-10 week 8 - the court cards of wands and cups week 9 - the court cards of swords and pentacles week 10 - spreads part 1 week 11 - spreads part 2 week 12 - some basic rules and guidelines for giving tarot readings I've only seen week 1 so far, so I can't comment on how good it is just yet. The one thing I don't like about it is that one lesson is emailed to me each week, so I have to be patient and wait for it to arrive. As jema suggested to you, I bought 78 Degrees. I think it's a terrific book, and I haven't been able to put it down! Good luck in your studies...

Silverlotus	10 Nov 2002
I'm totally self-taught from books and my intuition. Mostly because I am far to shy to join a class, and partly because when I began reading Tarot I was fairly young. I read some great books, and some not so great books. But I've been fairly well able to take the information that I have learned and sort out what works for me and what doesn't. And I've joined this forum hoping it will help me too. :-) Also, right now I am going through my books again, as sort of a review and also writing out my notes in preparation for creating a website as a long project for something else. That is helping me get my thoughts in order and look at things in a new way. I find that when I try to explain something to someone, I am able to better understand the information myself. Clear as mud? lol! Probably! :-) Silverlotus

Keslynn	10 Nov 2002
I also recomment Joan Bunning's free online course. However, I will admit I worked most from her book since it's easier to lay the beside the spread rather than try to squeeze cards onto the computer desk. lol Mostly I think that you can get whatever you need out of books without having to pay an exhorbitant amount for a course that may or may not be tailored to your needs. With just you and the book, you can pull out whatever you like. And of course, there's Aeclectic. I've learned so much here, and it gives a place for people to practice and grow. :) Kes

anjocoxo	10 Nov 2002
thank you for your kind help, it's more or less what I had thought. I've learned a lot from books and aeclectic, and I know I will learn much more, but I think I can learn a lot with books (especially b/c and not necessarily with courses.I think that the courses here are a bit expensive, having in mind what I already know. I guess I'll have to look for the 78 degrees (probably I won't find it here in portugal) and buy it through amazon or something... Thanks anyway, I always like to hear others' opinions Anjo :*

Diana	10 Nov 2002
edited

Umbrae	10 Nov 2002
I believe there are two ways to read Tarot. One method is to memorize meanings (provided by and instructor or an author) and fit them to the spread of the day. The other method is the intuitive, where meanings and spreads are not as important as listening to what the cards tell you. I believe that both are valid, both can be equally accurate. Both can be a waste of time in some hands. If you are a “What does it mean and I need somebody else to tell me…” kind of person, take a class. If you know for yourself, and within yourself, that you are an intuitive reader – toss the books, and start reading – keep a journal – learn and grow. However, if you are the latter type, a lot can still be learned from classes just from the social interaction. Books become a wonderful reference tool later in your career. Books relied upon too early in a career often end up becoming reverence tools.

Ladyfog	11 Nov 2002
Hi: I studied the Mayor Arcana for many months, I meditated on the cards and copy in a notebook many of the definitions i found in different books (sometimes I went to a library and copy from many books). I did 1 card at a time, without hurry. What help me most was that I put the card in a little shelf I have in my bedroom , and everytime i look at it I tried to connect to the message and energy of the card. I tried to resonate with the card. Later, I began reading for myself. I also like to write and I write to the card, to what it means or as if the card were a person I could talk. I began reading for others after a year. Little by little the cards are becoming part of me. I recall the energy and Images as I need them during the day. QUOTE]Originally posted by anjocoxo thank you for your kind help, it's more or less what I had thought. I've learned a lot from books and aeclectic, and I know I will learn much more, but I think I can learn a lot with books (especially b/c and not necessarily with courses.I think that the courses here are a bit expensive, having in mind what I already know. I guess I'll have to look for the 78 degrees (probably I won't find it here in portugal) and buy it through amazon or something... Thanks anyway, I always like to hear others' opinions Anjo :* [/quote]

The tarot courses thread was originally posted on 10 Nov 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.