Gifted?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

laur81	06 Jul 2003
Through reading, I've noticed that so many of you have been reading for quite a few years. I've been reading off and on for about five now, and in talking with friends, we tend to debate on one thing. Do you have a belief, one way or another, that tarot reading is a gift you're born with or something that you simply improve upon with practice? Often times, people tell me that they feel I'm gifted. With the purchase of both of my decks, I took to them immediately. It didn't take me much time at all to be aquainted and feel the energy. Whether or not I know someone, I seem to pull signficant things about their pasts that impact their present. I've freaked myself out on more than one occasion, as I'm sure many of you have. A friend of mine has tried to read tarot, but she feels no connection whatsoever to more than one deck that she's used. That's where our question comes from. We wonder if her trust in the cards simply isn't strong enough or if the entire "gifted" theory rings true...that you have it or you don't. Just a random thought from the new gal. - Laur ;)

Mimers	06 Jul 2003
Hmmm, very interesting question, and I think you will get many differing oppinions. My personal opinion is this. All of us have the potential, but some are more open to it. I think anyone could be a good reader if their intentions are good and sincere. I think it comes down to how open you are to your own sorce of wisdom, or your intuition. There are also people whom I know that have a psychic sence that I believe is a gift. This enhances their readings, but I don't think it is necessary. Do you have a gift, or are you just more open to and confident about your intuition? I think it is the latter. What do you think? Do you have a gift? I am not saying it is out of the question. Mimi BTW - I don't think we have met! Welcome to Aeclectic! :)

wavebreaker	06 Jul 2003
I see tarot as a tool, a tool that works for some, but not for others. A friend of mine, for example, can do wonders with a pendulum, but tarot cards mean nothing to her. Me, I'm useless with a pendulum, but I can work with tarot cards. I would say that both my friend and I are similarly gifted, but we just use different tools. Maybe your friend could achieve the same results as you do when she finds the tool that fits her.

laur81	06 Jul 2003
Hi, and thanks for the welcome. :) I've been told that I'm gifted, but I think I question that. Sometimes, I just think that I'm simply in tune with the natural intuition that everyone has. My mother possesses psychic ability, though...so I believe that if I were more open to and accepting of the idea, I might have more...power? She believes that I would, but she doesn't encourage it...oddly enough. - Laur ;)

Umbrae	06 Jul 2003
Laurel once said that, “Tarot is divination with training wheels.” Some folks can read toothpicks, or pepper on water – others never get past opening a LWB and reading phrases, “Deception, twilight, obscurity…” Some folks never understand that spiritual and religious are not the same. Some folks never understand the spirit – some never understand the mundane…and some walk with a foot in both worlds. Gifted? To some it’s a curse. Can it be cultivated? In many people, yes. …and as Hesse said, “The Magic Theatre is not for everybody.”

Dark Inquisitor	06 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by laur81 friend of mine has tried to read tarot, but she feels no connection whatsoever to more than one deck that she's used. That's where our question comes from. We wonder if her trust in the cards simply isn't strong enough or if the entire "gifted" theory rings true...that you have it or you don't. It might be that since tarot is visual & symbolic, (at least on the surface) , that it could be easier for a person who has abilities in that area to use it. Much as it might be easier for some people with a natural ear for music to learn to play an instrument that the rest of us would have to work at. Tarotphelia

cjtarot	06 Jul 2003
Hi, I am def. not one of the "gifted ones". I feel that some people are born with their psychic ability up and running. For others, like myself, we have to study and work to become in-tune. For me Umbrae's saying "Can it be cultivated? In many people, yes" fits to a tee. SO off to study I go..actually ground and clear my head.. Blessings and don't ever let anyone make you think you are not psychic..WE all are or at least have the ability to be. Cj

Macavity	06 Jul 2003
In my (albeit limited) experience, truly "gifted" musicians e.g. those who didn't have to "learn anything", don't have to read from musical notation etc. were perhaps LESS (repeatedly) disparaging of those who do? ;) Heck, some of the truly great musicians were even observed to be encouraging to the more "amateur" efforts. But I guess they didn't have to rely quite as much on chutzpah to remain ahead of the pack? }) Macavity

Trogon	07 Jul 2003
My feeling is that most (though perhaps not all) people are born with some ability in this area. Whether you call it intuition, psychic power, ESP or whatever other lable you prefer, I believe that most of us have this to some extent. Unfortunately, it is something which is trained out of us as we grow up. We are taught that our invisible friends are only our imagination. We are taught that only "crazy" people hear voices or "see" things which others can't hear or see. And don't even get me started on how mainstream, organized religion will condemn such abilities. Our ability is ruthlessly suppressed by our parents and peers until such a time as we rediscover it. At least that is the way it was for me. Then, one day, for whatever reason, some of us begin to open ourselves up to these abilities again. We begin striving for something beyond ourselves. And we try some form of divination and/or meditation and begin striving for enlightenment, learning, self-discovery and we might even decide that we need to help others through our newfound abilities. Some people still call us "crazy"... oh well... that's their problem. Eventually we are able to recover some of those suppressed abilities. Our second sight, our intuition. It can take many years of hard work, but it can be done. Then again, there are still others who have had the extraordinary good fortune to have one, or both parents, or a grandparent or other relative who encourages us through childhood. These lucky ones are, in my opinion, "gifted" - but gifted because they haven't had to struggle for years to try to recover something which they've lost previously. Of course, because most people start out with the ability, doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to be highly skilled at it. As previously mentioned, while many people can understand and appreciate music, even play and sing, doesn't mean they can compose a piano concerto. There those who have the ability to a greater degree and don't have to work as hard to refine and strengthen it as others do. Well... I reckon I've rambled on enough... ;)

Alissa	07 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Trogon Well... I reckon I've rambled on enough... ;) I second everything you just said, Trogon~! :D And you've said it so beautifully, I won't say a word more. ;)

Alex	07 Jul 2003
The (very) few good Tarot readers I have come accross were not reading the cards. All the others were reading the cards. I'm sure one can improve the ability to read the cards, deliver the news, read the clients. But what I see as a "gift"_ and it is a bit more than you are talking about_ this is very rare. I don't know if it can be improved, or developed, in that many people. I don't have it, and I don't see how I could get to have it. My oppinion, just my oppinion. Alex. Quote: Originally posted by laur81 Often times, people tell me that they feel I'm gifted. With the purchase of both of my decks, I took to them immediately. It didn't take me much time at all to be aquainted and feel the energy. Whether or not I know someone, I seem to pull signficant things about their pasts that impact their present. I've freaked myself out on more than one occasion, as I'm sure many of you have.

jog1118	07 Jul 2003
gifted, in my opinion, as all the others have said, means you were born with a natural familiarity with, in this case, the paranormal/the third eye/etc.. even before i started with the tarot (i was in my teens then; i'm 26 years old now) i had a knack for interpreting dreams (never did i touch a book re dream interpretation). an acquiantance of mine, involved with a paranormal society, also told me i was a natural in reading the tarot (he was responsible for my now tarotholism ;) ) gift? no. a better term perhaps is "advantage". i may be a natural but if i choose not to utilize or not to develop this skill, a person who is not "gifted" may be more adept with study and practice. :smoker:

The Gifted? thread was originally posted on 06 Jul 2003 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.