Readings with an unfinished deck?????

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

M-Press	03 Aug 2003
Hi! O'm fairly new here, and I'm having much fun finding ways to "finally' share my passions... I'm working in a deck, and it's not complete yet... all major Arcana is there, but I'm still missing a bit over 20 cards...(maybe even more, bewcause I don't have printed yet). What about giving a reading with this deck? I know that some people do it, but my moon is in Virgo, so I must get some sort of approval for such rebellion...:-) anybody any thoughs? ps: naturally, this IS the deck I'm most in tune with...

Kiama	03 Aug 2003
I know of lots of great readers who only use Major Arcana in their readings, so I see no reason why you can't do that, even with the Virgo Moon... ;) It would also give you some insight into how you respond to the deck you've created, as I find reading with a deck is the ultimate test in how 'good' it is. :D Kiama

M-Press	03 Aug 2003
Thanks for the feedback....:-) Now, the truth is, that I didn't mean using only major arcana, but all the cards that are finished! that definitely doesn;t make a deck complete! and did you mean in your second paragraph, that a reading is measured by the reading, and not the cards? yea, yea..., that anal moon of mine.... :-)

Kiama	03 Aug 2003
Well, I don't know, but I think a reading with the unfinished deck would work. You see, I think it is possible to get different meanings from each card, depening on factors such as the question, querent, position its in, and the other cards. So, for example, even if the 10 of Swords were not present in the deck, I may get the same meaning as that card from, say, the Tower. Or I may get the meaning of the Lovers from the 2 of Cups. Even in an unfinished deck, I think you coudl get an accurate reading... Why not try it? Even if it doesn't work, you've tried. By my second paragraph I was referring to something I experience all the time: I review Tarot decks, and I find that often what I say about the deck itself is nothing unless I actually use the deck in a reading: The proof of the pudding is in the eating, basically. But in this case, the proof of the deck is in the use! I know of a few decks that I have been very cynical about and hated by looking at, but when I've actually used them they've surprised me. So, what I'm saying is that using the deck will hopefully help you see what the deck is really like, how you respond to the deck in a reading, and if there is anywhere you can improve in your unfinished cards. Hope this helps, Kiama

M-Press	03 Aug 2003
Thank you Kiama...! I actually think that your response REALLY helps! It also seems as if it is a matter of trust...in my deck.... And out of curiosity: what doyou mean you review decks? For a publication? (are you like a gourmet correspondant???) :-) Sounds interesting. I'm SO intrigued by this place (aeclectic) that I see what a central part the Tarot has in life... For me too, it's like an entity by itself, like a central figure, in the family???? ;-)

Kiama	04 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by M-Press And out of curiosity: what doyou mean you review decks? For a publication? (are you like a gourmet correspondant???) :-) Sounds interesting. It's a bit like reviewing books, only with Tarot decks instead... You grab a deck, and write about it, including what the deck's about, who it's most suitable for, and anything else that people looking to find out more about that deck might want to know. I've written reviews for Aeclectic, and I also write some for Tarot Passages under a different name. I can empathise with what you say about Tarot being a central part of life, and I know that many on this forum make their living from Tarot. I don't yet, but all the same, Tarot is the thing I enjoy more than anything else (Other than writing and being with friends) so it does play a huge part in my life and who I am. I think there was a thread posted a while ago asking people how Tarot has affected their lives... I'll dig it out and bump it up so you can take a look at it. It was an interesting thread! :D Glad you're enjoying Aeclectic, and look forward to reading more of your posts! :D Kiama

Astra	04 Aug 2003
Just in case Kiama's approval isn't enough... I would think that if you have over 50 cards to work with you should be able to get as wide a range for reading as you need from them. If you find yourself really feeling limited, you might deal card PAIRS instead of single cards, and go for a meaning for the pair. (Oh, my, I think I've come up with a new technique there - and I'm going to have to look at doing it with some of my cards real soon now. Aaargh - as though I didn't have enough on my todo list.) BTW, I looked and liked your artwork/cards - it's odd, but nice.

M-Press	04 Aug 2003
Hi Astra! thanks for the tips....;-) and yes, i'm looking forward to hear more about the PAIRS technique! i'll let you knwo how my readings are going... i also checked your site...VERY interesting... is this your art? I find it very...crystal clean and crisp...and i totally understand then why you think mine is odd...;-) i saw that you mentioned you want to publish it... I'm there now, ...what a story... and talking about what one wants to do for the rest of life! Ahhhh! I should go now ask my unfinished deck!! i had my chackras balanced today...it will probably work better! ;-)

M-Press	04 Aug 2003
Quote: It was an interesting thread! :D :D Kiama [/b] Hi! Thanks for thinking of me & that thread....Yes, i would me most interested... I also have to write a paper on tarot symbolism, for school, and of course i want to blow the Tarot in it's real proportions, so some "evidence" might be very inspiring... i'm wondering what kind of a path that is, the tarot path.,..Does it matter if you are a reader, or an artist or both? I'ts more that a game...such a serious game... I guess the archetypal influences are really working... ;-)

M-Press	04 Aug 2003
BTW; Anyone knows how to do a "cleansing" to the cards? every I know has touched them, while looking at the art!!!! ;-)

Kiama	04 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by M-Press Hi! Thanks for thinking of me & that thread....Yes, i would me most interested... I also have to write a paper on tarot symbolism, for school, and of course i want to blow the Tarot in it's real proportions, so some "evidence" might be very inspiring... i'm wondering what kind of a path that is, the tarot path.,..Does it matter if you are a reader, or an artist or both? I'ts more that a game...such a serious game... I guess the archetypal influences are really working... ;-) Maybe you could start a new thread about this, because it sounds really interesting... Maybe a thread about 'What IS the Tarot path?' I've bumped up the thread on 'Has Tarot changed you?' and hope it is of some help to you: There are lots of things in there from people saying how it has changed them for the better, which may be useful for your paper on Tarot symbolism. :D Kiama

Astra	05 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by M-Press BTW; Anyone knows how to do a "cleansing" to the cards? every I know has touched them, while looking at the art!!!! ;-) There are several threads on this - including one currently running in, I think, Talking Tarot. Why not ask the cards if they want to be cleansed? I don't mean do a layout, just ask 'em. Every time I've done that with a deck, I've gotten a "naw, just fine thanks", but it is standard practice for some people and several dozen techniques have been described.

M-Press	05 Aug 2003
Hm..... thanks for al the tips and advice...;-) Yes, maybe I SHOULD ask the cards if they want to be cleansed...the whole 'clean" thing freaks me out anyway... once I had a big bunch of stones/rocks, and i had to give them all away, because I felt I wasn't up to cleaning them, and was getting paranoid to get them out of the box...I was a hunting experience... So, maybe my cards will just be "casual"??? instead of iron pressed???? And KIAMA! Thabks for the idea....I'll do it right now...the thread about what is the tarot path! I hope soemone will find it! :-) The overwhelmed M-Press...

The Readings with an unfinished deck????? thread was originally posted on 03 Aug 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.