How did you get in touch with Tarot??

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Moonbow*	14 Nov 2003
Has this been done before? How did you first get introduced to Tarot? My story is this: I was on holiday in Cornwall and was drawn into an art gallery while the rest of the family were eating ice creams outside. While comtemplating a painting a lovely Japanese lady came up to me and said it was hers. We've met several times since and she seems to have some sort of 'link' with my 12 yr old daughter. So strong that they actually have tears in their eyes when its time to say goodbye. Well, she had some cards which turned out to be the Faery Oracle by Brian Froud. I bought these then decided I needed to learn the Tarot, thinking there was far more to the cards then I could at first see. The first Tarot deck I got was the Spiral and things have certainly Spiralled since then!!!!!!! I have never looked back. Whats your story? How were you introduced to Tarot? Friend, article, were you attracted to the art, maybe passed down through your family? I'd love to know.

Jen	14 Nov 2003
When I think back into my past, I remember always having some sort of tarot deck on my bookshelf, but only one. Usually whatever deck they had a the mainstream bookstore. But over the years these decks have disappeared. I didn't take tarot seriously or start studying it until about 2 years ago...... I was in one of my local metaphysical stores (Herbs and Arts, for the denverites). I was grazing through books, incense and other goodies when I noticed a reader sitting at her post next to the window. I had never had a real tarot card reading before, so on a whim I decided to get a reading. She did a good job telling me about myself and the current phase of my life. On my walk home I couldn't get the idea of tarot cards out of my mind. The idea of learning to read cards exploded in my mind like fireworks and I became very excited. I could hardly sleep that night. I wanted a tarot deck so badly and none of the metaphysical stores were open. The next morning I drove to Isis (another local meta store) and bought the Osho Zen.

Moonbow*	14 Nov 2003
'The idea of learning to read cards exploded in my mind like fireworks and I became very excited'.......&........ 'I could hardly sleep that night. I wanted a tarot deck so badly and none of the metaphysical stores were open. The next morning I drove to Isis (another local meta store) and bought the Osho Zen' This sounds sooo much like me! When it hits you ..it really hits you. If I get it into my head to get a particular deck, I just CANT wait. And I drink,eat and sleep the deck until I have it in my hands. Getting back to the thread though... the more I think about it, the more I think there is something that pulls a person towards Tarot. Does fate have a play in this?

Jen	14 Nov 2003
LOL Moonbow, I'm the same way everytime I find a new deck or tarot book I want. It's always dancing around in my mind. Hmmm...Fate.....Well, I think we make our own "fate". I think- like energy attracts like energy. I think tarot is one of the many mediums for getting in touch with our subconcious, higher selves, God/Goddess etc. I think it helps us develop our psychic selves, so when a person is ready for that or is actively looking, they may find tarot suits them.

Majecot	14 Nov 2003
My Bests Friend's mother read tarot, and one year, after visiting her mother (in CA), she decided she wanted to start reading again, So we went to B & N and found her a deck (Rohig) and she read my cards. At first is was terrified of Tarot ( I was of psychic's too, ) but after a couple of readings I wasn't afraid anymore. And of course I had to have my own cards. :D they became my companions and I beleived they helped me remove the dark shadow that had been looming over me my whole life. My friend was very strict with ritual and the traditional ways her mother has taught her. I have become more enlighted over the years by reading the boards here and reading alot of books, ( tend to research things :) ) and now I have become the teacher and she the student... Kind of ironic.

Moonbow*	14 Nov 2003
Hi Majecot I'm glad you responded to the thread. I'm convinced there must be alot of people out there who's relatives/friends do or did Tarot. I'm very shy about mine. I wish I could 'come out' but I still think theres alot of stigma about 'the evil cards'. By the fact that Tarot has survived means our parents/grandparents/ancestors must have read the cards. Are they just too afraid to speak out?

Star Spirit	14 Nov 2003
I honestly don't even remember what drew me to get a tarot deck...I find that very strange. I think it might have started a few years ago when I used to hang around Bolt.com and visit the message boards, and I started becoming more spiritual than religious (I became Christian in '96 and it stopped working for me). I used to be really into astrology, so it probably stemmed from that. I started reading up a lot on meditation and angels and paranormal, numerology, and tarot. I bought some books on dream interpretation, psychic abilities and the paranormal a few years ago at a discount store, though I have yet to read up too much on them. Although I did learn a lot from the psychic abilities book. I must have been led to Aeclectic.net through the tarot board or something, I remember browsing it for the longest time wanting to get a deck, and going to Learntarot.com to study up on the subject. Come to think of it, staying up really late and watching infomercials for the Psychic Network and Miss Cleo might have been what clinched it (isn't that terrible? Haha). I know that stuff is b/s but I really liked the concept and even though Miss Cleo was fake the tarot was very real to me and I became so fascinated with it....but all these events are jumbled in my mind. Strange. Maybe it was an amnesiac vision where I was told to buy tarot cards :>

dolphinprincess	14 Nov 2003
i've always had a fascination with the supernatural / metaphysical since i was little.. however, there was so much i didn't understand. in my mind, using the tarot could possibly lead to a scene in the Exorcist.. when i was in my early 20s, my father bought a few decks bc we were curious - but, still a little fearful bc there was so much we didn't understand.. at my first job out of college, i met a girl who was pretty open minded and had a basic knowledge of astrology, tarot, etc... She filled me in enough that I realized tarot had nothing to do with getting possessed, etc.. (are you laughing at me yet.. :o) soon after i started reading some books.. and learning a whole lot about spiritual topics.. .. i acquired a lot of decks.. but i still got freaked at a lot of the images and became afraid of what i might see in the cards.. so i gave it up.. then, last year.. i felt educated enough to return.. and it was like learning it all for the first time.... how i have changed! Its funny, but i have no recollection of what turned me on to supernatural / metaphysical things to begin with. i assume it was my father..

The How did you get in touch with Tarot?? thread was originally posted on 14 Nov 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.