How Far will you go to understand the tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

HOLMES	26 Jan 2004
I am wondering right now as i sit here with tarot symbolism on the way from bangbang, gareth knight book on the qabbalah and tarot, and meditions on tarot. it was an area that i didn't want to go to for a young time. in fact as i first heard of these books i said who the hell wants to know that ? but now with the them on the way and the jungian tarot and the archtypal imagery i am getting deeper. oh yes, i found myself looking not only at the psychology and the mythology books, but also at the books of colour therapy, and symbolism. in fact i started to make a list and say that sounds like a beginners book and that sounds like a intermediate book. it is no differnce then what i have done for astrology, numerology, qabbalah as they related to the tarot. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dstripbooks%26field-keywords%3Dcolour%2520psychology/002-0345055-1437670 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/2QHASJML4R8VA/qid%3D1065152845/sr%3D5-1/ref%3Dsr%5F5%5F1/002-0345055-1437670/aeclectic/ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/TC3EW6CESPM5/ref%3Dcm%5Flm%5Flists/002-0345055-1437670/aeclectic/ (for understanding the energy of the cards as it relates to the charkas and such ) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/ZFHYHP5Y7M31/qid%3D1065152845/sr%3D5-3/ref%3Dsr%5F5%5F3/002-0345055-1437670/aeclectic/ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/XQZLRHLPY5RG/ref%3Dcm%5Flm%5Fbg/002-0345055-1437670/aeclectic/ 1. how much time do you plan to invest in the next two years, 2. how much money do you plan to invest, 3. what important decks are you seeking for learning purposes (example the pythogorean tarot, the jungian tarot and it's essential handbook without it one can not hope to understand the minors, or the osho zen tarot) what i mean is i used tarot to help understand things that i wouldn't be able to before that. 4.what do you plan to apply to the tarot ? sybmolism, psychology, astrology, 5. do you plan to take any correspondance courses. example bota ? 6. what is your purpose for understanding the tarot, to read better, to simply understand, or to make your own tarot some day ?

Mimers	26 Jan 2004
Quote: 1. how much time do you plan to invest in the next two years, well, hard to quantify. Lets say perhaps an adverage of half hour a day. Quote: 2. how much money do you plan to invest, I have invested quite enough already. But honestly I am sure I will buy more books and decks. Especially if Mary Greer puts out a court card book. Quote: 3. what important decks are you seeking for learning purposes (example the pythogorean tarot, the jungian tarot and it's essential handbook without it one can not hope to understand the minors, or the osho zen tarot) what i mean is i used tarot to help understand things that i wouldn't be able to before that. None. I have enough to learn from. I don't feel the need to learn about all of the esoteric backrounds of Tarot. As a matter of fact, this just seems to clog up my mind and block intuition from flowing. Quote: 4.what do you plan to apply to the tarot ? sybmolism, psychology, astrology, symbolism and psychology Quote: 5. do you plan to take any correspondance courses. example bota ? Well, I am thinking of taking some of the Monday night courses at the Tarot School in NYC since I live so close. Quote: 6. what is your purpose for understanding the tarot, to read better, to simply understand, or to make your own tarot some day ? To read better, to grow spiritually, to help others, because it facinates me. It is a passion.

jmd	26 Jan 2004
You certainly ask questions which puts one on the spot, Holmes! :) Over the next two years, as I continue to organise Tarot Café, the 2005 International Tarot Conference, a Monthly Tarot Newsletter, the republication of a well known Tarot book, the organisation of the Association for Tarot Studies, continued moderation on Aeclectic, daily meditations (except when I can't do it) for the '78 weeks' of study, contributions to various posts on Aeclectic, reading various books on Tarot, running a couple of courses, giving Tarot talks here and there, comparing and re-comparing especially various Marseilles decks, writing notes, and doing various readings, I may be frightened to add the time, as I may find that 24 hours in a day, my working life, my private life, and my other engagements just don't add up... As to money, that's simpler... but dare not say :) With regards to important decks, I suppose that I am really looking forward to doing more detailed work with some versions of the Marseille I will obtain soonish... as well as another early deck. I also look forward to going through some of the details represented in early iconography via the decks of baba-prague and katblack... and I really would like to also get around to getting JPT's Paris deck... What do I apply within my studies? I suppose principally whatever emerges from looking into early iconography, whether this be astrological, psychological, alchemical, historical, kabalistic or other... ...and the only 'correspondence' course I plan on taking is the ongoing correspondence Aeclectic, and privately with some members and non-members, offers. Formal Tarot courses I have no intentions of 'taking', though I am always interested in seeing what is being offered and how it is being offered... and why! My 'purpose' for understanding Tarot? ...now let's see... I think I'd better leave that for other threadS! :):):)

Dark_angel	26 Jan 2004
Hard questions, Holmes! But the answers are bound to be very revealing! 1. how much time do you plan to invest in the next two years, I honestly don't know. I don't have a timetable of study, or a period of the day where I meditate. My life's very hectic, and will only become more so as I continue training, so I just pick up a deck and play with it when I feel I have the energy. Maybe if I spent less time here and more studying, I'd progress faster, but I'd rather learn more slowly and enjoy sharing the process with friends, than race through by myself. If I locked myself away until I knew "all there is to know", I'd die alone with no friends and nowhere near understanding tarot. 2. how much money do you plan to invest, Unfortunately, tarot decks are now essentials, just like clothes, and ahead of food. So, probably a lot! I'm trying to cut down now - I'm being ruthless in my shopping list. 3. what important decks are you seeking for learning purposes (example the pythogorean tarot, the jungian tarot and it's essential handbook without it one can not hope to understand the minors, or the osho zen tarot) what i mean is i used tarot to help understand things that i wouldn't be able to before that. At some stage I'd like to use a Marseilles deck, but due to my reading style, I'm still looking for one I'd be able to fully appreciate. Most of the ones out there don't 'speak' to me, and as I said, I'm only buying decks I really really really want. 4.what do you plan to apply to the tarot ? sybmolism, psychology, astrology, The only things I ever use when reading are my intuition, and perhaps knowledge of some relevant mythology. At the moment, this approach is more 'me' than approaches using colour therapy, etc. But this is probably because of my newness to tarot - who knows where I'll end up on my journey? 5. do you plan to take any correspondance courses. example bota ? Not at the moment; I prefer to keep tarot for fun, and would be cautious about formalised classes. Maybe in the future. 6. what is your purpose for understanding the tarot, to read better, to simply understand, or to make your own tarot some day ? I just want to understand people and myself. Not much to ask, is it? :D

miss_apples	26 Jan 2004
1. how much time do you plan to invest in the next two years As much as I can 2. how much money do you plan to invest Is this really an important aspect of your dedication to tarot? Does it really matter how much money you spend? I have 2 decks...I think thats quite enough for me. 3. what important decks are you seeking for learning purposes (example the pythogorean tarot, the jungian tarot and it's essential handbook without it one can not hope to understand the minors, or the osho zen tarot) what i mean is i used tarot to help understand things that i wouldn't be able to before that Im just gonna stick learning about the decks I have for the time being. 4.what do you plan to apply to the tarot ? sybmolism, psychology, astrology all of the above, plus other concepts such as spirituality, love, the supernatural...... 5. do you plan to take any correspondance courses. example bota ? No...dont have the time or money. 6. what is your purpose for understanding the tarot, to read better, to simply understand, or to make your own tarot some day ? My purpose is to use tarot to help me on my never-ending quest to discover myself and to help others with their never-ending quest to find themselvses also.

Aerten	26 Jan 2004
1. how much time do you plan to invest in the next two years, Half an hour a day sounds reasonable. 2. how much money do you plan to invest, None, I only need my decks... 3. what important decks are you seeking for learning purposes None :) I'm content with mine. 4.what do you plan to apply to the tarot ? Psych and symbolism!! 5. do you plan to take any correspondance courses. I wish. I can't, though. As Miss Apples said, no time and no money. 6. what is your purpose for understanding the tarot, to read better, to simply understand, or to make your own tarot some day ? The read better and to understand!! This stuff fascinates me.

ros	26 Jan 2004
Tarot is forever. Aeclectic proves that we will never be able to learn everything because when we do, someone comes up with another right answer & we begin again. I will study Tarot, numbers etc. & not attach myself the to outcome. This way I will never know when I have learned what I need to learn. 0 & 8 are the two numbers that you can repeat without taking your pen off the paper. No beginning & no end. I put Tarot in the middle of the 0 fool that I am. LOL

Strange2	26 Jan 2004
Excellent questions, Holmes! Quest On!... 1. how much time do you plan to invest in the next two years, As much as I can. Would like to invest about 2 hours a day, so that's 1460 hours in 2 years. 2. how much money do you plan to invest, My deck collection is already big (112 decks), so I don't expect to expend much more, except for some self-published decks. 3. what important decks are you seeking for learning purposes Tarot of the Crone and the Hadar Marseilles would be nice! 4.what do you plan to apply to the tarot ? Sacred geometry, exercising my creativity by drawing my own cards 5. do you plan to take any correspondance courses. example bota ? Currently taking BOTA course, and plan to continue 6. what is your purpose for understanding the tarot, to read better, to simply understand, or to make your own tarot some day ? To experience joy in the infinite paths that tarot leads to and from, to witness the wonders that tarot reveals and conceals, and to be inspired to creative expression. In essence, Tarot is the media that enhances my ability to Receive, to Integrate, and to Transmit.

lark	26 Jan 2004
Hi Holmes. Apply: I seem to be very drawn to symbols lately and as always to colors. Decks: Three of the decks I'm interested in are Sacred Geometry by Hart, The Shamanic Oracle deck, and Crop Circle Oracle. Shamanic Oracle is a deck about the images carved in the rocks around Santa Fe, New Mexico. I don't know why I'm drawn to this, I just feel it has something to teach me. The same with the Crop Circle Deck. They have always facinated me, and this seemed like a good way to study it. Time: I spend most of my day with tarot one way or another. I don't see that changing. Money: As Fanny Brice once said, "Money is alot like manure it doesn't do any good unless you spread it around." I spend the money I make doing readings on the weekends on my tarot collection, books, and crystals. Course: I don't plan on taking any courses. Aeclectic seems like one big course to me. I studied all alone for years so talking to other people about tarot is a great experience for me. Purpose: I would like to expand my intuitive abilities. Tarot pulls that together for me. Pictures, color, symbols all very important to my learning process. But I'm afraid numbers give me a twitch...:confused:

TemperanceAngel	26 Jan 2004
Good question, Holmes! 1. how much time do you plan to invest in the next two years, As much as I do now and probably more now that I have joined Aeclectic and started teaching Tarot and started going to the Tarot cafe and I plan to have myn own tarot website up and running by June :) Don't forget all this whilst studying a Bachlor of Health Science (Naturopathy) full-time 2. how much money do you plan to invest, As much as I can 3. what important decks are you seeking for learning purposes I love my RWS, but plan to get a Thoth deck, and after that a Marseilles.... 4.what do you plan to apply to the tarot ? EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!! 5. do you plan to take any correspondance courses. I have never done a Tarot course in my life and don't plan to now! But like Lark, I spent years studying on my own, and really enjoy my Aeclectic correspondance. 6. what is your purpose for understanding the tarot, to read better, to simply understand, or to make your own tarot some day ? First and foremost I love it and have found Tarot invaluable for my own self-transformation, understanding myself much better. It really has opened the door to an amazing world for me. I don't plan to make my own Tarot (but you never know), I love meeting people and as a Tarot Consultant I get to do plenty of that :) I also am enjoying meeting other readers and folk interested in Tarot, a great journey indeed.... Thanks for that Holmes, it's good to re-assess sometimes :D XTAX

HOLMES	27 Jan 2004
1.coming from tarot terms , as i look back at how much time i have spent on tarot since i came to the forum, it would be at least half of my waking hours eheh. i do plan to get into music and excerise more yet my time i plan to spend on tarot would be .. more qualified ? more quality i mean. what i plan to do is now that i got the astrology, numerolgy, qabbalah parts down so i can understand them, what i plan to do is slowly put them into my own notes. you see all i been doing since i came here besides the posts i made sharing my thoughts is what i call the squirrel part of my journey. that is where i gathered everything i needed and as i gathered it , i kind of organized these things in my own way. so what i plan to do now is after i study my tarot symbolism and christian books and proceed to study the jungian tarot and osho zen tarot. as i do that i plan to write a systemic approach to the tarot (given title who knows ) which will put my new insights (well now old since i posted them as i learn about them eheh ) into a holmes style book, i also plan to slowly start work on my own tarot which will have no set theme but it will be my learning process for learning it personally. then i suppose i will have to rewrite what i done in two years time. as you can see the virgo part of me is coming out but we all know life never goes according to plan eheh. 2.in the time to come , i plan to get nativagtors of the mystic sea, gothic vampire (i got to have it ehhe ), gill tarot , and the new tarot books coming out in the next year. like mary k greer book on the tarot courts card. i am no longer looking for beginners tarot book but high end intermediate books. so i will be good money wise however i find myself exploring astrology more in depth . sa la vie ? 3.i mentione decks already in number two , not many more study decks i am looking at but who knows what may come out as a surpise ehhe. 4. through studying the jungian tarot , i will be learning and applying psychology in tarot terms, from there i plan to go where the muse leads me. from studying the osho zen tarot it will be the same for the zen philophy. and i did mention colour symbology. there is one thing i didnt' mention yet and that is the mundane pratical approach to the tarot . my readings tend to be of a spiritual, estoric and so i am sure that will come when i write my notes up and make my own tarot . 5. which brings me to the corresponance course. i agree that aeclectic is one big correspondance course for here we can mix tarot with numerology , and astrolgy and personal experiences and pratice. i want to order some of the tapes from the tarot school, (the one about applying estoric to the pratical sounds like i need that ). and the star tree with voyager tarot. and probaly when i move and get settled i will take up the bota just to say i know , i studied . 6. what is my purpose for learning the tarot , well for me it is a series of life lessons , that are shrouded in pictures , numbers and lots more. through the tarot i have learn so much about astrology, and qabblah, and numerology which if i didn't know about the tarot and tried it on my own i would of failed. so besides learning about life through the tarot , my purpose is to get better, it is to clarify things for people. 7. which brings me to the question i should of added in there. how many do you plan to go professional. i was talking to freinds and they say it is time, i say how can i go professional when i have no background, no experience , yet i was looking at it backwards, those who have books written read the tarot for years, my plan was to write the book, before i went professional , how silly is that ? ehhe

lunakasha	27 Jan 2004
This is in response to those of you who posted that you cannot afford a correspondence class right now....just an FYI that Barnes & Noble is offering a FREE online beginner's tarot course which starts next week (February 2nd). All you need for the class is Joan Bunning's book Learning the Tarot and any deck of cards. For more info, here is the link to BNU: http://www.barnesandnobleuniversity.com/ I have already signed up, and I got the book from Amazon for about $11...not too bad! Anyway, I hope this is helpful for anyone who would like to learn more without spending money. :) Luna

raeanne	28 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lunakasha ...All you need for the class is Joan Bunning's book Learning the Tarot and any deck of cards. Actually, Joan's book is available from her web site so you don't even need the book! It's a good class for beginners. Joan is a wonderful person and very helpful! She does a great job with these free classes. I've taken the B&N class a couple of times. It depends on the students you are in with. One time I was with a group of students that didn't want to use Joan's book and then they complained that the page numbers she gave didn't match the book they were using! Joan was very patient with these people but she had to spend so much time dealing with the people who were causing this chaos that she didn't have much time left for other students. One other time, the students were great and they asked very good questions! Since it is free, it is certainly worth the time to take it!

ribbitcat	28 Jan 2004
Also for those wanting a free online course , TABI offers one based on Joan Bunning's book ; you don't have to be a TABI member to do the course . The next one starts around the 23rd or 28th feb , I think . http://www.tabi.org.uk or PM me :-) ribbitcat

ol_crazy_Legs	30 Jan 2004
1. how much time do you plan to invest in the next two years Atleast an hour a night , Im usaully up for hours running throught the internet at night learning as much as i can... I need to get back to my daily readings though 2. how much money do you plan to invest Hmmm... well i want a few mor decks, clothes and totes... maybe around 100 bucks 3. what important decks are you seeking for learning purposes Any deck i have... i believe you can learn alot from any deck. 4.what do you plan to apply to the tarot ? sybmolism & psychology 5. do you plan to take any correspondance courses. example bota? Maybe a corse on just tarot 6. what is your purpose for understanding the tarot, to read better, to simply understand, or to make your own tarot some day ? All of those things...

RedWood	30 Jan 2004
holmes, As to your question. You have no background etc. Well you can't get any unless you put yourself out there. You dont need a background. You dont need these courses to become what you want. Do it if it is something you really want to do. other then that. Just get out there and do it. As you do it more you will get a reputation that can carry you further. The first step. I think. Put yourself out there. Dont worry about studying so much. Everyone is different. Trust in yourself, your intuition, and the knowledge you already possess and go for it. This is just my opnion.

The How Far will you go to understand the tarot thread was originally posted on 26 Jan 2004 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.