Tarot Habits

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Feb 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

TemperanceAngel	10 Feb 2004
I generally don't post in this Forum as I find it quite fickle, and if a moderator thinks it should be elsewhere, then go for it and move it! I was thinking about habits in general, and it made me think about what kind of habits we form with Tarot? I started teaching a four week course on Saturday mornings and this week is the second class. I thought about how I would get everyone to sit in different chairs so they didn't fall into a familiar Tarot patterns/habits from the beginning. And then I realised it was really a message for me, what habits have I formed with Tarot? Last night my friend was coming for a reading and I have decided all guests get to be my guinea pigs. I wanted to try a new spread out to open the reading. Immediately I put the cards down how I would usually do it and then I caught myself *No, you are trying out a new spread* And, jolt, all of a sudden I felt like I didn't know what was going on, placing the cards in such foreign positions with different meanings for the positions. It jolted my consciousness and made me laugh, as I *fumbled* my way through... But it was great as well, because I am sure I got new insight from this spread! So what's the moral of this tale :laugh: For me it was: Don't fall into familiar patterns with the Tarot, always challenge yourself, because we are all beginners at heart :) XTAX

mac22	10 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by TemperanceAngel I generally don't post in this Forum as I find it quite fickle, and if a moderator thinks it should be elsewhere, then go for it and move it! I was thinking about habits in general, and it made me think about what kind of habits we form with Tarot? I started teaching a four week course on Saturday mornings and this week is the second class. I thought about how I would get everyone to sit in different chairs so they didn't fall into a familiar Tarot patterns/habits from the beginning. And then I realised it was really a message for me, what habits have I formed with Tarot? Last night my friend was coming for a reading and I have decided all guests get to be my guinea pigs. I wanted to try a new spread out to open the reading. Immediately I put the cards down how I would usually do it and then I caught myself *No, you are trying out a new spread* And, jolt , all of a sudden I felt like I didn't know what was going on, placing the cards in such foreign positions with different meanings for the positions. It jolted my consciousness and made me laugh, as I *fumbled* my way through... But it was great as well, because I am sure I got new insight from this spread! So what's the moral of this tale :laugh: For me it was: Don't fall into familiar patterns with the Tarot, always challenge yourself, because we are all beginners at heart :) XTAX While I have several favorite spreads I also allow for spontaneity as to spread.... if that helps...:D

Chronata	11 Feb 2004
Oh Temperance Angel! Your post made me laugh in recognition! For about 15 years, I had found a comfortable old way of reading the tarot. Usually using the same deck, the same spread, and the same way of reading for clients. Maybe it was in the last five years, that something started changing in this old comfortable way of doing things (something has to eventually grow, right?) It was as if I had broken through my old habit of reading the cards, and begin to read them as if I were using a different kind of divination process. I started interpreting the images, and sounds that came to my head in addition to the old comfortable meanings. And then I found this wonderful site...and was thrown even further out of my comfort zone! Old habits began to break away, and I found myself doing more and more readings with different decks, different spreads and different ideas behind the meanings of the cards. The best part is, the more you change your habits and styles,(once they have been firmy established) the more you grow as a reader. It was awesome to have a sturdy foundation to begin with...but it is even better now that I have a more spontaneous approach to tarot, and oracles in general. I do really feel like the Fool again...starting off on a new adventure into the unknown (and perhaps the unknowable!) That is why, even though I have been a professional reader for about 20 years, I still feel like I am a student...and that there is still so much more that I can learn, more I can study...and more ways that I can grow!

TemperanceAngel	11 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Chronata Oh Temperance Angel! Your post made me laugh in recognition! For about 15 years, I had found a comfortable old way of reading the tarot. Usually using the same deck, the same spread, and the same way of reading for clients. And then I found this wonderful site...and was thrown even further out of my comfort zone! Old habits began to break away, and I found myself doing more and more readings with different decks, different spreads and different ideas behind the meanings of the cards. lol and snap Chronata, but it's so fantastic!!!! I mean AT and habit breaking :D Do you think there is that link with others? Come on don't be shy folks, who else started changing their habits after they joined AT? xTAx

CreativeFire	11 Feb 2004
Totally understand where you are both coming from. It has been a similar experience for me - finding AT - reading and learning from others experiences and ways with Tarot. When I read for people, I always used to shuffle the deck and then have them cut and pick out their cards for the reading - which worked fine. But after reading some posts, thought I would try having the person I read for shuffle the deck themslves and then pick out the cards - have done 3 readings this way now and am really pleased with the results - as were also the people I was reading for - so this has now become a new habit for me :-) Have also started experimenting with some new spreads as well - I do believe it is having that contact with other Tarot people and sharing. CreativeFire

Thea Lynx	12 Feb 2004
Hi TemperanceAngel, I have discovered that I have developed several habits without even realizing that I had done so - which makees them all the more meaningful to me since they came about without conscious intent. The first is that I always divide the deck with my left hand, always turn cards over with my left hand and do it left to right as if the page of a book. When I lay out a spread, the deck is held in my right hand and the left does the layout. When I shuffle, I hold the main part of the deck in my left and move cards around or work them into the rest of the deck with my right. But when the deck feels shuffled enough, I sandwich the deck between my hands, left hand on top and press the back of my left hand against my throat. I have a private little chant/prayer that accompanies this ritual. I did not know until after I realized I was doing all of this that the left is the receptive side - I am naturally right handed. Also, I don't reorder a deck until I have done working with it for the time being - I have several decks I have not worked with yet except for pulling a few initial cards - a "getting to know you" kind of ritual I learned from a friend in Tarot class - it has made my decks into friends much sooner than before - so those decks stay "disorganized" until I really work them. Thea Lynx

Dark Inquisitor	12 Feb 2004
When I saw the thread title Tarot Habits, all I could think of was a nun with tarot cards printed all over her gown ! I don't think the church will go for this. Tarotphelia

miss_apples	12 Feb 2004
I think that my 2 worst tarot habits are #1. I just cant seem to put down my LWB and #2. I always refer to the court cards as meaning a person...and they arent always a person. The situation with reffering to the court cards as people...because of AT I am slowly breaking that habit and learning to decipher when they are a person and when they are an idea. The problem with the LWB....im trying to force myself to do at least one reading a day without it. I just cant quit cold turkey!

TemperanceAngel	13 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by miss_apples #1. I just cant seem to put down my LWB What's LWB? xTAx

Dark Inquisitor	13 Feb 2004
LWB is the Little White Book that comes with most decks containing the alleged meanings of the cards.

The Tarot Habits thread was originally posted on 10 Feb 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.