How old were you......

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Moon86	19 Mar 2004
Hi, How old were you when you first started doing Tarot? I was 15. I've been doing them for almost 3 years now and still I feel I have so much to learn! :) . I have a question. I feel that not only do the Cups involve realationship matters, but the Wands do too, for some reason the Four of Wands, and especially the Eight of Wands stand out to me. Is this true? Can Wands also relate to a realationship? Thanks :) Take Care, Melissa (Moon86)

Star Spirit	19 Mar 2004
Hmm...I believe I was 15 or 16 as well. Been at it a few years ;) As for your second question, you'll find that suits/cards in general can relate to just about anything. Whatever they seem to be telling you is usually right :)

ZardKravell	19 Mar 2004
Hi Melissa! Well, I was 25 when I first started doing Tarot readings (three years ago, ough! I'll be 28 this year!). I can tell you right away that no matter when you start, it changes your life ;) As for your second question, I agree with Dead Star, what the card means to you is always correct. But speaking from my experience, yes, Wands and relationships have things in common. I consider Wands are related to fire, and fire is an important part of any relationship. It is also relevant as it has a potential for transformation, and all relationships have changes included that can well relate to transformations... May the stars shine on you!

Diana	19 Mar 2004
If there are no Batons/Wands in a relationship, then the relationship will fizzle out. All emotions and no spunk. But Cups are a good start to a relationship! :)

ZardKravell	19 Mar 2004
Yes indeed... Cups are definetly needed... My current and wonderful relationship started with the very archetypal Two of Cups from the Tarot of the Spirit :) May the stars shine on us all!

Phoenyx*	19 Mar 2004
I was 22 when I first started out, but I've really been getting into it the past year or so. Editted to add: And I'll be turning 27 this year :P

Ilithiya	19 Mar 2004
Hmmm.... 15, I think... I'm 25 now, so I guess that means I'm a slouch for ignoring my decks for a couple years. :) Illy

13thFaeChylde	19 Mar 2004
I was 28 when I received my first deck, but didn't get into it "hard-core" till 2 years ago. I'm just a late bloomer :)

laura_borealis	19 Mar 2004
I was 20 when I got my first deck, which my Mom made me give back because I was living under her roof at the time. But I kept the book I picked up at a yard sale (Eden Gray's Complete Guide to Tarot) and that's when I started learning about tarot. I didn't get another deck until I was, oh, 25 or so. Since then I've gone through short phases of learning divided by long periods of not. I started keeping a tarot journal about 9 years ago. Each time I pick the cards back up to learn again, I feel like I get closer to understanding them, and better at listening to my intuition.

Pagan X	19 Mar 2004
13 when my Dad brought the Swiss IJ home. He was going through an Alternative Religions phase at the time. Something about them fascinated me. I saved up $6.00 and took the bus downtown to the JK Gill under the Monorail with my best buddy Eve and we both bought Aquarian decks. I can still smell the store and see the boxes on the shelf in my mind. That was thirty years ago. I still have both decks. Eve is still my best buddy. The bookstore is gone. The monorail is still there.

closrapexa	19 Mar 2004
I guess I was about 13 or so, but like others, I only gotten serious about it this year. I'm 22 now

tmgrl2	19 Mar 2004
61...Tarot found me...never too late...keeps me humble when I learn something new....I remember how easy it is to stumble and fall...but that's ok...I hope I never stop learning. But I am definitely taken with Tarot.

contrascarpe	19 Mar 2004
I was about seven when I was first exposed to Tarot, but probably didn't do my first reading until I was 13 or 14. But that was so long ago and before I killed off a ton of brain cells :)

galadrielsphial	19 Mar 2004
I first became interested when I was 20, and bought my first deck (Sacred Circle) when I was 21. I'm 23 now, and that deck has been joined by five more.

CreativeFire	19 Mar 2004
I was 28 when I got my first deck and just turned 38 last month :) - had a bit of break in those ten years but have got back into more seriously the last few years. Still enjoying the learning process! In regards to relationships and Cups / Wands - Cups are needed for relationships - feeling and emotions. Every good relationship though also needs some Wands - fire, passion, courage to endure. CreativeFire

tarotbrat	19 Mar 2004
i was 17. was on and off through the years, i am 33 now. i will say the last 3 years i have been taking classes and getting more involved by doing readings in exchange here at AT and just reading books that i can get my hands on. i consider myself in the beginning stage still.

Simone	20 Mar 2004
I must have been around 21/22 whan I got me my first Oracle deck, and 24 or so when I got me my first Tarot (I don't even remember which it was, RWS maybe, never got tu use it much, though). I was more into oracles for several years, but since 2 or 3 years now I'm focussing more on Tarot (although occasionnally "slipping back" to my beloved Belline). Love Simone

Agathe	20 Mar 2004
I was about 19 when I got my first deck from my Mum. I used it for a year and then I got rid of it :( 4 years ago I went to study Tarot and different divination things on a course. This trully helped me grow and one of the people I met there is one of my best friends now :D. Anyway, I've been using tarot cards ever since and hope to use them for much, much longer in the future:D Blessings, Agathe

lisa-pisces	20 Mar 2004
My grandmother read cards, and I was fascinated from the start, she used gypsy playing cards, not a tarot deck, and I've adopted this also, Have used many tarot decks, but i just don't seem to get as much detail. I'm searching for a tarot deck that I 'click' with, have had a fair few in the past....so any suggestions?

Maan	20 Mar 2004
got my first oracle deck from my parents ( the medicine cards) at age 14, for my next birtday i asked i got a tarot deck. Geezzz i've been reading cards for nine years now!!!!! Love Maan

smokey	20 Mar 2004
Off - & - on the Tarot has "dealt with me" around 20 yrs.; I'll be 48 next month, AUGH!!! Like Laura B.; I started with Eden Gray also. Till next time, may you & yours walk in Love & Light, "S"...

LaLa	20 Mar 2004
Probably got my RWS pack and Rachel Pollack 78 degrees when I was about 26. That was about 16 years ago... The tarot and I have had an on/off relationship over the years (disrupted by a negative-vibed partner and over committed lifestyle) so I still consider myself a novice (but we never stop learning so I guess we'll always be students eh?!) I discovered Aeclectic in 1999 (on my work computer - tsk tsk) and became reacquainted last year when I got my own As for relationships and cards I think all the suits apply maybe cups the most but apart from the courts and the occasional card that's really self reflective (like the 4 of pentacles and the 4 of swords) they all reflect relationships beyond self the sixes are pretty poignant relationship wise... but my favourite is the 10 of pentacles because it reminds us of the special things we tend to overlook ... and that's kind of what divination is all about for me it's just another way of seeing what's being overlooked (if you know what I mean..)

thanatos	20 Mar 2004
I think I was about 30 when I was first drawn towards tarot .... and that was to ask a question .... I think I was 31 when I aquired my first tarot deck

Lionheart	20 Mar 2004
I had my first reading done when I was 19 years old, it was something I wanted to have done at the time only because my mother had a reading, the lady who read for me was absolutely fantastic, spot on about everything. After this first reading I remember thinking to myself 'this is something I have (or want) to do'. I acquired my first deck of cards when I was 19, that was 20 years ago now and the interest has never died.

Marion	20 Mar 2004
I was around 22 and starting my first job on the other side of the continent from home. Found a Rider Waite and a book by Eden Grey in a delightful bookstore that no longer exists. I did have long periods when I didn't use tarot though, so I cannot claim the full 32 years of experience.

Chronata	20 Mar 2004
When I was very young I was really fascinated with history, magic, the occult and art. I remember I saw just the names of the Majors in an Almanac, and at 10, I decided to make my own deck (never having seen one before!) My Aunt on my Dad's side read playing cards...and my Cousin on my Mom's started to do tarot. I got my first deck(my now dog-eared RWS) when I was 12...and did my first professional (paid and everything!) readings when I was 15. The Tarot took hold of me, and has never let go! (I believe I still have my Eden Grey books too!...somewhere...)

ZardKravell	20 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lisa-pisces My grandmother read cards, and I was fascinated from the start, she used gypsy playing cards, not a tarot deck, and I've adopted this also, Have used many tarot decks, but i just don't seem to get as much detail. I'm searching for a tarot deck that I 'click' with, have had a fair few in the past....so any suggestions? Have you tried the Spanish Tarot? I believe US Games still edits them. They have a feeling very much like playing cards, but it is a Marseilles derived deck. I have seen that many people who are used to other cartomantic methods feel confortable with this deck. May the stars shine on you!

dolphinprincess	20 Mar 2004
I've always been intrigued by tarot - but I got my first deck when I was around 22 or 23... Since then, I've gone through a few hot and cold periods - only in the past couple of years did I start to really study them... :o)

lunalafey	20 Mar 2004
I was 22 and very pregnant with my second child when I got my first deck. I read all the time for about 2 years and then my deck hid itself after the first reading I did in a new house I had moved into. I lived there for a year and only found the deck when I moved. It was in the place that I kept going back to to see if I could find it, but it had camoflauged itself very well. It took removing furniture for it to be found. After that, it was a few years before my second deck came to me. I 'retired' my first deck which had already been through so so very much (and shows it's battle scars). That was in '98. Here it is 2004 and I have {thanks to AT!} over a dozen tarot decks and half a dozen divination decks. (I have been 'reading' for 14 years)

VGimlet	20 Mar 2004
I know I was 11, because I'd heard about tarot for a few years (I was really interested in the occult and my dad and I were reading the Amber books). Our favorite local bookstore had the RWS, and the Marseilles, and I was going to buy a RWS, but they got in an awesome new, modern deck, available through special order only. The store owners were really cool, and called me at home to tell me to come in and take a when we came in on Saturday as usual. It was twelve dollars, and I saved up six, and my dad paid the other half. :) That was 31 years ago, and mine was the Aquarian tarot also.

colusaskye	20 Mar 2004
I was 12 when i first heard of Tarot, through.....YM magazine (ack!) interested in it for forever, but couldn't do anything about it. Parents believe it's bad and they pretty much followed me around until I was 18 1/2 and said "enough, I'm an adult, leave me alone." No place to buy a deck in town until last October, so that's when I bought the one I'm using now. The one I had beforehand I had for about 6 months. So...officially...almost a year? haha.

Moon86	20 Mar 2004
I can tell a lot of you has had a lot of experience at this, I got a long way to go to catch up :) I hope I can learn how to predict the cards more acurate on myself one day, but it seems that only happens when I do them for someone else.

Red Emma	20 Mar 2004
To quote TMGirl, it's never too late: I was 70, and been at it for seven years. At that age I didn't have religious family members bugging me, although I would have had if I had started in my teens. The problem came because my husband and most of my friends had a superior, "We're smart; we don't believe in superstitious nonsense." I decided to live my own life. The hell with them. Stopped in a new age shop one day and the shop keeper helped me pick out a deck: Moon Garden. I now have about 10 decks. I still have trouble reading without a book to refer to, but thanks to the Sacred Circle study group I'm slowly learning to rely on my intuition.

tmgrl2	20 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Red Emma To quote TMGirl, it's never too late: I was 70, and been at it for seven years. At that age I didn't have religious family members bugging me, although I would have had if I had started in my teens. The problem came because my husband and most of my friends had a superior, "We're smart; we don't believe in superstitious nonsense." I decided to live my own life. The hell with them. Stopped in a new age shop one day and the shop keeper helped me pick out a deck: Moon Garden. I now have about 10 decks. I still have trouble reading without a book to refer to, but thanks to the Sacred Circle study group I'm slowly learning to rely on my intuition. Hooray for RedEmma! I loved your post. I had so many religious elements in my young life...and then in my thirties read with color and handwritings...but only recently, as I approach retirement..and am in my 60's do I feel like you said The....with them" Never too old to start and I applaud the very young readers we have as well...they should go with it! They were drawn to it for a reason, just as we were. And I am learning again...makes me feel so young! terri

Summerdream	20 Mar 2004
When I seriously started studying and using the tarot was 2 years ago when I was 34. Momof3girls:)

Silverlotus	20 Mar 2004
I think I started studying and reading Tarot when I was around 12 or 13 years old, about 14 years ago. (Ack!) I did put them aside for a short while in high school, because I boy told me he didn't like me because of them. (*sigh* How silly was I to try to change myself?) And I didn't read much during my middle years of university because I was so darn busy. I'm so glad that I have come back to Tarot though. There is so much more for me to learn.

Dark_angel	21 Mar 2004
I started learning in June/July 2003, when I was 19... wow, it feels like yesterday and it's already almost a year!

fairyhedgehog	21 Mar 2004
I can't remember when I started but it was within the last five years. (I'll be 50 in couple of weeks.) I envy people whose parents introduce them to tarot. My father would never have approved of tarot and I know my sister doesn't. I don't tell anyone I have tarot cards except a few close friends. I'm in an 'off-again' phase with the cards at the moment, I'd like to get into more collecting again but it's expensive. Sorry, I'm rambling :)

lunakasha	21 Mar 2004
I was 33 when I bought my first tarot deck...Crow's Magick :) Nice deck of cards, but not the best for beginners, IMO. That was 2 1/2 years ago, and I have really enjoyed this journey...always more to learn, about the cards and mostly about myself. But I wouldn't have gotten far without Aeclectic....the people here, the kindness and support....it has been a lifeline for me. :) Luna

Savoyali	21 Mar 2004
Bought my first deck last summer--the Celtic by Davis/Patterson--when I was 24, out of curiosity and because it was pretty. Now here I am seven months on, one more notch on the year stick, sixteen decks later and several readings the wiser... hopelessly addicted :D My little brother is eight years old and did his first reading with my Fey deck today :)

OakDragon	21 Mar 2004
I was about 13 when I started getting into tarot, and I'll be 31 in August, so I guess I've been at it for about 18 years now. Oak Dragon

Kath	21 Mar 2004
I was about 22 when I got my first deck. It was a Christmas present from my brother. We were in a book store a couple of weeks before Christmas and didn’t know what to get each other. I spied a little tarot set on the shelf and said “I’d like that”. I was exposed to tarot cards when I was about 14, because my aunt used them, and then again at around 19 when I broke up with my first boyfriend and my best friend did a reading for me that was very accurate. I really got into tarot when I was in my mid 20s, but I’ve had a break for the past year or so. I’ll be 29 this year and I have about a dozen decks.

mysticali	22 Mar 2004
I was probably about 22. I was attracted to the cards probably because of a personal situation i was dealing with. I have used them for over 20 years now, albeit with varying regularity. I guess the tarot for me was like an old friend you have had for years and took for granted then you suddenly realise they were 'the one' all along.

Kiama	22 Mar 2004
I was 9 years old, and whilst I didn't have a deck, I read about Tarot all the time. I finally got my first deck when I was 12 (the Sugar Mystic Tarot!). I recall trying to make the Major Arcana out of scrap bits of paper when I was about 9 of 10 though... I've been passionately in love with Tarot ever since, and I'm 19 so I can say that I've been studying it 'over half my life'. }) Kiama

TemperanceAngel	22 Mar 2004
I had my first reading at 17 and bought my first deck at 19, I considered it to be quite young in the conservative town I grew up in! XTAX

diane drizzy	22 Mar 2004
52

Indigo Rose	22 Mar 2004
I bought my first Tarot deck(RWS) at 17. However, I only had it for about 6 months before I was "busted" and told I had to get rid of it because it was of the devil. Well, I bought another deck at 25 when I was living in Alaska. I immediately connected with this RWS deck, as I had the first one I owned. However, another bit of negativity from my ex led me to give it up after only about 3 months. FINALLY, in the summer of 2000 at the tender age of 34 and as I was going through a divorce, I bought yet another RWS deck. Only this time, it was up to ME!!!! I wrestled with my spiritual walk and the Tarot. I read scriptures and prayed about it. My heart was free. I did not see the evil that others had warned me about, and found instead a path to bring me healing and closer to my God. Today at 38, I have been reading the cards daily for almost 4 years. I have several decks and books. I have been learning over the past year how to read more intuitively. It is a great blessing in my life. My second husband is an ordained Christian minister. He never gives me grief, and never has. He is loving and supportive of my interest in Tarot. It is a great blessing to have a true friend who supports your interests. Blessings, Indigo Rose

tmgrl2	22 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama I was 9 years old, and whilst I didn't have a deck, I read about Tarot all the time. I finally got my first deck when I was 12 (the Sugar Mystic Tarot!). I recall trying to make the Major Arcana out of scrap bits of paper when I was about 9 of 10 though... I've been passionately in love with Tarot ever since, and I'm 19 so I can say that I've been studying it 'over half my life'. }) Kiama Way cool! Tarot will be part of most of your life! I love it! Terri

Moonbow*	22 Mar 2004
42 - yes - I'm a late starter!! ;) But my daughter was 11 when she got her first deck (she's now 13- we started together ish) -- they say we live through our children don't they -- I soooo wish I had started earlier - I feel I have missed out all these years Moonbow*

tmgrl2	22 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Moonbow* 42 - yes - I'm a late starter!! ;) But my daughter was 11 when she got her first deck (she's now 13- we started together ish) -- they say we live through our children don't they -- I soooo wish I had started earlier - I feel I have missed out all these years Moonbow* RedEmma and I have you beat...she started at 70 and I started at 61...and feel I have a whole life in Tarot ahead of me! It comes when we need it, I guess. terri

Bacchus	22 Mar 2004
I was 35 when my wife and I picked up a Tarot starter kit. Thoth and RWS decks, book, and journal. She had never shown any interest in Tarot, or anything occult, but I had always been fascinated and intrigued. You can imagine how thrilled I was when SHE suggested we purchase the kit!

Ravenswing	22 Mar 2004
:cool: way back, long long ago.... I got my first deck at about ten. On the boardwalk in atlantic city. The only deck in the only shop that had tarot cards (in a window display, no less :D ) was the swissijj, a bit difficult (for me at least; I like pictures). They actually had to get the deck out of the window for me. :laugh: My grandmother had a great big old three-story house in the inlet... My bedroom was on the third floor and I was allowed to do murals on the walls there. So up went Le Mat-- a full six foot tall rendition of the card in black light paints. Later on (about three years later on) I got the RWS-- my second deck and a lot easier for me to work with. Yes, I too still have a few of Eden Gray's books-- well worn but intact. The denim jacket that I lived in through high school and my first year at college ('til it literally wore away) had the RWS Magician painted on the back. }) So that makes it 'bout 36 years ago for the first one...... 'sbeen a long, strange and wonderful trip that has led me here. and there's lots more to go. Thanks all. fly well raven

retrokat	23 Mar 2004
I was about 15 when I got my first tarot deck, a RWS. It really helped me to think about the world around me, myself, and where I fitted into it. Typical teenaged navel-gazing ;) Actually, I think it really helped me to grow up and develop self-responsibility and a sense of fitting into the world despite being seen as a bit of a freak by all my schoolmates.

wavebreaker	23 Mar 2004
I was 35. But I don't consider myself a "late starter". I had other things to do and learn first that were just as important. ;)

Alissa	23 Mar 2004
As a teenager, I would borrow my friends' decks and read with them on occassion, just for learning and fun. When I was about 26, I was possessed one day and had to go find a tarot deck after my birthday. It had to have the Rider WAite pictures, and I remember I was pissed that Borders had all these "weird decks" but not a "normal Tarot deck." (Which makes me laugh now). I chose the Universal Waites, which has been my only deck for about 6 years, until I landed here and fell in love with Tarot anew.

Ivy Rhiannon	09 Apr 2004
forever and a day ago, or at least it seems. If you want me to be technical...um...4 years ago in 2000 when I was a senior in high school at this niftly little craft store in town. My cards still smell like her store too.

sleepygrl	09 Apr 2004
Hi I'm Nikki- Figured this was my chance to introduce myself. I started reading at the age of 24 (within the past couple months). I'm a so very happy that I have finally taken the time to start the learning process. I have owned my RW cards for aprox 3 years. But I couldn't bring myself to start reading. I think this was because of the fact I was in my mother's house. My mom has been reading the RW cards all of my life. So I've always been drawn to the cards. I think I just needed to wait for the right time to start. And oddly enough it was when I moved out of her house and on my own. It has been very exciting. The first spread I did was actually for my mother. I was so filled with positive energy after I was done. My mom was ecstatic that I did that for her considering her history. And told me she was Honored by the fact I did a reading for her. So there's my little story. I thank everyone on here for the knowledge that people are always posting because I think you can learn more from other people then from a book. Nikki

tmgrl2	09 Apr 2004
Hey, welcome sleepygrl! Post in the New Members Forum for a great big welcome...you'll love it here! Is your mom online at AT? terri I'm 61 years old and just started with Tarot in February, 04, but have used other psychic tools when I was younger.... Glad to have you here.

sleepygrl	09 Apr 2004
Terry Thanks for the welcome :) I'll take your advise and post in that fourm. And actually my mom isn't here at AT I think I'm going to encourage her to. Maybe it will make her a little more inclined to read her cards more. Again thanks for the welcome Nikki

WalesWoman	09 Apr 2004
Oh, man, not a fair question at all. I have always been a late bloomer...I started last year a couple months before my birthday. You can do the math.

Ruby7	10 Apr 2004
I was 20 when I bought my first deck, "Daughters of the Moon". I remember being amazed at how accurate my personal readings felt, but I was also a little overwhelmed and put it away for a while. A few years later I picked up the Connelly deck. I am now 35 and last year (March 2003) I took a one day tarot class that changed everything------I learned to rely more on my intuition and to stop relying on the LWB----and to actually pick a deck that clicked with me (Hanson-Roberts)----and being here at Aeclectic has been wonderful... Ruby7

Nevada	10 Apr 2004
I was 31 or 32. It's been a little over 15 years now, and I haven't regretted a single minute spent on Tarot in that time. :D Nevada

crystal cove	10 Apr 2004
I'm proud to say that I started 5 years ago at 37. I like the idea of lifelong learning and I can't wait to see what I come up with next. ;)

Emiac	14 Apr 2004
I got my first deck at 11, neglected the whole thing for 3 years, & finally (now) at the age of 14 have it clashing with my studies, smart. But- 'I'm lovin' it.' -Justin Timberlake

Orion	14 Apr 2004
I was 18 the first time I ever had my cards read by a friend. I became such a believer that a month later I bought my first deck, the Rider-Waite. This was just over 10 years ago. Just this past year I have become a bit of a card collector. I now own 6 decks and have about a dozen on my wish list!

Sulis	16 Apr 2004
I was quite a late starter at 35 or 36. Love and light Sulis xx

September Pixie	16 Apr 2004
I was 13.. I bought the 'Tarot Nova' palm reading & tarot deck set.. while I can't say I learned to read on it.. I did use it :) The palm reading book, however, was rather interesting.. I found the tarot Nova deck to be rather... bland :)

Delphina Kalika	18 Apr 2004
I was about 26-27.. when my friend brought round a book about dreams etc.. that a friend of both of us had lent her to help her find out wot her dreams where trying to tell her... somewhere in this book she found the "Fortune telling by playing cards"... we sat down on the floor.. read it... then just got out my playing cards and did a reading each.... she left the book behind and I spent the night writing out the section.... from that day on .. we did readings together, alone every few days..... especially if 1 of us needed guidence..... <<<< That was about 6 years ago... I'm not sure if she continued to do them after I moved.. but I certainly did... about every few months or so.... I have also been for a professional reading.. I am now 31... and my boyfriend bought me my first deck a few weeks ago.. THE ART OF TAROT.... instantly I got onto my PC and googled TAROT..... and found you's....and I havent really looked back I have since bought myself two books on tarot... HOW TO: READ TAROT.... Sylivia Abraham... and TAROT the Illustrated guide..... and have my next to decks waiting for me at a local shop... (guess U can see I been biten quickly>>>:|).... I feel that I am now ready to explore, learn and grow in this area, more then back at the begining.... :D

ncefafn	18 Apr 2004
I was 21, and it was a RWS I bought from Sqecial Media in what is now my hometown. Kim

Jeanette	18 Apr 2004
At age 40, about 3 years ago. I'm so enjoying the stories of kids and parents sharing experiences in this thread; and friendships and relationships evolving over time through tarot. And I think Terri is right about tarot finding you when you need it.

Esther	19 Apr 2004
I was around 11 when I first developed an interest in Tarot. My mom got a deck around that time (though she doesn't read and doesn't really believe in it), and I would look at the deck a lot and tried to learn, though I wasn't very successful. I'm 15 now and started up again a couple months ago. I still have a lot to learn, but Tarot is one of the things that's important enough to me in order for me to be patient and take my time with it. So far, I've learned a lot though.

Shalott	20 Apr 2004
This is interesting to see how we all found our way to Tarot, or vicey-versa. I was 13 or 14 and had gotten into "Dark Shadows," which was running on our local PBS station. The Countess Du Pres in 1795 had her Siwss 1JJ and thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. My mom wouldn't let me buy a deck so I found, ironically, the Swiss 1JJ majors in a book my dad had (he's way more open minded) so I drew my own. Of course at the time all I cared about was "Does so-and-so like me?" Unfortunately I went through a Bible thumping phase in which I threw out a lot of my stuff from that time. Sure wish I still had those cards. (I'll be 29 in a couple months, for reference... ;) ) When I re-got into it a couple years ago OH how I wish I'd found this site then! I'd be so much farther along if I'd stuck to it! But I be here to stay now!

Alissa	20 Apr 2004
Another Dark Shadows fan!!! I remember well the Countess Du Pre (aka Julia Hoffman) and her tarot cards! That's Grayson Hall... she's one of the better actors they had (along with Thayer David... I almost named my son Thayer... I liked that name, and that actor too). My favorite character of hers though was the gypsy, was Magdalena her Gypsy name? She would deal the Tarot cards, with her fabulously BAD Romany accent... "Noooo, I doan know wha' yur' talkin' ahbouuut.... Dees ees not a guhd cahd!" (OK, I'm done now. I just love that show... campy is fun)

Osher	20 Apr 2004
I started with Runes. My mother had some Ralph Blum Runes, which I found interesting. One day, in my mid-twenties (ah, to be young again) I was walking along Regent Street when I was 'pulled' into Past Times. I wandered through the shop, but felt attracted to one part. I ignored this at first, but just before I left, I went there, and was pulled to a half-hidden Ralph Blum set of Runes...the rest is history. Well, if you really want to know.. I had some good experiences with them, and then went to Oracle in Market Street, Watford (the new shop, which has sadly recently closed), where Fay Charlotte (the owner) recommened to me the Tarot of the Old Path as a first deck. Well, it was an excellent choice, and now the rest really is history! Oh, I'm 32 now.

zoso	22 Apr 2004
I was about 12 or 13, but it took me a few years to really listen and open up to the experience. I threw away my first deck (Rider-Waite) because I didn't like what I was hearing. Looking back, I've not believed to my own detriment and many major problems could have been avoided, but now I can face the news with maturity and without fear. Please, people, do not fear your decks!! They can act as guides, if you allow them to!

DarkElectric	22 Apr 2004
I was 18 or 19. My high school best friend had a tarot deck, a Rider Waite. She was really into it, but really wasn't good at it. She would read for me, and get everything wrong all the time. She eventually gave it up, but I was intrigued. A few years after graduation, I got my first deck. It was the Connolly, and I had absolutely NO clue what it was about. I eventually realised that deck and I didn't have a working relationship right then. So, I tried another one. That was the Spiral. and I clicked with it right away. The rest is history.

Suriel	24 Apr 2004
i was 13 when i bought my first tarot cards, it's rider-waite deck. there are no one in my family or friends who would have so much interest in tarot cards to buy one for themselves... i bought it because i'm really interesting about magic at that time....the so called 'magic' is just some meditation , some spells and some potions.....i thought i might needed tarot cards because it seemed very important to make any advance in my 'magic study'.....(actually i just wanted to be a good witch so much)....so i bought my first tarot cards. now i'm 15 years old.....in november i'm going to be 16... i had no big progress in last two years...but now i'm going to make an advance in my tarot study, just like what i'm doing when i'm 13! :)

Flavio	13 May 2004
I was 14 or 15 at that time lost interest after reading confusing books and no chance to get a deck. Now I am 30 and decided to do not loose the track again.

The How old were you...... thread was originally posted on 19 Mar 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.