Keeping it Fresh?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Jun 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

closrapexa	17 Jun 2004
I've decided to take some time off from readings, as I've been having the feeling that my readings were getting a little bit mechanistic, biased and, well, not "fresh" (?). If you get what I mean. Has this ever happened to any of you? That you found that you had to stop reading for a while to get your energies up, or anything like that? Or is there anyway to keep the readings fresh. Of course I don't mean a tried and true magic formula to keep the readings 100% dead on accurate, but what do you do in these cases?

dolphinprincess	17 Jun 2004
I have gone through periods where I just get bored with tarot... I don't know if that is the same as what you are talking about.. but I understand what you mean. One thing I can think of is to grab a deck that is completely different from the ones you have been using. That may bring a fresh approach.. However, breaks can be good.. and refreshing. take a few days ore weeks off..follow your instincts.. If you don't want to put the cards away completely, maybe just look at the cards and write about them without doing actual readings.. you could try storytelling or journaling or meditation with them. Sometimes a new use can bring about a new perspective...

closrapexa	17 Jun 2004
Oh, no, I don't intend to leave it completely. I think I'll continue studying and suchlike, but the actual readings.... At least a month without.

WolfSpirit	17 Jun 2004
I sometimes take a break from reading. When I started collecting decks, I did not really intend to read with them, I just loved the decks for the artwork and meditation. So sometimes I still love to use my decks that way. There is so much to explore and learn that is not reading, I think I will never get bored with tarot all together.

ros	17 Jun 2004
I take breaks from reading just to see if I read differently when I begin again. Sometimes I think we need time just to let our thoughts settle from our knowledge. My understanding changes little by little. I feel breaks from reading sometimes are good. I also just think of a card and look it up in different books or on AT just to get different ideas and then when I begin to read again different things come to me. Keeping it fresh with new ideas! Take Care, ros

hedgecub	17 Jun 2004
I often take breaks from my hobbies. (I also have a very short attention span, which probably has something to do with it. ;) ) While I probably take too many breaks, putting me into the 'lacks devotion' category, I feel that breaks are healthy, in moderation. So long as you keep growing and learning in activities and talents you enjoy (and not sometimes completely stop like me and the piano :P), it's sometimes very helpful to take a break. If you do the same thing constantly for a long period of time, you're probably going to get bored of it eventually, and even if you don't, it's quite easy to work yourself into a pattern where you're unlikely to learn anything particularly new or exciting. Taking a break gives you a rest, allows you to see more of other things in life (like the outside world ;) ) and means that when you go back to the tarot, you can look at it with fresher eyes and maybe learn a new approach.

Tarot Sparrow	19 Jun 2004
Happens to me a lot. I just go with it. Stop and start up again, see what happens or what I decide to do. It always changes :D

Emily	19 Jun 2004
It happens to me too. I had a few weeks off from tarot - I didn't do a reading for at least 3 weeks and wasn't spending as much time on here only once or twice a week instead of everyday - cause then I came back and ordered the Estensi Tarot and the Liber T . My few weeks off did me good :D and I feel ready to get back to my studies now. I think its like every hobby, tarot is such a big part of my life, its ok just to let it drift into the background for a while, its still there when I want to get back to it.

Sulis	19 Jun 2004
Same here, it happens to me too. I think it just goes to show that everything in life goes in cycles - you can't stay on top of that wheel the whole time, it's bound to turn and throw you off - don't worry though you'll soon be back up there again. Love Sulis xx

smokey	19 Jun 2004
Ditto!

Alta	19 Jun 2004
Same here. Sometimes I think that you need these breaks to clear things out of your mind.

tao51	01 Jul 2004
I go walking in a magical place. Oddly, I sometimes see elements of the tarot around me. Once I had done so many readings that I could not focus. Even switching decks did not help. Going for a walk seemed to clear my head of the clutter.--Tao

Umbrae	01 Jul 2004
Grounding...take your shoes off and go outside. You're being too 'heady'.

The Keeping it Fresh? thread was originally posted on 17 Jun 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.