Blocked mind.

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

StoneMan	26 Jul 2004
I have found that in the last month or so my connection with the cards has become so distant that they feel to me as nothing more than pieces of cardboard. This is quite different from the feelings that I would get from them after I started using them regularly. They spoke to me in one way or another for a while, but now, nothing. Does anyone else have this problem or has it happened to you? What can be done to open the mind to the energy if just using the cards is not enough? I am quite perplexed. I would have assumed that it would get easier and I would have built a stronger connection with time. A frustrated at times StoneMan.

Sulis	26 Jul 2004
Hi Stoneman, I'd advise you to leave your cards alone for a few days or even a week or so. This happens to me from time to time. My interest in tarot and my connection to the cards seems to be quite cyclical (like everything else I guess). I just leave the cards alone till the 'connection' begins to wax again. We've had a few discussions about this in the past - You may find this thread useful. Love Sulis xx

September Pixie	26 Jul 2004
I agree, or you may consider pulling a daily/weekly card until you can get past it :)

ribbitcat	26 Jul 2004
Hi Stoneman :-) You could try cleansing and recharging the deck's energy (crystals are nice for this) and/or switching to another deck that may carry more inspiration for you during this time ..... ribbitcat

Eco74	26 Jul 2004
My very first deck, Swedish Witch, has been very vibrant but lately the images are not really speaking to me like before. This is the deck I'm using only for my daily draw and the artwork is very different from the other decks I have (the Mantegna, Fantastical and Robin Wood) so I don't really know if I'm just crossing over to preferring a different type of art in the cards or if I'm crossing over to a different symbolism that speaks more directly to me. I think I'll just put it aside for a while though, having recieved the Phantasmagoric and Hanson-Roberts today, and use one of the new decks for my daily draw, or the Robin Wood, or ... well, we'll se whitch one ends up on the bedstand... The Swedish Witch will be set aside for a while and I'll have to see at a later time wether it speaks to me more clearly again. If you have more than this deck, I highly recommend you do the same, or limit it's use, or just look at it for the art for a while. In the meantime use an optional deck for readings, one that you have some communication with.

Moonbow*	26 Jul 2004
I've had this happen to me, and the best thing to do is have a break from the cards, as already suggested. When I came back to tarot I used a completely different deck and got into it again. Sometimes, 'real life' probems cause me to have a block too, it's like I can't focus properly until things are sorted.... it may be worth delving into yourself a bit and seeing if there is something (subconsciously) that you are worried about.

crystal cove	26 Jul 2004
Disconcerting, isn't it? Tarot has been such a large part of my life for about 5 years now, that not wanting to read has been like something vital being missing. Listen to all the tarot-wise people here. They know. I feel myself slowly emerging from the ashes (ok, dramatic ;)). I've been reading old threads in the H&I forum, drawing a few cards here and there, and bought a HTF deck that has been on my wishlist for 3 years. I feel more like studying than reading these days, but it beats months of nothing at all. The rest will come in time.

Emily	26 Jul 2004
Hi StoneMan, Which deck is it? Maybe try meditating on a couple of your favourite cards see what happens. If you still don't get that spark that helped you read the deck when you first bought it then it might be time for you to move on.

tao51	26 Jul 2004
1. Sometimes we become bored with the same words and same pictures. Solution: Take time to meditate on one card at a time. Write down perceptions of symbols and your thoughts. Every deck has more than meets the cursive eye. 2. We may feel less confident in our readings. Solution: Do one card daily readings. 3. This may be hard if you have one deck. Doing a double reading with a second deck to validate may be helpful. 4. Try different spreads this can be very helpful by making your readings. 7. Ask the cards to help you understand them better. I do this with a new deck. Most of all never give up completely.---Tao

Ang3343	05 Aug 2004
I've noticed that when I don't use the cards, it's because I'm assimilating deep changes in my life, both inner and outer. I mostly use the cards for creativity and meditation, with the occasional "What's happening here?" spread thrown in. When I'm not using the cards, it's as if my intuition says, OK, assimilate these changes first, and then we'll be ready to move on. I've been using the cards for over twenty years, and some months I use them daily. Then I'll go for several months and not use them at all.

smleite	05 Aug 2004
I also experience this when I am integrating something new. I find it useful to turn to “theory” when practice seems to be blocked. Silvia

juju	05 Aug 2004
I do what Angela does - I may go through many months of no tarot and it helps me "recharge" myself and go through the events of my life and then a tiem will come where I will ask for advice from the cards. Believe me, everyone goes through this. All of the suggestions above are excellent. I suggest you take a break for a few days and keep a journal for yourself - jotting down feelings and events. Then when you start reading, do daily visual readings as described above. Eventually you will get back into teh swing of things.

The Blocked mind. thread was originally posted on 26 Jul 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.