Burned out .....

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

crystal cove	05 Jul 2004
For about 3 or 4 months now. I don't know what it is. I've hardly picked up a deck in three months. I've tried to read a few times lately, but I just can't follow through. I end up staring at the cards like I'm seeing them for the first time. I'm so out of practice, that I'm looking up the meanings of cards that I had no trouble with before. I've tried switching decks, but it doesn't seem to be working. None of my decks seem very interesting at the moment, as a matter of fact, no deck that I "don't" have seems very interesting either. What a bummer. I never thought I'd experience this. I guess 3 or 4 months isn't very long, but for some reason it seems like it right now. Anyone ever stop reading for months at a time?

Nevada	05 Jul 2004
Are you reading for yourself, or have you tried reading for others? I stopped for years. Now I get burned out for a few days now and then, but if I read for someone else (besides my husband), I get a burst of new passion for reading. You could try offering one reading in the reading exchange and see what happens. Nevada

Kath	05 Jul 2004
I felt like that for about a year. I had gone through a few personal dramas and barely picked up a tarot deck. I just didn’t have the energy. It’s only been the last few months that I’ve started to get back in the swing of things, but some days I still feel very ‘flat’, and find it hard to read. It’s slowly getting better though, I find that coming to AT and getting involved with Time Out For Tarot, with Creativefire, have given me a really good boost. I will be splurging on some new books shortly, and I think that may help me get back to where I was before.

VGimlet	06 Jul 2004
I've been "doing" tarot for 31 years now, and there are times when I've gone several months without picking up my cards much at all. When I've been busy with other aspects of my life - or in the summer, when I'm generally outside. I think it's good to give yourself a break sometimes - the cards will always be there when you're ready to pick them up again.

Chronata	06 Jul 2004
Don't sweat it, twenty~one...this is something that is very natural to the process of learning tarot. Though there are some people who never experience it, there are the rest of us...who will periodically go through a period of not picking up or looking at the cards at all. It can last for months...or years. But don't worry, you will return to it,when the time is right. Usually it will just happen suddenly,and you find yourself excited once again...and starting from a new place,a re-newed perspective...or with a new kind of deck. I have been reading tarot for 20 years...professionally off and on again.This has definately happened to me more than once. I think about it in a similar fashion to the process of losing weight...sometimes you hit a plateu...where nothing happens, and you even out... with tarot, it can feel the same way...the Hanged Man point in your learning and seeking cycle. Remember...This too shall pass. In the mean time, don't worry about it, and find something new and wonderful to occupy all the time you spent doing readings, and studying tarot!

tmgrl2	06 Jul 2004
This isn't about Tarot. But is is about readings. I did color and handwriting readings in my 20's and 30's, past life work, studied with a psychic who became a friend, got involved in Remote Viewing....then, I got involved in career and all of the above fell by the wayside. Then this year, at the age of 61, Tarot dropped in my lap and I plunged in with a vengeance. I am retiring this December. Shortly after I started Tarot, I was so involved, almost obsessed with it because it was opening me up again. Diana gave me a reading to STOP for a week. I did, then I came back. I'm not quite the same now. But I expect that one day I may wake up and say...No more Tarot for awhile... I started doing live readings. It seems that that is quite energizing, although I don't do them for a living and do many at a time. Whatever happens is "normal." I always say, as the others have, "Listen to your inner voice." terri

miss_apples	06 Jul 2004
Ive been in the same rut for about a month now. I dont know but the cards just arent speaking to me right now. I have been under a lot of stress lately too so that probably has something to do with it.

Sillanza	07 Jul 2004
I go through this all the time. I'll be in a huge upswing of reading, studying, writing ... then not so much. It usually lasts a few weeks, sometimes longer. Sometimes only days. Then one day, the cards just call to me again.

crystal cove	07 Jul 2004
Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate the feedback. I haven't been with Aeclectic too long, but I've been reading for over 5 years ( I know, hardly anything compared to some), and never experienced this before. I think it's fair to say that I never dreamed the day would come that I wouldn't ever feel like reading in the middle of all my deck buying frenzies. ;) I guess I'll just wait it out. Thanks, again.

amyel	07 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by twenty~one Anyone ever stop reading for months at a time? Try years. When I moved across country, I left my tarot alone for five long years. It's only been the last three or so I've picked them up again....and I still may go months without reading. Too busy on Aeclectic, I guess. ;)

lionette	07 Jul 2004
I had a 10 year lapse. So far my interest has been fairly steady for the past year and a half. I try to pace myself with the cards and not feel badly if I'd rather not work with them for days at a time. As Chronata said, when it's right, you'll know. A break in study offered me so many new perspectives to bring back to the cards. Hopefully your time away won't be as long as mine was! :)

linabeet	08 Jul 2004
They say in flower essence circles - when you don't need to be taking the remedy anymore you just forget to take it. It all comes and goes. For me and tarot sometimes it's reading without any books in sight, sometimes my head is buried in books, sometimes I'm constantly online (present) sometimes I forget the cards exist, sometimes I skip the cards entirely and just talk directly to my intuition. When we're stuck in a pattern of doing things the same way then the growing stops. That's my take on it.

Ivy Rhiannon	08 Jul 2004
I've went months without picking up my deck, but never have lost the passion to read! That sucks! Just stop thinking about it. You'll soon pick it up again when your ready!

crystal cove	09 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by linabeet They say in flower essence circles - when you don't need to be taking the remedy anymore you just forget to take it. You know, I love that. I've never thought of anything in those terms before. Thanks for giving me something to think about.

tao51	09 Jul 2004
I think I would go into withdrawls. I have read tarot for over 30 years and if I felt bored or dry, I would walk to a magical place. --Tao

linabeet	10 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by twenty~one You know, I love that. I've never thought of anything in those terms before. Thanks for giving me something to think about. Yeah, it helps to think of my forgetfulness as a healing force! I wonder if I could work procrastination into there somewhere...

The Burned out ..... thread was originally posted on 05 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.