Tarot as scaffolder

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

samantha	26 Aug 2004
This is something I've just begun to consider and I'm interested to hear others thoughts/ experiences. It struck me the other day that the Tarot is possibly aware of what I do and don't know about the cards meanings , and therefore like a well informed teacher , will select , or encourage me to select , those cards which will allow me to arrive at the best "answer" to my questions at that present moment. Therefore, were I to ask the same question later on it is quite possible that I would get a different (set of) card(s) , in line with my own developing awareness of what they can represent. Having said that , I'm now trying to think of an example of such , but coming up with a blank ! (I just believe it could be true !) Maybe its difficult to back track along a learning curve in this way to find specifics , or maybe I just haven't been reading the cards for long enough to have made the kinds of switch as mentioned above. I need the input from a seasoned reader! Of course there are often times when I draw a card , and a complete blank at the same time. Is this the Tarot giving me a challenging push up the ladder " look into what it means before next recess " ? These thoughts are tentative . I know that there are lots of pitfalls in the argument that the cards have their own "consciousness" , but its been on my mind recently . (apologies to Bruner for the sloppy analogy.)

Eco74	26 Aug 2004
But this is the exact reason we sometimes choose a different deck alltogether when doing a certain spread for a certain person. Some cards are better for specific issues or situations. I'm convinced that in the same way, the deck lays out the cards I am able to understand to get an answer for the question I've posed. (Not that I always fully understand everything, but the point is still there.) Next time, the situation has also changed so the different cards are also related to the altered timeline. But still, I believe that the cards will communicate with us in the way we can best understand. This is ofcourse provided the question is clear in our minds. If the question is not clear, as a rule neither are the cards...

Fulgour	28 Aug 2004
The meanings don't change so much as the ability to confidently express, in your own words, the essentially loving spirit of wisdom. I think that by being sincerely respectful of what is after all a mystery leads to where you become a participant in an ongoing continuum... You become your own book, writing each page with every thoughtful moment given to seeking a compassionate understanding of what you are being shown. To me it is a physical as well as spiritual evolution, since so many our perceptions tangibly occur in the material world.

lionette	29 Aug 2004
samantha, I read primarily for myself, and sometimes in my draws a card will appear that I've no clue how or why it's now revealing itself. On such days I try other decks and sometimes find a meaningful resolution and other times come up another which will also baffle me. At these moments I realize, humbly, that I've not yet gained enough sight into myself to see tarot's message in these particular cards. (And naturally there are other days where the tarot's light is as clear as the sun!)

Fulgour	14 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by samantha Having said that , I'm now trying to think of an example of such , but coming up with a blank ! What about your 5 of Swords ~ south south east, anything?

closrapexa	14 Sep 2004
Yes, it does happen to me. Sometimes in a reading I surprise myself when I interpret a card in a way thats totally different from the traditional "meaning" or what it usually means to me. There have been people who have told me that a certain card means something when I thought it meant something else entirely. The thing is, though, that that card would show up in my readings as it was for me, and it was relevant in the way I saw it. So its true, Tarot adapts itself to the reader

Flavio	14 Sep 2004
Samantha I agree with other comments, Tarot knows how to answer you in a way you can understand...it happened to me and the answers I received in my earliest contact with Tarot were so simple, as I learn more, the answers got more variety and depth I can remember how a couple of days after studying court cards very hard, a spread showed only court cards, the answer was clear because of the fresh knowledge.

The Tarot as scaffolder thread was originally posted on 26 Aug 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.