Longest break you have had "away from the cards"?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Nov 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

IDN	02 Nov 2004
What's the longest that you have stopped using (ie. reading / studying / shuffling) the Tarot? Days, Months, Years? What made you stop and (yes you've guessed it!) what made you start again??? Regards, Ian

dolphinprincess	02 Nov 2004
I think my longest break was around 2 to 3 years.... I got interested in Tarot when I was around 23 or 24 (I am almost 30 now)..... I accumulated quite a few decks... and then I sold them all off. Why? they started to freak me out. Not in the "tarot readers worship the devil or are evil" sort of way. I just had trouble seeing certain cards. What brought me back - I just find the cards have a pull that you miss after awhile. Now, I seem to go in phases. I am no longer "afraid", and I always find them interesting... but bc I have many interests and not much time, I go through periods of a month to a couple of months where I don't pay them a lot of attention.... but I aways seem to come back. Although, I am trying to keep up with reading the posts on Aeclectic even when *I* don't post a lot.

FantasyWorld	02 Nov 2004
Hum...Until about the past few weeks it had been several months or more since I worked with my cards. I still thought about them but kept putting it off. Alanna

Formicida	02 Nov 2004
Well, when I was in school I would regularly go for months without touching them and then pick right back up with daily cards on breaks. It was just a matter of having enough time. Once I got out of school I put them aside for about two months. I was going through a period of depression, and the cards themselves told me they weren't helping me get over it. Aside from that, I was a little paranoid about how others would view my Tarot habit. But when life started looking up, I picked them back up almost immediately. I asked my RWS how it felt about being left aside for so long and got the Hanged Man. I can almost imagine the deck shrugging as it threw that card.

mercenary30	02 Nov 2004
For a time I explored tarot back in Jan 2002. I had two decks and one book and I explored the cards and Joan Bunnings lessons. I even started a journal with daily readings. Then after about 5 months I put it down. I soul searched, because of my Catholic raising. I already gave up church and Catholicism.....and slowly I was giving up Christianity, but without a suitable replacement I was kind of lost and that was the only guidelines I knew. About 9 months later I decided to go for it and I picked them back up. I have been reading them or about them since.

culturejam	02 Nov 2004
I stopped for several years (probably 6 or 7 years) and picked it back up a few weeks ago. I initially stopped because of a combination of a hectic college lifestyle and a fierce period of complete skeptical atheism. Now that I'm an open-minded, pagan/atheist/zen combination (I know that sounds odd, but it does work), I feel inclined to read the cards again.

Satori	02 Nov 2004
I think that even when a reader takes a break from the cards there is still tarot to do. A tarot reader thinks in a different way than other people. We see connections between things where maybe no connection was before. We see cycles, we smell the scent of tomorrow and listen for the echoes of yesterday, and we harbor inside of ourselves an understanding of the Universe that can never stop learning and growing just because we have put down the pack. When I am thinking about why the woman in the grocery store who taps her foot behind me while I'm busy juggling two small children and paying with my ATM card and chatting with the bagger, thinking why is she so much like the Queen of Swords, then I'm doing tarot. When I'm trying to understand why it is that certain colors make me feel a certain way I'm doing tarot. When I'm arranging the broken crayons on the table into sequences and looking at the way the torn paper wrapper forms little patterns and how the waxy ends poke out of that torn wrapper then I'm doing tarot. When I'm pushing my daughters on the swings in the yard and I smell supper cooking, and hear the birds gossiping and can distinguish the sound of a train all the way across town against the swoosh of the highway a few mile behind me, I'm doing tarot. I put my cards down for four years recently. When I came back to them after the birth of my two girls I was such a better reader. I never stopped reading tarot. I had only stopped looking at the cards.

MeeWah	03 Nov 2004
I do not recall any break away from the cards. I can, however, relate so very well to elf's eloquent comments regarding the the general perception & insight applied in the daily life. Edited to remove superfluous word.

blackroseivy	03 Nov 2004
I didn't look at the only deck I had for probably 5 years; recently, I stopped for about a year & 1/2 because of illness. When I only had 1 deck, I got sick of it & just didn't do Tarot for years on end. When ill, it was with a manic episode, & there was *no WAY* I could do any reading - I couldn't think at all! Then, I came back to this community after joining up & not being a regular; when I was finally (!) able to do readings on the board, I got so that I am now a Tarot-holic & work on it most days of the week.

Moonbow*	03 Nov 2004
I had a 6 months break from Tarot. At the time I thought I was completely giving it up because I had no intention of ever reading or studying Tarot again. I gave away many of my decks and couldn't stand the sight of the others. They were buried for 6 months. I now know that it was a learning time for me, I 'had' to go through that time as part of my Tarot journey. I think I learnt alot from it and I know Tarot will always be part of my life now.

Majecot	03 Nov 2004
In the last 8 years or so, I have gone through phases where I did not trust myself. But I never really put the cards away. I had a couple of periods where I did not read them for a few months. But I have always had them by my side. About a year ago I had decided to give them up completely..gave away and sold all but one deck, then I could not bring myself to do it... Now I have 23 decks ( I think)

lunalafey	03 Nov 2004
The longest time I have spent away from the cards is near a year long. This was not by choice. I moved into a new house it was about a week or two before I was really settled in. That is when I sat down for a big serious reading with my one and only deck. I did the reading and put the cards on a shanty-shelf unit {boards & crates- etc.} When I went to do another reading a few days later- the deck was gone. I looked everywhere. I figured that maybe I put it away someplace and just don't remember. Even with that. I was pretty sure that I didn't. I looked behind that shelf thing so many times and at so many angles. Through the months I would look again and again. It was when I moved, and dismantled the shelf thing that the deck was found. Now what I don't understand is that where it was in relation to the pieces of shelf stuffs- I should have seen the deck! It was RIGHT THERE!

lunakasha	03 Nov 2004
I became interested in Tarot and bought my first deck about three years ago, September of 2001. I started out by reading for myself and reading a book to help me learn the meanings of the cards....but I was never really satisfied with that deck (Crow's Magick) and it was hard to relate them to the book, which was illustrated with the Hanson-Roberts deck. So I took a little break, until early 2002, when I discovered Aeclectic and bought my second deck, the Robin Wood, which I found much easier to work with. Since then, I have spent most of my available time reading and writing about tarot, as well as reading with the cards....it has become such an important part of my life as many of you I know can relate to. I may have taken short breaks from doing readings, but my interest and love of tarot has never left me, and I know it will always be a huge influence in my life.... :) Luna

Kath	03 Nov 2004
I was away from the cards for about a year. I put the cards away after I left my ex husband. It wasn’t a conscious decision. I was investing a lot of time and energy in making my life a happy one, and achieving my goals, I guess the cards just fell by the wayside. I came back to the cards earlier this year. But, for me, there was definitely a correlation between my using tarot cards, and the state of things in my life. When things were really bad, and I was really down, I read a lot! But when things got better, and I didn’t feel lost; when I felt that I was in charge of my direction, I didn’t use the cards. Has anyone else experienced this? I guess I should start a new thread, so as not to de-rail this one :)

Alta	03 Nov 2004
I started with tarot in 1971, and worked with it until the mid eighties. Then I was led to I Ching in 1984 and invested all of my energies into that. At one point I copied part 1 of the Wilhelm translation, 252 pages, plus all of the Commentaries on the Wings, another 100 pages, out in long hand (still can't believe I did that!). Plus reading every word that CG Jung ever wrote, as an accompaniment. Did not look at tarot for that period. My interest in tarot came back when I discovered Aeclectic and with a lot of encouragement I now use both quite regularly.

lunakasha	03 Nov 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kath When things were really bad, and I was really down, I read a lot! But when things got better, and I didnÂ’t feel lost; when I felt that I was in charge of my direction, I didnÂ’t use the cards. Has anyone else experienced this? I guess I should start a new thread, so as not to de-rail this one :) I think your question is relevant to this thread, Kath....you are asking about why people feel they are more or less drawn to tarot at various times in life. I have noticed similar patterns as well....that when things were going really well in my life, I spent less time with tarot than when I was going through difficult times. I am the same way with journaling: I tend to put my journal aside for long periods of time and pick it up again when I am feeling down....kind of like calling an old friend because you need to talk. I think this makes sense at least for me, because it is during those "down" times that I become more introspective, and in need of finding answers. Both tarot and journaling are very helpful for me in that respect. :) Luna

lunalafey	06 Nov 2004
Kath wrote: I was away from the cards for about a year. I put the cards away after I left my ex husband. It wasn’t a conscious decision. I was investing a lot of time and energy in making my life a happy one I had just left my ex as well, and I attribute the invisible deck to the fact of needing to focus on me with only me. The universe knew I was in no shape to read.

WolfSpirit	06 Nov 2004
This is not really a "break from the cards" - I started with tarot many years ago (ten ?) and I never got the hang of it, I was also isolated: had no internet, no good books to help me, no tarot classes or teacher...so I had just given up completely. 2 and a half years ago I felt the pull back, since then I had gotten internet, found Aeclectic, got so much help from members and also found books that really helped me. It did not feel liking coming back to tarot, more like finally getting started :) Since then I have had no breaks from tarot, but I have breaks from asking serious questions. I am not a professional readings, I don't read that much for other people (yet) and there are only so many readings I can do for yourself without the meaning getting too thin and working on my own nerves. So I do playful readings for practice and fun or I study books or use the cards for meditation, but there has not been a day without tarot.

Alta	06 Nov 2004
Agreed. I also have found having a support group, here at ATF, to be the biggest factor in not leaving the cards. I am constantly refreshed in my thoughts by reading those of others.

Pebbles	06 Nov 2004
About a year. Since I had a few decks coming in the mail, I gave my only deack to my niece. She liked it alot & I thought it was time to move on. Well, I couldn't get into any of my new decks. I ended up selling or giving them away. I was deckless :( . Then a couple of months ago I had the urge to get back into it. And here I am. :)

RedMaple	06 Nov 2004
I guess the longest break from Tarot was about 7 or 8 years. But as elf said so eloquently, those of us who think like Tarot readers are never really away. I stopped because of a couple of readings that told me things about health problems, surgery, etc. things I really didn't want to know. So fear kept me from reading for a while. Now I realize, if I don't read the cards, if there is knowledge coming it will find me in dreams, or artwork, or poetry. So I trust the cards to help me find paths through the hard times. RedMaple

Woof	07 Nov 2004
I took a very long break from the time I was about 20 until about 40. I pulled out my deck on a few occasions during that time but fewer than 5. Right now I haven't done a reading in about 6 months but I have no one to read for but myself and no reason to do so. I used to do daily draws but I'm on a break from that right now as well. Maybe soon I'll get drawn to them. They're never far away. Woof

Moongold	07 Nov 2004
Since June 2002, except for the last few weeks, there has rarely been one day that I have not looked at the cards. I have two large shelves of books on Tarot and astrology. Books have been important in terms of symbolism, history and refreshing memory. I don't know any one deck comprehensively however and this is what I'm currently trying to do. I'm focusing on the Ancient Egyptian at the moment and have returned to the Rider Waite. This time I am using the Universal Waite, however, as I prefer the colours. I think there could well be a time when I take a break, however, in the not too distant future.

Ravenswing	07 Nov 2004
Hi guys-- Right now I'm coming out of a 'cardless' phase. But I have to agree here with Elf; just 'cause you don't look at the cards, don't mean you're not taroting. Tarot is more than the deck-- it becomes your framework of reality. You may not touch the cards for a bit; but the cards are always touching you... Oh yeah, my longest period. 'Bout a year give or take a bit. fly well Raven

Satori	07 Nov 2004
Ravenswing wrote: You may not touch the cards for a bit; but the cards are always touching you... fly well Raven That is so lovely Raven..... Good to hear from you again! (((((Ravenswing))))))

amyel	08 Nov 2004
It was five years taht I put tarot down. Reasons were many and varied, but basically, I could not read because of all the change in my life, all the fear and negativity. Or, to be more specific, I did not feel I was receiving any meaningful guidence when I tried to read, probably because of the emotional (and physical) place I was in. I picked them up again about 5 years ago, although I don't use them nearly as often as I used to.

Etain	11 Nov 2004
I had my first deck sometime in my mid-teens. For several years, my relationship with tarot was on again, off again... mostly due to my own fickle nature and inability to stick with *anything* for very long. Several years ago, I came back to tarot and became fairly consistent with reading. This continued with breaks of no more than a month or so until last spring. My dad passed away unexpectedly, and I found my normal pleasures sadly lacking for a good while. Last winter, when we discovered I was expecting again, I picked the cards back up. It still took several months for me to feel any real joy in reading, but it's coming back to me slowly. cheers, Stephanie

Michelle	11 Nov 2004
For me, probably about a year. I had some medical problems - hysterectomy, blah,blah, blah. I was so focused on other things I didn't take time for Tarot. As soon as I began to feel better ,I picked my cards up again. Great question - and I have enjoyed reading all of the replies. Love & Light, Michelle

KelarSkye	11 Nov 2004
I haven't touched my cards seriously (maybe looked through a deck or two) since February. In fact, I still have yet to pick them back up. This is my first time back here at Aeclecti since February as well. Not sure if I am going to start back again, but something happened today that made me want to come here. I put them away because they were always reading negative for my readings, or reading thins that didn't seem to ever manifest. And even though I seemed to be reading well for others I felt so disheartened and afraid I was reading incorrectly. So I put them away. I think I may try to find someone who will read for me on this situation. I am still hesitant to pick up my decks. Great question, and timely in my case BTW (even though it appears to have been originally posted a while ago.)

mysticali	12 Nov 2004
I had a long break - I stopped using the cards for a number of years - probably around 5 maybe more. It was because of a personal reading that i did, it gave me the knowledge of something that was about to happen that i wasnt ready to hear or believe. I realised my reading ability or my attitude was not mature enough - i could interpret but i couldnt 'deal' with the outcome. I came back to tarot almost like a calling when i was ready - a period in my life when i had moved on and had sufficient maturity to treat the study as no joke or not JUST fun. I had a wake up call i guess- both times

The Longest break you have had "away from the cards"? thread was originally posted on 02 Nov 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.