Getting Rusty, Need Fresh Ideas...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jeanette	26 Apr 2005
I have not been diligent in my tarot studies! In fact, I've hardly even thought about tarot for a few months now. And I feel like something is missing, and of course I know what it is, but I'm kind of stuck. Does anybody have any ideas on how to jump-start my intuition, imagination, etc., and get my mind back into the tarot-groove? I just can't seem to come up with any exercises to do with any of my decks, and I can't concentrate on any of my books, and when I look at the cards I draw blanks! Yikes, what's happening??? I would greatly appreciate any suggestions to help get out of this slump.

Rusty Neon	26 Apr 2005
Jeanette, People will be chiming in with wonderful ideas, I know. As well, you can join in on the various keyword games threads in the Tarot Games & Fun subforum. New games include the Places and Place-Names Keyword Game and the Food & Drink Keyword Game.

mike gorth	26 Apr 2005
Well, I say start from square one like you did at the beginning and it will probably come back to you slowly but surly.

Satori	26 Apr 2005
Hi Jeanette, You are in a great place. Congratulations! Your own intuition is what is getting in the way of the studies! She wants a chance to be set free and try out her wings. It is time to let the books go for a while. Go read for people without the books. Figure out what the cards mean to you. Study without studying! Rusty has a great idea. Play the games, go to the reading exchange or find folks who want free readings and read the cards! You aren't really blank. You won't believe what is under the surface if you just look a little deeper. Try it! You will be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Julien	26 Apr 2005
I agree with Elf -- actually, I was starting to draw blanks (which is such a funny thing to say when discussing Tarot spreads), and joined the forum just to get away from the books and exercises. Now the books and exercises are making sense again, and I've had some really good conversations along the way! So I say, get away from your studies and don't put any pressure on yourself, and instead practice. Julien

Umbrae	27 Apr 2005
got any spare toothpicks?

Jeanette	27 Apr 2005
Oh, Umbrae, I'm so happy you replied early on; I know your advice is good advice! The toothpicks sound really great, and that is exactly the kind of idea I need, something to make me think without really having to think (if you know what I mean). I know what you mean about books, I love to read other's opinions and ideas about a subject, but I'm not convinced it's all gospel. But, I have to admit, I enjoy reading A LOT and so I read books on tarot (and have gotten some good info. and some weird/useless info.) I also knew if I reached out to AT for help, I'd get it ~ this site has been great from early on with help regarding everything tarot. So keep the ideas coming, I'm sure I'll eventuall use one or all of them (and maybe somebody else will benefit from them as well)! Now to find some guinea pigs for readings (I prefer live pigs to on-line pigs) :)

tmgrl2	27 Apr 2005
This is the first time I have seen your actual thread on HOW to read with toothpicks, Umbrae....I love it.... tmgrl heads to her kitchen to get a box of... Think I'll use matches...just got a new box of them, the old fashioned wooden ones...they should do, no? Then when I get quiet after all of my running around I will do a quick reading with my matches...for myself....I will fight the urge to count out 22 of them... How ingrained our habits and learning are. Thank you Jeannette for starting this thread and getting us the famous "toothpick" link... terri

Fairawen	27 Apr 2005
I still want somebody on AT to try using sugar packets. :) Jeanette, fellow PA person, I'd share if I could help you. I had this sort of thing go on a little while ago. I looked at the cards and saw nothing. "What the heck is wrong with?!?" is kinda what I posted here on AT. No matter what I did, whether it was trying to balance chakras or smudge bla bla on my cards... none of it helped. The only thing that helped to get me awake was... I had to get excited. How I got excited? I suppose it's different for everyone. Me: I went to the Reading EXchange and did a whole pile of readings for other people. I REALLY wanted to know about other people!!! If worse comes to worse, you could go to the Reading Exchange and have someone do a reading on why you can't see anything but blanks in your cards. *lol* Hope this helps a bit! ~Fairawen~

HOLMES	27 Apr 2005
perhaps i can throw down the cards on how to get that spark flowing for you. on the other hand have you seen spanglish? the cook just wants to cook and have a personal feel to his restaurant but after he gets five stars his restaurant is swamped, and he becomes very unhappy as well . the business end of the tarot garden is what sticks out in my mind as you the tarot enthusiast probaly have become more popular or above where you had your comfortable levels of sucess. in order to get your creative flow going,, perhaps some vacation time from the tarot garden and other jobs if you have them for a weekend in a cabin then again who can spend time, and money when our whole livihood comes from doing what we love. perhaps i would ask , do i still love the tarot as much as i did before i started the tarot garden? or do i see it as just a business? perhpas a good massage is in order for 60 dollars in order to help you release some of that tension , then a few minutes in a hot tub find a way to unblock that creative flow.

Jeanette	27 Apr 2005
Oh, Holmes, I am so sorry to tell you I am not the Jeannette from Tarot Garden (I get confused w/her often). I am just plain, No-Tarot-Garden only one 'N' in her name Jeanette! I would very much like a vacation from my different jobs, though, but a weekend at our cabin is not my cup of tea! I would definitely prefer room service and dinner out somewhere, maybe a show! A cabin sounds too much like more work for me (packing up supplies, cleaning the place when I get there and before I leave, having to cook and clean and wash dishes, etc., none of that is a vacation). I do all that now, and I am pretty bored with that mundane routine. But it's a sweet-sounding idea (I just know better what all is involved). Not to mention the 4-hour drive! Plus my husband insists on NO-STOPPING. So, he and my son go to the cabin and leave me home alone, which I absolutely enjoy thoroughly. I'm happy to see them go, and happy to see them come home. The massage, on the other hand, might be very therapeutic for more than just tarot ills!!!

The Getting Rusty, Need Fresh Ideas... thread was originally posted on 26 Apr 2005 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.