An informal poll....

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Dec 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jeanette	08 Dec 2001
I am curious as to whether there is any preference for cards that have the meanings already on them. I have 3 decks, and 2 of them have meanings. I think it's kind of distracting. Anybody else?

Mojo	08 Dec 2001
I agree. I think keywords are very limiting. The only deck I have with keywords on it is the Napo Tarot, but I love the artwork so I put up with the writing.

faunabay	09 Dec 2001
I'm with you both. I don't like to have key words on the cards. I tend to focus on the word and not the card. So I seem to miss out on some of the different meanings that come through with my other decks.

glamourbug	09 Dec 2001
I dont like key words either. I have seen a few that get me thinking of new ways to interpret the card but then in readings i just find myself bending the card to fit the word at the bottom rather than concentrating on the picture and letting it speak to me. Lisa

deso	09 Dec 2001
I don't mind them at all! Go figure!!!

cj	09 Dec 2001
Hi all, Being fairly new...(a year or so into my studies)..I find key words helpful at times..lately..I kind of ignore them unless they help me get my point a cross to the person I am reading for.. cj

bec	10 Dec 2001
well since I only have two decks, I don´t speak from a whole lot of experience here - however the shapeshifter has a title to each card which I find very useful when tuning in on the meaning. just my 2-krone :)

catlin	10 Dec 2001
I do not like key words either. I put this subject up for discussion in my tarot circle and most of the newbies thought them pretty helpful.

arizonagirl	10 Dec 2001
A keyword can be confusing if something on the card just sticks out at you and that meaning is in opposition to the keyword. For instance, I did a reading to determine whether I should report a minor crime against me to the police. In the spread I drew the 2 of Cups in the Final Outcome position. (I use the Robin Wood Tarot almost exclusively.) Instead of the usual meaning of this card, the figure above the couple looked to me just exactly like a police badge, and I saw a woman giving something to a man. It's never appeared to be that before or since. A keyword would have just confused what the card was telling me.

Kaz	11 Dec 2001
Personally, I don't really care if it's there or not. It's easy to ignore the keywords if you don't wanna see them. Kaz

destinyawaitsme	13 Dec 2001
I have 2 decks with keywords and I must admit they are distracting...not only to me but to the person I am reading for. Like in my Thoth deck, the 5 of Cups has a big "Disappointment" right on the card...no the word isn't big in size, but when you see it. It seems to jump out at you. And the 7 of Pentacles in that deck has the word, "Failure" which in my opinion that card has to do more with frustration than failure. So how are you supposed to explain to a person you are reading for that it doesn't mean gloom and doom when they have a word liek "failure" staring them in the face?

bec	14 Dec 2001
very good point there - hmmm maybe I´ll get tired of the titles in hsapeshifter, once I ´ve come to know it and start to read for others in person with it - *oh no !! And I do really like this one *

The An informal poll.... thread was originally posted on 08 Dec 2001 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.