a little discouraged....
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Britney |
02 Jan 2003 |
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Hi all! I just got my first set of tarot cards recently- I had been asking for them for YEARS so I was so EXCITED! I have read my pamphlet, checked internet sites, and read some of this forum. I am having a hard time, though, really feeling "good" about this. There is SO much information and it is quite confusing/overwhelming! I do not want to quit before I start- but am having trouble getting myself to sit down and do it- as everytime I do I feel like I am wasting time and not getting anywhere.
Some of my major questions are:
How do you choose the signifactor form the deck? With so many meanings and so many cards- it is hard! Also, do you ever use the card upside down to represent someone?
Can I do a reading for MYSELF?
When shuffling- is it important not to let the cards shift and turn upside down, etc?
Is there an easy spread that you can share with me- my pamphlet (for a beginner deck) only shows the celtic cross- and although that would be AWESOME- again, I cannot get myself to sit down and do it because for every question it answers, I get 10 more questions in my head and cannot deal.
Thank you so much! I REALLY would like to be able to do this-- just am having a LOT of trouble getting started. All comments/suggestions would be greatly appreictaed!
Take care!
~Brit
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| samantha |
02 Jan 2003 |
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Hello Britney ! I have only been reading the cards , properly (??!!) for 2 years or so , so still feel like the novice. (Infact I still am the novice !!) But I will give you some feedback for what its worth ( Other more experienced readers are bound to help you out later on !!)
Although it may be sacriligious to write this , I don't choose a significator ! I guess that I think the cards are smart enough to know who we are "talking" about , without having the card there. Perhaps this is a question of personal choice ? I have seen books which get you to choose the card in accordance to physical appearance/ zodiac sign etc etc . But I think this is rather hit and miss .I think that as you become familiar with the cards you will feel , or they will show you , that people you know , especially those close to you , will tend to come up as the same court card. Although this is a bit of a dangerous generalisation since the cards tend to show aspects to character , and since we are not 2D this can and does change.........
Can you use the card upside down to represent someone ? Yes ! If it ties in with how you see them !
Can you read for yourself ? Definately !! I think its one of the best ways to start , infact I would guess that a lot of people do exactly this.
I feel that if the cards turn themselves upside down when you shuffle , then they are doing exactly what they want to do . So let them have their way !!! I know that some readers deliberately introduce reversed cards into their readings. I don't do this myself , but others say that this does make for a richer reading. I think you end up doing what feels natural for you !
Easy spreafds might be the one card "direct" answer to a specific question , the three card Past , present , future spread , the horseshoe spread , the Yes/no spread. I'm hoping that someone else will give you website details !! Because I don't know where they are !!
Best of luck ! "You know you can do it " !
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| rota |
02 Jan 2003 |
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I agree with Samantha; take her advice about simpler spreads to heart.
There's always time to be more complicated about it later.
Also, please don't try to become some overnight Tarot expert. Getting anxious over what you see as a lack of knowledge in yourself will just cut you out of the FUN of slowly getting to know the whole field. You'll find your own view of it, and and you'll find your own relationship with it over time. You gotta realize that the fun of Tarot is one of the big factors in keeping one's interest. No need to rush. All these people here at Aeclectic who have been reading and studying Tarot for so long? -- they've had some fun with it.
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| Fuzzmello |
02 Jan 2003 |
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I know, it's really confusing at first.
Toss out that little white book. It's usually worthless when it comes to making sense of the cards meanings.
Go to http://www.learntarot.com/ and start at the beginning. Joan Bunning has helped thousands (I'll bet) of people who were right where you are now.
Take your time. You have to get used to the cards and they have to get used to you. Think of the deck as a new pony. If you don't know anything about riding and he doesn't know anything about being ridden, it's going to take a while before you're jumping fences together.
Start a tarot journal. Write down everything you learn. Even "dumb" stuff.
Go to Aeclectic and take a look at Thirteen's Basics. It's well-written and perfect for beginners.
Drop in here and ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask about what might seem like the basic stuff. The people here are very friendly and generous with advice, experience and skill-sharing.
Welcome to tarot and to Aeclectic! You're in the right place!
Fuzz
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| Cerulean |
02 Jan 2003 |
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Easy does it...
www.learntarot.com is a free site where Joan Bunning's Learning the Tarot lessons are posted.
What deck are you working with? Sometimes the pamphlet or the little white book does help more than you think it would at first. If some of us know the deck, it might help make good suggestions.
Best wishes---and I hope you still feel good about the deck.
Mari H.
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| Trish |
02 Jan 2003 |
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Don't be discouraged! :D
How do you choose the signifactor form the deck?
The signifactor is the card you are most drawn to (isn't that right?). Look at the pictures and the meanings. The one that appeals most to you -- whether it be in the picture, in its traditional meaning, or both -- is it. :D
do you ever use the card upside down to represent someone?
Yes, they can represent somebody when they're reversed or not. A certain character might resemble someone you know, or maybe even you yourself. Or the meaning of a certain card may manifest itself through someone in your life.
Can I do a reading for MYSELF?
Yes, you can do readings for yourself. I, along with probably the majority of people here, do it on a fairly regular basis. It's a good way to get to know the cards.
When shuffling- is it important not to let the cards shift and turn upside down, etc?
No, it's not. In fact, it is probably best to just let the cards position themselves as they will.
Is there an easy spread that you can share with me?
Well, you can do just a one-card drawing if you want. That is also a good way to learn the cards, their relationship to you, and their meanings. ;) Also, http://tarotspreads.com has a TON of spreads -- both small and large -- that you can use. If you do a search, I'm sure you can find other places with Tarot spreads. Heck, there's even a forum for them here! ;) Go check it out and see if you find anything useful.
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| HudsonGray |
02 Jan 2003 |
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Hiya!
DON'T get discouraged, even though there are 78 cards & each has 5 or 6 meanings in each direction, you can do it. Read through the little white book. Then lay out your majors in sequence & read that section of the book. Look at the 'journey' the fool does from one end thru the other. That will help get the majors in your mind. Look how the fool changes with reaching each card.
Then lay out each suit, ace thru King in a row from left to right, one suit over the other. Look at what all the aces mean. You'll have them all in a vertical line & see similarities. Look at the 2's. The 3's, etc. This is a good way to get familiar without memorizing everything right off the bat. See how all the queens differ, how close the Queen of Pentacles is to the Empress in meaning.
Get each card familiar picturewise in your mind. You'll get the meanings eventually, remember that sometimes it's your mind that gives you the clues, not the written meanings for each card.
A journal is good. So is a guided meditation--take one card a night, read the description, hold the card up & memorise what it looks like, then close your eyes & visualize the card in front of you doorway size. Walk into it & start looking around. Talk to the people in the card, talk to the animals. You'll remember a lot this way as your mind walks you through what you read & what you see--think of it as a daydream sort of thing if you're not familiar too much with meditation.
Read the books at the library that cover tarot. Getting perspective on each is easier than sitting down & memorising everything. It'll sink in.
Nobody I personally know who reads cards ever uses a significator in their readings. It takes a card out of the deck that may be needed in the reading itself. The deck knows what question you asked, no need to pull one out of the deck.
Sometimes reading for yourself is hard, your fears get in the way or you only get a reading that you WANT to hear, not what the deck should be telling you. You'll get around that, if you're patient, if this is the case. It was for me, once I decided it didn't matter so much, the fears dropped & I started getting accurate on readings for myself.
Randomize your deck when you're ready to start. Best way is to lay them down on the table & mush them around, letting them go in every direction, then gather them all together & randomly shuffle, turn sections around, shuffle, etc. You want them to go in every direction so you get uprights & reversals. Randomize whenever you feel it's needed.
The Celtic cross has got to be one of the banes of the beginner. It's TOOO complex! One card, three card & 5 card readings are much easier, especially when beginning. There are a lot of spreads listed on this site--the main board has a seperate section now for spreads. Otherwise use a search engine (I like www.google.com) and type in tarot spread, or tarot lay and look at the different sites that come up, there are TONS of spreads online & they'll all work. Also a good thing to search on is tarot articles, you'll find a lot of good info that way too.
Use this board, it's got a lot of info, and go into the archives too, you'd be amazed what's been covered here so far.
Get familiar with your deck, know all your cards. This is the easiest way to learn. Don't worry about going back & forth to the booklet, you need to do that for a while. But see how much you can pick up just from the cards first.
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| Umbrae |
02 Jan 2003 |
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Welcome.
My advice.
Begin at the beginning.
Go Slow! Unless you strive for mediocrity.
Begin with three card spreads. Begin doing three card readings (for others). Do them forever.
There is no need to advance to a five card spread until you have at least six months of reading under your belt, and a Celtic cross will be too much – don’t go there. Notice the folks who invented numbers placed three before ten? There is a reason (lol)
Buy a spiral notebook. Use it as a Journal (very important). Write down every reading (both the cards and your interpretation).
Only read for yourself no more than once a week.
Three card readings are versatile, and accurate. More cards do not always mean better readings (but they look good on TV).
Throw out the LWB (burn it...really burn it). Read “Tarot Reversals” by Mary Greer. Three card spreads? Page 215. Take all your other Tarot books and store them where you have little access to them.
Signifacator? I have never used one. Take notes…let your own discoveries teach you what the cards mean. Moreover, have fun! This is not so serious…
…and I am not real big on leantarot.com
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| Thirteen |
02 Jan 2003 |
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Everyone's giving you good advice. I'm with Umbrae--
*Forget about the Signifacator. For now, just learn the cards.
*Forget about reversals. For now, just learn the cards.
*Forget about any spread bigger than a three-card spread. For now, just learn the cards.
Honestly, the best thing you can do for yourself right now is:
1) Memorize the cards. Start with the Majors.
2) Move onto the minors 1-10 after you're comfortable with Majors.
3) Save Court Cards for last.
4) Jot down any interpetations, ideas, thoughts from books or this forum that strike you--the cards are dense with meaning, so use only those which speak to you. Tarot is an ever learning, ever expanding process. Start with simple interpetations, even one-word images (like "Creativity!" or "Garden" for the Empress) and expand them as you go along.
THEN:
1) Work on 3 card spreads
AND
2) If you like, reversals. Some of us use reversals, some of us don't. My advice to beginners is always KEEP THE CARDS UPRIGHT till you're comfortable with them. There's plenty of time to learn reversals and let the cards go where they will when you start to do readings. FOR NOW you are a student. You're NOT doing readings. You're LEARNING. So do what you need to do to learn. If that means keeping the cards in order, keep them in order. If that means keeping them upright, keep them upright.
Learn. Then, by all means, read for yourself--but do so knowing that you're still a student. You're practicing. Slowly ease into shuffling, spreads and reversals--into randomness and real readings.
Above all, have fun.
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| Britney |
02 Jan 2003 |
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Thank you all SO VERY MUCH for the kind, inspiring words. I was just really lost and have never known anyone else who knew ANYthing about them either. I will check all the sites, get some books, MEMORIZE, LEARN, AND MEMORIZE the cards! ;-)
Thank you all so much! i'll keep you posted and.... i just have to say, this was the nicest board i have ever come to- and i am a message board person! The acceptance and patience.... thank you all so much!
~Brit
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| Britney |
02 Jan 2003 |
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In my excitement to thank you all- i forgot to report on this-- I have a starter deck- the meanings of the cards are written right on them! so that is convienient BUT the pictures are not very elaborate or detailed so that doesn't help with the "examine the card, figure the meaning" stuff.
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| Karenwhe |
02 Jan 2003 |
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Everyone gets discouraged and overwhelmed once in a while, take the advice that you feel comfortable with but make yourself little steps / goals. Whenever you reach that little goal you see achievement and that takes the discouragement out of the learning process.
If you are comfortable with studying one card a day and you achieve that this is progress ..... or a suit in one day..... or a symbol.. whatever you feel comfortable with at your pace. I think that is the main trick of not getting lost.... not necessarily where you start - IMHO.
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| Major Tom |
03 Jan 2003 |
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Originally posted by Umbrae
Throw out the LWB (burn it...really burn it).
Umbrae - :laugh: ROTFLMAO :laugh:
Otherwise there's some great advice! ;)
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| anjocoxo |
03 Jan 2003 |
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Welcome tothis comunity; oh, well everybody has already given you the best advise you can get. Take your time, don't rush, always trust your intuition more than the meanings of the cards, buy a good deck (ie one you feel drawn to it, maybe a rider waite wouldn't be a bad idea for a start, but you are free to choose whatever deck you like).
Oh, and don't forget to ask anything you like; here there are no such things as stupid questions... ;)
Anjo
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| Umbrae |
03 Jan 2003 |
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Over in Talking Tarot there is this thread that shows up about every week, called 'The Process'...I hear that the next installment is about begining to learn about reading! Might want to look for it next week.
:smoker:
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| allibee |
03 Jan 2003 |
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hehehe, shameless plug alert, LOL
But they are very sound articles written by an experienced, observant reader.
They are the most 'common sense' things you'll ever read about the process of being a tarot reader. Leave the mumbo jumbo at the door.
allibee
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| Scorpion |
03 Jan 2003 |
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Hi, Britney!
Definitely some very good advice being given here. I agree with the idea of breaking it down into manageable portions, however you see that: perhaps the card a day.
As for significators, I have to admit I don't bother with them, preferring to let the querents shuffle and choose the cards themselves. It works for me as it seems to pick up on their energies rather than mine.
I don't worry too much about reversals but don't try to ensure none are reversed. See other threads for views on the whys and wherefores of reversing/not reversing.
And yes, I started by reading for myself. When I got bored with that I tried pretending to be someone else (someone I knew, obviously!) and those seemed to go OK so I moved on to real querents - and it was still OK. These days I don't really bother for myself, preferring to take things as they come - I get much more enjoyment from reading for others, but some people only ever read for themselves - we're all different.
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| amyel |
03 Jan 2003 |
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Britney, everyone here has given you excellent advice, but I woudl like to add one more element to your studies: trust your intuition.
Sometimes, you may draw a card in a spread and although you've memorized the meaning, you have this niggling little feeling in your stomach or your chest that in this situation, the card is meaning this. Trust that.
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| Britney |
03 Jan 2003 |
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Well thank you to all of you for all the help, advice, and support- i REALLY need to tell you what happened last night---
So i sit down with the deck- intending to get to know the cards, study them, etc. Well, as i open the box they come FLYING out at me and WHAT lands in my lap? The Page of Coins--- now, I have been studying for my aerobics certification and that has been the primary thing on my mind for the last few weeks--- so the Page of coins meaning (according to my cards) is "deep concentration and application. study. scholarship. reflection. respect for knowledge. desire for learning and new ideas. a do-gooder." I FELT this was CALLING OUT to me! So i decided to go with it and use that as a signifactor (because it CAME to ME and it FELT right)--- so, i put it down and shuffle the cards and think, "what can i do for a positive outcome with the aerobics?" -- i did the celtic cross (just takign a stab because i had that right in front of me--) i laid my cards out and IT WAS AMAZING! Having taken advice from here as to "listen to the meaning of the cards- don't just hear what you wanna hear."-- I went through, card by card, and read, re-read, and analyzed- but you know, it felt SO natural, the cards were SO right on, and it TRULY showed me things. --in case you're interested, the basic message i got was that i will do fine- even if it is only because i "will use any means necessary to get the desired result." (which IS true because i have put over $500 into this and was studying a LOT at first- but have been slacking- so yes, i'm sure if it came down to it i WOULD cheat or whatever to get through so that i can.)-- Others see me as "narrowminded and ill-tempered" even though I am "generous and charitable and a noble soul" (very true- i get scared people won't like me so i don't talk sometimes- i am told this comes off as i think i'm too good when really i just don't wanna be hurt.)-- what is holding me back right now is "perfection" (thats why i don't study sometimes- "if i can't do it 100% then why bother?") and the fact that i've always had things "handed" to me (even if i didnt feel that way at the time) and BECAUSE of that when i DO succeed (by any means necessary) it will result in "loss pf prestige, lack of appreciation." I don't know if ya'll are still reading but if so- this SEEMS/FEELS RIGHT to me- i tried to take the negative in a way that will HELP and BETTER me rather than scare or intimidate me.
I don't know- just wanted to share this- it FELT right, it was good and i am DEFINETLY thinking this is gonna all be good (with tarot cards)-- iw ill not try celtic cross again for SOEMONE else- will start at 1, 3 card readings, but for the first one, the deck was calling me- it was all good.
thanks again for all ya'lls help. take care, ~~~BRIT~~~
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| jlbvt |
03 Jan 2003 |
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I would also reccomend finding a deck that "calls" to you, instead of the beginners deck, with better imagery. Try not to go with a Theme deck, and read plenty of reviews first. (some theme decks are ok for beginners)
Also, Why did you wait so long to get a deck? The rumor that you have to get it as a gift is ridiculous. I bought about 5 decks before I got one as a gift. I never had a problem using them.
Definitely do 3 card spreads to start, save the long ones for big questions. I have been doing Tarot for 2 years and I am still a novice. I think I have memorized meanings for most of the Majors, but I don't feel like I know a lot about many of the minors. I like the Little White Book even though it is so limited, I think it is enough to start with. Once you have a simple meaning for each card memorized, then read more about it and of course use your instincts. You may find that certain cards represent a person you know, my boss is the Queen of Swords Reversed. She comes up all the time! My Fiancee comes up as the page of cups. I never use a significator except for meditation spells.
Welcome to the boards!
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| Trogon |
08 Jan 2003 |
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Britney... Welcome to Tarot and to Aeclectic Tarot.
As you've already noticed, you will get, and have already gotten, a lot of good advice here at AT. I do have a couple of things to add to the discussion.
The first is that, as others have mentioned, use simpler spreads as you're starting out. I started out the same as you, using the Celtic Cross and for the most part did get good readings from it, but it is difficult to use. As soon as I began using simpler (3-card and 5-card) spreads I was amazed at how much easier it was for me to do a reading. Another advantage of the simpler spreads, is you can modify them so much easier for specific questions or situations.
Secondly... definitely keep a journal on all that you learn, but you may also want to keep the readings you do in your journal as well. Actually, I have a separate steno pad that I write down most (though not every single one - sometimes I feel that people may not want me writing things down about them) of the readings I do. The reason I like to do this is because I can go back later and see how things worked out in relation to the reading. Many times I have gained new insight, or had the readings "verified" through this practice.
Also, do readings for other people whenever you can. It was a little difficult for me when I first started doing readings for other people... nervous, you know. ;) But, it has been well worth it for me... doing a reading for someone else gives you new and different perspectives on the cards and how they relate to real life.
Again as others have mentioned, use these forums! I feel like I've learned more during the few months I've been reading postings here at A.T. than in the several years I was studying the Tarot on my own. When you're ready to learn a few more Tarot spreads, or maybe just some variations on the 3-card spread, check out the Tarot Spreads forum. Read reviews of the various decks at http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/list.html. Utilize the "search" function (search button at top right of most pages) to look for answers to your questions, for instance do a search on "significators" (I found 40 threads where this word was mentioned). Study Thirteen's Tarot Basics at http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/basics/. And finally... post, post, post... ask questions, join the discussions. You are welcome here. :D
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| Jewel |
08 Jan 2003 |
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Just something a little different that really helped me learn ... when you get your journal, just pic a different card each day (you can do them order, do a card of the day draw, or any other method you would prefer) and write everything you see in the card, if it makes you feel something, reminds you something, etc. Just anything and everything you would like to write about it. Some cards may require a couple of pages, others one parragraph. Just let your imagination go. There are no right or wrong answers here, it is simply about what you see, feel, think, etc. If something bothers you or you really dislike a card write that down too and explore the card to see what bothers you and perhaps even learn why.
Always remember that learning tarot is a journey ... not a destination. After 8 years I still (and always will) consider myself a student.
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The a little discouraged.... thread was originally posted on 02 Jan 2003 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.
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