amateur

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

emmet	19 Jan 2003
hey im a total tarot virgen and was wondering if someone could tell me what it means if a card is inverted. also what is the best spread to start of with?

little	19 Jan 2003
I'm a novice, too. I think that a three-card spread is the best thing to start with, even though the little white book that comes with the deck always includes the ten-card Celtic Cross. You can use lots of different meanings for the three-cards spread: my favorites are Past-Present-Advice, Body-Mind-Spirit, and Focus-Opposing Force-Aiding Force. As far as inversions, you don't have to read them at all if you don't want to. You can use the context of the cards themselves to figure out whether you're looking at the positive or negative interpretation. I'm still learning to use inverted cards, so someone else can give you better advice. The advice that was most useful to me in learning was to keep a journal as you do readings. I write down a description of what I see on the card and how it is relevant to me in this spread. I've been surprised at the levels of meaning I've come to through journaling my tarot readings- especially when I'm describing a card and discover that some small detail of it is significant to me.

HudsonGray	19 Jan 2003
Yes, ignore the celtic cross, that confuses the hell out of people just starting. Stick with one, two, three or five card readings first. Search online under tarot spreads or tarot lays & you'll find all sorts of spreads. Work up to larger spreads, and as for inverted, I suggest using them, though some people don't. It's a matter of personal choice, but I figure if the deck was designed to speak in upright & reversals, then to use the reversals instead of ignoring them. All reversals are NOT bad, so don't get hung up on that aspect. Though SOME decks don't use reversals, you'll have to check which deck you have & if it uses them or not. The little white book should tell you.

Rhiannon	19 Jan 2003
Welcome to the forum! Please tell us a bit about yourself over in the New Members section, so we can get to know you better. As far as reversals go... if you can afford it... go out and get Mary K. Greer's book "Tarot Reversals" it's a great book and it gives you many meanings for both upright and reversed cards. It might be the only tarot book you will ever need, except maybe 78 degrees of Wisdom. And yes, 3 card are best. Try: Past Present Future, Mind Body Spirit types. R :)

Thirteen	19 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by emmet hey im a total tarot virgen and was wondering if someone could tell me what it means if a card is inverted. also what is the best spread to start of with? What does it mean if the card is inverted? Depends on the card. Really. My recommendation--DON'T use reversals until you feel confident with up-right meanings. Then you'll know if you want to use them at all--and you'll start to have an idea of what they mean when you do use them. Greer's book will also make more sense as well. As for the spread: going along with everyone else, best spread to start with is 3-card. Also, check out the Tarot spread section of this forum. You'll find a lot of spreads there that are smaller and easier--and often far more intreguing and fun--than the dreaded Celtic Cross--which I recommend holding off on as it is complicated, advanced and often frustrating to novices. As with reversals, wait till you feel comfortable with the card meanings before tackling this spread.

bec	20 Jan 2003
maybe it IS becasue I am not English native, but emmet asks: hey im a total tarot virgen and was wondering if someone could tell me what it means if a card is inverted. also what is the best spread to start of with?.... And got 4 answers of "what to do with them". If I ask "what does this mean?" the answer would be "that the card is turned up side down. Though as long you are new the generel advise would be; just turn them back upright" Spreads: A virgin dont start reading 3 cards, a virgin starts with one card at the time. When starting to get the hang out of looking at the cards, next step is 3 cards.

The amateur thread was originally posted on 19 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.