Analytical Tarot Reading

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

divinerguy	24 Apr 2003
I've been thinking about how I read the cards. I have two different methods, one is intuitional, where I look at the card and apply it to the querent's situation, without considering any mainstream correspondence system. I don't do this very often. The other method I use is the analytical method. Step One - The Framework I prefer an analytical approach. After drawing a card, I consider the correspondence preferred by the author, or that described by Eden Gray, whichever I find more applicable. This is the underlying framework, or rule set that I use. Step Two - Initial Conclusion I then apply the correspondence to the querent's inquiry. I ask myself how the correspondence fits into the querent's situation. Sometimes it doesn't, which requires an additional draw on the subject, or may await the next card in the spread. Step Three - Effect of Surrounding Cards The conclusions I draw in Step Two are almost always modified by surrounding cards. I consider the type of card, its proximity and orientation, and the presence of patterns in those cards. I'll draw an additional card only if I can't make sense of the reading. If one additional card won't help, I'll usually decline the reading at this point. Step Four - Telling The Story After I have reconciled any patent contradictions, I'll usually present my reading in a systematic way. Usually in a chronology, but if the situation dictates, I'll switch to something else, perhaps a subject oriented reading. How do you approach a reading?

NeXoRiouS	24 Apr 2003
My way is to stare at the cards and stare again till I thought of something. Kind of works. Let the cards talk to you. When everything is done analyzing in the brain, choosing the right words and forming nice constructed sentences, I spill the beans at a go. It sucks but as long as it works, what's wrong? As a saying goes, " Be it a black or white cat, as long as it could catch rats, it is a good cat."

HOLMES	24 Apr 2003
step one, the question. help them to phrase the question as to get specific about what they want to know. step two , relate the basis to the question. (it isn't called heart of the matter for no reasons lol (in the celtic cross, it took a while for me to differnate between heart of the matter and basis of the question,) step three, every card builds on that basis, letting the positions build a profile of the situation. step four at the end give a little summary , and answer any feedback/questions they give. this is what i do in life readings. in online readings like on the forum i do 1.2.3. and then answer feedback in another post if it is required or if it is private by pm :O)

divinerguy	24 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by NeXoRiouS As a saying goes, " Be it a black or white cat, as long as it could catch rats, it is a good cat." NeX - Sounds like it works well for you. Telling others how we go about our readings is probably one of the best ways of helping newer readers. Doing the first reading is so very difficult - if this helps them, great. If it doesn't, its still interesting to see how others perform a reading.

lunalafey	24 Apr 2003
The first thing I take note of is what dominates the spread....is it a suit? Majors? reversals, etc. From there I work through cards & positions starting with the card that grabs my attention. I see how the cards are relating and interating...the 'story'. There have been times where the 'story' has been segrigated into two parts by way of the cards. I use the symology, the image and especially intuition in analyzing a spread.

firemaiden	24 Apr 2003
I like this question, divinerguy, I have no business answering this, because I am just beginning to learn to read the cards, but it is making me think how I do read, so MUHAHAHAH I decided to answer. So far, what my brain has told me to do, is very similar to what Holmes said. That is to really consider what is being asked, what are the implications of what is being asked, and what might the hidden question be. Then, I look at the spread, the meanings of the positions of the spread and try to see how the question relates to the kinds of angles offered by the spread. Then I try to refine or define the question again in relation to each position, I mean, I strive to define a specific question for each position. The questions then sometimes answer themselves without cards, but the cards that are there serve as a jumping off point. I try to answer the question, basically the way I as a human being would answer it, using the card to give me inspiration. Then I check the various possible card meanings in some of the different books I have, and see if what I have just invented is justifiable, or way off base, or if I have missed some really important possible interpretation. Parallel to this rather analytical processing of the question -- I just notice whatever weird ideas come up in response to the pictures, and they are usually funny, so I put them in too for laughs (like the Strength card as hidden talents means you should be a lion tamer, or the Queen of Swords is a lady surgeon, or the lovers reversed means making love with the woman on top, or the Queen of Swords reversed, is the overly intellectual woman having her "mind blown" by some really wonderful er... physical experience).

allibee	25 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by divinerguy I've been thinking about how I read the cards. I have two different methods, one is intuitional, where I look at the card and apply it to the querent's situation, without considering any mainstream correspondence system. I don't do this very often. The other method I use is the analytical method. Hey, what's wrong with using both in tandem? :O) allison

Alex	25 Apr 2003
sounds like a generally good idea, but I had never heard of such association. Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden or the lovers reversed means making love with the woman on top,

firemaiden	25 Apr 2003
sure I am serious! just think about it... the lovers.... "reversed" okay, so lets reverse positions :D (What, that caught your eye, but not the Queen of Swords on her head???)

Alex	25 Apr 2003
that alone has caught my eye. I can't wait for an opportunity to pull this one out of my pocket. You should patent that idea, firemaden. Alex. Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden (What, that caught your eye, but not the Queen of Swords on her head???)

The Analytical Tarot Reading thread was originally posted on 24 Apr 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.