I know there have been a lot of threads on this but.....

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jewel-ry	04 Nov 2003
HOW DO YOU ALL GET THE PRACTISE reading the cards??? I have read many posts on this. I know that some of you pull a daily card to focus on, others do a daily spread, and Umbrae suggests three card spreads and 'lots of them'. My problem is this.. I have a general understanding of almost all of the cards. I do a lot of study on some of my decks, looking at the symbolism, reading lots of books, and reading the threads here on Aeclectic, but then I think OK do a spread and I find it really difficult to read for myself. In fact, I find it really hard to come up with a question just for myself. I end up sitting here by my computer looking at the recent posts and just shuffling my cards (very therapeutic!). I desperately want to get better but know that the only way to do that is to PRACTISE. Pulling just one card a day is just not enough! I need more and am finding it really hard to find a way of satisfying that. I know that Moongold is looking into setting up a thread to help us 'Newbies' but I still need more suggestions........please???

skytwig	04 Nov 2003
Well...... you could ask this question of the cards.... maybe with one of the spreads suggested in the threads..... and how about sitting down with a piece of paper and writing down things you're curious about your life and yourself.... then using them as basis for throws...... Also, can you do a practice spread for a volunteer here.... maybe tell them you are practicing?

firemaiden	04 Nov 2003
Hey jewel-ry -- listen, you just get brave, and "do it" -- you just sort of... jump, and try to trust the cards. :) I am just beginning to have the courage to make this jump... I read for live people when I can find some. I let them know this is sort of...in the experimental stages. (Not surprisingly the best readings were for people I felt a strong connection to... or for people who were really really open to whatever weird thoughts I might have. ) It is also really fun to have them participate in the reading. Even if your querant has never seen the cards before, it can be amazing what comes up!. I did a reading for my boyfriend of eight years with whom I shared a household in New York only a few months ago. It was very brave of him to be read for, because he is of the religious school of thought that sees divination as invocation of the devil...he had never seen the cards before. (The cool thing about reading for people who think like that, is that they really believe. ) One of the cards we turned over was the six of swords. He looked at the boat with the six swords stuck in it moving to another shore, and said, "ah, a return!" It surprised me, because I normally think of this card as travel to new shores, not returning to old ones... Neither of us knew it at the time, but he would soon be leaving. Within a few days a job offer came in from his home town in Puerto Rico, and he did indeed return home.

Star Spirit	04 Nov 2003
Sounds to me like you're trying too hard. Let yourself relax and feel comfortable. You'll know when you're ready to read. You could also try reading for others in the Reading Exchange, if you have a hard time reading for yourself...

Umbrae	04 Nov 2003
use the reading exchange and read for fellow members here (online). Go someplace for coffee? Do a three card spread for yourself and think on it...someday, someone will walk up and ask, "Do you read Tarot cards?" And read for them. Do the same in bars, restaurants...it will eventually snowball on you.

Sulis	05 Nov 2003
Oh you sound like me. I find it so hard to read for myself, like you I can never think of a question and I think it's better to practice reading for others, you can be more objective that way. I've found the Your Readings board to be very helpful. People post their throws which they're having trouble with - just print off the page and go and lay out their throw and have a go. Other than that you could offer readings on the reading exchange. Love and light Sulis xx

Mystic Zyl	05 Nov 2003
I would read for my friends, relatives, and my relative's friends for practice. It is sometimes hard to read for yourself, you have to keep an unbiased mind. Also, I kept a jounal.

Shade	05 Nov 2003
I thnk the problem for many folks is trying to hold out and do "big" questions. Do little ones. I use the tarot to pick my jamba juice- Empress well it's may and strawberries are in season so it's a strawberries wild and the 8 of wands is about moving things quickly so that's an energy boost I use them when I am thinking about a car I just saw even though I'm not on the market for a car. Would I like a Sunfire? 4 of Pentacles... hmm I might like it too much. What should I read the sci-fi novel, the classic mythology, or a book on tarot? The 6 of cups, youthful exuberance, sci-fi novel it is. Theer are lots and lots and lot sof questions you have every day but most of them can be soved w/o tarot (I can usually pick a jamba juice taht looks appealing) but these questions make the answers easier to interpret.

firemaiden	05 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by JohnnyVoodoo I use the tarot to pick my jamba juice- That's very funny :) Thank you JohnnyVoodoo. I needed that :D Maybe I could use the tarot to help me pick out my clothes for the day... (I wish it could help me pick up my room too. )

Jewel-ry	05 Nov 2003
Thanks you guys, Some really brilliant ideas here! I laughed at the jamba juice, but it certainly gave me 'food for thought'! I think youv'e all made some really good suggestions. I definately agree with dead star cos I also think I try too hard sometimes. Firstly, I'm gonna try Sulis' idea and print a page off of the Your readings board, go and do the spread and give it my own interpretation. Tomorrow I may take my cards to work and look for other opportunities to use them. So many suggestions, I dont know what to try first! Got to go...... got lots to do............. Thanks Again

Moongold	12 Nov 2003
Hi there, jewel-ry, I've just read this thread for the first time :) . Sorry that the special thing for newbies didn't go ahead as planned (there was so much demand!) but that doesn't mean to say that the principles that underpinned that attempt can't be used. They are, in fact, used every day though the RXchange and Your Readings. What do I mean by that? Well, practice in the Reading Exchange, as Umbrae suggests. People will give you feed back. If you'd like to read for me, then I would be more than happy to give you feed back through the Reading Exchange. PM me if you would like to set something up like that. Or we could do another exchange - I could read for you. As you get confidence, you go from strength to strength. Just one reading can give you confidence! Here is the thread on which the attempt to set up the Newbies thing was based and you can see how nervous (but excited) we all were. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5963&highlight=Newbies Another suggestion is meditative journalling, which I do all the time. You responded to my latest efforts in this regard, so I know you've seen examples of this. This allows the spirit within to speak, and is such good preparation for reading for others. Stretching the spirit! as singers exercise their voices :). Meditative journallng also leads to the most beautiful insights. Sulis's suggestion was a lovely one as well. Ah, jewel-ry..........the love of Tarot permeates this place. Take these few tentative steps and you will find people with you all the way.

Jenny-Li	14 Nov 2003
I see you have got some good answers already - I saw Firemaiden's suggestion to just jump and trust the cards to carry you. It's a good point. To use the exchange forum is also a good way. Small spreads are good, I'm with Umbrae on the 3-card-spreads issue. Here's what I did to get practise: I went up in the mornings, drew 3 cards for myself. IF I had a specific problem or issue in my mind I would draw them for that issue (this was when I was doing morning pages, and usually the issue would show itself in the morning rants I wrote...!), but usually I'd draw them without anything specific in mind. I would look at the cards, briefly, make notes of what I saw - NOT going to what I know about the cards, just what I see. And then I'd leave them for the day. During the day I would ponder the cards, their symbolism and archetype-"meanings" - and not until the evening I would sit down with the cards again, and write down my interpretation. To sit right after you've drawn the cards, stare at them and wait to "see" it - it might only block you. For me the trick was to let the insights come in their own due time during the day - and they did. In the evenings I could often write very long reflections of the cards, relating them to the day that I'd had and what was going on in my mind, I was able to learn from them and grow with their help. Whereas in the morning when I drew them - they meant nothing to me. I'm not saying all your readings will always take this long, after working for a while with this, I've grown more acquainted with the cards, and can get the general feeling for a spread instantly, instead of sitting there trying to "make it happen". But still - I don't believe in quick-readings, I know I will always do better readings if I allow them to take time. So, maybe you too need to take the pressure off yourself? Hang in there, and don't give up! If you love doing it, you will find your way, I promise! //Jenny :)

lunalafey	14 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by jewel-ry .....I think OK do a spread and I find it really difficult to read for myself. In fact, I find it really hard to come up with a question just for myself. I end up sitting here by my computer looking at the recent posts and just shuffling my cards (very therapeutic!). oh dear, THAT delema! I analyze to poo-poo out of the major issues in my life until I find some solution. When I started with tarot, I too had a problem finding questions because I had already addressed the situation at hand. What I did back then was read in those rare times I felt lost or helpless. But that was not enough and I did not get to know tarot very well that way. Later, when ever I was faced with an issue that made me have to think even for just a minute, (rather than giving an answer or make a decision on the spot) I would get the cards out and even if I felt I knew 'what was up' I would do a reading. It became a habit. Now I still don't read for myself too often- still can't find any q's..... reciently; for an ongoing major issue, I have read many throws.... which all say the same thing no matter what the spread, deck or question- very interesting dynamics...... In those moments when I really want to read, I just play with the cards- ask questions that are silly or have nothing to do with me. Another thing I will do is not even ask a question and just start flipping over cards and listen to the things that go through my mind as they flip by.

Jewel-ry	14 Nov 2003
Hi Moongold, Thank you so much for your kind words. I have been printing off some of the spreads and doing my own readings from them as suggested by Sulis. I guess what I find so hard is that I am basically a black and white person so I feel that if there is a 'right way' then I want to get it right. I guess what I'm starting to find out is that you could ask 100 different readers for their interpretation on a particular spread and they would all be different. I'm beginning to appreciate the fact that we all add our own little personal touches, this is definately giving me more confidence. I felt that JohnnyVoodoos story of the Jamba Juice was a light touch which made me think 'Hey, your being too hard on yourself, chill out!' I really appreciate you offer of me doing a reading for you and will pm you about that. I have looked at the thread you gave me and I can see how exciting and educational it must have been. Mooncat was such a good teacher wasnt she? Thanks again Jewel-ry

pentunen	14 Nov 2003
Another exercise you could do to improve your skills is to make up stories just by pulling random cards out of the deck, and trying to link them into a cohesive story as you go along. I've found that it helps me learn to relate cards to each other, rather than just memorize the meanings for each one individually.

Jewel-ry	14 Nov 2003
Hi Jenny-Li, I like your angle! This is very much what I do now - draw three cards, write them down and then 'ponder' the cards throughout the day. Just before bed I try to understand them in the light of my day. Sometimes things happen and I think 'Oh, that could have applied to yesterdays spread'. This makes me realise that the reading does not have a time limit on it. That it can 'rollover' to another day. I think this is a good way of doing a daily spread. I have got some really good ideas from this thread. Thanks for your input. Dont worry, I wont give up, I'm having too much of a good time!! Jewel-ry

Jewel-ry	14 Nov 2003
Hi everyone, Some really good ideas here. Thank-you lunalafey and pentunen (and everyone else). I think, lunalafey, you have a very good point when you say 'I too had a problem finding questions because I had already addressed the situation at hand'. This identifies my problem exactly. I need to learn to stop long enough to find out what the cards have to say before I take action, not that I think the cards should dictate everything in your life, but just for reading practise. I think 'playing' with the cards is a really good idea, telling stories, flipping them over etc. Jewel-ry

Majecot	16 Nov 2003
Jewel-ry I have been doing as Umbrea suggested also. It has helped me tremendously. I felt like ( after six long years with a book in one hand and cards in another), that I would never read with out a book. I journaled and meditated and I do a morning and evening 3 card reading ( that sometimes turn into more if I need clarification) and FINALLY I am learning to trust my instints. Just keep playing with your cards. :D and maybe find a few friends that don't mind being practiced on.

lilsher	20 Nov 2003
Here is something that Joan Bunning suggests; I read this a long time ago on her website. I can't remember the address now. Anyhoo, try reading for made up people. I did this myself, and it helped a lot. Let's say Bugs Bunny comes to you for a reading wanting to know how he can change his relationship with that guy that is always hunting him. :P This way you can work with the cards without worrying about a second party, and you don't have to do the reading on yourself. It's actually a lot of fun. I went and searched for the site. Here it is. http://www.learntarot.com/

mzmystic	20 Nov 2003
I didn't read every single post on this thread, but I so identify with jewel-ry. I just accidentally took the big plunge to reading for my cousin online. He's the first person I've ever read for besides myself. I've been studying for over a year and just never really got so I felt that I could read for anyone. But he and I chat every day online and he asked me what I was doing one day. I told him I was working with the cards. He decided I should read for him, so I did. Then he decided that, to prove to himself whether or not he really believe the cards "work", he'd just give me a name and nothing more and have me read on that name. I'm so in awe! Every single name I did, he said it was right on the money about that person. Then he got one of his roomies into it last night having me do that kind of readings. The roomie was amazed, too, that the readings were so accurate. I felt like I'd been digging a ditch all night after about six in a row. But there's another point to my telling this story. Just find someone to let you read for them and then step out in faith and see what happens. I've been doing these readings intuitively and without checking my books till AFTER I've done the readings, and I found that it just seems to come naturally. Checking the books on this or that point was because I wanted further insight about a particular card or two. I can foresee that before long, I'll be comfortable reading without even double checking with my books. I have to tell you that it's a lot easier to read for someone if they'll give you some interaction------something more than just a name of someone you've never heard of. But even then it's possible, evidently. It's been very amazing to me to see how these readings were so very accurate---that amazed me more than that I can read for someone else. LOL The spread I use is seven cards in a row left to right-----the first two for the past and whatever influences there are from there, then the next three cards are the present, and the last two cards are the near future. I turn them up as I go. That's a lot easier for me than trying to remember a complicated spread and its meanings, so I just seem to keep using it. Doing these readings is a lot easier for me than reading for myself ever was. I agree with Umbrae-----just dive in there and read for others and it will snowball. I have yet to get up the courage to go sit somewhere and play with the cards to see if someone will ask me to read for them, but I'm seriously thinking about it.

Jewel-ry	20 Nov 2003
Thanks Majecot, lilsher and mzmystic, I've had so much response from this thread and I am trying out several of the ideas posted. I think 'playing' with the cards is very good advice. There are so many things to do when you put your mind to it. I did a very flippant reading for my son the other day (basically just turned one card). He asked me how he was going to do in his science test. Temperance came out and I said (amongst other things) that he'd had a question about the water cycle. Funny thing was he came home and his teacher had discussed this one question which a lot of people had had a problem with and it was to do with the water cycle. How weird?? And I'm just playing!!! Jewel-ry

Minos	21 Nov 2003
But since there have been a lot of threads on this, and since I haven't been around for a while, why not! Play with your cards. Like for example: Spread out a nice big space on the floor (I must insist on this, there are distractions on your desk or coffee table, and only the floor has enough space to really experiment). Group together cards that are like each other. Figure out why they're like each other. Figure out the subtle ways they're different. Lay out a bunch of cards in a line. A lot of them, 10 to 20. Try to read them as a story, left to right. Then reverse the story, reading it from right to left. Group together cards with similar colors. Or similar numbers. Or male cards or female ones. Or just cards that look pretty together. Lay down two different spreads and make them argue with each other. Pick out the cards you think are ugly. Figure out why. Maybe you're wrong about one of them. Pick out the ones you like. Is there something nasty you've been missing about them. Think of a person and pick out cards that are similar to them. Those are some things I do when I'm staring at my cards on the big empty floor. I'm sure you'll come up with different ones.

Jewel-ry	21 Nov 2003
Another good idea! Thanks Minos, will definately try this. Jewel-ry

tmgrl2	30 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae use the reading exchange and read for fellow members here (online). Go someplace for coffee? Do a three card spread for yourself and think on it...someday, someone will walk up and ask, "Do you read Tarot cards?" And read for them. Do the same in bars, restaurants...it will eventually snowball on you. OK...that's how I'll start when I am ready...when I at least know the numbers and basics that I need...only it'll be Starbucks some morning after I retire....I'll sit there doing my three-card spread, furiously writing my notes...and up will walk....someone....I can just see it...no charge, of course....I am retired from working for money (I hope).... terri

Shoegal75	06 Apr 2004
Hi jewel-ry I just posted a similar thread, but mine was much more um.....long. Ha ha. I wonder if practice and practice and practice jumbles the brain a bit. I have been reading only a short period of time and have a "basic" understanding of the cards but sometimes wonder if there is so much more I'm not getting from them. It can be frustrating can't it? I, too find myself shuffling, shuffling and can't even concentrate on a question, I just wanted to write and say YOU ARE NOT ALONE! :)

sunflowr	10 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Shade I thnk the problem for many folks is trying to hold out and do "big" questions. Do little ones. I use the tarot to pick my jamba juice- Empress well it's may and strawberries are in season so it's a strawberries wild and the 8 of wands is about moving things quickly so that's an energy boost I use them when I am thinking about a car I just saw even though I'm not on the market for a car. Would I like a Sunfire? 4 of Pentacles... hmm I might like it too much. What should I read the sci-fi novel, the classic mythology, or a book on tarot? The 6 of cups, youthful exuberance, sci-fi novel it is. Theer are lots and lots and lot sof questions you have every day but most of them can be soved w/o tarot (I can usually pick a jamba juice taht looks appealing) but these questions make the answers easier to interpret. what a GREAT idea! :) And a great way to learn how to read meanings into the cards. Love it!

The I know there have been a lot of threads on this but..... thread was originally posted on 04 Nov 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.