using the whole deck for one setting

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Dec 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

paradoxx	26 Dec 2003
I have done this numerous time,s and the topics have always bounced back and forth just as quick as my mind can interpret the information involved. Just the other night (Xmas Eve) as the reading was just being finished for my friend, her signifigant othern her children, and grandchildren showed up. The final card drawn was the 9 of cups. The full deck readings are more fun with another individual present, although too many people may create too much havok to handle. The topics range from personal and spiritual issues such as health, finances, and issues with family to world events such as Government, war, trade policies, and the environment as a whole. Although there are times that the general topics at hand slip through the cracks of the interpersonal communication taking place, they are rarely forgotton by the cards. It takes time, especially when you have a lot of energy to burn, but in the end the truth presents itself like a slap to the face. recommended: yes rating four and a half stars

joya250	26 Dec 2003
hey paradox, I would love to eventually do spreads this big. But at this point, it isn't really a spread... is it? I mean, there aren't positions, are there? I would think that when doing this, the reading is more psychic in nature, with the cards as anchors or references, than actually "reading" them... ??? I really have no idea. I'm curious how this is done. Can you share more about the spread, the process, etc.?? And does anyone else do this? thanks, joya

firemaiden	26 Dec 2003
I have heard about full deck readings, but I must admit, just hearing about it makes me want to lie down. I did a sort of reading in chat last night for a dear friend and we stayed about 45 minutes on the first card. I think a full-deck reading would take me several weeks. And I'd have to wonder what is the point. Actually, if I read enough into the first card, the rest of the cards seem to support and confirm what I have seen, but don't necessarily give me that much more new information.

paradoxx	28 Dec 2003
if you use a 3, 6, 12, or 18 card reading (or any mulitple of 3) the 78 cards will lay out in layers. I prefer 6 cards in 13 layers or 13 cards in 6 layers. Eeach layer can be represenitive of an issue at hand or perhaps a layer of the subconcious. This kind of setting supports mulitple signifiers for the people that are involved with the situation in question. 78 cafds offer quite the powerful reading, on christamas eve when the reading was finisehed, the 9 of cups was the last card to be drawn and my firends family all showed up. Many times, drinking tea and adding other forms of diviniatin (stichomancy, crystal gazing, tea leaf reading) will enhance the quality of the divniation. All is one with the oracle, the oracle is one with all.

Agathe	28 Dec 2003
I've never done the whole deck reading. However, I use sometimes 42 cards spread and it shows a lot of info on different subjects. The biggest spread I know and used ONLY once was 100 cards spread. This additional 22 is Majors from another deck. The spread wasn't that bad though it's HUGE and takes up a lot of room. But I like big spreads. Many things may interract and you can see that better in a big spread where you have lots of info. Agathe

The using the whole deck for one setting thread was originally posted on 26 Dec 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.