Beginner, readings or not?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Feb 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Aure	26 Feb 2004
As a beginner going through Joan Bunning's book I would like to ask something. Should I avoid trying readings in the beginning until I've gotten more info on the cards etc.? Or did you ppl do readings when learning as well?

ros	26 Feb 2004
Just start reading, the sooner the better. Just go for it & learn as you go!

Aure	26 Feb 2004
Oh good!!! I'm so itching for a reading with my new RRW!!! I just don't trust my own interpretations yet... I like to look up the card meanings...

ros	26 Feb 2004
If you can't trust you, who can you trust? You'll be fine just go with the flow. Happy reading!

Jewel-ry	26 Feb 2004
Just go for it! I asked a question in my early days about getting practise and got some really good tips, here is the link: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=199853#post199853 J :)

ol_crazy_Legs	26 Feb 2004
I agree, the quicker you read the quicker you learn.

Aure	26 Feb 2004
What spreads do you suggest? Three cards or the Celtic Cross? I'm undecided... Maybe I'll post my reading on the Readings forums so I can get other opinions as well.

Thirteen	26 Feb 2004
Start with 3 card spread--and move up to more cards as it becomes more fun and more intuitive. For heaven's sake LEAVE THE CELTIC CROSS ALONE! :D I put that in huge letters only because the CC--and much, much, much has been discussed about it--is an advance, advanced, advanced spread. It's put in the little white books as if it's the only spread and as if it's easy--it's not. I'm not telling you to avoid it, only warning you that it's the deep end of the pool. Some people will relate to you how they lept right in and got it--but there's just as many stories of readers so frustrated and demoralized by it that they gave up the cards for years before coming back. SPREADS: You're on a forum where you can learn hundreds of alternate spreads, some of them incredibly cool and many of them using far less cards (Just move on down to the "TAROT SPREAD" board). Take advantage of this place. When you feel like moving from 3/card to more complex, pick out a 5/6 card spread that looks like fun. Then a 7/8 card spread that's really interesting. And then, when you're itching for a challenge, head to the diving board and make that leap into Celtic Cross if you like. Or some other large spread that looks, again, even more challenging and intresting. The CC gets used so much that many a reader here has picked something completely different for their signature spread. A signature spread, one you're going to use most frequently for your readings, should run somewhere between 10-15 cards. READINGS: Readers usually do readings on themselves--but WARNING--don't take self-readings seriously, not at first. It's practice, and your deck knows that ;) Otherwise you're going to find yourself in a panic wondering why you just got the Tower and 10/swords and 5/pentacles--terrified that something awful is going to happen to you. It's not. But the deck needs to let you see those cards in a spread if your going to learn how to read them in a spread, yes? Trust that the deck knows you're learning, and knows this isn't a real reading session. Try asking different questions to see how cards might be interpeted according to such questions. PEOPLE: Last but not least, as you move onto other people, let them know you're new and that it's practice. You don't want to say, "Hm, I think you're going to die soon...let me check my little white book...." That might upset them. When you read for them, it will be a real session, but, again, I've found that the deck usually knows a student learner, and take it easy. Once you've got it, however, expect that deck to treat you as a grad student working for a ph.d. Demanding and merciless.

yve	26 Feb 2004
I too am a beginner, and I started readings ASAP! First on myself, then for my son, now for friends via e-mail...I also still use books just as a basic guide, but I do use my intuition more and more...I agree...start doing readings right away. You will learn the cards more as you go...

laura_borealis	26 Feb 2004
Very good perspective on the Celtic Cross... I think I've hindered my own progress for a long time, trying to do that one spread out of a mistaken belief that it's the most authentic or the best or something. :P

Aure	26 Feb 2004
I actually don't like the CC that much. I've tried it earlier but there were too many cards!!! So, I'm sticking with simpler ones. Excellent advice, Thirteen! Thanks!

Rusty Neon	26 Feb 2004
Quote: Very good perspective on the Celtic Cross... I think I've hindered my own progress for a long time, trying to do that one spread out of a mistaken belief that it's the most authentic or the best or something. :P Ironically, the Celtic Cross spread (apparently invented by the Order of the Golden Dawn) was used only by outer order members. The best spread in the GD's eyes was the Opening of the Key method and that reserved for inner order (higher level) members.

Phoenyx*	27 Feb 2004
One of these days I'm going to get the courage to go ahead and read for someone besides myself. It's kind of ironic when my Peronality card is 8-Strength, and I feel so shy and frightened. :/

Aure	27 Feb 2004
I'm using different types of three card spreads now and seems like the readings are accurate! I try to do one every day. Thanks for all the tips!

CreativeFire	27 Feb 2004
Some great advice there from Thirteen! - particularly in regards to the Celtic Cross - I too when I first started reading the cards thought this was the one you had to do - and found it very difficult to fit together - definitely starting with smaller spreads 3 or 5 cards is a good way to start! Also had a good chuckle over the "you are going to die soon" and referring to the LWB. LOL - but very true particularly if you want them to come back for another reading. :-) Something I read when I firsted started to read, was when you are a beginner - look at the more positive aspects of the cards until you are comfortable and confident to be reading the more negative aspects - particularly in reading for others. Also some more good ideas in the thread that Jewel-ry has linked to - particularly trying interpreting yourself some of the readings that are posted there - wish I had found AT forum years ago to have this to help practice with! Another suggestion that I found helpful when first starting to read for myself, but in particular for others - is to write down the cards / spreads, date and person's name - as this can be good to go back and look at these after you have gained further insight and knowledge of the cards to gain more perspective of readings you have done in the past. I often did this and got the "ah ha" feeling of wow that now makes more sense. Triquetra - I relate to what you are saying about getting over that first shyness and fear to do your first readings face to face for other people - but it is like anything (public speaking for example), getting up the courage to do it for the first time can be very hard, but once you have done it a couple of times it gets easier and easier :-) Tarot is something that you are always learning from - even years down the track - for example I am very comfortable reading for people in person but am struggling somewhat to give readings online a try - tried my first phone reading for a friend not so long ago - so am working up to trying the reading exchange on AT - but it will also be part of my continual learning process - so will give it a go soon! But back to the original topic - the sooner you start to read and fit the cards together the better - as it helps you to learn more about the individual cards themselves but also how they can relate to each other and gain further insight and knowledge as you go. CreativeFire

mj07	02 Mar 2004
Thanks for all the advice, guys! I started out with the Celtic Cross for two reasons. First, my friend who got me interested in it used it and second, b/c like so many others, I assumed that b/c it's the one in the LWB it was THE one! bah! glad to have found this forum, it's already helped out a LOT! I've run into two problems trying to do the CC in the last two weeks as I've been trying to learn. The first is the fact I've come across several different ways to lay out the cards (or atleast, to assign meanings to them). My friend, who's really not that into it, uses "The Idiot's Guide to Tarot" which has one layout, which is different from the one in my Sacred Circle book, which is different yet again from a couple of the LWBs that came with my decks! ghrr... frustrating. My other problem has been that since I'm such a novice, I've been giving myself headaches trying to look up, and then understand, all of the cards in the spread! ack! I think I'll take the advice of several people and stick with 3-5 card spreads for a while! Thanks again!

Esther	07 Mar 2004
I've done the CC spread a lot in the short time I've been reading, and I think I'll take a break and explore different types of spreads and do some simpler ones as well. What I've noticed with my readings is that the CC spread is good for a general overview of what's happening in my life, but whenever I've tried to focus on a certain aspect of my life or ask a question, my readings didn't make any sense at all or related to a completely different aspect of my life. So I'm going to try to connect with the cards on a simpler level and hopefull find a spread I like better.

HudsonGray	07 Mar 2004
Make sure you take time to just spread the cards out and look at them, trying to see what you can in each, then read the meaning & compare your first impression to what the book/s say. Also look at how each of the similar numbered cards compare (all aces to each other, all two's, etc.) as that will help you get to know what's similar & what's not. It's going to take time. Some people meditate on one card a night, 'walking into' the picture & looking around, talking mentally to the person or people in the card--this gives your subconscious a way of talking to your conscious mind about what the meanings are. It helps a lot.

mj07	07 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by HudsonGray Some people meditate on one card a night, 'walking into' the picture & looking around, talking mentally to the person or people in the card--this gives your subconscious a way of talking to your conscious mind about what the meanings are. It helps a lot. ooh, that's a cool idea, think I'll try that! maybe it will help me with dreamwork as well! thanks!

Imagemaker	07 Mar 2004
Quote: What I've noticed with my readings is that the CC spread is good for a general overview of what's happening in my life, I agree. In smaller spreads I usually ask very specific questions, ones that can't have double interpretations, or use several very specific position-meanings. The clarity of the "approach" really helps the clarity of the answers.

contrascarpe	07 Mar 2004
I used the CC for a long, long time because like most, I thought it was the "only" logical choice. Now I try to adapt my own spread to fit the question, but I like to keep my spreads somewhat simple - between 5 and 8 cards. My next phase is to experiment using a basic spread with tarot and throwing a card or two from one of my oracle decks into the fray to see if there is some extra insight. Aure (and others just starting out) - Thirteen's advice is spot on - in fact it was the online course here at AT by Thirteen which finally made Tarot make sense to me from a confidence standpoint. Dan

purple_scorp	07 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Thirteen Trust that the deck knows you're learning, and knows this isn't a real reading session. Try asking different questions to see how cards might be interpeted according to such questions. ......I've found that the deck usually knows a student learner, and take it easy. Once you've got it, however, expect that deck to treat you as a grad student working for a ph.d. Demanding and merciless. Hi Thirteen. thanks for this advice. I'd never thought about a deck going easy on a learner until I read your post. Your comments make so much sense. I've seen this with other spiritual tools, like for example, a pendulum. Though not completely new to Tarot, I've only been reading Tarot for two years and Oracle cards for three. I shall now look at my decks with a new light. I am also glad to have read the comments in this thread on the CC spread. I don't feel drawn to it so I don't use it. I'm happy to see that it's actually not the "bees knees" for everyone, despite its universal marketing as such. Thanks all for the heads up. Cheers purple_scorp

Thirteen	08 Mar 2004
Quote: thanks for this advice. I'd never thought about a deck going easy on a learner until I read your post. Hey, you're welcome! Yeah, I'm of the opinion that decks have their own personality and intelligence. You find the one that's for you and it just grows with you. Regarding the CC--I use to hold a bit of a grudge against, but I've come to see it as just another spread now. It isn't the CC's fault, after all, that it got put into all those little white books as the one and only spread ;)

mtp12	10 Apr 2004
I've found the Horseshoe Spread (Classic Tarot Spreads by Sandor Konraad) to be a good beginning/basic or even an opening spread that's easy to remember and easy for the questioner/querent/client and consultant to follow. Obviously you lay the cards in a horseshoe shape and the cards are as follows Past Present Future Querent (top of spread) Aided by/helping influence Possible Obstacle Possible Outcome There are several spreads in SK's book; from mild to wild. I've yet to try one of the 43-50 card combos after years of study, though. MTP

Star Spirit	10 Apr 2004
IMHO, reading for others is the best way to learn, as long as you feel ready (but don't get too nervous about it, it's better once you've started). And no peeking at the books! :D I'd suggest participating in that thread going on in the Reading Exchange right now...where everyone is giving each other simple one-card readings. I began with the Seekers and it helped me a lot. P.S. I also started with the Celtic Cross--it was the only spread featured in the LWB for my Hudes :D And it's the only version I really like to use.

ncefafn	10 Apr 2004
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest something that may put people up in arms. Forget even the 3-5 card readings. To really learn, start out doing just one-card readings. You may think you'll never get a really complete view of your or your querent's situation with just one card, but it only depends on how deep you're willing to go. Shuffle and deal the one card. Before you reach for the LWB, before you start trying to remember what the Three of Pentacles means, stop! Take a deep breath. Look at the card. Now, slowly and meticulously, describe what you see -- not with your third eye, but with your first two. As you do this, I promise you your intuitive brain will unlock and you will start addressing the querent's question without first being aware of it. There is a whole book in each one of those cards. Don't rush, don't gobble, don't gulp. Take your time and savor it. Kim

mysticalowl	10 Apr 2004
I would start with no more than 1-3 cards in the beginning. Once you get comfortable move on to more difficult spreads. However, you will start to see that you can get so much information from 1,2 and 3 card spreads you may not even need more.

The Beginner, readings or not? thread was originally posted on 26 Feb 2004 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.