study decks vs reading decks.

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

all78degrees	22 Mar 2004
Hey all, Is it just me or have other noticed that there are some decks no matter how much you like them that you can't read with. In my case the decks in question are Tarot of Origins and Tarot of the Sephiroth. I like both decks alot, I can understand there meaning when looking at them on a one on one basis for study but when it comes to laying out a spread I draw a blank. So my question is are them some decks you can read with and some deck you can only study?

Centaur	22 Mar 2004
In my opinion, I wouldn't buy a deck if I didn't think I could read with it. I would not want to waste my time familiarising myself with symbology in a deck which I would never use to read with. I guess it is all a matter of personal taste. ;) C

Phoenyx*	22 Mar 2004
I got the Hansen-Roberts because I thought it was so close to the RW that it would be easy to read with and would bring some new insights to the cards. Boy was I wrong! I still can't read with this deck, and its annoying me that I can't!

firemaiden	22 Mar 2004
Now that's interesting. Why can't you, Triquetra?

Nevada	22 Mar 2004
The differences I find are between those quick, neat "aha" sort of readings that click along, and the longer ones that require a lot of contemplation and maybe a need to "sleep" on them. But usually it's the question that makes this difference, not the deck. However, I find that some decks are so full of meaning for me that I can't do quick readings with them, because I get bogged down in all the layers they provide. I save those for readings on deeper issues, where I want to spend a lot of time. If something veers too far from tradition, yes. I don't have any of those decks at the moment, probably the closest would be Voyager or Transformation and I can read fine with those. If it's an oracle deck that doesn't make sense to me, yes, but most Tarot decks I've owned I found I could read with. Is it possible the questions you're trying to answer are the problem? Or are the spreads too large? Are there any specific types of readings, or even querents, that you find this problem occurs with? Nevada

Phoenyx*	22 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden Now that's interesting. Why can't you, Triquetra? It's that damned King of Pentacles! No, really, ever since I tried to read with that card, he's given me a block as far as that deck! I need to force my way through it and do some readings with it, to bust my way through it.

contrascarpe	22 Mar 2004
My decks often change status. True, some I use for study only - Tarot of the New Vision is one of them. Some I bought and didn't like at first (Gendron) and started as a study but now I do readings from time to time. The Robin Wood is another which I wasn't sure was good for reading but lo and behold, it is for me. The Tarot of Prague is my favorite deck but right now I use it for study as the cards are difficult to shuffle because of the texture. I guess it depends on my mood whether or not I will do a reading.

Thea Lynx	22 Mar 2004
I haven't yet had that problem, unless I count the Connolly deck I used to have. But that was a negative reaction to the deck itself - the one time I used it for my daily cards, the message still came through beautifully. It was my personal reaction to the deck that prompted me to get rid of it - but to a good home with someone who likes and wanted it. Other than that, I have (so far) worked with about 38 of my 47 decks and everyone has spoken to me. Some not as deeply as others, but never cold. Thea Lynx

all78degrees	22 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Nevada Is it possible the questions you're trying to answer are the problem? Or are the spreads too large? Are there any specific types of readings, or even querents, that you find this problem occurs with? Nevada Hi, Its the decks :) Honest, for example last night I was using spreads out the excellent Putting Tarot to Work. I did a spread using Tarot of the Sephiroth, and could for the life of me figure it out. I gave up and used the Vision Quest and hey presto I I knew what it was saying. I don't think that I was being disrepectful to ToS. Its like me and Thoth, we speak different languages.

The study decks vs reading decks. thread was originally posted on 22 Mar 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.