What is your interpretation?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Jun 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Squishthefish	17 Jun 2004
I was hoping just for a start, that maybe I could get some interpretations from you guys. Today I bought my first deck, messed around with it to learn the cards. Pulled five cards, but pulled the Ten Of Cups twice, what do you think this means?

Thirteen	17 Jun 2004
That maybe you didn't shuffle the deck enough :D Seriously--and oddly, this doesn't often get discussed--shuffling the cards is one of those things that's really good for beginning readers to practice. Not just to strengthen the hands, improve dexterity and to really mix up the cards, but also to get one in a "tarot-reading" frame of mind. Shuffling is very meditative. Puts you in the zone. That said, if the you got 10/cups twice, randomly, it's generally a positive sign of family, love and psychic power. On the other hand, it could be warning you against overdoing things. Cups relate to indulgences as well. As you learn what the cards mean, it'll likely come clearer to you which is more apt.

Squishthefish	17 Jun 2004
I shuffeld the deck many times before pulling each time. I shuffled until I felt it was right. i sat in my room, which is very comforting to me, with candles on. The mood was set just right for meditiation. With my eyes closed, I pulled the card. I'm not doing this wrong am I?

lionette	17 Jun 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Squishthefish I'm not doing this wrong am I? Nope :) Just do what feels right to you. I'll suggest looking at the "stickies" at the top of this forum. Tarot Basics, How to Read, What Do the Cards Mean, for a start. Seems to me that you still need to develop a relationship with the cards. Might take awhile, but is lots of fun to do! Good luck! There's loads of knowledge to help here at AT.

Thirteen	17 Jun 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Squishthefish I shuffeld the deck many times before pulling each time. I shuffled until I felt it was right. i sat in my room, which is very comforting to me, with candles on. The mood was set just right for meditiation. With my eyes closed, I pulled the card. I'm not doing this wrong am I? That depends. What were you trying to do? *If you were trying to learn the Tarot...well, there's no WRONG way, but this isn't the best way. At least have a notebook on hand, meditate on each card, and write down your thoughts about what it might mean. A slow but effective method of learning the cards. *If, on the other hand, you were trying to do a reading, find out what message the cards have for you...it's only "wrong" in that you didn't have a question--and you didn't know the cards yet. You should know what the cards mean first before trying to do a reading. And you should have some question in mind to help you understand the answer. *If you were trying to get to know the deck, be friends with it, then this method is prefectly fine. But, again, it helps to know what the cards mean. If THIS is what you were trying to do, then it seems that the deck is trying to let you know that it's happy to be with you and it's ready to go. *If none of the above--you were just doing what you felt like doing, then what the 10/cups is about comes clear. The deck basicially said: "you're in a blissful, comfortable state of meditation." And really, there wasn't much else for it to tell you :) Does that help?

sunflowr	17 Jun 2004
But I think a good way to start learning the cards is plain by DOING.. meaning start reading them! But only one and 3 card readings at first. Graduate to pulling more cards as you get familiar. And keep a journal; write down your questions in it and record the cards you get and what they might mean for you. As for shuffling/pulling a card, there is no wrong way. Just whatever feels right and natural to you. :)

The What is your interpretation? thread was originally posted on 17 Jun 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.