Feeling the cards

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

DuskHawk	12 Aug 2004
I am not exactly what one might call energy sensitive. Last night I was trying an exercise with my tarot cards. I would close my eyes pick out a card and try to feel the meaning. Then I would open my eyes and see if what I felt, or what I thought I felt, applied. I must have done that to 10 or so cards and none of my feelings were right for the card. Example: I would get 10 of swords and feel very happy and full of love. Does anyone have any suggestions to help me improve? It would be greatly apprieciated

NeXoRiouS	12 Aug 2004
What you mean by 'right'? There isn't 'right' meanings. Everyone has their own intepretations. Feel your own set of meanings. What you are feeling are what these symbols mean to you. 10 of swords doesn't necessarily means pain. To be in 10 of swords could be a good thing too. At least you know all the troubles are gone. No more pain, hurt and sufferings. 10 - you're at the end of it. Time for a new beginning. I would rejoice if I see 10 of swords if my question was about being confused, broken relationship and etc.

DuskHawk	12 Aug 2004
And if I feel nothing? What then? I do understand your point of no right meaning though

Diana	12 Aug 2004
DustHawk: I can understand the reasoning behind wanting to "feel" the cards before turning them over. You wish to deepen your intuition. But I honestly don't think that the Tarot is designed for us to read it without seeing the pictures. The Tarot is a book with 78 pages. Instead of writing, they have pictures on them. Trying to read the Tarot without looking at the cards is like trying to read a book without reading the words written in it. There have been threads on Aeclectic before where people talk about not turning over the last card(s) when one is doing a reading, or not turning them over at all. But quite frankly, I think we are then no longer reading the Tarot. We are trying to be psychic. One can be a psychic and read Tarot. But if one is reading the Tarot, one doesn't need to be a psychic. Psychics are not tapping into the Tarot, they are tapping into something else.

DuskHawk	12 Aug 2004
Diana, It seems you are not the only one who feels this way. I do have a question about your theory. I have heard many people speak of feelings they get when they are doing a reading that adds to the meaning of the card....Would this 'ability' be them being psychic or their ability to read tarot cards? Excuse me if this question sounds snippy or whatever...I just want to look at all sides of the box.

Diana	12 Aug 2004
Oh no. That's not snippy! (I don't know what snippy means, but it doesn't SOUND like your question is snippy. :laugh: ). I think that the more one reads Tarot, the more psychic one becomes. But I don't think one can put the cart before the horse.

tao51	12 Aug 2004
I use intuition to read my cards. If you would like to train your intuition then you need to study the cards. Reading the card without looking at the art can be a blow to your confidence. If you feel a meaning and turn it over and realize it was different then it can be cionfusing. What is "right" for the cards is what you receive from studying the pictures.--I hope this is of help.--Tao

Eco74	12 Aug 2004
Reading Tarot vs. Being Psychic I think that the more one reads, the more one becomes open to, or intuitive towards, the general point of the reading. Early on it's easy to miss out on nine of ten cards being swords, or wands and what this means, or only two suites turning up and missing the obvious connections that one gets after getting more practice. Also there are those who really are psychic and who develop this skill along side of the tarotreading, but I'm sure that anyone can develop this deeper feeling of the spread with enough devotion and practice..

full deck	14 Aug 2004
I've said before (IMHO) that the question one brings to a reading is very important, especially if one is reading for another. It is a context wherein "feelings" may occur. I can see and feel things but only after I know what I'm fishing for. Without a context (question), the cards are only an abstraction at best, though that can be fine for meditation.

The Feeling the cards thread was originally posted on 12 Aug 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.