what is the best way to learn?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Nov 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

MeM	16 Nov 2004
Being new to this I am curious to learn and want to learn in best possible way to be as accurate as possible. What way can you suggest? How did you learn?

jmd	16 Nov 2004
I would suggest to get a deck, shuffle them, and place them in order again (Atouts/Majors in order, then each suit in order from Ace-ten and Page to King). The shuffle again - and again place them in order, this time looking carefully at each image. Continue just playing with this for about a week... as a start :)

temperlyne	16 Nov 2004
I find it very helpfull to keep a tarot journal. Just write down all your thoughts and associations for each card. It can also be usefull to try to match the cards to situations you encouter in everyday life. I believe you bond with tarot better when you try to find personal things in each card in stead of just memorizing someone elses meanings.

Nec	16 Nov 2004
Hi, I'd like to suggest if you can visit the site of Joan Bunning www.learntarot.com It is the first site that I started to visit when I was new and eventually I bought her book because I like her method.

Dstar	16 Nov 2004
Hi, I suggest you go for a Rider Waite pack since the symbolism is clear and there is a lot of reference available connected to that pack. I'm thinking of adding a tutorial to my site, I've taught Tarot classes before so maybe I should. It's important that you learn the basics before putting your own meaning to the cards. Wherever you look, opinions will differ slightly... look at books or sites and go with the advice you feel comfortable with. If you get a Rider pack, buy the bigger cards and look closely at the detail...there is meaning hiding in the smallest detail...and it's often intended to be hidden from you. Accuracy will come from experience, and from following your intuition (don't try to rationalise your readings too much). Good luck...

loveinspirit	16 Nov 2004
hi i would like to suggest, as Nec and Dstar have, to buy the joan bunning book. and the rider waite deck. and when you have a quiet time study one card at a time, and write down what you see even the smallest detail, and how it makes you feel. a tarot journal would be good to, that way you can do one card and write down if it fitted in to your day. i teach the tarot, and my students have found it difficult to know the meanings of the cards as there are many books on the subject, best to use one book for all the basic understanding but go with how you feel about each card is best. and the web site that Nec suggested is a good one to start with. there is also a site on this forum,learn the basics of tarot cards is good also. good luck.

Umbrae	16 Nov 2004
Journaling is the best way to learn. Go to a web-site, buy a book – and you learn what THAT person has to say about tarot. Start a journal, use only the deck – and find (discover) what your deck says to YOU. Most books will be written by laying out the suits. This ain’t bridge folks…it’s Tarot. We ain’t goin’ for a flush at Texas Hold’em. Lay out your cards numerically. Lay out the twos. Why are they all the same? Why are they different? Take notes. Write. Start a page on every card – you’ll be adding to that page for years. But that’s only my opinon.

MeM	16 Nov 2004
WOW! Thanks for all the input! I did get a book to help me learn its called, " Tarot for Beginners " by P. Scott Hollander. Has anyone heard of this book? The deck I have is the Minchiate by Willians but when I look at the deck or even think about it, my mind gets cluttered and confused. This is probably not the best deck to start with.

IDN	16 Nov 2004
Hi, As others have advised, the Rider Waite (or one of it's VERY close relations- Universal, Radiant, etc- where only the colouring is different) is the best desk to start with. Regards, Ian

Bazaa	16 Nov 2004
I'm still kind of a newbie, but I've been learning through the net. The Rider Waite deck is really good to learn, as the others said, and I know it because my first deck was the Le Tarot de Marseille, and it was awful! >_< I started loosing interest because I just couldn't memorize all the cards meanings. I'm still using the Rider Waite and I really love that deck because I don't have to remember everything like if I was doing an History test. I also started with Joan Bunning's site. I think it helped me a lot, so you could check it out. Good luck!

jmd	16 Nov 2004
Whatever deck you use, MeM, it is indeed important to slowly take the time to see the deck's internal structure and connections. I specifically did not suggest a particular deck in my first post, rather leaving it to what you consider your personal preference or even the deck you may already have. I would certainly not suggest attempting to try to remember the meanings suggested by others - whether in books, online, or even in my or others' posts. Rather, a slow developing understanding of the imagery used (hence why the journal suggestion is also so important). In the journal, or in your own reflections, it matters little whether your view is similar to another's - whether published or not. With those reflections, an increased focus on details will also emerge, and henceforth also questions about the significance, for example, of a specific number of depicted stars on XVII the Star card, begins to be formulated and a slow process of discovery through research and discussion takes place. As to the deck to be used, I personally recommend a combination of two - whatever deck you feel drawn to (for interest needs to be maintained), and a Marseille (if the former is inexplicably not a Marseille in the first place ;)). I realise that numerous books in English from the 20th century have focussed more on the WCS (also called the 'Rider-Waite', after its first publisher and its designer, omitting the name of its artist). I personally disagree that this should be the first deck - by all means include it as part of your collection as one of the most infuential decks of the 20th century, but that is all, unless you particularly feel drawn to it or one of its 'clones'.

noby	16 Nov 2004
I understand where the folks are coming from who say that one should focus on how one sees and interprets the cards personally, and not depend on the ideas of others. The most powerful readings I've done have been those which have been more informed by my own ideas and interpretations of the images and symbols than by the consultation of a book. That said, I think it can be very helpful to read the ideas others have about the cards, especially as a beginner. It's a great way to begin to get a feeling for the card. The key is to use that other person's ideas as a jumping-off point for developing your own, rather than memorizing them and applying them by rote. The former is a spur to creative thought and insight, while the latter is simply being an automaton. I've particularly found Joan Bunning and Rachel Pollack to be helpful teachers. I find their ideas clear, and find that they tease out other aspects of the card, giving me a point of expansion. And of course, if a card comes up and I get a strong feeling for what it's communicating, but it goes against what I've read elsewhere, I look to my own intuition more than the words of others for guidance.

bigcaat	16 Nov 2004
MeM wrote: Being new to this I am curious to learn and want to learn in best possible way to be as accurate as possible. What way can you suggest? How did you learn? Hi MeM. The best advise I can give is to learn the symbols, but do not rely on a book interpretation. I had my cards for 5 years before I ever used them effectively because I was trapped in the "throw the cards, look for the interpretation in the book" thing. It wasn't until I took a class where I really learned about the symbols and how to trust my own interpretation of them that I really began to read. If I were to recommend one book, it would be "Choice Centered Tarot." http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1578632684/ref=nosim/aeclectic/ Hope this helps. Caat

MeM	16 Nov 2004
Thank-you all for your helpful suggestions. I guess at this point what I need to do is to find a deck that calls to me. For some reason the Guilded Tarot says something to me, along with the Quest Tarot. I wonder if there is anywhere local to pick either of the 2 up. Anyone in St. Louis, MO?...lol

bigcaat	16 Nov 2004
MeM wrote: I wonder if there is anywhere local to pick either of the 2 up. Anyone in St. Louis, MO?...lol Yes. There's a place right in your neighborhood: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0738701955/ref=nosim/aeclectic/ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0738705209/ref=nosim/aeclectic/ ;-) Caat

Sulis	17 Nov 2004
Umbrae wrote: Journaling is the best way to learn. Go to a web-site, buy a book – and you learn what THAT person has to say about tarot. Start a journal, use only the deck – and find (discover) what your deck says to YOU. Most books will be written by laying out the suits. This ain’t bridge folks…it’s Tarot. We ain’t goin’ for a flush at Texas Hold’em. Lay out your cards numerically. Lay out the twos. Why are they all the same? Why are they different? Take notes. Write. Start a page on every card – you’ll be adding to that page for years. But that’s only my opinon. Excellent advice - this may only be Umbrae's opinion but it's mine too. Journal - and take it slowly - you have the rest of your life and your journey is just beginning :) Love Sulis xx

Novice23	18 Nov 2004
Hi I'm very new to the tarot too. I bought a copy of Mary Greer's book and have found it to be really good. As well as keeping a tarot journal she suggests taking each card, spend a little time looking at the images on it, and then imagine yourself stepping into it. You look around, see what you find there, the sights, the smells, the people, the feelings and then you keep a record of what you've experienced in your journal. It's slow going. I've worked my way through about 3 cards in a week and a half, but it is really interesting and has worked well for me. I've found out what the cards mean to me, what's going on in my subconsious when I look at them, rather than just taking the meaning that's given in a book. It also makes it very, very personal. When I started trying to understand the tarot a few weeks ago, I didn't expect it to have the effect on me that it has. I hope in the midst of my rambling, the above makes some sort of sense.

rachelcat	18 Nov 2004
Umbrae wrote: Lay out your cards numerically. Lay out the twos. Why are they all the same? Why are they different? This is great way to learn. I also often advise this for majors also. How are the Hierophant and Hermit different? How are they the same? How about Justice and Judgement? Or Justice and Temperance? Compare and contrast, just like in English 101 Beginning Composition! Also, I have resisted the temptation of buying a Gilded Tarot so far by saying I have enough RWS clones--if anyone asks me about a good starter deck, I will recommend it to her! So I am recommending it to you. It is beautiful and engaging and modern, yet full of traditional meaning. Enjoy your study and discovery!

Dstar	18 Nov 2004
To be as accurate as possible ... Read...read...read... and read for others as much as possible, rather than for yourself. Don't be afraid to say things that seem rediculous. Don't get caught up and confined by set spreads. Let the cards flow and read them as a whole (or at least in big chunks). It's the combinations that matter, and set spreads distance one card from an another to some extent. When you read for others, don't be afraid to ask for confirmation to help you place the past and present events. It's not a test. All only my opinions :). D.

Rusty Neon	18 Nov 2004
MeM wrote: Being new to this I am curious to learn and want to learn in best possible way to be as accurate as possible. What way can you suggest? How did you learn? A good way to learn is in tarot forums, especially this one. When you're stuck at a given time, you can ask questions here. When you're short on inspiration at a given time, you can find it from fellow members here.

Waterdancer	18 Nov 2004
I am pretty new too and I have been doing a lot of practive readings. I write out my interpretation of the spread and the question and then I look things up in a couple of books to compare. One book I like is "The Complete Idiots Guide to the Tarot." I like it because in addition to serious stuff it uses silly references to movies and pop culture and that helps me remember the archetypes and meanings.

tmgrl2	18 Nov 2004
Good advice so far... Read for someone. Read online, read live. I used to keep dream journals, but for some reason I haven't kept Tarot Journals. They probably are a good idea. I print out things I really want to read and learn. I love the articles on AT's home page...I read them, over and over. Also, as Umbrae says, one of the most helpful tools for me has been to have my decks that I read with also in a photo album, so that when I flip the pages, I can look at all the minors at once...I reflect on how they are different and what they share as an element. I have two sets of my reading decks, one in a small photo album and one ready in a velvet bag...so I can read. Most shops that sell albums have these inexpensive albums (about $5.00) that hold two cards on each page, so it's perfect ...you can have the four out at once. Also, some familiarity with a system of numbers that can work for you, is worth exploring You will discover these things as you read here, some in books. It's process not perfection, it's the going there, not the getting there, that is the gift. There is nothing to substitute for reading for others, though. I just started in February with Tarot, so at first, I read a lot in books, posted a lot about cards, did readings in the Reading Exchange here. (I still do at times) Now, I am finding that there is no substitute for beginning to do live readings for people as soon as you can. You will find your philosophy, your "sight" and build within yourself, a system that helps you read. You can learn the elements and the numbers and the Trumps from various sources, BUT NOTHING substitutes for throwing a spread and quietly reflecting and then, beginning to speak what you see. You will be greatly rewarded by this connection if you take the leap and trust yourself. terri

ren	19 Nov 2004
I could'nt agree more with the Journal method of learning, a daily reflection card helped me gain greater understanding and when starting out I found that doing this at the end of the day allowed me to revisit the themes of my day within the Tarot. I believe though, that the main thing with Tarot is to always trust your own instincts first...no matter how silly or trivial you may think they are. As mentioned, the books are really only one persons interpretation of the symbols, sure there are universal themes, but you as the reader will pick up stuff that is'nt nesseccarily in the books.

MeM	19 Nov 2004
Well I ordered the Robin Wood deck and should get it hopefully next week :) It all starts then :) I am so excited

Adjustment	19 Nov 2004
Umbrae wrote: Journaling is the best way to learn. Go to a web-site, buy a book – and you learn what THAT person has to say about tarot. Start a journal, use only the deck – and find (discover) what your deck says to YOU. Most books will be written by laying out the suits. This ain’t bridge folks…it’s Tarot. We ain’t goin’ for a flush at Texas Hold’em. Lay out your cards numerically. Lay out the twos. Why are they all the same? Why are they different? Take notes. Write. Start a page on every card – you’ll be adding to that page for years. But that’s only my opinon. I agree with Umbrae too. if you want to read like a parrot using key words yoo learn from a book. if you want to have your own style and understanding of the cards start a journal.

Phoenix Rising	21 Nov 2004
Quote: Well I ordered the Robin Wood deck and should get it hopefully next week :) Hi MeM I'm glad you've got the Robin Wood. This is my favourite deck, and my readings became so much easier after getting this deck. Because the images tell the story. I didn't even have to look up the meanings for these cards. Just remember that it is your subconscious that presents the images to your logical mind. So it's what you see, that is important. Just keep practising with whoever wants a reading. But yes your journal is your best friend when it comes to tarot. Also start off with simple spreads, get those down pat and then learn another one. Or even create one of your own. But you've definitely come to the right place here at AT.

The what is the best way to learn? thread was originally posted on 16 Nov 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.