Why some cards stick in your heart/mind and others don't?

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

Clau	16 Dec 2004
You know, for me some cards I remember very easily and can connect with the other cards just by looking at them, but some other cards, for example The Hanged Man, Justice, sometimes Strenght, The Hierophant, I can't remember the meaning or connect them with the other cards.. Not to mention the minor arcana... Has this happen to you? Why do you think this is? Haw can you solve this? thanks, Clau

noby	16 Dec 2004
I think part of it is that we tend to better remember the cards we feel more of a personal connection with. It is much easier to remember cards we've come to understand through our own experience and ideas rather than memorizing someone else's ideas about them. Another part of this is that some cards are more straightforward and some are more subtle in their archetypes and imagery. Mutable cards which don't shout their meaning at you of course will be harder to recall. But this is actually a blessing, because sometimes not being able to remember what a card is "supposed" to mean can open us up more to our own intuition and imagination. I think the only way to "solve" your dilemma is to keep working and working with the cards, and especially to get to thinking about them on your own, rather than sticking to what others have written or said about them. I began getting a much better memory and feel for the cards when I began making my own notebook for the card meanings rather than always referring to the ideas of others.

Thirteen	16 Dec 2004
Clau wrote: Has this happen to you? Why do you think this is? Haw can you solve this? It's happened to all of us, absolutely. And it happens for a few reasons. 1) Because in some decks, certain cards resemble others. For example, 5 wands (guys with wands struggling with each other) and 7 wands (one guy stuggling against guys with wands) can sometimes look similiar. 2) Because we sometimes naturally confuse things--wand or sword? This can confuse--both are long, straight items. 5 of wands, or 5 of swords? Both are about fighting, right? Both 5's. So you can mistake one's meaning for the other. 3) Sometimes the card or number or whatever just isn't memorable. The Queen or Cups is a pretty dramatic lady, easy to remember...but the King Cups isn't so dynamic, that's not his style, and sometimes it's hard to remember what he's all about. 4) Sometimes the card meaning is a bit obtuse and complex. Like the Hierophant, as you mentioned. He's often trouble. The Empress is pretty easy--she's the Empress (in command, revered), she's motherly, she's in the garden (growing things, right....). That's clear. But the Hierophant--what's a Hierophant? And what's his personality? Not quite clear. How do we solve this? Well, first, focus on numbers and symbols rather than only on images. So when you see an image, let it guide you, but also examine the symbols. They're there for a reason. So. 5 = a losing battle, yes? But Swords are not Wands. Wands are passion and energy, swords are word/mind/communication. So there's a real difference between a losing battle of "Wands" and a losing battle of "Swords" Yes? Next: Find connections in the images--look for similarities, for example, the Hierophant is enthroned and facing forward, like Justice (assume these two show up in a reading). What do they have in common? Or look for differences. Justice is blindfolded, the Hierophant is not. Justice is alone. The Hierophant has acolytes listening to him, ready to spread his word. Finally: For now, be straight forward. Ignore the complexities. Keep it simple. SO: The Hanged Man: He's hanging, suspended. Meaning: Querent or situation is suspended. Hung up. Justice: Balanced scales, Justice. The querent can expect to see the scales balanced, can expect justice. Strenght: Woman defeats lion--you may feel weak and small, but you have the great strength. The Hierophant: Holy man offering spiritual advice. Querent will get such advice, or querent thinks of himself as such a person. Confusion sometimes comes from trying to remember too much, too early. There are 78 cards to remember. Keep it simple at first; as remembering becomes easy, you add in more and more. I'm still adding in meanings, and I've been reading for fifteen years :D

Clau	16 Dec 2004
wow Thirteen! thanks a lot!

The Why some cards stick in your heart/mind and others don't? thread was originally posted on 16 Dec 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.