I was wondering, how do you read tarot?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Adjustment	27 Mar 2005
I tend to read the cards by connecting the cards on an spread together like trying to tell an story. I was wondering how other people read tarot, do you read the card individually? do you read them in pairs or do you connect all the cards and then read an story?:smoker:

contradiction	27 Mar 2005
All of the above. I will read each card as I lay it down. Then see which cards pair up, then tie them all together. So the reading the querent gets comes across as a story.

rota	27 Mar 2005
Also, I think it's fairly important to note which cards support, reinforce, or modify others. (This is more obvious in the larger spreads, like the CC, of course.)

seneris	28 Mar 2005
Hi, first I look at the individual cards, then I try to make connections between them. I haven't read much (still a beginner) but it gets better all the time.

rainwolf	28 Mar 2005
At first i read the title and your name and i was shocked until i found out what the thread really meant :D I look at each card individually, then together, and of course with respect to the position.

Elven	28 Mar 2005
Hi Tara Deck, I read my cards firstly depending on which deck Im using and which spread. But normally I guess my first impression usually comes from the card which covers or is closer to the signifier. Then I scan the deck for Majors, then the court cards and then the minors. If I am using a CC method, I do three layers of cards for the reading. Each layer is looked at in this fashion - Cover card, Majors, Courts and Minors. By this time there is usually 2 or three impressions of what the reading is about staring at me. Its then that each placement has a little story to it and these I read individually. In true tarot fashion these little stories make up quite a good interpretation that eventually become the entire reading. I add a little more depth by then looking at each Major and give a blurb on each individually. If there are questions they can usually be clarified as the reading is. I will do one each of these spreads for Personal, Relationship and Career or work. Sometimes the card reading likes to stay on one subject or it is closely interwoven with another. The story ends up being quite concentrated in areas, but gives a full panoramic picture. There goes! With other spreads and decks I read in a similar way, with a bit of variation, but I really enjoy piecing the story together! In saying that there are also times it does not. Then I look to the client and usually their life is as messy and disjointed as the cards, but its not incorrect so to speak. Hope this gives you some insight Take care Elven x

Moongold	28 Mar 2005
Hi Tara Deck ~ I usually read with spreads. I think they focus the question. I can read without them but I might do that in a face to face situation. The beauty of spreads is thatthey can focus and contain questions and your can see patterns and connections quickly. I lay the spread first and then get quick first impressions. You can usually tell quite a lot from the suits, majors, courts, and where they're located. Sometimes the story will tell itself quite easily but there may be something in a throw that makes you dis regard the order of the spread. So I look at broad themes first and then get down to more detail. I might spend quite some time on parts of the reading that require it. It is hard to be specific at a distance. I do think quite a bit about how to say things, because communication is the most important part of reading for others. Hope that helps ~ Moongold

Deana	29 Mar 2005
I look first for big patterns, like several of the same suit or the same number, or maybe the Emperor and several Kings. Then I read each card in position. Then I pull an overall theme or story from the entire spead. After I've read each card in position, I may move cards, like putting two cards that relate to one another side by side and making a comment about them. Like if the Two of Swords is in the past and the Seven of Cups is in the hopes and fears, then I'll put the Two of Swords next to the Seven of Cups and ask whether past indecisiveness is making the client afraid that their current plans are just wishful thinking. I always try to sum up the cards all together as a cohesive whole.

psychic sue	29 Mar 2005
I look over the whole spread first. I make a note of the general tone and look out for any number combinations, how many Majors and where they are etc.Then I read it like a story. Of course, some spreads dictate that you read 2 or 3 together and then link to the next 2 or three. I then look back over the spread after reading individually and see if any pairings or combinations in past/present are obvious. That's how I work anyway. Sue x

The I was wondering, how do you read tarot? thread was originally posted on 27 Mar 2005 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.