Hey guys, tips + help?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Mattanator	22 Apr 2005
Hey friends, Alright, I'm a complete 3-day-novice, I received a tarot-deck from my bestfriend, I felt instantly connected to them, despite it only being a few days, i haven't enjoyed being separated from them, so i pretty much take them everywhere with me, even if i'm just having a little walk to the store. I've been speaking to my dad recently, making conversation, and i KNEW my mum was a highly respect tarot reader, My dad told me she was able to figure out his questions/thoughts using tarot, now i'm guessing that's mainly her intuition? She was able to confirm and clarify abortions/deaths/petty details/important news, I think it's fair to say i'm a pretty open-minded person, I try and rely on what i feel/intuition the best i can, in almost every circumstance, or situation. (sadly i haven't been in contact with my mum since she threw me out after trouble with her new boyfriend, maybe i'm supposed to establish contact, and speak with her about this? i'm not sure, it's complicated) I've heard confidence is a huge key factor, I really don't have that, I've been playing around with some of the spreads you guys have submitted, and i was astonished at the accuracy concerning my past/present, I was just wondering, do you guys have any basic confidence building high success rate spreads i could practice with? (Oh and i understand completely, this won't come instantly, i'm just looking for some key-helpful information to build some kind of confidence/foundation. ) Shuffling tips? (I usually just gently place them on the floor.. (whilst thinking of the topic/question/what i want) and swirl my hands into them, rouuuund and rouuund, then pack them back together, and then slightly shuffle them in my hands. Reading tips in general? I'd seriously appreciate the help, and thanks for reading my desperate little rant. Matt, 16

similia	22 Apr 2005
Hi Matt, welcome to AT. You should drop by the new members section so we can all say hello properly. :) I am a floor swisher-shuffler too. I like it cause its fun :D My advice is just to pick one or two simple spreads with maybe 3-5 cards and practice using them over and over till you feel real comfortable with them. There's a bunch of such spreads here: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/spreads/ Otherwise just enjoy yourself. Its supposed to be fun after all.

snowy25	22 Apr 2005
Hi Matt and welcome to AT. There are a lot of good spreads in the spreads section. I reccomend using simple based one to three card readings first. I didn't look at your profile so I don't know wich deck you have, but you can go to the study groups section and see if there is a study group about your deck where you can learn and talk about your deck. If you have 25 posts and a week membership you can join in a reading exchange group and practise with someone else. I'm sure someone else jumps in to give you more info about this and whish you luck in learning. Love and light Snowy25

contradiction	22 Apr 2005
Hey Matt. You said that you had done several readings that had been very accurate, this should be enough to build your confidence. What I mean is, if you are doing readings that are accurate, then you know that you can trust what you are doing, because apparently you are doing something right. Confidence comes with time. The more readings that you do, that you are able to say, "I am correct", the more confidence you will have next time you read. So, I guess what I am trying to say is, practice, practice, practice. The rest will come with time. Always feel free to post some of your readings, in the "your readings", section to get others opinions about your read. If others view it the same way you did, then that should help also. Just know that not everyone will view it exactly the same way. This is ok, and normal. I wish you good success, in your journey.

Mattanator	22 Apr 2005
Thanks for your replies, similia/snowwy/contradiction. I've had high sucess sometimes, but it's fair to say, sometimes it's appeared SO out there, or nothing to do with whatever i'm asking. Thanks for the positive welcome also :)

Eco74	22 Apr 2005
Life sure has ways of throwing us challenges... It's quite possible that this is a means to start off a new kind of relationship with your mother. It's also quite possible that it has nothing to do with it, but since you've had the thought, it probably does. Since you have been accurate on several occations I agree with contradiction that this should be enough to atleast tell you that you are on the right track and you can do it. Short spreads, one-card-spreads for practice is a good place to start, and once you feel more comfortable with the cards try on bigger spreads and explore the relationships between the multiple cards depending on position etc. There is a study group for the Rider-Waite if you want to explore the cards in more detail with others. But more importantly, you need to trust yourself with the cards, and trust the cards to show you what you need or ask for. This comfort with the cards comes with much use, so keep using the cards, even just looking through them or picking one or two out for a closer inspection is a great help along the way. Play with numbers. Compare the aces, the twos, the threes. Pair up the major arcana and courtcards to see what they might have to say to oneanother. You can even do readings like this.. Take the courtcards out from the deck and pull one card for your position and one card for the other persons standpoint. Not only does it make for a fun way of reading, it will make you more comfortable with the courts aswell.

cormac	22 Apr 2005
hi and welcome mattanator :) -- i'm a newb as well (about 5 or 6 weeks) and you'll find a great deal of info, assistance, and guidance here -- people are extremely giving and sharing with their experience, etc -- this is a great board indeed -- i'm an old dog learning new tricks so they have to help me a lot lol and do check out the spreads area -- i think you'll find one for almost any occasion and you'll find plenty that are 'beginner-friendly' too :) welcome aboard :)

SunChariot	22 Apr 2005
Mattanator wrote: Hey friends, Alright, I'm a complete 3-day-novice, I received a tarot-deck from my bestfriend, I felt instantly connected to them, despite it only being a few days, i haven't enjoyed being separated from them, so i pretty much take them everywhere with me, even if i'm just having a little walk to the store. What a great friend, to be able to give you something that is such a gift in your life. Trust me, your Tarot voyage is just beginning, they will become more and more to you as time passes. :-) Mattanator wrote: I've been speaking to my dad recently, making conversation, and i KNEW my mum was a highly respect tarot reader, My dad told me she was able to figure out his questions/thoughts using tarot, now i'm guessing that's mainly her intuition? She was able to confirm and clarify abortions/deaths/petty details/important news, I think it's fair to say i'm a pretty open-minded person, I try and rely on what i feel/intuition the best i can, in almost every circumstance, or situation. No that is not just intuition. Tarot lets anyone do that, once you learn how to use it. You don't have to be psychic, but it will teach you to access what you have inside you (your inner wisdom and your unconscious) and each of our unconsciouses are connected to the universal unconsciousness (which knows everything, whether we are aware of it or not. Tarot is a skill and I believe anyone can learn it. It lets you access what is in your unconscious and connect to a deeper, higher intelligene that knows all. Juat keep at it. If you keep your open mind you will see yourself doing everything your mother could do and more. And of course you will get better and better with practice, as with any skill. And BTW, when I started I had no faith at all in my intuition. I did not respect or follow it. But I did have the open mind, and I learnt how with time. You are started ahead of where I did, and my Tarot has been a totally amazing force in my life. I could not love it more. Mattanator wrote: (sadly i haven't been in contact with my mum since she threw me out after trouble with her new boyfriend, maybe i'm supposed to establish contact, and speak with her about this? i'm not sure, it's complicated) Really sorry to hear that. :-( Mattanator wrote: I've heard confidence is a huge key factor, I really don't have that, I've been playing around with some of the spreads you guys have submitted, and i was astonished at the accuracy concerning my past/present, I was just wondering, do you guys have any basic confidence building high success rate spreads i could practice with? Any spread will do that. But it does not come overnight. And remember you WILL get more and more accurate with practice and time. Don't expect to be an expert the first time you try it. The more you practice, the better you will get. The better you get the more confidence you will have in your skills and in Tarot. It will happen automatically whether you try or not. Don't worry about it, just sit back and enjoy the ride, the rest will come in time. Mattanator wrote: (Oh and i understand completely, this won't come instantly, i'm just looking for some key-helpful information to build some kind of confidence/foundation. ) Try asking questions about your personality or about something you can verify soon after or know the answer to. It should amaze you to see which cards come up and how accurate they are. Mattanator wrote: Shuffling tips? (I usually just gently place them on the floor.. (whilst thinking of the topic/question/what i want) and swirl my hands into them, rouuuund and rouuund, then pack them back together, and then slightly shuffle them in my hands. Here is what I do. I started this way mainly becuase I read it is the method that damages your card the least: "Cowie Push/Put Method In Tarot for Successful Living, Norma Cowie describes her push/put shuffling method. Her technique thoroughly mixes the cards with maximum hand contact and little or no damage. Hold the deck face down in your dominant hand. Push some cards from the top with your thumb into the other hand. Then, push again, but this time to the bottom of the new pile. Continue alternating a push to the top, then one to the bottom until all the cards have been transferred. At this point, put the entire deck back into your dominant hand and start over. This method can be difficult at first. You may push too many or drop some, but your technique will improve with practice. " Reading tips in general? Here is the website I learn on. I found it really helpful when I was starting out: http://www.learntarot.com/ Hope some of this helps! Bar

PlatinumDove	22 Apr 2005
The best way to gain confidence is the old adage, "Practice makes perfect." Just keep reading. Jump in there and read. I've heard going to the Readings exchange forum is a good way to start.

DarkAngel_Claudia	23 Apr 2005
Hi there Matt! Welcome to Aeclectic Tarot! I am also a recent beginner so I have some tips First go through tarot spreads and using tarot topics on this forum - I was surprised by how much I got out of it! And second - visit this website www.learntarot.com It absolutely awersome! Good luck Claudia

HudsonGray	23 Apr 2005
I agree with the learntarot site, it's good! It's also virtually identical to the free tarot course that is offered on the Barnes & Noble site four times a year - you can check over there if you want, but no need to wait if you don't want to, the learntarot site has it all for a beginner and you can work through at your own pace.

Mattanator	25 Apr 2005
Hey everyone, and thanks for the warm welcome, I really appreciate it. = ) So i can't help but think i'm doing something wrong, shuffling/splitting wise, I mean i usually just shuffle my deck then lay out x# of cards from the top, Do i even need to split the deck? I'm just not sure at all. Well I'm obviously still counting on a book i purchased to find out what the cards represent, I understand it's important I try and interpret the cards best i can without having to depend on a book, but i figure if i get a rough guideline of each individual card meaning, I'll be able to break free from the restraints of using the book, and expand with confidence. Do you have any good recalling techniques that'd be beneficial for what i'm trying to do? Thanks again for the warm welcome, and brilliant advice. :)

Little Baron	25 Apr 2005
Mattanator wrote: Well I'm obviously still counting on a book i purchased to find out what the cards represent, I understand it's important I try and interpret the cards best i can without having to depend on a book, but i figure if i get a rough guideline of each individual card meaning, I'll be able to break free from the restraints of using the book, and expand with confidence. Do you have any good recalling techniques that'd be beneficial for what i'm trying to do? Perfect approach! I tend to use books little these days, but I believe that it is a very good idea, as you say, to become aqauinted with the traditional meaning of the deck you are using. I know a little about each card and in time have found my own interpretations, that work with them. For example, you could look at the 'Two of Cups' as unity, friendship and the beginning of love as a starting point. As you move through your journey, jotting down what you find as you go along, new layers will build and strengthen your ideas - the 'Two of Cups' may suggest a need for space and individuality, as much as it represents the bringing of two people together. It's good to get a little grounding first of all and then, when you have that, let the cards speak for themselves. A journal/notebook is a great way of keeping track of this. Above all ... take it slowly. There is never a need to rush and I have found that learning with the cards works well for me when I absorb all they have to say to me, one step at a time. We are all here to help, should you need it. Best wishes and welcome to the site. I am sorry to hear about the problems with your mother - I hope they resolve themselves at some point. LB

Eco74	25 Apr 2005
I agree with LittleBuddha. That approach seems pretty perfect to me. After all, if we don't have some basic understanding of the tool, how can we use them correctly? Later, when the basic comfort has set in, the cards will take on new dimentions. Don't rush it, take the time you need and one day, you'll find yourself being able to trust you intuition more than the book. As for shuffling, splitting etc. there are no set rules (well, aside from "try to not damage the cards too much") and you are free to shuffle, split, swirl, cut, riffle or otherwise handle your cards any way you feel comfortable with. Sometimes I swirl, most times I shuffle from hand to hand, sometimes I just take cards from the deck at random, forming a new pile, or several. Sometimes I take cards from the top (most times actually) and other times I choose one from the swirled pile or fan the deck and choose from anywhere in it. Advice? Learn the basic meaning of the cards, and then adlib. Example; Think of a situation or question and pick a few cards out. Then ask yourself what that card could mean in relation to the question. - Q: Should 'person X' change jobs? And then take out a few cards and find out what they could mean for the question. Not too many, just two different ones at first, and then expand when you feel comfortable with the excercise to 3-4-5 or more cards to get different viewpoints. Also the Reading exchange is a great place to practice reading. If you feel insecure about going in there, write in your offer that you are a beginner and want to read for practice and you have nothing to worry about.

bibi	25 Apr 2005
I'd start by shuffling away, focussing on the relevant question, such as: "outcome, if I contact my mother"? and keep shuffling til some cards fall out. It builds confidence and it works for me. Other than that you can try the "card of the day" where you either: -again, let the card fall out after shuffling and asking for a card of the day which will tell you how the day will go. (I always find this amazingly accurate) -or shuffle (I have the cards in the left hand, with right hand in shuffle action) and then spread the cards out from right to left using the left hand, then look at the cards, either one will call you, or if not close your eyes, hold your hand over the cards and work from either direction and wait for a card's energy to draw your hand down and voilà :D It's about your contact with the cards and at this point clear and concise answers are the key for your understanding and confidence-building so don't worry too much about the complicated big spreads at this stage and let the pictures speak to you. Be creative! Oh and personally I never split the deck, but do what you feel right doing. Good luck, Bibi x

The Hey guys, tips + help? thread was originally posted on 22 Apr 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.