ever had the cards refuse?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Jun 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

innermoo	05 Jun 2005
This has been puzzling me for a while and I thought I'd see if anyone else has encountered this. I have always read using Hanson Roberts, despite owning a reasonable selection of other decks, this one just kept resonating for me. Anyway a while ago when doing a free online reading for TABI I noticed that my trust HR was feeling really sluggish and blocked, as if it was refusing to share its messages with me anymore. Luckily I had recently purchased the Gilded Tarot, so after a pre-reading cleanse and quick Q&A to the deck (ie will you work as a reading deck, what are your messages etc) I started using Gilded instead, very successfully I might add. I had never thought I would stop using HR, even though its quite childish and munchkin-like it has a very special place in my heart. I have tried going back to it a couple of times but no go, its as if it has decided to retire! anyone else had this happen? (PS I also use Fey alongside my Gilded, and sometimes the Oracle Tarot too, and soon will add Revelations to my reading decks!)

Citrin	05 Jun 2005
I think pretty much the same thing happened to me with my Goddess Tarot deck. It was my first deck, and it used to have this amazing connection with me. I'd pull six or more cards, without any specific spread, and I'd get the message by just quickly skimming through them. A few months ago I kind of lost that connection though, and I put the deck away, using other decks instead. Now recently it has started to come back into my mind and I'm thinking of working with it again. I think readers sometimes just need a break from their decks, to make it more fun when you pick it up again some weeks later. I think that's why it's good to have more than one deck. I don't think a "lost connection" would be permanent, at least not for me. I chose my decks for a reason, and even if they're put away for some time I always remember what attracted me to them in the first place, when I finally start reading with 'em again. :)

FaerieStorm	05 Jun 2005
I totally agree with Citrin; I have around 30 decks, and I seem to circulate between them--depending on which one is calling me at the time. There have been times when I would work with a particular deck for a month, and then my interest would vanish as quickly as it came. I think it depends on where YOU are at the time. For instance, I had a time where I was enthralled with my TAROT OF TRANSFORMATION--a very intuitive, abstract, feminine deck--which I'm sure was exactly what I needed at the time. Anyway, I doubt you'll never go back to the HR deck (by the way, I love it too)--but I guess you just need something the Gilded can only offer you right now. Blessed Be!

Sulis	05 Jun 2005
I think it's just because you need a bit of a change to stimulate your intuition every now and again. I don't think it has anything to do with the deck refusing to share it's messages. It's my opinion that the messages come from you, not the cardboard. I think we just all need a change every now and again. Love Sulis xx

earth en lady	05 Jun 2005
Yes Sulis ,I agree i had the Osho Zen and only used it for years and then I changed and found the Osho and I no longer had a bond ,now 8 years later I can use the Osho for readings again ,but prefer other decks... blessings me

HearthCricket	05 Jun 2005
I am not sure if I ever felt like a deck "refused" me, but I have often felt like I have somewhat worn out the deck-over-worked it. Like others, I find I need to switch decks around to keep the readings fresh and challenging. My own intuition tells me when it is time for this. While I doubt I will ever own 200 decks, I probably would like to get up to 30-50, not just for collecting, but for variety and change of pace. Gilded, Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg, and Sacred Rose are really clicking with me, right now. A few years ago is was Medieval Scapini, Universal Waite, and Goddess. That is quite a variety, and why I try to collect different styles. It all ends up coming round.

rainwolf	05 Jun 2005
Maybe a break would be the best. I don't know if you 'cleanse' your cards, but maybe that could help. Just a few affirmations and ritual work.

Kyrea Gold	05 Jun 2005
this happened to me this week. i was getting on fabulously with my robin wood. last night i just couldn't connect at all. it is always a little disconcerting. although i love the rwood a few cards i really dislike - the hierophant and devil especially. but i feel like this deck has opened me up as a reader more than any deck in the past. and hopefully, someday we will be on speaking terms again. now i feel the ship of fools, druidcraft, revelations and prague calling my name. it's good to be an addict LOL Kyrea

Pipkin	05 Jun 2005
I was really interested to read this as Hanson Roberts has always been a great deck for me to draw on but this evening online I was looking at each and every card from the Gilded tarot and fancy getting it because I could see I would connect nicely with it. I don't know if it's because the Gilded is so vibrant and new (and perhaps I need that in my life) but my Hanson Roberts suddenly looked colourless. I think, as others have said, perhaps you just need a change for a while. I'm sure you will refer back to Hanson Roberts as and when you need to. This thread is very coincidental to me tonight. Pipkin x

innermoo	05 Jun 2005
phew... glad to hear I'm not the only one! I am used to my crystals feeling "blocked" and can sense immediately when they need cleansing (in fact was at my mum's this afternoon telling her off as her crystals are crying out for a cleanse!) - anyway I had just never experienced it with a deck I read with! I did cleanse my HR immediately after the blockage, using my quartz crystal and a cleansing ritual, but still no joy - so I came to the same conclusion that you've all confirmed for me, time to take a break and move on! ITs interesting Pipkin, because it happened just after my Gilded arrived and it almost felt as though my Hanson was having a sulk :) - but you are right, the colours of the gilded are so vibrant HR seems dull and a bit too childish, which it never has before! Isn't great how synchronicity works though? ;) thanks for all your responses

Pipkin	05 Jun 2005
Innermoo In all seriousness you saying about your HR maybe sulking has got me feeling sorry for my little deck, though I love it to bits....extra loving vibes being sent to my trusty HR, there's room for them both! Different decks can speak differently to you, I noticed with the Gilded the Knights are wearing helmets so no faces on show...could be interesting to try and tune in to any physical characteristics. I also found the green quite compelling in the pentacles cards. I think my HR deserves a little break anyway :) Pipkin x PS: Your birth day (not year) is shared with one of my brothers

Fudugazi	05 Jun 2005
Same thing happened with me and the Mythic. I retired it for a year and recently dug it out again - and hey presto! it's all flooding back, the love...

rcb30872	06 Jun 2005
I haven't found this, but I am starting to feel like I need a change. Its like I want to do a reading and then I feel like I really don't want to use the cards I have (Radiant Rider-Waite) I have another deck (Cards of Alchemy - which are way out of my league for the moment). Over the weekend I feel like I'm getting tired of them, and will look into buying another deck, and buying it when I can, hopefully sooner than later. So, in my case, and possibly yours, that you are the one refusing the cards and not the cards refusing you! Bec

bleuivy	06 Jun 2005
The same thing happened to me. When I first got the Fey, I loved it and read with it constantly, for myself, for others, daily readings, readings for people here on AT, etc. One day, I lay out a spread and the cards just didn't speak any more. At all. So I have them locked away in my little tarot drawer with the rest of my decks that I'm not using so much at the moment. I've started thinking about the Fey again, but I know I'm going to wait until the time is right to the deck. I don't think I'm there yet.

tao51	06 Jun 2005
you need to switch decks so that your intuition flows. Sometimes it seems that a different viewpoint is needed.

Emily	06 Jun 2005
I too had a similar thing happen with my Spiral - it was my first deck that I connected with, I thought I could read it and my readings were very clear then it all stopped. It was just a feeling at first which just got worse until I realised that I wasn't getting the same kind of readings, and the ones I was getting just didn't make sense. I ended up retiring the deck and forgetting all about it for nearly two years then the other week I got it back out and I could read with it. Its not the same but because I'm more experienced now I can look at the artwork without getting lost in it. The Spiral is an incredibly beautiful but very busy deck and I am enjoying using it again. :)

SunChariot	06 Jun 2005
Well, it's only been a year and a month for me. But no nothing like that has ever happened. I do on average 1-2 readings a week. But I think if I could not get answers, in my head I would say that I must be too tired and take a short rest and come back to it. I think I would see it more as something in myself than something in the cards. There have been times when I was tired and it was harder to focus, but in the end they have always told me what I need to know. Even cards that I thought made no sense, when I stopped and really examined them were perfect. Bar

Lady Maria	06 Jun 2005
I haven't been reading tarot for long enough to have experience with this, but my first thought was, could the deck simply being mirroring something within you? Maybe a mind that's overly busy, preoccupied, or emotional business, that's preventing the message to show itself, instead of it being an issue with the deck itself? Another thought was that as a person grows and changes, maybe their personal symbols and interpretations change as well, and it may be difficult to change the meanings that have come so naturally for years with the same pictures? Just some thoughts, Love & Light, Maria

tarotbear	06 Jun 2005
Although I never had the cards refuse to do a reading for me, I did witness a similar experience many years ago, long before I ever got into Tarot. We were in a bar and a mutual friend was doing readings for people in a booth. Everything was fine until he started to do a reading for a friend {"S"} and he had a hard time. He started the reading at least two more times, finally threw his hands in the air and said 'I can't read anymore tonight! The cards are being too aggressive!" He stopped doing readings for us at that point. The next morning, "S's" brother (who lived with her and her mother) was found dead in his bed. creepy ...

innermoo	07 Jun 2005
Its been so insightful reading all the responses, and reassuring. I have been reading for so long and was so used to my lovely HR that it shocked me to be honest. I know I'm not blocking as I have no problems with my other decks, and it definitely felt more like the deck was refusing me, rather than the other way round. I still love the symbols and the style of the cards, plus the other thing is they started repeating themselves - for three readings in a row (all separate for different unrelated querents online readings) exactly the same cards came up even though I had thoroughly cleansed AND shuffled between spreads! I used the gilded instead for those and had better readings, then the next time I used HR it just stopped, its hard to describe... Pipkin - don't worry about your HR, I do think that part of the issue with mine is its age, it has been with me forever and could be tired, also I'm sure part of it is down to my need to move on to using multi decks and perhaps my HR was used to being the only one, and is not happy to be a part of many, so has refused altogether! PS lucky you Leo for a brother ;)

Lady Maria	07 Jun 2005
innermoo wrote: I know I'm not blocking as I have no problems with my other decks, and it definitely felt more like the deck was refusing me, rather than the other way round. I still love the symbols and the style of the cards, plus the other thing is they started repeating themselves - for three readings in a row (all separate for different unrelated querents online readings) exactly the same cards came up even though I had thoroughly cleansed AND shuffled between spreads! I used the gilded instead for those and had better readings, then the next time I used HR it just stopped, its hard to describe... That's a funny one! I wonder what would happen if you got a brand new HR? Keep us posted! Love, Maria

SunChariot	07 Jun 2005
Hi again, LOL I am just tonight starting to learn the runes and am reading The Runes of Elfland, by Brian Froud and Ari Berk. I just got to this passage and it reminded me of you and your post, so I will add it here in case you find it interesting or useful: "Every well has its particular gifts, its own ability to inspire and bless. Certain wells were thought to cure sterility, but surely this speaks to sterility of the heart and mind as well as the body. Some sacred springs are said to dry up if sought a second time, and there is helpful wisdom in this warning for us too: we must not always seek the same paths of inspiration. Instead we should quest for new creative avenues, never becoming too dependant on a single source of inspiration. Even the deepest wells can dry up if they are tapped too frequently. " Bar

bleuivy	07 Jun 2005
That's a great quote, SunChariot! Thanks for posting it! :)

SunChariot	07 Jun 2005
bleuivy wrote: That's a great quote, SunChariot! Thanks for posting it! :) You're welcome. When I saw it in the book tonight it just seemed relevant to this post. :-) I love anything Brian Froud, ever since I got the Faeries' Oracle deck. I have 4 of his other books already,and a CD of faery music and a videa on faeries on the way that I think is by him too.(?):-) Bar

innermoo	08 Jun 2005
love the quote too... and it seems so apt! that is obviously what I am doing, on a quest for new creative avenues... next stop the Revelations Deck!! ;)

closrapexa	09 Jun 2005
Sulis wrote: I think it's just because you need a bit of a change to stimulate your intuition every now and again. I don't think it has anything to do with the deck refusing to share it's messages. It's my opinion that the messages come from you, not the cardboard. I think we just all need a change every now and again. Love Sulis xx Sometimes, I like coffee in the morning. At other times, I prefer tea. Yesterday, I had chocolate milk. Does that mean that the coffee refused to make itself? That the Gods of Tea had abandoned me? I agree with Sulis. When we are dealing with Tarot and such subjects, it is often tempting to see anything and everything as "coming from above" but we often overlook the more mundane things. Change is good, and not every time you don't connect with a deck or a reading has a "mystical" explanation.

Alta	09 Jun 2005
No, I have not had the experience specifically the way you worded the question, that a deck I had been using regularly suddenly stopped being helpful. The closest that I have come is to have a deck which I used to use, and try to come back to it after a lengthy time away. I find it hard to relate to for a while and cannot get answers unless I persist in using it. I was intrigued by the quote about spiritual wells drying up, "even the deepest". Personally, I doubt that very much. Any spiritual well that dries up likely wasn't worth much in the first place. imo of course. The tao/way/spirit is inexhaustible.

Lady Maria	09 Jun 2005
SunChariot wrote: Hi again, LOL Even the deepest wells can dry up if they are tapped too frequently. " Bar This is a very thought- provoking quote, thank you for sharing it. I don't feel like my source of wisdom and light could ever dry up, but I could see how that would relate to certain belief systems, that serve you at a certain point, but then as you grow, you may need to let them go. And having them seem like they are drying up, is actually that you are beyond what they have to teach, and your techniques have to evolve with your spirit. But as for it drying up because it's been tapped too many times, doesn't make sense to me. Just my thoughts, Love Maria

innermoo	09 Jun 2005
closrapexa wrote: Sometimes, I like coffee in the morning. At other times, I prefer tea. Yesterday, I had chocolate milk. Does that mean that the coffee refused to make itself? That the Gods of Tea had abandoned me? I agree with Sulis. When we are dealing with Tarot and such subjects, it is often tempting to see anything and everything as "coming from above" but we often overlook the more mundane things. Change is good, and not every time you don't connect with a deck or a reading has a "mystical" explanation. Its interesting because I was not suggesting that everythng has a mystical explanation and I'm sorry but I simply do not agree with the analogy between coffee and the tarot! Of course I needed a change, and of course my intuition is the key to reading, but I feel that assuming I was looking for a mystical reason is to be honest a bit patronising.. and using one day I like this and one day i fancy that as a comparison is a bit demeaning.... sorry but I do. I started this thread just to see if it had happened to others thats all, so please don't assume I am so naive as to expect messages coming from above .. plus describing the episodes as though the deck was refusing is how it felt, and naturally led me to a change that I am throroughly enjoying and thankful for. thanks all for your responses though, its nice to see so many different experiences.

SunChariot	09 Jun 2005
Lady Maria wrote: This is a very thought- provoking quote, thank you for sharing it. I don't feel like my source of wisdom and light could ever dry up, but I could see how that would relate to certain belief systems, that serve you at a certain point, but then as you grow, you may need to let them go. And having them seem like they are drying up, is actually that you are beyond what they have to teach, and your techniques have to evolve with your spirit. But as for it drying up because it's been tapped too many times, doesn't make sense to me. Just my thoughts, Love Maria I can't imagine it either, nothing like that has ever happened to me and I don't believe it will or could either. But some people seem to feel that way sometimes. To be it is a spritual thing and the answers are coming from G-d no matter which deck or which tool I need. The deck is just a tool to me, but not where the real asnwers come from, although the answers will reflect the form of the tool you use to some extent. To me for the well to dry up is like saying that G-d was refusing to talk to me when I needed him. Can't imagine that ever ever happening, but that's me. Bar

innermoo	09 Jun 2005
I agree with you Bar and Maria My intuition and insight which is guided by the tarot is always there to tap into, I just think that it must need new inspiration and that after so many years, and with so many wonderful new images in the Gilded and Fey tarots that my inner eye re-directed me... what it feels like though is the deck is switching off because I still have the same connection to readings, to finding messages in the tarot and weaving the story for the querent, just not from HR anymore! :)

SunChariot	09 Jun 2005
innermoo wrote: I agree with you Bar and Maria My intuition and insight which is guided by the tarot is always there to tap into, I just think that it must need new inspiration and that after so many years, and with so many wonderful new images in the Gilded and Fey tarots that my inner eye re-directed me... what it feels like though is the deck is switching off because I still have the same connection to readings, to finding messages in the tarot and weaving the story for the querent, just not from HR anymore! :) Glad to hear it.:-) Far be it from me to try and direct someone's spiritual path. We are all here to listen to our intuitions and if your's tells you you need to give the deck a break for a while, follow it. :-) To me, Tarot is very very much a tool to bring out our intuitions and teach us to follow them. :-) Have a great weekend and evening, Bar Bar

Umbrae	09 Jun 2005
Oh yeah… So I took ‘em out back and had them cut a switch, they of course refused…So I made them watch me cut one. Then I took them into the woodshed, and gave them a proper ‘what ‘fer’. Still they remained obstinate. So I sat them down, and tied them into the chair so they couldn’t escape. Then I took an old Tally-Ho Poker deck and began slowly mutilating cards…first I singed one card slightly – holding over a fire of LWB’s and boxes…then I began to trim the boarders off…explaining that its boarders would be next… Then I pulled out a pink spread cloth and told them how nice they’d look, laying upon hot pink, mutilated with the boarders trimmed off… As I reached for them they literally screamed…and begged forgiveness… Never have they misbehaved again. Now I know that in this enlightened age, my approach may be taken as barbaric…but it told my other decks, and now they all behave…except for my Gothic, it’s always complaining that it’s too bright… Oh well. You know, the glass is never half-empty...

closrapexa	10 Jun 2005
innermoo wrote: Its interesting because I was not suggesting that everythng has a mystical explanation and I'm sorry but I simply do not agree with the analogy between coffee and the tarot! Of course I needed a change, and of course my intuition is the key to reading, but I feel that assuming I was looking for a mystical reason is to be honest a bit patronising.. and using one day I like this and one day i fancy that as a comparison is a bit demeaning.... sorry but I do. I started this thread just to see if it had happened to others thats all, so please don't assume I am so naive as to expect messages coming from above .. plus describing the episodes as though the deck was refusing is how it felt, and naturally led me to a change that I am throroughly enjoying and thankful for. thanks all for your responses though, its nice to see so many different experiences. I'm sorry if you felt that I was patronizing you, that was not my intent. However, I have said in the past, and I will in the future that the cards do not "refuse" anything. They cannot. Attributing qualities to them that they do not have is very detrimental. Yes, there have been times when I did not connest with a certain deck, but that does not mean that it refused me, only that I was the one that did not connect with it. The cards are peices of paper with pictures on them. YOU are the one that makes them come alive, YOU are the one that has the power. The cards are, and always will be, perishable cardboard.

jayde	11 Jun 2005
I had a similar occurance with Haindl, and I thought I'd never put that deck aside. Now, I use Revelations for most my readings, although I do occassionally use Light & Shadows.

full deck	15 Jun 2005
You mention your deck refused you . . . have you stopped to consider that it is you who has changed and not the deck of cards? People change, not cards or symbols. It is like listening to music in that one will hear differently, given time.

The ever had the cards refuse? thread was originally posted on 05 Jun 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.