Learning tarot completely from apps

[Pam O]

To be honest, I'm a bit miffed by people who say a digital deck cannot compare like it is a universal truth, because I spent my first year of tarot reading from Orphalese (and getting damn good readings, at that). I couldn't afford a physical deck because they're expensive and I was a poor college student, and I couldn't risk bringing one home anyway because my religious family would have had a fit. If it wasn't for Orphalese I would never have gotten into tarot in the first place because it was a safe, accessible route to dip my toes in.

I definitely understand why others might personally prefer physical decks, but to say someone could not learn from a digital deck leaves me feeling like, what, that year I spent on Orphalese wasn't real? Didn't count for anything? If people are signing up to AT having only used apps or digital decks thus far, then good for them. They found an affordable route to start getting into a really great practice, and I think that making tarot more accessible is wonderful.

Hey Kees! You have great points here. I'm guessing you may just have expanded the view of some of the older generation that grew up without electronic software everywhere..... Just because we love the feel, and the energy, of paper decks, that doesn't necessarily mean it is the only way!

I have pulled cards digitally for a couple of reading exchanges here. They both got good feedback from my exchange partners. (Neither knew they were digital, but I only pulled the cards, and I read the cards intuitively, not using any companion book info.)

I remember someone doing a thread of digital reading exchanges for feedback to see if digital read as well as paper? I am trying to remember who did the thread? I am guessing the thread might have been back in 2013...

 

[tarotbear]

How do you fan out a digital deck in an arc for the Querent to pick three cards?


{just kidding!}

My 'problem' with digital decks (I remember 'Tarot Magic' - a fabulous digital Tarot system that they never updated or converted - their loss!) is not the decks but the fact that there is no such thing as 'random' in a computer - someone had to write a program so it is never truly 'random.' IMHO (dodging brickbats here) the fact that a 'random' card may accurately reflect whatever the Querent was asking has more to do with synchronicity.

However - as a learning tool and a convenience - digital seems to be a good idea. I may let my decks go digital now that we are in the new year.

 

[Pam O]

How do you fan out a digital deck in an arc for the Querent to pick three cards?

.....but the fact that there is no such thing as 'random' in a computer - someone had to write a program so it is never truly 'random.' IMHO (dodging brickbats here) the fact that a 'random' card may accurately reflect whatever the Querent was asking has more to do with synchronicity.

However - as a learning tool and a convenience - digital seems to be a good idea. I may let my decks go digital now that we are in the new year.

Why don't you download the FREE Fools Dog apps? All 4 are cool!

You can adjust the setting to choose from a fan.


You can also shuffle different ways as much as you want before choosing any cards. And you can choose different shuffling methods all in the same pre-shuffle to pulling cards!

 

[Zephyros]

My 'problem' with digital decks (I remember 'Tarot Magic' - a fabulous digital Tarot system that they never updated or converted - their loss!) is not the decks but the fact that there is no such thing as 'random' in a computer - someone had to write a program so it is never truly 'random.' IMHO (dodging brickbats here) the fact that a 'random' card may accurately reflect whatever the Querent was asking has more to do with synchronicity.

That's not necessarily true. I don't know how advanced Tarot apps are in this matter but I do know a bit about slot machines, having worked in an online casino. They have random number generators which control the results that come up. These pieces of software are some of the most advanced in the world and in places like Nevada are strictly regulated and are checked regularly to assure they really are random (such as in the plot machines there, keno games or pachinko games). Computers can actually randomize better than real shuffling because they start with a clean slate every time and aren't subject to previous ordering.

 

[Callanish]

That's not necessarily true. I don't know how advanced Tarot apps are in this matter but I do know a bit about slot machines, having worked in an online casino. They have random number generators which control the results that come up. These pieces of software are some of the most advanced in the world and in places like Nevada are strictly regulated and are checked regularly to assure they really are random (such as in the plot machines there, keno games or pachinko games). Computers can actually randomize better than real shuffling because they start with a clean slate every time and aren't subject to previous ordering.

I've written 2 Digital Tarot Decks.
One for my website phuture.me and the other for the "Tarot & Numerology" App that compliments it.
The website "shuffles" by starting with an ordered deck and then generating 78 random numbers (PHP's rand() function) for each card in turn.
The App does the same but, as its a personal device and not a shared medium, it starts with an ordered deck first time you use it but remembers the shuffled order from the last time when you re-shuffle.
You can manually request multiple re-shuffles before picking your cards (on the iPhone shake it, on the iPad tap the arrowed circle icon)

As a professional programmer I'd say that a deck of cards shuffled digitally will be more random than a deck shuffled by hand.

My argument for Digital Tarot has always been that the shuffling is a moot point, it's the ability to choose your own cards from the shuffled deck that validates it's divination value.

However... when it comes to reversed cards thats a whole different line of argument.
I'm always getting requests from users to add reversals to my digital decks but I won't because that is where Digital doesn't lend itself well.
With a mixed dignity deck you really want to be the one doing the shuffling and not the software.
You could argue that using the "re-shuffle" button would mitigate the software's "interference" but I think that just complicates the whole user experience.
My personal preference is not to use reversals and to keep it as simple as possible.

Callanish

 

[Farzon]

I, too own several Tarot apps. The old Galaxy Tarot app had not only RWS cards but also excerpts from Waite's descriptions of the cards! It was a great thing to learn! Also, I use my apps to practice my reading skills.

However, in LEARNING I think you will still need to read books and of course this forum! There is not enough room in an app for all the information.... and I don't know any app that goes in-depth wroth the esoteric meanings, elements, reading techniques etc.

As for the READINGS, if I were a professional, I wouldn't use an app. If I would consult a reader, I would expect to have real cards laid out for me. And reading for myself, I also prefer the real stuff. A program on my phone simply doesn't feel like having that much significance as the physical cards.

 

[Callanish]

I, too own several Tarot apps. The old Galaxy Tarot app had not only RWS cards but also excerpts from Waite's descriptions of the cards! It was a great thing to learn! Also, I use my apps to practice my reading skills.

My "Tarot & Numerology" App includes my own card help, the complete text from Waite's "The Pictorial Key to the Tarot" for each card as well as 3 online "bookmark" links for all 78 cards to the Wikipedia's entry for that card, to 13's card guide here on Aeclectic (I did ask Solandia's permission to do this) and to Biddy's individual card help pages. Tap on the link and you instantly get the webpage for that card on any of those 3 websites.

However, in LEARNING I think you will still need to read books and of course this forum! There is not enough room in an app for all the information.... and I don't know any app that goes in-depth wroth the esoteric meanings, elements, reading techniques etc.

I set out to primarily create an App for the Tarot student. I don't think books are that useful as I started with them myself, as almost everyone does, and in the end found them to be a crutch.

The advantage of an App, or a website digital deck, is that you don't need to remember the spread layouts and positions etc because (a good) App will label them for you.
You don't need to grab your books and thumb through the pages to get to the right card you just tap on the card on the screen and you get 5 different interpretations immediately.

As for the READINGS, if I were a professional, I wouldn't use an app. If I would consult a reader, I would expect to have real cards laid out for me. And reading for myself, I also prefer the real stuff. A program on my phone simply doesn't feel like having that much significance as the physical cards.

I read for people with about 20 other professionals, via my App and website, and have been doing so for 3 years now.
It's growing very nicely too. Plenty of regular repeat customers who keep coming back and love the accuracy of digital tarot.

One of the big advantages of getting a remote reading from cards you've picked with a digital tarot deck is that the reader can't "cold read" you.
They can only read the cards in front of them together with your question to go on.
Clients really take a lot of confidence from that.
The other big advantage is that a client can have 1 spread read by multiple readers, that's not something you can do with the traditional tarot reading.

Callanish

 

[Farzon]

My "Tarot & Numerology" App includes my own card help, the complete text from Waite's "The Pictorial Key to the Tarot" for each card as well as 3 online "bookmark" links for all 78 cards to the Wikipedia's entry for that card, to 13's card guide here on Aeclectic (I did ask Solandia's permission to do this) and to Biddy's individual card help pages. Tap on the link and you instantly get the webpage for that card on any of those 3 websites.



I set out to primarily create an App for the Tarot student. I don't think books are that useful as I started with them myself, as almost everyone does, and in the end found them to be a crutch.

The advantage of an App, or a website digital deck, is that you don't need to remember the spread layouts and positions etc because (a good) App will label them for you.
You don't need to grab your books and thumb through the pages to get to the right card you just tap on the card on the screen and you get 5 different interpretations immediately.



I read for people with about 20 other professionals, via my App and website, and have been doing so for 3 years now.
It's growing very nicely too. Plenty of regular repeat customers who keep coming back and love the accuracy of digital tarot.

One of the big advantages of getting a remote reading from cards you've picked with a digital tarot deck is that the reader can't "cold read" you.
They can only read the cards in front of them together with your question to go on.
Clients really take a lot of confidence from that.
The other big advantage is that a client can have 1 spread read by multiple readers, that's not something you can do with the traditional tarot reading.

Callanish

Sounds great! Too bad it's only for iOS...

I started learning myself only with my first LWB and an app. But there are so many perspectives on Tarot (not to mention further reading on Kaballah, astrology and the like... I'm still at the beginning of building up my own library.) that I would highly recommend to read several books and of course, join the forum [emoji1] !

 

[Ace of Stars]

I, too own several Tarot apps. The old Galaxy Tarot app had not only RWS cards but also excerpts from Waite's descriptions of the cards! It was a great thing to learn! Also, I use my apps to practice my reading skills.

Hi!

I just wanted to point out that new Galaxy Tarot still has Waite's interpretations/descriptions. We just moved stuff around a bit Ask if you want guidance on finding the text.

Shonna @ Galaxy Tone

 

[Farzon]

Hi!

I just wanted to point out that new Galaxy Tarot still has Waite's interpretations/descriptions. We just moved stuff around a bit Ask if you want guidance on finding the text.

Shonna @ Galaxy Tone

Thanks for the answer, Shonna!

I have the Galaxy Tarot Pro Version for Android. I just checked the app twice bit I really can't find Waite's texts anymore. Plus, the app has vanished from Play Store!?