I've only been doing this for a little while. And in my short day here on the
.forum, it seems like my gut instinct seem to be counter or at least in a completely different direction than other peoples'. And the only things that have helped me through it are 3 lessons:
1.)It's ok to not know. Of course, if someone is paying you, you had better know something, but still, in general, it's ok to need a book for reference. Hell, i use a book all the time, mainly because there is an entire suit that i rarely draw more than one card of, so im not used to them yet. But still, ignorance is a condition that cannot be overcome if it is feared.
2.)It's ok to be different in interpretation. Different people see different things, based on their connection to their decks and their overall gifts and any psychic ability they may have. I have a small amount of empathic ability (can't feel every emotion, but i can almost smell supressed pain) and whenever i do a reading, i always see feelings, whereas others see actions or choices sometimes. IT's ok to not see what everyone else sees.
3.) It's ok to be wrong. Once again, if you're going professional, it might be nice to know what yourre talking about, but still, every day? Thinking that the Queen of Swords inverted represents your mother when it really is revealing a situation you're going through is not going to kill you.
As for technique? i for one am all for this: use the book until you get to know your cards. Then, once you know them, let THEM tell YOU what they are trying to say. For example (and please dont kill me for this example) the High Priestess always talked to Miss Cleo about secrets, but she always talks to me about silence, stillness, and finding the inner voice therin. It's almost all she says to me.
So in other words, dont worry