I'm Just Not Getting It

[Emberlyn]

I am just not getting Tarot reading. It is so important to me to be good at Tarot. I love Tarot. I feel like I shuffle my cards well and really focus on my questions, but when I interpret the cards...they have nothing to do with anything. I have been trying to do a daily draw, so that I can see how the cards fit in with the days' events, but I'm just getting nothing...I never get it right. I have tons of books! I spend time with my cards. Does anyone have any kind of advice for me?

 

[Lunajade]

Hi Emberlyn,

Reading for yourself is difficult. I like Ana Luisa's advice (in the Lenormand section) about daily draws. She reads the cards at the end of the day. That way you can interpret the cards more easily. Hope this helps.

Lunajade

 

[Zephyros]

Maybe you haven't found your angle. The advice here generally boils down to using your intuition. Now, that's fine, but it isn't for everyone. For me, Tarot began to click only after I began to study its symbolism and structure, astrology and kabbalah.

You really haven't tried everything yet.

 

[werewolfmoon]

It could be the deck, I've had a couple that just wouldn't read for me even after I'd blessed them and dedicated them to the service of the Lady, the Robin Wood is a case in point, the Marseille is another, I gave up in the end and sold them both.

Have you asked the cards how they are feeling and if they want to read for you? I also find a deck interview is very helpful.

 

[Pam O]

I am just not getting Tarot reading. It is so important to me to be good at Tarot. I love Tarot. I feel like I shuffle my cards well and really focus on my questions, but when I interpret the cards...they have nothing to do with anything. I have been trying to do a daily draw, so that I can see how the cards fit in with the days' events, but I'm just getting nothing...I never get it right. I have tons of books! I spend time with my cards. Does anyone have any kind of advice for me?

Hi Emberlyn,
What kind of questions are you asking?

 

[BodhiSeed]

Think of learning to read tarot cards like learning a new language. It takes time and lots of practice. And in a sense you are learning a new language - one of symbols.

I do like the suggestion to do backwards readings (looking back at your day to interpret the cards). While books and such can give you a nice framework of keywords and phrases for the cards, don't be afraid to add your own twist to them. You can use what you learn as a foundation, yet add your own experiences and thoughts too.

 

[ana luisa]

Wow, great advice here. Try them all. It may be that you haven´t tried everything or that your decks are not talkative. This can surely happen.
If, however, you still want an extra idea here´s one. Stick with the images and forget the card itself. I looked at your profile and got the 10 of Wands from the Dark Fairytale and the Gilded to exemplify. How can one read them the same way ? You can't ,at last, I know I can't!! Now, pick one and study it asking yourself questions. As if you were investigating a pic taken from a PI. You see a lady. Granted. But how does she feel ? Is she rushing forward or is she taking her time ? Do you sense she is afraid of getting to her destination ? What IS her destination. The castle ? What's in there that interests her so much ? Whose hands are those trying to grab her ? Admirers' or enemies' ? Who planted those wands to show the path to the castle ? Can you tell some time has passed because some are tilted ? Were they tilted by someone ? Did the person before her got to the destination ? What if she keeps going ahead? Is she going to stop at the weird cascade and go back ? What does that represent ? A cold wall ? An obstacle ? Is she going to go through ? Well, you get the picture. When you feel comfortable enough to deal with the card this intimately, ask the lady to turn and look at you. See if she says something. See if she looks happy, sad, mad, etc. Or if she thinks about something that you can "hear". (this part is tricky because it involves more intuition).

If you compare this card with the Gilded rendition, boy, it changes completely. To start with, it's a man. He is quite dressed as opposed to the lady who was more "exposed". His task is being done with a lot of effort and diligence while hers looked like a stroll. He´s moving to the left (past) and not ahead. The wands seem to be of his own making. Etc...

If you're wondering how to put these questions to use, post an arbitrary question and pick a card. We could do this together.

I understand that for some readers, this wouldn't work but, it's worth the try. If anything, you will get really acquainted with your cards. Last but most importantly, try to have fun!

 

[tarotbear]

Perhaps you have read too many books. It's time to try 'forgetting' what every book says and go out on a limb and interpret it for yourself.

In a daily reading - especially if you pull a card first thing in the morning - you will have to see how the day plays out to know which interpretation the card may have - if it relates at all. Daily draws are meant to be little 'reminder' things - don't turn a daily draw into something it is not meant to be.

 

[Thoughtful]

Wonderful advice Ana Luisa especially pointing out that 2 cards of the same persuasion can be totally different in meaning to each other. l always believe that one ought to look at each card on its own merit taking in all the details. This is probably where beginners get stuck in thinking all 7 of wands mean the same thing because it says so in the books.
l am using Roots of Asia and although you can follow the RWS meanings, the images are so beautiful and sensitive with a more spiritual take, that l find all sorts of new meanings, l use what l sense and see in the cards and my readings have not let me down yet.
So Emberlyn don't get hung up on books, see and sense what the cards are saying to you, you will not go wrong

 

[dlgriffin04]

My biggest mistake when I first started reading was my choice of deck. My first deck was the Revelations Tarot. Don't get me wrong, it's a great deck, but it wasn't the best deck learning deck. I struggled for almost a year and I just couldn't get it. So, I switched to the Gilded Tarot and within 2 months I finally got it and no longer needed a book. Maybe pick out your Gilded deck and focus on just that one deck for a while until you feel that everything finally clicks.

Also, something that helped me was switching to only reading upright. Once you learn the upright meanings to the cards, it'll be easier to remember the reversals if thats how you want to read.