Advice on how to read

[Delighted]

Hi,

I have had a tarot deck for a few years now - not counting the year they 'disappeared' and then 'reappeared' in the exact place I had looked in for the past year... I still use a book to interpret the cards - I use a tarot workbook but haven't actually ever done any of the exercises. I would like to get away from using the book but don't really know what I should do. I have studied the cards and tried to connect with them but I wonder if I am trying too hard or not hard enough.

Could someone please offer some advice? Thank you very much in eager anticipation!

[jnani]

Give it up completely, it might happen if you first get out of the way. But that is just how I function...

[Delighted]

Ah... do you mean give up tarot completely?..

[meadowsweet]

I have some tarot cards, but I can't get on with them at all. They just look pretty on my alter now. I may return to them one day.

I've moved onto other forms of divination, I use Angel cards and also Runes.

If you do want to continue with the Tarot, there is nothing wrong with using the book. Pick a spread that feels comfortable to you, whether its in the book or one you think of yourself, practice regularly "using the book" and in time you will refer to the book less.

Alternatively you could try it another way and put the book well out of reach and just look at the cards, if nothing comes to you move onto the next. Don't dwell on that cards that don't tell you anything right at that moment in time. Something may come to you later on.

Most importantly, record your thoughts and feelings when using the cards. In time you may be able to pick up some themes if cards spring up more than once.

Be patient and don't expect too much, I've been advised that trying too hard can make it more difficult to connect.

[Delighted]

Ok Meadowsweet, thanks for that.. I shall dispose of book and concentrate on connecting.

[lindaannH]

Hi Delighted
Tarot Association Of the British Isles TABI do a good online course free. It might be worth checking out their forums for hints or tips.
Love and Light
Linda

[Delighted]

Originally Posted by lindaannH

Hi Delighted
Tarot Association Of the British Isles TABI do a good online course free. It might be worth checking out their forums for hints or tips.
Love and Light
Linda

That's great, thanks Linda.

[Psychic Oracle]

Forget about the workbook and see what the cards are telling you. What is the picture showing you? Hold the card in your hands and feel what energy is coming from it. Don't let anyone put you off. You don't have to cast away your ego you just have to open your self up to seeing and feeling. See your energy field as being expansive, the more expansive it is the closer your connection with guides. They can't get near you if you close yourself off. Be open, trust your first thought, however random. If you get a symbol - what does that symbol mean to you e.g. fresh green grass could be a new start.

Don't give up and practice on friends. You'll get there.

[Chipmunk]

It does sound plausible. What I found when I first started is that everyone, every book, every website, every keyword booklet, every individual has a different concept on how to do this. A different personal opinion, a different outlook. Then every deck had an artists interpretation etc to make matters even more frustrating.

In the end what I found made me efficiently learn was practice, trial and error. Just reading the pictures and deciding what story was being told. What helped me most was a process:-

- learn the Fool's Journey story
- learn what the suits mean (not the individual card just what say, Swords as a suit deal with)

From there, rather than stress over every individual, notice how every number groups together and also applies to the fools journey (eg):

All aces (beginnings, potential, raw etc). All 5's (challenges, issues). Also corresponding;

The Magician slides into being like the Aces
2's like the High Priestess
3's The Empress
etc

I hope that helped. I know I may have confused the situation; however the idea is you don't need to stress over trying to learn 78 different cards, simply learn the Fools Journey and examine how it corresponds with the suits.