I have been training with the tarot for 7 months now, using only the major arcana. I have mixed reults. sometimes I get really good results eg when talking about love I get the lovers card representing my concious desires, and when talking of learning I get the High Priestess card in my desires. However I also get some results that dont tend to be very accurate.
Lysear
Hi Lysear,
I would reccomend that you use all of your cards and not just the major arcana as you are only giving yourself half a reading.
As how can you get an answer when most of the cards that can tell it to you are missing.
A very talented Psychic friend of mine said to start straight away with all of them so I use all the cards and have been getting striking and often surprising results.
Sometimes I get a layout that just seems wrong, or at least a little strange, but if I record it and remember it then things have happened that have shown it to be absolutely correct.
I still refer to my book at all times however as there are so many meanings to each card, but for me the Tarot has become a great help.
Cheers.
I have a deck in my room but I never use them. I know how to use them but for some reason im not eager to know the future, or whats going on in the present for that matter ;)
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." St. Thomas Aquinas
Hi Spike,
A lot of people use only the major arcanas. For a spread like the cross, it is perfect.
I use tarot too and am also surprised of the results. I find it harder to do an objctive reading for myself though. It's easier when I read for someone else.
Valérie
I aggree completly about not being able to do an objective reading on yourself. The first problem as I see it is that your own desires could affect the cards and thus nullify the reading. The second problem is that whatever reading you come out with, if its negative when you expect positive and vice versa then you are not going to accept it.
lysear
Hi,
I use tarot a lot as it is an excellent oracle and helps me identify many problem areas of my life that I perhaps wouldnt have realised were there.
For those that say they dont use it because they dont want to know the future.....
The tarot doesnt really work like that.. it doesnt say 'you will die in 6 months' etc
The tarot is an oracle... that is, it gives you insights into your present situation and areas where you should focus attention.. it also gives you insights into *developing* situations ... the future if you like.
However, this allows you to tackle problems before or as they arise... very useful... regular use of the tarot is also very good for developing the intuition.
Ignore those who say it is evil etc... I had this from a few people... this is mainly due to christian propaganda which is more ingrained than you may realise.... the same type of propaganda that equates 'occultism' with 'satanism' even although they completely separate - a true occultist doesnt even believe in satan!
About doing readings for yourself. Well, as I said, I would recomend this for developing intuition and for listening to advice/guidance from your unconcious which is what the tarot is all about.
It IS possible to read objectively but it takes more effort, which is a good thing!
If you don't use them yourself as a meditative tool, then you are not really getting the full benefit from them IMO
BTW what decks do you use?
I think a big problem is that there are so many people bringing out decks today who don't have a clue about achetypal sybols etc.
I would recomend Crowley's Thoth Tarot (although some people complain that its a bit too archetypal!)
or the good old Rider-Waite
both these decks were designed by people who understood unconcious archetypal symbols which are essential in order for you to get anything out of them.. when you see some of the decks on the market today... The Vampire tarot for example... Come on!
Arthur waite and Aleister Crowely spent years studying archetypes and subconcious symbology... i would trust them to bring out a good deck but most of the newer ones I would generally bypass!
Regards,
Douglas
Hi Gandalf, what an excellent post.
That's exactly what I use the cards for too, to develop my intuition, which, incidentally is coming on very well. It also, as you say, helps me to see things from an objective viewpoint. To see things also that I hadn't considered and to bring things to my attention that I may not have noticed.
Incidentally I use the Rider Waite deck as they are the original and best (IMO) and I will use only them.
I also used to think of them as something spooky, bad press I suppose, and a strict catholic upbringing. How wrong, but there you go. I am now very open minded about everything and will spend some time considering before condemning.
Take care.
Hmm Been looking into tarot for a while.
What I've gathered is that it's a tool for allowing the subconscious to manifest its current state and intention not the course of future events.
And that the trick to it seems to be in accumulating a substantial and internally consistent sset of symbolic imagery and vocabulary for that intent and state to manifest.
So in essence it's a conduit of intuition. And a good tool for guided meditation on various topics.
Ahem, I'm a bit sceptical about predicting the future using any means. And having said that something will happen soon to prove me wrong.
2cents and L&L
jouni
The reading's i've done thus far have been dead on.
Pulse
_*_
well, the tarot can predict the future in a certain sense, in that the tarot (like any oracle) is a tool for accesing the unconcious. your unconcious intuition is smarter than you and has insight into past and present but has insight into developing situations..
all future events stem from present circumstances right?
your intuition/unconcious mind has a better handle on this than you do..so of course the future is not carved in stone, but at least you can use an oracle to help you see the way things are *likely* to shape up depending on the current situation.. armed with this, you can then take steps to avoid potential problems or at least prepare for them.
I agree though that the tarot is at its most useful in helping to illuminate the present.
Douglas
Hi,
I have been using tarot cards for close to 30 years now and have done reading for myself as well as many others with very good results. I have always told those I read for that what the cards say is not written in stone but that this is what can happen if the person continues on the path that they are currently traversing. This allows them to make changes to bring about the desired result, whether to avoid an undesirable outcome or to bring about an outcome that is desirable. Or to just let things carry on as they are.
When reading for myself I have learned to listen to my intuition as to the proper meaning of each card of which I have always used the whole deck as I have found that using only the major arcana is too limiting...too much is left out and lost this way. I will say that it took several years before I learned how to be subjective when reading for myself but through practice I was able to let my intuition, if you will, take over.
BTW I use the Rider-Waite deck mostly, but have also used a deck purchased in Paris at the Cluney Museum many years ago. I prefer the Rider-Waite deck......I also read and cast rune stones and have made my own set.
Dance to the music of your dreams, enjoy the steps along the way and keep smiling!
Concerning tarot reading styles:
How many people here use only upright card readings as opposed to using reversed ones as well?
I would suggest for new users to tarot to just use upright readings as the 78 cards do tend to cover all potential situations quite well.
Once you have become adept at this though, you may want to introduce upside-down card readings as well to give even more scope, 156 in total.
The only problem is the system that you use for reading reversed cards.
some people take the meaning as being the opposite of the upright readings, so for example, while 'ace of cups' may mean a new beginning in love or emotional matters, a reversed one would mean no new beginings at this time.
however, the problem with reading reversed cards like this is that it can lead to an overly negative reading, however some people do prefer this method, Sylvia Abraham for example.
Others take a reversed card to mean the same thing as an upright one but to a lessor extent.
Others like Arthur Waite's key to the tarot, attributes completely separate meanings to reversed cards, in order to provide more scope.
I suppose its just a case of whatever you think works for you.
Crowley suggested a method that doesnt use reversed cards at all but uses a 'justification' system so that adjacent cards can alte rthe meaning of the one next to it.
Saying all this, I know a few very experienced tarot readers who do not use reversed cards at all and others who do.
I generally do not use reversed cards at present as I have not decided on an interpretation sytem for them as yet, hense the reason for my post!
Regards,
Douglas
Hi Gandalf,
I do not use reversed cards. I do not know why particularly, I suppose that I get enough info from them without confusing the issue.
I do however use all of the cards and not just the major arkana because of their limitations in getting information across.
This was likened for me as having half a reading otherwise and just does not make sense, the minor arkana say so much that to not have them seems like only having half a language.
Using the whole deck but not reversals seems to be enough for me to get accurate readings.
Hi Spike,
I also use all 78 cards
The minor arcana are essential... the way I read them is that the major arcana reflect the character and mental state of the querent while the minor arcana reflect new/current ideas and directions in the person's life.
So without them your not getting a full picture
Douglas
Yes, the way I read it, the major arkana are like a major happening in your life. Perhaps nothing can be done about these things or maybe it is beyond your control for the moment (outside influences or enviroment) and the minor arkana are the smaller things affecting you like your frame of mind etc(something that you can do something about).
This does not mean that everything is set in stone however as the future is fluid, it just means that to do something about a major arkana in your reading requires a different approach.
I find these cards fascinating, every time I do a reading, I am constantly amazed by the accuracy and sometimes the different aspect that was not once clear that it can provide for me to show me a way of dealing with a particular problem.
just an idea here but seeing as though there are many tarot users here we could do a tarot test on each other this would determine not just the accuracy of cards but our reading them especially since we do not personally know each other who knows maby we can learn a thing or two here.
ok il start as the guini pig for anyone interested.
I have only just started to use tarot for about a month , I kind of jumped right into it . Iv'e gotten some realy good reasults but I'm going back and training myself a bit more .
Nicole[:X]
Hey all
Ive been meaning to start learning to use the tarot for a few months now and all the info ive gotten leads me to beleive that there are really only two decks worthwhile, thoth and rider-waithe (as Gandalf said).
The problem is i dont know which one to choose.What advatages / disadvantages has one over the other.I would really appreciate any feedback on this. Also , does anybody prefer the large deck?
Many thanks
Parmenion,
I have been using tarot cards for 10 years now and though I don't know what sources you are using for reccomendations, I think there are *many* good decks out there for you to consider.
I do agree that the Thoth and the Rider-Waite are good decks. I have used both of those decks as well as the Robin Wood deck, the Golden Dawn deck designed by Sandra and Chic Cicero and the Motherpeace round deck. I think different decks have different "feels" to them, dependent on the artwork.
The Rider-Waite is considered a standard deck if not "the" standard deck and is often a good deck for beginners to start with. The Thoth deck is an advanced deck that depends on a good, broad occult knoledge to really get the most out of it. Either deck would be good to use but I feel you are limiting your choices if you only consider those two decks. Try looking at samples of other decks to see which ones may appeal to you.
I don't read many books on tarot, preferring to use my own intution for the most part. I do read the books that come with the decks to see where the designer is coming from while designing the deck. I also have one book by Juliet Sharman-Burke called The Complete Book of Tarot that is a great place to start learning tarot.
I'd also like to reccomend two websites that may help you with tarot. These are www.tarotpassages.com for links and articles on tarot and www.aeclectic.net which has an astounding compilation of samples from hundreds of decks and a good forum for tarot discussion.
If you have any other questions for me please post them on this forum
Good luck :)!
Sylverwillow
Hi Sylverwillow I stand suitably chastised. I find that with tarot as with most things esoteric or occult i have to focus on one or two things that i reasearch and deem better than others. Otherwise,if i generalise and study many types i find i get no-where. Im a beginner to the tarot but not to the occult so im going to try the Thoth deck. Thank you for the links ive allready bookmarked them.
Parmenion.
I have been using the tarot for 9 months now and learnt something about it last night which I think is key and may benefit all of you. I have been working with a system that requires me to do a reading at least once a day to get to know the cards well. Maybe I should have worked this out sooner but there is no point in asking a question with the tarot unless it means something to you at the time. For example if your having troubles in lovelife and you ask a question relating to it you have more of a chance of getting a good reading than if you just think of a question for the sake of it.
I have been a diligent student of the tarot for about two months now. I have not yet begun to use reversed cards. I am interested to know if anyone has found a good method to interpret card reversals. I have been unable to find a good explanation in book. I would be open to any suggestions or online resources available.
I have found my tarot practice very useful and would like to deepen that meaning by adding the element of reversals.
Layna
I have been a diligent student of the tarot for about two months now. I have not yet begun to use reversed cards. I am interested to know if anyone has found a good method to interpret card reversals. I have been unable to find a good explanation in book. I would be open to any suggestions or online resources available.
I have found my tarot practice very useful and would like to deepen that meaning by adding the element of reversals.
Layna
Hi Parmenion! (ever read any David Gemmel books?)
With regards to choice of decks, I was not trying to advise people to ONLY use the thoth and waite decks. I agree that the deck should 'resonate' with you when you look at them. If you like them then you should get them. Its just that these two decks are tried and tested and most newcomers to tarot shouldnt go wrong.
There are some dodgy decks out there, which was the reason for my note of caution. For example, 'the vampire tarot' doesnt sound to me like its been designed by a proper student of the occult, but more likely by some goth, pop-occult wanabee (ie what the media terms 'satanism')
I wouldnt imagine that their handle on archetypal symbols is very good either!
Just listen to your intuition and it will help you decide what deck feels right for you!
Douglas
Thanks Gandalf the decisions allready been made and my deck is on the way (id be lost w/out Amazon.com). Well spotted by the way, i LOVED "The Lion of Macedon", Gemmell's books are great.
Parmenion
Parmenion-
Yeah, I really like Gemmel's books as well. I've read a lot of his books and Lion of Macedon and Dark Prince are amazing!
I'ts interesting that OBE experiences figure quite a lot in Gemmel's books and I've always wondered if he's had any personal experience of them or knows people who have.
You'll nearly always find at least one character in a book who has an OBE type experience.
Regards,
Douglas
PS I'm a particular fan of his arthurian cycle - although I wish he wrote more of them!
You know, i never related the two. Probably because i read his books years ago when id never heard of concious projection. I must re-read some of his books when i get the time. I only wish there were more hours in the day..sigh... Maybe eventually i can cut sleep time down to two to three hours a night.
Parmenion
i started using tarot cards 3 years ago but stopped when i lopst soeof the cards, it was a little package one of those little books ith the mini cards doesanybody have a uggestion for a good set?
I have been interested in starting to learn tarot myself. Only for personal purposes and mostly because i cant see paying someone to have my cards read. I think they'd be interesting to use in the morning or something to kind of make decisions.
Anyway after reading that link that silverwillow posted I got the thoth deck and then later in the week got the universal waite. I ended up giving the universal waite to a friend because I really liked the thoth deck more although it is archetypal(sp?) i prefer it over the "universal waite" however I really want to get the "robin wood" deck or the "spiral" because many on that site raved about them and i saw the cards.. they're a lot more pleasing to the eye than the universal waite and most likely the normal rider waite cards.
I guess robin wood and spiral are rider-waite clones. I took this as meaning they follow the rider waite tradition but the difference is mostly in the pictures.
Anyway some people there seemed to really have a problem with the thoth deck. A few said they based their opinion on the fact they dont care for the maker (crowley) does anyone know why that is? I was really curious to read why some said his reputation was bad.
Anyway that site was really helpful on figuring out a deck. thanks sylverwillow
Silva_
Crowely is controversial in some circles (esp conservative christian circles) as he was very anti-christian, in that he was against the dogma that plagued mainstream religion and in particular christianity. Crowely was very much an occultist in the real sense in that he believed that people should find things out for themselves.
Unfortunatly though, Crowely had a wicked sense of humour and liked nothing better that tinkling of conservitive christian circles by referring to himself as 'the great beast' and a 'self confessed satanist' and so on!
However, if you actually read his books you'll find that (like any true occultist)Crowely didnt even believe in the devil, other than as an archetypal image.
However try telling that to the christian hardcore, or in fact much of the mainstream population who are so indoctrinated into mainstream religious dogma that for most people 'occultism' = 'Satanism',(how often will you find these two terms refered to in the same breath by the media?) although hopefully most people here will realise that the true occultist doesnt even believe in Satan!
Mind you the goth/nu-metal scene with its fake pseudo occult/satan style mythology probably doesnt help public conceptions!
Anyway, back to your point about the Thoth deck. Crowely's deck is regarded as one of the best in the world but it is an advanced deck with a lot of archetypal imagery and require a good grounding in occult theory, for this reason many people will prefer other decks, however if you are well up on your occult knowledge then you will love the insight they bring to your readings!
Regards,
Douglas
Good discussion all,
I had my cards read recently here in California by a woman who seemed to be pretty intuitive. The previous posts gave me a lot of information on the Tarot that I never new, and will probably buy a recommended book at my favorite bookstore [;)] amazon.com
Take care,
Tarot cards are right on the money. I don't want
to predict the future with them ,just find out
if I'm on the right path or what's going on in
times of confusion. I always ask that the cards be
divinely blessed. I don't think they are evil either.
I really like the Halloween deck.
I was introduced to the Tarot cards at a psychic fair this summer and since then have tried them myself with some very surprising results. I have found them a very good communicator for readings and questions that I have had.
(Though I do not use them for prophecy as the future I think is too fluid, but here and now questions and things that people need to hear right now.)
I am wondering if anyone else here uses them too?