Beginning Tarot Practice

[Starman]

Inspired to start a very basic thread on beginning tarot practice and it is my intent to be very basic. Others with experience with Tarot are welcome to contribute, and I realize there may be differences in opinion on this subject.

We are not talking about what deck you use here, but I will be referring to the Rider-Wait Deck, which is the most used deck in the world. In my opinion the magic is not in the deck of cards, rather the magic is inside of you, and you form a relationship with the deck.

You also subconsciously, through handling your deck, let your soul or deeper being know that you are using this medium to communicate with it. Tarot readings are intuitive readings and in using the Tarot you can develop a stronger intuition. I started using the Tarot back in the 1970’s and what I share here comes from my process, everyone has their own process but there are some basics.

The first thing is to form a relationship with the cards, and you may do this by frequently handling your deck, when you are not handling your deck put your deck under your pillow and sleep on it, or put it in a place where you keep your personal items so that your energy will rub off and be infused in your deck of cards. Energy from your personal items and from you will make that deck better respond to you.

It does not matter what deck you use, you should use a deck that appeals to you, this will help you form a relationship with that deck. Like I said, I encourage others to give tips and pointers on Tarot as well, Or you can make your own deck; I have made two decks of cards from scratch over the decades and in doing so have put my presence in those cards.

But I am not going to go into making your own deck here because I have been told to keep it basic and for beginners, so please keep it basic. Questions and comments are encouraged but please no conflict.

[Starman]

Don’t let other people handle your tarot deck, you want your energy to permeate your tarot deck. I have several decks and some are strictly for me to read my cards for myself, and other decks are for me reading cards for other people. Being consistent and developing good habits I think are important in tarot. Your subconscious functions according to your patterns. Learning new things are great but long term consistency is what builds things. In my opinion.

[Starman]

I would suggest first practicing on yourself before trying to read other people’s cards. One of the methods I learned was using the cards for my own spiritual development and then, for me, years later reading other people’s cards.

Tarot is a prayer and a meditation; in my opinion we should handle Tarot Cards as we might handle The Bible or some other sacred text. The prayer in tarot is asking a focused question, the meditation is what is called “reading the cards.” Reading the cards means interpreting what the cards you have laid out mean. A spread is a particular layout of the cards.

There are one card spreads, three card spreads, and so forth, there is a 30-card spread for looking at the year head. The most famous spread is the Celtic Cross spread which is a ten card spread. In the beginning take months or years to learn tarot spreads but as you advance you do not have to use or follow any spreads. Throwing out the cards means laying them out after asking a question.

A simple layout is one card, start with that; ask a question and lay out one card; it may or may not give an accurate response because you have a new deck and are just beginning to form a relationship with your deck. The thing about tarot is putting the time in with it and learning the imagery. Start slowly; don’t rush it.

I am hoping that others here on this forum will share basics on what they have learned from tarot. I do not want to make this thread only about me and my knowledge. Also other beginners can chime in with their questions. This can be a very rich sharing if ego is not involved. So I extend an invitation to those who have used the tarot for some time to share their basic knowledge on it from their perspective.

[Starman]

Miss Hepburn, I have shared with you and others here how I have a six foot pyramid in my bedroom which I meditate in, and you said you might want to get a meditation pyramid. Asking questions and laying out tarot cards in a pyramid is a very magical experience, the pyramid enhances your energy and the practice of tarot.

I have 3-feet by 5-feet Tarot cards on my bedroom walls, just a few choice cards which appeal to me; like The Magician, The Chariot, and a couple of others. I know what the deeper meaning of the images mean on tarot cards and, this is most important, the images we surround ourselves with will effect our consciousness. So I awaken from sleep to large tarot cards on my bedroom walls and those images impact me over time.

Colors, shapes, and images, speak to our subconscious, not only with Tarot, but in general. The Magician represents focused concentration and I am reminded of that every morning when I get out of bed at look at a 5-foot card of The Magician on my wall. Not saying others should do this, just sharing some of what I have done. FedEx, UPS, and other print shops enlarged a few cards for me because I know looking at your cards on a daily basis helps to engrain them in your consciousness.

[Starman]

It seems I can not correct any typos; like the word “threat instead of the word thread” in my previous post. I keep getting kicked out when I try to edit it. I only have good vision in one eye and am typing and sharing here on this forum with that one eye. Yes, it is a challenge.

[Starman]

It might be best to invest in some books and become a student of Tarot. I recommend the Tarot books put out by Eileen Connolly She has a Journeyman level book, an Apprentice level book, and a Masters level book. I would start with the Journeyman book, it will answer all of your basic questions, and then when you are ready get the other books. That is how I learned in the beginning.

If you have a book then you have a ready reference in your hands, of course you can use any book on Tarot that appeals to you. My impaired vision is just not going to work posting a Tarot course online without the sharing of other experienced Tarot users here on this forum. I mentioned to you, in another thread, my reluctance to start a thread like this if there was no interest or input from others.

I may be posting here on this forum less because, as I have shared here many times in the past, I was totally blind for about 5-years, went thru more than a dozen eye surgeries to regain my eyesight, now in my late 70’s my vision is once again giving me challenges. I dim the light on my computer monitor to keep it from hurting/burning my eyes, and I use a magnifying glass to type my comments here when posting. All things do come to an end.

[vortex]

nice idea
just some alternatives because every ones different, especially me

i shuffle the pack and the ones that pop out or fall on the floor i read
i never use the book but if you feel you should do so
but in saying that some packs speak to me and others don't if that makes seance

the other place i differ from starman is that i let any one use my cards especially if they want to know what i pick up from them or try using them them selves
but keep one pack for your self and that yours if you relate to starman

the first pack i got i ripped up some of the cards i didn't like coming up all the time ha ha
but got another pack because they where so honest

[vortex]

ps what pops out at you in the images can mean more than the words

all ways ask questions or you will probably do your head in

and most of all have fun and play
see what works for you

[Starman]

Miss Hepburn, the link here goes to a free Tarot course by Joan Bunning. She has been using the Tarot for decades; it covers everything, and it is good for beginners in my opinion. At minimum the linked course will be a good reference and a good starting point for beginning Tarot practice; plus it is free.

http://www.learntarot.com/course.htm

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Starman

Miss Hepburn....
http://www.learntarot.com/course.htm

Yay, thanks.