Tarot 101

[norseman]

This thread is here to help beginners to the Tarot understand the basics of a Tarot deck and give guidance in carrying out a reading. There is a wealth of experience in SF to give help in the Tarot and allow the beginner to make a start at gaining experience by doing. I imagine that readers at all levels have questions also that they would like some help with too. So, a Self-Help thread.
So, folks, we have comfortable virtual seats and excellent virtual coffee and cookies, so lets begin. OK, we are open for business

[Kaere]

Lovely!!

I have a question about spreads actually. I wonder if people have their favourite spreads that work for them and do they stick to them religiously, do you find it hard to switch from one spread to another, do you use several together?

I find that I get stuck on the three card spread almost all the time. Celtic Cross just about does my head in with all the possibilities and maybe this's that come up.

[norseman]

Like you, Kaere, I find the Celtic Cross too complicated. I prefer simple, just like me, so I stick to three cards. I see that some people use three cards as Past, Present, Future but I just look to link the three cards in a continuous narrative.

My question concerns Reversals. I just ignore them. Anyone else got a feeling about that ?

Originally Posted by norseman

Like you, Kaere, I find the Celtic Cross too complicated. I prefer simple, just like me, so I stick to three cards. I see that some people use three cards as Past, Present, Future but I just look to link the three cards in a continuous narrative.

My question concerns Reversals. I just ignore them. Anyone else got a feeling about that ?

I'm a beginner, but have learnt basic readings. What I learnt about reversals are to go back to the preciding cards, e.g. if it's a reversed 8 of cups, I'll go back to 7 of cups. The card that precedes the Fool is the World, and the cards that precedes Aces are the tens of the respective suits. As there is no obvious preceding card for the Page cards, we can pick a card from the Minor Arcana to help us identify the aspect of life the reversed Page is referring to.Once we have considered what the reversed card is telling us, we can turn the card upright, because that is the energy we need to attract and apply, like overcoming barriers.

Thus in my opinion, if the deck is arranged with no reversals, we may not know whether the cards in the spread is reversed, as message will be different. Just my personal opinion.

Originally Posted by norseman

Like you, Kaere, I find the Celtic Cross too complicated. I prefer simple, just like me, so I stick to three cards. I see that some people use three cards as Past, Present, Future but I just look to link the three cards in a continuous narrative.

My question concerns Reversals. I just ignore them. Anyone else got a feeling about that ?

i have found reversals to be very usefull, given one instance, if you ignore a reversal, you may read a strong male figure in dominance, but if you include the reversal it would read a strong male figure in the background supporting. just one example of how i have read it in the past.

[Ravens_Light]

Originally Posted by norseman

My question concerns Reversals. I just ignore them. Anyone else got a feeling about that ?

I came back to take a more lengthy look at this thead and am starting at the beginning, so hope you don't mind my answering some of the questions that are at the start of it (?)

This is a great question, Norseman... Initially I had difficulty with reversals.. And that's even after reading the various ways one can interpret them (i.e. they can be interpreted with an 'extra emphasis' on that card, or with the traditional/published 'reverse' interpretation)...

I have found that neither really worked for me and that I had to allow my intuition guide me on that... I did a reading for myself just recently where the reversed interpretation was waaaay off and the upright one made all the sense in the world...

So, the way I'm handling it now is when I get a reversed card, I don't dismiss it but I read for both the reversed AND upright card to see which fits better, especially if the R card really feels 'off' to me..

To me that was a real lesson in really letting intuition be the primary guide.. Not the traditional interpretations.... They are to be use in adjunct.. At least I think so..

I'm interested to read what others have posted.... So a-reading I will go!

[LadyVirgoxoxo]

So I'm soon going to do my first reading. I did an exercise where I had to come up with a question for the reading. This is what I got for my notes:
*Balance time
*School, work, spirituality, free time, time with family and friends

My question:
How might I learn to balance my life to include all the things I care about on a daily basis?

Is my question too detailed? If it is could someone help me cut it?

[norseman]

Cut it down to two words - "Life balance". I dont think you have to ask an actual question, just provide a focus for your intuition. Your subconscious already knows the answer to this, you just have to let it out.

Originally Posted by LadyVirgoxoxo

So I'm soon going to do my first reading. I did an exercise where I had to come up with a question for the reading. This is what I got for my notes:
*Balance time
*School, work, spirituality, free time, time with family and friends

My question:
How might I learn to balance my life to include all the things I care about on a daily basis?

Is my question too detailed? If it is could someone help me cut it?

hi lady

unlike norseman, i believe in questions, asking the right question very often gives you 50% of the answer.
i think you question is very good, detials are good as you have a clear idea what you are talking about.
and you ask a practical question of what can you do and how and you don't ask what will happen 12 points for you
mind you, sometimes the cards don't answer the question you ask them but the real issue that is in your heart!!

give it a try... see what you get... and share if you feel like it.

G

If its a reading for someone else i generally do a three card spread past, present and future, unless its a specific question or situation then i do a question and answer spread. One card represents the situation and the other 2 cards represent 2 diffrent paths they could take.

For my self i do either the three card or a daily spead which is 4/5 cards.