Starting Out With Cards?

I've been interested in reading cards since I was a child and I saw my cousin doing it and (as a little girl, mind you) begged her to give me a reading.

When I started Witchcraft several years ago, I tried to work with Tarot but had some issues getting it down. I did readings but usually the answers I got I ether didn't understand or they didn't seem to fit the question.

Over the last few months I've been trying again to learn and I feel as though I could use some guidance and tips on how to read them.
Another person on this site has been helping me out (and I thank you) but I'd like a few others to help and give tips as well.

I've read about many ways to start out by learning the meanings of the cards and finding my own personal meaning for each card. I've also heard of many techniques of charging the cards with my own energies, clearing the cards and asking questions and using them correctly but I'm a bit lost in all the different ways of doing this.

I want to start using them for myself until I get the hang of it, then I want to begin doing readings for others as well.

So I thought I'd post a forum, asking anyone who feels like they want to share to share some of their personal techniques and tips of reading and using Tarot and Oracle Cards - So I can get a better idea of what to do and what works well for most of you. I'd also like to learn about simple spreads and things I can do and how to do them.

Thank you

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You know that if your having trouble with tarot cards, you can always make your own personal deck. If you made your own cards, you would understand them much more easily. Also, as you make your cards (I hand drew mine), you are already charging them with your energy. I personally never had the chance to use the traditional Tarot and Oracle cards that are sold, but my personal deck has really been helpful so far.

SergioC.:

Thats a good idea, and sounds like a fun craft to do. Thanks. I'll start working on my own deck sometime when I have the time and the money for supplies.

Personally I use regular playing cards for fortune telling. Here are a few tips and tricks I picked up:
1. Don't let anyone touch your cards unless you are giving them a reading. In that case clear your cards of their energy afterwards
2. Don't leave your cards out in sunlight.
3. Making a circle before doing a card reading greatly improves results, at least until you get more practice. You can also make a charm to carry around that creates a space conductive to fortune telling
4. Meditating before card reading helps so that you can approach it with a clear mind
5. Always push your energy into the cards when shuffling and trust your intuition
6. Don't just take card definitions at face value, the definitions of the other cards in the spread can modify their meaning
7. List all definitions of a card to a person you are reading for and don't be afraid to ask what makes most sense to them.
Hope this helps

changedcynic:

Those are some great tips, thank you. I'll write them down and keep them in mind.
When clearing cards, what methods do you use that work best for you?

As you shuffle your deck imagine your magic pouring into the deck and over the individual cards, cleaning out any impurities. I also often use a paper charm designed to cleanse the cards of energies deleterious to card reading

Check out “The Tarot Playbook” by Lynda Cowles. You are likely going to have fun and learn a lot about tarot and yourself as well.

My suggestion would be to start out with the rider deck. Find a book with meanings. Then go through each card and meditate on it. Write down beside the books meaning what meaning you have felt for the cards. Use this as a reference. Also do not forget to look at whether the cards are the major or minor arcana. Look at the suits, numbers, symbols and colours in the cards as well. Try putting yourself into each card and take from that what you feel.... Good luck

Check out this website. It is how I got started in tarot and it is an interesting site as well.

http://www.learntarot.com/

If you are struggling you can as suggested make your own personal deck of cards that resonate with you. But shop bought ones can work just as well, I own some Alchemy Gothic ones and I do some rather accurate readings with them.

You can also read up on them and their meanings in-depth if you are unclear on them and also look for John Ballantrae on Youtube, I found his videos very informative.

I myself meditate a little on the question before I start each reading, while holding my cards and shuffle them, when it comes to cutting and reshuffling, I do it when I feel it's time to do so, also it doesn't need to be evenly cut. When the cutting and shuffling is finished I give it once more with my eyes closed and then start to lay the cards. I like using a simple three card yes or no spread because it's nice and quick to set up, but of course you shouldn't rush.
When reading let the card talk to you instead of relying on a list of meanings (Which are often vague) and choosing one, let the vibe and artwork of the card talk to you.

I hope this helps