Interest: Tarot

[kistha]

So I'm totally surprised that I listed Tarot as an interest. While I am interested in it, I'm nowhere near the die-hard Tarot people I know who have all the meanings of the card memorized and can tell you their history and so on. So I don't feel I'm very deep into it, but it is an interest of mine so here we go.

My Favorite Deck:

Actually I have three for different reasons.

My very basic kind of 'every day' favorite: Hanson-Roberts Tarot I like this one because it's very basic, very straight forward and uses the standard suits and meanings.

My Mystically inclined deck: The Arthurian Tarot: Hallowquest. I like this deck (Which I bought with the full book) because it's more of a mythic interpretation, treating the reading as steps on a quest. Sort of. I like it for the new spreads it has and the deeper/double meanings the cards can have. I use this when I really want to dig into an issue.

And my Personal Tarot. It's not really a true Tarot deck, it doesn't have any Suits or Arcana. I made it on blank Tarot Cards (available here) With some colored pens and it's really more of a personal rune/pictograph deck. It's really set to me for the most part - I have used it for others on rare occasion, but it hasn't worked as well for others, and usually ends up telling me stuff about me. Not so helpful. But it works very well for me.

And two other subcategories:

Prettiest Tarot:Art Nouveau Tarot. I jokingly refer to this as my "Lesbian" Tarot deck, since men are only in it when they absolutely have to be, and they are almost always over muscled and overbearing. But it's totally beautiful. I've done some Photoshop art using the cards from this deck. I have it mostly for it's beauty. I've done a couple of readings, but nothing amazing, it has one spread that is interesting, but I can't remember it, and it's in still in boxes with the rest of my Tarot.

Most Hated Deck: Can't actually find it. (Which is in my opinion a good thing) I think it had witch in the title and was very, very abstract, but pretty. Unfortunately nothing bad could possibly ever happen, no inverted cards, no negative meanings...it was really, really stupid. The epitome of "The Universe Is A Happy Place My Child" nothing but sweetness and light.....*puke* I managed to browbeat the deck into usefulness for a year when I finally bought myself the Hanson-Robert's deck and gave it to my adopted daughter J to use in an art collage.

My Favorite Spread:

I like to use a couple. I use the basic Celtic Cross most of the time, since it's easy and pretty straight forward, and covers most aspects of the questioner's question. If it's a very specific action related question like "How do I get blank" I use a spread from the Arthurian Deck that is called Mabon's Gate which covers questions exactly like that (what is holding me back, what is the next step) the spreads from the Arthurian Deck are very specific, which I love. I also like (and may be my personal favorite spread) a spread called Merlin's Mirror. It looks at the person you intended it for, and is a very deep reading on that person's personality. Very handy. I also use the "European spread" which is really 3 cards for past, present and future. Quick down and dirty readings on the fly, but still useful.

How do I read the cards:

Depends on the person usually. I always check the book (or pamphlet) for the original intended meaning, and if I don't 'get' anything then I use that. Sometimes words will just JUMP out of the description, and occasionally it will be as clear as "he's in love with someone else and you need to find closure." I use my intuition, and my intellect. Usually about 50/50. Most of the decks I use have multiple flavors of meaning for each card, and where it appears, so there's a lot of intuition and art involved.

If it is intuitive, how do you receive the info?

Well, usually I just know, sometimes I get pictures, and if it's a really wacky day, I can get sound too. I'm not so fond of that. Mostly it's a gut a feeling, and/or emotion that makes it clear. And I can be horribly wrong, but it doesn't happen too often.

Do you think such abilities can be learned or is it a born-talent?

I believe anyone can learn to read the Tarot. I think some people are naturally better at it for varying reasons. Whether it's psychic talent or exceptionally good 'cold reading' I think some people just have an edge. Of course if you ask enough while you are reading, you'll appear good at it, but won't actually be reading the cards.

Lastly, how often do you read the cards?

Rarely. There are periods in my life where I will do more readings, sometimes readings daily or weekly for a while, then won't touch them for months to years. I do read the cards on request, and do not charge for it. (It's not a business to me, it's just one more weird psychic trick I do.) I couldn't imagine doing it regularly; especially as a business.

I also find that it can be an addictive little hobby - the desire to see the future, and to know what is next, and how best to get what you want. Much like some people get so caught up in their Horoscopes they can't function without them - it's a very similar danger.

There. All you wanted to ever know about my Tarot knowledge and habits.

Comments

[xlana.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

It's amusing to see that the two decks you listed are the two I own and that I also think the Art Nouveau deck is the prettiest. I like the Hello Kitty deck, but can't see myself buying it for anything but the novelty factor (like the almost forgotten Fushigi Yuugi deck I have that's there just for the eye candy)

There was a period when my sister would ask me to read for her every time I saw her. (She had just moved back from the East Coast and she, her husband, and three kids were living in Mom's house; very little money, very much family pressure against some of her choices) Every spread I did was not good news. They wouldn't move anytime soon, hubby wouldn't get the job he applied for, no positive change for the foreseeable future. After every one, while I struggled to find good things to say or how to say the bad things in a good way, she's smile at me and say, "good thing we don't believe in this stuff, right?"

I don't think I've pulled out my cards in a year and a half.

My favorite spread is the "when will i..." spread. Select a card to symbolize your want (new job, lover, answer from agent). Leave it in the deck and shuffle, concentrating (of course) on the desire. Then lay the cards out face up in rows of seven until you uncover the Card. Count the cards and that'll be how long until you get it. (-: It's never worked but it's fun to do.