Tarot Talk & Technique

So, I finally got my Mary-El and something has happened with this Tarot that has never happened with any of my others. I feel like trimming the edges. Of course, I've never done this before, so any deck modification scares the bejesus out of me. Should I? Should I not? Do I then edge the cards? Round the corners? Would like to write with gold pen on the cards, but which type of gold marker? ?????? I desperately need your help with this. Thank you, kindly! <3

Do you think the quality of the reader/deck "relationship" is pre-ordained by the intent (or perceived spiritual authenticity) of the deck creator? Also, how much of the deck/reader experience is actually influenced by the "author", as I would naively imagine that the illustrator is the predominant influence on how a reader engages and experiences a deck? I'm really curious about people's thoughts on this one. My own background is that I have recently acquired and am quite enamored with the Wildwood Deck, it really speaks to me deeply. I am also aware of some (but not all) of the baggage behind Mark Ryan's dealings with Chesca Potter and the Greenwood deck whi…

I came across many youtube videos where people modify their decks, trimming and edging them. I feel that with the trimming and edging the deck will get a different energy or people disturb deck's energy. Plus if trimming all cards borders out, they won't be exactly the same size as they were when you buy it, and ink on edges might smudging hands(?). What is your opinion about it? (I don't want to offend anybody, this is only my opinion :) ) Blessings to all :)

A question came up this morning for me. Is the Fools journey based on an impulse in which he decided to up and go on an adventure. Of the many definitions it appears it could be an impulsive journey to discover his light, or maybe not. I would love to know others views. I may not be able to respond right away myself.

Hi everyone! This is our discussion thread for this year's Sacred Days of Midsummer reading 🌞 Chat away here about decks you're considering for the reading, thoughts on how to approach a 12 day reading, anything you're hoping to get out of this years reading, anything that's come up for you since the Sacred Days of Yule, other sacred practices for this time of year...anything you're thinking about! Be sure to create your reading post over in the Lunar & Sabbat Group Readings subforum as well 💛Our reading begins June 14th!

After a heavenly reading, have you ever eagerly awaited the arrival of the 2 of Cups into your life and your dream lover, only to look at yourself in the mirror one morning, and think: "Man, I feel like a woman!" or vise-versa if you happen to be a woman... as Jung's Anima & Animus pays you a visit. Or awaited the tranquility of the 10 of Cups only to find out it's reefer psychosis. Or perhaps it was The Tower you dreaded, only to put a coin into the slots at a casino and win the jackpot...The Tower would be The house falling about you in bankruptcy. This we have named The Spin, when the small amount of dark in the fluffy card pays you an unsuspected visit, or …

This may not be the best place for this thread, because really it's about study music, but I am looking for music with "Tarot Feels" lol I'm creating a playlist online for when I do start doing readings on skype or in my home, and also to just put me in a midieval/earthy/magical/whimsical kind of mood. I have been using a lot of oriental traditional folk songs, some hindu religious pieces on sitar, lots of celtic/druid music, and some classical. Do you guys have instrumental/spiritual new agey music you dig? Anything that just helps you to connect to your cosmic self or to the earth or whatever, I already have some good stuff but it's getting kind of samey. Peter Kat…

I'm so curious about how others have gotten started reading Tarot professionally. Any insight into what you did that worked for you or mistakes that you made along the way would be greatly appreciated. In time, I hope to offer readings in this way but feel I have more time that I must dedicate to study and offering them as a free service to others before I can do that. Blessings xx

If I may take your great idea into the realm of the Majors, EK... Which Major(s) are you? Which archetype(s) fit(s) you the best? You can choose more than one. Imagine this is your "calling card" and that, through your choice, you are introducing yourself at a social gathering... I'm really curious to meet you all. <3

I am surprised that I can't find this topic anywhere on the forum dedicated to Tarot. Maybe, because I am new to this forum and did not know where to look. But because it is not present, I have decided to bring it up. Let me explain what is my belief on this topic is. First of all, I believe a deck of Tarot to be a tool of occult work. And second, I believe that if someone is serious about their occult work, they should bless their tools. I both feel like dropping a sudden unnecessary long lecture. But I also want to know, is there anyone actually interested in it? By blessing, I mean a one time ritual that lasts several days. --------- --Edit-- --------- Sin…

So I'm interested in hearing other peoples approach to this. Where do you start from in a reading? Do you first look at the cards and try to catch the overall message and hope for an intuitive hit which will give you the starting direction, or do you start by going "so I see the 4 of Swords here which means that maybe it's a time to step back and take a break" and try to trigger the intuition that way? I know it's probably the most basic question ever but I'm interested because for me (in my practice readings for imaginary people) it seems to be both. Sometimes I directly get a story/concept popping into mind and I work from there, and sometimes I'm just listing off the k…

Creating a thread for additional discussion for those joining the Sacred Days of Midsummer reading! This is how it was done at AT, but mods please let me know if you'd like things done differently here :hug: This year's group reading thread for the Sacred Days of Midsummer has been created! For those who haven't done it before, this is a group reading (i.e., we're all reading for ourselves using the same spread) done over the course of 12 days, with one card pulled each day. The idea is to journey together through the sacred days around the Summer Solstice. Please join us! Use this discussion thread to chat away about what deck you're thinking of using, ideas for …

Hi all, With a new year fast approaching I'm wondering how many of you calculate your year card and, if so, what year will 2018 be for you? I calculate my card on every birthday and for 2018 I'll be staring down The Hanged Man. This is a card I've always had a little difficulty with so I guess I'll be learning his lessons first hand. I'm hoping this year brings a lot of new insights and a deeper connection to my own integrity. If you don't know how to calculate your year card it's quite simple. Here's the method I use. You add up your day and month of birth to the year you want to calculate your card for. For example: 4 + 12 + 2018 = 2034 = 2 + 3 + 4 = 9 (if …

Hey! I've been looking into buying a small bag (preferably velvet) or a small box that would fit a full deck for storage. I've explored the forum to search for a similar thread, but couldn't find one. This is the bag I am currently looking at: https://www.amazon.com/Navy-Velvet-Tarot-Paper-Mart/dp/B00GDPJMC8/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1545937685&sr=8-10&keywords=tarot+card+bag (Amazon is the only place I've looked on, as it's a site that is budget friendly and "trust worthy") I am curious to view any storage ideas for decks that anyone uses! Please leave links, pictures, descriptions, or ideas :)

I know that we have discussed trimming and edging several times before, and I have shared picks in the past of decks that I have modified in different ways. I usually only modify a deck if I feel that it is way too large for my hands or that the borders are truly bothersome (aesthetically). And the edging takes place as a sort of sacred ritual where I adorn my decks. (A bit off topic but I'm adding a picture of my copy of Tarot of the Crone when I was partially done edging it in black. I did that deck in batches and I took my time with each card, to study it carefully and then letting it try over night in the light of the moon. This did not alter its purpose, but it heigh…

What are people's thoughts on card selection as a skill or talent? Is this something that people get better at over time as readers? Is it something different people are just naturally better at than others? Is it not a consideration to you at all? I don't see it mentioned much on this forum, everything is always about interpretation. The answer is always in front of you in the cards, you just have to understand it, is the message I see again and again. When reading cards: what makes those the right cards to interpret in the first place?

How do you relate to your birth card? Does it personally resonate with you, or do you find it a bit meh? What do you think it says about you, and do you think it has any bearing in your life path? If you have never calculated your birth card before, here is a good site which would do it for you: http://www.corax.com/tarot/index.html?yourcard Btw, the site also comes highly recommended if you wish to begin your Thoth Tarot studies.

Hey folks! I have always wondered if probability matters when it comes to yes or no questions? I believe that the deck consists of 60% 'Yes' cards, 10% 'Maybe' cards and 30% 'No' cards. This is for when you're only doing Uprights for Yes or No questions. When you're doing uprights and reversals, Majority of reverse cards would be 'No' on top of the already 'No' upright cards. In this case the percentage of 'Yes' cards majorly drops to 30% If we are asking Yes or No questions, shouldnt the Yes-No cards be divided 50-50%? Even though Tarot is based on energies, do you think the cards should be equalised?

Hi all, I am completely new to tarot and am trying to learn the cards and their meanings whilst also trying to let intuition guide me rather than simply memorising things. I am currently pulling a card a day for myself and trying to write my intuitive thoughts first and then looking up the meanings after. Wondered how everyone else started out or any tips for the best way to learn as a complete novice.

I don't know if there is already an active thread discussing/studying birth year cards. If there is, could someone please point me to it? If not, I'd like to start one. (This one right here, if here is appropriate, or in another section of the Forum if that makes more sense.) Again, please advise! I was unfamiliar with birth year cards until recently. I just computed mine at https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/learn-tarot-with-labyrinthos-academy/how-to-calculate-your-tarot-birth-card-plus-short-birth-card-meanings-infographic and I couldn't be more blown away!

Hello Do you think that Tarot de Marseille and Rider Waite have different sets of meanings -specially minor arcana- coming each one from two different schools, French and Anglo-Saxon? IF so, in your opinion what are the main differences between both decks? By the way, I a, also interested in knowing what are the most classical and deep books on Tarot de Marseille, and Rider Waite. Thanks

Have you guys ever done a reading in a public space? (For example, a cafe, library, a table in the park, etc) Any place where there usually wouldn’t be anything like tarot or occult things? Was the energy different? Did you feel it affected your reading? Or do you bring your tarot out to the outside world at all? (Excluding tarot/occult shops) I feel like reading outside connects me to the elements more. But I’ve never even taken out my cards in public yet. What are you guys’ experiences?

Personally, I decline reading requests on health issues. Being a bit of a fitness nut, I know how important competent medical care is for our physical well-being. If someone asks if the growing tumor on their back is a legit medical concern or if they should just ignore it, I would say "get thee to thy good doctor now!" To be fair tho, I don't hesitate to read myself on my own health issues, but that's because I believe that ultimately we are all responsible for our personal health. While I'm pretty confident about my readings, there still exists the chance that I might misinterpret what the cards were saying. I don't want to give a reading that might make someone sick…

So, I can't really post the readings cuz they're for other people and I wanna keep their stuff relatively private u_u Last night, I was getting cards for some readings I was doing and I hit some bumps in the road. In one reading, I got two identical cards. This is fine, since the deck itself has duplicates, so I can use the alternate card. However, usually, I wouldn't include the alternate designs since that's A Lot of Cards to shuffle. I didn't think too much of it, but then, in another reading, I got the same card twice, which wouldn't be possible with a physical deck. Should I include these cards, or use the alternate versions? If I do include them, how shoul…

How often does what you read to be an outcome of a situation end up being true or false? Because readings are only ever possible outcomes although many, including myself, sometimes have wishful thinking. But then how much more likely do you think an outcome is to happen if several people at different places and time have similar outcomes for a question you ask them? “Will so and so reconcile” “will I end up single by December” ykno questions on things that can always go either or way. How accurate has tarot been for you or someone you know with things like that? Super curious!