How Long Did It Take You to Memorize a Deck of Tarot Cards?

[RickInBakersfield]

What did you do exactly to memorize the 78-card deck of the Tarot?

 

Just curious.

 

Rick

[Raggydoll]

I focused on the imagery because I’m a visual person. It was much easier for me to remember the meanings and the symbolism of the standard RWS pattern than beginning with just a list of keywords. Once I remembered the pictures, I began learning the orders of the majors and I began seeing patterns in the different suits. And then I could apply it to other decks. I don’t remember how long it took, it was a gradual process. 

[Shaira]

I don't know whether you ever "memorise" the cards per se, as thankfully with the tarot there's always more to explore and learn. But you do eventually get a good grasp of what each card represents, whether that's as a work of esoteric symbolism, personal meditation, or divination. 

 

To start with, I find learning the names of the cards to be helpful. Dominion, Shortened Force, The Prince of the Chariots of Fire, The Lord of the Flame and the Lightning, Peace Restored, etc. Sometimes I'll just flip through my deck and say aloud the name of each card as I look at it, to keep it fresh.

 

Second, I love working with RWS-style decks; I find the narrative and symbolism contained in each card to be a massive boost to understanding and "memorisation", far greater in the case of Minor Arcana than, for example, TdM or Thoth-style decks. I talk my way through the story in each card. I have favourites, they're like old friends. 

 

Third, I find studying the correspondences to be useful; the Decan Circle, the Tree of Life, the Four Realms, and general numerology, all help to triangulate the meanings of each card. Once you understand the Ace of Wands is Kether and the Root of the Powers of Fire, you've already got a good handle on what it means. 

 

Finally, Pathworking. Especially the Ashcroft-Nowicki style of visualising then "stepping into" the card and activating it. You probably want a reasonable familiarity already with the card and its symbolism, but that kind of active pathworking interaction can really help concretise what the card means to you. 

 

All IMHO, of course. 🙂

 

Blessed be.

 

 

 

[DanielJUK]

I did learn from RWS and read a lot of books for interpretations and did keywords.

I know that I am not great at learning theory as a person, like I need to read ideas but then practically test them! What really helped me learn each card is doing a card a day, I did it seriously for about 2 years. It taught me so much because I got the "feeling" of each card and also the nuance. Like seeing how the card manifested that day taught me so much and the card meanings can really change (there is a real spectrum to each card) depending on the message. An app gives me a card a day now and I don't take it so seriously for study but still I am like, oh I see how that card turned out today 😃.

It took me about 12 months to have learnt the basic idea for each card probably and the next year to study them deeper.

 

Totally agree with @Shaira's post, I am always learning and I change my ideas about the cards every so often. Something will change my perspective or how I see a card, so my learnt ideas are not set in stone, I keep open-minded about them always 🙂 .

[RickInBakersfield]

I have books. I just can't remember content that I want to remember on these cards. I think I am going to try YouTube...just to try something different.

[Scandinavianhermit]

11 hours ago, Shuffletracker said:

What did you do exactly to memorize the 78-card deck of the Tarot?

 

Just curious.

 

Rick

Tarot decks form "families" of decks, as it were, so a method useful for one family isn't necessarily applicable to another one. RWCS and clones form one family. Crowley/Harris Thoth and its derivations form another one. Marseille a third, and very old one. Etteilla a fourth. Decks derived from Eudes Picard a fifth. I probably open a can of worms if I either suggest that Wirth-based decks belong to the Marseille family or that they emphatically doesn't, but a real Wirth only consists of 22 cards anyway.

 

You've got advice from the friends of Waite and Pam above. 

 

If iterations of RWCS and its clones are not for you, I have to ask if you are able to discern any recognizable pattern in the set of keywords you've chosen to follow? In the methods I follow, cards with the same number form one out of ten "subcategories" of meaning, but what works for me doesn't necessarily work for you. Try to meditate on groups of four cards with the same numerical value, read about all four and meditate slowly and methodically on these groups of four and try to discern both what they have in common and the distinctiveness of each.

 

The sixteen court cards are more complicated and take longer time. I still have to re-read my study notes on these, in order to not allow less frequent meanings from slipping away. Occasionally, the less frequent ones are the most useful ones. I have more to learn about the court cards. Queen of Swords isn't always a widow ... 

 

Edited August 14, 2024 by Scandinavianhermit
Eudes Picard

[Raggydoll]

22 minutes ago, Scandinavianhermit said:

Tarot decks form "families" of decks, as it were, so a method useful for one family isn't necessarily applicable to another one. RWCS and clones form one family. Crowley/Harris Thoth and its derivations form another one. Marseille a third, and very old one. Etteilla a fourth. Decks derived from Eudes Picard a fifth. I probably open a can of worms if I either suggest that Wirth-based decks belong to the Marseille family or that they emphatically doesn't, but a real Wirth only consists of 22 cards anyway.

 

You've got advice from the friends of Waite and Pam above. 

 

If iterations of RWCS and its clones are not for you, I have to ask if you are able to discern any recognizable pattern in the set of keywords you've chosen to follow? In the methods I follow, cards with the same number form one out of ten "subcategories" of meaning, but what works for me doesn't necessarily work for you. Try to meditate on groups of four cards with the same numerical value, read about all four and meditate slowly and methodically on these groups of four and try to discern both what they have in common and the distinctiveness of each.

 

The sixteen court cards are more complicated and take longer time. I still have to re-read my study notes on these, in order to not allow less frequent meanings from slipping away. Occasionally, the less frequent ones are the most useful ones. I have more to learn about the court cards. Queen of Swords isn't always a widow ... 

 

You’re right about the different tarot systems, and I use different approaches for them. For TdM I use the Open reading method, so not really something I would study for or try and memorize. 

[RickInBakersfield]

3 hours ago, Scandinavianhermit said:

 

 

The sixteen court cards are more complicated and take longer time. I still have to re-read my study notes on these, in order to not allow less frequent meanings from slipping away. Occasionally, the less frequent ones are the most useful ones. I have more to learn about the court cards. Queen of Swords isn't always a widow ... 

 

Yes, me too. I find the court cards the hardest to memorize content from, I am glad I am not the only one lol. I am going to try YouTube instead of my books.

[RunningWild]

There are probably as many ways to learn the cards as there are people who read them.  I found that just using them helped me to gain ground when I was just starting out.  Court cards can be especially challenging but maybe if you assigned people you know who fit the characteristics the cards are described as having, it might make it easier.

 

Note*. No one is just one court card but some people seem to fill those interpretations more strongly than others.

[gregory]

I created my own deck. It's amazing how that makes it all stick. I never tried to "memorise" a deck as such.

 

13 hours ago, Shaira said:

I don't know whether you ever "memorise" the cards per se, as thankfully with the tarot there's always more to explore and learn. But you do eventually get a good grasp of what each card represents, whether that's as a work of esoteric symbolism, personal meditation, or divination

 

 

Yes. Not that I recognise some of the card names you mention. 

[DanielJUK]

There are some decks with prompts, keywords and summaries, like this one for RWS -

https://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/quick-easy/

 

The recolouring is by Mary Hanson Roberts

 

I think it would annoy me so much to have the artwork coverd by so much text. Also I always think that if you are going to use keywords, it's better to work out your own 2 or 3 for the card by studying it a little. Not some other person's keywords.

 

There is no easy instant method, it just takes time to learn them all. Also different methods, fit us as different people, it's about what working out what works best for you! 🙂 

[Scandinavianhermit]

1 hour ago, gregory said:

Yes. Not that I recognise some of the card names you mention. 

@Shaira presumably follows a British system of interpretation, but I resoundingly second what she writes about using Pathworkings. That tool functions well with Levi-Wirth correspondences, too. It would be interesting to hear from Picard's and William G. Gray's disciples about the matter, too.

 

A small addition: It would be wise if persons with a family history of psychosis or schizophrenia consult a medical professional before they take up a habit of Pathworkings. Not all tools suits everyone. 

[Chariot]

I like what @Shaira said, about 'memorising' being an ongoing process.  I have certainly found that to be true.  You are never 'done' with tarot!

When I decided to go beyond the 'little white book' I started reading all kinds of tarot books voraciously.  Many of them described what the author thought the meanings of the cards were.  (I use the RWS system.)  Some of their interpretations seemed universal, in that many other authors used the same kinds of meanings.  However there were often important differences and nuances that grabbed my attention and seemed usable.

So ...I wrote a little white book of my own, for my own use.  I assigned a double faced page to each card, and wrote down the meanings I had encountered thus far. (Both for uprights and reversals.)  I tabbed my physical book so I could quickly find Major Arcana and all four Suits.  

I consulted MY book during readings from then on—while getting more familiar with the cards. I continued to add to (and subtract) interpretations that made sense.

Eventually, I needed to refine the book, so I wrote another one with more focused meanings.  And etc.  I am now on my 4th edition of 'my book!'
 

I am perfectly capable of doing readings without the book, but I still often consult it because a certain phrase or aspect of each card might hit me on a particular day.

I do believe that writing down possible card interpretations does help with memorisation—especially if you can do it in your own words.

Tarot, like any other skill, improves with practice, so just keep practicing and adding to your knowledge and memory.  And consult other people ...books, people on this forum, YouTube etc, to get different perspectives that will broaden your understanding and add to your skill set.  And, as @gregory did, you can even design your own cards to reflect your interpretation of them. (What a fabulous idea, by the way!)  

Edited August 15, 2024 by Chariot

[dippingin]

I'm nowhere near the ability of people on here, but some decks I think look easier than others to learn. I think if you like the deck it's easier to learn. 

 

What I find fascinating is that while individual cards can be learned, there is a real skill in interpreting them all together which takes time and practice. 

[Shaira]

1 hour ago, Chariot said:

When I decided to go beyond the 'little white book' I started reading all kinds of tarot books voraciously.  Many of them described what the author thought the meanings of the cards were.  (I use the RWS system.)  Some of their interpretations seemed universal, in that many other authors used the same kinds of meanings.  However there were often important differences and nuances that grabbed my attention and seemed usable.

So ...I wrote a little white book of my own, for my own use.  I assigned a double faced page to each card, and wrote down the meanings I had encountered thus far. (Both for uprights and reversals.)  I tabbed my physical book so I could quickly find Major Arcana and all four Suits.  

I consulted MY book during readings from then on—while getting more familiar with the cards. I continued to add to (and subtract) interpretations that made sense.

Eventually, I needed to refine the book, so I wrote another one with more focused meanings.  And etc.  I am now on my 4th edition of 'my book!'

 

I think this is true and excellent advice. I have the same, these days it's typed up in a Word document with notes on some favourite spreads, correspondences, theory, etc. I've included scanned images of each card for easy reading, and I've printed it out and bound it. It's my own Tarot Grimoire, and I think probably most or at least many of us will have something similar. It helps you understand how the wizards and witches of yore had their own spell books!

 

Tarot is a vast, broad, deep subject, and sometimes the information is a bit rough and ready, especially with the proliferation of cheap and quickly-produced books that might not have the best research or consistency proofing. It's really important to sift, refine, make your own choices, and come to your own conclusions about what the cards mean for you. That's personally why I spend a lot of time on theory; it's the framework that gives you the rules for drawing consistent and sensible conclusions. You certainly can't memorise (or even read) everything that's out there, and indeed the whole body of it is so inconsistent and flat-out contradictory at times that you shouldn't even try.

 

I guess that's why forums like these are gold; you can winnow the wheat from the chaff so much easier when there's a gang of you doing it!

[gregory]

2 hours ago, Chariot said:

So ...I wrote a little white book of my own, for my own use.

 

That was effectively what creating my own deck did for me. You check what a card is "supposed" to get across, and find ways to get that message across in as unequivocal a way as you can - and then the reader can see more in it later. I forget which stellar creator of many decks it was in a old discussion on AT - when I mentioned something on one of his cards and said did you mean it to mean (whatever t was) and he (I am sure it was a he) said no - he hadn't even registered he'd put that in, but NOW he meant it to mean that. There was also a wonderfully funny thread on AT (which I can't find)  about TdMs and the colours used - centring around the Empress and a card which used only the three primary colours so the grass was blue, and "Why ?" - according to this wonderful thread., the King wanted green, but when he was told how much green dye cost, he said OK leave it blue, and then came the immortal line: "Fast forward to 20th century tarot historian: "The fact that the Empress is surrounded by blue grass is clearly an indication that she represents the Virgin Mary...."

 

All of us will see things that weren't "meant" to be there. That's part of the joy of reading. Rote memorising isn't the way.

[Raggydoll]

I agree with Gregory that making one’s own tarot deck is an incredible journey, and it really deepens your understanding for each card! 

[Chariot]

3 hours ago, gregory said:

 

 "Fast forward to 20th century tarot historian: "The fact that the Empress is surrounded by blue grass is clearly an indication that she represents the Virgin Mary...."

 

All of us will see things that weren't "meant" to be there. That's part of the joy of reading. Rote memorising isn't the way.

Okay, that made me laugh!  🙂

[Ix Chel]

I started a Tarot Journal. I studied various books, and wrote down the Keywords. I used a lot of sources. Also connect always things to the card. For example if you are in the bookstore and you cannot choose 1 book because there are so many, it is the 7 of Cups.

 

My current Tarot Journal has more pages than a normal book. It also has Chapters on topics, what is not often found in books. The most advanced knowledge comes from Aeclectic. I have also collected a lot of articles from the internet. It is a digital Journal, so it easy to copy things from the internet in it.

 

Court cards are the most difficult. Some people understood them by studying the zodiac signs. I used more sources to study the Courts than the other cards. I wrote down their character types, and combined with a real or fictional character. The Queen of Pentacles is Monica from the television show Friends, she is organized and a kitchen princes. Watch a tv serie like Friends and connect them to the cards. 

 

But I do not know everything from my Tarot Journal by heart. But I have a great Tarot Journal.

 

To learn the Tarot you have to study it everyday. Connect it to your everyday life. Do you miss the train, then you have a delay connected to the Hanged Men. Do you meet a person which you have not seen for years, it is the 6 of Cups. Do you buy yourself chocolate it can be the 9 of Cups (wish card and the good life) or the Devil (you know it is better for you not to eat chocolate). Is your mother in law coming to visit you, then I really hope for you that she is not the Queen of Swords (reversed).