Page of Ghosts Posted February 11, 2018 Posted February 11, 2018 I've seen a few different ways on how people use the bottom card and thought to ask if you knew of any more suggestions? The two that stood out for me are: 1. Beth over at Little Red Tarot had a blog once (will search for it later) on how, especially if you pull cards from the top I think, the bottom card would be that which is most removed from the reading. A suggestion for what the reading really isn't about. I had the Tower at the bottom of the deck for my Year Ahead reading I did on my birthday with the Death card as the focus, so I took that to mean that while this year will be all about change and letting things go, it probably won't shake things up in any sudden or exceptionally distressing way for me, even if Death isn't always the most pleasant card to experience. 2. Some people use the bottom card of the deck as a base card, which is kind of opposite from the 1st suggestion? I'm not too familiar with this but I think it forms a base on which to place the other cards, sort of like a context for the whole reading. I haven't used this method myself so I'm not very sure on what exactly it is it does, maybe someone who actually use it can chime in O:-)
EmpyreanKnight Posted February 11, 2018 Posted February 11, 2018 Whenever I pull the bottom card from my stack, I almost always assign it as the Base Card. It is exactly as you described it in your second example - I use it to provide a unifying context with which to view the whole reading, in order to be able to flesh it out more. It is not the answer per se but it does provide nuance to my interpretation of the cards that I already drew, so it's very important. Like I may have drawn a bunch of "bad" cards, but if the base card is auspicious it means that in the larger scheme of things the result may not be that important. Or if the spread I used doesn't have an Action or Solution position, it may provide some guidance as to the querent's best possible course of action. What it defines may vary, but once I flip it I just get an idea as to what it may mean vis-a-vis the question I asked. :)
Raggydoll Posted February 11, 2018 Posted February 11, 2018 It could also be read as important underlying factors, mainly things you aren’t consciously aware of or things you don’t want to acknowledge
Starlight Posted February 11, 2018 Posted February 11, 2018 I'd never considered the bottom card in the way Beth at LRT does, so thank you for sharing that! It's an interesting way to look at the card. If I use the bottom card, I usually think of it as what's hidden but related to the reading.
3illYazi Posted February 11, 2018 Posted February 11, 2018 I always make sure the last thing I do in a shuffle is put the bottom card in the middle of the deck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
TheFeeLion Posted February 11, 2018 Posted February 11, 2018 I created a couple of 3 card spreads a while ago when I was thinking of how to use the bottom card. The first spread was to do with getting to the bottom of a situation, I think I called it “how to dig a hole” or “digging deeper” or something. The top card shows what’s on the surface of the situation, the middle card looks a bit deeper, and the base helps to show the heart of the matter or the treasure at the bottom of the hole. The other one I called “how to climb a wall” and I worked this one in reverse. The bottom card is your starting point, the “you are here” card. The middle card shows you how to get up the wall and out of the situation you are in. And the top card shows you where you want to go or what will be at the top of the wall once you have finished climbing. I use the bottom card for all sorts of things. I try to make sure I know the reason for pulling it before it’s pulled. But I if I don’t know why pulling the base card I will usually fall back on the idea of looking at it as a worms eye view, especially seeing as we normally go for the birds eye option when we take from the top of the deck.
Lantana Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 I used to use the second method. The way I read it was basically like a clarifier card- so as you said, more context. But I personally found that it just muddled a reading more. After reading that article on LRT though, I've been using that method with much better results. It really challenges me to keep from reading a card just one way, if that makes sense.
faerybraids Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 Honestly, sometimes I just pull from the bottom of the deck instead of the top if it feels right. No real rhyme or reason there. (///___///❀)
Audelia Posted February 13, 2018 Posted February 13, 2018 I always glance at the bottom card of the deck during a reading to see what the 'basis' of the entire reading is. For me it always represents the essence of the energy that the querent is currently sitting in. I usually interpret this card first, and nine times out of ten it speaks about the situation that was on their mind when they shuffle or, in other cases, it gives a snapshot of the person's personality and what they're grappling with on a personal level. I love Beth's view of it though. I'm definitely going to factor that perspective in.
Page of Ghosts Posted February 17, 2018 Author Posted February 17, 2018 Since I've been a complete goblin and forgot about looking for the article by Beth on reading the bottom card, here it is for anyone interested: http://littleredtarot.com/how-to-read-the-card-bottom-tarot-deck/
Canid Posted February 17, 2018 Posted February 17, 2018 I always glance at the bottom card of the deck during a reading to see what the 'basis' of the entire reading is. For me it always represents the essence of the energy that the querent is currently sitting in. I usually interpret this card first, and nine times out of ten it speaks about the situation that was on their mind when they shuffle or, in other cases, it gives a snapshot of the person's personality and what they're grappling with on a personal level. I love Beth's view of it though. I'm definitely going to factor that perspective in. I don’t pull it out, but I’ve always glanced at it like you do. It’s habit. It’s always an affirmation for me, that I’ve shuffled enough, the ‘powers-that-be’ understand my question, etc. I use it like you, it’s difficult to explain, but I don’t incorporate it in the reading.
Flaxen Posted February 18, 2018 Posted February 18, 2018 I created a couple of 3 card spreads a while ago when I was thinking of how to use the bottom card. The first spread was to do with getting to the bottom of a situation, I think I called it “how to dig a hole” or “digging deeper” or something. The top card shows what’s on the surface of the situation, the middle card looks a bit deeper, and the base helps to show the heart of the matter or the treasure at the bottom of the hole. I used this one recently - it was very insightful. Thank you for creating it. :) I've never tried Beth's method but it looks interesting.
nicalo427 Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 I’m still learning and trying to find my “way” to read. I have just recently payed attention to the bottom card So what I have been doing recently is I do a general 3 card spread. I usually ask What does “sitter” need to know to live life in the fullest most happiest potential? Lay the three cards go over them. Then lay three more. They usually reflect the card below them very well and most times they all unite. I take notes after the reading unless it’s that important that I need to during the reading. I always write down the bottom card. Some times when I look at it it doesn’t seem to need mentioning but other times it’s like it’s flashing and poking me in the ribs saying “HEY THIS HERE”. Is it ok that I use it sometime and not others? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Siavahda Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 I always use the bottom card as part of the reading. However, I think of it as the same way as I do jumper cards - these particular cards might not relate to the question that was asked, but instead be giving information that the querent needs nonetheless on another topic entirely.
Saturn Celeste Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 I’m still learning and trying to find my “way” to read. I have just recently payed attention to the bottom card So what I have been doing recently is I do a general 3 card spread. I usually ask What does “sitter” need to know to live life in the fullest most happiest potential? Lay the three cards go over them. Then lay three more. They usually reflect the card below them very well and most times they all unite. I take notes after the reading unless it’s that important that I need to during the reading. I always write down the bottom card. Some times when I look at it it doesn’t seem to need mentioning but other times it’s like it’s flashing and poking me in the ribs saying “HEY THIS HERE”. Is it ok that I use it sometime and not others? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Hi nicalo427! Rest easy there really isn't a right way or wrong way to read tarot! I think every tarot reader eventually develops their own style and their own intentions. If it works for you and you understand the messages, what more do you need? You're reading the cards! ;)
Page of Ghosts Posted March 27, 2018 Author Posted March 27, 2018 I’m still learning and trying to find my “way” to read. I have just recently payed attention to the bottom card So what I have been doing recently is I do a general 3 card spread. I usually ask What does “sitter” need to know to live life in the fullest most happiest potential? Lay the three cards go over them. Then lay three more. They usually reflect the card below them very well and most times they all unite. I take notes after the reading unless it’s that important that I need to during the reading. I always write down the bottom card. Some times when I look at it it doesn’t seem to need mentioning but other times it’s like it’s flashing and poking me in the ribs saying “HEY THIS HERE”. Is it ok that I use it sometime and not others? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I think it should be fine! It takes a while to find your style and what works for you and even seasoned readers might want to try out something new they read about ^-^ I've been reading for a couple of years now, mostly for myself and the last 2 years has been the most serious, and I still haven't made up my mind on using reversed cards. Sometimes I use them, mostly I don't.
nicalo427 Posted March 28, 2018 Posted March 28, 2018 Thank you guys for the feed back! I will just keep doing what feels right!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Recommended Posts