Tarot Quirks

[EmpyreanKnight]

What are some personal Tarot practices that are uniquely yours, or which other readers may find odd or strange? I discussed this with a few of my reader friends just the other day, and suffice it to say that we were thoroughly entertained by how creative and out of this world some of our peculiarities are. I even thought of incorporating some of their quirks in my practice. ;D

[EmpyreanKnight]

I mainly perform only one reading at a time, so whenever I finish one I almost always re-arrange the cards in their original sequence. While I'm doing this, I always take note of:

 

1. The very last major I pick up, which serves as sort of an indicator of the auspiciousness of the situation I was reading about

 

2. Which suit fills up first - if it's Wands I'd have to pay attention to my projects, career,  and businesses, Cups to my relationships and spiritual practices, Swords to current/impending concerns, and Pentacles to my finances and health.

 

3. The very first Court suit that gets completed. Swords mean some possible problems in the horizon, Cups and Wands are neutral - things would go in accordance to the effort I expend on them, while Pentacles are very positive.

 

This is just a personal system I spontaneously developed on my own. I'd say it's rather accurate tho.

[DDwarks]

. Which suit fills up first - if it's Wands I'd have to pay attention to my projects, career,  and businesses, Cups to my relationships and spiritual practices, Swords to current/impending concerns, and Pentacles to my finances and health.

This!

I also pay attention to how many trump cards appear in a big spread.

Many = big events

Not many to none = nothing major happening.

 

I whack my deck 3 times before use. Does it count?

That's how I clear the energy of the last reading.

 

[Apollonia]

Instead of laying out the cards off the top of the deck, I will take the first two off the top, one off the bottom, and then repeatedly cut the deck for each additional card.

 

For a CC, I use two crossing cards instead of one.

 

I take note of how the shuffling goes. If the cards are sticky and don't seem to want to interleave properly, I feel that is an indication that the topic is an especially problematic one for the querent and perhaps not easily resolved.

[EmpyreanKnight]

I take note of how the shuffling goes. If the cards are sticky and don't seem to want to interleave properly, I feel that is an indication that the topic is an especially problematic one for the querent and perhaps not easily resolved.

 

I usually don't have any problems shuffling, but when I do I get the sense that somehow the answer must remain veiled, tho I may still proceed with the reading if I feel that it is still warranted.

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

Shuffle. Shuffle. Cut and shuffle

Fan, draw at random

 

I never reorder  my deck unless gifting or selling.

[Barbastelle]

When I've finished my readings, I shuffle the cards a few times and then place them face-up back in the box. The card on the top (face-up) gives me an indicator of what will happen for me in the time between my closing the box and opening it again.

[Rose Lalonde]

Good thread idea. EmpyreanKnight[/member]  :) 

 

I keep my decks in order, because I like to look through them that way, and because of the method I use to draw cards. The order is influenced by GD Qabalah, then suit after that, so it's:  majors, then all aces, 2s, kings, 3s, queens, 4s, 5s, 6s, princes (knights), 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s, princesses (pages).

 

I use a mini deck to shuffle most of the time, because it's easy on my hands and keeps my other decks in good condition. After drawing cards with the shuffle deck, I get the deck I'm actually going to read with and pull the same cards from it.

 

I don't mind if others handle cards I own (unless their hands are sticky  :o ).

[TheFeeLion]

Heh here’s something different...

 

I’ve taken to using deck combos, I have two main ones at the moment, I’ll also go spreadless. I pick up a deck and start shuffling, any cards the jump out get layed down (unless it’s a bit bunch then it goes back into the pile and I’ll keep shuffling) I’ll carry on shuffling until I get no more cards then pick up the next deck I feel the need to use and the same process happens again. If the card quantity starts to get a little high I’ll let the deck know and generally I’ll only get one or two more jumpers.

 

The spread kind of forms out of where the cards fall and where they feel right. It’s up to me to determine if there is any specific meaning to the placements.

[EmpyreanKnight]

When I've finished my readings, I shuffle the cards a few times and then place them face-up back in the box. The card on the top (face-up) gives me an indicator of what will happen for me in the time between my closing the box and opening it again.

 

This is interesting, Barbastelle. Looks like a good way of gauging your luck since you're doing a reading anyway, killing two birds with one stone.

 

Also, welcome to the forum. :)

[Saturn Celeste]

When I've finished my readings, I shuffle the cards a few times and then place them face-up back in the box. The card on the top (face-up) gives me an indicator of what will happen for me in the time between my closing the box and opening it again.

I agree with Empyrean, this is really interesting.  I might give it a try because my cards are always placed face-up in the box as well.

[ToadieOdie]

I have a tendency to have music come to mind when I do readings. Sometimes it's an entire playlist. Other times it might be just one song. When I first started here I've largely kept it to myself. But the last two readings I did I feel the strong need to share the musical piece that came to mind. I don't know what it is, but I do know it's a level of communication that I'm getting I can't convey with words. Even the individual cards has an evolving list of music associated with them.

[Barbastelle]

When I've finished my readings, I shuffle the cards a few times and then place them face-up back in the box. The card on the top (face-up) gives me an indicator of what will happen for me in the time between my closing the box and opening it again.

 

This is interesting, Barbastelle. Looks like a good way of gauging your luck since you're doing a reading anyway, killing two birds with one stone.

 

Also, welcome to the forum. :)

 

When I've finished my readings, I shuffle the cards a few times and then place them face-up back in the box. The card on the top (face-up) gives me an indicator of what will happen for me in the time between my closing the box and opening it again.

I agree with Empyrean, this is really interesting.  I might give it a try because my cards are always placed face-up in the box as well.

 

Thank you!

If you give it a go, do let me know how accurate it is for you!  :)

[Thoughtful]

When l shuffle my cards l wait until  the cards come to a point where they stop of their own accord,  its like they get stuck.  Never fails for me.

 

l don't use spreads l just lay the cards out in a line and off we go. l will also intuitively lay a card on another when l feel l should,  it gives me a fuller understanding. 

 

 

When l finish a reading l shuffle the cards back in,  give the deck a tap on the table, thank them,  and put them to rest in their tarot bag.

 

 

Don't know if this counts as quirky but have always done this  ;D

[Saturn Celeste]

When l shuffle my cards l wait until  the cards come to a point where they stop of their own accord,  its like they get stuck.  Never fails for me.

 

l don't use spreads l just lay the cards out in a line and off we go. l will also intuitively lay a card on another when l feel l should,  it gives me a fuller understanding. 

 

 

When l finish a reading l shuffle the cards back in,  give the deck a tap on the table, thank them,  and put them to rest in their tarot bag.

 

 

Don't know if this counts as quirky but have always done this  ;D

 

Sounds quirky enough to me, Thoughtful!  When I was learning and doing universal readings, I used to thank my decks for giving me the types of readings that I needed.  It was also through this time that I found my decks sometimes had a sense of humor.

[Wanderer]

When l shuffle my cards l wait until  the cards come to a point where they stop of their own accord,  its like they get stuck.  Never fails for me.

...

 

When l finish a reading l shuffle the cards back in,  give the deck a tap on the table, thank them,  and put them to rest in their tarot bag.

 

 

Don't know if this counts as quirky but have always done this  ;D

 

How interesting... that's pretty much identical to what I do! Sometimes it's not so much stopping when the cards want to, as I can feel one getting impatient and reaching out to me with little clawed fingers... but in general, yes, I just know when it's the right time to stop.

 

I don't have a bag, though; I've been scouring second-hand and antique shops for the 'right' box to keep them in. It had to be old, ornately carved wood, with a sense of tangled darkness to it... and recently found what I was looking for, tucked away in a corner of a cluttered little antique shop. On this one, a deer is resting among a profusion of carved leaves, protected by the wildness. The inlay is red velvet, and the cards fit with about 1 mm to spare... so I guess it was meant to be.

 

I've no idea why, but it's important to me to keep the cards somewhere appropriate, to make them feel comfortable. I suppose it's a need to relate to them as if they had a personality of their own... which it very much seems they do!  :o

[Thoughtful]

Glad you found the box you wanted Wanderer, it sounds lovely and ideal for your cards. If its for your Wildwood deck it could not be better. 

 

The tarot l am using at the moment means a lot to me so l wanted something special and meaningful to keep it in.  My mother passed away some years ago, we had a lovely relationship.  l kept some memento's of hers including a little cotton apron, she was a superb cook always conjuring up delicious apple pies and lemon meringues. Her apron was on my mind immediately as a little keepsake to put my deck in.  l wanted to have something old that had been used and seen life. So got my needle and cotton out and spent time making this bag.  Now l store  this deck with the energies and memories of her surrounding me and my cards.  It makes me happy when l get this deck out.

 

It felt right to do this rather than have the apron stored away, it may have been her wish and her thoughts that prompted me to do this. l feel her always around me.

[Thoughtful]

 

Sounds quirky enough to me, Thoughtful!  When I was learning and doing universal readings, I used to thank my decks for giving me the types of readings that I needed.  It was also through this time that I found my decks sometimes had a sense of humor.

 

The day before l give a private reading l always ask my cards how the reading will go.  l shuffle up three cards and they tell me what the reading will be about. They are always spot on and give me a general feel of what is on the clients mind.

 

Talking of humour, l like to pull a card last thing at night and so many times l have the 4Swords, "get to bed woman"  gives me a chuckle.

 

[EmpyreanKnight]

The day before l give a private reading l always ask my cards how the reading will go.  l shuffle up three cards and they tell me what the reading will be about. They are always spot on and give me a general feel of what is on the clients mind.

 

A reading about a reading. That sounds very meta. I should try it one time. :)

[Thoughtful]

Yes do and let us know how it goes. Never thought of it in that way, but it works  ;D

[Arch]

The most quirky things I do is adding an image I relate to,

to my morning reading in my journal on this forum.

It sort of sets the tone of the reading and magnify the issue in focus,

giving it a somewhat personal esthetic touch.

 

I also meditate with a stopwatch on the reading for 5 minutes before going to work.

That way I get to integrate the understanding it points to into my day.

 

There are other quirks involved, but they are private.  :P

[HeavenlyWren]

For the longest time i used to put my decks around in a salt circle to clense them because i didn't like sage...

 

:L i also leave them on the window on a full moon and sometimes if i feel the deck needs a restart I'll re organise the suits so they can spend time with their family.

 

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

 

[Queen of Nothing]

For me, when I don't have a particular question or spread in mind but still want to work with a deck, I have a "conversation" with it.

 

I hold the deck in my hands and randomly alternate between cutting, riffling, and overhand shuffling the deck. I just think about my day, what I'm looking forward to, what's stressing me out, etc and stop to pull cards when I feel like the deck compells me to do so. It feels like having a normal conversation with a friend where they let me vent. I find its a great way to figure out the personality of your deck.

[TheFeeLion]

For me, when I don't have a particular question or spread in mind but still want to work with a deck, I have a "conversation" with it.

 

I hold the deck in my hands and randomly alternate between cutting, riffling, and overhand shuffling the deck. I just think about my day, what I'm looking forward to, what's stressing me out, etc and stop to pull cards when I feel like the deck compells me to do so. It feels like having a normal conversation with a friend where they let me vent. I find its a great way to figure out the personality of your deck.

I love this! I’m going to have to give it a go!! :D

[Queen of Nothing]

For me, when I don't have a particular question or spread in mind but still want to work with a deck, I have a "conversation" with it.

 

I hold the deck in my hands and randomly alternate between cutting, riffling, and overhand shuffling the deck. I just think about my day, what I'm looking forward to, what's stressing me out, etc and stop to pull cards when I feel like the deck compells me to do so. It feels like having a normal conversation with a friend where they let me vent. I find its a great way to figure out the personality of your deck.

I love this! I’m going to have to give it a go!! :D

 

I love doing it. Recently I've been talking about my crush and its fun to see how each deck reacts. Some are cheerful, and some are just so done with my indecisiveness.