How did you get started in tarot/suggestions for deck w/astronomical association

[Rarehare]

How did you get started in tarot?  I’ve tried on numerous occasions since age 11 and it just hasn’t been a good fit.  I started with RW, at one point had a teacher who insisted on Thoth—not a good energy fit for me, and now I’m back on a lark....I had a dream of the Star card out of the blue, after about 15 years since I’d put tarot on the back burner.  Now I’m journaling with Labyrinthos and I’m finding it enjoyable, revealing and cathartic.  Now I’m in the process of trying to pick out a deck (I only have 3 decks, RWS, RW Universal and the Lovers Tarot) and trying to learn as much as possible.  I know I should dip my toe into trying one card readings, but I don’t feel I have enough knowledge yet.  So, how did you get started?  Also, if anyone can suggest a good book or deck that makes astrological connections to the cards, that would be greatly appreciated.

[Raggydoll]

Tarot and Astrology by Corinne Kenner is a good book for beginners. RWS certainly has astrological connections to every card, but I know that this is not a deck that everyone feels drawn to. My very first tarot book was 78 degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollock and it helped me a lot. I started reading when I was really young, about the same age as you (I believe I was 12). But it took me many years before I found a deck that I connected with (it was hard to find decks back then, and there was not much available either). I guess I just kept going and kept trying, and then eventually I started making progress and felt more confident. 

[Cookie]

There's some quite good stuff on here by Rose Lalonde[/member] about astrological connections & tarot.  There's a astro wheel that names all the sign's in correspondence to the card. 

 

A good book is: Tarot Talisman by Cicero .  or anything by Jung i found very helpful at the start, as it helped me understand symbolism etc.

 

I grew up in freaks-ville Glastonbury so esoterism was there all around me, but like everything in adolescence we tend to reject and laugh at the things we're brought up with...but I assure you i'm not laughing now, there's no levity in me.

 

But in all seriousness, only recently have i become a disciple of tarot .

 

Thoth in my opinion is not a beginners deck, you're right

[Guest Night Shade]

I got started in Tarot a little over 10 or so years ago.  I should say that it was more like the Tarot was calling out to me.  I kept seeing references to Tarot on TV and in books, and then one day I found a Tarot card on the ground (The World - it was one of those cheap cards that come in those small, square boxes that they sell near the checkouts at bookstores).  At that point, I thought maybe I should check out Tarot for myself.

 

I would go to bookstores and look at the cards, but at first I was afraid to even tough them; I was sure I would end up in Hell! (and, being real, the cards were a bit expensive ).  But one day, I found the mini Hanson-Roberts deck and book set, and thought, well, this doesn't seem very scary, and it's in my price range, so why not?  I brought it home, and fell in love with it.  And after a while, I realized that there's nothing scary about Tarot at all - the fear was all in my head, learned from what people had told me, and from how Tarot and Tarot Readers are often portrayed.

 

As for a deck that correlates with astrology, you might like the Celestial Tarot.  It pairs each card with a constellation, and explains the astrological connections.

 

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/celestial/

[Guest Night Shade]

I grew up in freaks-ville Glastonbury so esoterism was there all around me, but like everything in adolescence we tend to reject and laugh at the things we're brought up with...but I assure you i'm not laughing now, there's no levity in me.

 

Sorry to get off topic, but that makes me really sad, Cookie.

[geminigypsy]

The Easiest Way to Learn the Tarot by Dusty White. This book helped me a lot. It's a book/workbook. I wrote all over in mine. I liked it because it pushed you to see the symbolism in each card and to interpret for yourself..bond with the cards.

[Cookie]

I grew up in freaks-ville Glastonbury so esoterism was there all around me, but like everything in adolescence we tend to reject and laugh at the things we're brought up with...but I assure you i'm not laughing now, there's no levity in me.

 

Sorry to get off topic, but that makes me really sad, Cookie.

 

I'm joking!  Sorry, it's my weird sense of humour that's not even funny ... thanks for the concern though. 

 

I've got to stop putting things like this, i'm always being pulled up at uni for things like this.  Or at least i should put a smiley face up!

[stephanelli]

Just some thoughts for starting to read with the cards:

 

I found the best way to start learning the cards was just to start using them - reading for myself, reading for others.  Just start simple.  If you want to start reading for others maybe have a look at Newbies Circle in the Tarot Reading Circles.  You'll find it in here: https://www.thetarotforum.com/tarot-reading-circles/

They run monthly and the next one will probably start sign ups in a few days time.  You'll get partnered with someone and also have a suggested spread to use.  The great thing about doing online readings in your own time is that its okay to check the book for meanings or research a card if you're not sure about it.

 

Reading for yourself - I know there are various opinions about this, but I find that doing a daily single card draw really helped me to learn the cards (I ask the question "what do I need to know today")  I then interpret it and keep an eye for the energy of card appearing throughout my day.  I forget where, but I've also read about choosing the card you want to focus on each day and look for its energy as you go throughout the day (say work through all the Wands one day for each card).

[Jewel]

This book has nothing to do with Astrology, but 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary Greer is a fabulous work book!  It also takes you on a journey.  If I had it to do all over again, this would have been the first book I would have purchased and not purchased any other book until I completed both phases of it (apprentice and journeyman).  Through it you learn basics, but most importantly you learn that while also learning to trust yourself.

[sandrang123]

The Spiral Tarot is a beautiful deck with many astrological associations. As for beginning books, I seem to remember that THE EVERYTHING TAROT BOOK by Abadie (spelling?) often linked cards to astrology and/or Greek myth, etc.

 

Good luck!

Sandy

 

 

[Rose Lalonde]

Rarehare[/member] , because you like RWS and astrology, as far as decks, you might want to keep an eye out for the 2019 2nd edition of the Spirit Keeper's Tarot. It's one of the few decks with RWS style minors to include the astrology symbols on those cards.

 

As stephanelli[/member] said, there are our exchange circles. We have a beginner's circle that's a very welcoming place for all levels. We also have a (free) mentorship program you might like, but I think we have a backlog, so it would have to be in the new year.

 

Most of the books I learned on are Thothy, so I'll leave that to others, but there is a good, one page intro to astrology in Golden Dawn inspired decks like the RWS and Thoth here, and as Cookie[/member] kindly mentioned, if it's helpful I added this thread of astrology and tarot info and exercises form the mentorship section, and the student was using the RWS for that.

[Cobweb]

I can't help much with the astrology (I'm still only dipping my toes into astrology myself) and I'm a long way from having the knowledge of some of the lovely and very experienced posters here.    But in terms of learning the basics, I started by doing readings for myself.  I  laid out the cards, looked up the meanings, journalled the reading.  To make it easier to learn the "book meanings", I spent several weeks only reading with the major arcana.  When I was sure I knew each of the major arcana (to the point I knew key words and concepts without a book), I added in the court cards, then finally the minor arcana.  So for me, I just launched straight in to readings.  The more you read, the more you build up your mental picture of each card and the easier it gets.

 

I'm going to second everyone else who has already suggested that you join our Newbies Circle for readings.    (Come and join us!)

 

For me, it also helped to just accept that some decks are much much easier for me to read with than others.  But I've got no advice to give because I've also discovered that I'm really bad at telling which decks I will click with before I spend the money on them!  :biggrin:  But finding a deck that speaks to you really does help.

[Rose Lalonde]

So for me, I just launched straight in to readings.  The more you read, the more you build up your mental picture of each card and the easier it gets.

Yes! Also this.  :) I realized I didn't answer your question about how we started. I started by doing readings and journaling without anything other than the little white book (lwb) that came with the deck. I read very differently then, and that's ok. Even when you want to incorporate RWS astrological correspondences, as you mentioned, I think you try them out in readings and see which aspects work for you. You find your own way by doing, and as with any creative endeavor, it helps if you don't imagine there's someone who's going to judge you for reading in a certain way or for looking at a card and seeing something that doesn't match what a book said.

[Rarehare]

You’ve given me so much to think about and check out.  There are some books you’ve pointed out that I’m definitely looking into.  And since I have the Bunning books and 21 Ways to Read a Tarot card I’ll go back and read them.  I’m not married to the RWS system, although it’s the basics, so I’ll have to plumb the Jungian symbolism in there to move forward (the only reason i have 2 decks is because one is so washed out and plain looking).  But I do love astrology.  It was my first love as a child—astrology and astronomy (which, coming from the cloudy clime I’m from meant lots of time spent in planetariums <3 <3 <3 ), still I need to actually learn the science of it (I think I’ll start with tarot first, then a computer program, then hit the books).  I’d love to find something out there actually adjusted for the precession.  What would be perfect would be a nice colorful deck that had both RWS associations and astronomical ones, too...and if it was gilded it would be perfect!

[Rarehare]

I found The Everything Tarot Book for half price yesterday while out replacing something my dog ate ;). So that’s a happy twist, a nice start to things.

[Rarehare]

I was just looking at 21 Ways again yesterday and have decided to pursue it as soon as I can get Scrivner through Mary Greer...maybe sooner, but I prefer typing to writing a little.