Just wondering...

[Whisper]

So, do you think that one should

 

A) learn the traditional definitions associated with each Tarot card (according to each major system: RSW, etc.),

 

B) read them intuitively only,

 

C) look at the particular associations and interpretations of each individual deck according to its author or

 

D) apply any combination of the above?

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

[Saturn Celeste]

I honestly believe it's important to learn the traditional meanings of the tarot first.  I prefer to see people start out with the RWS and make life easy on them as a beginner.  I started out on the JJ. Swiss deck and because it is a Marseille I didin't have interesting pip cards to look at so learning the actual meaning of the card was the best way to start out. From there after having time with tarot, then branch out.  Test your wings and go the intuitive route, at least you'll have a base to work with in case your intuition is not there a time or two.  By this time, the reader will no longer be a beginner and will develop their own style and be in a position to use whatever manner of reading they want.  :cardz:

 

Oops, forgot something.  At this point in my tarot reading, I do look at the companion books and read the 'intention' of the deck by the creator.  It will make traditional meanings not as important and most likely draw out more intuition.  But I have so many diverse decks, I want to know just what the author of the deck wanted to portray.

[Guest Night Shade]

I think all of the above!

 

A. You should definitely learn the traditional meanings, so you'll have a good foundation to build on.  And many decks base their symbolism on those traditional meanings, so knowing that symbolism will make it much easier to understand and read with those decks.

 

B. Intuition is essential!  Sometimes your intuition will point you to an interpretation radically different from the traditional one - if you ignore it, you might miss out on some important information you or your sitter really need to know.

 

C. Definitely learn each deck's system and it's author's point of view.  The deck might be trying to show you something, but if you don't know its language, you won't understand the message.  Plus learning each author's way of looking at the cards will give you even more knowledge to draw upon.

[Raggydoll]

I honestly believe it's important to learn the traditional meanings of the tarot first.  I prefer to see people start out with the RWS and make life easy on them as a beginner.  I started out on the JJ. Swiss deck and because it is a Marseille I didin't have interesting pip cards to look at so learning the actual meaning of the card was the best way to start out. From there after having time with tarot, then branch out.  Test your wings and go the intuitive route, at least you'll have a base to work with in case your intuition is not there a time or two.  By this time, the reader will no longer be a beginner and will develop their own style and be in a position to use whatever manner of reading they want.  :cardz:

 

Oops, forgot something.  At this point in my tarot reading, I do look at the companion books and read the 'intention' of the deck by the creator.  It will make traditional meanings not as important and most likely draw out more intuition.  But I have so many diverse decks, I want to know just what the author of the deck wanted to portray.

 

I also like to look in the guidebooks to see if there is some unique thoughts and ideas to be found (most of my decks are non-rws clones, which I like). Plus I think it’s nice to add a pertinent quote here and there, especially if it’s a comprehensive lengthy reading. It helps to tie everything together beautifully!

[bookshop]

i think definitely all of the above, with an emphasis on using your intuition.

 

i like to remind people that the cards are traditionally fictional archetypes. So, just like any other fictional story, to read these stories deeply (from deck to deck), we would want to know how to read them literally, how to read their subtext, how to read their sociocultural contexts, how to understand what their audience is, how to interpret their symbolism, and also, most of all, to bring something of ourselves and our own experiences to the text.

[Whisper]

I think all of the above!

 

A. You should definitely learn the traditional meanings, so you'll have a good foundation to build on.  And many decks base their symbolism on those traditional meanings, so knowing that symbolism will make it much easier to understand and read with those decks.

 

B. Intuition is essential!  Sometimes your intuition will point you to an interpretation radically different from the traditional one - if you ignore it, you might miss out on some important information you or your sitter really need to know.

 

C. Definitely learn each deck's system and it's author's point of view.  The deck might be trying to show you something, but if you don't know its language, you won't understand the message.  Plus learning each author's way of looking at the cards will give you even more knowledge to draw upon.

 

Thank you, Night Shade. [emoji4] I'm inclined to agree, but difficult to say (for me) whether knowledge interferes with or enhances intuition.

[Whisper]

I honestly believe it's important to learn the traditional meanings of the tarot first.  I prefer to see people start out with the RWS and make life easy on them as a beginner.  I started out on the JJ. Swiss deck and because it is a Marseille I didin't have interesting pip cards to look at so learning the actual meaning of the card was the best way to start out. From there after having time with tarot, then branch out.  Test your wings and go the intuitive route, at least you'll have a base to work with in case your intuition is not there a time or two.  By this time, the reader will no longer be a beginner and will develop their own style and be in a position to use whatever manner of reading they want.  :cardz:

 

Oops, forgot something.  At this point in my tarot reading, I do look at the companion books and read the 'intention' of the deck by the creator.  It will make traditional meanings not as important and most likely draw out more intuition.  But I have so many diverse decks, I want to know just what the author of the deck wanted to portray.

 

Wise words, dear Saturn.  <3

 

(Just wondering if this thread doesn't exist in duplicate... . I might have created it twice by mistake - Is it possible to consolidate or is it just my computer and browser doing this?).

[Endy]

I also agree all of the above! Maybe not at the exact same time, though ;) As someone starting out myself, I have found it important to look at each of these individually before trying to put them all together at once. I feel that the mentor program here in the forum has been taking a similar approach. I think of it like learning any technique or activity... you go slow and learn each movement individually, then you can put it all together and run!

 

But if someone ends up having only one of these as a preference for reading tarot, hat's fine but it's still good that they gave the other options a chance, in my opinion.

[Whisper]

I honestly believe it's important to learn the traditional meanings of the tarot first.  I prefer to see people start out with the RWS and make life easy on them as a beginner.  I started out on the JJ. Swiss deck and because it is a Marseille I didin't have interesting pip cards to look at so learning the actual meaning of the card was the best way to start out. From there after having time with tarot, then branch out.  Test your wings and go the intuitive route, at least you'll have a base to work with in case your intuition is not there a time or two.  By this time, the reader will no longer be a beginner and will develop their own style and be in a position to use whatever manner of reading they want.  :cardz:

 

Oops, forgot something.  At this point in my tarot reading, I do look at the companion books and read the 'intention' of the deck by the creator.  It will make traditional meanings not as important and most likely draw out more intuition.  But I have so many diverse decks, I want to know just what the author of the deck wanted to portray.

 

I also like to look in the guidebooks to see if there is some unique thoughts and ideas to be found (most of my decks are non-rws clones, which I like). Plus I think it’s nice to add a pertinent quote here and there, especially if it’s a comprehensive lengthy reading. It helps to tie everything together beautifully!

 

I like to do that myself very much. Like to see how that deviates from, or reinforces the more traditional meanings/symbolism, but find myself combining the reading of the guidebooks with my intuition.

 

Take the Art of Life Tarot (quickly becoming my favourite deck for its effortless eloquence). There is but a little pamphlet, but I find that the quote, together with the image and my own intuition appear so clearly to me that I forego the traditional meaning of the cards altogether. I, too, really like to take a quote or two from the guidebooks because I am in complete agreement with what the author is saying and he or she is saying it better than I ever could.

[Whisper]

I also agree all of the above! Maybe not at the exact same time, though ;) As someone starting out myself, I have found it important to look at each of these individually before trying to put them all together at once. I feel that the mentor program here in the forum has been taking a similar approach. I think of it like learning any technique or activity... you go slow and learn each movement individually, then you can put it all together and run!

 

But if someone ends up having only one of these as a preference for reading tarot, hat's fine but it's still good that they gave the other options a chance, in my opinion.

 

Like looking at individual elements of the story before assembling it and telling it completely. Interesting. The Mentor program here is fabulous. One could not have a better course of study offered and led by very gifted and extremely knowledgeable people. Glad to have you with us, Endy, and thank you for your input. [emoji4]

[Saturn Celeste]

(Just wondering if this thread doesn't exist in duplicate... . I might have created it twice by mistake - Is it possible to consolidate or is it just my computer and browser doing this?).

Your friendly neighborhood spider Saturn took care of it.  :bhehe:

[Whisper]

(Just wondering if this thread doesn't exist in duplicate... . I might have created it twice by mistake - Is it possible to consolidate or is it just my computer and browser doing this?).

Your friendly neighborhood spider Saturn took care of it.  :bhehe:

 

As always, my dear. [emoji4]

[Thoughtful]

l always love to read with interest the book that comes with a deck.  When l first  started out l used to be very diligent in reading my cards as the book detailed, but over the years intuition kicked in, and it was a happy freedom time for me learning that it can all work together.

 

l did use to hesitate when my intuition overrode the book meaning, but the authors do not have all the answers.  Experience shows how you personally work with the cards, nothing is set in stone.  If the readings are good and hits the spot for you or who you are reading for, then bingo!

 

 

[Grizabella]

I recommend learning with RWS to start out with. If you bought or were given a deck you prefer, just put that away and learn the basics first. Then you can go back to your first deck and meld what you know with what another artist means with their cards in your first choice.

 

However, basic keyword knowledge only goes so far. As you relax into being familiar with your RWS and you start feeling it's time to move on, don't forget that the learned meanings are only the basic indicator of what the cards mean in a reading. Card combinations say a lot more than just basic keywords when you start reading spreads. 

 

Basically, learn the RWS first. I thought it was ugly as heck and tried to learn with other, "cuter" decks. But I found that until I broke down and learned RWS I didn't learn all that much.

 

Learning keywords and meanings is just a start. There's a lot more involved than just those basics.

 

[Whisper]

l always love to read with interest the book that comes with a deck.  When l first  started out l used to be very diligent in reading my cards as the book detailed, but over the years intuition kicked in, and it was a happy freedom time for me learning that it can all work together.

 

l did use to hesitate when my intuition overrode the book meaning, but the authors do not have all the answers.  Experience shows how you personally work with the cards, nothing is set in stone.  If the readings are good and hits the spot for you or who you are reading for, then bingo!

 

Thank you, Thoughtful[/member]. I think intuition should trump everything else.

[Whisper]

I recommend learning with RWS to start out with. If you bought or were given a deck you prefer, just put that away and learn the basics first. Then you can go back to your first deck and meld what you know with what another artist means with their cards in your first choice.

 

However, basic keyword knowledge only goes so far. As you relax into being familiar with your RWS and you start feeling it's time to move on, don't forget that the learned meanings are only the basic indicator of what the cards mean in a reading. Card combinations say a lot more than just basic keywords when you start reading spreads. 

 

Basically, learn the RWS first. I thought it was ugly as heck and tried to learn with other, "cuter" decks. But I found that until I broke down and learned RWS I didn't learn all that much.

 

Learning keywords and meanings is just a start. There's a lot more involved than just those basics.

 

Good point, Grizabella[/member]. Card combinations are the key. I discovered that quite early and it was indeed a revelation.

[Wanderer]

I think... it depends on the person! Just to be awkward.  :)

 

I started out on RW and it didn't really work for me, despite trying to learn the meanings. Even though the cards were coming out in meaningful ways, nothing flowed as i felt it should. The cards didn't speak to me intuitively, and the meanings were largely opaque. I'm sure I got some basic grounding by trying to read with it for years, but I'm also sure that it was holding me back.

 

Once I started on the Wildwood, everything made a lot more sense, the intended meanings stuck very quickly, and intuition flowed very easily. Having that also helped me to understand the RW better; it was the WW that gave me a handle to understand the RW system and which helped it to slot into place.

 

I also find that with a deck that suits me, I can either use the intended (traditional) meanings, or I can use meaning that I've developed through experience with it... and with time the latter outweighs the former. So, I'd say that it's important to have an understanding of how the basic system (RW) works, and an outline of the meanings, but if it doesn't appeal and you're going to be using a very different deck, then the detailed meanings are less important. In fact, immersing yourself in the detailed meanings for RW can, I fear, potentially interfere with how you develop with a different deck... but again, it will depend on the person.

 

What it boils down to is that some people will also develop an intuitive approach, whereas others will naturally be much more system-based. From what I've seen, Tarot is inordinately flexible; it moulds itself to the person, so that there will be a way that it works, no matter the personality. In short... go with what works for you!  :biggrin:

[Guest libra]

I'm a bit of an oddball here it seems, as I lean to intuition first reading.  But really, I started divination far before I knew what tarot was, and even when I got into card slinging, it was oracle decks before tarot.  The structure and history of tarot falls to secondary to my natural divination style that I've been cultivating for many, many years.  I guess tarot is more of a shortcut for me than anything else!  I ask the universe what I need to know and it'll tell me. Sometimes as obviously as having a goddess's name graffiti'd on a wall that I walk past, sometimes as obscure as a dream where I keep getting stuck in a loop of crossing a road while someone is pissed off at me because they want to turn and I'm in the way.  I go to tarot when I've gotten stuck at what the message is.  But, the traditional meaning isn't terribly set in stone as what the card means for me.  Like, the Ace of Wands can be a spark of inspiration and creativity, but it can also mean you need to go and get some D, but it also came through with a vivid image of a NYC girl in her 20s who's been hurt before but is getting a fresh start in her life, growing past the pain and has a wicked sense of style and flirty mannerism that are more of a shield to keep people at arms length while she is in a delicate seedling stage of recovery.  There's no where that would ever describe the card as her, but at the same time, it made sense and was confirmed by the querent at the time.  Holding too strong to the prescribed notion of what the cards "mean" really inhibits that part of my brain during a reading, so I really don't allow those to be the first thing I think of when I'm looking at the cards. I'll definitely study the traditional meanings and I journal about them in a non-reading setting, but it's not what I'm relying on when I'm actually reading the cards!