How Often Should I Expect Referring To Notes/Explanations On Cards?

[tr1p]

i'm new to Tarot but not fully new. i started studying them a year or so ago, and stopped.

now i'm back to it, and i'm currently writing down explanations of the cards, from sources on the internet, AND in my own words a bit, and all that

 

i'm curious though, when i become more experienced, and know the definitions of each card off heart, how often then will i still look at the notes of mine, or books (i own 2 books on them), or internet, or feel like i need to at all.

 

any experienced people on Tarot here that still look at notes? if so, how often do you? and maybe shed some light on why you would look up more into the meanings of the cards, even if you "fully" understand them (i know that no one can be "fully" understanding of the meanings, but yea)

 

i would imagine i should reach points where i may rarely look at the meanings written down, but i'm still curious on how often someone who "knows the meanings of each card" would look at notes

 

thanks 😄

[HermitWriter]

Like many things in life, I think you'll find the answer to this is a resounding "it depends" 🙂 If I'm reading in-person for someone, I don't refer to notes or books. If I'm reading and journaling for myself, I might look up notes or even older entries in my journals, especially if I'm noticing patterns (same card showing up over multiple readings, for instance). I'm a huge nerd. I love books, reading, learning... There's always something new to find in interpreting cards, especially with the plethora of decks and styles out there.

 

But when I'm doing a reading for someone? Then it's just them, me, and the cards.

[Aldor44]

When I do online readings - at times when I don't feel any of the known to me meanings resonate with what the card is trying to say I go back to my folder/journal Where over the last 2-3 years I collected and re-summarized all the cards 2- times with key words and sentences and see if any word/phrase jumps up at me- and often time it does.

 

I don't do it often but from time to time- especially with cards that are still relatively hard for me to read in certain situation.

 

I do the same with court cards and my astrology book- since I am not as versed in astrology so at times I go and re read the qualities of a certain sign that corresponds to the court card - since many a time I use the astrological meaning of these said cards

 

Edited October 25, 2019 by Aldor44

[Grizabella]

I never check notes or books when I read for others, whether online or not. 

 

If I get a new deck that's really different, like I did recently with the Barbara Walker or the Zillich, then I get into the book just to familiarize myself with the differences. Usually, though, my decks are all RWS and clones so I don't spend a lot of time with the books.

Reference books on the Tarot in general I do use more. I don't as much as I used to, but they're quite interesting and I believe in ongoing education so I turn to them sometimes for that purpose to brush up on something or learn a new aspect.  I've had Tarot Beyond the Basics and Cartomancy with the Lenormand and Tarot for quite a few years now but still haven't done more than glance through either of them yet. I always vow I will "one of these days" and then my resolve fizzles. I've also vowed to learn more kabalah and even bought the book on "Chicken Cabalah" which is supposed to be easier to learn but still haven't really put that one to good use, either.

 

If I've done a reading for somebody and I've encountered something within the reading that was unusual or that piqued my curiosity, then sometimes I might go later on when I have time and pull out a book or two to read up a bit on whatever it is. The way I read utilizes learned meanings to some extent, but it's really such a mixture of my stored bank of memories plus what I just "know", and combinations of cards that I've learned to just let it flow rather than consciously trying to remember book meanings anymore. I've been reading for quite a long time, though, but when I was just beginning, I learned from books and accumulated experience just like anyone else does. I'v'e never kept a journal, though. I was raising two small grandchildren from infancy to adulthood and who in the world has journal time? I sure didn't. lol