Getting started...

[Zorba]

Ok, this sounds dumb, but I need a bit of advice on how to get started! I've read and digested the Pollack book - its great, its informative, I learned a TON from it, and I will be referring to it and re-reading it - BUT. I need a "push" on how to do my first few attempts at actually reading the cards. Who for? What kind of reading/questions? I figure the Celtic Cross is probably as good as any of a spread for someone clueless like me, certainly the description of the "Tree of Life" is currently WAAAY over my head. Obviously, I'm going to have to refer heavily on the book to try to figure out what the spread is trying to tell me, but "what kind/style of reading should I attempt first?" question has me deadlocked. Maybe I should ask the cards... 😉

[Lady Butterfly]

In my opinion, the Celtic Cross is a big and challenging spread for a beginner. I'd stick to max 3 card spreads for a little while, as you acquaint yourself with the cards.

 

As for getting into actually reading, why not try a daily draw of one to three cards for yourself. There are many ideas out there on the web for positional meanings for three card spreads...

Mind/Body/Spirit

Card of the Day/Unexpected Twist/Potential Obstacle

etc.

 

For one card readings, you could try...

Where should I focus my attention today?

What should I remember today?

What energy should I channel today?

What is my lesson today?

etc.

[xTheHermitx]

I started out with a Rider-Waite deck, and by doing 3 card spreads, and just did '"imaginary reads"...like, just trying to remember the imagery and symbolism, and then trying to tie them together into an interpretation. 

 

I also did things like just laying out all of the Major Arcana, and looking similarities in colors, symbols, numbers etc on them. It was more card study than readings. I used many different books, and always referred to them...I honestly still do to this day, 35 years later.  I did the same thing with the minors as well.

 

to this day, i still study the cards. And mostly do personal readings. I do some of the reading group things on this site. I used to do a daily draw, and see what the one card was saying about the upcoming day. I don't do that as much anymore just cause I have moved on to other things.

 

I think at first, you will want to get used to deciphering the card meanings as they come out, and not necessarily jump right to readings. But that is just me. /I studied the cards for 10 years before I started doing readings for others, and I still have yet to ever chagrge people for readings...it is always done  as friends, or impromptu. I never plan on turning this into a business.

[katrinka]

On 2/28/2020 at 10:17 PM, Zorba said:

Ok, this sounds dumb, but I need a bit of advice on how to get started! I've read and digested the Pollack book - its great, its informative, I learned a TON from it, and I will be referring to it and re-reading it - BUT. I need a "push" on how to do my first few attempts at actually reading the cards.

The Pollack book is much loved in the community, but it isn't a manual. 
Here's what Waite himself wrote for using the RWS: https://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot/pkt/index.htm
Start with that and move from here. You need more than one book.

Quote

Who for? What kind of reading/questions?

For who/whatever you want to know about. It's that simple.

On 2/28/2020 at 10:51 PM, Lady Butterfly said:

In my opinion, the Celtic Cross is a big and challenging spread for a beginner. I'd stick to max 3 card spreads for a little while, as you acquaint yourself with the cards.

I have to disagree with this. The CC is a pretty standard beginner spread. And I use a lot of lines of three, even though I've been reading cards since the Nixon administration. Three card spreads are concise. 

You're learning a language, give yourself time and a lot of practice. You can't do it overnight, in spite of what the "Learn Tarot in a week!" sites may say. As with everything else worthwhile, the 10,000 hour rule applies.

Edited March 1, 2020 by katrinka

[Norik]

My first spread was a ‘get to know your deck’ spread, where you ask its like/strengths and dislikes/weakness, etc.. I found it set the stage for future readings, since one of the questions was literally ’where do you see us going together’. There are lots of those kinds of spreads out there, ranging from about 5-9 cards (or at least I have a 5 card one and a 9 card one).

 

Whether you view it as getting to know your deck or your higher self is up to you. I know not everyone feels like decks have their own personalities. 

[Guest]

What I usually suggest for tarot newbies is:

1. Start with drawing a daily card. You can draw in the morning to see how your day will manifest, draw a card at night to see what you should take as a lesson for the day, or both. This will help you acquaint yourself with individual cards and their meanings, as well as the symbolism in the deck.

2. Once you feel comfortable with single card draws, try 2 or 3 card spreads. The spreads suggested by Graduate are a good place to start. This will help you get familiar with card combinations, how the cards read with each other, and how their meanings change in context of a spread and other cards.

As you progress and more people know about the fact that you practice tarot, you'll find that people will come to you for readings. If you're not comfortable with reading for others right away, it's okay to say no. Figure out what your boundaries are and stick to them (i.e. won't read on medical or legal questions).

If you want to try reading for a third party but don't have anyone to practice with, read for your houseplants. Read for a stuffed animal. You can practice technique and phrasings for readings even if you don't have a live person in front of you.

[Zorba]

Ok, single and 3 cards it is! Can somebody point me at info on 3 cards?

[Rupicapra]

Typical 3-card-spreads would be past-present-future or within-without-advice and similar. Personally I find that often I need a specific question for those and that is where I sometimes get stuck, because I just want to practise, do a general check in or just happen to have an hour to myself and nothing else to do, but no specific question on mind. 

For those occasions I love spreads from e.g. Emerald lotus (you can find her on Google) or other sites, they are often fairly general spread with one question for each card position where I don't have to have a specific question to read on in mind. 

I also love daily tarot challenges on Instagram, usually one card a day but with a specific prompt for each day for me to think about.