Tarot?

[kc450]

So I'll admit I've had a minor fascination with Tarot readings and the decks since I was a kid and mom brought home a deck.

I am lost completely to names of the cards and how to read them, but I want to learn. How could I go about doing that?

 
On a "just personal experience" note, I got my first deck when I was twelve, The Mythic Tarot, which included a handy little book. The thing I remember best about this book is that the card explanations were done in the form of Greek myths and folklore. Like, the suit of cups follows one story, swords another. I found it very helpful because it allowed me to associate the story and its meanings with the symbolism and images on the cards. I recommend it, and still use these cards myself.

[treekisser]

I also really like Rachel Pollack's _Tarot Wisdom_, which is a "I've been thinking about this for 20 more years" approach similar to her widely recommended and classic _78 Degrees of Wisdom_ - if you're only going to get one Tarot book, _Tarot Wisdom_ has tons to keep you busy for years, if you're willing to be patient for the fact it's very dense for beginners.

 
How would you say they differ, or which would you recommend I look at first? I remember bookmarking both on Amazon ages ago but could never figure out from the reviews and descriptions which to read.

[Jenett]

How would you say they differ, or which would you recommend I look at first? I remember bookmarking both on Amazon ages ago but could never figure out from the reviews and descriptions which to read.

 
Basically, _Tarot Wisdom_ is _78 Degrees of Wisdom_ plus 20 years more experience. (And I don't actually own _78 Degrees_, though I'll probably eventually pick up a copy.)

i think _78 Degrees_ is interesting in a historical sense (the same way I have an older version of _Drawing Down the Moon_ or _The Spiral Dance_ as well as the more recent revised editions), but for practical working/learning, I'd go with _Tarot Wisdom_. (It's also got some things I like better about layout and some supplementary materials.)

[treekisser]

Basically, _Tarot Wisdom_ is _78 Degrees of Wisdom_ plus 20 years more experience.

 
Ah, thanks.

[LadyBug]

On a "just personal experience" note, I got my first deck when I was twelve, The Mythic Tarot, which included a handy little book. The thing I remember best about this book is that the card explanations were done in the form of Greek myths and folklore. Like, the suit of cups follows one story, swords another. I found it very helpful because it allowed me to associate the story and its meanings with the symbolism and images on the cards. I recommend it, and still use these cards myself.

 
Would this deck by any chance have a black back and little black book with the stories and meanings in it? I only ask because I think (THINK) it might be the same ones I just got from my aunt. =D

*represses squee reflex* They are PERFECT for me And the myths are easy for me to follow.

[kc450]

Would this deck by any chance have a black back and little black book with the stories and meanings in it? I only ask because I think (THINK) it might be the same ones I just got from my aunt. =D

*represses squee reflex* They are PERFECT for me And the myths are easy for me to follow.

 
Yup, that wold be the one. Although, I think they may have changed the back color since I bought them. They are really a great deck.

[AmberHeart]

So I'll admit I've had a minor fascination with Tarot readings and the decks since I was a kid and mom brought home a deck.

I am lost completely to names of the cards and how to read them, but I want to learn. How could I go about doing that?

First you need a deck of your own. Find a bookstore (usual place) and see what resonates for you. Buy it. Use it. Practice.

Some folks find the pre-canned manuals helpful when starting out although I am not a fan myself of these. They are the opinions/experiences of others and in my experience, a reliance on these evenually will inhibit a reader's natural ability to allow the symbolism and visual language of the cards to trigger their own intuition.

How one regards the benefit of manuals can also depend on where one believes the (intuitive) information is coming from. If one believes that the cards are the source, then manuals may seem useful. I regard Tarot as like any divination system, simply a translation tool and not the source of info. Nor is the source even the reader unless of course he or she is reading for themselves. The one being read for is the source and the information flows through (in what is best described as the subconscious realm) in a form that can't be articulated until translated via the reader through the symbols (a language) of the cards.

My mileage. Learning Tarot still comes down to practice, practice, practice. The more you use these, the more you learn.

Amber

[Morgan]

So I'll admit I've had a minor fascination with Tarot readings and the decks since I was a kid and mom brought home a deck.

I am lost completely to names of the cards and how to read them, but I want to learn. How could I go about doing that?

 
Hello,
 I am also a beginner to the tarot.  I use flash cards to get their basic meaning.  I know most people would think I should let the cards speak to me, but what I read/write down generally fits what I think.  The only one so far I have had problem with the meaning is the Moon.  

I use Dk's Secret to the Tarot.  I find it highly helpful.  Not only does it give meanings but it shows you several lay outs and give "case studies" of different situations for most of the layouts.  It also has pictures through the book of different style of Tarot cards.

[Curr]

Hello,
 I am also a beginner to the tarot.  I use flash cards to get their basic meaning.  I know most people would think I should let the cards speak to me, but what I read/write down generally fits what I think.  The only one so far I have had problem with the meaning is the Moon.  

I use Dk's Secret to the Tarot.  I find it highly helpful.  Not only does it give meanings but it shows you several lay outs and give "case studies" of different situations for most of the layouts.  It also has pictures through the book of different style of Tarot cards.

 

I read tarot, and have recently gone pro(ish) with it, but I've come to realize that a lot of classical ideas about tarot don't hold true for me and many other readers, so here's some words and stuff:

• I wouldn't use someone else's deck, but I find (no offense intended to anyone) that "NEVER let anyone touch your deck" is ridiculous. All my sitters shuffle their own cards, and I regularly offer my decks to be looked over by curious onlookers.
* If you want a magical reason for this: The more your deck gets around, the more it knows about the world, and the more it can help you.

• Instead of trying to memorize all 78 cards, which is 156 meanings total when you get in to reverses, build a framework using the major arcana and suites to define the minor cards. Much easier.

• The first time I bought a deck was from a bookstore. I found out later I far overpaid. I order all my decks online; the only one I have bought in stores since then was a very discounted deck in a used book store. Amazon supplies many decks for much cheaper than you will ever find in a store.

• I agree that Rider-Waite is the best deck to start with.

• Some people will say your first deck should be a gift. I bought my first deck. I no longer use it because it isn't to my taste now that I've expanded, but it served me very well and has never steered me wrong.

• Understand the limitations of the tarot: there are a LOT of questions it cannot cover, including yes/no questions, probability, strict future, numbers, names, and so on.

• I would not suggest buying any resource books to begin with. The book I bought with my first deck was actually quite damaging and set back my skills for months. You'll find amazing amounts of detailed information online (AeclecticTarot is a fantastic resource)

• If you'd like, I'll chat with you about various tarot-y things, as that is my specialty (I do not practice any other types of "magic" or divination). You can find me at tarotpope@gmail.com

(urm, no, I'm not super vain - my last name is Pope, I don't actually consider myself to be the "Pope of Tarot" ;])

[rainbowdash]

I read tarot, and have recently gone pro(ish) with it, but I've come to realize that a lot of classical ideas about tarot don't hold true for me and many other readers, so here's some words and stuff:

• I wouldn't use someone else's deck, but I find (no offense intended to anyone) that "NEVER let anyone touch your deck" is ridiculous. All my sitters shuffle their own cards, and I regularly offer my decks to be looked over by curious onlookers.
* If you want a magical reason for this: The more your deck gets around, the more it knows about the world, and the more it can help you.

• Instead of trying to memorize all 78 cards, which is 156 meanings total when you get in to reverses, build a framework using the major arcana and suites to define the minor cards. Much easier.

• The first time I bought a deck was from a bookstore. I found out later I far overpaid. I order all my decks online; the only one I have bought in stores since then was a very discounted deck in a used book store. Amazon supplies many decks for much cheaper than you will ever find in a store.

• I agree that Rider-Waite is the best deck to start with.

• Some people will say your first deck should be a gift. I bought my first deck. I no longer use it because it isn't to my taste now that I've expanded, but it served me very well and has never steered me wrong.

• Understand the limitations of the tarot: there are a LOT of questions it cannot cover, including yes/no questions, probability, strict future, numbers, names, and so on.

• I would not suggest buying any resource books to begin with. The book I bought with my first deck was actually quite damaging and set back my skills for months. You'll find amazing amounts of detailed information online (AeclecticTarot is a fantastic resource)

• If you'd like, I'll chat with you about various tarot-y things, as that is my specialty (I do not practice any other types of "magic" or divination). You can find me at tarotpope@gmail.com

(urm, no, I'm not super vain - my last name is Pope, I don't actually consider myself to be the "Pope of Tarot" ;])

 
I'm not the person you replied to but I want to learn how to use tarot and would love to talk to you. If that's okay

[Chakabe]

 
I actually have a "Guilded Tarot" deck... I have been meaning to get a Raider-Waite deck as well as a copy of the tarot bible for a while now. Which is why I'm kinda wary of jumping off the cliff with my current deck so to speak.

[liuyuxin]

So I'll admit I've had a minor fascination with Tarot readings and the decks since I was a kid and mom brought home a deck.

I am lost completely to names of the cards and how to read them, but I want to learn. How could I go about doing that?

 
I am learning through the Internet because I'm very interested in the tarot so I suggest you go to see some video online learning:p:p:D: