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Hello All,
It was a bit of a challenge finding this board over here, but I'm so glad I did. I need some suggestions (advice, guidance, whatever you want to call it) on learning to read tarot cards.

A bit of background... I've always been interested in "new age" topics, I'm a long time student of astrology, love sci-fi, unsolved mysteries, that sort of thing. I've been to psychics a few times in my life.

The cards used to unnerve me, but I've found over the last few years (after having a reading or two) my uneasiness has turned to fascination. I think the cards are beautiful and intriguing. I've always loved regular playing cards and the way they seem to have a logic and rhythm during a game.

When it comes to practicing tarot, I love the idea of connecting with something that can offer guidance and provoke thought and growth. I love the idea of using such a unique tool to help people realize things about themselves.

So... now to my questions.
1. Do I just buy a tarot deck and find an online course, or is there more to it?
2. Are there shielding/grounding practices that I should know about?
3. Does it take an unusually long time to learn? How much time?
4. How do you practice your skills?
5. Must subjects giver permission for a reading, or can you read them anyway?
6. Can anyone (like me) learn to do this, or must you be especially gifted in other ways?

I thank you all in advance for your thoughts and input.

Take good care,
Sue
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Smm110861
Hey and Hello and Welcome from everyone on the Tarot & Divination Board...!:)


So... now to my answers to your questions.

Smm "1. Do I just buy a tarot deck and find an online course, or is there more to it?"

You absolutely may go and buy yourself a deck. These days you will be spoiled for choice...Tarot decks can be found for sale anywhere and everywhere..local bookstores, magick shops, online stores....Aeclectic Tarot is a good place to preview decks before you buy...they have pictures of decks and reviews from people who have used them...

You can teach yourself, you can find a teacher, you can take a course online course, many are free...the choice is really up to you...
The more to it part is how much time you put into it...

Smm "2. Are there shielding/grounding practices that I should know about?"

There is no real consensus about what must be done before or after a reading...
Many people do shielding and grounding practices...a prayer, a protective blessing: to keep their thoughts clear, to ask for wisdom or guidance or even to keep conflicting energies away that sort of thing; ...If you feel a need to do this I would say incorporate something from your own religious background in your own words...something personal and meaningful to you...


Smm "3. Does it take an unusually long time to learn? How much time?"

As with any discipine there is no time limit...you learn at your own pace...

Smm "4. How do you practice your skills?"

Use your cards: read everything you can on the subject, meditate on meanings, play tarot games; memorization, visualization, associations etc, think up scenarios using a tarot card reflecting how a person with the qualities of that card would act or feel in a certain situation....do practice readings for yourself, your family, your friends, make up ficticious questions,...go with your instincts...

Smm "5. Must subjects give permission for a reading, or can you read them anyway?"

Sure you can go wandering around in places where you have no permission to be...but would you like somebody to do that to you?
Because the reader is probing into matters that often extremely sensitive and personal it would be a really good idea to ask first or in the case of this forum wait until someone requests a read...there is a self explanatory note in the first post of the Open Reading Forum on this particular Board as it relates to those would read there or be read for...

Permission and free will and self determination are important things...never take them away from the people you would read for...and expect nothing less for yourself ...

Smm "6. Can anyone (like me) learn to do this, or must you be especially gifted in other ways?"

Yes Anybody can read (like you what? Everybody has to start somewhere even the best most gifted were once where you are and don't let anyone tell you differently. We all waddled before we could walk or run)...it just takes practice and diligence and patience...and because a reader is dealing with real people with real feelings having some humility speaking from personal experience doesn't hurt either...
The gift imo is not having psychic ability although that can help: The Gift is that : In choosing to read for others you're choosing to serve...

Okay - all done jabbering...
Blessings and again Welcome!

Btw SMM, I forgot to mention--I do think that cleansing and grounding of *some* kind is a very good idea.
I usually say something for myself beforehand like "may only the highest forces surround me at this time".(like you would a prayer)
However, if the cards don't seem "right" or they are not working I don't keep trying.
At first, too, I passed them through incense, and I usually slept with them under my pillow for a awhile--sometimes always. (though I don't now)
If I was actively reading them often again, I would.
I never leave them anywhere,don't permit just anyone to touch them, nor allow anyone to play with them.
To me this keeps them cleared.
It's up to you,again, but this worked for me.
good luck. :-)

Sue
Always learn to trust your first and most strongest 'thought' on what the card is trying to say to you.   A good reader never relys solely on the booklet offered with the deck.
Also may I suggest standing by a wide array of cards on the shelf and see where it is you feel pulled.....then hold each deck in that area of the shelf until one 'just feels right'.
Good luck on your quest, and remember to ask for some guidence (as well as protection is a good idea as well.)

Love and Light ^0^
~~WIND~~

Hi,

I found that a really helpful book was Tarot for Yourself by Mary K. Greer.  (The link to this book is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ … oftranq-20) 

I like this book because it helped me to relate to the cards on a personal level.

I'll try to write more later, but I'm exhausted.  Good luck to you!

Jen