Hi, I think I'm terrible at reading my tarot cards, half the time its a bad reading and the other half of the time, I'm just confused as I feel like the question I asked isn't relevant to the cards answers. How can I get better at it? I find I'm much better at rune readings so should I just stick to that, considering I'm Norse Pagan?
Here’s the thing: any sort of divination is only going to work if you feel connected to it. Short answer advice: do both! Continue with the rune readings, and try a different approach with the tarot.
Sometimes if I’m not getting clarity from the cards, I will sleep with them under my pillow intentionally for a couple of nights and not use them for divination until I feel connected again. It’s important to tell yourself why you are putting them under your pillow. Set a clear intention with yourself, that you want to understand the cards and connect with your intuition more. (Don’t forget to keep the cards in a sack or in their box, so that you don’t damage them while you’re sleeping!)
After a few nights of sharing the underside of your pillow with your deck, try this easy get-to-know-you meditation:
1. Hold the deck in your hands and ask “What part of myself should I focus on improving today?”
2. Shuffle until it “feels right.” You might have a lucky number. Some prefer to shuffle a certain number of times each reading. Personally, I just shuffle until I feel ready, as I’m thoroughly thinking through the question I have asked.
3. Pause and think again about your question again, and then draw ONE card from the deck.
4. Before looking up the meaning of the card, examine it thoroughly. What thoughts come to mind? What emotions do you feel in reaction to the card you’re seeing? How can this card apply to you in relation to your question?
5. Write your thoughts in a journal, then compare your notes with your favorite resources. Keep track of this for a month, and I guarantee the cards will start to develop meaning to you. You might see the same cards more than once. Note these as well!
Understanding the tarot takes time to develop. It’s more a journey of self-discovery, rather than something that will tell you the right choice to make. It will help illuminate situations in your life, but it’s up to you to decide what to do with the information. It can help you see the darker sides of yourself, and it can help encourage you by illuminating your strengths when you are feeling down.
The tarot loses effectiveness, if you go into it with a closed heart. Be brave. A desire to know the full extent of your duality is key. Don’t be afraid to learn where you can make improvements.
If you stick with learning the tarot, your personal meanings for the pictures on the cards deepen and widen. Over time, your experiences will shape how you interpret the cards for both yourself and others. Trust me on this!
You’ve inspired me to write a guide on doing readings with multiple cards. I’ll follow up on this, so keep an eye on my blog.Thanks for the question. I hope this helps you a little bit!
☾☼ ~ tarot delicious // the art of tarot for the twenty-something ~ ☼☽
