How do you start?

[sunbear]

Hello everyone - hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and is looking forward to a bright New Year. You've all been so helpful, both directly and indirectly. Now I have another question.

I'm doing some reading on Tarot and other forms of divination. The more I read and learn about Tarot, the more interested I get. I was given a set of Medicine Cards for Yule by a Wiccan friend, as I'm interested in power animals and Native American paths, and I'm kind of starting to use them, but I don't really know what I'm doing. How did you all get started doing readings and working with the cards? Was it something you just tried, wondering if you had any abilities, or did you feel a strong calling to do it? Was it a matter of buying a deck and just working with the cards? Can anybody do it if they work at it?

I tried doing a reading on myself last nite, with a specific question in mind. I got some interesting cards which do seem to point to an answer, but how do I know I'm not just "reading into it" what I want to hear?

Thanks so much for any help you can give me!

[Witchy Cowgirl]

First, Welcome to our Forum! Glad your here!

I was drawn to the cards by my Mama-in-Law. She gave me my first deck (Rider-Waite) and for me everything just feel into the place - from MoonOwl posting here about a free on-line course from B & N, to me buying the book I use(d) as a guide line when I started. Which is also on the web at:
http://www.learntarot.com/

When I started I wondered if I'd be able to read. After gaining some experience I was and still am amazed at what I learn through the cards.

I also blend some Native American beliefs into my path as I'm married to a Creek/Seminole. I believe I saw the cards your talking about at the last Pow Wow we attended. (Actually Hubby is the arena director). I started to purchase them but that was also right when I was starting to read and I thought I might better learn one deck before I started another. Mithera has got me on the hunt for the Tarot of the Southwest which are out of print. (No, Mithera, I havent' given up hope!) Actually I found them on the internet somewhere once but didn't buy the quick enough.:rolleyes:

I think anyone can do this if they work at it. And just as with anything elese some will be better than others, some will be more gifted than others, and some will have to work harder than others to see results. As far as reading for yourself - some folks just plain won't read for themselves because as you said they feel they are too close and just see what they wanna see. For that same reason some folks won't read for people they are close to. Still others read only for themselves.

Basically it's all in what your comfortable with. Just keep practicing. Read your book - or throw it out - you'll hear from folks of both opinions on that. You can ask for volunteers here who will be glad to let you do (practice) readings for them. Or you can request readings as well.

And you can also search this forum (use the search button, type in tarot, select the tarot forum and you'll be taken to all the post here) as most of your questions have already been covered in other threads!:) Plus it's a great way to get some tips and find out answers to questions that you may not even know you have!:lol:

Enjoy and if you have any problems or issues would like to discuss, or things you'd just like to share - know that we're here and are willing to help in anyway we can.:D

[tarotbear]

I am guessing that you are speaking about the Animal Medicine cards, which no matter how strongly the artist and writer deny they are Tarot...they are Tarot! However, you will find it best to work with them slowly because you reallly have to understand the characteristics of each animal to be able to work with them. They are very user friendly.

Be advised: they are a separate entity unto themselves. They do not 'cross over' into tarot cards very well. However, as you develop your path, you will probably study other methods of divination, and then you will understand all divination systems overlap for they all come from the same place: within you.

[sunbear]

Your replies were great, Witchy Cowgirl and Tarotbear. That's what I was hoping to hear, that anyone can do this if they work at it. I went to the link you provided and ordered the Rider-Waite deck along with the book. I'll do the online lessons, too, but I really love having a book to actually curl up with, as it's hard to curl up with a computer!!

I've been working with my Medicine Cards, and they're already starting to become a little more "friendly" and the messages seem to make more sense. I think, tho, that a "regular" tarot deck would be better for me to start with, as the guide and lessons seem great.

One of these days soon, I'd like to have a reading done for me. Never done that before!!

Thanks again.