sooo new to this

[Maia]

chaire all,
i'm pretty new to the tarot - i bought a set with my birthday money last november, but i've only started using them recently. and i just wondered...am i doing it right? (insecure, me? :p)

i'm working with the mythic tarot, which shows representations of greek deities on the major arcana, and greek myths on the minor. hence, when i look at them, i see not only the empress or the 5 of cups etc, but Demeter or....well, i haven't got round to memorising the suits yet :p

which actually brings me to my other question: memorisation. is it ok to go thru the book with the cards, reading the background information on each deity and myth, and also the interpretation, before adding on in my mind anything else i associate with the card? i mean - will that suffice? or will it lead me to totally inaccurate readings?

hands up if u think i'm scared to trust my intuition...

eudaimonia!
maia xxx

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

My first suggestion would be .....don't look at the book first. Go through your deck card by card, writing down your impressions of the cards. Remember, what you find in the book will be someone else's impressions.....and you can't do a reading with someone else's impressions as they are not your own. So, leave the book until after you have gone through all the cards. Journal your impressions. Then you can go to the book and see what it has to say. This way the book doesn't flavor your impressions.

You aren't the first to be scared and nervous! We have all gone through it!

Silver might be able to help you with any questions you have about that specific deck. I believe she uses that deck herself. :D

[tarajane]

i agree it is best to go through the deck without the book first, however, the book gives you even more information that is very helpful with understanding the cards best of luck to you don't be nervous we've all been there

[Silver Venus]

HiYA Maia! Great to have you here ~ and another brit in the Tarot room!! Woohay!
I use the Mythic deck too :) and love all the depictions of all the Greek gods and goddesses ~ but I dont have the book that goes along with it because I couldnt afford to get it aswell as the cards at the time... I will someday though!.... Because.... I believe like Dagda and Tarajane that you have to trust yourself and your own feelings when you look at the cards ~ look into each card and hear what it is telling you!! Trust your inner voice hun :D
...but also I think it would be great for you to read the book once through after youve thought about each card, because of all the myths and tales that fit with the cards ~ some youll really connect to and remember, some you probally already know!..and these will help you interperate and relate to the cards more I think...then hide it somewhere and leave it alone! So you dont get into the trap of relying on it ;)

Its a brilliant deck ~ have loads of fun :)

[Jazzy Cat]

Hiya

Looks like another voice echoing what has already been said. You'll find memorising the cards is a waste of time are the tarot is a tool that enables your psychic power to work, as a crystal ball, runes etc do. The best thing as has been said is go through your pack card by card and get impressions. Through your time with the pack these impressions will change and take on new or different aspects, and that varies from client to client.

One idea to help you get used to it is to choose a tarot card at random that you want to explore and meditate on it, place a lit candle beside it for atmosphere and let your imagination run riot and see what images or occurances take place, even mentally enter the card and explore. Another good idea to link with your tarot is to sleep with your tarot deck under your pillow now and again, although you are liable to get a stiff neck in the morning sometimes.

Happy reading!

Jazzy Cat

[rantnraven]

Hear, hear to all of you. Great advice. I believe I have lost the books to my cards but, no matter - they speak to me.

Trust yourself and, ALWAYS, justify the first thought when looking upon a card, dear. The first thought is usually correct.

RnR