A Tarot Questionnaire

[cartweel]

If you'd care to fill this out for me. I'm just trying to get an idea of the range of beliefs/practices of the practitioners here on MW. I'm pretty new to Tarot and was just curious about a few things. (Short answers, 1-5 sentences, would be appreciated, but if you feel like writing more go right ahead.)

Thanks in advance!

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1)What introduced you to Tarot?

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?

3)When and where did you give your first reading?

4)What was the first spread you learned?

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?

[colusaskye]

1)What introduced you to Tarot? A teen magazine, had a tear out section. A really long time ago.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it? Besides the tear out cards? The Enchanted Tarot. Bought it at a bookstore. It had a nice looking book with it, something you could meditate on. Thought that the style of cards would work with me but....no.

3)When and where did you give your first reading? For others? Gave one to my friend Taylor, online. I don't remember when, probably about 8 months ago.

4)What was the first spread you learned? a modified celtic.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?it all just depends on the situation. for other people usually use the celtic, maybe because it gives a bit of background and I'm nosy? lol. I just found a new one that I really like though, a Scratch reading.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how? For my 2nd deck, yes. i gave away the first deck after i found another one that worked with me. I recently got a new one but am getting used to it. The connection grew over time. I used them a lot, shuffled, looked at them, etc.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? No.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?) to help other people find answers. sometimes when i have a problem, i get into a total mind block and can't see all of the choices i could make. the tarot helps with this.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
4 of Swords, The Hermit

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
Probably the 10 of Swords.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
Not really. I'll separate the deck into sections (Major, Court, Minor) and pick a card from each sometimes, but I never just do a full reading with Majors or Minors or Courts.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? i'm always a bit nervous when I give someone else a reading. it's not always that i think i'm wrong, but a lot of the things (descriptions of the querant, etc.) come out quite strongly and i worry mostly about getting the wrong wording and offending someone by accident. but so far, each person i've read for has said that i'm right on in the describing, and that i've helped them a lot. so...pretty darned accurate :D

[WickedBttrfly]

1)What introduced you to Tarot? umm..My grandma actually when she was telling me how evil it was...lol

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it? A Greek Mythology deck and I love it. I've always been fascinated with greek mythology. It just seemed right to buy it.

3)When and where did you give your first reading? I can't remember...I've played with them on and off for a while. I just recently started getting serious with them, so I guess the first serious one would've been just a few months ago, in my bedroom.

4)What was the first spread you learned? hmmm...celtic cross

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why? celtic cross, because it's the one I'm most familiar and comfortable with.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how? Greek Mythology, because I know all the myths pictured on the cards, I guess. I just started noticing how comfortable I was with them a few months ago.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? Yes in a way, cause I think a part of your energy "rubs off" on them and they get their own personality.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?) So far it's just been for self relfection and recreation... I don't know about communing with spirits...maybe when I am more experienced.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning) I have a few... The Star, Page of Wands and The Lovers

10)Which card do you most dread pulling? The tower is never really a good thing.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa? Sometimes if I just need the general picture and less details, I'll just use the major arcana.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity? Well that always depends on the circumstances... I can't really say. They've been pretty accurate when I'm doing a reading for myself...lol.

[Theres]

1) curiousity.

2) Rider-Waite (hey, i was young and didn't know any better).

3) i don't read.

4) Celtic Cross, but i don't like that spread anymore.

5) the 15 card Crowley spread, when i use one at all.

6) yes, as i do with any good book.

7) no, absolutely not. they are a tool, nothing more. i do not confuse tools with Gods.

8) study, and self reflection/exploration. i can think of no better tool for studying the occult than a GOOD tarot deck.

9) the High Priestess, followed by the Star, and maybe the Tower.

10) none. they all have a message or lesson. (okay, i'm not too crazy about the 5's).

11) yes, for meditation.

12) i don't read. i'm not even sure i believe in 'divination'.

[Pandoras]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
My high school English teacher. I met her in the 10th grade and she became a mentor and a friend. Senior year, she gave me a tarot reading, my first.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
It was the traditional Rider-Waite given to me by the above-mentioned teacher. It was her old deck, the one she used to give me the reading.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?
I don't recall.

4)What was the first spread you learned?
The Celtic Cross spread.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
I still use the Celtic Cross spread the most. I don't know why; I can feel out the cards best using that spread.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
Absolutely. It's not something that develops; it's immediate. I see a deck of cards, I pick them up, and feel them out. I usually love them or hate them right away.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
I think they start off as a blank slate, but their owner's energy rubs off on them over time. I don't think they have a mind of their own though.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)
I use them for self-reaction, actualization, and guidance.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
In terms of artwork, it depends on the deck. Generally, my favorites are The High Priestess, The Sun, 3 of Cups, and 4 of Staffs.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
The Tower is no fun.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
When I first began my tarot studies, I used only the Major. I slowly incorporated the Minor and today I always use the entire deck.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?
I believe the tarot prensents options and possible outcomes to a situation in order to give the querent insight. So, in this sense, I believe the cards can be dead on. I don't believe that tarot is a fortune or future telling tool.

[morrigen]

1)What introduced you to Tarot? I can't remember...probably reading about them.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it? The Cagliostro deck. Bought because it was the only one in the store. I don't read with it now, and keep it only for sentimental reasons.

3)When and where did you give your first reading? Cannot remember, it was years and years ago, and probably not very good.

4)What was the first spread you learned? 3 card spread.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why? Celtic cross. it gets the details of the question in a nice linear orer.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how? Different with different decks. I love my Cat People deck, and will only read for myself with it...I feel very in tune with it. I like the Tarot de Paris and the Victorian Tarot for their art...I love the Vampire tarot and the Gothic Tarot for the imagery...I have other decks, but these are my faves.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? Not perse...though if they are not used regularly, they can get "out of sorts" if that makes any sense...actually, it's more like I get "out of practice"...and then sometimes the readings good, but I don't like the answer :)

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?) Divination, which I usually see as communication with the questioner's inner self.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning) Death. The Moon.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling? 5 of swords.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa? Nope. Always the whole deck.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity? Pretty accurate, whether I like it or not :)

[Strawberry Bounce]

1)What introduced you to Tarot? I was interested in Zen Buddhism at the time. I read a quote by the author of the Osho Zen Tarot & decided to look him up. That lead me to his deck.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it? Osho Zen

3)When and where did you give your first reading? Probably in my room.

4)What was the first spread you learned? The Diamond.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why? The Diamond because it is short & to the point.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
I feel connected (or not connected) as soon as I get the cards. I get a deeper connection by studying them and feeling them.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? I think they can absorb energy. I'm not sure about it getting mad & ect.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? Self-reflection.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning) The Star, 3 of Cups & One of cups.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling? Opression.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa? Nah.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? Very!

[HorseCrow]

1)What introduced you to Tarot? I do not remember...

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it? Rider Waite, because I loved the design/symbols etc the moment I saw it. It just called out to me.

3)When and where did you give your first reading? About 6 years ago at my home.

4)What was the first spread you learned? Past-Present-Future

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why? Celtic Cross (an extended version with 14 cards), bacause I find that it always works well and gives good light and detail to my reading.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how? Yes, I do- very much in fact. It was there right away, from the first time I shuffled through the deck.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? No, I wouldn't say so. For me they are a channel, not an individual. The energies may sometimes be thrown and need a cleansing, but I do not perceive them as having a will of their own.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? I use them for trying to analyze and be guided in situations, for advice, for contacting the other side etc. Mostly for guidance.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning) The Star

10)Which card do you most dread pulling? None. I do not see any cards as "bad". I believe the notion that there are good and bad cards, is a complete misunderstanding. There are cards that may be harder to deal with or accept, but they are not "bad".

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa? No.

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity? My experience is that they are VERY accurate, so accurate in fact that it spooked me when I first started out many years ago. And yes, they have conveyed actual messages from the other side, spirits etc.

[rain_fallen_tears]

1)What introduced you to Tarot? Actually, I've known about Tarot cards all my life, I actually started to use them shortly after I started on my path.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it? A Rider-Waite(sp) deck given to me by my best friend.

3)When and where did you give your first reading? Shortly after recieving the deck, in the living room of my old home

4)What was the first spread you learned? the simple 3 card layout, past-present-future

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why? I still use the 3 card layout most often, it is simple and tarot reading isn't my strong suit:)
6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?to one deck in particular I have a very strong bond with, it developed only after using them a few times

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? I believe that cards can carry energy, I learned the hard way from a used deck that was constantly giving me terrible readings, which I figured was most likely their reaction to the change of 'owner'

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?) Self-reflection
9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning) Strength is usually my favorite card, as when ever I have tried drawing the card that best represents me, strength always is the one I draw but my favorite for are would usually be the high priestess...depending on the deck

10)Which card do you most dread pulling? the tower or hanged man, I usually prefer not to see, but I don't dread them.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa? I do not.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity? I believe they can be amazing accurate.

[LisaT4P]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
I don't remember exactly, but my best friend and I both became interested at the same time when we were sixteen.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
My first deck was the Rider Waite Smith deck and I saw it in a bookstore and bought one, the best friend bought Tarot of the Witches.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?
We gave our first readings to each other, but those were with the books. The first paid reading I ever did was for my next door neighbor about 3 years ago. That's about 12 years between the first reading and first paid reading.

4)What was the first spread you learned?
The Celtic Cross

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
Rhiannon's (me) Incredible Expandable Love Spread - it has 5 cards and can be made to fit just about any situation and can be built on easily. The other one I use when general readings are wanted is my version of the Celtic Cross.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
I love all my decks, but for different reasons. I think I know what you mean by "connection" but I don't feel that way. I feel that I understand the symbols used in each of the decks I've decided to keep and that those particular types of images work best with my subconcious mind while other sets of images do not.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
No, absolutely not. They are pieces of cardboard with pretty pictures on them. If they pick up "energy", it is in the same way that a paper clip carried in your pocket picks up energy. Both can be associated with you if you have them near your aura for long periods of time.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)
I use them to help other people with guidance, but it is alot more like a therapy session sometimes. I use them for self-reflection and study. I use them to make extra money.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
I love the High Priestess in decks usually, and the Tower. I love the 9 of Swords because I think it's fun to tell people to "Stop being so dramatic!" ;)

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
I don't know about "dread" but I hate when the 9 of Cups rains on my parade. It usually means that what I want is a monkey's paw, and that it's too good to be true. :wah:

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
I've done that while using the book Tarot Shadow Work: Using the Dark Symbols to Heal by Christine Jette.

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?
I believe my readings are accurate. I don't believe that they reveal anything that my querents were not already aware of on some level, but for the most part my readings usually make sense to people. They make sense to me and they make sense to my clients and that's all I can ask for. :kooky:

[aftershocked]

1) Curiousity and an extra $25 in my pocket

2)The Londa Tarot - I got it for myself from the local shop.

3) A couple days after getting my deck, in my room

4) I used to talk to them (ask questions while pulling cards) for most of my readings. I first 'really' learned a 3 card daily spread

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why? Now I usually use the Celtic Cross or Zodiac Circle, because they can be adapted to suit many questions and situations.

6)Well, I now have 3 decks, and while I feel most connected to my Gothic Tarot of Vampires, I do have a connection to them all.

7)This is still a topic of consideration for me. For now, I think that the only time my deck 'comes to life' is when I ask Deity/The Other Side to use them to speak to me.. more as a conduit. But I do believe that a deck can become host to a deva/spirit if that is the intention/belief of the owner.

8)I usually do readings for myself solely for reflection and guidance from Deity (I don't 'read my own future' so to speak). For others, I try to use it to help them reflect on their situation and give them any insight/advice I get.

9) In my Ancestral Path Tarot, it'd have to be my Queen of Wands, which while it is a personal significator, it's also a depiction of Aset/Hetheru, one of my goddesses. In the Gothic Tarot of Vampires, it'd have to be the High Priestess. It was the card I drew when I asked the deck how it would see me, and while it is a bit of a scary pic, the artwork is great and I find the picture to be moving.

10)I don't particularly dread drawing any card.. I'd guess the ones I least like finding for others are the Tower and the 8/9 of Swords, because I hate trying to explain them to people. But I relish change in myself, so those things don't really apply to me.

11) Not really, unless I'm trying to get a better idea of someone's personality or the spread calls for them to be separate.

12) When I read personally, I do believe that my cards accurately convey messages from my gods. As for others, I'm not quite sure how accurate they turn out to be, although I've been told that I've been in the ballpark for almost all my readings. I guess that comes with experience.

[RainCeleste]

1)What introduced you to Tarot? My friend in high school brought the Enchanted Tarot book to school and was thumbing through it, and I caught glimpses of the cards and thought that the deck was sooo beautiful that I had to get one, that one.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it? My first deck was the Enchanted Tarot by Zerner/Farber. I asked my mom for it for my 16th birthday.

3)When and where did you give your first reading? I've never done a paid reading but I guess my first reading was right after I got my first deck. I was a newbie and didn't know about keeping a journal to record readings.

4)What was the first spread you learned? The Enchanted tarot's celtic cross version.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why? I don't have a most used spread as there are so many spreads to try out and so little time. I collect spreads so I'm always looking for new ones to try out.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how? A couple decks I felt were love at first sight, especially my current main reading deck, Tarot of Transformation by Willow Arlenea and Jasmin Lee Cori (http://www.tarotpassages.com/transformation-kh.htm). I have a feeling that the Gilded (http://www.tarotpassages.com/gilded-lb.htm) will give them a run for their money. I think after studying tarot for a while, the connection is formed.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? I never felt that the cards were "mad" or "jealous". Actually I don't think that they can. But it's a natural human condition to anthropomorphize.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?) I use it mainly for self reflection and a bit of fortune telling mixed with counseling. hehe It's really a multipurpose avenue which I love about it.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning) Ah I have a few but the main one would be the Star. Such a beautiful and hopeful card. My favorite version of the star is the Fey Star (http://www.tarot.com.tw/tarot/fey78/fey7817.jpg).

10)Which card do you most dread pulling? The 10 of swords.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa? I have before used Majors only but not very often.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity? I believe they're accurate even though sometimes they confuse me, it's later when I find out how accurate they are. I guess they convey messages from a collective consciousness or subsconsious. hehe I'm not really sure but it just is what it is.

[Aedrais]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
I honestly can't remember. I can't remember not knowing about Tarot cards. Except, my first real introduction was a computer 'game' version, which I bought with my own money when I saw it in the store.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
The Unicorn Tarot, given to me by a friend because she wanted a new deck. I might get the Robin Wood deck from Christmas, though.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?
With the computer game, I read for my friend Robyn, and predicted her hamster's death. :( This was three years ago, in grade seven.

4)What was the first spread you learned?
The Celtic Cross, but I always had the guidelines with me. The first spread I've known of by heart is the spread I use now, the Gypsy spread.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
The Gypsy spread, because I like it better than the Celtic Cross spread (I like the options).

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
Yes, very much. I talk to inanimate things all the time, and form childish connections, but I cherish them. But with my cards, I think that they respond. I don't know if they have a life force, or if it's just that I hear a deity speaking through them... but I like the idea of my cards having some sort of life force of their own.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
Lol, I seem to be answering questions in advance. Yes, I feel that they think, and get mad and jealous (Well, mine don't, but I believe that they could if they wanted to.) I've asked my cards for comfort before and they've obliged, and, like I said, I talk to them, and I just feel that they respond, deep down.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)
Self reflection, I guess.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
I like... I'm not sure. I like all the Ace cards, because they represent so much life and innocence and joy, as well as the two of swords, harmony, and... I like quite a few cards. I like the sword suit best.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
You know... I don't like the Magician. Power-hungry, manipulation... he frightens me.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
Nope, can't say I do.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?
You know, I don't believe that I've devoted all the energy I could to my cards and to reading them accurately. I work a little at a time, and I progress slowly, and sometimes I feel they read well, and other times not so much. I feel that I could devote more time and energy to them, and they might read a little more accurately.

[Flaire]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
It was kinda a mix of Escaflowne and a girl in my class bringing hers to school.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
Rider-Waite (It was either that, or some other one that I was unfamiliar with due to a lack of choice at the bookstore. :rolleyes: )

3)When and where did you give your first reading?
About 3 years ago -- here, on MW.

4)What was the first spread you learned?
Horribly learned the Celtic Cross. I stuck with 3-card readings for the most part. Now I do a 6.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
It's called "General Lay". I found it at tarotspreads.com, I believe... And I like it because it doesn't have too many cards for me to deal with, but it still gives an in-depth reading.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
Yes. I didn't at first, but after dealing with my R-W deck for about a year, I figured I couldn't do readings without it because I'm so used to it, and it's used to me. (However, I have since gotten the Universal-Waite, which I use more often now.)

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
I think that they pick up on the energy of the person using them; not that they have a personality themselves. *shrugs*

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)
Mostly analyzing situations, but that is if I read for myself. I much prefer to read for other people - and have other people read for me.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
Death and the Tower.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
3 of Swords :fpatricks That one has terrorized me for 2 years.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
Nope. I keep my decks together.

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?
Well, considering I get postitive feedback from about 95% of the people I read for, I think I'm pretty damn good. ;)

[halfwaynowhere]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
I noticed my mom had some cards lying around, so I decided to learn more about them.
2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
I don't think it has a name, but my first deck came with a book. I got the set for my birthday one year.
3)When and where did you give your first reading?
In my bedroom a few years ago, to myself.
4)What was the first spread you learned?
three card spread... its still what I mainly use, but I'm just learning, and thats what I can usually remember.
5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
three card spread
6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
I have always felt a connection with my cards... all four decks...
7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
My cards definately have different personalities, and I use whichever deck that calls to me. I try to handle each deck on a daily basis though, so they don't feel lonely or left out.
8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)
self reflection, recreation, andsometimes to freak out my Catholic closed-minded classmates.
9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
I like the moon, and the world. I don't know why, they jsut seem to call to me...
10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
I don't really like pulling the tower... Sometimes I get bad vibes from it...
11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
I never do, but sometimes I feel tempted..

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?
I think my readings are fairly accurate, although they rarely ever answer any of the questions I ask... They always seem to read my mind and answer the questions that I am afraid to ask.

[soilsigh aingeal]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
I've always been interested
2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
Sacred Circle. I was stuck between these and another deck and I ended up choosing these ones and I purchased them myself.
3)When and where did you give your first reading?
on my living room floor, to myself
4)What was the first spread you learned?
three card
5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
Three card, it can be used for a number of things and it's simple and to the point.
6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
A little, I'm still learing on them though
7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
No, they're paper
8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)
Self reflection
9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
High Priestess/The Star
10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
Queen of Cups
11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
no
12)How accurate do you believe your readings are?
I think they are pretty acurate.

[Fideal]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?

My mom. She manages the Psychic Treehouse on Delphi Forums now, and used to read at psychic faires.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?

My first deck was the Wonderland Tarot. I got it for my birthday.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?

I don't remember...I usually only read for myself, and I started when I was 9

4)What was the first spread you learned?

Celtic Cross

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?

One of my own invention, because it's simple and it works.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?

Yes. I've always been a Lewis Carroll fan, so that helped, and also I read everyday for practice. I'm nice to them.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?

Yes. Because when I havn't read in a while, or move them, or they just feel snarky, my readings go in circles, and don't make sense.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)

Divination.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)

Uh...two of hats. hehe.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?

The Tower or the Devil

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?

No

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?
They are very accurate. Sometimes I don't realize till the event actually happens, but most of the time I get very clear answers.

[cartweel]

Ahh, wonderful input! Thankyou everyone!

While I was reading these answers other questions kept popping into my head. Maybe you'd take a hand at these?
~~~~~

13)Have you ever created your own spread? If so, how effective is it? (Feel free to show us the spread)

14)What card do you most often pull? Why do you think that is the case?

15)What card best represents you? (or, is most often pulled to represent you in a spread)

16)How much emphasis do you put on the text-book meanings for cards, and how much stress do you place on the "feeling" you get from cards through their artwork/symbolism/etc.?

17)What question do you most often ask the deck (or, ask on behalf of another)?

18)What was the most dramatic/meaningful reading you ever did? (Not necessarily most accurate)

19)Do you ever use the Tarot during ritual? If so, do you reserve a deck specifically for that purpose?

and lastly,

20)What really makes the Tarot cards "tick"? Is it Magic? is it all in the mind? are little green men just messing with us?!?

[AuroraSilvermist]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?

My sister-in-law sent me a deck and book for Christmas. I was a little surprised (since she lives 1000 miles away and I've only met her a couple of times), but she told me she had a feeling I'd "get into it." She was right. :D

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?

It was the Albano-Waite. See above as to how I got it.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?

I gave my first reading a couple of weeks after I got my deck. My husband said, "Well, would you give me a reading?" So, I got out my deck, got out my book, and laid out the cards. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but I was still pretty accurate.

4)What was the first spread you learned?

The three-card past/present/future spread.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?

I don't really have a favorite spread. I tend to create my own spreads based on the question I'm reading. Most of my spreads tend to have about 6 cards, though.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?

I feel connected to my Robin Wood deck. It's the first deck I was able to read intuitively; it just made sense to me. I connected with it immediately, the first time I looked through the cards when they were still brand new and slippery.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?

NO. I believe that the cards are "78 plastic-coated pieces of paper with cool pictures on them." I think that whatever consciousness the cards seem to possess comes from the reader, not the cards themselves. They're inanimate objects.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)

Mostly for self-reflection and personal growth. When I read for others, it's usually for the same purposes...to help them see a situation more clearly, or provide insight or options or a path.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)

That's a tough one. I guess I'd have to say The Sun; it's such a positive card, and the artwork always seems to be radiant.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?

Hmmm. It's probably a toss-up between the 3 of Swords and the 10 of Swords. But I wouldn't say any card is terribly negative to me--each one also presents an opportunity to learn.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?

Not yet. I may try it some time as I get into more advanced reading.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?

I feel they're usually very accurate. If I didn't believe they were accurate, I wouldn't be reading the tarot. The only time my own readings don't make sense for me is when I'm not objective enough to see the big picture at the time of the reading, so I usually write them down to reflect on later...and they always prove true.

Edit: Added the other questions :)


13)Have you ever created your own spread? If so, how effective is it? (Feel free to show us the spread)

I create my own spreads probably 75% of the time, so there are too many to show. I also modify spreads that I find so they suit my purposes. I find I'm more connected when I create my own spreads.

14)What card do you most often pull? Why do you think that is the case?

I wouldn't say that I pull any specific card more often than others, although for a while there I was pulling the 9 of Swords pretty regularly. Made sense, because my husband managed to inadvertantly smuggle home a few bedbugs (seriously!) in his suitcase, and I was definitely having sleepless nights over the situation. (3 bug bombs later things have settled down.)

15)What card best represents you? (or, is most often pulled to represent you in a spread)

The Queen of Wands is my card. I'm a creative fire sign, so it fits.

16)How much emphasis do you put on the text-book meanings for cards, and how much stress do you place on the "feeling" you get from cards through their artwork/symbolism/etc.?

I'd say I use the book meanings as a jumping-off point. I do believe that study is important, so I read a LOT of books, but I also believe that intuition is important. If you're comfortable with the cards, and you understand their traditional meanings, you can then look for deeper meaning in the symbolism and see what pops out at you when you're doing a reading. Also, each deck is slightly different, too. I find that they all read differently; even those that are pretty faithful to the RWS imagery.

17)What question do you most often ask the deck (or, ask on behalf of another)?

I try to do a daily reading for myself, so I'm usually asking something like, "What do I need to know about the coming day?"

18)What was the most dramatic/meaningful reading you ever did? (Not necessarily most accurate)

I'm not really sure there's a clear answer to that one. Through tarot, I did see that my relationship with my best friend would fall apart. I could see that it was both due to forces outside our control, and other forces we could control, but lacked the will to change. That was pretty dramatic, even though I did sense it coming before the tarot revealed it.

19)Do you ever use the Tarot during ritual? If so, do you reserve a deck specifically for that purpose?

No. Although I might include some divination in my private Samhain ritual this year. (Not during the family one, though.)

and lastly,

20)What really makes the Tarot cards "tick"? Is it Magic? is it all in the mind? are little green men just messing with us?!?

I've never been 100% certain; I just know that it works. I do believe that tarot works because of the reader, and not the cards. To me it seems most likely that the tarot helps us tap into the subconscious when it opens our minds to possibilities we have yet to consciously consider. I also think that Jung's concept of the "collective unconscious" and universal archetypes has merit, and helps explain why we're able to read for others and, in particular, people we don't even know.

[RavensEye]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?

Well a robotic fortune teller booth thingy at Disenyland in 1984, but it was not till 1994 when my friend bought me a tarot reading that was in the form of a scratch ticket that I really looked into it.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?

Rider Waite bought it from my ex-boyfriends mothers metaphysics shop. And why because I was told it was a good starter deck.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?

I cannot remember when I did my first reading for someone, but for myself it was shrotly after I started learnign how to use tarot.

4)What was the first spread you learned?

Celtic spread, along with the 5 and 7 card spread.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
It really varies on the person who I am doign the reading for.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?

Not sure how to answer that at this moment.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
No I think that they are just cards and to some when you use Tarot it is a way of connecting to your higher self, so if anything maybe it is your higher self that gets amd or jealous.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)

Meditiation, and for helping others.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning) There are to many right now to post about.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
None

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
Yes especially for the 5 card spread that I do, that is for teh Major Arcana.


12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?

I have been told that my readings have been very accurate, and for the readings I have done for my self I can say that they have been so dead accurate it is errie.

ADDED THE REST OF THE QUESTIONS

13) Have you ever created your own spread? If so, how effective is it? (Feel free to show us the spread)



I have done my variations on the 5, 7 card spreads as well as just spreads that I only use the Major arcana for.




14) What card do you most often pull? Why do you think that is the case?



Death Card – because I have been going through constant change since Is tarted reading Tarot.


15) What card best represents you? (or, is most often pulled to represent you in a spread)
I do not use Significator cards if that is what you are refrying to


16) How much emphasis do you put on the text-book meanings for cards, and how much stress do you place on the "feeling" you get from cards through their artwork/symbolism/etc.?



I am getting away fro putting any emphasises on the book and relying ore n my intuition.




17) What question do you most often ask the deck (or, ask on behalf of another)?



I mostly ask for guidance to help the person I am doing the reading for.


18) What was the most dramatic/meaningful reading you ever did? (Not necessarily most accurate)



Well when I was engaged to someone who was in jail and decided enough it was over, I was torn about it and wanted to make sure it was the right thing to do, and even though I cannot remember the cards drawn, I do remember it confirmed how I felt and what an intense feeling I had inside. And two weeks later I found out it was a good thing I did dump his sorry butt….


19)Do you ever use the Tarot during ritual? If so, do you reserve a deck specifically for that purpose?



Yes actually I did a ritual last night using the tarot, but I only needed one card. And no I do not think I would set a deck aside for that purpose unless it was a ritual that is to be used with my Enochian Tarot deck.


20)What really makes the Tarot cards "tick"? Is it Magic? is it all in the mind? are little green men just messing with us?!?

Maybe just a psychic thing

[Fideal]

13)Have you ever created your own spread? If so, how effective is it? (Feel free to show us the spread)

Yes, I said before. It's just three cards which tell me three things in succesion about the future.

14)What card do you most often pull? Why do you think that is the case?

Er, I don't know. I really should keep a tarot journal.

15)What card best represents you? (or, is most often pulled to represent you in a spread)

I don't use indicators, but I guess it would be the queen of hats or peppermills.

16)How much emphasis do you put on the text-book meanings for cards, and how much stress do you place on the "feeling" you get from cards through their artwork/symbolism/etc.?

I usually go by what I learned from the book, but sometimes if that doesn't sound right, I'll go by the illustrations.

17)What question do you most often ask the deck (or, ask on behalf of another)?

Just "Whats coming up next?" usually.

18)What was the most dramatic/meaningful reading you ever did? (Not necessarily most accurate)

I did a reading help my decide whether to go ahead with paganism and tell my father to f-off and not make me go to church anymore.

19)Do you ever use the Tarot during ritual? If so, do you reserve a deck specifically for that purpose?

Not really, and I only have one deck.

20)What really makes the Tarot cards "tick"? Is it Magic? is it all in the mind? are little green men just messing with us?!?

I don't know. Sometimes I think maybe there's a spirit working through mine, but I have no other ideas.

[LisaT4P]

13)Have you ever created your own spread? If so, how effective is it? (Feel free to show us the spread)
Yes, several of them. I enjoy creating spreads. I prefer 5 card spreads because they can usually get all the information you need in as few cards as possible.

14)What card do you most often pull? Why do you think that is the case?
I don't often read for myself, so this doesn't really apply.

15)What card best represents you? (or, is most often pulled to represent you in a spread)
I believe I am most like the Queen of Swords.

16)How much emphasis do you put on the text-book meanings for cards, and how much stress do you place on the "feeling" you get from cards through their artwork/symbolism/etc.?
I learned tarot by memorizing card meanings. It took a while before I really started to rely on intuition as well. Now I like to incorporate both during a reading by saying something like "This card means thus-and-such, but I'm getting a feeling that this-and-so might also be important".

17)What question do you most often ask the deck (or, ask on behalf of another)?
As I said, I don't read for myself often. I most often get requests about someone's love life or career. The reading most ordered from my site is the 7 card pet reading.

18)What was the most dramatic/meaningful reading you ever did? (Not necessarily most accurate)
The most dramatic and most accurate reading I ever did was for a member of another site where I pulled all but one card as a reversal. I was going to scrap the spread and try again, but decided to go with it. I'm glad I did.

19)Do you ever use the Tarot during ritual? If so, do you reserve a deck specifically for that purpose?
Yes, I have done tarot spells a few times. I usually use my Robin Wood deck, but I could use anyone that was handy in a pinch.

20)What really makes the Tarot cards "tick"? Is it Magic? is it all in the mind? are little green men just messing with us?!?
Little green men. Start wearing tin-foil, folks! They are messing with your mind! :spaceman:

[redrobin]

1)What introduced you to Tarot? I'm not sure where I first heard about Tarot, cuz I kinda always knew about it, and I've always taken an interest in divination, but I first started wanting to do Tarot after I saw the HBO series Carnivale... yeah, lame, I know.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it? My first and only deck is the Dragon Tarot. My mother got it for me for Christmas/Yule. She was initially going to just get me the basic Rider Waite, but she thought I'd like the Dragons better.

3)When and where did you give your first reading? I gave my first reading to myself, in my lap, in my room, that very first day I got it.

4)What was the first spread you learned? The Celtic Cross

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why? Simple three-card, quick and concise.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how? Yeah, I think you have to have a connection with your cards for them to really work. My connection developed gradually as I did more readings and was awed and humbled by the accuracy.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? All cards have a personality, and feelings, I've frustrated them before by asking the same question too many times, and they've lashed out at me for it. I've SEEN it happen, that's all I need to think so.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?) Spiritual guidance and self-reflection, sometimes recreation.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning) The Lovers... I mean, hey, I'm big on love and relationships, I die when I see that card.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling? The Three of Swords... I mean, it's basically the polar opposite of The Lovers, heartbreak.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa? No, I always use the full deck.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity? I believe my readings are quite accurate indeed, I've never had them steer me or anyone else wrong.

[redrobin]

13)Have you ever created your own spread? If so, how effective is it? (Feel free to show us the spread) No, but I've had ideas for spreads...

14)What card do you most often pull? Why do you think that is the case? I'm not sure, I can't recall getting any one card noticably more often than any other.

15)What card best represents you? (or, is most often pulled to represent you in a spread) Hmm... The Moon, I think. I have a big imagination, I embrace fear, I often feel confused and lost...

16)How much emphasis do you put on the text-book meanings for cards, and how much stress do you place on the "feeling" you get from cards through their artwork/symbolism/etc.? They've always seemed one and the same to me... so I don't know how to answer this question.

17)What question do you most often ask the deck (or, ask on behalf of another)? My deck gets asked ALOT of love and relationship questions.

18)What was the most dramatic/meaningful reading you ever did? (Not necessarily most accurate) Helping me decide whether or not I should believe someone... I refuse to specify from there.

19)Do you ever use the Tarot during ritual? If so, do you reserve a deck specifically for that purpose? I've done a ritual or two with my cards... I only have one deck so I can only use that deck.

and lastly,

20)What really makes the Tarot cards "tick"? Is it Magic? is it all in the mind? are little green men just messing with us?!? Spiritual forces guide the cards for us...

[DebLipp]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
----My High Priestess

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
---Rider-Waite, I bought it in a bookstore, and I'm sure it was one of the decks my HPS was reading with and i liked it. Or maybe I bought it at random. There were fewer decks on the market in those days.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?
---How this happened was that I was a brand new witch-in-training, my HPS gave me a reading (probably with the Thoth deck) . Then she gave me another. Then she handed me the deck and said "Now you read me."

4)What was the first spread you learned?
---Celtic cross.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
---Usually a modified Celtic cross or this cool spread I learned in a newsletter. Sometimes I use a modified version of the spread that comes in the booklet that accompanies the Thoth deck. It depends on the time available and the nature of the question.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
---Sometimes. I can read with any deck, I don't need any special energy on the deck. But when I've been using a deck for a while, it definitely has a bit of a hook-up for me.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
---No!

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)
---Answering questions.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
---4 of Wands

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
---3 of Swords

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
---No

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?
---I have 100% trust in the accuracy of my readings. I have less trust in the accuracy of my interpretations, but they're almost always good.

[Lunacie]

This is a very interesting and thought provoking survery.

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
My ex was Wiccan and he gave me my first Tarot deck. I never did much with it. Later I got a deck that I connected with better

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
These two questions go together for me. Same answer as #1.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?
Probably sitting on my bed doing a reading for myself. I don’t really remember it’s been so long ago.

4)What was the first spread you learned?
The Celtic Cross. I wish I had learned a simpler 3 card reading first.

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
It’s a five card spread that I learned from someone over the internet. I like the way the information is presented and ties together.

1. The Current Situation
2. Waning Influences
3. Hidden Influences
4. Emerging Influences
5. The Outcome

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
I don’t feel a connection to the cards (or the runes) themselves. They are a tool to help me connect with a higher knowledge.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
I feel they are a tool to help me connect with a higher knowledge. That source of knowledge however can get a little pissy if we don’t listen to the advice we get, or keep asking the same question over and over hoping for a different answer.

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)
Self-reflection, communicating with a higher knowledge (divine source).

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
None in particular.

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
None in particular. Each card may have a different meaning depending on the question asked, the situation in question, and the cards surrounding it.

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
I have done this, but I feel I get a more complete picture by using the whole deck.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?
When I trust in the information I’m receiving and don’t second guess it, it’s very accurate. Sometimes when I’m doing readings for others the information may apply to someone close to them instead of to them though.

[Faerwolf]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
My natural curiosiy w/ the occult at a young age
2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
My first deck was The Mythic Tarot - I ordered it from a book club that my mom was a member of. I was about 14 years old.
3)When and where did you give your first reading?
The day i got my first deck. At my mom's large dining room table.
4)What was the first spread you learned?
The celtic cross
5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
The celtic cross - old habits die hard.
6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
I feel a conncection or "feeling" with the cards when i use them. I have several decks and depending on my mood or the situation at hand, i choose the deck i feel the closest too.
7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? I think you conncect
8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?) So far i have used it as a toll for meditation, quidance, and self-reflection
9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
I'd have to say The Hermit, The Fool, and The Tower
10)Which card do you most dread pulling? The 10 of swords
11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
Yes - for meditations
and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity? accurate

[DebLipp]

PART TWO

13)Have you ever created your own spread? If so, how effective is it? (Feel free to show us the spread)
---I've toyed with it but never really loved my results. What I've done successfully is re-work the Celtic cross. I've changed the right-hand "bar" so that it's like this:
4
3
2
1

1=Environment
2=Self-image
3=Hopes & Fears
4=Outcome

This is different than what most people do. But I feel that this is a bar that naturally flows upward; it recapitulates our life story. We start within our environment, come to know ourselves, develop feelings and goals and fears, and finally reach an outcome as a result of this flow.


14)What card do you most often pull? Why do you think that is the case?
---It depends who I'm reading for.

15)What card best represents you? (or, is most often pulled to represent you in a spread)
---I use the Q of Swords as my significator; I only use court cards for significators.

16)How much emphasis do you put on the text-book meanings for cards, and how much stress do you place on the "feeling" you get from cards through their artwork/symbolism/etc.?
---I require my Tarot students to memorize book meanings. After they've accomplished that, I want them to work from feel and impression.

17)What question do you most often ask the deck (or, ask on behalf of another)?
---"What's going on in my life?" Open ended is often best.

18)What was the most dramatic/meaningful reading you ever did? (Not necessarily most accurate)
---All sorts. The 10 of Pents in reverse once brought a querent to tears because it brought up her father's withholding from her. I detected what I suspect was a brain tumor or aneurisym in a woman once (four 9s and the Star in reverse, and she'd had 9 days of persistent headaches). Once I detected a suicide plan and got a woman to promise to seek counseling. Her friend was with her and I got her friend to promise to watch her.

19)Do you ever use the Tarot during ritual? If so, do you reserve a deck specifically for that purpose?
---yes, and no.

and lastly,

20)What really makes the Tarot cards "tick"? Is it Magic? is it all in the mind? are little green men just messing with us?!?
---It's a combination of things. Tarot cards are meaningful symbols dealt randomly, thus creating synchronicity. They key into stored energy (hundreds of years of people using them) and they act as props for inherent psychicism.

[rarefy]

1) I read about them in a book when I was 14.

2) My first deck was the Dragon tarot. I bought it from a pagan store. It was a stupid purchase because I could not connect with the cards and prevented me from learning them (although not stupid because I learned to research any deck I might want and feel a connection before wasting money).

3) I don't remember.

4) Celtic Cross

5) Celtic Cross for longer readings, only because I haven't really tried to learn others as much. Usually I prefer 3 cards for myself only to keep it simple.

6) Yes, I feel a connection to my current deck but it's also the 5th deck I've owned. It took me a long time to find one that appealed to me.

7) No, I believe they're just laminated pieces of paper. It is us that has consciousness through the cards.

8) I used to use them to give readings to others but I would like to learn how to use them for my own personal growth.

9) That is a tough choice! I have so many favorites from my current deck because the artwork is stunning (cosmic tribe tarot full of nekkidness lol). I think the Sun. The Sun card has a man with a giant sun flower around his hips. A little sun is around his belly button. 2 golden butterflies fly around him. His hands are held out like he is raising energy with shadows of his hands on his abdomen. His head is a radiant psychedelic sun with a blissful face. However, you can see a partial glimpse of his real head behind his sun head. He also has 2 nipple piercings. LOL.

10) Hmmm... probably the Tower, 8 of swords, and 10 of wands. Maybe even the 5 of disks. All seem rather depressing to me.

11) No, I've never tried it. I'm actually quite anal about making sure all of the cards are present and accounted for in my deck. Every once in a while I will reorder them just to make sure. :eyebrow:

12) I think the cards can be very accurate when we are open to what they are trying to tell us (or rather what we are trying to tell ourselves).

[seastone81]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
Probably television or the movies? I am honestly not really sure - as far as I can remember, it's always been there.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
I bought the Goddess Tarot from Barnes and Noble because it's one of my favorite stores - I have always gone in there to do homework or spend hours brousing... it just seemed like the right place for me.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?
To myself, about 2 months ago, at my mother's kitchen table - it's huge and beautifully aged wood... seemed like the perfect spot to start.

4)What was the first spread you learned?
past/present/future/overall message presented in that order

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
celtic cross is helpful for more in-depth questions, but the 4 card spread above is also good for things that are very well defined by time.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how?
i do - they make me happy. it felt like i had something special in my hand the first time i picked up the box and every time since.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so?
but i am also one of those people ("crackers" is, I believe, how Shanti put it) who believe that most things in the world

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?)
self-reflection

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
Rhiannon (VII)

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
the 8 of swords: it means entrapment, not being able to see past the end of your nose. to me, this is the worst possible thing (because, apparently, it happens to me rather frequently :excuseme: )

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
not yet... i am generally of the opinion that hampering the deck by removing some parts, or not reading reversals, would take away from what the cards are trying to say

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity?
every reading i've done so far has been helpful, but i'm a newbie so i'm sure that there will be times things won't work out as well? i've only done about 15 readings for myself so far... maybe 20...

[seastone81]

13)Have you ever created your own spread? If so, how effective is it? (Feel free to show us the spread) no - I am still learning how to do this myself... i might someday though

14)What card do you most often pull? Why do you think that is the case?
It really depends on what I'm asking about - I tend to pull certain cards to represent certain people when I ask questions about them...

15)What card best represents you? (or, is most often pulled to represent you in a spread)
as a significator? usually the princess of staves, though last time I did that the deck told me I should have picked the princess of pentacles so maybe I oughtn't (wow I just killed that word...) be the one picking which card represents me? I feel a tie to Rhiannon (hence the woman on a horse in my banner) but she rarely comes up for me... but I have only asked once about myself in regards to anything with Movement, and she came up for it so that works for me.

16)How much emphasis do you put on the text-book meanings for cards, and how much stress do you place on the "feeling" you get from cards through their artwork/symbolism/etc.? To start out with, I would look at the book more often because I wasn't sure of the gist of the swords symbolism (a woman laying on the ground sleeping with several swords pointed at her initially looked like danger that you can't see, but once I realized what swords represented it made more sense that it symbolizes protection while she sleeps).

17)What question do you most often ask the deck (or, ask on behalf of another)? Usually just a re-centering for myself, what might happen with a job application - how I should approach an interview that afternoon.

18)What was the most dramatic/meaningful reading you ever did? (Not necessarily most accurate)
My first reading, which was just taken with meanings straight from the book, and the few right after it were so spot on (or I was just in the perfect mood) that it really set the tone wonderfully for my relationship with this deck.

19)Do you ever use the Tarot during ritual? If so, do you reserve a deck specifically for that purpose? I am not a ritual person - I have my rock altar, and I burn candles while I cook, but other than that it's mostly in my head.

20)What really makes the Tarot cards "tick"? Is it Magic? is it all in the mind? are little green men just messing with us?!?
I think it's a great guide to help the reader figure out what options are open for them - I think it can predict the future, but I think it's mostly in the hands of the reader to "read" correctly - the cards can only do so much.

[jinx1_2]

1)What introduced you to Tarot?
My crazy aunt actually. At a family reunion.

2)What was your first deck and why/how did you get it?
The Dragon Tarot. I was in the local metaphysical shop looking for ankhs when I saw it and was just drawn to it, so I bought it.

3)When and where did you give your first reading?
In my bedroom that night.

4)What was the first spread you learned?
Celtic Cross

5)What spread do you use most often/prefer and why?
Celtic Cross. I think just because I am so used to it and it seems to give the most accurate results.

6)Do you feel a "connection" to your cards? If so, when did this connection develop and how? Yes, I guess from the beginning.

7)Do you feel that the cards "think" or have consciousness? Do you feel that they can get "mad" or "jealous"? If so, why do you think so? Actually yes. They refuse to give me any accurate readings when I do them for myself anymore. But when I read for someone else it is usually correct. And I hope they don't get jealous, cause I just bought another deck so that I could read for myself!!!

8)For what purposes do you usually use the Tarot? (Self-reflection, recreation, communing with spirits/dead, communication with deity?) Recreation, and self-reflection. I haven't tried to use them to communicate with anyone, but I have used them in spells.

9)What is your favorite card? (Both in terms of artwork and divinatory meaning)
The Magician

10)Which card do you most dread pulling?
The Tower

11)Do you ever use the Major Arcana without the Minor or vise versa?
Yes when it calls for it.

and lastly,

12)How accurate do you believe your readings are? : or : Do they accurately convey messages from spirits/deity? Like I said, for myself, I haven't had much luck, but those I have read for say that my readings have been right on.