How did you learn Tarot?

[Sweet Freedom]

Did you teach yourself or did someone else teach you?

Which set of cards do you prefer?

Do you have a favorite book or website that you would recommend to beginners?

[LWolf]

1. hmmm

Someone taught me. I had a "class" of 4; we met once a week for a year, and are still good friends. We started with the Ryder Waite deck. Frankly, and this may horrify some Tarot readers, RW just never resonated with me. I learned the mechanics, but didn't like it. About halfway through the class, we started playing with other decks. I had a Robin Wood deck; loved the pics, but there was a weird conflict with the cards. What I eventually discovered was that I didn't do well with any cards based on the Tarot system, but that I could "read" cards that fell outside the cups, wands, swords, pentacles, etc.. I now have a bunch of different decks that I enjoy using. Some are based loosely on tradtional Tarot, but I don't read them that way. I use my own spreads. When a Tarot reader talks about a particular spread, with particular cards, I'll be lost. I don't remember enough about the "mechanics" I learned to get anything from it. Throw my own cards, and I'll see a picture.

Here are my 3 most often used decks:

The Infinite Tarot--used most often when someone asks me to read.

Sacred Path Cards -- Native American based deck by Jamie Sans; I use them when I read for myself.

Wisdom of the Four Winds --a New Zealand deck I sometimes use for looking at larger situations, or larger questions outside myself or other individuals.

I have some other choices on hand, and I enjoy looking at, and playing with, other decks. You might start here:

http://www.michaelsharp.org/books/bookoftriumph/toc.html

A draft of an upcoming book online, book and cards available this spring.

Or here:

http://www.owlfeatherstudio.com/Pages/sdeck.html

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/sacred-path/

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/wisdom-four-winds/

[Sweet Freedom]

2. Thanks for all the links

I'll take a look!

[Chovexani]

12. It's not just you

I can't stand the RW either. I literally get nothing when I work with those.

I work almost exclusively with the Mystic Tarot, which uses imagery from Ancient Greek mythology. The Minor Arcana suits each represent a different myth; for instance, Cups uses the story Eros & Psyche. Being of a Hellenic affinity in my spiritual work, I find this deck speaks to me like none other, and I have tried many others.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. I use the Mystic Tarot too

I usually use it only for me. It is almost the only deck that won't "allow" me to bullshit myself. If you like the Greek path, check out the new Olympic Deck! The cards are BEAUTIFUL! The interpretations are unique, too! The other decks I like to use are the "Tarot of All Ages" (a very beautiful, multicultural deck) and the "Elemental Tarot" (a modern/pop art(?) deck (I can't think of the right term). I call the Elemental deck, my "happy" cards. They always seem to have a light about them. They could tell you that death is coming for you and make it sound like it will be a fun thing! :) I like to use it when I know a very serious question has been asked.

I also follow the Greek path! Glad to see someone else does as well!

[Chovexani]

18. Ooh, I will have to check out that Olympic Deck!

I know what you mean about "happy" cards, that's what I like about the Goddess Tarot (has non-traditional cards and uses Goddess imagery from many cultures). That one I use mostly in spell work and meditation and it's very soothing to me.

I'm glad to see another person on the Greek path, too! I've been on it for about six years or so and it has an energy all its own.

[Behind the Aegis]

19. not Greek to us! :)

I also have the Goddess deck. I use that one for serious questions, strong women, or anything that is wrapped in mystery. The feeling I get from that deck is one of sincerity and, often, very somber. But, that may be how the deck 'sees' me too because of the questions I ask them.

It is not easy finding others on the Greek path, that is for sure. I have found some great books and sites. If you want to swap titles and sites, I'd be up for it! :)

[NMDemDist2]

3. i taught myself

since I am a woman of "indeterminate age" about 12 years ago, I picked up a deck of the "MotherPeace" cards that called to me in a store one day

I bought the book two days later and off I went :)

I heartily second the Michael Sharp recommendation that LWolf gave you
http://www.michaelsharp.org/books/bookoftriumph/toc.html

I had dabbled in the tarot with a Rider-Waite deck, it never resonated with me.

this website has a lot of info, if you haven't already been pointed there http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/ and gives you lots of decks to check out

the MotherPeace deck is here.. http://www.motherpeace.com/

[Sweet Freedom]

8. Glad to hear that

I'm going to try and teach myself as well. (I've been on a "I'm going to teach myself" kick for about two years. Harmonica and Chinese brush painting are on the list as well!)

[Delphinus]

4. Interesting ...

to hear two others who never resonated with the Ryder Waite either. I disliked the energies coming from those cards immensely.

I found the MotherPeace and used them for many years, then, about two years ago, I found a deck (on line) called World Spirit. I love them. They feel like they were made just for me.

I am also interested in the Michael Sharp site the other two pointed you to.

Blessings,

[davsand]

5. I gave a guy a ride home from a party one night.

He asked me if I wanted a tarot reading in return for the favor and I said, "Yeah sure..." I knew he wasn't hitting on me, so I figured it was safe. He did warn me that he was new to this whole "tarot thing" so I was supposed to not expect much...

He pulled out a Ryder Waite deck and a book with spreads diagrammed and proceeded to literally read the meanings of the cards to me. I wasn't terribly impressed with the reading, but I was hugely interested in the cards themselves. The art just blew me away.

By the end of the discussion, he handed me his deck and book and said he thought I probably needed them more than he did. I was just flabbergasted, but I went ahead and took them home with me.

A couple weeks later, I actually bought myself an Aquarian deck and a few more books about Tarot in general. That Ryder Waite Deck was never a good one for me--I ended up dispersing it, in fact--but it did spur me to learn about tarot.

I've studied with a couple of folks over the years, but I still find that my readings are most comfortable when I just lay the cards out and look at what appears to me.

Funny thing about that guy that gave me that first deck--I met him that night at a party, and gave him the ride home. I only ever ran across him a couple of times after that. I always kind of wondered at the impact he had on my life for such a short acquaintance.

Laura

[Sweet Freedom]

9. What a great story

Thanks for sharing.

[NuttyFluffers]

6. they just kept bumping into me.

then i fell into the company of a student of tarot and got really absorbed into it. funny enough i fell into i ching first from a report on it and then later in the same class i went into tarot.

my first set was balbi (seriously esoteric -- great feel for them, but not the best to work with as a beginner). next went and got the eileen connolly book "Tarot: a new handbook for the Apprentice" along with several cabbalah books from the library. the cabbalah started to spook me with seriously weird dreams and daytime pre-cog and visions. so i stopped that, postponing it until i was older and more mature (high school is probably not the best place for the frame of mind needed to study that), but i came to really like connolly's book. it was friendly, positive, and still pushed you to learn, explore, and develop a trust with your intuitive sense. i do recommend the book, the exercises are quite worthwhile.

after balbi (and a few more i ching books) i picked up another set, this time sacred rose tarot. i liked its artwork and its resonance, very etheric. then i picked up a haindl tarot set, which was particularly nice. a more celestial feel to it, an approchable intensity to it. then i got a morgan-greer tarot, the one that attracted me from the very beginning. the artwork was so intense, vivid, spilling from the card, yet also the symbolism was pretty stanard using most of the rider-waite symbolism, making learning easier. too bad i picked it up so late. i seeded it, but i use that set more like a sundae, i like it's flow but it's use is more like a self-indulgence, not for serious work. still i love the set though. then i finally got a rider-waite, after all those years, just for completion's sake. wasn't terribly attracted to it, but it's symbolism is incredibly easy to use, especially with people new to the tarot. i think i lost that set... i kinda miss it, but not all that much.

i also have a computer geeks tarot set (obtained freebie by visiting a wholesalers convention). designed as part tarot part card game it's meant as a kitch toy. cute, but not a serious tarot for me. besides, it has some completion problems. i've also seeded a generic 52 card deck. since the casino drew a stripe and cut out a corner i can use that as a guide for upright and reversed cards. i seeded it and used it for casual mundane readings. very useful, unfortunately it sometimes ends up being used for card games... but after seeding it for so long i've found that it's to my advantage. i have better 'luck' at games with that set; it's kind of an unfair advantage, 'reading' your opponents cards and knowing what's coming up next. it's bad i tell you! don't do it! especially if they are gambling! it's amoral! don't do it!.... oh, i'm so guilty...

[Sweet Freedom]

10. Ha-ha

I'll remember never to play cards with you!! ;)

[saracat]

7. Oddly, I don't remember who gave me my first deck. I remember who gave me

a wooden box to put them in! I taught myself in college. I used the Rider Waite Deck and the Eden Gray Guide to Tarot. Not to boast but I was and still am pretty accurate. People have always tried to pay me. Once a businessman tried to hire me. I was never comfortable with that! I have several other Decks the Witch Deck and the Medicine Woman,but truthfully, I prefer my Rider deck. I am uncomfortable with any other. But JMHO!

[Sweet Freedom]

11. I like the colors of the Rider Waite deck

They look peaceful.

[Pallas180]

13. I started out on the Egyptian Zain deck and then went to Rider Waite -

I literally have 52 decks and never use any but Robin Wood - I love the colors and figures - and Rider Waite.

One of my students was a young gypsy man - he looked like it too, handsome devil, but was a non practicing gypsy - he started to teach me the plain playing cards - we only got up to the 6's before I had to attend to other matters...but I have to tell you I got more "pictures" and information out of the plain card playing deck then I ever got out of a tarot deck.

I loved it and I wish someone would teach me again. Having someone teach you is far different than teaching yourself from a book. The teacher always knows these little extra things you never find in a book. :)

[Behind the Aegis]

15. a class and friend

I took a class while in college. I also had a friend who was very good. I was given my first deck, the Mythic Tarot (Greek). I 'see' things in the cards. Almost like from the movie "The Craft" where the one witch sees the ocean move in that book; I see things move in the cards. It helps me with the reading. I also don't read "reversed" cards...I go on instinct.

I have different decks for different reasons or people. I NEVER use my Mythic deck to read anyone but me (and maybe my partner). The more dire a situation (based on my sense), I will use the Elemental deck...or my "happy" deck.

Here is a good site for beginners...Basics of the Tarot and here is another to look at a variety of decks...Pics and lists of decks! And, here is a site for various spreads...Tarot spreads (This site was not working this evening, but it has in the past....may be a lost site or under construction).

Happy studies!

[Sweet Freedom]

17. Thanks for the links! /nt

[Matariki]

16. my parents, bless their hearts, when i was 12

bought me my first deck. they weren't into tarot - it was being sold as a game in a local department store. i thank god every day that my parents were atheists(!) and let me develop my own spirituality.

i taught myself by meditating and skrying into the cards, and reading a lot of books, etc.

my personal favorite deck is the Rider-Waite deck. the symbolism connects correctly with the qabala and i like that the minor cards have pictures.

i'd really recommend skrying into the cards to connect with them and get insight into the deeper meanings. well, after becoming familiar with the basic meanings anyway.

[hippiegranny]

20. I have always felt foggy trying to read RW

then a friend bought me a Goddess deck and I feel so much more clarity when I look at a spread.

I am a beginner, but plan to make deepening my understanding of the tarot a goal for this year.