True tarot reader

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Joker

[QUOTE=esse quam videri;365708]Everyone is probably going to hate me for this, but I strongly believe that you should be given your first deck. The universe will choose you if this is your path and someone will either know and give you a deck, or a random will be compelled for reasons they are not sure of. This is the way I have done things, this is the way I have seen every other person in my life who had read tarot do things.
I have seen people buy decks for themselves, and always one of three things happens: the deck turns on the person, the deck never gives accurate readings, or the deck does not stay with them for one reason or another.
I realize having started to research online that there are many people who disagree with this, personally I would have to disagree completely.[/QUOTE]
Well amigo, my advice to you is to take the universe by its neck and BEAT IT to a pulp. Letting things happen in front of your eyes is useless, you must take charge of your universe. No one would learn of the occult if they were suppose to wait and have all the books and knowledge spoon fed to them. They get up off their ass if they are interested and start researching.

A dog chasing cars,

Joker

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Absinthe

he deck turns on the person, the deck never gives accurate readings, or the deck does not stay with them for one reason or another.

I worked in an occult store for over 10 years and have read tarot for more than half my life. In my experience, I can safely say that Tarot decks are inanimate cardboard objects. Any power they have is entirely due to the mindset of the user.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: KittyFabulous

[QUOTE=esse quam videri;365708]
I have seen people buy decks for themselves, and always one of three things happens: the deck turns on the person, the deck never gives accurate readings, or the deck does not stay with them for one reason or another.
[/QUOTE]


Oh please, that's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard.

I've read professionally for 11 years. I've never had a deck "turn on me" or run away. I've taught Tarot and have friends who have been researching, teaching, and writing on the Tarot on a scholarly level for decades. I agree with Absinthe. They are inanimate cardboard objects.

The worst thing we can do for the integrity of professional and amateur readers alike is imbue them with more unfounded superstition and ignorance. There is already enough absolutely silly misconceptions about the Tarot without creating more.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Winnipeg1919

I agree Kitty. If first heard that particular superstition in the mid-90's after I had been reading Tarot for a number of years.

I have studied the history, and I find no reference to the "must be given your first deck" superstition before that time.

I have also never heard of anyone having a deck turn on them. They are simply a tool for Magick, like my athame, wand, or cauldron. Repeated use imbues them with energy, but no intelligence.

I have seen people buy their first deck and move on to another after a while. It is usually because they find one that they connect with better, or they wear the damn thing out.

Personally, I bought my first deck for myself in 1978 and I still use the same deck (Waite-Rider). Based on my personal experience Esse Quam Videri should add at least one more possibility to her list.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: esse quam videri

I was merely posting what my personal dealings with tarot had led me to believe and by what I have been taught. I have read one book on tarot, after I had been reading for years, that said needing to be "given" a deck is complete crap. I have found more evidence that leads to the contrary.
I listed what I have seen and what I have been taught from every other reader I have met in my life. You can all say that what I have seen is different than what I have seen, but I am not going to say that I am wrong because what life has shown me is different than what life has shown others. I am not posting to change anyone's mind or to say that everyone here who has bought their own cards is useless or hexed. I am posting what I think, what I know.
As far as the cards being tools and the usefulness or not depends on the user; I ever said this wasn't true or that I didn't believe it. In fact, I think that is exactly what I was saying. A person with no ability could try to read and find themselves unable to, or worse. There are many "things" out there that prey on weak minds, tempting them with knowledge and power they cannot handle. I am not saying cards are evil. I am not saying they are wonderous magical things with a mind of their own. I think that whenever you preform something magical, or use a magical tool, lots of things out there notice, and can choose to be angry l or not. I think it is naiive to assume that you can go out in the world and do whatever you want with no regard for destiny, fate, ability, or any such thing and assume there will be no consequences.
I am certainly open to the fact that others may view this differently for their own reasons, but I am not going to change my viewpoint based or one book and people I have not met in real life strongly disagreeing with me. I am not saying that the fact that I have not met people in "real life" bears any significance on the truth, I am saying that I believe what I see and feel and have been taught. If you have found different things, good for you. I will hold onto my views because in accumulating everything I know, they are the only ones that make sense to me so far in life.
I would also like to add that just because I believe some people are chosen means that I like my life floating freely and disregard free will. I believe there is a path for everyone that is different for everyone and if you follow your own personal destiny things work out for the best. Certainly you can go off course, try different things or go in the complete opposite direction. I am not going to be a pro-football player, and no amount of lusting for this is going to make me one. If I ran out onto the field and tried to play, I'd probably piss people off. People bigger than me, and most likely crankier. Sure I could practice an insane amount and take steroids and hope that I make the team because I just love football so much. I could hurt and change my body to do it. Some people are born to do things that others are not born to do. Can you work around this? Sure. It's not usually the safest bet, and it's not usually going to make a person happy.

Before anyone gets mad I do not know who is meant for what and I will never say without some compelling evidence that anyone on here that they personally are not meant to read cards. I don't know your own personal destiny, I don't know your friends, and I'm not judging right or wrong with anyone personally. I am trying to express them importance of people doing what they are meant for, and saying what I feel.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Winnipeg1919

So you were taught that you have to be given a deck, and didn't believe the one book on Tarot that said something to the contrary.

I am unclear as to the purpose of your digression into football. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with what we were discussing. Particularly since its point is something to do with being able to transcend natural limitations, and that is not part of the thread nor anyone's earlier posts.


All of those who have posted to this thread, except the student at the top, use Tarot actively from what I can tell.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: KittyFabulous

The Tarot is a deck of slips of printed cardboard, derriving from what we think of nowadays as a standard deck of cards (not the other way around) as a past-time for the bored upper classes. Its mystical images derrive from Rennaissance Italian pop-culture. There is nothing supernatural about them whatsoever. Their power comes from their use as a tool of the miraculous human mind.

That is not opinion, it is historic fact. No gypsies, no "secret encoded book of mysteries", no ancient Egyptian cult. They weren't even used in divination until they'd been hanging around for about a hundred years as a game (similar to bridge.) Sorry to pop your glamour bubble, but that's the truth. No sparkly-sparkly-magicky-mystery. No booga-booga-hocus-pocus. It's carboard. It derrived from a game of the idle rich.

We who divine with it have given the Tarot its power, its wisdom, its mystery. We have anchored its usage to such states of openness and sacredness through its use as a tool of consciousness that it continually surprises us, it continually reveals, it continually amazes. At the last festival I lectured at, I watched one of the most knowledgeable Tarot experts in the world pause and wonder, "I never noticed that about that card before..." And he had drawn the image himself.

The power in the Tarot is in the state of mind we reach through it. That is miraculous enough! Why do we need to add all kinds of bogus, trivial superstition?

In light of that truth, can you please explain the benefit in believing your deck will "turn on you" or magicaly disappear unless you are dependent upon other people to provide you with your tools? You have made it clear that you believe very firmly in what you stated, and that you think its a useful belief. For whatever reason, you have framed your experience of the Tarot around that belief, accordingly and your experience has shaped itself to fit that frame. Although I have no interest in altering that belief that you hold so sacred, I most certainly do not understand it, and I fail to see any reason why the rest of us should adopt it, or refrain from acknowledgeing its improbability, if not outright falsehood.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: esse quam videri

I don't disagree with a word that you have said, about the tarot specifically. Of course the power comes from the readers, I never tried to say it didn't. You can divine from almost anything found on earth, cards, tea leaves, birds, clouds, ect. Of course it depends on the person.

Perhaps this will explain it better. To assume (wrongly) that you are equipped to do something and to do it anyway is a sort of arrogance that can anger beings. It's like poking your head where you don't belong. I have seen this end badly for people. Or I have seen the tools "taken away". I had a friend...wanted to read cards, wanted to be psychic. Bought some cards. Lost them the same week. Bought more decks. Lost them all. Never left the house with them, searched everywhere, never found them. I had another friend, same idea, bought a deck, got a horrible vibe, started having nightmares and being stalked by creepy things, tried to get rid of the deck, and while it was gone her life was as it was before. The deck always came back. No matter what she did, it would end up back in her car, in her room, ect. The list goes on.

Do I think the card's were evil and magical? No. I think someone saw their arrogance and got pissed off. Used the cards to send a gentle message, of "knock it off, stop trying to be what you are not" First girl, got a few little warnings...second girl didn't listen as well (in other ways, she didn't only try tarot) so her consequences were more severe. So I think it you are meant for this, or able, you will be shown, and you will have fabulous results. Perhaps the deck turning on you was a poor choice of words.

The biggest reason I believe what I do? It was told to me by my teacher. I have seen this person do things with cards and magic that have amazed me endlessly. They have divined the best kept secrets out of me, and others. Yet I know I have only seen the tip of the ice burg....I trust in my teacher, and I trust in what life has shown me. I can't say anymore than that, and I don't expect anyone to adopt my way of thinking. I was certainly not trying to offend anyone, I just like to see people be careful. I have seen the most devastating consequences of not doing so (of course the examples of my two friends and tarot are not the most extreme), so I put in my two cents. Take it or leave it, do what ya do.

I believe someone giving you a deck is a pretty clear message that it is something you should try. You do it, it works, great. Eventually you can learn that you never really needed it, but what a great way to open yourself up.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Absinthe

So to clarify, your position is that being given a deck of tarot cards is a sign from the universe that you should read cards? Not that you can't read cards unless you are given a deck?

I'm kind of confused about your point.

I've only heard the kind of scenarios you describe from the mouths of teenagers with over active imaginations, to be honest. Someone consistently losing something would suggest they have an internal barrier or resistance to the thing, not that there is a supernatural force at work. That would be very, very far down my list of probabilities.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: esse quam videri

Yes my point is that there are signs the universe gives you that you are meant for this and that being given a deck is a very strong one. I'm not saying there aren't other signs or ways to get on the right path, but I do not believe that "really really wanting to" is enough, or a good idea.

As for the things I described being from teenagers, well I am not, and the friends who told me their stories are also, not. I have been reading cards for quite some time, and the one who teaches me, longer than I have been alive.

I gave a basic overview of what led me to believe what I believe, and I can see that from what I wrote I cannot properly convey. The cards being missing are not the only reason I believe an entity was responsible for what happened to these friends of mine after buying the cards, there are years of events that I cannot possibly fit into a forum. Rest assured that I do not think a ghostie is responsible every time something goes wrong in someone's life, nor do I assume that when something goes wrong occult wise. I am saying that in the cases I was speaking of, that is the explanation.

In general, I believe the universe helps you on your path, and the closer you get to it the more signs and help you will receive. The further away you get, the less help, however if you are treading on dangerous ground in which you are improperly equipped for, there will be warnings. To clarify I do not think that every word strangers speak to you and ever television commercial is a sign from the powers that be; just that signs do exist to help you towards something or to keep you away from it. I also believe that there is something behind these signs, not always the same something, the universe can have many messengers.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: herne's son

My first deck some twenty five plus years ago was the Thoth deck. Since then I have invested into the Enochian Tarot...which I discarded not too long after it was purchased...I don't like it at all.

About 10 years or so ago, I found Ellen Cannon Reed's "Witches Tarot" most helpful, especially with it's correspondences with the Kabbalah.

I also like the Robin Wood Tarot and a Celtic Tarot deck I just purchased.

I have used a couple of Paul Foster Case's books "The Tarot" and "Book of Tokens" as meditative tools.

Crowley's deck was my first....I'm not sure it was the best choice as a first deck.

I've never really liked the Rider-Waite deck...but I have one.

I am in the process of familiarizing myself with the tarot again after many years of neglecting it....it's a great tool for meditation.

I am not a "fantastic" reader....I have a long way to go.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: bozana55

Hello Matthew,

Do you do Tarot reading for Forum members?

Bozana

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: fratersb

[QUOTE=MatthewK;353480]This question would probably get different answers from everyone you asked; or maybe not - it seems like the ability to interpret the cards both in imagery and defined meaning, their overall flexibility, is what makes them so appealing. Giving the Thoth deck to a beginner would make their learning harder, but in my opinion it would pay off in the long-run because by the time they had a good solid grasp on how they work... they'd be a lot more creative and able to go much deeper into the meanings of each card.

The cards individually, as one relates to another, and how they all come together as "the big picture" in any given spread is what I mean to illustrate with that statement; however, I'm pressed for time and may come back later to edit. :p In short, the Thoth deck is only superior for some people. A beginner may benefit more from the Rider-Waite deck...

but it really just depends on the person. Everyone's different.[/QUOTE]

I agree, I still have my original rider waite deck. I use it for consulting others. I use my BOTA deck for meditation. I do have the thoth deck, and its beautiful. I dont use it as much because I lean more GD/aurum solis/bota than OTO.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: fratersb

[QUOTE=esse quam videri;366172]I was merely posting what my personal dealings with tarot had led me to believe and by what I have been taught. I have read one book on tarot, after I had been reading for years, that said needing to be "given" a deck is complete crap. I have found more evidence that leads to the contrary.
[/QUOTE]
If one waits to be given all things, then one will never get anywhere. And what would stop you from having a friend buy it and giving it to you?

[jeviscachee]

"If one waits to be given all things, then one will never get anywhere."

What a perfect quote. Very true. Taking control of things never hurt anyone: getting giddy about it does, and you can do that no matter how you've managed to acquire something.

~Scar~

[Shaam]

If one waits to be given all things, then one will never get anywhere."

Absolutely. We forge our own paths.