Tarot Tips: How To Choose A Good Tarot Deck
Published: Fri, 06/01/12
If you have trouble reading this issue of Tarot Tips, you may see it and other back issues at http://tarotschool.com/Newsletter.html
![]() Vol. 4 #5 / June 1, 2012
In this Issue: - Welcome
- Tarot Tip: How To Choose A Good Tarot Deck
- Tarot Card Showcase: Nine of Wands
- Upcoming Events
- Best Practices: Overcoming the Fear of Reading For Others
- Featured Tarot Blog: Psychic Jucy's TarotSeek Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!
And a special welcome to our new readers.
We are so happy to return after our month-long break
and we want to take the time to thank all of our
Readers Studio 2012 attendees and our fabulous staff!
We were all blessed with a gentle, loving energy
throughout the whole weekend and had the best time
ever!
Of the many vendors that participate in tarot
conferences, the tarot deck vendors are an important
part. With so many decks to choose from, do you ever
wonder which one is the right for you? Have you ever
purchased a deck only to later have buyer's remorse?
Have you purchased a deck and found that you have to
learn a whole new system in order to read the cards? In
this issue we are going to give you some tips about
purchasing tarot decks.
The Nine of Wands is the showcase tarot card for this
issue, and the topic of the fear of reading for others
is the highlight of the professional readers column. And one more thing... This past World Tarot Day we launched a new
section of the Tarot School store -- Study Guides!
These downloadable guides focus on a particular
technique that we enjoy teaching in our classes,
intensives and correspondence course. At only
$7 each, they're a great way to augment your tarot
studies.
There are two great Study Guides there now:
- The Voice in the Card
- The Power of Silence
Over the coming weeks, we'll be adding
some interesting, useful, and (dare we say) unusual
topics to the selection. Check them out at
http://tarotschool.com/store Click on the picture
of the spiral notebook.
Yours truly on the tarot journey,
Ruth Ann, Wald & Gina Tarot Tips is here to help you with the practical side of your Tarot journey. In order to take the greatest
advantage of this newsletter, please send us your
questions regarding any aspect of your tarot study
or practice and we'll do our best to answer them
in an upcoming issue.
Spread the experience of tarot - share this newsletter with other Tarot Enthusiasts! Tarot Tip
HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD TAROT DECK
There are hundreds of decks to choose from with more
on the way. So many decks, so little time.
At the beginning of your tarot journey, you may find it
overwhelming to have to learn to learn card meanings
from so many decks. If you are an old hand at tarot,
you may be ready to venture into new territory and
expand your knowledge to include different traditions.
Luckily for tarot enthusiasts, there are so many good
choices! Many decks are reasonably priced but some can
be quite pricy. So here are some things you may want to
consider when you are shopping for a deck.
Pick a System
Beginners might want to choose a traditional deck like
the Rider-Waite-Smith, which is the one we work with in
our classes. Many modern tarot decks are variations on
this classic deck, and learning the RWS can provide a
solid foundation for working with the others.
The Tarot de Marseilles and Crowley's Thoth Tarot
are other seminal decks which follow different traditions.
They have also inspired adaptations.
When you are comfortable with one tradition, you may
want to branch out to a deck that appeals to your
personal taste in art or themes. You will not find it
difficult to transfer the meanings you have already
learned, although there can be many layers of meaning
for any card.
Size Matters
Consider the size of the deck. This becomes important
when you read for others. Many querents are visual and
will want to see the cards as you interpret. If the
images are too small or dark they may pick up the
cards, which means they get handled more. The size of
your hands and how the cards feel when you shuffle is
something to thing about as well. Large cards may be
great for teaching but cumbersome when shuffling.
This brings up another point. In choosing a reading
deck, you will want to purchase a deck that feels
durable enough for regular use. If you are "earth
conscious," consider decks that are printed using
green methods such as soy-based inks or recycled card
stock.
The Art of Tarot
The most important consideration in choosing a reading
deck is to see how well the images convey what you want
to express.
Get to know the artists and deck creators. Many of them
attend conferences and have websites, mailing lists or
blogs that discuss card meanings, new projects, etc.
Are you a collector of decks? Even if you weren't
intending to be, you may find that you came to own more
decks than you planned. Some of these may even be rare
or special editions not intended for everyday use.
These decks can increase in value over time. Purchasing
decks, like purchasing fine art, can become an
investment, and well-kept or sealed decks can be
resold.
Regardless of what you do with it, you'll recognize a
good personal deck if it feels good in your hands,
pleases your eye, your mind, and your unconscious. Tarot Card Showcase In this section we will feature tidbits on a specific tarot card. While there are many systems and decks to choose from in
the world of tarot, here we use the Universal Waite Tarot
images and symbols.
Copyright 1992 U.S Games.
![]() NINE OF WANDS
Astrological Attribution: Moon in Sagittarius
Esoteric Title: Lord of Great Strength The Nine of Wands shows a man standing in front of
eight staffs while holding the ninth one in his hand.
The scene is set in a mountainous landscape beneath a
cloudless sky.
The man grips his staff as if to anticipate his next
move. The rolled up sleeves on his tunic suggest work
that is very hands-on. Traditionally he is described as
being wounded and on guard before a palisade.
The nine in any suit is a potent energy. This Lord of
Great Strength is ready to face whatever or whoever
will come his way. The lunar powers gain strength in
Sagittarius. The Moon in Sagittarius shows activity and
change, but is nonetheless dependable and steady.
The Golden Dawn tradition interprets this card as
tremendous force that cannot be shaken. Waite's
meaning was strength in opposition, which can be
understood as resilience in the face of great
adversity.
This figure stands alone, which suggests a feeling of
isolation. He has learned to adjust to and handle
aggression. If the situation is not favorable it may be
good to stand back, consolidate, and delay decisive
activity until conditions are more favorable.
In a reading, the Nine of Wands encourages you to
maintain your integrity. Realize that you have the
strength to make it through anything. Draw on past
experience to help you with current issues. In certain
situations, you need courage and resolve.
Positive Keywords: Motivated, solid, strong, stable, secure, powerful, protective, observant, patient;
structure, endurance, and stamina.
Negative Keywords: Defensive, angry, tense; instability, hindrance, delay, obstacles.
Tarot Affirmation: I stand in truth, integrity, and love in living courageously with purpose.
Upcoming Events:
Readers Studio Teleconference -- Free! Come hang out with us on the phone
at our monthly informal get-together.
It's a great chance to catch up with each
other and brainstorm new ideas.
San Francisco Bay Area Tarot Symposium (SF BATS) San Francisco, California Established by Thalassa in 1991, SF BATS is the
oldest continuously produced Tarot event in the
world. This beloved gathering of Tarot enthusiasts
has showcased some of the best and brightest
readers, authors, artists and teachers in the field.
2012 is SF BATS 21st Birthday! Join the celebration.
Best Practices for Professional Readers
OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF
READING FOR OTHERS
By Gina Thies
Many people study tarot for years before they begin to
read for someone other themselves. The fear of reading
for others is normal. After becoming familiar with the
cards, doing readings regularly is a great idea,
especially if you have a desire to read professionally.
Some of the fears normally expressed are:
- Not enough knowledge about the cards
- Not feeling psychic enough
- Hindrance around belief systems
- Being afraid to speak in public
- Afraid of being called a fake/fraud
Everyone gets a little defensive or unsure when they
are doing something that puts them out of their comfort
zone. The thing about reading tarot is that it is an
impressive tool that people find at least a bit intriguing.
Plus, people love to talk about themselves. This is
proven by the overwhelming success of social media sites.
I don't think most people would object to learning
something deeper about their lives.
Here are some suggestions for branching out to reading
for others:
1. Read out loud to yourself and practice in front
of a mirror.
2. Find a friend and read for them, if not in person
then over the phone.
3. Examine the fear through journaling.
Pull some cards.
4. Join a Meetup group or start one so you can read
for others in a learning environment.
5. Let your querents know you are "in training."
6. Let go of the pressure to be right.
7. Read on purpose. Carry a deck with you and read
for others at every opportunity.
8. Swap readings with other tarot readers.
The best way to boost your self-confidence
when it comes to reading for others is to
just do it. The more you practice, the better
you'll get. And each bit of positive feedback
you receive from a querent will make it easier
the next time.
Questions arise when developing or transitioning
to professional Tarot Reading status to earn income. These can range from "How can I make money with Tarot?" and "How do I get started?" to more complex technical and business questions.
You may already be up and running and have
questions about how to enhance or ramp up your
business. We would love to hear from you. Send any
questions, or interest in a future class on the
Business of Tarot, to [email protected]. NEW IN THE TAROT SCHOOL STORE! ![]() TAROT SCHOOL STUDY GUIDES
Downloadable guides to special Tarot School techniques.
Visit TarotSchool.com/store
for all the details! Featured Tarot Blog TAROT SEEK
An Original Card Reading System Psychic Jucy (aka Abella Arthur) has an original
approach to learning how to read tarot. This blog
features reviews and articles about Abella's work
with the tarot.
Find out the latest on this new approach, and
perhaps order a copy of Psychic Jucy's TarotSeek
book.
![]() Join our 4,100+ fans and join the fun!
Up to the minute news, mini lessons and more...
Do you have a question or comment on anything tarot?
Suggestions for future topics?
Contact [email protected]
For information on tarot classes, courses,
events and more, go to http://www.TarotSchool.com
![]() © Copyright 2012 The Tarot School - All Rights Reserved
Directors: Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone |