Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Magician



I am in the process of learning to read Tarot cards. This is something I've wanted to do for what seems like forever, but other things always seem more important. Not to mention, I have always steered clear of psychics and card readers - mostly because my Christian upbringing seems to have instilled a fear of anything having to do with divination. It's not that I don't believe in psychics, I do believe some people are more sensitive to the world we can't see, but I just haven't had much experience with them, and I've never had my cards "read."

But since I will no longer be defined by fear, I thought I would check out Tarot. Learning for myself seemed like the best approach.

No time like the present. I ordered a book by Trish MacGregor and Phyllis Vega, Power Tarot. The book suggests starting out by picking out one card, writing down the meaning in a diary, and taking time to study how it might be represented in an actual spread. Each day you pick another card, until you learn what each card represents. From the book:

"Spreads form the heart of tarot. They create the stories the cards tell and depict recurring patterns that are both visible and invisible, known and unknown, obvious and hidden."


"Some spreads work best for specific questions, others describe general situations and conditions, and still others answer questions that haven't been asked yet."


It is also suggested that one handle the deck, shuffling, holding, touching, etc., until one feels ready to start. So I've spent the last several days doing just that. I found a spot on my coffee table, and picked them up often. I was ready to begin.

So my first question: "What is the most important card to me in this deck right now?" I cleared my mind, said a positive mantra I always say, asked for the answer to my question, shuffled, felt the cards slip through my fingers one by one and finally, after a minute or so -  eventually chose one.

The card?

The Magician 

"He consciously creates reality through his will and imagination. As an alchemist and transformer, he epitomizes the ability to translate ideas into action. He relies on self confidence, power, and determination to see him through. 


The astrological counterpart of the Magician is Mercury, the planet of mental agility and quickness. He symbolizes creative intelligence, psychic discovery, new beginnings, and the realization that with desire, intent, and focus, all our dreams are within our reach."


Hmmm, sounds a little bit like my belief system already. This may prove interesting.

33 comments:

pam said...

How interesting. I have a vintage set of tarot cards that belonged to my grandmother. I don't know what to do with them, I just like looking at them!

Nancy said...

Pam - Wow, I would love to have a vintage set - especially from a grandmother. Pick them up - maybe they were meant for you!

Marlene said...

Nancy, I too put off beacause of my background the cards...I have owned them now for 9 years..I often go to them when I am conflicted and my mind is not clear on a issue..I have recieved much guidence from them. what really gets me still after all these years..is when I am not happy with the spread or feel like it did not answer me..I shuffle for a long time..ask again..and get the exact same group of cards AGAIN... THATS when I know I have to take a closer look at what was said...Marlene

Nancy said...

Marlene - Very interesting! The exact same cards - wow.

Natalie said...

I use mine everyday and without fail, they offer up something useful.
Once, just before I met Mark, I drew the King of Pentacles NINE times in a row. :)

Hilary said...

You're certainly not alone. Someone near and dear to me has recently purchased a deck and book and is learning how to read them too. I find it fascinating and will occasionally select a card and read about what it has to say. Good luck with your Tarot education. I hope you'll keep us posted.

Nancy said...

Natalie - That's amazing! Now off to read what that card means... :-)

Hilary - I will and please let us know how it's going with that special someone.

Brian Miller said...

intriguing...i have looked at the cards but never studied their meaning...beyond what you may see muttered in a movie...intriguing...

Leah J. Utas said...

Good luck and good intuiting with the Tarot. I tried this a few years ago and was reasonable at some of the spreads. When I did one for myself I go the The Magician a lot.

ds said...

Cool! Tarot is fascinating stuff (no, I don't practice it, but I once knew someone who did); the symbolism so interesting. Have fun.

Von said...

Onya!!Always exciting to learn something new and challenge our belief system.
Had my set for 40 years already.They come and go.

Anonymous said...

Card number nine has been following me for more than two decades. Thank you much for the memories.

Please have a good Thursday.


daily athens

Jayne Martin said...

When I was younger, my grandmother read just regular cards and boy, was she good. I started to read them, too, but I don't remember any of it. The Tarot cards sound fascinating. I'd love to learn. You'll have to keep us updated, Nancy.

Wendy said...

Ah Nancy - a post right up my alley! I read palms. And do numerology. Tarot is not my thing, but I do consult it from time to time.

As some of the others have already said, there are times when you pick a card over and over. That's a sure sign to pay attention!!

Good luck. Take your time. Trust your intuition and you will develop it before long.

P.S. - thanks for your comment on my lobster/monster post. I agree, little ones comments may just change our world one day.
Hugs

Wendy said...

Oh, forgot to say that I have 4 tarot decks, and 3 affirmation decks. One "wisdom of fairies" deck and one "animal medicine card" deck.
Sometimes I just choose a card for the day. It is uncanny what will turn up, whether an affirmation, or a particular animal, or word for the wise.
Have fun!

Joanne said...

Interesting topic to read about. It seems from your post, and from some of the comments, that reading tarot cards can also be a way to really make you think about life, and open up new perspectives to things going on. To see them differently, perhaps. So reading them might actually be our own expanding of our vision.

ellen abbott said...

How apt that you should choose the Magician.

ellen abbott said...

and I also meant to say that I had a deck long ago. I wonder what happened to it. and at a low point when I had to make some kind of determination about my life I had a friend read my cards. The reading was full of the misery my life was until the very last card which was the Sun. Which was eventually manifest in my life.

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

The Magician. The perfect card for you, Nancy! My favorite spread is the ladle spread - 6 cards, it's in the book. It provides a lot of information, quickly.

Kathy's Klothesline said...

I find this fascinating........

susan said...

I see you have a card from the traditional Waite deck here which was the first I ever encountered. Once you really get into it you might want to try one of the others - like this perhaps? It's an enormous and fascinating study that I've admired but never practiced. I just liked a number of the cards and long ago spent some time considering painting a deck myself.

gayle said...

Can't wait to hear more about this!!

Pat said...

This sounds so interesting! I wouldn't mind learning how to read them myself! You'll have to keep us up to date on your progress!

karen said...

You've inspired me to learn more about tarot. I was at the bookshop at the Theosophical society recently looking for a deck, and then had seconds thoughts. I think I'm getting a message here to go back and get the deck! And the book....thanks Nancy. Hope to hear more about tarot here.

Linda Pendleton said...

Sounds very interesting. Feels good to let go of fear, doesn't it?

Marguerite said...

I was into Tarot, in the 70's, before it was popular to do so, but quit doing readings after a strange encounter that my cousin and I had with them. I think that the readings can be helpful, but also can be harmful, so enjoy, but be careful. Same with Ouija boards and Runes.

Cloudia said...

Sounds like you have a good attitude about this




I've been consulting the I Ching for decades...insight is always welcome.

We decide ultimately





Warm Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

Grandmother Mary said...

You've inspired me! I have an old Aleister Crowley deck from a dear friend and I just took it out to actually learn after all these years. I received a notice from Amazon about a Celtic Tarot Deck last week so I'm paying attention!

The Good Cook said...

Nancy,

I have been reading my Tarot Cards for over 15 years. I hadn't picked them up in a long time and recently, I started reading Angel Oracle Cards. I choose one card a day and the guidance that my guides give me is amazing and comforting. Stay with it. You will get better and better at divining the meaning of each card.
And don't feel like there is anything anti-God in the cards, which ever type you choose to read. We all have spirit guides and it is just a manner of how they speak to us. Whether that is through dreams, meditation, prayer or card reading the messages are from angels, our angels that have been guiding us from time eternal.

Unknown said...

I have a lovely vintage set which belonged to my BFF's mother; when the mother died, Betty gave them to me and I was so honored. This was maybe 35 years ago and at that time, I tried learning how to read but it "didn't take" with me, so I keep them wrapped in silk, as her mother told me they should be kept. Hope you have better luck than I did on the learning end.

Mental P Mama said...

I pull my angel card each morning. And I have been intrigued by Tarot for ages. I cannot wait to read more!

Rosaria Williams said...

Fun parlor games, indeed.

She Who Doodles said...

i always found them interesting but never fully understood them.