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Erin posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoThis is my intro spread for the Steampunk deck. I liked what I saw below with the other decks, so thought I’d give it try. The results were interesting! (Sorry, I think the photo uploaded sideways… lol)
1. Tell me about yourself. – Strength – Strong, clever, courageous, compassionate
2. What Are Your Strengths? – Four of Swords – Respite from…[Read more] -
Elisabeth posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoI just finished Rachel Pollack’s The New Tarot Handbook. I used to have 78 degrees of wisdom but I lost it. I thought the Handbook was really nice because it’s short. Pollack calls it a distillation of all of her knowledge. So, you get the meanings but for the most part she left out a lot of lengthy background stuff that was in 78 degrees.…[Read more]
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Oh! And there’s some excellent spreads in the Handbook, including two and three card readings. Also, she gives spreads for each card and questions that have to do with that card. I loved this idea and will prob. post some readings.
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Sounds really good! I’m waiting for The Heart of the Tarot to come in the mail, per recommendation from Beth. I’d love to hear more about the spreads in this book, and am definitely interesting in more postings based on it!
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Also, I just looked up Rachel Pollack on Amazon. I did not realize that she’s drawn some of her own decks. Have you ever used any?
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No, I haven’t. Curious though because of her background and I thought maybe she would have more of a feminist, woman friendly take.
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Yeah I was reading a little about it. Apparently the original version was more feminist and she purposely remade it to be less so, which strikes me as odd both because she seems to be a really important and well-respected female figure in the tarot community, as well as because she’s a trans woman and the internet says she’s done a lot of trans…[Read more]
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I didn’t know any of that other than that she is a well respected person in the world of Tarot, and I’m really surprised about the toning down of the feminism.
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I just got The New Tarot Handbook too – a lot of it is similar to 78 Degrees of Wisdom but it’s a lot lighter (somehow without losing depth) – I think I would start recommending this for beginners rather that 78 Degrees…I totally see what she means about it being a ‘distillation’! It’s concise and thought-provoking without being intimidating.
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I got 78 Degrees of Wisdom – I’m enjoying the depth, though the extended exploration into ALL. THE. SYMBOLS on the RWS cards is a little much for me at the moment. I’m sure I’ll appreciate it more as I go on though! I think I’ll take a look at the handbook too.
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I completely agree with you about the Handbook. I read most of it in one day, skipped a lot of the Minor Arcana because she says she learned by doing readings, reading intuitively and then looking up meanings in a book vs memorizing everything first. I like that approach. This book helped me a lot with general associations of numbers, elements,…[Read more]
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Mary L posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoSo, a long time ago I had the idea of starting a tarot blog, as a place to polish/organize journal entries that would be easier to sort through than my regular notebook (yay for the magic of category search). Tarot School has officially inspired me to do it, and to make it public instead of just for me… does anybody else have an online journal,…[Read more]
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I’m contemplating it. I’ve already started posting pictures of some spreads privately just so I have a place to quickly access them and to write down ideas that are better than my scrawled out notes in the notebook. I write faster on the keyboard, so it feels easier to develop a narrative/story that way (or by thinking/talking).
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I started a kind-of tarot blog about a week ago. It’s really disorganized right now, and so far is just short (one or two card) readings. I’ve been using it to help me remember the card meanings and use the booklet less, so I don’t know how interesting it is, but I hope to expand it in the future. I’d definitely be interested in sharing if you (or…[Read more]
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Yay! I really think starting a journal or blog is one of the best ways to learn tarot, partly because it really motivates you (particularly a blog, if people start commenting or you just enjoy seeing it build up!) and also because it helps you to index those amazing ‘aha!’ moments you can have when you break through with a particular card.
If…[Read more]
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I love the idea of an online journal and Beth, your blog is really fantastic! I’ve really been enjoying reading about your own take on particular cards.
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Well here is my link: http://looseleaftarot.weebly.com/
If anybody wants to share theirs I’m definitely interested (feel free to PM or post here or whatever)!
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Mary, thanks for sharing! I just read your first blog post and got a wee bit teary there at the end. Great beginning to your blog!
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I really enjoyed your posts, Mary L! And your discussion of the use of the stories and narratives within tarot and our lives was fantastic.
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Waaaa! Mary that’s awesome! I LOVE THIS:
“What’s so compelling about the magic in a tarot deck is that it’s the same magic that’s inside our heads. The human brain is designed to create stories, to invent narratives that hold our lives together.”
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Yeah! That was really awesome!
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Thanks for checking it out! I’m a little nervous about putting the blog out in the world so it’s nice to get feedback.
Also, if anybody’s on the fence about blogging, whether private or public, I’d recommend giving it a shot… having the more “official” platform is already helping me develop my thoughts more than I might normally in my notebook.
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I’ve always wanted to have a blog but didn’t know what to write about. Except photography, that’s my thing, but there are so many of those out there already.
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That doesn’t mean that you can’t make one! You may have some very unique things to photograph or even new perspectives to show them from!
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Thanks Alison! Perhaps this will get me going on that.
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GiuGiu joined the group
UK and Ireland Straddlers 9 years, 5 months ago
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epsilonGreaterThanZero posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoI feel very ambivalent about “Significators” in tarot, and in using certain cards to describe a specific person.
I’m ambivalent because the purpose of the cards is that each one represents an archetype (this is my assumption), a base image that speaks to the unconscious (mother, father, etc.). This is supposed to be liberating because you can…[Read more]
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Whoa! I’m so with you on this highly gendered/sexed/ethnicized part of traditional meaning! When I read meanings in books that say things like passivity for the Empress I want to burn it…seriously. I feel that ultimately the perfect deck would be free of any of these things. I look at gendered cards not as representing a man or woman but try…[Read more]
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Yeah, Significators feel kinda gross to me as well, unless you know a person really well and can thoroughly explain to them the nuances of the card, which seems like… a waste of time? And for yourself, wouldn’t it be hard to be objective about your own Significator?
Then again, the book I originally used to learn didn’t mention Significators,…[Read more]
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I’m not really sure I understand what a significator is exactly… But my take on the idea of using a card to represent an actual person is that it’s not about the gender so much as the role they play in your life. Sometimes that role is complicated and could be represented by more than one card, but perhaps it’s that specific role that is of…[Read more]
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Yeah, I agree that approach is a good way to handle cards that you’re connecting to a specific person. Usually I see the term Significator used to mean a card that you purposely take out of the deck before a reading, in order to have it represent the person you’re reading for/about. So it feels different to me than when a card comes up naturally…[Read more]
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If I do use a Significator card I draw it vs actively picking one out. I think they’re supposed to be Major Arcana cards but I think it still works.
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Potter posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoSo my new Anna K deck came in today. I thought about starting with the Rider-Waite deck since I’m a beginner, but I really much preferred this one in terms imagery, facial expressions, etc. I also picked up Seventy-eight Degrees of Wisdom as a starting guide, so it’ll be interesting to compare ideas across the Rider-Waite images in there to the…[Read more]
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It’s interesting that there is such a different take on the 4 pentacles with the Anna K deck and the Golden Tarot that epsilongreaterthanzero posted. The Golden Tarot seems to have much more positive take than the Anna K. What comes to mind is that in relation to the 7 cups and it’s illusion/delusion/fantasy, sometimes things that seem bad, like…[Read more]
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I’m also wondering if the 7 of Cups is saying that this deck will help strip me of my illusions about myself, or if it’s speaking to illusions in general.
I like what you said about it going either way. I agree! The Four of Pentacles seems to be in that same type of space.
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I think the 7 cups can mean that it will help you to see the truth past illusion or fantasies about situations. But I think it also may mean that it will help you when you’ve just got too many options or to organize things that are in a state of disorganization. I do feel like there is link between the meaning of the 7 cups and the 4 pentacles though.
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I agree! I’ve been feeling a need for more structure and security lately, be in internal or external, and I think the 4 of Pentacles is speaking to that.
I actually like how all the cards really seem to flow into each other – there’s a lot of focus on developing clarity and truth, along with recognizing what I need (the reason I sought out this…[Read more]
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SJ joined the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months ago -
Potter joined the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months ago -
Alison posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoHas anyone ever used the Deviant Moon Tarot? I’ve been looking at it online. Just curious.
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epsilonGreaterThanZero posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoSo… I hope this doesn’t post twice, and I hope this picture works:

I liked Elisabeth’s intro spread so I wanted to do one for my new Golden Tarot:
1. Tell Me About Yourself – Four of Coins – Honesty, Emotional Integrity, Knowing where your wealth has come from
2. What Are Your Strengths? – Six of Coins – Generosity, Empathy, Good faith in g…[Read more]-
I wonder if the death aspect that comes with the 4 pentacles/coins could just be the end of something or a sacrifice. Something you have to compromise/let old habits go to make room for new gains? Sometimes in order for us to see the truth means a death or end of our denial or old ways of doing/seeing/thinking.
I like the inheritance idea a…[Read more]
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Thanks Elisabeth. Letting old habits go for benefit of growth makes a lot of sense, and is something I am right in the midst of, so this will be helpful.
As far as the conservativism of the Emperor goes: I have been doing a few spreads and sometimes they feel really *saccharine* to me. Like, “Everything is going to be wonderful and your soul will…[Read more]
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Do you see advice for action in your readings?
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The Emperor often stand for The Authority Figure, right? There’s clearly a lot to learn from this deck. but maybe it can be too authoritative or like it’s right. Elizabeth mentioned a possible conservative assessment; I think of the old-school, male authority figure as the emblem of social conservatism and Tradition, or “this is how It’s Always…[Read more]
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Basically I get a lot of “Tradition!” from this. :-)
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I’ve been faced with the 4 of pentacles a few times with this deck. In it’s companion book it talks about how materialism will lead to moral bankruptcy. My response lately has been that it’s a moral compass for humility and generosity with money and ideas. If I start to think that everything I’ve achieved wasn’t actually gifted to me (in some way…[Read more]
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Yeah, ruthless honesty!
I’ve been really struck by the different spins that each deck puts on particular cards. I think if the meaning and imagery of that card doesn’t seem to fit going back to the traditional meaning can be helpful. I also think it can be different for every reading. I think whatever your gut is telling you is probably…[Read more] -
Sorry, when I say original meaning I mean the RWS interpretation. Sometimes that can be different from the interpretation of the booklet that comes with the deck.
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I’m the same way re: structure and security, especially in the middle of my job search. Your thoughts on the the 4 of pentacles is great – i like the difference in interpretations.
Also, it seems to me that interpretations both can and should change over time, at least in some sense. People grow and change, and different aspects of meaning are…[Read more]
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Beth posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoSo yeah – reversed cards? What’s your approach?
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I don’t use reversed cards because I don’t really understand them. They also add a layer of anxiety for me because I see them as always being negative. I never want to add something negative or chaotic to a reading.
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I don’t ‘use’ them as such either. My clients don’t like them and I’ve found from experience that they add a layer of confusion which is really unhelpful.
My approach is, when a card comes out reversed and I’m reading face to face with someone, I make a mental note, turn it the right way up and move on. Then when I’m working through each card or…[Read more]
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I actually thought you had to do reversals, so this is great to know. I did a reading today that came up all reversals and although I do find it confusing I think all the reversals speak very much to the intensely blocked me of the moment.
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I was waiting for someone to ask this for me. I felt kind of silly for always ignoring / putting reversed cards the right side up. This makes me feel a lot better though. I agree – they’re confusing, anxiety-inducing and for me, figuring them out really seems to halt my flow.
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I didn’t change my readings for reversed cards until I’d been reading tarot for a few years. But eventually, I started to get a feeling for how they interact with the placement of cards within a spread. I never really got them when I tried to think of them only in the context of their images. (I think because the idea of “reversing” a meaning…[Read more]
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Changing energy levels makes a lot more sense to me than good/bad or bad/good. Thanks for sharing!
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I’ve been reading Joan Bunning’s guide, and I like that idea of a reversal just meaning that the energy of the card is fading or blocked or… slightly tilted. I’ve just started learning tarot though, so I’m planning on ignoring reversed cards until I have a good handle on what the cards actually symbolize.
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Elisabeth posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoFor posting pics I followed the instructions in last Friday’s open thread.
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Erin posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoHey guys! Reposting this here from the comments section of the latest Fool’s Journey article. Would love your feedback. Also, how does one go about posting a pic? I know there’s a way, but I don’t know how.
This was in response to Elisabeth asking me what the reading was that I did with my new Steampunk deck. It was crazy accurate, just like the…[Read more]
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Oh hey Erin! I’m reposting too… could write a bit more here though :)
Would love to know what you made of it yourself…but this looks to me like right now you’re really not quite sure what to focus on or what your ‘life goals’ should be…but you do know that you WANT to be heading somewhere specific right now. Maybe this kinda confusion has…[Read more]
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That’s interesting! I was wondering what someone else might see in it given that I have more background info than you, lol. It’s still very accurate. For the last few months I’ve been directionless, although not on purpose. I was planning on moving to San Francisco, but then things with my job and living situation got complicated, as did my love…[Read more]
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WOW. Congratulations on coming out!! Everything you’ve said makes perfect sense with your cards – home (pentacles) and lovelife (cups) being the complications… that need to make an active, focused move *towards* something (chariot). The Seven of Cups is your rollercoaster alright (don’t get me started on that card…!)
Living your truth and the…[Read more]
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Wow Erin, thanks for sharing. It sounds like you know what you want and are motivated to get it. I moved to SF a year ago and it was incredibly difficult, but so worth it. I hope it is wonderful for you!
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The move is going to be hard, and I’m going to miss Los Angeles a TON. But… I also know I’m going to love it in San Francisco, and living there is something I’ve always wanted to do. Plus, work is *very* happy that I’m moving there. So, assuming I get to keep my job (my contract hasn’t been renewed yet and it’s almost June!) I think this will be…[Read more]
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No, I actually didn’t know anything about Autostraddle meetups! That sounds fun!
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Also, not long after I did that reading this afternoon, the main thing that instigated all of this confusion cleared itself up. So now, the room I wasn’t sure I’d have in SF–the one I *really* want because it’s with my best friend–actually will be available after all. So that settles a lot of things for me.
I’d already decided to move to SF…[Read more]
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Wow! Erin, that’s some powerful stuff you’ve been dealing with and it’s wonderful how you have managed to work it all out in your psyche! I learned a lot from this convo. about your reading. Thanks for sharing! Steampunk is officially on my wish list.
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Also, I wonder if reversals in this deck could just mean the same as upright except to a greater or lesser degree?
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Your thoughts about the reversals could be the case. I think because it was designed by someone for whom reversals never made sense, the alternate meanings that are often assigned to the reversals are probably not applicable. But maybe it takes on a negative connotation of the regular meaning? Or perhaps it is to a lesser degree? It’ll be fun to…[Read more]
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I really don’t feel like I have a lot of experience even though I’ve done tons of readings. I think I’m probably not the most gifted Tarot reader, lol. I’ve always used reversals but most of the time I find them baffling. The Dreaming Way does use reversals. I think the Magical Forest is best without them. In general, I think from now on I’m…[Read more]
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Erin joined the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months ago -
Rachel joined the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months ago -
Elisabeth posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoI would like to know what rituals if any people have for shuffling. I always feel like I should have a set way of doing it and a set number of times, but I don’t, yet anyway.
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I usually shuffle ~5 times and then cut the deck in 3 and re-combine in a different order!
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I shuffle three times with just a regular card playing shuffle, because I’m too klutzy for anything else, and then mix the deck more by cutting and combining it several times in my hands (not sure if this description really makes sense…). If I’m reading for a friend, I shuffle (because if anyone bent one of my cards I might secretly resent them…[Read more]
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I’m super careful with my cards, I don’t want them bend either.
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Seems like a lot of people like to shuffle three or five times.
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Alison posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoI’d love to know what everyone’s favorite spreads are. Do you typically rely on just one or two? Were their any you tried that really surprised you in a good way?
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If you’ve got time, I really don’t think you can beat the Celtic Cross, call me a traditionalist – it covers all the bases really neatly and even works when you don’t actually have a question. But sometimes it can be a drag to do, like, ten whole cards! So I also love just using the centre two cards from the CC. Like this:
1. Situation
crossed…[Read more]-
(It’s pretty self explanatory but here’s a picture of it.)
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This is an awesome idea. I love the Celtic Cross as well, but needed something quicker. Thanks! If I get a really interesting reading this way , maybe I’ll post a pic
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i will often do a daily “temp check” with three cards — one for internal factors, one for external factors, and one for advice for the day.
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Thanks! I’ve done something similar, but the three cards had different significance. I like that you differentiate between internal and external factors a lot !
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I really like this daily three card reading!
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epsilonGreaterThanZero posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months agoHas anyone ever done a reading by drawing from a mis of their favorite cards from different decks?
I’ve been looking through a bunch of decks recently and I find myself REALLY like some cards within a deck, but the others are just, meh. I realized I’d never find a deck that was perfect, so I started wishing I could just pick and choose from them.
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That’s such a cool idea! You could start with a really simple thing, like a three card reading for ‘mind/body/heart’ or something, and then draw a card from each of three decks for each position. So it ends up being a nine-card reading really.
A bit like going for a drink with your three best mates and them all having different advice for you!!
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Alison joined the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months ago -
Elisabeth posted an update in the group
Tarot School 9 years, 5 months ago‘Tabi’ interview with the Dreaming Way Tarot

Hurray, I did the photos right!
This may sound crazy but I seriously felt this deck doesn’t like me at all!
1. 2 Wands – Reversed: This deck contemplates current situations vs the past?
2. 9 Pentacles: It’s gracious, abundant and makes the most of resources?
3. 8 Pentacles: My first gut…[Read more]
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The 2 of Wands was really reversed, I messed it up and then took the photo.
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This may just be me, but I feel like this deck is very self-confidant and maybe a little superior. To me, the last card could be bragging that using this deck will get you swift and good resolutions to your questions. Also the 8 of pentacles is not necessarily showing a weakness but maybe showing a strength veiled as a weakness. I could be totally…[Read more]
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I agree with the superior feeling. Interesting thought about the 8 of pentacles. I’m glad you liked the photos, I’ll post more. There are some really interesting cards in this deck but I was also slightly disappointed at the lack of (what seem to me to be) key elements in many of them. For example The Moon is a girl seated holding a lobster up…[Read more]
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The green moon seems like it should have some kind of special significance, but I’m not sure what, unless it’s just supposed to signify magic or an altered state of mind. I wonder if the girl could be representative of a moon goddess as well, because a lot of decks do that for this card. I’d love to see a picture!
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Thanks for posting, these cards are beautiful!
Here’s what I got from the reading:
1. 2 Wands reversed – If you have hit a roadblock, this deck will help you see what you have overlooked. If the roadblock is because of a fear of the unknown, it will help you face it and use the power gained from the Ace of Wands to achieve whatever goals you hav…[Read more]
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Wow! Thank you for posting! You gave me a lot to think about and there were some aha! moments. The Page of pentacles for example. I’m a very by the books person. When I want to learn about something I’ll read a zillion books about how to do it before I try it for the first time. That really makes sense. The author has some very interesting…[Read more]
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I thought I added that this ‘Tabi’ interview spread came from littleredtarot.com but I guess I didn’t. I posted it to the group board in a different post. Very sincere apologies for the omission!
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Let’s see if it works this time.
I love that three of cups! To me that’s totally a queer card. :)
That’s really awesome that you found a deck that you click so well with! I liked your interpretation that it’s telling you not to overthink meanings. Particularly because I’m a 9 of Swords kind of person, up all night with my overheated brain. :)