I began my journey with tarot while working in an herb store where the owner gave readings. I became fascinated with the potential of using the cards for self-discovery and self-development.
At an average of $15 for a deck, $2 for a blank notebook and $1 for a pen, working with the tarot and journaling about the experience can be a very inexpensive therapy!
I've used the cards for traditional divination, but I don't find this to be the best use of the cards. My readings tend to be more focused on problem solving and personal development for the querent.
I also like to "play" with my cards, using them for storytelling, meditation, jouraling, and simply collecting decks for the glorious artwork.
I'm still finding new ways to use my cards.
On this page you will find links to various tarot related sites and email groups. Enjoy!
I found this marvelous "Wheel of Fortune" image on an antique postcard on one of my hunts for old decks in a wonderful little antique store called "The Ginger Jar" in Huber Heights, OH. If you ever get the chance, stop in and say "Hello" to Ginger -- she's a really wonderful lady and her shop is a treasure!
My favorite Tarot site:
Diane Wilke's Tarot Passages. You can find links to everything here. Deck reviews, pictures of decks. This site is *the* Tarot site on the web.
Learn the Tarot at Joan Bunning's site. This site even inspired her book "Learning the Tarot."
Advanced Tarot: People are always asking me about classes for Advanced Tarot reading. My thought is that the only way to become more advanced is to do two things: add another layer of correspondence (such as astrological, kaballah, etc.) to the reading itself, and do more readings for as wide a variety of people as possible. There is no shortcut to "advanced" reading. And there is no class that will make up for lack of experience. So, add another layer of personal interest study and read, read, read the cards.
When you're ready to do some serious personal development work with the tarot, check out Nina Lee Braden's site. Especially make sure to check out theTarot for Self Discovery exercises. Her new book is a favorite resource of mine. Be sure to ask for it at your favorite booksellers!
There are several email liststhat I'm familiar with and will recommend:
AllThingsTarot on egroups.com and TarotL on yahoogroups.com. Just go to yahoogroups, sign in and search for these two groups. Join and I'll see you on the lists!
Tarot games links:
Since I first worked with Tarot I have enjoyed playing "storytelling" games with the cards, as well as the original french game Tarrochi. Below are some links for you to begin exploring game playing with the Tarot.
A great couple of sites for deck reviews and pictures of decks:
My favorite tarot pet peeve? A reader who strictly reads intuitively and calls it a "Tarot Reading". There's nothing wrong with reading the cards intuitively. Nothing wrong with using the tarot cards as a tool to "turn on" a psychic gift. But call those readings what they are: a psychic reading. I also call these a "heart" reading, meaning "felt" knowledge.
A Card Reading is one where the reader is using the meanings of the cards themselves, using traditional or contemporary meanings for each of the individual cards and then weaving those meanings together for an overall reading. A reading like this can even be done with a regular pack of playing cards. I call this a "head" reading, meaning learned knowledge.
In my opinion, the very best Tarot Reading is one that blends the two: heart and head. It's worth the discipline for a reader to learn, and marry, both methods. The querent deserves it.
A Collection of Decks. Just what it says, and great links to other tarot related sites as well. Lots of graphics of decks. Just a great reference site.
Also, if you're in the Dayton, Ohio area and you'd like to attend a Tarot Gathering to meet other tarot students/enthusiasts, we meet once a month on the third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Panera Bread located at the Fairfield Commons Mall in Beavercreek, Ohio, for an informal evening of tarot chat, readings, mini-workshops, deck reviews and networking., be sure to check out the Yahoo Group we've started to keep in touch with one another between monthly meetings. I'd love to meet you there!
