Troubles with my tarot

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Isyron

I've been having a hard time getting accurate readings on my first spreads lately.

Often I'll build in a safety net of present/past cards to make sure that my reading's on task before I get into the future. This said, I have been having trouble getting the cards correct on the first spread. It's aggrivating to have to go back in and focus harder than I thought I was the first time and shuffle more, etc. etc.

I don't do much cleansing of my cards, and this is bad, I'm sure. I'll read, put them away, read, put them away, etc. Could this be a reason (my not cleansing them afterwards)?

I don't think i've had trouble focusing, but that could be a reason... I've been concentrating harder than I usually do with a good reading, so I don't really understand why concentration would be a problem.

If anyone has any comments I'd love to hear them.

Note: I've been using my Thoth deck, and since I have so much energy focused in so many different directions then that could be another reason. I used my sister's Fairie Oracle deck with accuracy during this whole shpiel and i figured that was because she's not real strong herself so they might have not been "exhausted". I'll see what my other deck does for me, but it's not as strong as my Thoth deck to me, so I'd really like to get away from it.

Thanks for any and all comments

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: endor957

you know what, someone on here said that they've had problems with their thoth deck (if that's the aleister crowley one) and they ended up burning them. when i've heard that i was like, what?
anyway, with me, my readings aren't that spiritual so I don't really cleanse them or anything like that. i guess it has to do with personal reference. saying that, i'm saying that i would clense them if somebody else handled my decks but since it's only me and a new day brings new concerns, the energy would be about that.
meaning, (to me) the cards hold nothing except the truth and they only reflect that.
i can't tell you what's going on because somedays i'm on and somedays, i'm off.
but what really helps me to focus and get an accurate reading is when i'm really, really relaxed.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: K.A. Malik

I think one's ability to interpret the cards is more important than what spreads come out. I think there's as much magic in your mind's ability to use whatever you get to reveal what your psychic senses pick up as there is in the ability to make the spread coincidentally accurate all by itself.

If you want to use the Thoth deck, it is important to read The Book of Thoth by Crowley. The deck and the book were designed together as one whole tool; Uncle Al stressed how important it was to not have the deck without the book. Plenty of people go without and still get results, but I think it is very important to understand what was put into the cards by their creators to get a feel for them.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Isyron

No one's used my deck but me. Sometimes I'll let the querent shuffle, but usually i just watch them interact with others (this is often done among friends in my house or at a coffee shop or at school - I get accurate readings) in order to focus on them, giving the cards the perceptions of encountered of them from the past and in the future.

I'm not going to burn my precious cards! That's a little too much. If I designated servitors or something to them, then maybe, but that's what my other deck will be for - sigils and servitors and other things like that - holding energy, etc.

I'm going to assume that the "Book of Thoth" is more than merely the booklet that comes with the deck. I'll look into getting it and read up.

Thanks, and please keep comments and theories coming.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Isyron

A friend of mine, far more skilled in the arts of the occult than I, told me of a way to refresh the energy of the cards, thus recieving accurate readings again.

For those of you who don't know: take all the cards in one hand, holding them firmly in the middle so that the length of the card faces you, then with your other hand's thumb pull down on the cards in the same fashion you would if you were watching a flip book movie (the pages move quickly and the images begin to be animated). Just don't look at the cards.

Do this on either side, shuffle,repeat, etc. - whenever it feels right to you.

I began to feel a lot of negative energy after doing this a few times - nausea, uneven coverage of heat over my body, and throughout it. I set the cards down and listened to some techno and just relaxed a little and began to feel better. But negative energy being released would seem appropriate - it's gotta disperse somewhere.

I have yet to use my cards again, but it did SOMETHING to them - hopefully they're right back on track. Thanks everyone for your comments

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Sorceress_Jade

Ahh, good old Thoth. He's got more personality than any other deck you'll meet. I would say the Fearies Oracle would come next though, odd as that sounds.

Why not ask the deck what's wrong? I converse with my decks, particularly Thoth as he's touchy.

Also, I second the relaxation idea. Try grounding before reading, at least for a while. It's time consuming, but will open you up.

[Occultess]

I read that you shouldn't put your cards away how they were after the reading. Or, in other words, after you do your reading and put the cards you pulled out of the deck back, you should shuffle them some more before you put them up. That way the energy of the reading doesn't stay around in the deck.