Beginning Your Journey With the Cards
The cards are probably one of the most used & instantly recognisable psychic tools. Card readings can allow you to gain wisdom and give you guidance. This practice dates back hundreds of years. Different regions of the world favour different types of decks and countless reading traditions have been developed over the years.
With this abundant ancient knowledge being accessible on a mass scale, in a market of literally thousands of different decks, getting started on your own personal journey can be a little jarring.
However, don’t fret! Whether you believe you have any psychic ability or not, using cards for insight can be a very valuable tool. Taking those first steps is really quite simple for you.
Choosing Your Deck
This is probably the most important step and you should not rush it. Don’t be bogged down by types of decks or what system they follow. Put all of that to one side for a moment. Peruse a wide variety of cards, either online or in an esoteric store. Let the decks speak to you. Which deck is calling your name? Which do you keep going back to for another look? The one that draws you in the most, could be the deck for you.
Some experienced card readers believe that you should have a main working deck, which is more often than not a person’s first deck. They believe that the cards are in charge and therefore choose you. So take the time to look, listen and feel when choosing your deck.
Card Basics
Once you’ve chosen your deck, it is a nice a idea to take some time to make a connection and start building a relationship with your cards.
A good first thing to do is to rub a crystal that you deem cleansing around the edge of the pack. The most common crystals you could use for this would be clear quartz, rose quartz, amethyst or selenite. If you don’t have any crystals you can leave the cards on your windowsill in the moonlight overnight. Alternatively, you could dab a tiny bit of rosemary on your index finger & run it along the edges of your cards. All of these techniques just give your deck a spiritual cleaning.
The next step is to get acquainted with your cards. Partake in a short meditation holding the entire deck, just for 4 or 5 minutes. Then while you are still in a slightly meditative state, glance at each card. Take in the imagery, words and symbology.
First Card Reading Exercise
You can do this exercise with literally any type of cards from the tarot to angel cards and everything in-between.
When you wake up to begin your day, while having your morning cuppa & crumpets or sitting with an orange smoothie in the garden, be sure to take your deck. Give the cards a really good shuffle.
There is no right or wrong way for you to shuffle, nor is there is an exact length of time that you should be shuffling for. listen to your inner guidance telling you when to stop.
Once you have stopped shuffling, take a card from the deck. For most people this will be the card at the top or maybe a card is sticking out for you or even jumped from the deck while you were shuffling. Go with whatever feels best to you.
This is your card for the day. Take some time & really look into the card. See what stands out in the card for you. Is it a particular word or number? Maybe it’s an activity taking place in the picture? Now, document it. The easiest way to do this is to use the camera on your phone or tablet, that way you can look back at the card throughout the day.
As you are finishing your day, come back to the card. Look at it again and see how the card resonated with your day. You may also want to cross reference your experience with the traditional meaning of the card, but you don’t have to.
Do this exercise for at least a month. What this will do is to give you real life experiences of the cards. It will strengthen your connection to them. It will help you to decipher the messages presented for you.
Asking the Cards Questions
A common mistake new card readers make, is to do a past, present & future spread right off the bat. This is a very valid spread to do but like all things, it has a time and a place. It’s best to keep this kind of spread for when you’re a little more experienced & diving into more general readings.
Most of the time when you consult the cards or if someone asks you for a reading, there will be a question at hand. You can ask the cards literally anything, so long as you’re open to the answer.
It’s very important for you to always bring the cards back to the question. This is because each card will have a wide scope or variable meanings depending on many factors.
A very good beginners spread (or speed reading spread) is the “Help, Hinder & Outcome” layout.
The “help” card will let you know what’s of use in the situation at hand, what’s positive about the situation and what the situation could use more of.
The “hinder” card will let you know if there are any challenges or blockages holding the situation back and what the situation could use less of.
The “outcome” card will give you an indication of a possible outcome and where things may be heading.
Now it’s your Turn!
Hopefully this will give you a good foundation on getting started with your own card readings. Of course in time you will develop your own unique way of working & your own spreads.
Lots of love & light,
T Jay xXx
T Jay has recently appeared on the Psychic Today TV shows. He is regularly available to give you intuitive card readings. See his profile here http://psychictoday.uk/reader/6522/t-jay
This was a GREAT read, full of insightful information, for all. As a card reader, I found this article to be filled with a wealth of information for anyone interested in the tool, that I myself was afraid of, before I bought my very first deck. It was T Jay who advised me to, let go of my fear of the cards, and once my first deck arrived, I found that I was a natural, and instantly feel in love with them. To date, I now own, fifteen decks, including T Jay’s own personally created deck, T Jay’s Guardian Angel Oracle cards, which has become one of my favorites. Thank you T Jay, for your continued guidance and insight, as it has been most helpful, in my spiritual journey. Keeping sharing your light and love.
Red Hawk