Talking Tarot

Q:What makes a good tarot deck?

A: The best deck is the one that speaks to you. Most tarot teachers start with the Rider-Waite, but this may not be the ideal deck for you once you have the basics downpacked. Look for tarot that "talks" to you - when you lay the spread, you should be able to see a story concerning your question illustrated by the card pictures. No one card says it all in a spread - the complete reading is a conglomerate of all the cards.

Think of a spread as a mosaic - each card is a tile - the part of the "big picture". This concept provides a richer reading for yourself or the client.

Frequent Readings

Time your tarot readings. Reading a full cross spread on a daily basis for yourself can give you conflicting information - or no information at all. Spacing readings gives a much better indication of where your path is going - rather than "reading after reading after reading" until you see what you want to hear.

A good rule of thumb is no more than once a week -- or on Esbats or Sabbats.

Food for Thought

Q:Are there certain foods that promote psychic ability?

A: In general, a vegetarian diet tends to keep one´s head in the clouds
(not meant in a bad way :) ) and meat keeps you grounded and less sensitive.
Salt (and salty foods) also keeps you grounded. So, if you want to be more
open, load up on the veggies, and cut the salt (potato chips aren´t a
vegetable). Conversely, if you are feeling spacey, hit the chips or grab
a burger. You should come right down.

Tarot Cleanse

Cleansing your tarot is a must if it has been a while since you last used them or if you are using a deck that has been used by someone else. You want to make sure that the tarot is free of "negative" or any other feelings which could inhibit your reading.

Charging them under a full moon is a great idea.

Setting the Mood

For acts of divination, the "mood" is very important.
Try setting the mood by using a psychic-inducing incense such as frankincense (or a scent that you relate to) and / or candles (yellow candles open the "knowledge center", purple candles encourage spirituality). Silk clothes or scarves on the table will also create a neutral surface to focus your runes, cards, or scrying mirror.

Do it yourself

A powerful Tarot deck can be made, not bought. There are thousands of finished tarot decks available, but for a truly unique deck find a blank set of cards to "do up" yourself. The energy involved in the making of the deck will boost the result far beyond something you could buy!

The Quick and Dirty

If you need a quick and dirty introduction to the Tarot.. find a deck you like - art that speaks to you, pictures that tell YOU a story - and THOROUGHLY READ the little booklet that comes with the cards!

Tarot is a skill that grows on you, but "I can´t understand, I can´t do this" is no longer an excuse. Tarot isn´t about memorization -- it is about interpreting what the cards say to you. The instructions that come with a deck provide enough basis to understand what the cards initially try to say. Your psychic intuition will take over from there.

Silk Scarves and the Tarot

Q: Are some materials better for tablecloths than others when using tarot or runes?

A: Silk is the preferred material for tarot and rune bags, and a silk scarf or spread cloth will keep the reading "clean" for divination. Silk tends to smooth
the vibrations of divination tools and not add conflict, as say, a tablecloth (which would pick up all the vibrations of the people who use it at meals) would.

Developing Psychic Ability

Q: How do I know what´s true?

A: Follow your gut. I know this is difficult if you are a "thinker", but you will find that even though your head insists upon one direction, that twist in your stomach will say differently - and the belly is usually right. Try ignoring it a few times, and you may regret it in the long run.

First impressions are usually correct.

Practicing Mental Telepathy ...

Q: What is a method for developing psychic ability?

A: Be a "phone psychic"! Get together with a like minded partner on the opposite end of the phone line and practice "mental telepathy" - have your partner visualize a number or figure - you try to receive the image. When I have practiced this, I have found it helps to have the room darkened. The image the partner projects will sort of "float" in a mist in the shadows.

Astrology is a blend ...

It is helpful to know the sun signs of those we have contact with, but realize that people are also products of their environment. Our astrological
signs are a good start to know one another, but the full impact of the entire chart really can´t be known by sun sign alone.

Newspapers

Don´t put much stock in newspaper horoscopes - most are generalizations that could fit anyone. Once in a while you may see yourself in the newspaper, but they are not meant for an in-depth forecast.

Remember the disclaimer : "for entertainment only"