3.25.2009
Cinquain
I just discovered Cinquain poetry! This is going to be great. Like Haiku, only...I don't know, it speaks to me, more. It's less rigid.
Listing my Faults
Writing about my complacency down there made me think of other bad habits I fall into:
Buying decks, looking them over twice, and stashing them.
-One one hand, I have a few decks that I was smitten over, in the store (or online) bought, and was immediately bored with them. On the other hand, I often remedy this by coming around eventually and really falling in love with the deck...after it collects dust for a month.
Becoming intimidated by a deck, and stashing it.
-When we get down to brass tacks, I can read with every single one of my decks, even the scary ones (scary, here means any number of things...) Sometimes, though, just the very thought of delving into my Thoth or Haindl is akin to climbing Mt. Everest, and I find myself turning to my "comfort" decks, which are n0n-challenging.
Constantly researching and talking myself into maybe buying new decks.
-I mean really, I haven't even so much as picked UP my Universal Fantasy (and Haindl, and Morgan-Greer, and...and...), except to do one spread. Do I really NEED another? Well. Sometimes I do. I should resolve this by promising to really work with one of my non-commonly-used decks, per month (or week), along with buying the new ones. On the upside, here it is almost April, and I'm not jonsing for a new one, just yet. Decks go out of print. I sometimes kind of have to get them (as in the Morgan Greer). I just have to take time to love it, and get used to it.
These three things are tied together, it looks like. Glad I wrote about it, because now I have some kind of structure. I won't stop buying new decks, because I'm not obsessive about it, and I can fit them well in my budget. I also will try to spend time with each and every deck, at least a solid week. I can't promise that it will be instead of my comfort decks, but definitely along with. I also won't say I'll leap right into using them as soon as I get them. Some decks take time to adjust to, and some simply have a time-place issue. The decks that are truly don't do it for me should move on to someone that will love them more. I'm thinking of gifting Alden my Gilded.
Buying decks, looking them over twice, and stashing them.
-One one hand, I have a few decks that I was smitten over, in the store (or online) bought, and was immediately bored with them. On the other hand, I often remedy this by coming around eventually and really falling in love with the deck...after it collects dust for a month.
Becoming intimidated by a deck, and stashing it.
-When we get down to brass tacks, I can read with every single one of my decks, even the scary ones (scary, here means any number of things...) Sometimes, though, just the very thought of delving into my Thoth or Haindl is akin to climbing Mt. Everest, and I find myself turning to my "comfort" decks, which are n0n-challenging.
Constantly researching and talking myself into maybe buying new decks.
-I mean really, I haven't even so much as picked UP my Universal Fantasy (and Haindl, and Morgan-Greer, and...and...), except to do one spread. Do I really NEED another? Well. Sometimes I do. I should resolve this by promising to really work with one of my non-commonly-used decks, per month (or week), along with buying the new ones. On the upside, here it is almost April, and I'm not jonsing for a new one, just yet. Decks go out of print. I sometimes kind of have to get them (as in the Morgan Greer). I just have to take time to love it, and get used to it.
These three things are tied together, it looks like. Glad I wrote about it, because now I have some kind of structure. I won't stop buying new decks, because I'm not obsessive about it, and I can fit them well in my budget. I also will try to spend time with each and every deck, at least a solid week. I can't promise that it will be instead of my comfort decks, but definitely along with. I also won't say I'll leap right into using them as soon as I get them. Some decks take time to adjust to, and some simply have a time-place issue. The decks that are truly don't do it for me should move on to someone that will love them more. I'm thinking of gifting Alden my Gilded.
Falling Into Complacency
Sometimes, I short change myself, or people very close to me. I'll do a spread, and a card that comes up often pops up, and I gloss it over by saying something like "And here we see the Magician. Well, we all know what that means!" It's easy to just chalk up the common cards as a given, sort of a marker in any situation. It happens most when I lean on one deck too much, because it's the same image, day after day, sometimes. When I stop to think about this, it bothers me, because as we all know...it might NOT mean the same thing, in fact, I owe it to myself and my querant to kick that out of my mind, and read as fresh as though it's something I've never seen before.
Swapping decks around seems to boot my ass out of this rut. Perhaps it's time to sock the Robin Wood away for a bit, and do something different.
Swapping decks around seems to boot my ass out of this rut. Perhaps it's time to sock the Robin Wood away for a bit, and do something different.
Reading, and then Psychology
When I first really started reading for others, I would just read the card (albiet, not well...). As I got better, if I were close to my querant, I would read and offer advice on the subject, blended into the reading.
Lately, I've gone back to just reading, but if I am close to the person, or if I feel invested in the situation (outside of just reading about it), I'll read the card for what it is. I'll spend extra time, drawing inferences and correlations from the card to whatever the situation is, then look to the card for a little insight. I'll say something like "We're looking at the Page of Swords, here, and here it means: ________. May I offer my opinion about that?" then, with permission, I'll go on to add my personal two cents. And by my two cents, it could be as simple as "Just relax, everything is falling into place, here." I hate complicating things.
So far, it seems like a good deal. I'm everyone's mama anyway, without the cards, people come to me for advice. When we get the cards involved (as I almost always do), it just gives me structure.
Of course, all this goes out the window, if I'm reading for strangers, or aquaintances.
Lately, I've gone back to just reading, but if I am close to the person, or if I feel invested in the situation (outside of just reading about it), I'll read the card for what it is. I'll spend extra time, drawing inferences and correlations from the card to whatever the situation is, then look to the card for a little insight. I'll say something like "We're looking at the Page of Swords, here, and here it means: ________. May I offer my opinion about that?" then, with permission, I'll go on to add my personal two cents. And by my two cents, it could be as simple as "Just relax, everything is falling into place, here." I hate complicating things.
So far, it seems like a good deal. I'm everyone's mama anyway, without the cards, people come to me for advice. When we get the cards involved (as I almost always do), it just gives me structure.
Of course, all this goes out the window, if I'm reading for strangers, or aquaintances.
3.24.2009
Feeling Very Cerebral.
I have about an hour to kill before rushing off to the next thing (and the next thing, and the next thing...) and I was feeling restless and prickly. I don't want to read, I don't want to Read, I've explored what I'm interested on the net right now, blah blah blah...
It just occurred to me, what I really want to do is write. Like the title says, for the past few days, I've been feeling very smart. Very cerebral, very thinky. Along with that, and perhaps because of it, I've been feeling extra super connected to the Universe. It's a great feeling, and I hope it lasts forever.
Luiz has been picking up the cards, a lot lately, so I found him a deck of his very own. When at once, I was an enthusiastic new student, now I am that, as well as something of a teacher. Mainly, because I've read the hundred books on my shelf, and because he spends all his time painting, (and things related, researching, reading, networking) he hasn't had the chance to pursue them, so I can bring the lessons I learn through AT and my books, to him. Teaching him what I have learned, so fresh after I've learned it, is a great reinforcement to my own knowledge. It's somewhat humbling, to hear him interpret a card (when his mind is truly on it, and he's really focusing) and get a whole ream of information that had never ocurred to me. Humbling, and exciting.
Also, it's probably better for him, because as we all know, I can be impatient. With me learning along with him, and guiding him along, I can't afford impatience, because I would miss things, myself. In analyzing the same card, we can both come up with interpretations, that build and add to each other's. His, (till today) have been very basic, accurate, and good, without really linking things, delving deep, and tying them together. Today, using his very own deck for the first time, I got him to do a full on spread, and link cards, do deepen their meanings. I did the excersise that Mary K. Greer talks about in 21 Ways, where you first describe every aspect of the card, impartially, but with great detail, then do it again, but in the first person, putting yourself in the card.
That seemed to be a key thing for him, because not only is he an artist and sees things with an artist's eye, he also has the natural predilection to putting himself inside every situation. Sometimes, it's irritating (The world doesn't revolve around YOU, you know). But when learning the cards, and digging for deep symbolic meanings, it helps a ton. Making each card personal, tying yourself to every element, really feeling that symbolism, as though it were you holding that cup aloft, or whatever.
I have been actively teaching Alden, as well, but it springs up more organically. Less lesson, more reading for him, and teaching him the meanings, as I go. Alden has taken a suprising love for the Tarot, I mean, insane. He knows the cards, he begs for daily readings, has claimed decks, and has a streak of intuition that just naturally shines brighter than anything I could muster. He is going to be an excellent reader, one day. Definitely on that path. I don't have a thing to worry about, with him.
Luiz, too. Luiz just needs to shed the ego, which he's working on. Sometimes he asks the deck the answers to questions he already thinks he knows, then disregards what the card is telling him, and answers it himself. He caught himself doing it, yesterday, and he asked me about it. I saw him doing it, but wasn't going to say anything, to see if he could tell the difference between reading the cards, and supposing stuff. I can't think of a better term than "supposing" but it's not really what I mean. Assuming? I dunno. Either way, he caught himself doing it last night, and is actively trying to break the habit. I caught him at it today, doing his very first New Deck Interview spread, ascribing all sorts of random stuff that has zero to do with the card, or the symbols, and kind of going off on his own tangent. I said "Do you think that other cards would describe what you're talking about better?" He said, "Oh, I wasn't even thinking about the card, at this point, I was off in my own tangent." Bingo, haha.
It's a work in progress. Just like my own studies, and Alden's.
It just occurred to me, what I really want to do is write. Like the title says, for the past few days, I've been feeling very smart. Very cerebral, very thinky. Along with that, and perhaps because of it, I've been feeling extra super connected to the Universe. It's a great feeling, and I hope it lasts forever.
Luiz has been picking up the cards, a lot lately, so I found him a deck of his very own. When at once, I was an enthusiastic new student, now I am that, as well as something of a teacher. Mainly, because I've read the hundred books on my shelf, and because he spends all his time painting, (and things related, researching, reading, networking) he hasn't had the chance to pursue them, so I can bring the lessons I learn through AT and my books, to him. Teaching him what I have learned, so fresh after I've learned it, is a great reinforcement to my own knowledge. It's somewhat humbling, to hear him interpret a card (when his mind is truly on it, and he's really focusing) and get a whole ream of information that had never ocurred to me. Humbling, and exciting.
Also, it's probably better for him, because as we all know, I can be impatient. With me learning along with him, and guiding him along, I can't afford impatience, because I would miss things, myself. In analyzing the same card, we can both come up with interpretations, that build and add to each other's. His, (till today) have been very basic, accurate, and good, without really linking things, delving deep, and tying them together. Today, using his very own deck for the first time, I got him to do a full on spread, and link cards, do deepen their meanings. I did the excersise that Mary K. Greer talks about in 21 Ways, where you first describe every aspect of the card, impartially, but with great detail, then do it again, but in the first person, putting yourself in the card.
That seemed to be a key thing for him, because not only is he an artist and sees things with an artist's eye, he also has the natural predilection to putting himself inside every situation. Sometimes, it's irritating (The world doesn't revolve around YOU, you know). But when learning the cards, and digging for deep symbolic meanings, it helps a ton. Making each card personal, tying yourself to every element, really feeling that symbolism, as though it were you holding that cup aloft, or whatever.
I have been actively teaching Alden, as well, but it springs up more organically. Less lesson, more reading for him, and teaching him the meanings, as I go. Alden has taken a suprising love for the Tarot, I mean, insane. He knows the cards, he begs for daily readings, has claimed decks, and has a streak of intuition that just naturally shines brighter than anything I could muster. He is going to be an excellent reader, one day. Definitely on that path. I don't have a thing to worry about, with him.
Luiz, too. Luiz just needs to shed the ego, which he's working on. Sometimes he asks the deck the answers to questions he already thinks he knows, then disregards what the card is telling him, and answers it himself. He caught himself doing it, yesterday, and he asked me about it. I saw him doing it, but wasn't going to say anything, to see if he could tell the difference between reading the cards, and supposing stuff. I can't think of a better term than "supposing" but it's not really what I mean. Assuming? I dunno. Either way, he caught himself doing it last night, and is actively trying to break the habit. I caught him at it today, doing his very first New Deck Interview spread, ascribing all sorts of random stuff that has zero to do with the card, or the symbols, and kind of going off on his own tangent. I said "Do you think that other cards would describe what you're talking about better?" He said, "Oh, I wasn't even thinking about the card, at this point, I was off in my own tangent." Bingo, haha.
It's a work in progress. Just like my own studies, and Alden's.
3.19.2009
New Decks
When I started embracing Tarot, more seriously, I had two decks. One I used, and one I admired from afar.
Then I bought the third deck on a whim...and now we're sitting at right around 14. Each deck was a spontaneous thing, something about it said "you must have this" whether it was a card (Bohemian Gothic) or a style (Universal Fantasy) or a rumor of awesomeness (as in the Druidcraft). At first I thought I was getting a little nuts, a little greedy, but the more time I spend flicking back and forth between decks, really appreciating the very individual natures, all the differing symbolism each new style brings to the table, the better I get. The more I know, the better I can appreciate the Tarot, in general. Since I've left the crutch of traditional symbolism, I can read more intuitively, and that's when my readings really soar.
Some decks, I still can't fully appreciate. Some are just downright lame. Some are a little over my head, yet, and surpisingly, I'm finding some to be kind of a bore, anymore. The more I collect, though, the more I can really judge these things.
Then I bought the third deck on a whim...and now we're sitting at right around 14. Each deck was a spontaneous thing, something about it said "you must have this" whether it was a card (Bohemian Gothic) or a style (Universal Fantasy) or a rumor of awesomeness (as in the Druidcraft). At first I thought I was getting a little nuts, a little greedy, but the more time I spend flicking back and forth between decks, really appreciating the very individual natures, all the differing symbolism each new style brings to the table, the better I get. The more I know, the better I can appreciate the Tarot, in general. Since I've left the crutch of traditional symbolism, I can read more intuitively, and that's when my readings really soar.
Some decks, I still can't fully appreciate. Some are just downright lame. Some are a little over my head, yet, and surpisingly, I'm finding some to be kind of a bore, anymore. The more I collect, though, the more I can really judge these things.
Thoughts about Aces
Aces: Ambition, seeing through the cards, on out to the fulfillment of the suit. Perhaps?
Maybe even a narrow greedy kind of ambition, tunnel vision, on the negative.
Maybe even a narrow greedy kind of ambition, tunnel vision, on the negative.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)