I am trying to teach myself to read my own Tarot cards and have questions.?

Question

My questions are these: How much can another person negatively influence a reading? What does it mean when all the cards are reversed? If I am using three different guides to help with what the cards mean, do I just pick the meaning that feels right?

Answer 1

Any person reading or touching the cards can effect the reading! This is why people cleanse their cards in different ways. Some with Incense or cigar smoke, Some with salt or salt water, others with holy water or Florida Water. Some even pass it over a candle.
Some card readers don't believe in reverse and will give you the exact meaning of the card. I myself do believe in reverse meanings and I read this way. They usually tend to mean the opposite of the card meaning. For instance 2 of hearts/cups means you are expecting a loved one, you are wanting and awaiting a lover or partner. You want a relationship. If this is reversed you might be focusing on yourself or not thinking or worrying about a relationship at all. To preoccupied with yourself.
If you are using three different guides find the common thread between what they are telling you. They might all interpret things differently so you have to look for keywords or images in what they show you or tell you.
A good book to help you is Its All In The Cars by John Mangiapane! If you have any other questions please feel free to email me.

Answer 2

First, you shouldn't do a reading on yourself until you have a lot more experience; it just muddies the waters. If you are doing a reading for someone else, the two of you should be the only ones in the room if possible; that rules out interference from someone not involved. If the negativity is coming from the person you are reading for, then tht is an aspect of their life and will be reflected in the cards.
I would pick a single guide, preferably one tht relates to your deck. Otherwise, you might get seemingly contradictory info, esp. about reversed cards. Some readers don't use them at all--deliberately turn all cards upright or disregard them. Others claim that reversed cards mitigate the effects somewhat--a card with generally good effects reversed may be mixed blessings, a card with generally bad effects may represent a minor inconvenience. If all cards are reversed, no offense but your deck may be upside down. Or, you may be in for an unusual reading. You have to decide if a mistake has been made or if it is an actual reading.
Tarot is a fine line between "what feels right" and the actual meanings of the cards. If you go with what feels right too much, you will influence the reading. When in doubt about a card, look at the cards around it. They will modify the meaning and help you decide which one you should choose. But I stress that you should choose one guide and use it. If you decide it isn't the right one for you, you can change it. But using more than one will only confuse you.

Answer 3

If you are doing the reading for that person, then the reading is what it should be. If you are doing the reading for yourself (or even another) but a totally different person is there talking it down, or even feels it's wrong to do such a thing, it could give the reading itself a negative light.

Some people don't read the cards in reverse at all, but see them all as straight. But you would have to look at the meanings of the reversed cards themselves in order to come up with an answer for that. (Or, if you let other people play with your cards, handle them, etc... it could mess up your readings... other people should only handle the cards when the reading is for them.)

I would advise against using so many guides to help you with this. Pick one guide for one reading and see how that turns out. This could also be the reason why your cards are all coming up reversed or feel negative.

Answer 4

When interpreting a Tarot card spread, always think of what the cards mean. The divinatory meaning can shift and shade from book to book, but try to get a feeling and understanding of the symbolism of the cards. Of course, go with the meaning that "feels right", that's the whole point of the reading, to develop your intuition, and to give your subconscious a chance to speak to you.
The meaning of a reversed card can change the divinatory meaning, not necessarily all negative, just changes the meaning. To make things more complex, reversed doesn't even mean the opposite of an upright card, just giving a different, sometimes negative spin, to the card.
The best thing to do is, find a deck with symbolism that appeals to you, then get a guide that feels right, and just work on learning the meanings, the symbolism, and just keep working on spread after spread...Meditate on cards, and their meanings...
The cards, esp the traditional tarot deck, Rider-Waite deck, is a flashcard of symbolism, keys if you will. Listen to the wisdom, and it can be a great tool for workings.

Hail Eris! All Hail Discordia!

remember:
There is no Governor Anywhere.

Answer 5

As a student of divination, I've practiced with tarot cards for years and have learned a few things. First of all, don't doubt yourself, or else you'll just impede the flow of your psychic energy. You have to believe in what you're doing if you want any success. Any cards that come up reversed may signify the opposite of the card's upright meaning. Make sure to follow your intuition. Go with what feels right. Remember, it is your own inner Sight that makes the reading work. The cards are merely a tool used by your subconscious mind to express your natural ability to perceive the future.

Answer 6

If you are using Tarot cards as an oracle, you may be more inclined to read card meanings and spreads. But if using Tarot Cards as a tool for Psychic Ability you would be less likely to hold to any hard and fast guide lines. I’m a profession psychic and use Tarot Cards in a random way. In 25 years of professional readings I’ve never used any ‘meanings or spreads’ of tarot cards from any books.

So if you want to develop ‘Psychic Ability’ throw the books and guidelines away and let the images inspire you.


I believe we are all psychic, but for the majority the gift or the belief has been long knocked out of them. Educated out is another way of looking at it. Many professional psychics have grown up in a psychic friendly environment. Perhaps a grand-parent or parent with the knowledge has helped bring the extra sense out in the open and encouraged its use. But there are as many practicing psychics who have not had the benefit of caring psychic guidance and who have still managed to develop and hone this natural extra sense. The Psychic Sense.

To tap in to it more you can go to my free develop-psychic-ability page here: http://www.psychic-junkie.com/develop-psychic-ability.html

But on the other hand, if you want to use the Tarot as an oracle, a form of divination that needs no real ‘psychic ability’, then keep the books and use the meanings and spreads if you prefer.

Here is a free download demo for a great Tarot program. To keep the size of the demo manageable it contains the Rider/Waite deck, the actual program will have 10 complete decks. This Demo version of Tarot is a full working copy for 30 days. So you get 30 days to study meanings and spreads! http://www.free-tarot-download-demo.wotsnext.com

Answer 7

Well I'm assuming that eventually you will meet a man and have a baby sometime in your lifetime. That's how these things work, they make general statements that could really apply to anyone and then when it happens you will think that the tarot reading came true. Psychics use this same technique. They will make some vague statement like, I see a man whose name starts with the letter J. Well, chances are there is some man in your life, relative, boyfriend, coworker...whose name starts with the letter J. Then they will make another vague statment like, I sense a distance between you. This could be interpreted by you as a physical or emotional distance, and again, chances are the statement was correct. This is how people like psychics and Tarot card readers make money...its just business.

Answer 8

Don't pick, per se, but go with your gut and what you've learned. Remember, there is nothing evil in tarot cards, no matter what other people might say. It makes me feel sad, old, and tired to read that junk. Good luck, sweetheart.

Answer 9

Before you start ask for help from the Universe, if it does not feel good to do it then do not continue. Most of your reading will be in your interpretation and if you read for yourself you will pick out what suits you best. Have someone else do your readings,

Answer 10

tough tough tough. Reverse depends on your cards. Some decks don't do reverse readings....

This has the most comprehensive meaings...

http://www.learntarot.com/cards.htm
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/

I'm pretty new myself.

Good luck