One of the biggest concerns I hear from would-be Tarot readers is related to self-reading. Here are some of the things I typically hear:
- “My cousin’s friend’s sister who’s a Tarot reader says no one is supposed to Tarot for themselves.”
- “When I read for myself, I don’t understand the Tarot’s message.”
- “What if I’m only seeing what I WANT to see?”
I can help with two, and dispel the third. Read on for more!
1.) Let’s start with the first “rule” of self-reading:
Every Tarot reader I know has read Tarot for themselves. I read for myself nearly daily and have for years. Guess what? My deck has never caught on fire and no one has sent me to Tarot jail. It’s not a thing. It’s absolutely fine to read Tarot for yourself.
The Only Two DO NOTs Rules Of Tarot:
- Do not leave your deck where it will be exposed to rain, running water, or drunk people spilling drinks. Water (and spilled beer) ruins Tarot decks. I’ve learned this from personal experience.
- Do not leave your deck where your dog will eat it. This too, I have learned from personal experience.
Keep your Tarot deck away from rain, drunks, and dogs, and you will be fine.
Let’s move on.
2.) “When I read for myself, I don’t understand the Tarot’s message.”
Maybe you pull cards for others and can read their whole life, but when you pull for yourself, it’s like looking at a blank card. This is more common with people who simply haven’t had much practice reading for themselves.
If this is your struggle, try pulling one card a day with the following practice:
The question to ask: “What can I expect today?” Sample card pull, below:
Without trying to define what it might mean for you, jot down some notes about what you know of the card. If you’re not familiar with the card, jot down your first impressions of the image:
- “Celebration.”
- “Friends.”
- “Agreements.”
Put your notes away and go about your day. That evening (or the next morning), take notes on how these meanings appeared throughout the day, e.g.,
- “I got good news—my cousin is engaged!”
- “Heard from an old friend via Facebook. We haven’t talked in years!”
- “My partner and I struck a deal on splitting the household chores.”
Do this practice regularly for a few weeks before asking more specific questions for the Tarot. You’ll likely notice how the messages will flow easier in your self-readings.
For more practices like these, check out my book Tarot for One: The Art of Reading For Yourself.
3.) “What if I’m only seeing what I WANT to see?”
If you’ve been doing self-readings for a while, you are probably seeing cards more objectively than you realize. Still, if you’re worried that you are seeing only the answer that you want to see and not the “real” answer, join The Cauldron Calling to see an example of an exercise!
