Tarot cards, oracle cards, and other cartomancy methods.
Newbie reader question.
Hey everyone! I've been slowly learning to do readings and I was wondering if you have any sources for how say one card can affect the meaning of another? I'm sure I'm phrasing this all wrong lol. I've been slowly working on learning when I can, but one of the things that trips me up is when I'm trying to figure out how say one card might change the meaning/message of another.
I don't know why I didn't think about asking this question here before. I was like, wait, I should ask! after the lovely @unholyexhalation did my reading!




I joined after they read for me as well. I've always been interested, but I've never even touched a tarot deck before so I don't know the answer to your question. I'd love to read any answers you do get though. ✌🏽️
It's great that you're interested! I looked at decks for a while before I felt called to one and started practicing. Are you doing the same?
I was looking for a deck not too long ago. I love art, so this is the type of thing that could take forever. But also, super conservative family kept me from pursuing.
Welcome! Great to have you here c: Please answer the poll and introduce yourself to the community when you have a moment.
If you're looking to try out some reading and get to know tarot cards a little before committing to a physical deck, I think tarot apps are a great way to do that. Check out this post, we shared some recommendations for apps in it.
Hi, welcome to the community c: Please take the time to write an introduction in the pinned introductions post!
I've only been reading tarot for about a year and a half, so I hope some of our long-time reader members will try to answer you question too. I tend to place a lot of weight on the cards' positions in the spread. So, if you have an 'advice' card and a 'challenge' card in a spread, for example, interpreting the nature of the challenge can help you determine what the advice is. I know there is a lot of advice about focusing on the pictures on the cards and how they work together for more intuitive and creative interpretations but that's something I personally struggle with - I think I'm just boring and prefer sticking to the meanings I learned.
Thank you! Oh snap. I've been here for a while and I never went by the intro post? I'm flopping over here lol :P I'll def do that today!
Thanks for your experiences so far! I've been slowly learning to read on and off for about a year or two now with some breaks in between XD I also place a lot of weight on the cards position in the spread, as well as the feelings that I get from each cards. I keep tripping myself up and questioning how the cards may affect one another in the spread, although less and less. I think I just stress myself out about it or something. Sometimes I feel good about what I'm reading, and sometimes I'm second guessing myself left and right. I should probably just go with my gut but #newbiereaderproblems, am I right? lol.
the short answer from me is "it's complicated", because people do tend to develop their own styles of reading once they've been doing it for a few years, if they like tarot a lot.
i tend to pull two cards from different decks for the same position, with one as sort of-- fleshing-out context? some people use the keywords method: (third card) makes the circumstance of (first card) change to (second card)-- spreads are useful for context of cards relating to each other.
(sometimes i build steps: where i am now, the outcome i need or want to go for, and then brainstorm cards in-between to create a plan of how to get there.)
in free-form draws, when trying for clarification on a card, it's good to ask specific questions-- "what's a drawback that comes with this? what's a boon that comes with this? what effect could this have on (specific thing)?"
if i draw more than one card for the same question, i usually break it down ahead of time re: what aspect of the question i want each card to address, before i even shuffle the deck. it saves me a lot of confusion and squinting as i go "the hanged man and the tower? oh geez. be patient but shake things up, apparently."
i hope this is helpful!
Thank you! This makes a lot of sense.