Day 12 - What started you to reading tarot? Why did you continue to read

Hello and merry meet,

How are you doing? I'm very thankful for that you stoped by my blog today:)


We are now on day 12 on #31daysoftarot and I want to tell you how I came about to read tarot.
I believe Molly Storm asked this question today

First time I heard of the word Tarot I don't remember how old I was, but I could be something between 8 to 12 years old from a cousin of mine who was angry at this reader.

The story behind this was a friend who visited this reader who told him that he wouldn't see his 25th Birthday and he died in a car crash on his 25th Birthday.

I remember thinking: Can you see this from some cards? I want to see these cards and I want to learn these cards. I have always been interested in the clairvoyance, tarot, paranormal and all the good stuff.

This was pre-computer age so I couldn't look online, I didn't know of any stores which had tarot and so on. The word tarot got stuck in back of my head for several years.

When I was in my early/mid 20's, I did stumble across the "tarot" by Jane Lyle and no name brand Tarot deck which was sold as a set. The tarot deck was copy of the Raider Waite deck. I bought it and started to study tarot.. Optimistic, no decipline, no structure and so on :)

I see now what the problem was, but at the time I became more and more confused because I couldn't remember the meaning of the cards, like a lot of books it had some spreads and it was "The Gypsy" which has 21 cards, the classics "the Celtic Cross", "Tree of Life" and "The horseshoe". I started with the Gypsy spread... I know, FAILURE!

For some reason I thought that I couldn't read tarot since I didn't remember the meanings, I know now that was wrong because this Raider Waite deck wasn't for me, here I am almost 15 years older I still don't get Raider Waite.

One turning point for me was that I put down a six month spread and I don't remember what cards I got, but I do remember I got the death card (It doesn't mean a physical death, but a transformation - a door closes and another opens) and I put away the card and forgot all about it really, between 3 to 6 weeks later my mom passed away. Did I read this in the cards? No, I still don't. Because my mom had terminal cancer and she was in her last stage. BUT my reaction was the timeline of it all.
I did spreads and kept up with the reading, but not as often as earlier - Suddenly I experienced a a card disappeared, and another and another.. When I was missing 10 cards I thought F****K it. Then I used tarot deck in art and book marks. I didn't buy another deck because I didn't think I could learn.
I still watched documentaries, read what I came over and did my study's.

In December 2014 I came across Anne Stoke's Gothic tarot and I bought my first deck in 15 years.. It really took off... I bought decks (I even bought couple of Raider Waite - Which I to gifted one to my bestie :) ) and books and it really open a new and a wonderful world for me :) and I binge watching tarot vids on You Tube :)
In my case all I needed was change the deck.

Blessed be and merry see,

Love, Susann

Review of Anne Stoke's Gothic Tarot Deck

Today I want to review Anne Stoke's tarot deck that also came in the mail yesteday :) When I saw this deck online I knew I wanted it just because of the at art work. I have seen a few reviews on these deck, some like it and some doesn't. I also came a cross someone called this a novelty deck, took some pictures, smashed into a so-called tarot deck and told people not to buy that unless you wanted a novelty deck. I think that was a bit cruel, but that is just my opinion.

These tarot cards doesn't have the tradional pictures, but then again that is the charm of tarot because there are so many to choose from:) I live in a place where we don't have shop who sells insence or tarot or crystals, so if I want to have these things I need to order them online. Yes, it are few moments of "buy and regrets"... well, you live and learn :)

I saw in a review of this  deck that the person didn't like the "flimsyness" (is that even a word??) and I know am throwing gas onto the fire here, but these cards aren't much different than the Raider Waite deck, in thickness I mean.
I have shuffled them alot and I cant see a few tiny spots of wear and tear, but that is expected in my opinion.

Another feature on these cards it has four languages: English, German, French and Spanish. It can confuse some people, but I think it is a cute touch.

The gothic tarot is not a big deck and here you can see it together with my Raider Waite card. And the back of the card you will see if it is upside down or not, but that doesn't bother me at all.

Will I use them in a reading? It depends on the person who are going to be read and what he/she are comfortable with.

Am I going to use these on a reading fo my self? Yes, I will the hell of them and back. Like I said in my review of the Raider Waite's: it get the job done! You have here 78 card of beautiful art work.

I can see why some don't want to have this deck or don't want a reading from these, because you have a deck of vampires, goblets of blood, dragons, pretty women, handsome men, skulls, unicorn, skeletons and so on.
 

 

I wouldn't recommend this to a beginner since few of the cards a bit confusing for example the card The Tower, in Raider Waite deck you can see what it represent, but in the Gothic deck you don't automatically see what it is.

I haven't had any readings from this yet, just shuffling, get know the cards and felt the energy from it.
I will work on it shortly and I will let you know how it works out :)


Till then, have a great weekend and Blessed be,

xoxo
Susann