Reading and practice
Written by the site, about the practice rather than the cards.
PracticeWhat to record after a draw so that the notes are still useful to you six months later.
6 min
Getting startedThe two features that affect how quickly you learn, and the ones that are purely taste.
5 min
LearningA schedule for getting familiar with the deck that does not rely on memorising a book.
7 min
PracticeHow to spot the point where you stopped reading and started negotiating.
6 min
Questions
Does it matter which deck I use?For learning, use a deck where the numbered minor cards show a scene rather than just an arrangement of cups or coins. The illustrated scenes give you something to read before you have memorised anything. Beyond that, pick images you are willing to look at for a long time, because familiarity with your own deck does more for your reading than any particular publisher.
Do I need my own deck to start?You need access to one, and owning it helps because the practice depends on repetition with the same 78 images. There is no rule that a deck has to be given to you. Borrowing one for a few weeks to find out whether you enjoy the practice is perfectly sensible.
What is a three card spread?Three positions, one card in each, with the meaning of each position decided before you draw. Common versions are past, present, emerging, or situation, obstacle, resource. You read each card against its position, then step back and read the three together as one picture.
What does it mean when a card is reversed?It means the card landed upside down relative to you. Most readers treat it as the same theme turned inward, stalled, or pushed too far, rather than as the reverse of the upright meaning. It is optional, and many people read without reversals at all.
How long should a reading take?A one card draw takes two or three minutes. A three card spread with notes runs about fifteen. A ten card layout like the Celtic cross needs half an hour if you want to get anything out of the connections between positions.
