northsea

Valid points, tb, giving equal weight to scenic minors and majors can be a pitfall (which I've likely fallen into though not theoretically). I'm better at reading scenes than florals though and reading what's on the card itself, not only analyzing number/suit, may be of some intuitive value in a reading. ... but maybe the ultimate in visual-based intuition would be the rorschach test which would work better with florals which is maybe partly why a lot of great readers prefer the non-scenic pips.

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"This, too, will pass."

thinbuddha

I'd just like to take a minute to let everyone know: I'm a terrible card reader. No really... I'm simply awful! I certainly have opinions about reading cards, and I'm perfectly willing to share these ideas from time to time, but.... Yeah....

So when I say that I like using NSM's (non-scenic minors), that comes under the heading of YMMV. Even if I was a great reader, no system works well for everyone, so by all means do what works for you. This is a very creative process that we are trying to take part in, and different artists thrive using different tools and different techniques. I happen to have a hammer, so everything looks like a nail to me.

There were some very interesting points brought up about positional spreads not being the best sorts of spreads to use with NSM's. I never use positional spreads... Can't stand them (never could). Without going way off topic, they always seem too contained to me- like each idea lives on it's own, not interacting with the other parts. Maybe this anti-spread bias is why I've gravitated to the NSM's.

As a newbie, I started with RWS, and very quickly ran through a few decks before I settled into a Thoth reader for a year or two before making the switch to TdM (where I've been for 2-3 years now). I wonder if my anti positional spread stance has had an impact on my deck choices(?)

At any rate, when I read- those pips are sometimes quiet, but when they speak up, it's usually to say something about a major or court card that is near to it in one way or another.

I do buy the idea that the pips are about the day to day "real" activities, but it doesn't really change the way I see how a deck ought to look. Those mundane day to day things should sort of bleed into the background of a reading; it is the archetypes that, when they are active, should be paid the most attention. These are the messages that we are all seeking, after all.

Did I mention how piss-poor I am at reading?

"If something is working for you, keep doing it". That's something I like to repeat whenever I look back and see that I've been preaching on a topic I have no right to preach about.

-tb

Morwenna

I have that book; in fact I might have 2 copies (one buried from the long-ago move). It's fascinating.

Wendywu

I love the non-scenics in the Ironwing - very, very expressive - it's actual TdM decks that stuff me - and I have no idea why.....

I like reading with the Gill, I read with the Cachet, Traumzeit - all sorts of non-scenics. But sit me down with an actual TdM and - zilch......

Mind you, I am wanting an Ancient Tarot of Bologna - I love the colours, all muted and soft. Maybe with that one .....

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