How do you know you are stumbling ? Maybe that confusion or whatever you feel is part of the message...
I have found that when I find myself stumbling, it is definitely part of the reading. It is saying that either the sitter is scattered, ungrounded, not focused, or it is me that needs to get centered, focused, confident, etc.
I loved the falling off a log story. I too backpacked, and it is very easy to fall off when the log is wet and slippery, or when you take your eye off the log. That just reminded me of taking your eye off the ball, and a really easy catch is missed!
I am still really stumbling with the courts, but last weekend learn about putting myself in the card, pretending I am the card, what I would say to the querant. It really started to make a bit more sense. Maybe you could try that exercise.
Karrma taught me this in our reading circle exchange in April.
I had pulled all court cards, and all one suit for the whole spread!
Karrma, I was going to post your suggestion, then I got to your post.
It is a fabulous angle.
Imagine the court cards meeting and interacting. what would a page of cups and a queen of wands talk about? Which of them would be YOU?
Also, do remember that one card can have many meanings!
So this can be another great angle. You can always try a variety on a single reading. You might pretend you are the card giving advice. Next you might step out and see what advice that card would give you about the situation. Also, that other suggestion to ask the court if the represent a person is really creative? Often I ask cards questions, then blank my mind to get Ego out of the way.
An aside:
there was a Reading Circle spread where we were all to pull one card, then read it 3 times. I remember one of the positions being Advice, so maybe it was: Situation, Block, Advice
Oh, actually, I just remembered the Block. The belt looked way too tight on the card, and it seemed to be constricting that Queen. I also remember, the querant said the reading was super accurate. I had never read one card 3 times for 3 positions before that. And just the other day, I was doing a little reading at one of the games here at AT where feedback is required, and I was inspired to do a Past, Present, Probable Future on one card. That too got great feedback.
Reading Circles, and other readings for feedback are a great way to give yourself a quantum leap in your reading skills. I wish I had realized that back when I first joined AT. I was kind of chicken, and I did not know about the Newbie Reading Circle here....