WHY Rider-Waite-Smith is TOO HARD ?

sunstallion

I started learning tarot about 9 years ago myself with Rider-Waite-Smith deck and had off and on accuracy, then I got frustrated and gave away all my books and decks away.

Back then, when I had it right was because I looked up the meanings from books.

Then last month, my Spirit Guides told me through a psychic medium to start learning Cartomancy, then it didnt work out well. Spirit Guides told me again to go back to tarot, and now I have John Holland Psychic Tarot Deck.

I also looked at Rider-Waite-Smith again, and the pictures spoke to me NOTHING.

I wonder why this deck is way too hard to learn or I learned it the wrong way. I was told by all readers that the best way to learn it is just too look at the pictures and see what I got instead of looking it up from the book, but I got NOTHING.
 

gregory

If a particular deck doesn't work for you - simply use another that does. I don't get a lot from the Waite/Smith, myself. No big deal.
 

sunstallion

If a particular deck doesn't work for you - simply use another that does. I don't get a lot from the Waite/Smith, myself. No big deal.

ok, and is is known as the MOST POPULAR deck ?
 

ravenest

I started learning tarot about 9 years ago myself with Rider-Waite-Smith deck and had off and on accuracy, then I got frustrated and gave away all my books and decks away.

Back then, when I had it right was because I looked up the meanings from books.

Then last month, my Spirit Guides told me through a psychic medium to start learning Cartomancy, then it didnt work out well. Spirit Guides told me again to go back to tarot, and now I have John Holland Psychic Tarot Deck.

I also looked at Rider-Waite-Smith again, and the pictures spoke to me NOTHING.

I wonder why this deck is way too hard to learn or I learned it the wrong way. I was told by all readers that the best way to learn it is just too look at the pictures and see what I got instead of looking it up from the book, but I got NOTHING.

Maybe your trouble is the advice given from the 'psychic' ? Go away from tarot .... go back to tarot ... ???

I am surprised that ALL readers told you that is the best way to learn!

The problem might not be the deck but the attitude or 'advisors' you use ... or your interpretation of what you are being told.

The RW is not my favourite deck either but it IS for many ... and there is a reason behind that .
 

gregory

ok, and is is known as the MOST POPULAR deck ?

I'd not say most POPULAR - but of the three main traditions (four, if we include GD) it is the original of that type, so is very important indeed in the development/history of tarot - and I would guess that the large majority of more modern decks are based around that - simply because of the illustrated pips.

Also as that was for a while the ONLY one of its type available, MOST people own or have seen a copy.
 

HOLMES

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I was told by all readers that the best way to learn it is just too look at the pictures and see what I got instead of looking it up from the book, but I got NOTHING.

to back up what Gregory said is for a period of time the waite tarot was the one that was more accessible compared to the thoth.
so as a result the tarot rider waite was known as the first beginner deck and most books are written with that imagery in mind.

there are ways to work around it, one thing I used to do in my early days was to buy a deck only if it came with a book.
now in the last 20 years you get books on different aspects of the tarot, astrology, tree of life, and several on the thoth since then.

first of all,, learning any tarot takes work, dedication, patience, and a willingness to be wrong and learn from those wrongs

but all readers don't say don't look at just the pictures..
that approach is only one way of studying the tarot , and in that case you are should be using a workbook approach (tarot for yourself approach) and fill up a notebook.

my own approach I advocate learning from books, contrasting and comparing as that was how I learned however that was before I joined the forum, yet I think it is a still an excellent way of learning the tarot. the idea is to look at the book meanings as a skelton to which you put the meat on. and the meat would be your experiences, and your own inuitions as you look at the deck or even that comes to you when you are shuffling the deck for the client.
 

Abrac

A deck's popularity has nothing to do with whether it's right for you. How has the John Holland Psychic Tarot been working for you? If you feel drawn to it and get good readings then use it. If not, try a few others.

Where cartomancy is concerned, one of the most important qualities to have is trusting yourself and your own intuition. There are people for whom intuition comes naturally, but for others some preparatory work is necessary. There are a lot of things a person can do to stimulate intuition. Keep using the cards even if it seems like it's not working. Your intuition won't respond unless you repeatedly tell it to. I used to play guessing games a lot. When you're out and about, try to guess whether the person in front of you will turn left or right; try to predict who'll win sports events, etc. There are tons of things you can try to guess all the time while you're engaged in everyday life. Meditation is of course very helpful. I don't know if you already meditate, but if not I'd recommend Vipassana (Insight) meditation. It's a type of Buddhist meditation that's very effective at awakening intuition. :)
 

Richard

As a fortune-telling tool, Rider-Waite is intrinsically no better, or harder, or easier, than a thousand other decks. As for whether it is the most popular, I don't know, nor do I want to know. In any case, a deck's popularity has nothing to do with whether you or I will like it. In fact, while I am a good democratic socialist :)shhh:), I generally abhor popular preferences in matters of art, music, Tarot decks, and women (although I allow for exceptions here and there).
 

greatdane

Intuitive reading isn't best for all Sunstallion

I think intuition definitely applies, but I needed a starting point and if you're just waiting for a deck to somehow speak to you without looking at any general meanings, well, not all do that. I got some basic information about card meanings and then combined that with intuition. It took awhile, but it clicked. Think of it as learning a language, for some it comes easier, but usually you have to have a starting point. When people just start speaking to you in a foreign language, you don't just automatically "get" it. That's how I felt about tarot. I needed at least a starting point and then gradually my own meanings combined with some of the standard meanings and then it just...clicked.
 

sunstallion

Maybe your trouble is the advice given from the 'psychic' ? Go away from tarot .... go back to tarot ... ???

I am surprised that ALL readers told you that is the best way to learn!

The problem might not be the deck but the attitude or 'advisors' you use ... or your interpretation of what you are being told.

The RW is not my favourite deck either but it IS for many ... and there is a reason behind that .

oh no, I got frustrated that I gave away all my books and decks.

Recently, I have been to a few mediumship development sessions and MY spirit guides talked to me in a trance that I should go back to reading card.