Hi LB. Reading with this deck is like going to church for me. It is a ritual, and a different form of divination than I apply to regular tarot. I use it mostly when I need spiritual guidance.
If I have a mundane question, or a question involving my everyday life, I don´t use this deck. Instead I consult this deck when I am experiencing something of greater, all-encompassing spiritual importance, facing decisions with life-changing potential or similar. If the minor arcana in traditional tarot depicts everyday challenges, and the major arcana describes events of greater importance, then this deck to me is the grandmother arcana, the ancestor arcana, of even greater spiritual importance, if that is at all possible, than the major arcana. And those lessons, that perspective on things, can sometimes be very tricky to interpret for yourself. You can´t always grasp the meaning intellectually. Most of the time you need to process the interpretation in a very practical manner. Let me explain.
I am very practical about the Orisha´s advice. I connect a lot of what I see in the imagery of the cards, and my knowledge of the orisha/lwa, to experiences I have had in my life, stories I have been told about the Orishas, and the natural elements. For instance, Yemaya is connected to the ocean, and if I draw Yemaya I always take the time to visit a lake, or the sea or any other type of water, and most of the time that will produce a calming effect or I will think a clear thought there while I am sitting by the sea, or find something that takes me further in the direction I need to go. If I draw Oshun I see to it to dance, or take care of my body, serve myself a great meal. And it always turns out that when I am engaging in the type of activity that I have intuitively interpreted as my challenge, then something happens with me, I am transcended in some little way, and all of a sudden I myself know what the card meant, what it is that I need to do. Such is my practical church-activity with the orishas.
Connecting with the Orishas is about forming a relationship with them, and as with any relationship they expect you to be active too, and to give something back to them. They will never sermon or preach, or let you sit there like a quiet pupil taking notes... But they will give you the best and the simplest of advice if you are willing to take it and do the work.
As I see it this deck is transcendental, does that make sense? You don´t just pick it up and put it away, pick up and put it away again... Once the doorway is opened it is opened until you decide to ritually close it or withdraw. I believe your learning-experience with this deck transcends the boundaries of divination and everyday life, so be attentive to the presence of the Orishas in your everyday life, as they are often trying to communicate in many different ways when they have chosen to be interested in someone. And they sure seem to be interested in you!
blessings
embla