For me, ruts often come when I've been overcomplicating tarot–I love the current thread on the topic. I tend to study cards instead of just BEING with them. And I tend to interact with my cards, deity, and other people with a victim mentality that makes me very very fragile, and sometimes all I can do is run away for awhile, to lick my wounds.
As I'm diving in again after a long rut, I'm keeping it simple and shallow and safe. I chose the Rabbit Tarot.
I'm not studying them. I'm just letting them be with me. In the past I was taught that my worth was tied to what I produced; people didn't want to be with me unless I was doing for them. I can approach my cards with that same working mentality. It's time to just be with people and with cards, without having to earn that time.
And I'm trying to practice the lighthearted skills I'm practicing to respond to what people say to me. People often treat victims more meanly as they sense they can get away with it, or they even think this person deserves that treatment. I don't think that comes up with the cards, but I tend to expect that out of any relationship and respond in fear and expectation of harm. I need to laugh more at what people say and push back a little. I'm kinda rambling about this as I don't have it all figured out. It's just...I have some control here in changing how people treat me, and I also have the ability to experience what happens though another lens. And some of that applies to card reading and deity.
I did a one card reading last night, and just used the book meaning and didn't even study the picture, never mind more. And I played a round of solitaire. That's it. I kept it light.
I'm not sure if any of this applies to you. If not, just ignore me.