I think that without utilizing our intuition, Tarot can't really work. I've always kind of looked at it like a building. The books, traditional meanings, and all the rest serve as our foundation, our intuition serves as the building atop that foundation.
I have been doing majors only lately. Most notably for a Pluto in Aquarius spread and for my annual 12 month 2025 forecast spread (I posted that one). This year, I will be playing with this. I am also considering dropping using reversals when I do majors only if I am after the dominant energy or archetype only. I am being pulled to drop reversals altogether but I don’t think I am ready. I will need to rely on surrounding cards for any shadow elements, or pull supporting minor arcana only on the major card. This year, more experimentation. And a new series on advanced techniques.
I have an odd relationship with reversals. I do read them when they come up, but they don't often come up because I don't intentionally shuffle reversed cards into the deck. So I only see them after I've had one of my shuffling disasters.
That said, as someone with very little dexterity, those shuffling disasters are a thing for me!
I am terrible at shuffling except for riffling down two stacks, but I cannot bridge them after. My hands are rather small! If I am wanting no reversals, my deck is super mixed in orientation. I will just flip it right-side up as I lay it down in the spread.
What I am really considering doing as a practice is to use major arcana for the primary spread (no reversals), and pull at least one minor arcana on each of those for additional info and allow for reversals so I can see if there are shadow elements present.
That sounds like a really cool experiment! The Minor reflecting on each Major could yield much of interest. I hope you'll keep us informed as you move forward with this!
It just struck me as so odd that the person I encountered would believe herself to somehow be a lesser Tarot reader because she doesn't read the Minors. Hopefully we can get the message out that there is nothing at all wrong with reading only the Majors!
I appreciate this take. I do Tarot readings in my own way, using intuition rathen than a proper guided usage. I like that it's individualized.
I think that without utilizing our intuition, Tarot can't really work. I've always kind of looked at it like a building. The books, traditional meanings, and all the rest serve as our foundation, our intuition serves as the building atop that foundation.
i like that
I have been doing majors only lately. Most notably for a Pluto in Aquarius spread and for my annual 12 month 2025 forecast spread (I posted that one). This year, I will be playing with this. I am also considering dropping using reversals when I do majors only if I am after the dominant energy or archetype only. I am being pulled to drop reversals altogether but I don’t think I am ready. I will need to rely on surrounding cards for any shadow elements, or pull supporting minor arcana only on the major card. This year, more experimentation. And a new series on advanced techniques.
I have an odd relationship with reversals. I do read them when they come up, but they don't often come up because I don't intentionally shuffle reversed cards into the deck. So I only see them after I've had one of my shuffling disasters.
That said, as someone with very little dexterity, those shuffling disasters are a thing for me!
I am terrible at shuffling except for riffling down two stacks, but I cannot bridge them after. My hands are rather small! If I am wanting no reversals, my deck is super mixed in orientation. I will just flip it right-side up as I lay it down in the spread.
I'm glad to know that I'm not the only person out there who can't shuffle without looking like a nut!
You should see my failures with the wild unknown deck. It is spectacular
What I am really considering doing as a practice is to use major arcana for the primary spread (no reversals), and pull at least one minor arcana on each of those for additional info and allow for reversals so I can see if there are shadow elements present.
That sounds like a really cool experiment! The Minor reflecting on each Major could yield much of interest. I hope you'll keep us informed as you move forward with this!
This will likely be my next post
Awesome! I look forward to it.
I only read using the majors.
It just struck me as so odd that the person I encountered would believe herself to somehow be a lesser Tarot reader because she doesn't read the Minors. Hopefully we can get the message out that there is nothing at all wrong with reading only the Majors!