So, I decided to give the Etteilla tarot a real go. Heard about it here and there, you know, as this older, different kind of tarot. Curiosity got the better of me. I wasn’t looking for anything specific, just wanted to see what it was all about, maybe shake things up a bit from the usual Rider-Waite stuff I’d been using for ages.
Getting My Hands On It
Finding a deck wasn’t too bad, actually. Ordered one online, nothing fancy. When it arrived, opening the box felt a bit strange. The cards looked different, obviously. Not the same kind of pictures I was used to. Lots of them had keywords printed right on them, both for upright and reversed meanings. My first thought was, “Huh, is this cheating or helpful?” The art style felt a bit old-fashioned, less symbolic maybe, more direct?
First Steps and Stumbles
Okay, so I shuffled them up. Felt okay in the hands, standard card size. I tried doing a simple three-card spread, something I do all the time. Pulled the cards and just stared at them. The keywords helped a bit, I guess? But honestly, it felt disconnected. The images didn’t immediately spark the same kind of intuitive hits I get with other decks. It was more like reading instructions off the card.
- The keywords: Sometimes they felt too specific, boxing me in.
- Reversed meanings: Having them spelled out felt weirdly prescriptive.
- The numbering and suits: Seemed a bit different, threw me off slightly. Didn’t worry too much about the history, just how it felt to use.
I put it down for a few days, thinking maybe it just wasn’t for me. Felt kinda clunky, less fluid. Not the smooth conversation I usually have with my cards.
Pushing Through the Awkwardness
But I don’t like giving up easy. I picked it up again. This time, I decided to ignore the books and guides for a bit. I just laid cards out. Looked at the pictures, read the keywords, and tried to see how they might connect, even if it felt forced at first. I started just pulling one card a day. Read the keywords, looked at the image, and thought about how that specific, sometimes blunt, message might apply to my day.
Slowly, very slowly, it started to feel less alien. I began noticing the patterns. It’s definitely a system, very structured. Less about deep psychological landscapes, maybe more about concrete situations, causes and effects. The keywords started acting more like prompts rather than final answers. I’d see “Unexpected Money” and think, okay, where could that energy manifest, not just literally waiting for cash.
Finding Its Place
After a few weeks of messing with it daily, doing small spreads, I started to get a feel for its unique voice. It’s very direct. Doesn’t mince words much. If a situation is looking bad, the Etteilla cards often just lay it out there, no sugar coating. If things are good, it says that too. It felt less… interpretive? More straightforward.
I found myself reaching for it when I wanted a very practical, almost matter-of-fact reading. Less “what deep spiritual lesson am I learning?” and more “what’s likely to happen with this job situation?”. It’s good for grounded questions, I think. Sometimes the old-style art, which initially felt odd, started to have its own charm, its own way of speaking.
How I Use It Now
So, yeah, the Etteilla deck is part of my toolkit now. I don’t use it every day, or for every type of question. If I want deep, soul-searching stuff, I’ll probably grab a different deck. But if I need a practical perspective, a clear look at potential events or influences, I pull out the Etteilla. It’s like having a very pragmatic, slightly blunt old friend to consult with.
It took time, definitely had moments where I thought it was just a historical curiosity. But pushing through that initial awkwardness and just using it, letting its particular logic sink in, was key. It’s a different flavor of tarot, for sure. Worth trying if you’re patient and want something that cuts straight to the point.
