Okay, so I finally decided to dive into the world of Tarot de Marseille. I’ve always been curious about tarot, but the imagery of the more common Rider-Waite deck never really clicked with me. Then I stumbled upon the Tarot de Marseille, and something about those old-school, almost medieval-looking cards just spoke to me.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed a deck. I did some digging online – no, I won’t tell you where I got it – looking for authentic reproductions. I ended up choosing a popular reproduction of the classic Conver deck.
When the deck arrived, I was super excited. I carefully opened the box and felt the cards. I wanted to get a feel for the cards, and I liked the feeling of the cardboard, rough.
Learning the Ropes
Next up, learning how to actually use these things! I knew absolutely nothing, I mean, zip, zero, nada, about reading tarot. So, I started with the basics.
- I grabbed a few beginner-friendly books.
- I started familiarizing myself with the Major Arcana. You know, The Fool, The Magician, The Lovers, all those big-name cards. I tried to understand their basic meanings, the symbolism in the images, the whole shebang.
- Then, I moved on to the Minor Arcana. Those four suits – Wands, Cups, Swords, and Coins (or Pentacles, depending on the deck) – each with cards numbered Ace to Ten, plus the court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). This was a bit trickier, like learning a whole new language.
First Attempts
I am a clumsy person, and learning by doing is my favorite part of the discovery process.
My first few readings were…well, let’s just say they were interesting. I laid out some simple spreads, like a three-card past-present-future spread. I fumbled through the book, trying to connect the card meanings to my actual life. It was slow going, and honestly, I felt a little silly at first.
I Started using a notebook to write my interpretations. Then I started tracking them over days.
Practice, Practice, Practice
But I kept at it. I did readings for myself, for my cat (she wasn’t very helpful), and eventually, for a few close friends who were willing to be my guinea pigs. Slowly, things started to click a bit more. I started to see patterns, to recognize the cards more easily, and to trust my intuition a little more.
Still Learning
I’m still very much a beginner. There’s a ton I don’t know, and I’m sure my interpretations are still pretty rough around the edges. But I’m enjoying the process. It’s like learning a new skill, a new way of looking at the world and at myself. And those Tarot de Marseille cards? They’re starting to feel like old friends.
