Alright, let’s talk about how I got into these Rider-Waite tarot cards. It wasn’t some mystical calling or anything dramatic like that. Honestly, I think I just saw them around, maybe in a movie or someone mentioned them.
So, I got curious. Went online, typed it in, and bam, there was that classic yellow box. Rider-Waite Tarot Deck. Looked like the standard one everyone starts with. Figured, why not? Added it to my cart, bought it.
When it arrived, I opened it up. The cards felt… well, like cards. A bit stiff. The pictures were interesting, though. Some were pretty straightforward, like The Sun, looked happy enough. Others, like that Ten of Swords, yikes! Didn’t look fun.
Getting Started (or trying to)
It came with that tiny little white booklet. You know the one? Tried reading it. Felt like homework. The meanings were short, kinda vague. Didn’t really click just reading descriptions.
So, I ditched the booklet for a bit. I just started looking at the pictures. Spent time just shuffling through the deck, picking a card, and really looking at it. What’s going on? Who are these people? What’s the vibe?
- Pulled The Fool. Looked like a guy about to walk off a cliff but happy about it. Okay, maybe it means starting something new, bit naive?
- Pulled the Three of Swords. Heart with swords in it. Pretty clear that means pain, sadness. Got it.
- Pulled The Lovers. More complex. Two people, an angel… Choices, relationships? Took a bit longer to ponder.
Practice, Practice, Mess Up
I decided the best way was just to do it. Started pulling one card each morning. Just to see what the day’s ‘flavor’ might be. Didn’t always make sense, but it got me familiar with the cards.
Then I tried simple three-card spreads. Past, Present, Future. Or Situation, Action, Outcome. Sometimes it felt profound, like “Wow, that totally fits!”. Other times it was just… confusing. Like, what does The Hermit followed by the Two of Cups followed by the Ten of Wands even mean in this context? Felt like random pictures sometimes.
Learning the court cards was tough. All those Kings, Queens, Knights, Pages. They seemed similar but different. Took me ages to get a feel for them. Still mix them up occasionally if I’m not paying attention.
Finding My Groove
Eventually, I bought a bigger book. Not a super complicated one, just something with more descriptions and examples. That helped connect the dots a bit better. But honestly, the biggest help was just using the cards regularly.
I stopped trying to predict the future like a crystal ball. Started using them more for self-reflection. Like, if I felt stuck on something, I’d pull a few cards. Not for an answer, but for a different perspective. What am I not seeing? What energy should I focus on?
Sometimes I’ll do a reading for a friend, if they ask. Keep it simple. No big pronouncements. More like, “Here’s what the cards seem to be showing, what does that bring up for you?” It’s more about conversation and thinking things through together.
Where I’m At Now
So yeah, that’s my journey with the Rider-Waite deck. Still use that same beat-up deck. The corners are soft now. It feels familiar. I’m no expert, don’t claim to be. But I learned to use them in a way that works for me. It’s a tool, like journaling or talking things out. Helps me look at things from different angles. And it started with just buying that yellow box out of curiosity.
