Student Readers: What learning tools, books, systems, etc. are you using?

[Pam]

I'm starting with the book that John recommended by Eden Gray, A Complete Guide to the Tarot, supplmented by several other books that I've owned for a while on general divination. I'm looking to expand my library though, because I like a wide range of choices on how to do readings.

Which tools have you used, or are you currently using to do the student readings here on the board, or other readings?

I know that many of us are using Sandy Anastasi's tools for tarot, and other books. Those of you that are using Sandy's stuff, are you using the videos, workbooks, or what, and do you like them?

[PsyQuestor]

I'm using A Complete Guide to the Tarot by Eden Gray as recommended by John Edward in the tapes. I used to own many many Tarot books, but sold them due to lack of space. My favorite was a very large Dictionary to the Tarot, which had many decks and a history of the Tarot including instructions for games and spreads. I highly recommend this dictionary for anyone with the time to read it (it took me three months!).

I also light candles, burn incense and meditate prior to a reading. I like to play soft background music to relax me too.

Tammy

[Phigalilly]

I started with Everything Tarot and now I'm using Sandy Anastasi's workbook and the audio tapes that go with the workbook. I'm really enjoying her method because in addition to card meanings she also goes into what the number of the card indicates, and how to move beyond individual card meanings and see "the story" in the spread. The set of 12 audio tapes are of a real class with about 3 or 4 students. The tapes work really well for me because the students often ask questions that I would like to ask, and I can go back and repeat things over and over until I'm sure I've got it.

[ScubaCat]

Pam, this may be more detail than you were looking for, but here goes!

I'm currently working my way through Sandy Anastasi's DVD version of her Tarot class. There are three DVDs and each Tarot card has it's own chapter in addition to other general information. It's quite a lot to get through, but I'm trying to take my time with it and let it soak in.

I have several books on Tarot including a few I don't use. I just didn't connect with the contents of those books. It seems like a huge task, but I hope to one day be able to read a spread without looking up the cards as I go. The books I am using as my reference now are:

"Mastering the Tarot" by Paul Fenton-Smith
"The Illustrated Book of Tarot" by Jane Lyle
"Pocket Guide to the Tarot" by Alan Oken

My process now begins with mentally setting my intentions and focusing on the querent and her question while shuffling the cards. I then cut the cards into three stacks and hold my left hand over each stack to try sense “something” to determine how to reassemble the deck. Once the deck is in one stack I deal the cards in the Celtic cross formation - face down - and set the rest of the deck aside. Then I turn over one card at a time focusing on its position meaning then looking up the card meaning as necessary. I write out all the possibilities of each card then whittle away the things that don't seem to fit the story the cards are telling me.

When the querent responds I go back to my original list of possibilities to see if I whittled away something that I should not have. So far I seem to be on the right track. I agree with the general assessment that we are being guided in our learning process here. I know it’s a lot to ask of the querents to write out personal responses to multiple readings, but it really is the key to our learning process. Thanks to everyone for making this a safe place to learn and grow!

[bdwsa]

I bought my tarot cards several years ago and never touched them. About a year ago I bought Sandy Anastasi's tarot workbook. Itried sleeping with the cards under my pillow (had crazy dreams and stopped. Then I used JE's method of just shuffling the cards at night while watching T. V. I used Sandy's workbook and first did it the fast way (I'm not known for patience ). Then read through the detailed information later. I still didn't feel like I was understanding, then I had an astral dream with Sandy going through each and every card. Suddenly the cards and stories started coming together. The next thing that helped me is another tape through Starchild....Numerology for Beginners. That brought in even more info about numerology, but not too much to be overwhelming. I have taken the entire Psychic Development Series with Sandy, either as a correspondence student or in person. I highly recommend the entire series. I am now an advisor for students that take the course by correspondence. That way you will always have someone to talk things through with while going through the class. You know when you have those questions that begin....this may be dumb but....!
As far as Tarot, I feel like my learning will never end, and I'm like many of you who've said that the biggest obstacle is just letting it come through and not thinking too much.
To get ready for a reading, I meditate and call in my guides and the archangels for protection. I use all kinds of other tools for psychic work,(pendulum, crystals...). for these readings, I'm just using the tarot and a splash of numerolgy.
Barbara