Katie-Ellen.

Thank you for stopping by

for it to flow free you need to NOT hesitate.

I couldn’t agree more!

Thank you for the insightful comment

thanks for the inspiration!

Thank you for your kind words I really appreciate it.

I had a very similar approach to you. I also started off being an academic about the Tarot; I was keen to read as many different theories as possible. Like you, I had a tendency to become obsessed with those theories

Although this is a hindrance, it can also be something that provides motivation, enthusiasm and direction. It took me a year or so of full time Tarot work to drop a lot of my preconceived ideas – and to allow the reading to speak to me.

I loved the example of the white, black and gray belt grading system. I agree with you; this applies perfectly.

I think the critical part of that example is the idea that the black belt is the end goal.

When we have the black belt as the goal (as I did) we “forget the forest for the trees”. Perhaps in having no goal, in the sense of “being a great Tarot reader”, we allow ourselves to develop a natural and more fluid way of reading Tarot cards.

Thank you for this great comment

I have been self learning the Tarot for about two years, mainly for my own benefits, and in an eclectic and rather un-orderly manner. Your posts consolidated some of my understanding about the Tarot and at the same time provide possible answers to some of my doubts.

What I feel so strongly about this article wasn’t only because its exactly how I approached the Tarot in the first place – I thought it best to be studious, to read as much as possible and to cram in as much knowledge in my head as possible. In retrospect I realize I OFTEN forget the forest for the tree – but what you wrote can be applicable to learning anything actually. I was called to mind a conversation I’ve had with my karate coach (who’s also my guitar teacher) not long ago. He told me, ‘paraphrasing a book he read about learning martial art and music), “Essential there are only three ‘belts’/’grades’ for every marital arts: white, black and grey. Initially the apprentice started from zero and was like a blank white sheet, over time he mastered all the skills the average person in the same field is expected to know and become an expert himself in that area. Many would take this to be the goal or final stage of mastering an art, without knowing that they are second-rate as best. (In the realm of arts that’s comparable to being a craftsman rather than an artist) The ultimate stage is actually the grey-belt stage: to drop all the techniques you have learn all through the years and practiced diligently, because it has been so internalized that it has become a second nature, an unthinking process. That’s when you truly learned something.”

What you outlined in those three steps immediately brought to my mind this conversation my mentor had with me. I especially agree with what you said about recognizing a technique to be useless when it becomes academic, because I have a tendency to falling in that trap myself! Always unknowingly become obsessed with theories, so to say.

Thanks for the great post again! Truly Inspiring!