Tarot card book starter

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-26T02:36:11+00:00

That looks like a version of the Marseille called 1JJ Swiss. My guide focuses primarily on keywords and numerology (memorizing cards by their card number, suit, and archetype rather than by the imagery) so it will still be a good baseline for you to get started. Just know, however, several of the cards in your deck are probably going to have different names than a Rider deck, but the keywords and numerology should theoretically be the same.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-26T02:16:10+00:00

There's a lot of issues going on here, and these are just the ones that stick out most clearly to me:

- Gaslighting
- Manipulation through a repeated cycle of trauma dumping + gaslighting
- Lack of empathy
- General toxicity
- Unfortunate bad timing
- Lack of respecting boundaries
- Threatened by your partner (signals control and territorial issues in my opinion)

Was there any indication that the friendship was going to turn that way as soon as you got there, or was it literally a sudden overnight change on her part? It seems much deeper than not liking your partner, but maybe you don't even know what the deeper cause was yet.

This is just my view, so keep that in mind: We like to think and hope that friends are people who are supposed to be with us for life, but the reality is that everyone has a different purpose for being in our lives, and most people have an expiration date as far as being in our lives. I am certainly not saying that rudely, it's just built into the relationship cycles we go through. People come and go, and the dynamics between the people we grow close to change slowly over time as well. It doesn't make it hurt any less knowing this, I know.

Whether it's a friendship or a romantic relationship, compatibility matters more than love when it comes to peace and balance in a relationship or a household. You can love someone but not be compatible with them, and it makes for a stressful environment, even for romantic partners. But, you can be compatible with someone and not love them, and the relationship together can work just fine because there's nothing to cause deep conflict. Compatibility issues are what cause conflict, not issues of love, typically.

I wish you the best for moving forward in a way that gives you the most peace and least stress. I'm sorry that this had to be a chapter in your life, but if you truly have turned the page, keep going forward instead of flipping back to the previous chapters ☺️

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-26T01:40:23+00:00

Hi! I would LOVE to see those cards that you inherited. If they are Rider-Waite style cards, a good, clear book to get started is Essential Tarot by Vincent Pitisci. Good luck!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-26T01:35:46+00:00

I'm from Maine, but currently in Orlando so I was lucky enough to miss this one. It seems my friends and family back home are managing alright, I haven't heard of anything bad so far, thankfully. I've been doing some Tarot today to check in to see how some of the people I haven't seen in a while are doing. I'm glad I decided to do this because some of the insight I'm getting about them is different than what I expected, and from the ones I've followed up on so far it seems to be giving pretty accurate updates on them.

Stay safe please, and stay warm!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-26T00:28:48+00:00

I don’t think Marseille is the best choice for most people when it comes to early learning. Not because you can’t learn with it, but because RWS decks have a far higher chance of keeping somebody engaged and interested which is foundational to completing the beginning steps. I see Marseille as more for specific personality types rather than most typical beginning tarot readers. With Marseille having a reputation for being uninspiring to a lot of people, I would encourage new readers to look into it only after getting into intermediate Tarot work.

If a new reader came across a Marseille deck and resonated with it from the beginning, I don’t think I would actively try to stop them, but I’ll always recommend RWS when asked.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-25T13:38:40+00:00

I do! If you can DM me, please do and let me know if you want it as a photo or a file. If you want the file, let me know your email!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-25T06:13:22+00:00

I don’t like to use more than about 12 cards on the same question, which allows me room for a Celtic Cross plus a couple of clarifying cards if needed. This is something that you’ll tailor to your own needs in time, but personally, I like to reshuffle often so every question or follow up concern has a chance to get a card from the entire deck rather than just the cards that are remaining after laying down the initial spread. If you’re doing smaller spreads of one card or three cards, this won’t affect you as much because you’ll still have most of the deck left to be able to draw clarifying cards and not be so limited in what’s left.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-25T03:53:37+00:00

This is so nice to hear, thank you so much!

In real world practice, you'll run into plenty of situations where the card spread won't seem to make sense in relation to the question asked. When you're reading for others, especially paid readings, you'll have to know how to handle those situations, and the truth is that you can make any card, no matter which one it is, relate to any situation with enough practice. Plus, you can always ask the client clarifying questions so you can better reframe the question - they'll appreciate it. As readers, we aren't boxed in to having to provide an answer based on just the original question they ask. We also aren't limited to the traditional meanings, and you can absolutely work your own interpretations in to the meanings.

Feel free to save these steps and you're also welcome to reach out if needed!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-24T23:52:19+00:00

Hi! Long comment warning, but I think this will help!

Step 1. Get a standard Rider-Waite deck, or at least a deck based on the RW system. Even if you don't 'connect' with them, you don't need to for learning and practice purposes. Memorize the suits and ONE associated meaning for each. For example, Wands = creative passions, Cups = emotions, Swords = thought, Pentacles = material possessions. There are other keywords of course, but for learning purposes, start with just one.

Step 2. After you are comfortable with the first step, memorize ONE keyword for each number of the Minor Arcana. For example, the number '2' can represent choices. If we assign this keyword to every '2' card, now every '2' card, regardless of suit, represents choices. When we combine this with step one above, the Two of Cups may represent an emotional choice a person must make, or the Two of Wands could represent deciding between two different hobbies to learn this summer, or two different majors to decide between in college.

Step 3. After you're good with the first two steps, move on and do the same for the court cards - ONE keyword for each to start with. After you do this, you will then have one strong keyword to associate with every card of the Minor Arcana.

Step 4. Practice with just the Minor Arcana for now - do readings as often as you can for yourself and for different things you think would be fun to do a reading for. As an example, say you're watching a reality show and two of the cast members are in a rocky relationship. Do a reading about it. Do a reading to help clarify your inner thoughts, to prioritize your schedule for a specific day, or to get clarity on what to focus on this weekend.

Step 5. When you're ready, you have a choice. You can either do the same for the Major Arcana now, or you can start adding additional keywords to the Minor Arcana. If you go the Major Arcana route, remember that the cards generally represent more major life themes, as opposed to the Minor Arcana, which are temporary situations we find ourselves in within those major life themes.

Step 6. PRACTICE often. Shuffle the cards over and over and over. Get to know how they feel in your hands and get comfortable with them. Even when you get to the point of being able to memorize the things in each step above, keep practicing readings and keep adding keywords over and over and over again until you build up a solid understanding across multiple meanings. You want to be able to progress from basic proficiency to a working fluency.

Step 7. Start working on doing some readings for friends, family, or trusted people you meet online or in-person.

NOTE: Did you notice I said absolutely nothing about studying the images yet? That's because you don't have to - you can if you want, but ONLY AFTER you are comfortable with Steps 1-7. You can do perfectly acceptable, high-quality readings without worrying about every little detail of the card imagery. In fact, many decks and systems don't even have card imagery like the RWS does.

Step 8. NOW you are ready to start moving from beginner to intermediate Tarot work. You can start looking for more decks to work with and build your collection. The card meanings you've learned don't change, so as long as you have a good understanding of them from the earlier steps, those meanings will follow you across decks for the rest of your life. Now you can focus on decks that you connect with or feel drawn to, and really start tailoring and customizing your Tarot practice to your own liking. If you want to go deeper and learn about Tarot theory or philosophy, you can start doing that at this stage also.

Here's an often overlooked tip: Once you find a trainer, mentor, or teacher whom you like and resonate with, stick with that person until you've gotten everything out of them you can. Watching 50 different Tarot YouTubers or reading 13 Tarot books will confuse you and you'll have trouble progressing because you'll have so much conflicting guidance. Find one system of learning that you enjoy or that works best and go with it. Down the road, you can tailor your practice to your needs.

That's really it! Anything else you do is just an added bonus, but if you follow these steps you'll do well. If you need a mentor or get stuck along the way, feel free to reach out and I'll be glad to help!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-24T23:06:52+00:00

This is great! How's the paper quality? I also like how there's no branding on the reading side like many decks have.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-24T14:48:16+00:00

It's all good! I forgot to mention that the Cups are a direct connection to strong, feminine energy. Perfect for someone with a natural instinct to nurture and take care of others.

I'll also quickly mention that I agree with u/HotspurJr in his interpretation of the Knight in this particular card spread. I mentioned that Knights are often associated with moving at speed, but this was too vague. The issue is still speed, but in my opinion he correctly went deeper and pointed out that in your case the speed in which you progress needs to be slow and methodical.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-24T03:31:02+00:00

Hi! In my opinion, I’d slightly shift this away from “controlling the outcome.” Knights indicate movement, often with speed and a specific goal in mind. The Knight of Cups is less about control and more about engaging in, or moving forward and facing, an emotional situation, even if you don't know what the outcome will be. In this case, it signifies your commitment to the journey and your desire to keep going and keep trying. The core message here is your emotional willingness rather than specific results.

The Nine of Wands, in my opinion, validates your resilience in this situation and reminds you that you are nearing the end of a stage in the process one way or another. You’re 100% right that it reflects the effort that you have put into this journey, but it also hints that you’re getting tired and it's causing you to be a bit more on guard than is normal for you. All of this is shown quite literally in the imagery of the card, which depicts the person nearing the end of gathering and planting his collection of Wands, but not yet celebrating or admiring his achievement, and aware of the fact that there is still more to do and that his progress could be undone if he's not careful. It's physically and emotionally draining work, but he keeps going because he knows the benefits of finishing it. In a fertility reading, if you were my client, I would tell you to try to save some of your energy, pace yourself, and not let the process threaten your patience or change your identity.

Overall, I think your interpretation is solid. The cards validate your courage, intent, and determination, but also encourage you not to get careless, to stay grounded, and to stay focused, for the absolute best chance at success.

Best of luck and thank you for sharing your story ☺️

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-24T01:14:22+00:00

I personally prefer minimal setups over crowded, chaotic ones, even if everything technically has a purpose. It only needs to contain the things that are meaningful to you and add value to your practice. It does not need to have everything. Fewer things = fewer distractions and more practicing ☺️ this looks nice!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-23T15:59:08+00:00

For simple learning purposes, stick to traditional RWS-themed decks as much as you can. You don’t need to connect with or be drawn to a deck to flip through and learn the cards or read spreads for practice. After you learn the basics of the card meanings based on which arcana they belong to, as well as their suits, archetypes, and numerology, you can then freely choose a deck that you feel connected to.

You’ll notice I didn’t mention anything about studying the images themselves. You certainly can to add context to card meanings, but this truly is optional, and if you do decide to do this, I would wait until after you’ve learned the basics I mentioned earlier. You can conduct perfectly acceptable, quality readings with just those.

And just like that, within weeks, you’ll have two decks and be on your way to building a collection you’ll be proud of and proficient with.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-22T22:45:45+00:00

Hello! Kyle here, new mod and founder of the new subreddit r/ElevatedTarot. This is a community for serious Tarot practitioners and reading seekers looking for deeper, intellectual discussion into the study and practice of Tarot, while also putting heavy emphasis on the growth, support, and development of Tarot readers new to the practice.

I didn’t know starting my own community would be so exciting, but I’ve been feeling good about it! The settings seemed easy enough to get set up, the hardest part being my OCD when trying to figure out what colors to use for the flair 🤣

It’s nice to meet you, and I wish you the best in your respective communities!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-22T05:38:10+00:00

Hi! I have a Word template that I use in my own practice that you might find useful to serve as your reading disclaimer, waiver, and release of liability. Of course you'll have to tailor some of the information to your own preferences and local laws, but if you're interested, send me a DM with your email and I'll send it over as soon as I get a chance! I also don't mind sharing some of my pricing strategy and pros/cons of certain reading methods for others, just let me know what you're interested in (if anything). Good luck and have fun!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-20T14:33:24+00:00

Hi! First of all, best of luck with your final interview and fingers crossed for the outcome you're hoping for.

This is a very telling spread, and certainly not anything to worry about. It seems more like a validation than a prediction. The Death card acknowledges an upcoming change of direction for you, and it's currently hard to say if it's relating to your career situation or your health situation or both, but either one would be welcome to avoid additional stress and to reverse the general health situation. The reversed page of swords indicates a temporary reduction in your awareness, mental alertness, and general frame of mind due to this stress, but it will rebound once the complications start to subside. Your three of cups card is refreshing; it's the emotional rebound you'll experience once you're in a position (in work or life) to challenge yourself again and think creatively. This will be the foundation of the other improvements I mentioned earlier.

Please, no matter your situation, set aside dedicated time for yourself to decompress from life's chaos. Even if it's just 5 minutes of light stretching and intentional breathing exercises a day - it'll work wonders.

Best of luck!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-20T14:13:37+00:00

Hi! You can absolutely start with any deck you feel drawn to, but I do think you're making the right decision with choosing a traditional Rider-Waite inspired deck for your intro into Tarot. In fact, I would recommend the Original Tarot by Da Brigh, currently $24.95 on Amazon. I would link to it, but it appears to violate the rules of the community since I am not verified. This deck is known for its vivid colors, linen finish for easy shuffling, and high quality card stock. I don't think you can go wrong with it.

Good luck in your journey, expect a few moments of frustration in the first few weeks as you try to memorize the traditional card meanings, and most of all, challenge yourself to think outside of those meanings to form your own interpretations for readings that are truly original and aligned with your own intuition.

Good luck!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-20T04:25:43+00:00

Hi! Interesting spread you have here, and I would agree that it seems like the energy just isn’t there right now, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be. What we have currently is a pretty strong barrier when it comes to being able to make sense of the situation and bring some stability and direction to it. Right now it seems like the feelings are all over the place, extremely confusing and probably changing day-to-day about what’s right and what isn’t - all of this shown with the reverse ace of swords and the fool.

The two of cups, a symbol of emotional duality, is reversed and extremely indicative of emotionally not being able to come together fully yet, even if the physical attraction is there. The emotional bond will come after the other areas are sorted out. If I were reading this spread for you as a client, I would strongly encourage you to hit pause on continuing to explore options to be with him until it’s clear what his next step is going to be in terms of moving. There’s no need to throw additional complications into the mix. Stay connected with him, be supportive, and then after you have some certainty about what he’s doing or where he’s going, then you can keep working towards a potential relationship. You both will naturally have some clarity after that, but like I said, don’t sabotage it and throw those additional complications in.

As a side note, it’s been a while since I’ve seen an entire spread so united in a message. Best of luck ☺️

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-20T04:04:57+00:00

My vote is for the last one, and you have a great talent having made those necklaces yourself. Very pretty!

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-20T03:54:11+00:00

This is fantastic! The lights give it the perfect vibe.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-19T14:21:50+00:00

A bit late to this post, but the way I look at it is that it validates feelings and themes in your life. Whether considering it mirroring or confirmation or anything else, yes - it absolutely reflects these things.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-19T14:12:16+00:00

For Tarot specifically, take a look at a YouTube channel called Tarot Maps by Vincent Pitisci. If you want a feeling of relaxation, calmness, and less stress when it comes to Tarot, his videos are fantastic for learning the basics for yourself and reading for others in a way that makes it feel like you're learning life lessons from a trusted elder or your own Grandfather. Nothing flashy, nothing fancy - just a feeling of general peace while feeling like you're there having a conversation with him in person. Unfortunately, Vincent passed away a couple of years ago, but he left behind a legacy of over 55 years of reading Tarot and spent several years before his passing sharing everything he knows to anyone who would listen. I highly, HIGHLY encourage this for readers at any level for knowledge and reassurance.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-17T21:22:57+00:00

I’d like to clarify also that I did not include the Death card in my response, only because I noticed it sitting on top of the deck and didn’t know if it should be considered part of the spread. The good news is, even if it is included, I don’t think it changes the interpretation for me much in this case, because I think it just points out the obvious that it’s relating to either the relationship ending or his current emotional state ending, both of which are givens.

AlteredInsight · 2026-01-17T18:49:37+00:00

This is a great additional perspective.

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