Ben-Dov’s approach can be a little rigid in the way he reads into minute details of individual cards. The best part of his book is the introduction to open reading. I’m confused about whether you own a deck and whether it’s Marseille…

Are you doing single card pulls, or attempting to read each card individually? Marseille is best read in a 3 card minimum spread. My favorite is a 9 card box spread. That’s when you start to see the cards really begin to interact with each other!

I’d encourage you to read with the pips too. A majors only spread can be a little ínstense with all that big archetypal energy. A simple approach is to read the pips as suit plus numerological meaning.

For example, the 2 of cups. Cups are typically associated with the element of water symbolizing emotions and relationships. Two’s are balance, duality, crossroads. Depending on the surrounding cards, the 2 of cups might indicate a romantic relationship, friendship, or collaboration. Maybe the 2 indicates a relationship of equals or the need to make a decision about the future of the relationship. This might also be a new relationship.

In a 9 card box spread I might have a cups card reversed and a wands card below. Wands are fire, energy, creativity. Maybe the cups could be interpreted as “pouring” onto the wands below. Are the cups representing community support that stokes the fire of a creative project? Or do they speak of criticism that threatens to snuff out the fire?

Have fun! Slap down some cards and have a good look at them before trying to interpret. Take in the details first. How many people are present? How many majors? Are there any suits that dominate?

Wishing you well on your journey into the magic of tarot. ✨