A Crash Course in Tarot for Newbies #2Written by Sam Stevens
If you would like to learn to read tarot cards, your first challenge is to choose a deck from 8,000 or so published brands of fortune telling cards on market. What works for one person often doesn't for another. Some people are comfortable reading several decks and others just identify with one deck. In my experience you will find that over time, you will grow in and out of several decks. You may also find that deck that you prefer to use to read yourself is not deck that you prefer to use read others. For instance, when I first began reading I started out with a deck that was too heavy for me - The Crowley Deck. The ultimate result of that was that I ended up selling them because I was spooked out images of deck. I was simply too young to handle imagery on this dark deck and was giving myself nightmares. I then switched to Rider Waite Deck for a few years, which is ultimate easy, all -purpose deck. I then fell in love with Renaissance Deck which is much more elaborate in terms of it's imagery and a bit more pointed in its meanings when it came to describing relationships. Then I entered a period when I was yearning for more simplicity, I switched to Palladini deck, which is very pure and has a "lighter feeling." (Kind of like Pollyanna of Tarot Decks.) Now that I am older, I am back to Crowley Deck and Order of Golden Stair decks, which are a little heavier in feel. There are also lots of specialty or eclectic decks on market that might appeal to you more than Rider Waite, but learning Rider Waite is like going to high school. Psychic Realm reader Bacchus for instance, uses Haindl deck for his readings, which has a Nordic feel and is a permutation of classic Rider-Waite deck, but as wonderful as it is, I don't think it is a beginner deck. Here are some good decks I can recommend for beginners that are based on Rider Waite System of meanings. The Rider Waite Deck The Aquatic Tarot - same as Rider Waite but realized in watercolors The Pamela Colman Tarot - same imagery as Rider Waite but done in brighter more psychedelic colors The Golden Tarot - same as Rider Waite but imagery is more medieval The Palladini Tarot - same as Rider Waite but with very simple, cheerful drawings The Renaissance Tarot - same as Rider Waited but enhanced with images from Renaissance age. You can find a selection of Tarot Decks in Psychic Realm store off main page or browse web and buy one that catches your eye online. I recommend doing a little online research first and finding places you can view different decks online because most storeowners won't let you open and handle their deck because it means removing plastic from their packaging. However, best way to be sure is to go to a store, pick up deck and see if you like feel of cards once you have done some research on imagery in them. The feel, weight or look of cards often "speaks" to you. If you a feel a connection with images on cards or even how they feel in your hands, then that is probably deck that you will relate to best. I also recommend a deck that comes with a small book inside package or box so you will have something to quickly reference if you should get lost while reading.
| | Is Your Mate Cheating?Written by Sam Stevens
You've been together several months, but something doesn't feel quite right with your partner. You start wondering if he or she might be having an affair. Is it jealousy, your imagination or just apathy that is result of long-term complacency with each other? It can be hard to tell sometimes, but when in doubt go with your gut and look for following behaviors that might mean your mate is having an affair. Oddly, your partner might be having an affair if he or she is acting MORE attentive than usual to you. If you are suddenly showered with gifts and compliments in what almost seems like an inappropriate manner, then he or she might be trying to make up for guilty feelings. Look for a sudden change in your partner's routine. Is he or she staying out a lot longer than usual, not showing up for dinner or unaccountable at times for his or her whereabouts? If your partner suddenly alters his or her daily habits that too can be a sign of cheating. If your partner is frequently picking fights with you, that might also mean big trouble. The emotional logic behind this is that picking a fight gives him or her to an excuse to fly out of house and possibly into arms of third party. That way cheating partner can deny guilty feelings and blame you instead. If you are not to blame, a cheater will create a reason to justify what he or she is doing to you. Your mate might also become overly critical of you. This is part of an agenda that once again, gives them an excuse to leave or justify affair. The guilty partner might also be overly sensitive to criticism from you as there may be a ring of truth that triggers guilty feelings that they would rather not face. If every time you have fight your partner threatens you with ending relationship, you might also have a cheater on your hands. Your lover feels safe with these ultimatums because they have another person as "back-up" should two of you decide to split up. Another sign of cheating is a consistent negative attitude towards relationship and comments that make you feel as if you have an expiry date inked on your forehead. This might include saying such things as "I would like to travel next year." (with no mention of a "we") or "You know I will always love you, even if this ever ended." If your lover becomes withdrawn and depressed, it could be that he or she is brooding about what they have done and can't handle guilt. Sudden explosive displays of affection or anger can also be a bad sign, as partner might be transferring emotional reactions from infidelity onto you simply because you see each other more often. In other words, you may be recipient of a mood that is not due to any of your actions at all.
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