4 Common Mistakes Tarot Readers Make (That Actually Keep You Stuck)
Let me ask you something: What would it mean for you to become a better tarot reader?
What would you do with tarot?
How would you help yourself, or others?
I want you take a moment to think about your answers.
Now, ask yourself: What’s stopping you from getting to that point?
When people ask me how long it took for me to start reading tarot professionally (seven years), I always preface my answer with this:
There is no one timeline or linear path with tarot. It is an ongoing journey where you can always be learning.
Some people take less time than I did. Some take more. There is no right or wrong, and no perfect amount of time to measure your own progress against.
But there are things that held me back along the way that I do believe slowed me down. Not that I was in a rush to get anywhere with tarot, but if I could have gotten better a little bit faster, I would have taken that option in a heartbeat.
Some of the beliefs that I got stuck on were:
Mistake #1. Doing the same types of readings over and over.
Solution: Variety is key to building your tarot skills. There is a tendency among tarot readers to rely on the same questions, such as, “What do I need to know right now?” Or, “What should I focus on?” If you’re stuck in a question rut, challenge yourself to try something new.
Mistake #2: Having a head full off other people’s card meanings, concepts, and techniques…to the point where you can’t hear yourself think once you turn over your tarot cards.
Solution: Don’t be afraid to use your voice. Even if putting an interpretation in your own words means getting it wrong at first. That’s okay: Making mistakes is how we learn.
Mistake #3: Confusing complexity for potency in a tarot reading. You don’t need to layer your readings with a bunch of techniques – reversals, astrology, numerology, significators, etc.
Solution: Don’t second-guess yourself if a reading feels clear and direct. All you need to do when you read tarot is read the cards in front of you. Sometimes too many techniques just get in the way of the answer.
Mistake #4: Getting stuck on the same meanings for certain cards – and not knowing how to read them in a different context.
Solution: One thing that every tarot reader needs to know how to do is to make tarot interpretations relevant to any position or question. Which isn’t always easy to do if you’re used to seeing the Death card transformation, or the Tower as upheaval. Taking a wider view of each card creates flexibility and fluidity in your readings – and allows for much more nuanced interpretations.
Feeling stuck in your tarot practice? If these ruts sound familiar, I’ve got a way out. You’ve probably already heard me talk it up already, but my signature program, Taking Tarot to the Next Level, was specifically designed for tarot readers who feel stuck with their progress and are ready to push their readings further.
And there is no better time to join, because I just added in some amazing new bonus trainings (including a Court Cards tutorial). Check it out here.
Until next time,
Liz xo
