You've just got your new tarot deck home. It's sitting there on your table, all pristine and full of possibility. Now what? While some might suggest sleeping with it under your pillow (hello, neck pain) or blessing it under a full moon, I'd like to suggest something rather more practical: why not sit down and have a proper chat with it?
The Psychology of Deck Personality
Every deck of tarot cards has its own personality - not because it's infused with mystical energy from the cosmos, but because each deck's artwork, symbolism, and themes connect differently with our own psyche. It's rather like how some books speak to you while others leave you cold, despite telling essentially the same story.
By "interviewing" your deck, you're really mapping out how your mind responds to its particular imagery. Think of it as getting to know the cast of characters in a play - the better you understand their quirks and qualities, the more nuanced your interpretation of their performance will be.
The Interview Process
Now, you might be thinking, "Isn't it a bit silly to interview a stack of cards?" Well, yes, if you take it literally. But consider how often we attribute personalities to our phones, cars, or that one printer at work that clearly has it in for us. This isn't about believing the cards are sentient - it's about creating a framework for understanding how you interact with this particular set of symbols.
Here's a straightforward spread to start the conversation:
- Tell me about yourself. What kind of deck are you?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your limitations?
- What kind of questions do you handle best?
- How can we work together effectively?
- What's the best way to take care of you?
The beauty of this spread is that it helps you focus on practical aspects of working with your deck while giving your intuition room to stretch its legs.
Making Sense of the Answers
When interpreting these cards, stay grounded in reality. If you get the Eight of Wands for "What kind of deck are you?", you're not receiving a message from the spirit realm. Instead, you might notice that:
- The deck's imagery emphasises movement and progress
- You respond quickly and intuitively to its symbols
- The cards might work well for questions about taking action
It's about noticing patterns in your own responses, not decoding mystical messages.
Going Deeper: Additional Questions
Once you've got the basics sorted, you might want to explore further. Here's a spread focused on learning style:
- How do you teach?
- How do you prefer to be learned from?
- What's the most important lesson you can teach me?
- What's the most important thing for me to remember when working with you?
Think of this as creating a user manual for your deck, written by your own intuition.
The Topic Specialisation Spread
Just as some friends are great for career advice while others excel at relationship guidance, you might find your deck has particular strengths:
- What topics do you excel at addressing?
- What topics are challenging for you?
- What unique perspective do you bring to readings?
- How do you approach difficult questions?
Making the Most of Your Interview
To get real value from this process:
- Write down your first impressions - they're often the most honest
- Compare traditional card meanings with your intuitive responses
- Notice any patterns in the suits or numbers that appear
- Pay attention to your emotional reactions
- Consider how the artwork influences your interpretations
Regular Check-ins
As you work with your deck, your understanding of it will evolve. It's worth doing occasional check-ins using simplified versions of these spreads. Think of it as performance reviews for your card stock employees - minus the awkward salary negotiations.
A Final Note
The personality you discover through this process isn't mystically encoded in the cards - it's created through your interaction with them. It's rather like how a favourite mug isn't actually lucky; it just makes you feel more confident when you use it.
Understanding this relationship helps you use your deck more effectively as a tool for self-reflection. After all, the cards aren't giving you answers - they're helping you find the answers you already have.
So go on, sit down with your deck and have a proper chat. Just maybe don't do it in public unless you're comfortable with some odd looks from the neighbours.
Further Reading and Resources
- A. Rivera has an extensive list of examples of deck interviews that he has meticulously documented on his blog, Alchemical Thoughts.
