Where to Begin

How many times have you wondered how to begin something? Whether it is learning a new hobby or craft, cleaning up a mess, or creating personal change, we are often stumped as to what our first step should be.

When it comes to learning something new, or creating change, being a beginner means not judging our proficiency as if we were already expert. That can be difficult! So often, we want to be perfect from the very beginning.

Different tasks require different first steps. It does not seem that there is universal first step for all things. Yet, all things require a first step.

Sometimes the first step is to collect tools and materials. Sometimes it is to collect knowledge. Sometimes it is to simply dive in somewhere, anywhere, and see what happens.

Does not knowing where to begin something keep you from doing something?

I have heard the expression, “I wouldn’t even know where to begin” used as a reason, or an excuse, as to why a change has not been made, or a desired activity has not commenced.

I think very often this is because there is, indeed, a hidden first step. That hidden first step is to get over the fear of change, or the fear of failure. From there, we can figure out what we need to know, gather, and do, to make our start.

The StaarCorner

StaarCon strives to honor our tarot artists. We are excited that we will have presentations from a number of tarot and oracle designers at StaarCon 2022. Some of those designers have created many decks. Others, like Claire Lily, are publishing their very first deck.

Claire Lily is the creator of the very family-friendly, modern, and delightful Aunt Lily’s Tarot. Claire will present her new tarot deck at StaarCon. We are excited to meet her, and to learn about the process that brought this amazing new tarot deck to life.

YouTube Channel Members-Only Livestream

I do many livestreams on my YouTube channel. Weekly livestreams feature live readings for viewers. Monthly livesteams feature tarot classes and meetups. All of these events are free, and open to anyone who wants to join us, either live or in replay.

On September 14 at 7 pm I will host an hour-long livestream that is available only to members of my YouTube channel. This event will focus on some deep-dive readings that will allow members to experience a live reading, and, at the same time, to learn some advanced tarot reading techniques.

The livestream and the replay will be available to members at all three levels, Aces, Stars and Suns.

Tarot Spread for Getting Started

Here is a tarot spread to help you find wisdom and inspiration for your new beginning.

Let Card One represent your vision for your goal.

Let Card Two offer insight about who or what will help you on your journey.

Let Card Three speak about any fear or resistance you might have about this journey.

Let Card Four offer insight about your first steps on this journey.

The Week in Review

I had such a good time this week during my Tampa Bay Area Tarot Tour. I am grateful to everyone who hosted parties and classes, and to those who came to see me in my AirBnB, or had me visit their home for a house call.

I am planning to return to the Tampa Bay Area sometime this autumn.

Now that my summer tours are finished, you can look forward to my regular schedule of livestreams on YouTube.

From Around the Web

From Medium.com, here are ten ways to start the thing you have been struggling to start.

Joan Bunning has a free online course to help you learn tarot.

We are beginning a new month! Here are your horoscopes for September.

Cards for Your Consideration

One beginning we might consider is that of a tarot journey. So often I speak with people who have a tarot deck (or two or three) but do not know how to begin the journey of learning tarot.

Here are some ideas for beginning, or restarting, your tarot journey.

A great study technique is the Card of the Day (COTD). Every day, pull one card. This is not a reading; it is a focus for study. Research the card’s classic interpretations and associations. Spend some time thinking about what you see in the card, and how you react to the image. Write about your findings, and your experience with the card.

At the end of the day, see how the card might have manifested in your day.

Another way to begin is to simply take a few tarot classes. The more teachers you study with, the more opportunity you will have to find your own way into tarot understanding.

A third thing to try is to find basic tarot interpretations, along with elemental and numeric associations, for each card. From there tarot becomes easier to understand.

One thing that is important when you begin your tarot journey is this.

Do not worry if you are good at tarot. Rather, think about how tarot is good for you.

Upcoming Events and Tours

Card and Craft Academy

Classes presented by Christiana are available right now at Card and Craft Academy!

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Christiana’s Candle Magick
Christiana’s Eleven-Card Celtic Cross
Finding Meaning in the Minor Arcana
The Major Arcana, Magical and Mundane
Practical Tarot Techniques
Psychic Tarot
Personal Tarot: Reading for Yourself
Sharing Wisdom: Reading for Others
The Meaning and Magic of Tarot Reversals
Journey Through the Major Arcana
Your Journey Through the Minor Arcana: Numbers, Elements and Truth
Tarot Beyond the Veil
Your Journey Through the Tarot Court
Tarot Stories, Trends, and Blends
Tarot Readings for Personalities and Relationships
Clarity in Every Tarot Card
Tarot Flow Workshop
Making Magick with Tarot
Fearless Wisdom Tarot Workshop
Tarot Keywords and Interpretations Workshop New!

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Catch up on your missed Zoom webinars and more!
cardandcraftacademy.com

About Christiana Gaudet

Card and Craft, Inc.

Christiana Gaudet

3559 SW Corporate Parkway
Palm City, Florida 34990-8152

On the web www.christianagaudet.com
Online classeswww.cardandcraftacademy.com
StaarCon information www.staarcon.com

Private telephone, Skype, FaceTime and in person readings and instruction are available by appointment.

Tarot parties at your home or office are available throughout Florida.

Call or text toll free 866-99TAROT (866-998-2768)
Palm City 772-301-0232
or call or text 561-655-1160
for more information or to schedule your event.

Agent inquiries are welcome.

Tarot Topics Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 35
September 1, 2021

A Review of Tarot Foundations: 31 Days to Read Tarot with Confidence

My first thought when I read Brigit "Biddy" Esselmont's new e-book Tarot Foundations: 31 Days to Read Tarot with Confidence was "Darn! I wish I had written this!"

Biddy has produced a unique and valuable tarot treasure. Although she and I do not always agree on card meanings and reading techniques, I endorse her concise, understandable and thorough method of tarot learning.

In her introduction, Biddy mentions something that seems to be true for tarot teachers everywhere. We all discover than many students find the concept of learning tarot a wee bit daunting. While Tarot Foundations does require a great deal of work and focus, it will make the task of learning tarot easier.

I like the title of this book, "Tarot Foundations," very much. The truth is this. No one can really learn tarot in thirty-one days. I am often irritated by courses and books that offer to teach tarot in fifteen minutes, or an hour, or a weekend. But I do understand the concept. The idea is to create a foundation that gives students the confidence they need to embark on the lifelong journey of tarot study.

Tarot Foundations is self -published as an e-book. Unlike many self-published e-books, it is well-written, well-edited and beautifully formatted. All of this, along with Biddy's clear and friendly style, makes it a pleasure to read. She includes many clickable links to her own sites and products as well as other pertinent tarot websites. This gives the book a very interactive feel. Biddy has even provided readers with a free website where they can meet and converse with other tarot students who are working on their thirty-one days of tarot learning.

In the introduction, Biddy makes it clear that the student can achieve the thirty-one day goal in more or less than thirty-one actual days. In this book, a "day" equals one focused lesson and/or activity. Students can skip days, or can do more than one day's work at a time.

The book assumes no prior knowledge. In the first "days" she guides the student through the process of selecting and purchasing a tarot deck, along with two or three tarot books. She teaches the basics of cleansing the cards and bonding with the cards.

 Each day builds on the next. Students are to keep tarot journals, a practice of which I am a complete fan. The book also includes templates for creating key word charts, and clever tarot card profiles. Completing these forms is part of the lesson plan for particular days, but the finished charts and profiles will remain valuable to the student long after the thirty-one days are over.

Tarot Foundations separates itself from other beginner tarot books in that there are no actual card descriptions or instructions for interpretation beyond some key word charts in the appendix. It is the students' task to derive key words and deeper interpretations from the tarot books they read, and from their own intuition. Tarot Foundations teaches a nice mix of interpretive and intuitive reading styles. The exercises are varied accordingly.

I have very few criticisms of Tarot Foundations. Perhaps some of the finer points, such as predicting timing, are taught in an overly didactic way. My experience is that each reader needs to experiment with many techniques and traditions to figure out what works for them. To suggest there is just one way to do it and that way will be completely reliable seems disingenuous. While there is no harm in teaching students a specific tradition, I wish it were more clear that there are many traditions and techniques, especially when it comes to predictive reading.

I have taught tarot classes for years. After taking a few classes, some students really have a grasp on tarot; others less so. What is the difference? The successful students actually study every day in between classes. They do their homework.  The other students choose not to study.

Tarot Foundations is a great guide for effective tarot study. Tarot Foundations doesn't just teach students how to read tarot. It teaches students how to actually study tarot, and then put that study into action. For some students, this distinction will make all the difference. 

For more information, and to get your copy, visit Biddy's website here.