Alright folks, grab your decks or just your curiosity, because today I’m gonna walk you through exactly how I tackled using Marigold Tarot for self-readings. Total newbie energy here at the start, let’s be real. I basically stumbled through it, learning a bunch by messing up. Here’s the raw play-by-play:
Just Starting Out – Total Deck Confusion
So, the box arrives. Pretty, right? Sunshine yellow and orange vibes. I ripped it open like a kid at Christmas. First thing? I dumped all 78 cards out on my kitchen table. Big mistake. Felt instantly overwhelmed. Just stared at this pile of pictures – flowers, landscapes, weird symbols. Had zero clue where to even begin.
Instead of panicking (almost did), I picked up the little booklet jammed in the box. Thin thing. Skimmed it. Mostly meanings, but way down near the end, saw a tiny section: “For Beginners: A Simple Spread.” Bingo.
Attempting My First Self-Reading
Alright, the booklet said a three-card spread was the way to go for starters. Situation, Action, Outcome. Sounded straightforward. Totally wasn’t.
- Step 1: Shuffling Shenanigans. Tried shuffling like a poker pro. Cards flew everywhere. Bent a few corners. Cursed. Settled for this awkward mash-and-push thing. Sweated a little. Figured intention mattered more than style, right? Hoped the tarot gods weren’t watching.
- Step 2: Picking Cards Blind. Closed my eyes, took three deep breaths (felt kinda silly), and just grabbed three cards randomly from the messy pile. Didn’t overthink it.
- Step 3: The Reveal… And Immediate Confusion. Flipped them over left to right. Card 1 (Situation): Five of Cups – looked gloomy, spilled cups. Card 2 (Action): The Tower – lightning striking a castle! Oh great. Card 3 (Outcome): Three of Swords – heart with three swords stabbed through it. My brain went, “Well crap, I’m doomed.” Panic mode engaged.
I instantly dove back into the booklet meanings. Five of Cups talked disappointment, focusing on loss. Tower screamed sudden change, collapse of something. Three of Swords? Heartbreak, sorrow. Freaked me out! Thought, “Self-reading? More like self-torture!” Nearly threw the cards back in the box.
The Lightbulb Moment (Where I Stopped Being Dumb)
Took a break. Made tea. Stared at the cards again. The Marigold imagery is wild – vibrant flowers everywhere. The Five of Cups? Yeah spilled cups, but giant marigolds surrounded them, almost like growth was happening because things were spilling. The Tower’s explosion? Didn’t the booklet say something like… clearing the air? Needed to read it again, slower.
This time I actually read the keywords next to each card:
- Five of Cups: Disappointment, but also “acknowledging grief to move forward.”
- The Tower: Disruption, BUT ALSO “breaking down illusions, liberation.”
- Three of Swords: Pain, sure, but the booklet emphasized “the pain won’t last forever, truth brings release.”
Okay, hold up. Suddenly, it wasn’t just “doom”. It clicked: It wasn’t predicting disaster; it was mirroring my current stress about work. My “situation” (Five of Cups) was dwelling on missed deadlines. The “action” (The Tower) wasn’t telling me to quit, but to stop pretending everything was fine and let the old way of overloading myself collapse. The “outcome” (Three of Swords) hurt, yeah – acknowledging my limits and saying “no” sometimes would sting, but it was the healthy truth leading to release. Totally changed my perspective.
What I Actually Learned for Next Time
After surviving my first attempt, here’s the no-BS way I’m doing it now:
- Clear the Slate: Sit quietly for 30 seconds before I even touch the deck. Clear my noisy head.
- Intention is King (or Queen): Actually ask the specific question in my head: “What do I need to understand about [current stress]?” Vague gets vague answers.
- Shuffle Less Awkwardly: Focus on my question while fumbling with the cards. It’s okay if it’s messy.
- Pull Cards Without Fear: Just grab what feels right for the spread positions.
- Look & Feel FIRST: Before opening the booklet, I stare hard at the Marigold pictures. What’s my gut say about the vibe? The colours? The flowers?
- Check Booklet for Keywords: Look at the core meaning headings, NOT just dive into the paragraph. Grasp the key vibe the creators intended. Apply THAT to my specific question/situation.
- No Doom Interpretation Allowed: If it looks scary, re-read. Look for the flipside (like the growth after chaos in The Tower). Tarot reflects energies, not fixed fate.
- Trust My Gut Over the Book: If my intuitive sense clashes with the booklet, I go with my gut. Especially with Marigold’s nature imagery – it taps into feelings the booklet might not capture.
So yeah, it ain’t magic. It’s clumsy at first. I misread cards, I get confused. But actually doing it? That’s the only way it clicks. Forget perfection. Grab your deck, ask a real question, pull some cards, and see what messy truth wiggles out. Practice truly is everything.
