So, you picked up a Book of Shadows Tarot deck, huh? Maybe you saw it online, or it just called to you from a shop shelf. I totally get it. I remember when I first got mine, probably a good few years back now. It sat on my shelf for a while, looking all mysterious and beautiful, but honestly, I was a bit intimidated. I mean, all those symbols, the witchy vibe – I didn’t want to mess it up, you know?
My first thought was, “Okay, how do I even start with this?” I’d seen people do fancy readings, spreads with ten or twelve cards, and it just looked like a whole different language. My brain wasn’t ready for that. So, I figured, maybe I should just… touch it. Yeah, that’s where I started. I took the deck out of its box. The cards felt nice, solid in my hands. I just shuffled them, not even thinking about meanings, just feeling their weight, listening to the gentle swish-swish sound.
My First, Super Simple Step: The Daily Card Pull
Honestly, when I started, I didn’t even bother with the little white book (LWB) that came with it. I just wanted to get a feel for the cards themselves. What I did was, every morning, I’d grab the deck, give it a quick shuffle, and then just pull one single card. No big questions, no deep thoughts, just “What’s today’s vibe?” or “What should I keep in mind today?”
- Just look at the picture: When I pulled a card, I’d just stare at it for a minute. What colors caught my eye? What was happening in the scene? Did it make me feel happy, confused, a bit uneasy? I didn’t try to remember any “official” meaning. I just let the image speak to me first.
- Journal it, even if it’s nonsense: I kept a small notebook right next to my deck. After pulling a card and looking at it, I’d jot down the card’s name and then just scribble whatever came to mind. “Looks like a girl with a sword, feeling strong today?” or “Hmm, this guy looks like he’s juggling, maybe my day will be busy.” Most of it probably didn’t make any sense in a traditional tarot way, but it helped me connect with the card.
And you know what? That simple daily pull started building a relationship. I stopped being scared of the cards and started seeing them as little messengers, or even just cool pictures that sparked a thought. It wasn’t about “fortune-telling” for me anymore; it was about getting a little mental nudge for the day.
Moving Beyond One Card: Three-Card Spreads
After a few weeks of daily pulls, I started feeling a bit more confident. I still wasn’t ready for those big, complicated spreads, no way. But I figured three cards couldn’t be too much harder than one, right? So, I started with the simplest three-card spread: Past, Present, Future.
I’d shuffle, think of a simple question, or just “What’s going on right now?” Then I’d pull three cards, laying them out in a row. The first one was what led up to now, the second was the current situation, and the third was what might come next. Sometimes, I’d use it for a problem: Situation, Action, Outcome.
- Don’t overthink it, trust your gut: Again, I’d look at the pictures first. How did the three cards flow together? Did they tell a little story? Sometimes one card would jump out at me more than the others. I’d lean into that feeling.
- Then, if I was curious, I’d check the LWB: This was a game-changer for me. Instead of reading the book before pulling cards and getting all bogged down in meanings, I’d read it after I’d already formed my own impression. It was like confirming a hunch, or sometimes, it would give me a whole new angle I hadn’t considered. It made the book feel like a friend, not a strict teacher.
I remember one time I pulled the Ten of Swords for “present” – a total nightmare card, right? But I had been feeling super drained, like I was at my breaking point. So, when I saw it, it just clicked. It wasn’t a warning; it was an affirmation of how I felt. And the “future” card was the Sun, full of joy. It really felt like the cards were saying, “Yeah, you’re at the bottom now, but it’s gonna get better.” It was powerful for me because it validated my feelings, not just predicted some vague future event.
Making it “Mine”: Cleansing and Connecting
People talk a lot about “cleansing” their deck. When I first heard about it, I thought it was some elaborate ritual. Nope. For me, it was simple. After I’d used the cards for a particularly heavy reading, or if I just felt like they needed a refresh, I’d just tap the deck firmly on my table a few times. Like knocking out the dust. Or sometimes, I’d just give them a really thorough shuffle, thinking about clearing out any lingering energies. It was more about my intention than any specific fancy move.
I also found that just having a designated spot for my deck helped. Mine sits on a little cloth on my bedside table. It became a quiet, personal practice. It wasn’t about trying to be a “witch” or a “tarot reader” in some grand sense. It was just a way for me to check in with myself, to get a different perspective, or just quiet my mind for a few minutes each day. The Book of Shadows deck, with its slightly darker, earthier feel, really suited that personal, reflective journey for me.
So, if you’re a beginner, don’t sweat the big stuff. Don’t worry about memorizing every single meaning from day one. Just pick up your deck, feel it, pull a card, and see what it tells you. That’s truly where the magic starts. It’s your journey, your deck, your story.
