The Eight of Wands and What Decks Do You Like?

The Eight of Wands for direction and decision was today's guide for meditation. Thoughts about why I'm taking the course and what I want from the Tarot were the focus, and it was a valuable exercise in analyzing those two questions. Of course I know why I'm taking the course. It's been a long time since I've worked with the cards and I want to get familiar with them once again. But what I want from the Tarot is quite another question. 

One of the more standard definitions for the 
Eight of Wands is what you read above. Of 
course this isn't for the reversed card, and it 
most certainly isn't a definition carved in 
stone. But it can be helpful. 

I know there are many ways to use Tarot. Some people choose a card for the day every day. That card will guide their actions and direct their thoughts, steering their courses of action through the choices that face us every day. Other people actually carry a small deck with them and use a card to help them make decisions about things that may be important in their lives when those times crop up. I've usually not carried a deck along with me, but I might look into a small pocket deck. Having something handy might not be a bad idea. Still ... I love the deck I've chosen to work with and it doesn't come in a smaller, portable version. 

My friend Aearwen, during our weekly 
chat yesterday afternoon, mentioned that 
the Tarot deck she always loved the most 
was this one - the Aquarian Tarot. It's 
rather art neauvou in appearance, but it 
does have lovely imagery. It doesn't 
speak to me, however. 

I once knew someone who would choose a card first thing in the morning to guide their day, and then choose another at mid-day and another at sun's setting to fine-tune that guidance. Some people I've heard of will always consult the cards when major decisions are in the balance - "Should I buy a car?" "Should I get a puppy?" "Should I look for a new job?" etc. Those types of questions are certainly good reasons to ask the cards for guidence, but I'm not sure that's for me. I tend to be a decisive person all around anyway. 

The deck that most people are familiar with is this 
one - the Rider-Waite deck. I come firmly down 
on the side of "I don't like this deck" school of 
thought, although I'm quite sure I own at least 
one with this imagery. It's a good basic deck, with 
very clear images. But it really doesn't resonate 
with me at all. 

So today I'll be thinking about why I want to work with the cards. Although it might be something as simple (or complex) as scratching the psychic itch I get whenever I think of picking a deck up again, it might also be something that has a deeper rhythm behind it. It's probably beyond time for me to take a serious look at why I've wanted to work with Tarot for decades, and then actually dedicate myself to working with it more seriously. In any case, a good deck takes a long time to become an extension of thought and process, so I'll continue to carry my deck along with me and see what card I draw today for personal guidance. Have an excellent day, please spare positive thoughts for those suffering in Ukraine, and work, consciously, for peace - a goal so many state and so few achieve. Slava Ukraini.