Mystical Angels - Can I do a Tarot reading on myself?

Can I do a Tarot reading on myself?

I just bought a Waite tarot deck and book and just wanted to know if I can do a reading on myself, and if so, how would I do that? I am trying really hard to understand the book so haven't been able to read my friends cards. She asks me everyday if I could try, but I want to use a little cards as possible and also need to know which cards and what is the least amount of cards I can use to do a reading for her?

Public Comments

well, you will be able to pick up a random card as well as anyone, so is say YES.
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That one you selected is one of the hardest. There are others that are easier to interpret. Anyhow why don't you get one that will interpret the cards for you? I have one in my computer and when I want a reading it gives it to me. The graphics are fantastic. It uses the cards you have.
You most certainly can, but you have to be a little careful not to read what you want to happen into the cards especially if doing a reading FOR yourself. Clearly specifing the question to answered, before picking/checking the card seems to be fairly important in acurate readings. Knowing the range/meaning of cards is to... While learning what the cards signify, perhaps try picking one (at random) to signify the day/week ahead, and at the end of that time period compare the selected card which what had happened. "book" meanings are useful/all good and well, but sometimes intuitive/personal meaning are so much more meaningful. This should help bring you up to speed and help form a personalised set of assosiations between cards, and events. --- IMHO becasue tarot decks have more symbols within, they can have greater "resolution" than say runes, but this means to get a overall picture you need to learn more symbols/pick more for a reading. runes seem to give fair answers with only 1,2 or even 3 symbols selected so that's up to 1/8th of the symbol set in a reading, but that leaves less remaining in the bag/deck) Maybe try a celtic cross reading for your friend. One card in the Centre, with 4 around it. When cards are being selected/displayed say (out-loud) what the area it is placed upon represents. So long as the areas the cards are placed upon cover "all the bases" it matters not what the areas demarcate, but the following is "tranditional" :- Centre is "central to the issue at hand" North is home/earthy things. East communication/airy aspects. South Fire/energy. West emotional/watery aspects to the answer given.
Yes you can read for yourself. Speaking of reading, read some more books on tarot reading. Try the library and save your money. The books will tell you how.
Your header asks if you can do a reading on yourself and you can but you will tend to be impartial. Your question body asks about your friend and how many cards. Start out with one, and tell her or him the energy behind it. That is like a mini-reading! Then advance to 3 (past, present future) and so on. It takes time, and you will dev. your own style.
I've been reading Tarot for 11 years now. When I first learned (by taking a hands-on, in-person class), I did readings on myself. I kept it basic at first -- a 3 card, yes/no spread. If 3 cards were all positive cards, then definitely yes. If 2 cards were positive, then most likely yes. If 1 card was positive, probably not. Try this spread first before moving on to more complicated spreads like the Celtic Cross. I might also recommend a 5-card time-line spread (laid out in a straight line): "Week 1" "Week 2" "Not Going To Happen" "Week 3" "Week 4" You can tweak this spread to be months, too (i.e., 1 month out, 2 months out, not going to happen, 3 months out, 4 months out). When I first started reading, I looked at the "not going to happen" card then turned it upside down so I could focus on the other cards. The "not going to happen" card is sometimes the most telling card of all, though, so don't dismiss it. One thing I have found immensely helpful through the years is the journal I kept when I started reading Tarot. I wrote down my question, wrote down the spread I was going to use, wrote down the cards I drew (in order), then wrote down my interpretation of the cards. I did this for readings for myself and for others. This was extremely time consuming, but writing these things down helped me learn the cards and the spreads. Also, it's been a great help to revisit this journal through the years as I've worked to hone my reading skills. Every now and then I go back and read some of the readings I did and compare them with the outcomes I know of. Sometimes I was way off, but mostly that was on readings I did for myself. :) Also, during the first 6 months or so I was learning Tarot, I drew a card every day and spent 30 minutes meditating on it. Sometimes my meditation guides told me different things than my earth-plane teacher told me. I had to learn to listen to my teacher plus trust my intuition and guides about the cards. Remember, your cards are YOUR personal tools. So if reversed cards don't matter for you, that's OK. And if the 2 of Swords is about justice to you, that's OK, too. It's important you develop a relationship with your cards. They are your instruments and yours alone. (BTW, it's important to remember and respect this when you get readings from others. Other readers' card interpretations might differ from yours, but if a reader is reading for you, then trust their interpretation of their cards.) This leads us to your question about reading for yourself. It's fine if you don't put too much stock into the response. I've never had any reading I've done for myself be "wrong" per se, but I have misunderstood the message because I didn't want to see it. This is where the journal has come in handy. I don't read for myself, but I do pull cards to ask for guidance about whatever it is I have a question about. But you have to separate yourself from the outcome (a very Buddhist thing!) and be completely at peace with the message. It's difficult, especially at first. If you have something you can't separate yourself from, by all means have someone else read for you. I actually recommend this more than reading for yourself. As with all things, you need to practice, practice, practice your reading skills. Read for your friends. Do simple spreads like I mentioned above or even just draw one card. You might want to use the Major Arcana only for a while. I've never done this, but I know readers who do. Personally, I would recommend using all the cards so you can learn them, but everyone is different. Tarot is like golf. You never know everything there is to know. I can pick up the cards and see something new each day. They are full of symbolism -- colors, numbers, water, earth, air, fire, sitting, standing, moving, stillness, action, inaction. Be patient with yourself as you learn. Even though I read professionally, I still attend an occasional Tarot class. (I'm attending a Tarot series this month, as a matter of fact!) I've given a lot of advice in this long answer, but I want to close with one more tidbit: Reading for others is a serious obligation. It carries with it the sanctity of the confessional. In some ways, you are like a priest, knowing everyone's secrets. Respect this and those you read for and do so without ego. Always remember you are a servant and serve humbly and for the highest good. If you do this, you will find reading Tarot to be one of the best things you've ever done.
yes you can but as a beginner you might want to try a simple three card spread and advance to a fan or celtic cross as you learn. never throw away or burn your cards they should be kept in the family and handed down to future generations.
Yes you can do a reading on yourself there is no reason why not.
Personally I don't read for myself because the tarot cards have multiple meanings and it is too easy to manipulate the cards to get the answer you are looking for. This would happen unconsciously so you wouldn't even be aware of it. I will ask one question for myself occasionally and there are times I know I am getting a clear answer and other times I know it has been a waste of time. If you can, have someone else read for you. They will be more objective.