Before reading the signification of a card in a book, it is always interesting to note what you think of a card before reading about it.
What I used to do when I first started with Tarot was to shuffle the cards, and then pick them up one by one, and as soon as I would flip them over, say the first thing that would come to mind when I would see the image.
You will notice that for the same card, depending on your mood, the keyword may slightly vary …
One day you will say “Commitment” and the very next “sharing”, “attraction”, “love”, “flirt” or “passion” ….
This way, you will learn to extend the meaning you associate to a card, or consider it at least under another angle …
Another way to really know your deck is to name one detail of the card when you flip it over : is there a fish, a curtain, a window, a tree on the picture ? Are people walking, or sitting, laying on the ground or dancing ?
When you first have your deck it is also very interesting to note in a diary what is your most and least favorite card, before you read the meaning of it in a book. Now, your most favorite card may not be the one you associate yourself with. I mean you might like the 2 of Cups for example but feel more like the Ace of Swords. Think about the differences between those 2 cards, and also about the common point they may share.
A 3 cards draw is a nice way to begin : shuffle the whole deck, cut the deck in 2, put it back together and lay them on the table, pick 3 cards. What are these cards telling you, do you like them, do you relate to them at the present, or do they remind you of a past event in your life ?
