5 Tips For Breaking Out Of A Tarot Rut

Why would anyone want to get out of their tarot comfort zone? If you are in your comfort zone, you are likely to be stable and confident and therefore able to do solid and dependable readings. Rituals and regular processes help ground readers and prepare the mind to begin the important work of interpreting the cards. We spend so much time finding our groove and learning to recognize and recreate our comfort zone; why would we want to step out of it?

A tarot rut will not only dull your tarot talents, it will also steal your enthusiasm and energy for the cards. So stop your practice from becoming nothing more than a deep rut maker by inviting in fresh energy that comes with stepping out of your comfort zone. It can be scary to do so…and the scarier it is to you, the more you probably can benefit from it. ​ Here are 5 tips to help get you back on the right track: 

1. Read for people you wouldn't normally read for.
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When I started building my tarot business I was taught that the best thing to do was to define who your ideal client is so that you can offer the readings and services that are best suited to those people. It's a good practice, but it is also one that can end up causing big problems down the line. If all you read for is people who are dealing with breakups, and you are doing that over and over, there is a point where it becomes almost robotic. Reading for new people, with new issues can keep you on your toes.

​If you are already a professional reader then share your readings with friends, Maybe exchange readings with your peers. You might even donate your time for a charity event. The goal here is to get outside of what you normally do.  (Below are some helpful tips if you are reading in a public setting)

2. Read with a deck you'd never normally use.

We all have our favorite decks. They are familiar and comfortable, like a pair of jeans that fit perfectly. For me I tend to use a deck for months at a time, through hundreds of readings. But there is a downside to using the same deck over and over - eventually you stop really "seeing" the images. We become robotic and maybe even a bit bored. By changing up the decks you use, and especially using ones that you don't normally it forces you to really LOOK at the images. You may just find that you pick up things that you wouldn't normally. I've had this happen, where I struggled with the seven of pentacles.  No matter what I did, I just didn't connect with that image. It wasn't until I used a deck that was very unfamiliar to me that I was able to make that brain connection. It's also one of the reasons why when I do card spotlights that I like to show that card from several decks.

3.Get readings from other readers.

Getting readings from other readers is always a treat. Plus, it is a wonderful way to experience how other readers handle a reading. All readers are different, and even if you experience a reading style that you don't like, it is still valuable because it helps you learn and identify what you don't like. Go into the reading with an open mind and with the intent to pay attention to the reading as a process, not just the reading itself. How is it the same as your process? How is it different? What new things does it inspire you to try?

4.Hang out with other readers.

Conferences, meet ups, workshops, online forums…these are all great ways to hang out with other readers. This can allow you to pick up new tips and tricks, news on new decks coming out, maybe even a new trend that you are unaware of. This is by far one of my favorite things. Check to see where there are tarot conferences and commit to going to at least one at some point in your career. I also highly recommend going to New Age trade shows if any come near you.
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5. Read books

This can be hard for people who have been reading tarot for a long time. We get stuck in this place where we figure that all tarot books are basically the same. Picking up a new book and reading it can really open your mind to lots of new stuff. My biggest and most favorite example is the books by Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin. 

​So now that you know about what some of my top tips are for breaking out of your rut, what are some of yours? Share in the comments below.