1. Make sure that you are not going to be interrupted and that includes switching off your mobile phone. Nothing breaks the flow of intuition like an unexpected phone call or visitor. I know you love your cards and you really want to share them with everyone, but if you really want to read cards and not just play with them you need to tune in to your intuition and that requires focus.

2. Take a few deep breaths and set your intention to read for yourself. Take a moment to sort through the deck and look at each card one by one. This gets you in touch with the cards and also makes sure that none of them are stuck together.

3. Start with a general spread like the Celtic Cross so that you can get a sense of where your energy is at right now and what the cards are going to show you. Sometimes we just want an answer to a specific question but there may be other issues going on that we are unaware of and these will show up in the cards. If you begin a reading with a definitive question, you may not get a clear answer as there may be other influences which need your attention first. Think of it as warming up, establishing your connection to the cards and remain open to what shows up.

4. Avoid asking questions which require prediction. You will empower yourself more by asking "what kind of approach or attitude is required?" than you will by asking "what is going to happen?" If you must ask about the future, I suggest phrasing it like this - "if I continue in this direction/in this way/with this current attitude what will the consequences be?"

5. Don't repeat the same question to the cards just because you don't like the answer you got the first time! I know you want to...but don't!!! Remember that we always know the truth within, and the cards are there to show us, literally in black and white what we need to acknowledge, realize and accept. If the answer you feel you are getting does not sit with you intuitively, try rephrasing the question. Our interpretation is always very subjective when we are reading for ourselves.

6. Choosing one card for the day is a great way to get familiar with the cards and to create a strong intuitive connection. Just choose one card out of the pack (without peeking of course :)) in the morning and take that as your message for the day. You will notice opportunities to use the wise counsel of the card, like avoiding Temptation, making a Choice or being Enthusiastic or you will notice how it is manifesting in your life, like Happiness, Struggle or Rebirth.

7. Decide if you want to use reverse cards and stick with your decision. Personally I don't like upside down cards in my deck and I also don't like it when people "shuffle" by spreading the cards all around the table and mixing them up with both hands. This is the best way to get a lot of upside down cards. Every card has a reverse meaning or a shadow side, if you prefer, which is either signified by the card displaying upside down in your spread or by you intuitively feeling the reverse meaning is most applicable to the current situation. I prefer the latter, and if you do too then you can begin each reading by going through the deck and ensuring that all the cards are facing the same way. Aaaaah that feels just soooo much better...

8. Keep your number of spreads down to something realistic like, 3-5 spreads in a reading. Six or seven if you are feeling really enthusiastic, but if you are throwing out ten or more spreads in a sitting then you are not really taking the time to receive what the cards have to say. Pull it back a bit and take your time with each spread.

9. Don't doubt yourself.

10. If in doubt ~ Ask The Hoo