Cards vs Runes

[Dr_Sir]

So I'm not sure if the way I have proposed the question is correct

I'm trying to develop my spiritual self, I started watching a youtuber called tip toe chick and she suggested to use Reiki, tarot cards and runes to try and find yourself before you even START thinking about spells and channelling energy, most media sources I find study for well over 5 years before they even attempt witchcraft.

I have always felt a draw to runes, they have always seemed to have held a power, even when I was outright rejective of all notion of spirituality, I always thought they held a kind of ancient mystery

So, what's better? Tiptoechick suggested the Osho Zen deck for cards, but what is better? How does one go about reading them etc?

Thanks for reading!

[Ivy]

Runes are totally different to Tarot cards. But tarot cards if learnt properly will take you on a journey of psychic and spiritual development. Especially if you use the Ride Waite Smith decks as they are easy to use and create the perfect mindset for emerging.
The Osho Zen is a modern deck that is hard to learn and you may find it rather confusing.

5 years lol, well I have been reading for nearer to 40 years now and new decks still surprise me sometimes, one should never stop learning!

[YanaKhan]

First, there are many types of runes, not all Nordic ones. Working with runes doesn't always mean divination.
Even for divination, there are several different types of runes you can learn if you feel a pull towards them. I for one have never ever felt drawn to Nordic runes. I have read a lot about them, done few rituals involving Nordic runes, but that's about it.
On the other hand, I work with Bulgar runes, which I use for talisman magick and sigil work.

I also read Witches (gypsy) runes.

I also love working with Tarot, although I am not very good at reading them yet (I had a great deck I made myself, but it left me, so I purchased a new one, which I am still building a connection with as I don't work with it as much. Besides, my old deck was only the Major arcana, while this one is both and it takes time to learn).

My point is, you don't really have to choose. You can work with all types of runes, Tarot, black mirrors, pendulums and such if you feel like you want to. And there really isn't such a thing "you need to work for 5 years with this before you do that". It's more like once you start learning, you get smitten by what you're learning and want to know more and more and you don't even notice how the time passes. At least it's pretty much that way for me.

[blue_moon]

Back in the 90s I bought my first deck of cards. My budget was small so I had only a few to choose and I picked a medieval themed deck. I was pretty good of reading tarot but it was hard for me to just read the cards - I had no connection to my cards.

There is this website that was posted here a few times - you can look at about every tarot you can buy and will most likely find a deck that "speaks to you".

I - like Yana - use witches runes as well. Back when I started on my path I made some celtic runes, but never felt like using them.

If you do reiki, read runes and tarot or not won't give you the "permission" or not to be on this path or call yourself a witch.
I don't know this youtuber - the suggestion is not bad! Reiki is about learning to feel and work with universal energy - this is what is used in ritual and spells. Last year I discovered reiki for me - being on this path for more than 20 yrs.

Divination is always linked to the craft. I don't think it's a necessity.
But if you feel drawn to runes I think you already chose your next step. You should give them a try!

[Dr_Sir]

Thanks for your replies!

I'm still a bit sceptical about all this stuff. Just come out of 17 years of being a diehard atheist with no interest in spirituality...at all. I'm buying a journal for a book of shadows (ish) thing tomorrow and I'm trying to look at different paths that might be for me. On another forum someone proposed Seidr and heathenism, at the moment I'm trying not to conform to a label. I'm hoping that I can let go of my narrow mind set and get in tune with spirituality!

[Fae]

I find this a very interesting topic, but as I'm not practiced with either of these forms of divination, cannot really help to answer your initial question. As far as timing goes before trying anything, I think most people will agree that you just sort of know when it's time for you to start off, and that holds true for most of life. Intuition is a powerful thing.

Concerning the spirituality aspect, you should definitely check out some of the other forums on this site, particularly gods and goddesses and spirituality to see how others have connected and grown. Even if paganism or wicca isn't for you, I'm sure it will be a good learning experience. And that's also not to say you can't keep hold of some of the beliefs you had for most of your life. I've seen a few witches, even on eutm so far that do not identify with any type of pantheon or religious aspect per say, but believe in other divine forms in a sense.

Either way I'm sure it will be an enlightening journey, and best of luck on your path.

[Myrth]

It is possible to be a witch or pagan and to work only with energies of the universe, as an atheist. Depending on your views, some call that pantheism. The divine is the universe. The divine is not transcendent. So, a pantheist can work on spiritual development, and work with the natural energies of the universe, but not believe in a transcendent god. Some Buddhists share similar views. These are compatible with atheism.

I am not that, as I believe in a transcendent god. I see the divine in everything, like a pantheist, but for me the divine is greater than the known universe. So I am a panentheist. That view, though spelled similarly (and thus confusing some) is not atheism and thus probably not of interest to you.

If any of that resonates, there are multiple articles on the internet to research further about pantheism and Buddhism and so forth. If those don't, keep asking and we can try to point you in other directions. I studied world religions, and others here are very knowledgeable.

[Dr_Sir]

is not atheism and thus probably not of interest to you.

I find anyones outlook on the universe interesting, I'm so new to spirituality that it's a whole new concept. My views have been the result of about 4-5 hours of hard thinking. I could end up being completely wrong and so I like to hear everyone's beliefs (not so much the abrahamic religions) and yours is very interesting to me.

Thanks For sharing

[Myrth]

is not atheism and thus probably not of interest to you.

I find anyones outlook on the universe interesting, I'm so new to spirituality that it's a whole new concept. My views have been the result of about 4-5 hours of hard thinking. I could end up being completely wrong and so I like to hear everyone's beliefs (not so much the abrahamic religions) and yours is very interesting to me.

Thanks For sharing

You're welcome! I've explored world religions over the years, continuing the fascination long after I left school, so I know I can tend to geek out and share too much. I am always happy to share if it is of interest.

[Dr_Sir]

I work with Bulgar runes, which I use for talisman magick and sigil work.

I'll give it some thought and research, I have always had a fascination with the elder futhark, but I'm open to other runic alphabets and systems

[Xiao Rong]

I started out learning the Elder Futhark and then with the Tarot. I actually think using them in divination requires similar skills, but the runes rely more on deep archetypes (the ancient mystery, as you said), whereas the Tarot requires more of a connection to the interpretations of the artist and their imagery. For the runes, immersing oneself in Norse mythology is very helpful.

[Dr_Sir]

For the runes, immersing oneself in Norse mythology is very helpful.

I will absolutely do that, do you have any book recommendations?

[Xiao Rong]

Hmm, I'm not sure -- I actually have grown up reading Norse mythology, so I was already quite familiar with them already. I think my first exposure to it was Edith Hamilton's Mythology (you can find a PDF version here). I really enjoyed Nordic Runes by Paul Ryhs Mountfort -- although it was not the most historical treatment of the runes, I think he did a really great job showing how each rune tied into Norse mythology and the Norse mindset.