How I Began My Journey with Tarot

 My tarot journey did not begin with ease or abundance. When I first felt drawn to tarot, I could not afford a deck. Instead of giving up, I took an old notebook, tore out the pages, and drew my own set of cards. The drawings were far from perfect, my art was abysmal, but that deck was mine. Every crooked line and shaky symbol carried my determination to learn despite my circumstances.

Then came an unexpected blessing. A generous redditor decided to gift me a proper tarot deck, the Thoth Tarot. I was overwhelmed with gratitude but even that moment of joy came with new challenges. The package got stuck at customs, and I found myself caught in a frustrating back and forth. There were unexpected fees, delays, and the anxiety of wondering if I would even receive it. At one point I cried during aarti, convinced that even this gift would slip through my hands. Finally, after paying the duty, the deck reached me. Holding it felt like victory, like proof that perseverance can bring light through obstacles.

Learning with the Thoth was another challenge in itself. Its imagery is heavy, its symbolism deep, and at times I forgot everything I had just read. The deck did not sugarcoat anything. It asked me to sit with confusion, discomfort, and even my own doubts. But each spread, whether clear or chaotic, was teaching me patience, resilience, and the art of trusting that meaning would unfold in its own time.

My journey has been shaped by scarcity, generosity, and struggle. Scarcity taught me to create with whatever I had. Generosity reminded me that kindness can open doors. Struggle tested my patience but also made me stronger. All three together gave me a relationship with tarot that feels alive, personal, and unshakably mine.

Every time I shuffle my deck, I remember that notebook deck, the customs duty debacle, and the moment the Thoth finally reached my hands. None of it was easy, but perhaps that is what makes this path so meaningful. Tarot, for me, is not just about prediction. It is about resilience, connection, and finding magic even in the hardest places.