ETHNOGRAPHY
Process
I asked two people who I knew used some form of divination deck if I could watch them do a reading for themselves. I wanted to study what they do differently from each other and what things were similar. One of my subjects was a man in his mid twenties who reads lenomand cards and the other was a woman in her early thirties who reads tarot. Through this experiment I learned that they both value the insight the cards give them through self reflection and they both think it is important to take care of and respect their cards.
Goal
I hope to learn how people who are already familiar with divination decks use theirs and what they like most about them.
Analysis
One similarity that I found interesting was they both had art decks rather than the traditional cards most people associate with tarot. The man in my study also informed me that one reason he hadn’t gotten into tarot yet was because there were so many cards to memorize that it was daunting, which made me even more certain that my goal to make tarot accessible to everyone was a good starting point.
Woman Early 30’s
Starts with a simple “body/mind/spirit” reading and follows up with two “past/present/future” readings, one for love and one for spirit.
Shuffles deck and lets it drop into piles that feel natural.
Uses a journal to document every reading.
Talks out loud to think through what each card means.
Normally lights candles and drinks tea, but doesn’t connect to crystals.
Thanks cards before putting them away.
What she most appreciates out of the cards is how the cards make her focus in on whats going on in her life and work on ways to better herself. She respects them and treats them well. Her cards are watercolor illustrations.
Man Mid 20’s
Keeps cards in case wrapped with a blue bandana.
Inside the case is a small crystal which he sets on top of the case with one he takes off his neck after pulling out cards.
Shuffles deck and then puts cards into a grid of 9 once finished.
Prefers to work through card meaning in head rather than out loud.
Will occasionally light incense.
Likes both the spiritualism and self reflection that the cards bring. Has deep respect for cards but they are obviously worn from use. Geometric and gradient digital illustrations.