I think if we had an absolute answer to that one we'd be an greatly
honored science. Personally I'm interested in what makes them more
meaningful. If you just want accuracy then watch body language. You can
read as much or more from the querent as you can from the cards. Also,
the closer to the present, the more likely you are to be accurate. If we
can change our actions, attitudes and future then the farther into the
future we project the less likely we are to be right - which is as it
should be if a reading is to give a person information so that they can
change their "future."

As an aside to this topic, I noticed that readings done on myself don't
come

How true. I believe George called it "wishful" thinking in his post. It
could also be "fearful" thinking. If this is happening to you, switch
your perspective and notice what you are wishing or fearing. If nothing
else you can become more aware of your own feelings. Observation really
is the key. Another thing to do is simply write down a reading and your
thoughts about it, and then when the situation has played itself out
write down what actually happened and compare the two.

Of course it's not wrong to read from the book. That's a major way of
getting new information and different perspectives. With a new deck I
usually use the book for awhile to see what I can learn from it. Good
heavens, get several books.

You really don't need to memorize. As you do the readings and look up  
meanings or discover new ones through observation you'll begin to make
all kinds of associations to each card. You might say something like:
"For one person this card was about not listening to advice." And the
querent will say, "I know what you mean, except for me it's not about
'not listening,' but about ignoring what I do hear."

Yes, definitely. Each card has a vast "field" of meanings. Adjacent
cards narrow down (or reinforce certain areas of) the field.

Do you mean being psychic? I think psychic abilities are natural to
humans, and just like everyone (except those few with a handicap) can
learn to draw what they see, so we can learn to be more psychic. Working
with symbols and the Tarot tends to foster this learning. However some
people are more naturally talented at it, and some are so societally
trained not to trust this ability that they run from it.

There are AT LEAST four methods of reading the cards: the Analytic
Method (finding correspondences between symbols and their meanings), the
Psychic Method (just discussed), the Therapeutic Method (assisting the
querent to discover personal meaning, options, and goals), and the
Magical Method (affirming or negating possibilties). The best readings
use all four. We each have a method that we tend to fall back on and a
method that we avoid (but can develop if we want to be well-rounded).

I hope this helps.

Mary
--
Mary K. Greer        ta...@nccn.net
Tools And Rites Of Transformation (T.A.R.O.T.)
Come visit our site at http://www.nccn.net/~tarot/