...Love the hair, by the way :)

well, if numbers don't speak to you, then don't get too hung up on them, and just look at the images on the card and interpret that way. each suit has its inherent symbolic meaning (cups = emotions - all emotions, not just love; wands = creativity, magic, growth; pentacles = earth, hearth, bread, the physical world and swords = the intellect, logic) so keeping this framework in mind, look at what the picture says.

after you've been working with the cards for a while, you will start to see similarities between the numbered cards. once you get more comfortable with reading, if you want to learn about the relationships with numbers, there are entire books about this subject alone. but you do not have to know all that esoteric stuff to get perfectly good readings, and trying to remember a bunch of stuff you memorized can get in the way of actually *reading* when you are first starting out, IMHO.

sometimes if it just makes no sense to you, you just need to put it aside for a while. it's best not to keep bugging the tarot about the same question or it will become cranky and say things that may not be very nice.

You definitely should get a book on the tarot, they are not usually expensive and there must be plenty 2nd hand in thrift shops etc. To open and close is to work with the spirits, meaning when you start you need to be grounded; like visualising roots going into the ground to ground you and above you. It's a very deep subject and I wouldn't do it justice on here really, but every time you take your cards out you are working with spirit. This needs to be acknowledged and dealt with correctly, with respect. When you have done your reading, thank the spirit and energies that have worked with you and make sure you close properly, by saying (can be in your head) something along the lines of the reading is now closed, ask them to leave, there is plenty of interpretations I would guess, I can only go by what feels right for me.

What I am saying is it isn't just you and the cards, you are working alongside and with the assistance of others and they need to be acknowledged and respected and "put away" at the end. I have let in so much stuff into my home by not doing this properly in the past, and not protecting myself. Now, I live in a very very old house and I am sure it isn't just me that calls them in, but by opening and closing properly you are not only protecting yourself but getting the best out of your reading. It all sounds a bit heavy but it's just as important for me as getting to know what your cards mean.

As for the type of questions, be precise, the more vague you are about the questions the more vague the reading will be. For instance don't just ask, "is this a good idea for me?" go into it in your mind before you even cut your cards lay it all out to the cards about your hopes and fears etc, be specific about what it is that is bothering you and why you need the help of the cards.

Sorry, tried to keep it brief but I might have gone on a bit! Good luck, have another go - this is only my opinion I'm giving, please don't do anything if it doesn't feel right for you.

Love and luck

Lorraine