The art of Tarot evolved from playing cards around the 15th century. Originally designed as a parlor game or party trick, they quickly gained credibility as a legitimate spiritual tool.
Used primarily by psychics for energy readings, tarot cards add another layer of meaning to the divination process. A common misconception is that they predict the future, however, that is not strictly true.
Readings are intended to connect an individual to their inner wisdom or intuition. The cards provide guidance by describing potential outcomes based on your current vibration. But they can also facilitate greater insight into past events or your present situation.
There is no exact formula for reading cards, but there are a couple of things to think about which can make your life easier.
There are quite literally thousands of tarot decks available, each one with a unique, beautifully illustrated design. The most commonly used deck on the market is the Riders Waite. It’s very likely you’re already familiar with this deck which is laid out with lovely bright illustrations that are easy to interpret.
The most important part of choosing a deck is using your gut. Pick a style that reflects your personality, imagery which resonates will be easier to interpret.
Intuition is a big part of understanding tarot cards. You are not required to memorise the meaning of every card in the deck, though, with practice, you will naturally absorb their purpose.
To connect with the set, spend a few minutes meditating to get centred and detach from the thinking mind. Shuffle the cards with your eye closed breathing steadily. Focus on your intention while you shuffle and call to your guides or angels for assistance.
If the session is for someone else, then they should be the ones to shuffle while you concentrate on connecting to your higher self and guides.
Regular practice will help you go deeper into the readings. Look at imagery with a quiet mind to hear the card speak to you. Notice any images or physical sensations the design evokes.
There are fantastic books such as The Ultimate Guide to Tarot; A Beginner’s Guide to the Cards, Spreads, and Revealing the Mystery of the Tarot by Liz Dean for assistance with meaning.
While books make wonderful guides be mindful not become too dependent on them for finding meaning in the cards. Ultimate understanding should be a product of your extrasensory capabilities. Using a written guide can be a risk for apprentices of tarot due to a drive to make feelings fit the interpretation.
Making feelings fit a specific definition is natural when you are learning or uncertain. Make a habit of letting some things be as they are and only refer to a book for translation when you feel called to. The more you surrender, the more you will learn to trust the strength of your third eye vision.
Divination cards are used to answer specific questions relating to your life purpose. Tarot cards are tools for investigating karmic influence on life houses such as; love, career, finances, relationships or family.
A tarot set has 78 cards divided into two halves, the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Cards of the Major Arcana are all numbered except for the one face card, The Fool. They start with The World and journey through 21 stories to reach the last card, The Fool. These cards describe significant life lessons.
The remaining 56 tarot comprise the Minor Arcana. These are divided into four suits, Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles. Minor Arcana are designed to reveal what is happening in your daily life; your interactions, thoughts and feelings.
When conducting a reading, many psychics employ spreads to assist with interpretation. There are many different ways of using spreads, some more complex than others. Initially, it’s preferable to work with 3-5 card layouts for answers to a specific question.
For example, you might use a simple yes/no 3 card spread to answer a question about your relationship. Keep the question in mind while you shuffle the deck then lay three cards face down in front of you. Turn them over one at a time.
As you progress, you can use more complicated layouts with up to 10 cards for a comprehensive reading. Larger spreads require more knowledge as the position of the cards in relation to each other alters meaning. Whether a card is right side up or reversed also changes the meaning. The key is to practice using your cards and intuition every day.