The Tarot Deck
This is the place to start if you are completely
new to the Tarot. It will take some time to get to know all 78 cards
and how to use them effectively, so don't expect to pick this up
in just an afternoon.
A typical Tarot deck will have 2 types of cards: the
Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana cards each have
their own individual imagery and meaning, and the Minor Arcana are
broken down into numbers and suits like a standard deck of playing
cards.
Though there are standard symbols and images associated
with each card, many modern decks have taken their own paths to
create unique collections of artwork surrounding the cards. If you
are new to learning about Tarot cards, a "traditional"
deck would be the easiest to learn from. The Rider Waite deck is
a good example of what kinds of images are found on the cards, though
the style may not be to everyone's liking. Other good decks are
the Robin Wood, Universal, Hanson Roberts or the Easy Tarot.
Don't be shocked if you have trouble at first. Sometimes
you need to work with a few different decks to get one that really
speaks to you. Even if you love the look of an Art Deco deck, you
might get the best intuitive feel from a modern abstract design
instead. Be open to whatever the cards feel like to you.
You can use your cards in many different ways, usually
depending on your intent and purpose.
Looking for Answers and Insight
For most people, divination or fortune-telling
is the main use for Tarot cards. There is no one single way to use
Tarot cards for divination, but most approaches will have the same
basic pattern.
First you want to shuffle your cards, and focus your
thoughts on the question or situation you are reading about. Lay
out the cards in a certain way, referred to as a "spread"
and then see how the meanings of each card connect within the layout
to give you an answer. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of
different ways to do a Tarot spread, and the card positions all
have their own meanings.
So you then read each card not only with its own meaning,
but also with regard to the meaning of its position. That means
you need some flexibility of thought so you can interpret each card
from many different angles. The 4 of Cups may represent a person
you are going to meet in one spread, but then it may stand for something
you have to overcome in your life in another.
Tarot Spreads
A simple spread may have just a few cards,
like the popular Past, Present, Future layout that only has 3. Or
you can get more complex with the Celtic Cross with 10. Some are
designed to work better with certain kinds of questions, but there
are many fairly general ones you can try.
Asking questions about situations can provide many
excellent answers as long as you don't expect explicit or literal
results. The answers come in images with a lot of subtle nuances.
The symbols tap into your own subconscious and latent psychic abilities
to give you your answers.
You can look to the future or even just use the cards
to get some clarity about a present-moment issue. There is no single
correct way to use them. Not all Tarot readings have to be about
looking for answers at all. They are often used as tools for personal
growth, learning and development too.
One example is to use the cards as a focal point in
meditation. Each card is filled with smaller symbols besides the
main image, and letting your mind digest their meaning while in
a meditative state. It can bring quite a bit of though-provoking
discoveries when your mind is free to take them all in.
So if you're on a journey to learn more about yourself
and the universe around you, Tarot cards can be the perfect tool
to guide you on your way.
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