jacethewitch: Tarot Basics What are tarot cards? Tarot is a form of divination involving a deck of
Tarot Basics
What are tarot cards?
- Tarot is a form of divination involving a deck of cards, not to be mistaken with Oracle cards.
- One major difference between tarot and oracle cards is that a large majority of tarot decks base their designs and meanings on the Rider Waite tarot deck while oracle cards do not.
- Rider Waite decks have 78 total cards, 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards.
- Because the patent on the Rider Waite deck has ended, many companies and independent artists have designed their own decks using the Rider Waite deck as a base. You’re bound to find one that suits your tastes!
- Nearly all decks will either be an original Rider Waite or designed around Rider Waite.
Major and Minor Arcana
- The Major Arcana consists of 22 journey related cards such as the Magician, the Empress, the Devil, the Moon, the Tower, etc.
- The Minor Arcana consists of four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands.
- Each suit has an Ace (1) and 2-10, as well as a Page, Knight, Queen, and King. Much like a deck of playing cards!
- ex. Ace of Swords, Nine of Wands, Page of Cups, King of Pentacles, etc.
- Each card has its own individual meaning, and another, related, meaning when the card appears upside down.
- You can choose not to read reversed cards, sometimes called “reversals,” at the beginning, but most readers do eventually.
- Do not try and memorize the meaning of each card like flashcards.
- You’ll learn them as you use your deck, and possibly create your own meanings based on the art your deck has!
- Tarot Card Keywords (Printable PDF from Biddy Tarot)
- Links to meanings and extra details: Major Arcana|Cups | Pentacles|Swords |Wands
How to Read Tarot Cards
- The most common divining method when using tarot cards is shuffling them face down then selecting certain cards to be turned face up and read.
- Some people prefer flipping over the cards at the top of the stack. Others prefer fanning them out and selecting whichever ones call to them.
- It’s up to whether you want to predesignate certain card positions or disregard the order the cards appear.
- ex: card 1 represents past, card 2 represents present, card 3 represents future; or card 1 and card 2 are next to each other so they are related
- You don’t always have to do one or the other. You can ignore card position and only read them when it seems relevant.
- ex. card 1 shows good luck and card 2 shows love, maybe it means good luck in love
- Sometimes, when you’re shuffling, a card will fall or “jump” out of the deck. You can read those!
- Ultimately, your goal is to create a story or explanation with the cards that appear. This is why Yes/No questions don’talwayswork.
- What to Ask Tarot - How to make your Yes/No question into a question better suited to tarot + common examples! tldr: Make your Yes/No question into a how/what/why question.
Final Tips
- It will take practice!
- Start with pre-made tarot spreads:
- Daily Tarot Spread
- Let the Planets Align Tarot Spread (popular one!)
- Relationship Check-In Tarot Spread
- Calm Waters Ahead (future) Tarot Spread
- Star-Crossed Lovers Tarot Spread
- Draw a tarot card every morning.
- Cleanse your deck when you get it! (With sage smoke, under a full moon, meditation, crystals)
- Get a more experienced tarot reader to do a reading for you!
- I do Pay What You Can tarot readings where I explain each card and how it relates to your situation.
- Sleep with your deck under your pillow or near you.
- Carry your deck around.
- Give readings to your friends for practice.
- Contrary to what some readers say, your tarot deck does not need to be a gift from someone. It can be a gift from you to you!
Fri, 07 Dec 2018 15:42:36