The Major and Minor Arcana cards work together to form a complete graphic language. It’s crucial to keep in mind that the deck itself contains all the solutions we seek, with each card representing a specific individual, situation, or possible course of action. Tarot cards don’t have any secret codes or unspoken goals, thus deciphering their significance depends on your own narrative interpretation.
Make sure to shuffle (or “clean” the deck”) it before beginning any reading. This purposeful action ought to be turned into a meditation. As you visualize your inquiry, feel the physicality of the cards in your palm. If you’re reading for another individual, use this introspective pause to get to the base of their dilemma and help you develop precise queries for them. Take as much time as necessary. Tarot card reading must start with clearing the deck because it creates a doorway to higher spiritual planes. Cut the cards into three pieces when you’re prepared, then reposition them face down in the pile. Get ready to select cards for your tarot “spread” on your favorite piece of cloth while being careful not to damage your tarot deck.
In This Article...
How can I interpret tarot cards on my own?
I discovered early on in my tarot excursions that knowing the meanings of each card isn’t necessary, even if there is much value and wisdom to be gained from them. Your intuition holds the key to learning how to interpret tarot cards. And this makes sense given that they are instruments for receiving and deciphering messages from the universe or our inner selves. Get the best advice from readers below to learn how to read tarot cards for yourself instinctively and without memorization.
Can you interpret your own tarot cards?
It most certainly is. Tarot is a technique that aids in deepening our understanding of the present moment, honoring our intuition, and predicting future possibilities. Although it might seem complicated, the technique is actually quite straightforward.
What do the tarot cards I have mean?
- The Fool, card number 0, is the first card in the Major Arcana and stands for the start of a journey, innocent amazement, danger, and promise.
- The Magician, I: Manifestation, healing, spirituality, and a connection to the divine are represented by this card.
- The High Priestess, II: Symbolizes the study of nature and spiritual mysteries, human wisdom, the divine feminine, and one’s inner realm.
- The Empress, III: Is seen as a conduit for the High Priestess on Earth and represents nature, the Great Mother, and fertility.
- The Emperor, IV: Stands for authority, sway, steadiness, and capacity for domination.
- The Hierophant, V: Symbolizes life’s practical lessons in applying natural law, learning, and becoming an expert in one’s chosen field.
- The Lovers, VI: Depicts a relationship’s maturation, compromise, and hard choices that will need to be made in the future.
- The Chariot, VII: Stands for success, empowerment, conquering challenges, and victory.
- Strength, VIII: Depicts the struggle between the ego and intuition, as well as the necessity for self-control and self-interest that are refined in order to achieve inner peace.
- The Hermit, IX: The Hermit stands for reflection, introspection, and the advantages of solitude.
- Wheel of Fortune, X: Symbolizes impending change, which is frequently for the better, as well as the inescapable seasons and cycles of life.
- Justice, XI: Stands for fairness, moral decency, karma, and meticulousness.
- The Hanged Man, Chapter XII: The Hanged Man symbolizes consequence, submission, immobility, and a circumstance that must be endured.
- Death, XIII: Stands for ends, gathering, liberation, and progress. (Not to be interpreted as a death prediction.)
- Temperance, XIV: Stands for self-evolution, moderation, and avoiding extremes.
- The Devil, at position XV, stands for the shadow self, sensual pleasures of the world, destructive relationships, and entrapment.
- The Tower, XVI: Indicates impending or current peril, turbulence, and unanticipated change.
- The Star, XVII: Symbolizes inspiration, transcendence, spirituality, and connection to the divine.
- The Moon, in position XVIII, stands for deception, confusion, illusion, and strife.
- The Sun (XIX) stands for life, happiness, luck, assurance, and honesty. It and The World are the only two words with no opposite or negative connotations.
- Judgement, XX: Stands for decision-making, wakefulness, and freedom from internal turmoil.
- The World, XXI: Indicates the completion of a cycle, a significant shift, and self-actualization. It doesn’t mean something opposite or negative.
Is it appropriate to let people handle your Tarot cards?
If you have been reading Tarot for years without allowing anybody else to touch your cards and this is how you prefer it to be done, maintain reading in this manner. If it works, do it.
However, if you are new to tarot and unsure about whether you should allow others to touch your cards when reading for them, REST! Others are welcome to touch freely. In fact, I believe that doing this makes a reading seem more genuine. You simply need to believe in the strength of your intention to afterwards purge any negative energy from your Tarot deck.
What are your thoughts on this? I’m interested to know! So let me know in the comments below how you feel about others handling your cards Do you agree with it? Or do you strictly enforce a no-touch policy?
After a breakup
Draw one card for each of the following inquiries if you’ve recently broken up with someone and want to know more about the reason or determine whether you’ll get back together:
- How energetic is the partnership right now?
- What caused the divide in the first place?
- What do they really think of me right now?
- What do they intend for me right now?
- What kind of relationship will this be in the future?
- Which action is ideal for me to take right now?
When job searching
You can use this spread to explore what kind of career guidance the tarot can offer if you’re feeling uncertain about your career path or thinking about a new employment. Draw one card once more for each query.
- How active am I in my career right now?
- What challenge must I overcome?
- What is my calling in life?
- How can I follow this calling more closely?
- What should I do to prepare for the upcoming month?
When deciding between two options
This spread can highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each option, guiding you toward the best decision if you’re using tarot to pick between two possibilities (two job offers, two apartments, perhaps a love triangle???). The deal is this: Pose one question per playing card.
- What is the fundamental cause of this fork in the road?
- What is the likely result of choosing option A?
- What is the most likely result for option B?
- What more should I take into account that was overlooked?
- What’s the best thing I can do right now?
When something is off with a friend
If you’re concerned about the state of a friendship or feel like something is wrong but are unable to pinpoint the cause, you might be interested in seeing what conclusions and solutions this spread offers. Ask one question per card, once more, I repeat.
- What makes this friendship so crucial?
- What led to this sudden change in tone, and why?
- What has changed, in my friend’s opinion?
- What can I do to make this matter more urgent?
- What is the future of this friendship?
- What should I do at this moment?
How are Tarot cards purified?
Here are four simple steps to purifying tarot cards.
- Meditate. Simply unwind for a moment and get rid of all your thoughts.
- Pass each card through the smoke after burning sage.
- Place bay leaves within the deck of cards.
- And for protection, place a crystal on top.
Questions you don’t really want answered
Even though it might seem apparent, it’s advisable to refrain from asking the tarot cards questions that you aren’t prepared to hear the answers to. That’s because answers to these questions can reveal information you’re just not quite ready to hear.
“Tarot can truly come across as offensive if you’re not prepared to hear the truth or consider an other opinion,” says tarot reader Nicole Fortunaso.
Tarot can be offensive if you are unwilling to hear the truth or consider an opposing viewpoint, according to life coach and tarot reader Nicole Fortunaso. If you ask the question and aren’t happy with the answer, she advises examining why you’re reacting as you are so you can reflect on how to best address the underlying cause.
You *Just* Had a Tarot Reading
Unless the reading is about a completely new and specific subject, I suggest waiting at least three months between professional tarot readings. Let things alter and progress before going back to the cards.
You Want a Redo
I frequently observe people attempting to “chase the right answer.” People will visit several tarot readers or ask the same question repeatedly to the same tarot reading until they receive the response they desire (which, by the law of averages, does happen eventually). This is basically useless!
Your Question Is About Someone Else
Tarot readings are not the solution if your entire line of inquiry is about another person’s thoughts and actions (such as what your ex is up to). Tarot is meant to help you gain understanding of *yourself,* not other people. (A better option would be to reconsider and rephrase your query as if you were looking for help on how to move past your split.)
You’re Looking for Medical Advice
Simply said, neither physical nor mental health concerns can be diagnosed or treated using the cards. Some things are better left in the hands of medical specialists rather than tarot readers!
What occurs when tarot cards are read?
According to her, “Tarot cards do not predict the future; rather, tarot is a tool for spiritual guidance and allows the reader to connect to his or her inner wisdom.” “Tarot readings assist a person in learning the information required to make sense of a specific circumstance. As readings provide a person with insight into past, present, and future occurrences based on their current path at the time of the reading, decks are best utilized as a tool of inner wisdom and guidance. The cards don’t always predict what will happen; rather, they help a person analyze a situation and choose the best course of action based on what is already known and what the cards indicate.”
What each card’s meaning is.
Each of the four major pillars of the Middle Ages’ economy is supposed to be symbolized by one of the card game’s suits: Hearts stood for the Church, Spades for the military, Clubs for agriculture, and Diamonds for the merchant class.