You’ve been studying the cards and are familiar with their many groupings and interpretations, but when you do a reading and examine the entire spread, everything looks jumbled. Next, what?
It might be difficult to piece together a reading from a jumble of tarot cards. Here is when the tarot’s artistry and enchantment really shine. Which path should you take out of all the options?
First off, let me add that feeling excited or terrified when faced with a new set of cards is very acceptable and a natural part of the experience. One of the things that makes tarot so thrilling is that even experienced readers have the jitters when navigating a reading.
The fact that seasoned readers thrive on this sense of uncertainty may be the key distinction between novice and seasoned readers. And we’re more comfortable letting our instincts guide the way.
I understand if you’re grumbling at yet another piece of advise that tells you to “simply utilize your intuition,” so I’ve come up with a list of practical methods to get you going. These tips are brief, but they’re more than enough to help you get over those initial feelings of apprehension and into a lovely tarot reading. This is obviously a large topic that could easily become a book.
Trust your first impressions: Use the mental space available to you before looking at cards and trying to remember their meanings (or, worse, reading your book!) to take note of any sensations, impressions, or curiosity that may come to mind. I frequently discover myself drawn to a specific card, color, or symbol. Put your faith in your intuition to guide you toward what is most crucial. It is your responsibility as a reader to use your voice, expertise, and perspectives to lead the way because any reading can be understood in countless different ways.
Check the cards individually to see if there are any pairs or patterns. Now that you have a broad notion of the energy/essence/theme of the reading, do a pair- and pattern-search. Do large arcana cards outnumber minor ones or vice versa? What might this possibly mean? The reading is more strongly influenced by the number of pairs, themes, and linkages. Connect this to your first feelings.
Utilize your wide positionsOh, this formation isn’t just for show! There is probably a preset meaning or theme for each passage in your reading. Ask how the card may respond to each.
Tell a tale – Take a step back and consider the reading broadly now. I’ve found that disconnecting from the personal focus and narrating the tale as if it’s about someone else is effective strategy. Have faith that the key elements you identified in the earlier steps will come across naturally.
As you continue to practice, I hope these suggestions prove useful. Below, please share any techniques you may have. Additionally, bear in mind…
Tarot has many facets; remember how I said that one reading might be interpreted in countless different ways? It is real. Tarot readings are current events. Everything crucial to know will surface.
As said before, it is impossible to traverse every connection or road, thus you don’t have to be exhaustive. This would lead to readings that are absurdly intricate, protracted, and perplexing! Fortunately, reading tarot isn’t like filing taxes: You don’t have to take everything into consideration.
You are the reader – which means it’s your reading! Give yourself permission to make decisions and express yourself honestly.
In This Article...
How are tarot cards spread and read?
What to Do First:
- Get out your tarot deck.
- The cards are in your hand.
- “Knock or tap the pile of cards numerous times while holding them in your palm to disseminate your energy throughout the deck.
- Shuffle the cards completely.
- The cards are divided into three heaps, which are subsequently reassembled into one pile.
What does my tarot reading mean?
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.
What do the cards in my tarot spread mean?
This section is for you if you’ve ever wondered what a “three-card spread is. Tarot readings can be done in a variety of ways, and frequently the instructions that come with the cards will show images of the most common spreads. You’ll soon discover that there is a spread for any circumstance, and you can always come up with your own, too. These include the straightforward three-card spread, the Celtic cross, and a seven-day spread.
After the deck has been shuffled and divided in half by the client, a reader will pull three cards from it for a three-card spread (more on that in a moment). The past, present, and future are typically represented by the first call pulled, second call pulled, and third call pulled, respectively. Depending on the reading and the question being posed, the timeframes can be understood to indicate either tomorrow or ten years from now.
A daily card reading is another popular way to use tarot cards. In this practice, one card is chosen at random from the top of the shuffled deck and used as a reminder or a direction for the day. This can be a very helpful activity for anyone wishing to familiarize themselves with the tarot deck and the cards’ meanings.
As vital as it is to think about the specific meaning of each card, it is also crucial to think about the atmosphere and symbolism of the spread as a whole. There is just as much information to be learned from the whole picture as there is from its component parts, especially in bigger spreads. This is an opportunity to collaborate with them if you are reading for someone else. This will be more difficult the more pressure you put on yourself to mind-read. Tarot reading does not make you psychic, which is a relief: It’s acceptable to inquire about the cards with the audience and come up with ideas for how the cards might relate to their initial query collectively. When a customer asks about money, you might pick two cups cards and “the lovers,” but sometimes the cards won’t match up at all. This could imply that their love life was what they truly wanted to talk to you about. Doesn’t everyone?
Tarot reading can be done in many different methods, but they all require practice. It takes effort to learn 78 different cards, especially when many of them have numerous possible interpretations. But the more you read and touch the cards, the more familiar they’ll become and the easier it will be to utilize them as a tool to better understand yourself and others.
There are several books you can buy and classes (online and off) you can take to hone your interpretation abilities if you want to move up in the tarot world. Online courses are occasionally made available by Tarot for Change author and well-known tarot reader Jessica Dore. On a sliding rate, Little Red Tarot also provides an eight-week course. Free courses from teachers like John Ballantrae, who has a very relaxing accent, and spiritual advisor Mystic Rainn are also widely available on YouTube.
For novices, how should tarot cards be spread?
If you find this daunting, Howe advises you to take a deep breath and believe in your own initiative. “In order to see it less as “This holds all of these secret meanings that I have to do all this work to access” and more as “I know all the meanings; it’s just a matter of establishing the connections and being able to articulate them,” use language or knowledge that you already possess. She points out that the four elementsearth, water, fire, and airplay a significant role in the tarot, which is advantageous because the majority of people already have an understanding of the meanings of each element. ” If you do that, your viewpoint will be more personal, and you will be able to express yourself more freely.
Howe suggests the three-card pull and the Celtic Cross as the two fundamental spreads for beginning readers. In the former, three cards are chosen at random from the deck to symbolize the subject’s mind, body, and spirit, or past, present, and future. According to Howe, you could even up the stakes and use a six-card draw, with one card for each location.
Can I read Tarot cards on my own?
It’s normal to be a little clumsy when you first start practicing the tarot. Tarot study is similar to learning a new languageit takes time to become proficient. But what happens if you no longer require the booklet and have intimate familiarity with the deck? Are you able to read yourself? No, except for a few rare instances. Simply put, it’s a horrible idea.
You see, the majority of us turn to astrology or tarot when we’re looking for clarity amid a period of ambiguity. In contrast to astrology, which is quite technical, our consciousness restricts our capacity to read tarot cards. Working with your personal interpretation of the cards, you are not constrained by short- and long-term cycles like the planets’ orbits. It might be tricky to go beyond your current circumstances while utilizing the tarot to better understand a trying scenario. Even if all the cards are spread out in front of you, putting them together requires such a broad perspective that it is all but impossible to fully understand the meaning of each card. Basically, any biases you already have will always be reflected in your tarot reading!
What faith are Tarot cards based on?
Tarot cards are frequently cited as a component of New Age thought and practice along with astrology, aspects of Buddhism, paganism, and First Nations teachings in the eclectic scholarly approach to the New Age.
How can I improve as a tarot reader?
The first step is to understand the meaning of the cards. The next step is to engage them in conversation. The only way to learn, in Tea’s opinion, is to perform readings for otherswhether they be real people or fictitious ones. “The key of reading tarot is linking the cardsnot simply memorizing what each card signifies, but acquiring deeper intuition and understanding of the way that they might impact each other in a spread, Tea says.
Tarot reading is compared by Ferguson to speaking a language. “A certain number of classes are allowed. Ferguson advises that the only way to become proficient is to dive right in and that you should let them know you are a beginner if you are reading for them.
Ironically, giving yourself a reading might occasionally be even trickier than giving someone else a reading. “Being objective is difficult, according to Potter. “Be open-minded to whatever comes through before doing a reading for yourself.
Do you know how to say “tarot”?
The precise pronunciation of tarot in English slightly varies based on usage of British English or American English. The “t” in “tarot” is never uttered, in any scenario. The word “tarot” is pronounced “tah-row” in British English and “teh-row” in American English.
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:
- What is the relationship’s current energy?
- 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???). Getting the deal Per card, ask one question.
- 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 bring this situation to a head?
- What is the future of this friendship?
- What should I do at this moment?