How To Interpret The Tarot Cards

May 9, 2022

How can I interpret the cards?

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. If you’re reading for someone else, this is an opportunity to work with them the more pressure you feel to mind-read, the more tough this will be. 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. However, the more you study and handle the cards, the more comfortable you’ll feel using them as a tool to better understand both 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.

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.

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.

Can you perform a self-reading of tarot cards?

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 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.

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???). 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 make this matter more urgent?
  • What is the future of this friendship?
  • What should I do at this moment?

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 definitely come off as offensive if you’re not willing to hear the truth or consider an opposing opinion. Tarot reading Nicole Fortunaso

According to tarot reader and life coach Nicole Fortunaso, “tarot may truly come out as offensive if you are not willing to hear the truth of the problem or look at an alternate viewpoint.” She advises analyzing why you’re reacting the way you are in order to reflect on how to effectively address the underlying problem if you ask the question and aren’t satisfied with the response.

How should a tarot reading begin?

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 draw 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.

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. Before returning to the cards, let things to develop and alter.

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!

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.

What do the four card suits stand for?

Clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades are the four playing card suits that collectively stand in for the four elements (wind, fire, water, and earth), the seasons, and the four cardinal directions. They stand for the battle between conflicting forces in life. The thirteen lunar months are represented by the cards, each of which has thirteen.