How To Introduce Yourself To A Tarot Deck

The spread positions are as follows:

Describe yourself to me. What would you say is your most valuable quality?
What are the advantages of your deck?
What are the deck’s limitations?
What exactly are you trying to educate me?
How can we work together to learn and grow?
What might the results of our collaboration be?

The cards can be arranged however you choose. I typically arrange them in a single long line, but you might want to try two rows of three or even a circle. You are you! Follow your gut when it comes to your deck. And your interpretations of each card can be as complex or as straightforward as you desire. For each one, I occasionally write an essay; other times, it’s just a couple of pithy lines. Although it’s entirely up to you, with this spread I’d advise trying to let the cards lead the way.

The Tarot of the Cat People by Karen Kuykendall, which I recently purchased, will be the deck I use for this experiment. For this one, I’m going to use a circle arrangement.

In This Article...

Tell me about yourself. What is your most important characteristic?

The Tarot of the Cat People is a determined, practical deck that will complete the task. As a magician, it combines the strength of all of my personal assets and then spans the chasm between the reader, me, and the universe. I get the impression that the card is saying “I am magic.” What you desire for, beware.

What are your strengths as a deck?

Whoa. This deck is attempting to lead me there. Out of my league, beyond what I’m willing to accept, beyond what is familiar and expected. This isn’t the deck to affirm what I want to hear; rather, it’s the deck to push me, shock me, and shatter my illusions and stale beliefs.

What are your limits?

This deck isn’t concerned with minutiae or unimportant details (as the Magician and the Tower have already shown.) It’s not for learning, gentle experimentation, or exploration. The Tarot of the Cat People stalks off in search of something greater as the Page of Pentacles approaches with curiosity, wide eyes, and a desire to learn. There is an arrogance here that resembles a sheer disinterest in the specifics I would find interesting.

What are you here to teach me?

This deck aims to push me past where I’m comfortable, but its main goal is to make room. This deck is meant to represent revolutions, complete changes, and the promise that lies beyond. The benefits are huge if I’m willing to accept the Magician and confront the Tower. Through a process of disassembling everything, this deck is intended for readings that have a transforming effect and help me rediscover myself repeatedly.

How can I best learn and collaborate with you?

I have to approach the Cat People’s Tarot on an equal footing. Not as a card reader in control of the deck, and not as a passive audience member at the mercy of their message. These cards ask me to have a fair and equal relationship with them, respecting their knowledge and strength as they will respect mine. I am urged to use these cards with consideration for power dynamics. the interactions between myself, the cards, and any clients I may be dealing with.

What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?

This reminds me a lot of dating a cat, to be honest! These cards exude the arrogant superiority that cats have no qualms about displaying, yet prove to me that it’s worthwhile to keep trying. The journey won’t always be smoothin fact, when reading with these cards, I may anticipate to feel completely lost and stretched to the limitbut in this case, this is nearly depicted as an initiation process. The Tarot of the Cat people will be an honest and supportive friend if I have the strength to bring my complete self and be honest about what I want and what I will.

What about you two? Recently bought any new decks? Try the spread, then report back on what the cards reveal!

How should you use a Tarot deck when you first receive one?

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.

How do I get in touch with the tarot cards?

Advice on connecting with your tarot cards whether it’s your first time using them or you’ve owned your deck for a while.

Connecting or reconnecting to your deck can be a helpful activity, regardless of whether you haven’t picked up your deck in a long, are hesitant to conduct a reading for yourself, feel “wrong” with the readings you’ve been conducting, or have purchased a new deck.

Check out Reading Tarot for Beginners: How to Start Reading Tarot for Yourself for advice on how to pick your deck.

Being a competent reader requires you to connect with your tarot deck. But you must invest time, effort, and attention in a good relationship.

How can I tell if I’m not meant to work with a deck or I just need to reconnect?

The connection you have with the deck has to be strengthened, or it might not be the best fit for you at this time, if you’re having trouble getting a good reading from it or feel off with it.

It’s possible that you and your tarot deck aren’t intended to be in a serious long-term relationship if you don’t feel like you connect with it or if you don’t appear to speak the same language. There is a deck available for you if you want to learn, therefore this does not imply that you are not destined to be a reader.

However, there’s also a strong chance that you can establish the connection with a little time and effort. especially if you were initially drawn to your deck.

You can utilize some decks for specific purposes and not others. The majority of your magic will probably be performed with one main deck, although you may occasionally use other decks for fun, support, or clarity. Since decks are exquisite works of art, I love collecting them. And I adore using them when I want to switch things up or am performing a certain style of reading, but I only use my original ride or die deck for all of my professional readings and lectures.

All of this is to indicate that testing out a variety of decks is a wonderful idea. For your first deck, conduct some study, examine the imagery, and choose the one that sparks your interest.

Here are some methods for getting back on your deck. I’ve listed them in the sequence I’d perform them, but you should feel free to customize this exercise according to your own preferences.

How to connect with your tarot cards

You can accomplish this in a number of ways, including by shuffling, using crystals, moonlight, salt, or sacred incense. Click here to learn more about cleaning your deck.

Hold your cards firmly in your palms while taking a few deep breaths. After that, think about the intention you want to have for your practice with them. It could be a word, a sentence, or an emotion. You can use this time to ask any guides or spirits you enjoy working with for assistance or to help you open your channel to divine advice that is in your highest and best interests.

Cleaning the energy in the deck through shuffling. Additionally, it creates the random system that allows us to access the advice we need from the deck. We can gain a completely new viewpoint from the cards because of the randomness that shuffling creates; by doing so, we are deviating from logic and embracing the unknowable. Check out this article on card shuffling.

To get to know one another, gain some fresh perspectives, and, yes, bond, spend some time completing a tarot spread that is tailored to your deck.

What details about you do you want me to know?
Your restrictions?
What type of partnership are we capable of having?
What task are we supposed to complete jointly?
Which card can currently be my teacher?
How can I use this card to explore deeper?

Make putting your deck away a ceremony. You might keep it in a box, cover it in a special scarf, place a crystal on top of it, or place it on an altar while not in use. Choosing to follow this quick procedure at the conclusion of each session or day is a way to show your deck some love, gratitude, and appreciation.

Bonus Tarot bonding exercises:

the whole picture The Major Arcana numbers 0 to 22 should be arranged in lines of seven cards across. Next, arrange the Ace through King cards for each suit in the following order: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Take a good look at the deck in this format. Then thoroughly jumble everything together.

Select a map. To serve as your anchor and guide for connecting with your deck and intuition, choose a card based on its look and/or its meaning. Write down all the thoughts, emotions, and queries this card triggers for you in a journal. Use it to meditate. Keep track of how it manifests in your daily life and tarot practice (and keep a notebook of your observations!). When not using your deck, place this card on your altar. You can carry out this for a week or a lunar cycle before selecting another.

Put your deck beneath your pillow while you sleep. You can connect with the cards in your unconscious time if you can make it comfy.

Also keep in mind that it takes time to establish a connection and relationship with your deck. Like any relationship, it evolves as you develop and gain new knowledge.

How should you prepare for a personal tarot reading?

Please set up your reading area before we get started (physically and mentally). Burning herbs, ringing bells or chimes, taking a bath, or utilizing your favorite stones are all effective ways to cleanse the energy. (My personal favorite is a Selenite wand, which can be waved simply and effectively over the area, the cards, and your own body, and is a great energy refresher that promotes clarity.) After the energy has been purified, find a quiet place to settle down and do your ritual. Close your eyes, cleanse your mind of any clutter, and picture a shield of protection all around you.

Shuffling and choosing the cards

Inhale deeply through your nose, then exhale through your mouth for a few breaths. Think on your query or the area in which you need guidance as you perform this exercise, leaving your heart and mind open to any guidance that might come from the cards. When you’re ready, rethink your desired enquiry as you open your eyes and shuffle the cards. Keep in mind that there are no wrong ways to shuffle. Start dealing the cards in front of you when they seem appropriately mixed (I promise, you’ll know!). The set-up pattern is known as a “spread,” and the way the cards are dealt and where they land affects how each card’s meaning is combined to produce the overall response to your question. It helps to know the spread you’ll be using before you start the shuffle, but as the results start to roll in, keep in mind that occasionally we need to draw more cards for clarification or start over with a new query from a different angle.

What inquiries ought I to make of my fresh Tarot deck?

Sincerely, the nicest aspect of tarot is that you may ask the cards ANYTHING. No question is too illogical for the tarot, and even better, there is no criticism. There are countless problems that tarot may help you understand and resolve. I personally steer clear of health-related inquiries as a tarot reader because I think a doctor would be a better resource for those, but I welcome every other subject. All of the solutions are already available and readyyou simply need to find them. Here’s what to do if you’re using tarot to make significant decisions in your life or simply to help you choose what TV show to binge-watch next.

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.

Do tarot cards need to be purified?

That’s correct

Magdaleno really suggests cleaning your deck before each reading to achieve the most accurate results. She advises starting with a cleansing to make the cards clear for your reading, whether it’s for yourself or someone else.

Should I put my tarot card deck under my pillow at night?

It’s crucial to have a deck you identify with because tarot reading is such a very personal experience for each reader.”

Find the deck that resonates with you. Avoid looking at the most well-liked decks. Even if you’re purchasing online, Katelan advises taking a closer look at each deck to see which one appeals to you.” To discover a deck that speaks to you, consider how they are drawn and how they are arranged. She claims that several times she purchased or was given a deck that was lovely but didn’t exactly fit her needs. If you want accurate tarot readings, according to Katelan, you can’t force it.” Finding the deck that works for you is worthwhile.

Make sure you’re attuned to your new tarot deck when you first obtain it. Tarot cards contain a lot of energy, so while you’re getting used to them, you should be sure to clear them of any outside energy. When you receive a fresh deck, Katelan advises taking some time to browse the cards and take in the imagery. “Make careful to thoroughly mix them up, and you can use some incense to clear any energy. I wrap all of my playing cards in scarves and put them under my pillow for three nights. During that period, you’ll have some incredibly bizarre dreams, but it will also attune your energy to the cards.

Katelan advises choosing a location for your tarot card reading based on where you feel most at ease. Her home arrangement is less formal than when she reads cards professionally. She used to practice at the Bronx Botanica, which had a table set up in an altar room. “I frequently sit on the ground. If I’m performing a three-card spread, I prefer to pull cards on these old trays I have. I will either do a big spread on the couch or the floor.

In order to feel more rooted and engaged to the practice, Katelan also advises reading up on the background of tarot reading. She cites its antecedents in Jewish New York tenements throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as in Romani society. “When wars broke out or other significant events occurred, there were frequently spikes in interest in fortune telling, card reading, tea reading, and other related practices. People are looking for explanations and purpose in their own life now because of the pandemic.

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 can I interact more with my Tarot deck?

Begin reading aloud to them. Ask questions, use them for daily drawings, or use certain tarot spreads for inspiration. Try reading for friends, family, and clients as soon as you feel comfortable with your new deck. You might be shocked to learn that a deck you’ve had mixed feelings about can actually offer useful insights.

If you’re still getting used to reading for other people with your new deck, you might want to consider carrying the cards about all day so you can use them whenever you need an immediate response.

How are Tarot cards charged?

Leave your deck in a sacred location where you can “knead (shuffle) it each hour, giving it your magical power with your hands, for one waking day, much as you would a loaf of rising bread.” The greatest time to use this charge is when you’re taking a day off at home or in a retreat.