How To Introduce Yourself To Your Tarot Cards

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.

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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 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.

When I initially receive my tarot deck, what should I do?

2. Position your deck during the New or Full Moon. Imagine the moon’s beams touching and anointing your brand-new deck if you think in the power of the moon. But if you’re from a place like the Philippines, you need to be careful! Moisture and unexpected downpours of rain can harm your priceless new cards. I occasionally place my deck near my window so that it has a slight outdoor sensation without being dangerous.

After some extensive use, this is a great way to “clear your deck.” It feels excellent to let the moon refresh your deck symbolically. You can also encircle your deck with your favorite stones if you have a collection of crystals.

3. Commence utilizing it for noteworthy events. A fresh deck may spice up any celebration, whether you choose to use it exclusively for Beltane or Ostara in accordance with the pagan Wheel of the Year, or you want to infuse your birthday with extra charm.

You might even limit the times when you utilize your deck. You may, for instance, create a special tarot deck exclusively for readings about the moon cycle or readings that entail shadow work.

On the other hand, I could use my recently acquired OG Starchild Tarot to inspire an altar full of celestial-themed accessories, including twinkle lights, crystals in luminous yellows, dark, night-sky blacks, and cool blues, a cloth decorated with constellations, and perhaps putting The Star card out and on display.

5. Put your brand-new tarot deck beneath your pillow as you sleep. Absolute superstition, this The night before a huge exam, I used to do this to simulate the information seeping into my subconscious (lol, reassure me that I’m not the only one). You can truly, physically bond and spend time with your tarot deck by sleeping with it beneath your pillow. And why not try it if you believe all that woo woo about images actually penetrating your subconscious?

Open-ended questions

According to Fortunaso, the ideal questions to ask during tarot readings are open-ended inquiries. Examples comprise:

Inform me about your career.
How can I strengthen my bond with X?

What is going on in my love life at the moment?

According to Fortunaso, “the reason you want to have these wide queries is because you want the tale from the tarot, not the definitive answer.” “You wouldn’t just go to a movie and ask what happens at the end. You want to view the movie to understand the setting. You desire to make the voyage.”

When questions are phrased in this way, the cards are given the chance to reveal unexpected information that may be useful, such as highlighting significant individuals in a scenario, hidden emotions, or limiting beliefs that are preventing you from moving forward. Furthermore, just because a question is open-ended doesn’t exclude it from being specific. Be explicit when required, advises Krans. “Don’t be hesitant to include specifics in your question, such as names, places, and dates, if you have a specific thing you want to know.”

Whether you’re pulling your own cards or working with a reader, here’s a pro tip: make sure you’re at ease and composed before you begin. Take five to ten minutes to unwind before a reading, advises Krans. “Even breathing exercises, time in nature, or some meditation will help you hone your questions.”

General questions

Although asking the tarot cards questions about a particular topic can yield some insightful answers, Krans asserts that you are not need to ask any questions at all. You might request a general reading from your tarot card reader and then observe the messages that are revealed. Or, if you’re consulting your own cards, just state bluntly, “What do I need to know right now?”

Clarifying questions

It’s completely acceptable to ask for clarification if you draw a card and are still unsure of its meaning in light of your inquiry, according to Fortunaso. She claims that when additional explanation or questioning are required, the readings are frequently at their best. It may truly go into a subject.

To do this, Fortunaso advises telling the cards that you’re unsure of their significance and pulling another card in the hopes of receiving an answer. Do not randomly select a large number of cards if, after doing so, you are still unsure of what the heck the cards are trying to tell you. Simply sit with the response for a while and let it simmer. The significance will probably become clear in the future.

Keep in mind that it’s in your best interest as well as the tarot reader to keep these suggestions in mind. Additionally, if you have a deck of tarot cards, there’s no reason you can’t DIY a reader even though you may want to consult a professional on topics you’re particularly stumped on. You can learn the ins and outs of tarot using a spread, or you can start out with a one-card pull to set intentions or get clarification on a specific subject.

But whatever of the method you select, you can be sure that the cards will provide more accurate responses if you ask the right questions. In conclusion, keep your open-ended questions focused, but if you’re unclear of what you want to know, feel free to be general. Be prepared to ask clarifying questions after your first card if necessary, such as “What do you mean by this?” Above all, if you don’t truly want to know the answers to a question, don’t ask it.

How do you perform your very own tarot card reading?

How to Conduct Your Own Tarot Reading

First, make the space.
Step 2: Discover the question’s core.

Choose the layout in step three.
Step 4: Sort the cards and shuffle them.
Read the cards and tell the story in step five.

Answering your question is step six.

Do I need to put my tarot cards 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.

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.

When was your birth?

By calculating your birth card, you can greatly personalize your tarot readings and get guidance on your life’s path.

The Major Arcana card that corresponds to the sum of all the digits in your birthdate is your birth card, sometimes referred to as your “life path card.” This card can be used in a number of ways to enhance your tarot practice, such as a significator (a card specifically chosen to represent you or the subject of your reading); a card to explain your daily card; or a focus for meditation.

To discover your soul’s function, you might also consider how you already do or could do the positive traits of the Major Arcana card.

How should I maintain my Tarot deck?

While rearranging the cards in the tarot deck is a good approach to purify and clear their energy, there are some circumstances in which you might wish to perform a more specialized ritual. If you’re just getting started with tarot, cleaning your deck can be an excellent place to start.

You might want to clean your tarot deck for a variety of reasons, including:

beginning with a fresh deck
readings for other people

You think you need to recharge.
Your card readings seem a touch “odd” or “disconnected”
Your deck hasn’t been used recently.

Your deck has been handled by others
You think you’ve been utilizing your deck a lot. A LOT, especially for books with strong emotional content