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.
In This Article...
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 is the tarot’s rarest card?
The Fool is typically seen as a card from the Major Arcana when performing a tarot reading. Contrary to popular belief, the Fool does not fall under either category in tarot card games. Instead, the Fool serves a function that is distinct from both the simple suit cards and the trump cards. As a result, the Fool has no number assigned to it in the majority of tarot decks that were initially created for playing games. Although Waite assigns the Fool the number 0, in his book, the Fool is discussed between Judgment (number 20) and The World (number 21). The Tarocco Piemontese is the only traditional game deck that numbers the Fool 0. Since the 1930s, the corner index for the Fool in Tarot Nouveau decks has frequently been a black inverted mullet. The Fool is one of the most expensive cards in practically all tarot games.
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 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
Why should you cleanse or clear your tarot deck?
Tarot deck cleansing helps keep the energy flowing between you and your deck. Consider it as a little spiritual hygiene to maintain a strong and clear connection. It’s not necessary, but if you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, try a few of the energetic cleansing techniques listed below and note which ones seem to work the best for you.
How often should you cleanse your tarot deck?
This is another way of stating USE YOUR INTUITION: there are no hard and fast laws. Don’t stress if you don’t believe it is necessary for your deck. Alternately, if you like to cleanse them once per week or once per month, that’s great. If it feels appropriate to you, you can even place your favorite crystal on the balcony each night.
If you frequently place crystals on your deck and store it on an altar while not in use, you might not feel the need to cleanse it frequently because this quick ritual will likely be sufficient to keep your deck feeling nice.
There are numerous ways to cleanse your cards, just as there are numerous reasons why you might desire to do so.
Different ways to cleanse your tarot deck
Use holy smoke. Light a dried rosemary, lavender, cedar, sage, or palo santo cleansing wand until it begins to smoke. Hold the smoke a safe distance below the deck while holding the burning herbs in one hand and the deck in the other so that the smoke drifts upward onto the cards. Turn the deck so that the smoke covers it from all angles. Next, safely put your deck to the ground and put out the fire.
On the deck, set a selenite stone (or a black tourmaline or a transparent quartz). It works well to leave it like way for an hour, but I prefer to leave it overnight.
Set them on display during a new moon. The New Moon is energy of a blank slate; you can purify the deck by setting it on a window sill on a new moon night. At this moment, you can also make a brand-new intention for your deck.
Place the cards in a salty dish. A strong and stabilizing cleaner is salt. My preferred choice for a thorough cleansing is this. Allow it to sit anywhere from one to eight hours in a dry area.
Unorderly shuffle. Spread the cards out on the ground, then shuffle them around like a child playing in dirt. This method’s freedom and randomization serve as an excellent reset.
the shuffle and sort. Set up the deck in rows of seven cards across, commencing with the Major Arcana numbers 0 to 22. (see photo above). Next, arrange the cards, Ace through King, one for each suit, as follows: Swords, Pentacles, Cups, and Wands. View the deck in this configuration, then mix everything up (like the chaotic!) and shuffle it thoroughly.
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?
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.”
Infuse the cards with your energy
Pichinson advises first imbuing your oracle cards with your energy by playing with them or even carrying them around with you in order to develop a deep bond with them. She claims that your cards will work for and with you more the more you use and interact with them.
Just read the Major Arcana, please.
Any Tarot spread, as long as it has fewer than 22 cards, can use the Major Arcana. My advice is to reserve these potent cards for Tarot readings that will have a significant impact on your life.
The Major Arcana cards are known to be connected to universal forces that are present in our lives and frequently represent the most profound lessons in life that we must experience before we can change for the better and go on to the next phase of our lives. We are also aware that certain facets of our psychological and spiritual selves are represented by the Major Arcana cards. This means that we must take these factors into consideration when selecting a Tarot spread that is suitable for the Major Arcana.
For the following kinds of Tarot spreads, think about using the Major Arcana cards:
- Tarot readings with a spiritual or psychological theme
- Personal development and change readings with tarot cards, like the Sacred Mandala
- Annual projected values
For queries that are extremely important, you might also want to consult the Major Arcana. The Major Arcana cards, for instance, may be suitable for a straightforward Past/Present/Future spread if the query is, “What lessons in life do I still need to learn? or “What should I understand about myself? Look for inquiries that touch on universal or enduring impacts.
How do arcana function?
Even though Arena of Valor’s tutorial is excellent for helping new players grasp the rudimentary fundamentals of how a MOBA is played, the game essentially just leaves you on your own to figure out the Arcana system. The fundamental idea of Arcana is that it offers three things: a steady sense of growth outside of specific games, minor benefits to your heroes, and another thing to aim toward collecting. This particular mechanism is present in the majority of MOBAs. As your overall player level increases, you’ll see that the game states that you’ve unlocked more arcana. If you can believe it, the word “Arcana” is located on the left side of the main menu, where you may access all of your Arcana.
You will see your current Arcana page once you enter. You will initially only have access to two Arcana pages, and purchasing more (up to 10) in Arena of Valor is a significant high-level money drain. Depending on how they want to construct their item load-out that game, top-tier players may have many Arcana pages built up specifically for each of their favorite heroes. Consider this to be merely a quick way to save a particular load-out since you can only have one page active at a time. Once you reach level 30, you will have all 30 Arcana slots, 10 of each type, with access to one extra slot every time you level up. You can use specific Arcana power-ups from each color’s own “category” in those spaces.
- Red These arcana amplify your overall damage directly. Your attack damage, ability power, attack speed, critical strike probability, and other stats receive little individual increases from core red arcana.
- Blue
- This group focuses on defenses. Armor, magic resist, armor pierce, and magic pierce are all provided by core blue arcana.
- Purple
- Purple arcana combine both red and blue, creating a mixture of the two. More HP, HP regeneration, life stealing, and magical life stealing are all provided by core purple arcana.
The stats linked to the various hues of Arcana blend together in various ways, as can be seen if you look at the available Arcana in-game by visiting the Arcana Shop. The “pure” Arcana offers the highest “value.” For instance, a level III Arcana can give you +3.2 per slot if you truly want to stack attack damage (“AD”), compared to the purple AD Arcana’s +1.6 per slot. The secret is that the purple AD Arcana also increases your mobility speed by 1%. The versatility of MOBAs makes it feasible for situations to arise when having a little bit of AD plus movement speed is advantageous, but overall, you get far less use out of that in pure AD than you do from the red AD Arcana. You only have 30 slots for arcana (or possibly much fewer if you’re below level 30), so you should make the most of them.
