How To Start With Tarot

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. “According to Tea, the art of tarot reading involves linking the cards and developing a greater intuitive grasp of how they might interact with one another in a spread.

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.

What should a novice Tarot reader do?

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.

How do you begin a tarot reading?

Tarot readings typically proceed in the following manner after that:

  • You must first pose a query to the card deck. It ought to be unambiguous and open-ended.
  • It’s time to shuffle once you have the question in your head.
  • Draw a card (s).
  • Lay your chosen card or cards in your spread face down after making your selection.

Is it possible to learn tarot on your own?

Is it feasible for a beginner to perform Tarot spreads on themselves? Yes! 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.

What must I do before I read the cards in my Tarot deck?

Tarot is definitely in vogue. Even if it weren’t frequently reaffirmed in the comments of our Fool’s Journey series, it is evident from the way tarot is sprouting up everywhere that an increasing number of people are taking up a deck of cards to see what it can do for them.

Hurrah in the first place if you’re one of those people! I’m so happy you made that decision! Tarot is stimulating, imaginative, enjoyable, thought-provoking, motivating, and, in the end, I think it may change your life. Tarot cards can be used for practically anything you can imagine, including problem-solving, getting to know yourself and your friends, planning, and meditation. There are as many ways to read tarot cards as there are people, and the tarot community is enormous and diverse. Once you have your cards, it is entirely up to you how you want to use them. It can be as mystical, as realistic, or both.

It can be intimidating to learn your first tarot deck, though. How can you begin to understand what each of those cards means? And how exactly do you do a reading? Do you read for yourself, other people, or both? What exactly does it imply when someone claims to be using their intuition? And just what is a “tarot spread” exactly?

Ah, indeed, there is much to learn. But don’t let this overwhelm you; if you have a deck of cards, you already have all you need to begin developing a rapport with them and increasing your self-assurance. Here are some advice I have for beginning.

Get used to holding the cards in your hands

Make it a practice to pick up your cards and shuffle them whenever you find yourself in a bind. If you’re not a natural shuffler or they initially feel awkward in your hands, don’t worry; just keep picking them up and they’ll start to feel more normal.

Daily cards

I know I keep saying this, but truly, this is a terrific, easy method to progressively get to know your cards. It’s an easy procedure. Every morning, choose one card and take a moment or two to truly look at it, identifying any symbols, colors, or other aspects of the image that stand out to you. then research it online or, if you have a book, in it. For the remainder of the day, keep your card in mind. Where in your daily life do you see certain energies, behaviors, or thoughts expressed?

For bloggers and journalers, this is a pretty common practice, and it’s actually how my site got started. Here is an archive of my personal “daily sketch” posts.

Get a good book

There is absolutely no shame in researching tarot card interpretations. I say this as a seasoned reader who frequently searches through her books to see what various authors have to say about this card or that. Yes, you will eventually form your own opinions regarding the meanings of the cards, but when you first begin, I highly suggest having a book on hand.

Some decks, such the Steampunk, Wildwood, and Shadowscapes Tarot, include substantial instruction manuals. If yours didn’t, the following suggestions are for you:

  • Tarot trainingJoan Bunning
  • Eighty-seven levels of wisdom
  • Pollack, Rachel
  • 21 Ways to Interpret a Tarot Card
  • John K. Greer
  • Oliver Pickle’s She Is Sitting in the Night: Revisioning Thea’s Tarot

There are many free sources available as well if you’re on a tight budget to research the meanings of the tarot cards. My two favorites are Biddy Tarot and Joan Bunning’s Learn Tarot (the complete text of her book is available online).

Dive right in and try a simple self-reading

The first time you read for yourself could feel unusual if you’ve never done it before. Not to worry! It seems completely strange to sit down with a deck of cards and ask them about your life, but you’re going to do it nevertheless.

Tarot readings don’t require a special sacred setting, but some peace and quiet are a good idea. Grab a cup of coffee, shut the door, and make a little space for yourself by organizing your workstation, coffee table, or blanket. To cut down on distractions, put your phone away.

Before reading their cards, some people like to perform a small ritual.

anything you choosegrounding, praying, lighting a candle, etc. Or you might just start by closing your eyes and taking a few really deep breaths. , or none of those options. You are you.

You can take your time shuffling the cards. When ready, place three cards face up in the following manner:

1. You are currently the central card. It might symbolize your current mindset, your actions, your goals, or a circumstance or problem you’re going through.

2. The card on the left stands for letting go of something. This could be someone, a method, a behavior, or something else that is now hindering you.

3. The rightmost card is a piece of advise. It can be a strategy you can use, a force you can add to your life, or just something you should do.

If you don’t instantly comprehend the cards, don’t give upthis is very normal! Take your time, research the cards in a book or online, make a list of the points or thoughts related to each card, and try viewing them from several perspectives. For instance, receiving a card in the advise position that seems awfully negative is perplexing! Or perhaps the central card is completely illogical. You’ll understand what they’re trying to tell you if you keep looking and paying attention.

Last but not least, try to distill the main takeaway from the reading. What should you remember from this?

Read with a friend!

While reading for yourself is fine and dandy, reading for and alongside others is also a fantastic learning opportunity. I wholeheartedly recommend having a traditional tarot session if you have a friend who is into them. Bring your own decks of cards so that you may compare and contrast your favorites (bonus points if you have various decks! Together, you can read aloud, discuss potential meanings for each card, and support one another’s academic growth.

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.

Do your 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.

How should my tarot deck be cleaned?

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?

Is Tarot reading challenging?

The amount of information you need to study and memorize to read tarot, though, can seem overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be that way, and that’s what we’re here to tell you. You’ll be an expert by the time your friends from college come around for drinks tonight if you just follow our quick-start tarot instruction.

Tarot reading has been practiced since the 14th or 15th century and may have started out as a card game, similar to poker, rather than a spiritual activity. Nevertheless, a spiritual component emerged, and tarot cards started to be employed for divination in the late 18th century. They have also been applied to psychological research. Even Carl Jung thought of the playing cards as a tool to depict the “archetypes of mankind.”

The majority of 78-card tarot decks follow the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition and make use of related archetypes and iconography.

Additionally, there are tarot decks from various traditions, such as Marseilles tarot decks, as well as oracle cards, which can have any quantity of cards with their own particular imagery. But chances are, if you’re new to tarot, your deck is a Rider-Waite-Smith one.

Each of the 78 cards in these tarot decks has a distinct meaning. You don’t have to keep all of that in your head, even though it is a lot to know about them. The following are the key facts to be aware of:

1. The Minor Arcana and the Major Arcana are the two categories of Tarot cards.

Similar to a standard deck of playing cards, the 56 Minor Arcana cards are divided into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. The total journey of your life is covered by the 22 Major Arcana.

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.” Decks are best used as a tool of inner wisdom and guidance, as readings give a person insight to past, present, and future events based on the person’s current path at the time of the reading. The cards do not necessarily reveal what will happen, but rather, allow a person to gain understanding of a situation and decide the best course of action based on what is known.