Tarot 101: A Basic Overview
0
STEP 1: GETTING STARTED IN TAROT
WHAT IS TAROT?
To people unfamiliar with divination, it may seem that someone who reads Tarot cards is “predicting the future.” However, most Tarot card readers will tell you that the cards offer a guideline, and the reader is simply interpreting the probable outcome based upon the forces presently at work.
Anyone can learn to read Tarot cards, but it does take some practice. It’s a highly intuitive process, so while books and charts come in handy, the best way to actually learn what your cards mean is to handle them, hold them, and feel what they are telling you.
TAROT DECKS
There are hundreds of different Tarot decks available. Some are based upon famous artwork, books, legends, mythology, and even movies. Choose a deck that feels right for you.
ABOUT THE CARDS
A Tarot deck consists of 78 cards. The first 22 cards are the Major Arcana. These cards have symbolic meanings focused on the material world, the intuitive mind, and the realm of change.
The Major Arcana cards represent very important messages. They are like trumps. They represent the energies which you pay close attention to. Major Arcana tell you: look closely in here because this is what surrounds your situation most.
The remaining 56 cards are the Minor Arcana, and are divided into four groups or suits: Swords, Pentacles (or Coins), Wands and Cups.
The Minor Arcana Tarot cards represent less important energies. But it does not mean they are not important. That's not the message. The message is to understand the relevance of importance compared to Major Arcana.
Each of the four suits focuses on a theme. Sword cards generally indicate conflict or moral issues, while Cups reflect matters of emotion and relationships.
Coins focus on the material aspects of life, such as security and finance, while Wands represent things like jobs, ambition, and activity.
Example 1: Let's just say you ask a question: "Does he love me?" and you pull out 3 cards in for a three card spread. Let's just assume you get cards like: The Fool, 2 of Cups and The Devil.
As you can see, 2 of the cards (The Fool and The Devil) belong to Major Arcana. One card (2 of Cups) belongs to minor arcana. This means that The Fool and The Devil govern your situation most. And 2 of Cups gives you an additional message.
How can we interpret such combination? Most likely, the interpretation would go something like this: he is till unsure and testing the waters playfully while a great relationship is very possible here once both of you start treating each other more seriously. In order to do that, both of you must get rid yourselves from self-imposed fears and go for it!
Example 2: Let's say you do a 3 card reading with a question: "How do I get more money?"
And you get something like this: 2 of Cups, 9 of Swords and Temperance.
How can we interpret this combination in regards to our question?
We get 2 Minor Arcana cards: 2 of Cups and 9 of Swords. We interpret these energies as "look closely into your relationships as well as relationship with money. Then, evaluate your worries and identify which decisions you make based on fear and which ones you make based on inspiration. The lack of money is in your careless spending. Your relationship plays out an important role: does your mate makes you spend more than you should?
But we also get a Major Arcana card such as Temperance. In the context of your questions, it screams at you: "Do NOT overspend your money!" Now, in the context to other Minor Arcana cards, it urges you to learn to say "NO" to spending when your mate wants to. It also sends you a clear message: "Save more money and your worries will start to vanish".
HOW DO TAROT CARDS WORK?
Any experienced Tarot reader will tell you that reading cards is an intuitive process. Like any other form of divination, the cards become a focal point for your own psychic abilities.
There is any number of different spreads, or layouts, which can be used in a Tarot reading. Some readers use elaborate layouts, while others may just pull out three to five cards and see what they need to see.
One of the most popular layouts is the Celtic Cross method. Other well-known spreads include the Tree of Life layout, the Romany spread, and the Pentagram Spread. You can also do a simple spread, in which three to five or even seven cards are laid out for interpretation.
REVERSED CARDS
Sometimes, a card comes up backwards or upside down. Most Tarot readers interpret these reversed cards in a way that is the opposite of the card’s right-side-up meaning.
STEP 2: READING THE CARDS
INTERPRETING THE CARDS
If someone has come to you as a Querent, it's because they want to know what's going on -- but they also want it to be interesting. After all, anyone can flip open a book and read that the Ten of Cups means contentment and happiness. What they really want to know is how does it apply to them, specifically?
Cards 0 - 7: The Material World
Within the Major Arcana, there are three distinct groups of cards, each representing a different aspect of the human experience. The first set, Cards 0 - 7, reflect issues pertaining to the material world - situations related to job success, education, finances, and marriage. The 0 Card, the Fool, begins his journey through life, and travels the road throughout the cards. As he does, he learns and grows as a person.
0 - The Fool
1 - The Magician
2 - The High Priestess
3 - The Empress
4 - The Emperor
5 - The Hierophant
6 - The Lovers
7 - The Chariot
Cards 8 - 14: The Intuitive Mind
While the first section of the Major Arcana deal with our interactions in the material world, the second group of cards focuses more on the individual being, rather than societal issues. Cards 8 - 14 are based upon how we feel, instead of what we do or think. These cards are attuned to the needs of our hearts, as well as our search for faith and truth. It should be noted that in some decks, Card 8, Strength, and Card 11, Justice, are in opposite positions.
8 - Strength
9 - The Hermit
10 - The Wheel of Fortune
11 - Justice
12 - The Hanged Man
13 - Death
14 - Temperance
Cards 15 - 21: The Realm of Change
The next group involves our intuitive mind and our feelings. This final group of cards in the Major Arcana, cards 15 - 21, deal with universal laws and issues. They go far beyond the feelings of the individual and the needs of society. These cards address circumstances that can forever alter our lives and the path upon which we travel.
15 - The Devil
16 - The Tower
17 - The Star
18 - The Moon
19 - The Sun
20 - Judgment
21 - The World
THE SUIT OF PENTACLES/COINS
In the Tarot, the suit of Pentacles (often portrayed as Coins) is associated with matters of security, stability and wealth. It's also connected to the element of earth, and subsequently, the direction of North. This suit is where you'll find cards that relate to job security, educational growth, investments, home, money and wealth.
THE SUIT OF WANDS
In the Tarot, the suit of Wands is associated with matters of intuition, wit, and thought processes. It's also connected to the element of fire, and subsequently, the direction of South. This suit is where you'll find cards that relate to creativity, communication with others, and physical activity.
THE SUIT OF SWORDS
The suit of Swords is associated with matters of conflict, both physical and moral. It's also connected to the element of air, and subsequently, the direction of East. This suit is where you'll find cards that relate to conflict and discord, moral choices and ethical quandaries.
THE SUIT OF CUPS
The suit of Cups is associated with matters of relationships and emotions. As you may expect, it's also connected to the element of water, and subsequently, the direction of West. It's where you'll find cards that relate to love and heartbreak, choices and decisions related to emotion, family situations, and anything else that connects to how we interact with the people in our lives.
