Are you curious about the mystical world of tarot? Perhaps you’ve seen tarot readings in movies or heard friends talk about their experiences, and now you’re intrigued to learn more. This blog post will serve as your gateway into the fascinating realm of tarot, exploring what tarot cards are, how they work, and how to start reading tarot for yourself.
What are Tarot Cards?
Tarot is a deck of 78 cards, each with its own unique symbolism and meaning.
The deck is divided into two main parts:
- The Major Arcana: 22 cards representing life’s karmic and spiritual lessons.
- The Minor Arcana: 56 cards divided into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles), similar to playing cards.
These cards have been used for centuries for divination, self-reflection, and personal growth. While their origins are somewhat mysterious, tarot has become a powerful tool for gaining insight into one’s life and future.
How Do Tarot Cards Work?
Contrary to popular belief, tarot cards don’t predict the future with absolute certainty. Instead, they mirror your subconscious mind, helping you tap into your intuition and gain clarity on various aspects of your life.
When you shuffle and draw cards, you create a narrative reflecting your current situation, challenges, and potential outcomes. The symbolism and imagery on the cards trigger your intuition, allowing you to make connections and find meaning relevant to your query or situation.
Getting Started with Reading Tarot
If you’re intrigued and want to start exploring tarot for yourself, here are some steps to get you started:
1. Choose Your Deck:
Countless tarot decks are available, each with its own artistic style and interpretation. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck is often recommended for beginners due to its clear symbolism and widely available resources.
Contrary to popular belief, tarot cards don’t predict the future with absolute certainty. Instead, they mirror your subconscious mind, helping you tap into your intuition and gain clarity on various aspects of your life.
When you shuffle and draw cards, you create a narrative reflecting your current situation, challenges, and potential outcomes. The symbolism and imagery on the cards trigger your intuition, allowing you to make connections and find meaning relevant to your query or situation.
2. Energetically Cleanse Your Deck:
There are many ways to cleanse a tarot deck. My preferred method is lighting a sage smudge stick allowing the smoke to saturate the cards. Then, I like to place the cards in Himalayan rock salt on my altar (sacred space) overnight.
3. Develop a Connection with Your Deck:
Infuse your energy into the cards. Some people sleep with them under their pillow. I sit quietly with the cards, ensuring I touch each one. I meditate to connect with Spirit and clearly state that the cards I hold will be a divination tool to communicate with my guides.
4. Familiarize Yourself with the Cards:
Start by studying the Major Arcana cards, then move on to the Minor Arcana. Look at the imagery, notice what stands out to you and the feeling it stimulates. Read about the traditional meanings, and form your own interpretations.
5. Keep a Tarot Journal:
Record your readings, thoughts, and interpretations. At the end of each day, choose a card that best represents the kind of day you had. This will help you track your progress and deepen your understanding of the cards.
6. Practice Daily Draws:
Pull one card each day and reflect on its possible interpretation of your day. This simple practice can help you become more familiar with the cards and their meanings.
7. Learn Basic Spreads:
Start with simple spreads like the three-card spread (past, present, future) before moving on to more complex layouts.
8. Trust Your Intuition:
While it’s important to learn the traditional meanings of the cards, don’t be afraid to trust your gut feelings and personal interpretations. The more you trust your intuition, the more trustworthy your intuition will be.
Remember, learning tarot is a journey, not a destination. Developing your skills and intuition takes time, practice, and patience. Don’t be discouraged if things don’t make sense immediately – the more you work with the cards, the more natural and insightful your readings will become.
In the next part of this series, we’ll dive deeper into the symbolism of the Major Arcana cards and explore how they relate to life’s major themes and lessons. Stay tuned for more tarot wisdom!
Are you excited to begin your tarot journey?
