I love the Tarot, because there are always so many possible ways to interpret a spread. It takes quite some time to get acquainted with all the different aspects of a Tarot deck, but it is worth the effort, when suddenly a day it feels like the most natural thing in the world to perform a Tarot reading.
I use a classic Rider Waite deck with lots of pictures and symbols to work with. To choose a Tarot deck is to feel inside that this is it. And my approach is to learn while I practice at the same time.
The cards will show me straight away, if something is going on that needs my attention, or if I´m having a bad day. If things don´t work somewhere in life, the cards will promptly respond. And if I ask the wrong kind of question, or I´m not concentrating on the reading, the cards will act accordingly.
So I only do a Tarot reading when I´m in the right mood for it. At Sabbats a Tarot reading is likely to be a part of the ritual, whereas my daily 1-3 card drawing is to get a quick view of what today might have to offer.
- 52 The Major Arcana
- 53 The Minor Arcana
- 54 Learning Tarot
- 55 Tarot Tips
- 56 Tarot Symbols
- 57 Tarot Spreads
The Major Arcana : 22 cards consisting of The Fool, the Magician, the High Priestess, the Empress, the Emperor, the Hierophant, the Lovers, the Chariot, Strength, the Hermit, the Wheel of Fortune, Justice, the Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, the Devil, the Tower, the Star, the Moon, the Sun, Judgement, and the World. Important life changes and how to work with the current situation as seen by the cards.
The Minor Arcana : 4 suits of each 14 cards consisting of the Suit of Swords/Air (intellect), the Suit of Wands/Fire (actions), the Suit of Cups/Water (emotions), and the Suit of Pentacles/Earth (physical matters). Each suit has ten pip cards (life experiences) and 4 court cards (influential people around you). Daily events and patterns of life.
Learning Tarot : To me it is an ongoing process, since I often experience new aspects when doing a Tarot reading for myself. And to me it is also important to write down such aspects in my Tarot journal that I keep in a simple Word-document on my laptop. I´ve also made a document with Tarot correspondences for easy and quick reference at a reading.
Tarot Tips : Here I write down useful tips when I experience them. There are a lot of ideas to learn from, but I mostly use my own tips, because they tend to turn up in unexpected moments, and I have had good results relying on them. For example, my chosen significator through my learning process has been the High Priestess, providing me with a stable foundation to build my readings upon.
Tarot Symbols : Part of the learning process with Tarot cards is getting to know the many symbols, depending on what sort of deck you´re using. I take one by the time and write down recurring symbols and signs and thereby get to know them over time.
Tarot Spreads : There are thousands of possibilities, all depending on your intention with a Tarot reading, It is not difficult to create your own spreads as long as you try to keep some sort of order in the design. I always try to break down the questions in smaller parts, like the status of the moment (past, present, future), core problems (strengths, weaknesses and tasks) and possible answers (what to let go of, where to move on and what to work further with).
I use the Tarot cards to get insight into my past, present and future by looking for inner answers to my questions. The important thing is to have both clear intentions behind the reading and to ask relevant and clear formulated questions to the cards. Otherwise it will be a big waste of time.
For my daily use of Tarot cards I pick 1-3 cards in random order to highlight the current situation of the day. I use spreads for more complex issues and life aspects when I celebrate the seasons with the Sabbats or at Moon rituals. So I get daily advice and regularly guidance to constructive self-development. But it does not impact the decisions I make in my daily life in a mundane world. And it is important to stress that Tarot to me is a divinatory tool, but not the only answer to everything.
When I make spreads, I typically use 12 cards + 1 significator card (most often the High Priestess with whom I feel comfortable and safe). I use both the Major and the Minor Arcana.
I ask card 1 to show me relevant facts about a current situation, and cards 2-4 then shows the past, present and future about the situation. Card 5 is asked to show me the core problems and challenges in the situation, and cards 6-8 show me my weaknesses, my strengths and my tasks for solving the problem/challenge. And finally card 9 is asked to show me the possible answers and where to focus, which cards 10-12 then show in what to let go of, where to move on and what to work further with.
But for today I promised you I would show one of my readings. And I´ve chosen a daily pick of 3 cards in random order to highlight this day here on the blog. At random card picking I don´t use a significator.
I asked how this new thing with a blog will affect me the coming week and picked the Knight of Swords, the High Priestess and the Two of Pentacles.
The Suit of Swords :
Element Air, communication, intellect, conflict, obstacles and blockages, truth, inner clarity, wisdom and understanding.
The Knight of Swords :
Think things through before acting, passion, confidence, creativity, positivity, strength, determination, cut through obstacles, responsibility, be patient.
The High Priestess :
Element Water, emotions, follow inner gut feeling, strong intuition as a guide, listen to dreams and inspiration, how I express myself in public, listen and act on inner guidance, spiritual growth important.
The Suit of Pentacles :
Earth, physical aspects of life, work, areas with need for stability, dealing with practicalities.
The Two of Pentacles :
Confidence and creativity, focus on goals, inner balance managing time and resources, up and downs are natural and necessary life changes, don´t be attached to a specific outcome.
My interpretation :
I need to communicate my obstacles and to seek more wisdom and understanding of what I want with this blog. It may take me a bit longer to achieve my goals, but if I continue to be creative and positive and work with determination and patience, the blog will be successful in time.
This concludes the first ring binder in my Book of Shadows. Tomorrow, I´ll continue with Lenormand cards, a similar, yet even more intriguing method of divination.
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