| Perhaps the most difficult aspect of reading tarot | | | | of the process, but it is the framework upon which |
| cards is how subjective it is. It is both fortunate and | | | | successful tarot reading is built. |
| unfortunate that there is no simple formula for | | | | Learn the Symbols |
| interpreting the tarot. Reading tarot cards is an art that | | | | In the basic tarot deck, the symbols draw upon the |
| combines skill and practice with intuition and emotion, | | | | western European magical tradition, and include ideas |
| making it a particularly challenging undertaking. The | | | | from Christian mysticism, Pagan mythology, astrology, |
| same card may have different meanings depending | | | | numerology, alchemy, and Kabbalah. One could spend |
| upon its context, placement in the spread, and the | | | | an entire lifetime studying these traditions, but a |
| situation being asked about. Combine this with the fact | | | | comprehensive understanding is not necessary to |
| that there are, usually, 78 cards in the traditional tarot | | | | successful tarot reading. A basic understanding |
| deck, infinite spreads (card layouts), and hundreds (if | | | | however, is required. Before we jump into the more |
| not thousands) of different decks, it’s | | | | analytical side of things, it’s important that you take |
| understandable that some people spend their entire life | | | | a deep breath and connect. |
| honing their tarot reading skills. The good news is that | | | | Listen to Your Heart |
| it’s totally doable – and totally fun! Reading tarot | | | | Learning to listen to your subconscious is crucial. There |
| cards can be incredibly satisfying, not to mention useful. | | | | are countless exercises and meditations designed to |
| Along the way, you will learn more about yourself than | | | | help you learn to listen. Since meditation is an art itself, |
| you thought possible, and will give you a sense of | | | | and can be very frustrating to beginners, a good place |
| accomplishment and “inside” knowledge. | | | | to begin is to think of each card as a piece of art. |
| Like a Language | | | | Most of us have stood in front of a painting and just |
| You can compare the tarot with a language. Can | | | | looked. You don’t have to understand color theory |
| anyone ever know every meaning of every single | | | | and composition to appreciate beautiful art. It certainly |
| word in any language? Of course not. So with Tarot. It | | | | helps, but it’s not a prerequisite. Go ahead and try it |
| is a language in itself – a language of symbols. Just | | | | now: |
| as an individual word can have multiple meanings, so | | | | Listening Exercise |
| can every individual card. Beyond simple definitions, | | | | - Get a pencil and piece of paper. You’re about to |
| every word can have multiple connotations which vary | | | | start your tarot journal. (Want a special notebook for |
| with the context of its usage and even the tone of the | | | | this? Check out the fabric covered pads from Tarot |
| speaker. Ever heard, “It’s not what you said, | | | | Totes |
| it’s how you said it”? This applies to every | | | | - Pull a card from your tarot deck. Any card will do. |
| language and no less to the tarot. | | | | - Now look at it. Don’t worry about its divinatory |
| Can anyone read tarot cards? Sure they can. But just | | | | meaning, the symbolic tradition. Just look at it. Let the |
| like learning a foreign language, some will seem to | | | | card’s imagery draw you in. |
| have a natural talent for it, while others may struggle. | | | | - What do you feel? Can you describe the colors? |
| And just like a foreign language, there’s more to it | | | | Does the image remind of you something – a |
| than just memorizing lists of vocabulary and verb | | | | feeling, a dream, a person, a memory? What’s the |
| conjugations. To be fluent in tarot, to be able to pull | | | | first thing that pops into your mind? |
| poetry from a spread, it takes an appreciation for the | | | | - Before you forget the sensation, write down which |
| finer nuances of the symbolic language, and practice, | | | | card you pulled, and then your initial reactions to it. |
| practice, practice. Even Shakespeare worked at his | | | | You’re done! It’s that simple. You may want to |
| art, and so must the tarot reader. | | | | look up the meaning of that card and compare it with |
| The key to successfully reading tarot is in honest | | | | what you felt. Though every card’s meaning is |
| study and sharpening your natural intuition. You know | | | | basically standardized, your own interpretation will color |
| that feeling you get “in your gut” sometimes, that | | | | and highlight how you read the card. That’s |
| no one can really explain? To be able to effectively | | | | what’s so beautiful about tarot – every reader, |
| interpret a tarot spread, you have to trust your gut. | | | | and every reading is unique and personal. Without your |
| Doing so will probably take some practice. When seen | | | | own spin on it, a card is just a piece of paper with |
| this way, we see that tarot is more than just a | | | | some pretty pictures on it. |
| memorization of card meanings. It also involves | | | | During your “Learning the Tarot” journey it’s |
| confidence, trust, and dedication. Most taroists meditate | | | | always a good idea to journal. Since you’re |
| regularly, to become more adept at hearing, and | | | | essentially learning a new language – a symbolic |
| understanding, their subconscious minds. | | | | language – taking notes is never a bad idea. Years |
| Learn the Symbols, Listen to Your Heart | | | | from now you’ll be able to look back a see how |
| There are essentially only two parts to learning the | | | | far you’ve come. It’s a journey that will change |
| tarot: studying the symbols and learning to tap into that | | | | you forever. |
| special part of you that is connected to the whole of | | | | For more advice on reading tarot cards and for all the |
| the universe. Obviously, this is a gross oversimplification | | | | supplies you'll need, try Tarot Cards from Tarot Totes. |