A Complete Comprehensive Tarot Guide
Tarot, a mix of many different spiritualities, is the action art form of laying out and interpreting illustrated cards to gain insight into your past, present and future. It has evolved over centuries and has been used by many of humanity different heritages. The modern tarot deck we use today originated in the 15th century. Each deck was hand painted, allowing only the royals and the aristocratic families to afford them. These families, however, did not use the decks for divination. Or possibly, the families hid their psychic and spiritual activities for fear of backlash from the church. After the renaissance swept through Europe, many found freedom of expression. Tarot was a welcomed part in many societies. By 1785, the world was introduced to its first well-known tarot reader. Etteilla, a French occultist, he made the use of the cards popular and explore the deck's connections to numerology, astrology and the four elements (earth, water, fire, air). Carl Jung, another well known tarot reader connected tarot to psychoanalysis.
Many people are attracted to the idea of being able to see into the future, it allows one to forewarning of the obstacles ahead. Think of tarot as a medium, essentially a magical counsellor, it grants the reader insight.
There are many different interpretations as to why Tarot works. Some believe it is because the answers are already within you, when you ask a question or meditate on a topic, the answer is already present in your subconscious mind. However, concentrating on a specific question or topic brings that knowledge to the surface and draws you to choose certain cards. Others believe that spirits act as interpreters, that there are essentially tarot guides communicating with the reader through images. Whichever you believe, tarot will help to strengthen your psychic abilities. Through learning to read tarot, you will gain a better understanding of yourself and the world around you.
--REWRITE--Reading your Tarot Cards
Tarot cards connect to our inner selves. Their rich images speak to our subconscious, triggering emotions and feelings hidden deep within us. When you see Tarot cards for the first time you probably wonder how such small cards can contain so much information. And how on earth does the Tarot reader remember everything - especially when many cards look virtually the same?
The images on Tarot cards act as visual clues to their meanings. The key to reading Tarot is not learning by rote memory thousands of meanings for all 78 cards, but learning to 'feel' your way through what each card says to you. When you first see a Tarot card, take a minute to look at it closely. What do you think it is telling you? If there is a person on it, are they happy or sad? Do they seem to have problems, or are they calm? Your first guess may be closer to meaning than you think!
If you have seen Tarot decks before, or even have a set of cards already, you may notice that they come in many different styles. Images from one deck can seem to have little in common with those from another.
The answers are in the details, look at the cards more closely, however, and you'll find more similarities than are initially apparent. Every deck contain the same 78 cards, and once you fully understand Tarot you'll be able to read any deck-not just the one you learned with.
For example, the Hermit may be an old monk or a young Shaman, but it is always a spiritual figure who carries a lamp-signifying the light of his individuality shining out. Learn to understand how each image is designed rather than memorizing specific pictures and you'll find that reading tarot cars comes quickly and easily.
Single Card Readings
You can give a simple tarot reading based on just one card. The single card you pick will give you a "snapshot" of your situation.
Tarot Spreads
There are many different types of tarot reading spreads, to get a clearer picture, lay down several different cards in predetermined patterns. Each position in the spread describes or answers a different issue. A spread enables you to see the bigger picture and allows the tarot reader to consider all aspects of the problem and the relationship between them.
MAJOR ARCANA
O. The Fool
I. The Magician
II. The High Priestess
III. The Empress
IV. The Emperor
V. The Hierophant
VI. The Lovers
VII.The Chariot
VIII. Strength
IX. The Hermit
X. Wheel of Fortune
XI. Justice
XII. The Hanged Man
XIII. Death
XIV. Temperance
XV. The Devil
XVI. The Tower
XVII. The Star
XVIII. The Moon
XIX. The Sun
XXI. The World
MINOR ARCANA
Wands
Ace of Wands
Two of Wands
Three of Wands
Four of Wands
Five of Wands
Six of Wands
Seven of Wands
Eight of Wands
Nine of Wands
Ten of Wands
Page of Wands
Knight of Wands
Queen of Wands
King of Wands
Cups
Ace of Cups
Two of Cups
Three of Cups
Four of Cups
Five of Cups
Six of Cups
Seven of Cups
Eight of Cups
Nine of Cups
Ten of Cups
Page of Cups
Knight of Cups
Queen of Cups
King of Cups
Swords
Ace of Swords
Two of Swords
Three of Swords
Four of Swords
Five of Swords
Six of Swords
Seven of Swords
Eight of Swords
Nine of Swords
Ten of Swords
Page of Swords
Knight of Swords
Queen of Swords
King of Swords
Pentacles
Ace of Pentacles
Two of Pentacles
Three of Pentacles
Four of Pentacles
Five of Pentacles
Six of Pentacles
Seven of Pentacles
Eight of Pentacles
Nine of Pentacles
Ten of Pentacles
Page of Pentacles
Knight of Pentacles
Queen of Pentacles
King of Pentacles