Introduction
There are many complex and profound books written on the subject of the Tarot. This isn't one of them. The aim of this work is to bring the practical knowledge of how to use the Tarot into the life of anyone who is willing to put forth the minimum effort necessary to understand this remarkable gift to mankind. Every aspect of its use will be covered in sufficient detail to allow the reader to fully understand its correct usage. No complex spiritual or philosophical concepts will be introduced so as not to create confusion at the beginning stage of use. After the basics have been mastered, there is plenty of material available to interested parties on the advanced aspects of Tarot usage and it’s under lying philosophy if the reader should desire to pursue this path.
The Purpose of the Tarot
The Tarot cannot predict the future nor can it be used to obtain factual knowledge of particular future events. The Tarot functions as a mirror reflecting psychological issues and external forces acting upon the inquirer or at work in the situation being inquired about. It reveals the atmosphere surrounding the question or situation. It is best looked upon as a counselor or personal advisor. It enables you to discern the forces at work in your situation and empowers you to act accordingly. In my technique of reading, I personify the Tarot as a Sentient Being and I feel that in its response to my question it is rendering an opinion or making an overall statement about the matter I am inquiring about. The Tarot is a tool that can assist the individual in elevating their level of psychological insight and help them evolve towards a higher level of consciousness.
Purchase of a Tarot Deck
It is of the utmost importance that you obtain your own Tarot deck. Only in this way can you form a meaningful personal relationship with the cards. This work is based on the Waite-Smith Tarot, the most popular and widely used Tarot deck in the world. It was conceived by the English mystic Dr. Arthur Edward Waite and drawn by the Jamaican-American artist Pamela Coleman Smith®. This deck can be obtained through any large bookseller or purchased online.
A Word about Tradition
The Tarot “appeared” in Western history about 1420. Its exact origins or authorship, according to Dr. Arthur Edward Waite, cannot be precisely determined. In it’s close to six hundred years of known existence in Western civilization several traditions have come to us concerning its proper use. Of course, whether or not you wish to honor these traditions is entirely up to you. The first of these traditions is the use of a meditation. This traces back to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and establishes the act of reading the cards as an activity that is essentially spiritual in nature. The second tradition revolves around the care and storage of the cards. By tradition, Tarot cards are kept wrapped in black silk and stored in a wooden box when not in use so as to not only to protect them from physical harm (like spilled coffee) but also to concentrate their “energies”. It is also a matter of showing respect for the cards. Lastly is the use of the left hand to cut and turn over the cards during a reading. This comes to us from the gypsies who were noted for their skill in interpreting the Tarot.
The Organization of the Tarot
A Tarot deck consists of 78 cards divided into two major groupings commonly called “The Major Arcana” and “The Minor Arcana” (Arcana being Latin for “Mystery”). The Major Arcana consists of twenty-two cards numbered from 0 to 21 that represent universal ideas and experiences common to the psyche of all human beings as well as images reflecting the fundamental powers and principals underlying the universe. The Minor Arcana represent situations and experiences inherent in day-to-day life and are divided into four suites of fourteen cards called Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Each suite contains a series of cards beginning with an Ace and continuing to 10 as well as a Royal Family of four Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen and King) for a total of fourteen cards. Each suit has certain characteristics and associations that are briefly summarized below:
The Suites of the Tarot
Wands (Fire) – will, creativity, intuition
Cups (Water) – love, feelings, pleasure
Swords (Air) - intellect, thought, strife
Pentacles (Earth) – money and possessions
Getting To Know Your Tarot Deck
Once you have purchased your Tarot deck the first step is to become familiar with the images on the cards. Go through the deck one card at a time and spend several minutes looking at each card. Then return to the beginning of the deck and go through it again this time using the book and reading the cards written description while looking at the image. After this is accomplished the final step is to read the book from cover to cover thus gaining an overall “feel” for the whole of the Tarot. It is easier to do this if you keep the deck in the order that you received it and start with the Major Arcana and then work your way through the suits of Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Don’t get in a big hurry. The important thing is to look at and become familiar with every card in the deck and get an overall sense of the Tarot before you perform your first reading.
The Polarities of the Cards
This method of Tarot uses upright and reversed cards (cards that appear upside down from the readers viewpoint when they are drawn from the deck), a subject that is somewhat controversial with many commentators on the Tarot. I will explain why I use them and then you can decide for yourself. By now you have met the High Priestess, the beautiful woman who sits between the two pillars of her temple. One pillar of the temple is white and the other is black. As life has its two poles, so do Tarot cards. The reversed position expresses the other polarity of meaning inherent within the Tarot image so that along with the upright meaning the whole truth of the card is available. The use of reversed cards assures that the Tarot, when used correctly, always reflects reality in response to the question asked. This does not mean the card that appears upright in a reading is always “good” and the card that appears reversed is necessarily “bad”. It merely reflects the polarity of meaning inherent within the card. This method, in my opinion, is the correct way to use and interpret the Tarot.
The Preparation of the Deck
It is time to prepare your deck for an actual reading. These instructions convey how to correctly prepare your deck for your first reading. It takes the perspective that both upright and reversed cards will be used as in this way the fullest benefit may be obtained from using the Tarot. At the outset the deck should be thoroughly shuffled. The preferred shuffle is the overhand shuffle that is identical to shuffling a conventional deck in a game of cards such as poker. After the deck has been thoroughly shuffled, divide the deck into two equal piles and separate them so there is a space between them. Then take the left hand pile and turn it 180 degrees so that the top of this pile of cards is now facing towards you. This is the reversed pile. Begin to build a third pile in the space between these two piles taking one card at a time from each pile beginning with the right hand (upright) pile. When you are finished with this task you will have a deck in which half of the cards are upright and half are reversed. Now thoroughly shuffle this mixed deck. The Tarot is now ready for reading.
Your First Reading
You are now ready for your first reading. Pick up the shuffled deck and hold it with both hands. Clear your mind of any distractions and quiet your thoughts so that you can focus on the energy of the Tarot. After you have obtained clarity and stillness of mind silently repeat the question in your mind or speak it aloud as you “shuffle the question into the cards”. Shuffle the cards for a minute or so. After you have “shuffled your question into the cards” place the shuffled deck down onto the table and to your right. Using your left hand cut the deck into three piles moving from right to left. Then pick up the piles starting with the middle pile and placing the other two piles beneath the middle pile thus recombining the deck into one pile. Use you left hand as much as possible. (If you have trouble picking up the piles with one hand just use your right hand or both hands at the same time and don’t worry about it.) Set the recombined deck to the right of you. With your left hand, turn over the top card of the deck as though you were turning the page of a book and put it down in the center of the table. This is the Tarot’s response to your question.
How to Interpret the Tarot
A word that is often associated with Tarot reading is “intuition.” The dictionary definition is: “The art or faculty of knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes; immediate cognition; a perceptive insight; an impression” Contrary to common belief, the Tarot is not a method of fortune telling nor of predicting the future nor does the ability to read and use it correctly require an individual to possess either so called “psychic powers” or the gift of “clairvoyance”. The ability to use and interpret the Tarot revolves around the two fundamental human faculties of knowledge and intuition, each of which is equally important to correctly interpret the Tarot. The knowledge is acquired by the study of the images of the cards and their astrology and associated constellations of meanings and intuition is applied by learning how to sense the right meaning(s) that apply in any given situation from among the constellation of different (and sometimes diverse) meanings that are associated with each card. Since one of the best ways of learning anything is by example, let us take several example readings from actual life to illustrate the proper use of the Tarot. Before we do that we must first discuss several important factors that must first be taken into account. The first is the meaning of the drawn card with respect to the question asked. From my personal experience, and to paraphrase Dr. Arthur Edward Waite in his “Pictorial Guide to the Tarot”, this can best be summarized as: “The immediate situation, the matter at hand, the general matter of the inquiry, the influences affecting the person or the atmosphere surrounding the situation.” The second consideration is the matter of interpreting the Court Cards (The Page, Knight, Queen and King) - the Royal Families of the four suits of the Minor Arcana. The method of interpretation that I utilize is four fold. An appearance of a Court card in a reading can 1) represent the person who is asking the question 2) represent some one who is significant in this persons life - a parent, a spouse, a friend or some authority figure 3) represent a message that the card is bringing to the person - perhaps pointing out positive or negative personality traits that he or she should strive to develop or work to become more aware or needs to be asserted in the situation 4) Represent a situation a person finds themselves in. This is a good solid foundation from which to proceed that may be amplified and enhanced by further study if you should so desire. The final point is the relation of Astrology and the Tree of Life to the Tarot. The Astrological associations of the cards as well as their placements on the Tree of Life have been included in this Tarot for completeness but a complete discussion of the relation of the Tarot to Astrology and the Tree of Life is beyond the scope of this work. Remember, it is not possible to memorize the entire meanings of each and every Tarot card anymore than it is possible to memorize a novel in its entirety. After study and use, the general meanings of the cards will have become part of you but you still may have to consult the book in certain situations. I have never had any problem with this, taking to heart the comment attributed to Albert Einstein: “Never memorize anything that you can look up in a book.” If you accept this perspective you will avoid a lot of the frustration and “brain pain” of rote memorization.
Sample Readings
Below are two sample readings drawn from life which illustrate the interpretation of the Tarot in response to questions asked of it by real individuals. They can serve as guides to understanding the Tarot’s response to questions that you ask for yourself. An individual inquired: “Should I move to Australia to seek employment? The Tarot responded with:
THE TOWER
“Upheaval”
First and foremost we must regard the image of the card. The image of THE TOWER is of a lightning flash striking the top of a tall tower causing it to blow apart. The top of the tower is dislodged and two figures, a man and a woman, are shown falling to their deaths on the jagged rocks below. The event portrayed certainly lives up to its keyword of “Upheaval”. We then move on to its Astrology and discover that this card’s association is with Mars, one of the seven sacred planets of the ancients. Mars is a very powerful, disruptive and electric life force of great energy and power. It can bring about a sudden and often violent transformation casting away the old and ushering in the new. Since the activity of Mars is so powerful, it is often cast in a negative or even violent role thus reinforcing the fact that when you come face to face with the Mars energy it probably not going be a good day. Finally we come to the Oracle which is associated with THE TOWER when it appears upright in a reading in response to a question. It reads: “An unforeseen catastrophe may befall you. A reversal of fortune could occur. Your plans could be swept away and your existing way of life brought to a sudden end.” The symbolism of the card coupled with its astrological association of Mars reinforced by the Oracle statement answers the question by portraying a move to Australia as a very bad idea. It probably would be a good idea to abandon this plan and pursue another employment strategy.
Now we can turn to the appearance of a reversed card in response to a question put to the Tarot. A person asked: “Will my present relationship lead to marriage?” to which the Tarot replied:
THE TWO OF CUPS
“The Lord of Love”
(Reversed)
First we must again turn to the image of the card which portrays two young lovers holding two cups representing their love and devotion each other. This is certainly a fine image of devoted romantic love but the card has appeared reversed in the reading. Venus is in Cancer, a potent astrological combination of pleasure and deep emotional bonds but its positive energy is negated by the reversal. Turning to the Oracle statement associated with this card the Tarot advises: “False love has ensnared your heart – your present relationship is built on a foundation of lies. Deception and unfaithfulness lay at its root as well as a lack of mutual respect. Such a relationship can only end badly.” Certainly this is a definite statement about this particular relationship and the Tarot is giving the inquirer a clear “No” answer to the question asked. The Tarot clearly indicates that marriage will not result from this relationship.
Clearing and Cleansing the Deck
There is one other element of tradition that must be discussed, the matter of clearing the deck after each reading and periodically cleansing the deck of the residual “energies” accumulated after using the deck for multiple readings. It is tradition, at the conclusion of a reading, to express gratitude to the Tarot for the insight received and then to shuffle the deck again until the reader “feels” that the deck is clear of the energies of the reading just performed. (A minute or so usually suffices.) This prepares the deck for the energies of the next reading or series of readings. After a certain number of readings, it is useful to ‘cleanse” the deck by putting all the cards back to the upright condition and then going through the preparation process again as previously described in “preparing the deck.”
The Mystery of the Tarot
The whole of the Tarot cannot be grasped by anyone any more than they can grasp the whole of the universe. The Tarot is like a multi-faceted jewel spinning before our eyes. Its beauty entrances us, but its totality eludes us. As soon as we grasp one aspect of the Tarot, another aspect spins into view and demands our attention. How many facets of this jewel you wish to explore is entirely up to you. Each card may be viewed as a spiritual nucleus similar to the nuclear center of an individual atom in the universe. The symbols, astrology and constellation of meanings associated with each image may be seen as similar to the electron clouds swirling around the nuclear center of an atom. You may stay at the One Card level of reading or choose to learn more advanced levels of Tarot reading but please remember that your destiny is determined by your own choices and decisions and not by the Tarot. For your further clarification and understanding, below is a recap of the essential points of this method.
Consulting the Tarot
Concluding Remarks
This work in no way attempts a comprehensive presentation on all aspects of the Tarot but concentrates on providing any interested party with a solid approach to its successful use on a personal level. But you still may have a question in your mind as to what the Tarot actually is. The Tarot may be experienced as a visualized portrayal of what the great Swiss psychiatrist, Dr. Carl Gustav Jung, discovered and termed “the individuation process”; a process that was inherent in the psyche of the individual and when activated and accepted functioned as an evolutionary guide advancing the individual consciousness from fragmentation to wholeness. The Tarot is a method of self development or perhaps of accelerated self evolution as well as a method of spiritual divination. It may also be viewed as “The Journey of the Hero”; a realization of the great mythological motif that is central to all advanced human cultures that was discovered and articulated by the great mythologist, Joseph Campbell. Through the use and understanding of the Tarot the human being individuates and becomes the “Hero” of the great myth, gaining knowledge, suffering trials and tribulations, and then returning to the world of society with the precious knowledge that he or she has attained which is then used to help advance and elevate the consciousness of the other members of society. Should you desire to attain a more advanced knowledge of the works of Dr. Jung or Mr. Joseph Campbell just visit any large bookstore where you will discover many of their fine contributions to human understanding. It is my hope that through this work you will discover a companion in the Tarot – a friend to help guide you through the day to day mysteries of life and make the course of your passage through them much smoother. If your relationship with the Tarot succeeds in doing so then this work will have succeeded in its purpose.