A tarot deck consists of 78 cards that are separated into two general groups: the Major Arcana cards and the Minor Arcana cards. The Minor Arcana makes up the majority of the tarot deck consisting of 56 cards. 52 of the 56 cards in the Minor Arcana loosely correspond to the 52 cards found in a regular playing card deck. The remaining four cards are the four page cards, or in some decks, the princess cards. Like a regular playing card deck, there are also knights (e.g. jacks), queens and kings. These are called the court cards and they typically used to represent people during a reading. The other remaining minor arcana cards are numbered one through ten and are referred to as the the pip cards. Pip cards usually are used to represent everyday events or situations in readings.

The 52 Minor Arcana cards are composed of four suits. Although various tarot decks can call these suits by different names, the more traditional decks refer to them as Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles. Each suit is associated to a particular element: earth, fire, water and air which are thought to correspond to different aspects of our daily lives. Every suit also has an astrological association as well which represents a particular season of the year. By understanding the astrological associations and season of the year, you can determine when things might occur. Here are the basics:

The Suit of Wands: The Element is Fire
Aspects: Spiritual undertakings, Fertility, Sexuality, Careers, Directions in Life and Sense of Purpose.
The Suit of Wands direction is to the east and the season is spring.

The Suit of Cups: The Element is Water
Aspects: Relationships, Emotions, Intuition, Creativity, Love and Romance
The Suit of Cups direction is to the north and the season is summer.

The Suit of Swords: The Element is Air
Aspects: Abstract Thinking, Rational Thinking, Challenges and Obstacles, Truth, Clarity, Intelligence
The Suit of Swords directions is to the west and the season is fall.

The Suit of Pentacles: The Element is Earth
Aspects: Material possessions, security, money, ethics and values, growth and manifestation
The Suit of Pentacles direction is to the south and the season is winter.

Astrological Associations
• Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are signs associated to the summer.
• Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are signs associated to the spring.
• Libra, Gemini, and Aquarius are signs associated to the fall.
• Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo are signs associated to the winter.

Choosing a Signifier Card
When you learn to do tarot readings for other people you will have to choose a Signifier card. A Significator card (also sometimes referred to as the "Significator card") is a card that represents the person being read. In most cases one of the court cards is usually chosen by the reader to represent this person. This can be accomplished through their astrological sign, their age, or on their personailty traits. Here are some of the most popular associations readers use to select the appropriate signifier card:

• Pages are children or adolescents.
• Knights are men or woman under the age of thirty.
• Queens are mature women.
• Kings are mature men.
• The Suit of Wands is associated to Leo, Aries and Sagitarius.
• The Suit of Swords is associated to Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra.
• The Suit of Cups is associated to Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio.
• The Suit of Pentacles is associated to Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo.

Understanding Reversed Tarot Card Meanings

Although some tarot readers may choose not to use reversed cards, many tarot readers rely on a cards position to deepen the cards meaning. In this respect, each card has two separate meanings: one for an upright position and the other for a reversed position. In most cases, uprights cards tend to be positive while reversed show obstacles or blocks. Many beginning tarot readers often choose to read the cards in an upright position while they are initially learning the various tarot card meanings. Once they become familiar with the upright meanings they then can begin to incorporate reversed meanings.

© 2011 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

An Introduction to the Minor Arcana is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

Learning to read tarot cards does not need to be a difficult process. In fact, it is a quite enjoyable undertaking. The more time you put into understanding the craft of tarot reading, the more you will get out of it.

To be a good tarot reader, you must learn how to appropriately interpret the cards. The best tarot readers are those who have learned how to interpret the cards using their own personal associations. This is not the type of information you can get out of a book. Rather, it comes from your own identification to the cards and their imagery. This is not to say that books on the tarot don't have a place in the learning process. They can be a valuable reference guide for whenever you are unsure of something. They are great resources for tarot history, tarot spreads, and for general tarot card meanings.

While having a good understanding of this information is certainly important, developing your own personal relationship with the cards is a much more effective and rewarding way to learn tarot than trying to memorize information from a book. To do this you will need to put to familiarize yourself with the cards. I usually recommend taking half an hour each day to spend studying and journaling. It’s important that you do this in a place where you feel relaxed and calm. You will also want to make sure that you won’t be interrupted, so try to avoid any distractions.

To begin, you will need your own tarot deck, a notebook and a pen. Choose a place in your home that encourages you to relax. You may want to burn some incense, light some candles, or put some gentle music on. Let go of the day's events. 

When you feel ready, pick up your tarot deck and start shuffling. Try to set your mind free of any fears or expectations. Close your eyes and relax. Take the time to slow your breathing and sit with your feelings. If anything pops out at you make sure to acknowledge it in your journal. Often, when we fail to acknowledge our feelings or issues, our ability to read the cards becomes skewed. Unprocessed emotions have a tendency to cause us to lose objectivity and neutrality.

When you feel at peace, draw a card from anywhere in the deck. Place it down in front of you in an upright position. Take a moment to really examine the card. In your notebook write down the name of the card and answer the following questions when they apply.

• What story does the image you see tell you?
• How does this story apply to your own life story?
• How does it make you feel?
• Does it make you think of any experiences you have had in the past?
• Who is the subject or subjects of the card? What might they say to you? What might they say to each other?
• What other symbolism and imagery appears on the card and what do you think it may represent?
• What’s the message of the card?
• Does the card share a life lesson?

If you are uncertain about a card’s meaning, it is ok to check your interpretation by referencing a book. Keep in mind though that there are no set rules and that the objective is to learn tarot by establishing your own personal understanding and connection to the cards.

After you have completed this task, you will want to note everything you have learned in your journal. The goal is to journal on each card in the Tarot. When you complete this exercise for all 78 cards of the tarot deck, you will have your very own book of tarot interpretations and meanings. You will be able to use this as a resource in the future.

To learn tarot, you simply must be willing to take the time to develop your own relationship to each of the cards. In the end, learning tarot reading is a personal journey. You are always the source of its magic.

© 2011 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

Learn Tarot The Easy Way is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

Becoming a good tarot reader takes more than just memorizing tarot card meanings and knowing tarot spreads. Tarot reading requires practice, patience and, most importantly, a willingness to trust your own intuition. Whether you are reading for yourself or for someone else, there are some very useful practices you should follow to ensure a good reading.

1. Preparing a Peaceful Environment

Believe it or not, the environment in which you conduct a tarot reading can significantly influence the reading. Not only can the environment affect you as a tarot reader, it can also have implications for the person being read. In tarot reading, it's always important to set aside your own personal issues and concerns. Creating a comfortable space that helps you remain centered and calm will assist in helping you remain objective and neutral during a reading. Rituals such as lighting candles or burning incense can also help you get into the mood.

2. Select a Signifier Card

In tarot reading, signifier cards serve as a representation of either the person being read or the situation they are asking about. If you are using the signifier card to represent the person being read, most tarot readers tend use the court cards either by associating the inquirer's physical attributes to one of the court cards or by associating their astrological sign to one of the court cards. If you are choosing a signifier card to represent a specific situation, you can get as creative as you like. Depending on the seriousness of the question at hand, you may either choose a card from the major arcana or the minor arcana. The major arcana cards tend to be used for important life issues while the minor arcana cards tend to focus on every day concerns.

The signifier card also helps you to remain focused on the person for whom you are reading. In many tarot spreads, the signifier cards are centrally positioned. This helps the tarot reader interpret the cards as well as help them to identify the key issues that are surrounding the inquirer.

3. Choosing the Right Tarot Spread

Tarot spreads are card arrangements laid out in a specific pattern. Each card position within a spread has a specific meaning. When individual tarot cards are put together in a tarot spread, their meanings can be used to form a kind of story. The tarot reader then interprets the cards according to their position and relationships to each other within the spread.

As a tarot reader, it’s important to choose a tarot spread that appropriately correlates to the question being asked. If the question is about love, for example, then you will probably want to utilize a love spread. In some cases you may want to create your own tarot spread. This can be particularly useful when the question covers more than one topic.

4. Framing the Question

How the inquirer frames or asks a question prior to their reading can have a significant effect on the overall usefulness of the reading. The more specific the inquirer is with their question, the better the likelihood that the tarot reading will address their issue in a specific manner. It’s also helpful to keep the question open ended. Open ended questions can reveal hidden or overlooked issues that may have been otherwise missed. Open ended questions can also help the tarot reader discover core issues or other influences that may be affecting the person being read.

5. Shuffling the Cards

There are a number of approaches to shuffling the cards before a tarot reading. This is usually the point where the person being read for will actually touch the cards (although some tarot readers prefer not to have anyone handle their cards). Should you choose to let the inquirer handle the cards, you must make sure that they are instructed to focus on the question at hand while they are shuffling so this energy can get transferred to the cards. There are also different approaches to the “cutting” of the cards; the most popular includes having the inquirer cut the deck three times with their left hand.

6. Knowing Your Tarot Deck

Prior to giving any tarot reading, I always encourage people to take them time to really get to know the tarot deck they will be working with. This not only helps you become comfortable with the cards, it will also deepen your understanding of their meanings and how they relate to each other in a tarot spread. Inevitably, those who will be receiving a tarot reading from you will always pick up on your relationship to your own cards. If you are not familiar with the deck you are working with, chances are it will come through during the tarot reading.

© 2011 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved.

The Six Essentials of a Good Tarot Reading is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

The most popular version of the Tarot was established in 1910 by the artist Pamela Colman-Smith. She worked under the guidance of occultist A.E. Waite. The Waite deck was the first tarot deck to include symbolic imagery on all 78 cards.

The tarot has its roots in many different philosophical and religious backgrounds. It originated in a time imbued with symbolic imagery that was influenced by many cultures, languages and historical references. The tarot’s symbolism is based on archetypal elements and metaphors, giving its imagery an universal appeal. Regardless of one’s cultural, religious or educational background, the Tarot experience is collective. Their interpretations are recognizable by everyone.

The modern Tarot deck is comprised of 78 cards, 40  in the minor arcana, 16 court cards and 22 cards that make up the major arcana. The 16 court cards consist of pages, knights, queens and kings. The four suits in the minor arcana  include the Suits of Cups, Swords, Wands and Pentacles. Each Suit is connected to one of the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. They are also connected to the four directions: North, South, East and West. The imagery of Tarot reflects an association to these elements. This enables the tarot reader to identify the key aspects that are influencing a particular situation or individual.

The Suit Cards

In tarot, the cups suit represents the dream world, the unconscious, feelings and relationships. The wands suit represents fertility, creativity and one's sense of purpose or career endeavors. The sword suit represents reason, life challenges, the mind and truth. And lastly, the pentacles suit represents the material, financial and ethical aspects of a person’s life.

There is a king, queen, knight, and page in every suit as well. They are referred to as the court cards and each one (excluding the page cards) has an astrological sign associated to it. This adds yet another level for interpretation in tarot card readings. To be helpful, here are the astrological associations. I often encourage people to identify their sign and the associated tarot card meaning. This can offer tremendous insights into ones strengths and vulnerabilities.

• Aries: King of Wands
• Taurus: Queen of Pentacles
• Gemini: Knight of Swords
• Cancer: King of Cups
• Leo: Queen of Wands
• Virgo: Knight of Pentacles
• Libra: King of Swords
• Scorpio: Queen of Cups
• Sagittarius: Knight of Wands
• Capricorn: King of Pentacles
• Aquarius: Queen of Swords
• Pisces: Knight of Cups

The Major Arcana Cards

The Major Arcana cards reflect where one is in his or her life’s journey. There are 22 tarot cards in the Major Arcana. The first half of the Major Arcana (the Fool through the Hermit) identifies the transition from child to adult and all of the challenges we must face as we progress into a deeper level of maturity and spirituality.

The second half of the Major Arcana (The Wheel of Fortune through the World) reflects our personal and spiritual world view. In a tarot reading, the second half of the major arcana typically points to a more inward-looking stage or process in our development.  Keep in mind, this does not always happen in procession. In fact, in some areas we are still the “fools” while in other areas we can be the “The Hermit".

The Minor Arcana Cards

The Minor Arcana, or Pip cards, are the numbered cards (1-10) that comprise each suit. The Minor Arcana reflect day to day issues. They can represent how you interact with people, your work, your emotions, your finances, and your personal relationships. In a tarot card reading, the minor arcana reveal the who’s, how’s, and what’s. There is no sense of permanence. If there are a number of minor arcana suit cards in your spread, know that you can make changes, work through blocks, and understands where you are emotionally.

Interpreting Tarot Card Meanings

They key to understanding tarot card meanings is to not always be literal. It often requires one to attach their own life experiences to each of the tarot cards. Tarot card meanings can also vary depending on the type of reading that is being done or even where a particular card might appear in a tarot spread. Upside down cards, known as "reversed tarot cards", also have their own unique meanings as well.

The Basics Of Tarot Reading

Now that you know a little about the basics of the tarot cards, we can now look at what you can expect from your first tarot card reading. Most readings typically consists of shuffling the deck, drawing a set number of cards, and placing them in a specific configuration known as a "tarot spread". There are hundreds of tarot spreads in use today, but most psychic tarot readers tend to favor some spreads more than others. They will often use different tarot spreads for different types of readings as well.

Once the cards are pulled and placed in a spread, the tarot reader will begin to interpret the symbols of the cards. Often they will point out the implications of the past, what is happening in the here and now, and what will influence your future. You may ask particular questions and additional tarot cards may be drawn for specific areas of your life. The configurations the cards are placed in add to the complexities of their meanings.

The tarot’s power lies in its ability to distinguish a person’s path through the psychic ability or intuition of the tarot reader. In some cases, a psychic tarot reader will rely primarily on their own psychic abilities to interpret the cards, while a  non-psychic tarot reader will rely more on the tarot card meanings themselves. Either way, trust the cards can do their job and ask a lot of questions.

Basics of Tarot Reading is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

For centuries, the Tarot has been identified with the mystical occult. They are perceived as a magical force with the power to influence and control one’s life. In truth, the Tarot cards are merely tools for tapping into one’s own intuition. Their true power lies in their ability to help us identify the areas in our lives that we must address as well as identify the areas were need to personally grow. They always reflect our current challenges and our current level of self-development. Their true power comes from our own, inner beings. They are guides for self-discovery and utilizing them improves our ability to develop self-awareness. Ultimately, they can aid us in discovering who we truly are and guide us towards self-realization.

The most common concern when approaching the Tarot as a beginner is learning to interpret the their Tarot card meanings. Most people tend to feel that this can be a daunting and overwhelming process. It doesn’t have to be. Learning the Tarot is a personal journey. Their Tarot card meanings can be as personal as you wish to make them. More importantly, there is no right or wrong approach to learning the Tarot. As I stated before, they are tools. You are free to get creative as you want. In the end, their true Tarot card meanings will be your personal associations to them.

There are three elements that can aid you when you begin the process of learning to read Tarot Cards. The first is learning how to trust yourself. The second is choosing a deck that speaks to you. And the third, and most vital, is learning how to apply meaning to each card.
 
An Element of Trust
As a beginner Tarot reader, it may be difficult to trust your interpretations. That is quite O.K. and it certainly is part of the process. In fact, professional tarot readers can encounter this dilemma. To battle these feelings if uncertainty, it may be helpful to understand how the Tarot works.

Tarot imagery and symbolism has universal themes. These themes reflect the experience we all encounter on our journeys through life and self-development. These are the common themes and experiences we instinctively understand. C.G. Jung explained this phenomenon as the experience of the Collective Unconscious. The Collective Unconscious dwells within the realm of the unconscious mind. It is from this source that we connect to all mankind; in one collective experience. It is an inherent understanding of a shared experience. We can identify our shared experiences through archetypal imagery. These are universal images and visual patterns that are repeated over and over. They appear throughout history.

When approaching the Tarot, you can trust your instincts. Your gut reaction is always your best guide. The archetypal images throughout the Tarot will, without doubt, trigger associations. This may be through a personal experience or a collective experience. In either case, it truly does not matter which source feeds your intuition. You just need to listen to your inner voice. This is where the element of trust becomes essential. Your associations to the various Tarot card meanings are just as valid as anyone else, including professional tarot readers. Remember, there is no wrong or right association. The guidance from the Tarot always comes from within your own self. Enjoying the process.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

How to Read Tarot Cards is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

Choosing your first Tarot deck may seem like an intimidating process, particularly since there are hundreds of decks to choose from. Apart from Tarot decks, there are also other forms of divination cards such as oracles cards, wisdom cards, gypsy cards and healing cards.  The ultimate goal in choosing a deck is finding the deck that you resonate with. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be giving your first Tarot deck. If that were the case, I probably never would have embarked on the Tarot journey. No rules or rituals are required. You can simply choose any deck that personally speaks to you.

First of all, there is no right or wrong approach to choosing a deck. You can simply begin your process by exploring what’s out there. I always encourage people to begin this undertaking with a little research. The first approach would include looking up various tarot decks on the internet. This is a great way to explore the various symbols and iconography depicted in the Tarot. Every artist tends to have their own interpretation. Some artists choose to remain loyal to traditional symbolism while others will develop their own unique interpretation for the Tarot cards. In either case, it’s important to discover what moves you. When I find myself drawn to a particular deck’s imagery, I usually ask myself what is it about this deck that makes me want to learn more. Is it the design, color, symbolism or overall feel? Do I identify with the pictures? Can I relate to them? What do they make me feel?

Learning to identify your own feelings about particular decks can certainly help you narrow down your options. You may also, however, need to see the cards first hand. The best places to buy Tarot decks locally are at metaphysical stores and bookstores.  Metaphysical stores tend to have more decks and have samples that you can handle. Bookstores tend to carry a smaller number of Tarot decks and they typically do not allow you to open them. It’s always great to review a deck’s imagery, but if you are limited, you can certainly get a “feel” for a tarot deck just by handling it within its packaging.  You may be drawn to the size or the weight of a particular deck and, in some cases; you just may get the right feeling about a particular deck when you see it or handle it in person.
 
It’s also really important to understand what kind of deck you are drawn too. If it is a divinatory deck that is not related to Tarot such as oracle cards or angel cards, it is quite all right to choose this as your deck. However, their interpretations will not be the same as those in the Tarot. Usually, these decks have an accompanying book or pamphlet that discusses the cards significance and meanings. Traditional Tarot decks have a total of 78 cards. Depending on the type of Tarot deck it is, their visuals may differ, but there overall purpose is the same.  The most unique attribute to Tarot cards is their ability to guide you through your life challenges by helping you discover who you are.
 
Finally, should you feel unable to choose a deck to your suiting, stick to the more traditional decks such as the Rider Waite, Morgan Greer, or Aquarian Tarot. The imagery depicted in these decks is the most common. Most Tarot books will utilize similar imagery for their interpretations. As you get to know the cards and feel more comfortable with their meanings, you can add to your collection of Tarot decks. At some point, you may wish to explore a deck that is more meditative or abstract in nature. The most important thing to remember is that the Tarot helps you tap into your intuition. In the end, let your own intuition be your guide.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

How to Choose a Tarot Deck is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

The more comfortable you get with the tarot deck, the easier it will become to decipher the tarot card meanings. The same came be said for tarot spreads. There are literally hundreds of tarot spreads to choose from, so to simplify this process, I have listed some examples of different tarot spreads and the many purposes for which they may be used.

For the beginner it is important to first understand what tarot card spreads are and how they function. A tarot spread is a configuration of cards laid out in a pre-specified geometric pattern. Each position of each card in a the tarot spread has a specific meaning. When individual tarot cards are put together in a tarot spread, their meanings can be used to form a kind of story. Thus, the pattern of a spread provides the framework for a tarot reading. The tarot reader utilizes the placement of the cards, or the card’s position, with an identified theme. For example, many spreads include positions for the past, present and future. They can also include positions for internal feelings, specific challenges, external factors, and so on.

Tarot card spreads have different implications depending on the type of question or issue being explored. Some tarot card spreads relay information in a general way while others are designed to impart information that is very specific in nature. They can also vary in complexity from a simple one card spread to elaborate spreads that can include all 78 tarot cards. The choice of which spread to use depends primarily on the reader and the questions that need to be answered.

In a tarot reading, the cards are shuffled by the person being read. This enables the person to have contact with the cards. While the person is shuffling, they are asked by the tarot reader to think of a question or issue. The tarot cards are like magnets that attach to individual energies. Once attached, they pick up information that facilitates the tarot reader in his or her reading.

Once the cards are pulled and placed, the tarot reader will begin to interpret the images and positions of the tarot cards. The spread they are placed in adds to the complexities of the cards meanings. The strength of the cards lies in their unique ability to impart a person’s path. It can do this in two ways; by igniting the intuition or psychic ability of the tarot reader and by picking up the energy of the person being read. In essence, it is a marriage. The tarot cards are the bridge between the reader and that of the person being read, and the tarot spread is the architecture of the reading.

Once you become familiar with the Tarot, you will want to choose the best tarot spread to suit the particular situation being addressed in your reading. Once you get really comfortable, you may even want to make up some of your own tarot spreads. As a tarot reader it is important to choose spreads that encourage your imagination and intuition. Understanding the placement of the cards is important, but it is just as important to identify tarot spreads that work for you as an individual. They are as personal as the tarot cards themselves.

Tarot Card Spread Basics is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

For many Tarot enthusiasts, consulting the Tarot for guidance through life is a common practice. For those who have issues with their current career path, the Tarot can provide a lot of insight. These can include such issues as taking appropriate business actions, how to resolve a work related conflict, or how to advance within an existing or new career. Moreover, the Tarot can even help you discover what type of career personality you are predisposed to. In this regard, you can learn about your greatest assets and potential vulnerabilities.

For the purpose of discovering your career personality type, it is always best to work with the Major Arcana. Each card within the Major Arcana signifies an individual's tendency towards certain work related personality traits as well as their potential strengths and weaknesses on the job. You can conduct a tarot reading to determine your career personality using a simple three card tarot spread. However, in this case, you are not seeking answers to a particular question. Rather you are drawing the cards to reflect what type of career type you possess.

To determine your career personality type, you must draw three cards from the Major Arcana. These three cards represent your three primary personality traits including your areas of strength as well as your possible weaknesses. To begin, shuffle the Major Arcana and pull three cards and lay them on the table before you. It does not matter if they are forward or reversed. The goal of this exercise is to read the cards in both the forward and reversed positions. The forward positions reference your strengths and the reversed positions reference your weakness.

Keep in mind that it’s really up to you to determine what each card may be reflecting to you. However, below I have included a quick reference guide for the Major Arcana Career Personality Types.

The Fool Tarot Card:  The entrepreneur, innovative, creative, thinks outside of the box
   Potential Weaknesses: Risk taker, inconsistent, careless, non-committal

The Magician Tarot Card:  The Salesman, Marketing, Enigmatic, Can make things happen
   Potential Weaknesses: Manipulative, Dishonest, Self-Interested, Can pull a fast one

The High Priestess Tarot Card:  Guiding, Knowledgeable, Perceptive, Sees things as they really are
   Potential Weaknesses: Unattached, Will keep information to herself for self-interest, Cold

The Empress Tarot Card:  Team Builder, Supportive, Creative, Accepting
   Potential Weaknesses: Selfish, Uncaring of others on team, Lacks team effort

The Emperor Tarot Card:  Team Leader, CEO, President, Management, Organization 
   Potential Weaknesses: Power Hungry, Insensitive, Controlling

The Hierophant Tarot Card: Counsel, Teacher, Brought in to fix problems, Resolves conflict
   Potential Weaknesses: Long-winded, Slow, Patronizing

The Lovers Tarot Card:  Co-creative, Team player, Analyzes future trends, Mediator,
   Potential Weaknesses: Not an individual thinker, Approval seeking, Dependent on others

The Chariot Tarot Card:  Motivational, Action oriented, Will initiate new enterprises
   Potential Weaknesses: Impatient, Easily frustrated, Resentful

The Strength Tarot Card:  Diplomatic, Negotiator, Peace keeper, Management
   Potential Weaknesses: Power hungry, Controlling, Overly reactive

The Hermit Tarot Card:  Detail oriented, Can work well alone, Diligent, Dependable
   Potential Weaknesses: Limited, Lacks communication skills, Can be difficult to work with

The Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card:  Aims big, High roller, Entrepreneurial, Trailblazer
   Potential Weaknesses: Gambler, Materialistic, Compulsive

The Justice Tarot Card:   Structured, Rational, Observant, Systematic
   Potential Weaknesses: Unimaginative, Narrow-minded, Opinionated

The Hanged Man Tarot Card:  Uncomplaining, Enduring, Will sacrifice for the good of all
   Potential Weaknesses: Narrow minded, Can’t see things from different perspectives

The Death Tarot Card:   Money management, Cost cuts, Catalyst for change, Unconventional
   Potential Weaknesses: Aggressive, Impersonal, Cold blooded

The Temperance Tarot Card:   Checks & Balances, Organizer, Strategic Planning
   Potential Weaknesses: Rigid, Obsessive compulsive

The Devil Tarot Card:  Team spirit, Humorous, Go-getter, Original
   Potential Weaknesses: Obnoxious, Disrespectful, Manipulative

The Tower Tarot Card:  Creative thinker, Futurist, Theorist, Transformative
   Potential Weaknesses: Pessimistic, Not practical, Fearful

The Star Tarot Card:  Spokesperson, Front man, Media and public relations
   Potential Weaknesses: Smooth talker, Inconsistent, All talk no action

The Moon Tarot Card:  Responsive, Sensitive, Overseer, Deals with people
   Potential Weaknesses: Moody, Emotional, Indecisive 

The Sun Tarot Card:  Manager, Encouraging, Committed, Enthusiastic
   Potential Weaknesses: Demanding, High expectations, Self-righteous

The Judgment Tarot Card:  Ability to see patterns and trends, Accountable, planner
   Potential Weaknesses: Theoretical, Can’t implement concepts, Too conceptual

The World Tarot Card:  Experienced, Qualified, Knowledgeable, Authority figure
   Potential Weaknesses: One-dimensional, Traditional, Stuck in past

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

Tarot and Your Career Personality Type is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

There are literally hundreds of books on the market that focus on Tarot card meanings. While books such as these can be very helpful, the best approach to learning the various Tarot card meanings is to actually take the time to study the cards. Tarot card meanings are largely based on symbolic imagery. These symbols serve as a means to stimulate our intuition and help us tap into the unconscious parts of ourselves.

The Tarot deck is comprised of 22 major arcana cards, also known as the trumps, and 56 minor arcana cards. Similar to a regular deck of playing cards, the minor arcana is divided equally into four separate suits: wands, cups, swords, and pentacles. Each suit represents a particular energy and is associated to an element. Understanding the characteristics of each suit and their correlating element deepens one’s understanding of the various Tarot card meanings:

Wands: Element is Fire
Fertility, action, movement, spirituality, sexuality, power, career, advancement

Swords: Element is Air
Ideas, concepts, abstract thinking, intellectual pursuits, communication, rational thinking

Cups: Element is Water
Emotions, intuition, love, compassion, kindness, matters of the heart

Pentacles: Element is Earth
Possessions, security, manifestation, physical body, money, abundance, value system

Once you understand the basic concepts associated with each suit and its correlating element, you will intuitively start to understand how the various Tarot card meanings can be associated to the different aspects of your life. 

One method that has proven to be very effective for the beginning Tarot reader is to study one card a day until you are comfortable with all the imagery in your particular Tarot deck. During this process, it’s important that you not only develop your own Tarot card meanings for the cards, but also explore how these meanings and concepts apply to your own life.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

The Four Elements in Tarot is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

Tarot Reading with children can be a difficult task. Obviously, children require a certain level of sensitivity and understanding. Bombarding them with sophisticated theories or interpretations can be confusing, intimidating and overwhelming. In general, the traditional type of Tarot reading should be left to individuals that have reached a certain level maturity and self-development. To expect to communicate with a child on the level that is beyond them is not only ineffective but can be potentially harmful.

Working with the Tarot and children, however, is quite plausible should you have the basic understanding of a child’s developmental level and are willing to use an appropriate tarot deck designed specifically for children. In fact, Tarot reading with children can be an excellent method for establishing effective communication channels and emotional processing. In the early stages of development, many children have a better capacity to learn and remember names and images than most adults, and to this end the Tarot, with its rich visual imagery, can be an excellent teaching tool. The Tarot also can certainly help a child learn how to think creatively. More importantly, Tarot reading can help children build the skills necessary for self-expression and self-esteem.

The two primary elements that are needed for Tarot readings with children are a skilled Tarot reader and an appropriate Tarot deck. When doing a Tarot reading with a child, the language of the reading needs to be in the language of the child. In other words, the Tarot reading has to be delivered in a way in which the child can understand it. Under these conditions, the Tarot reader needs to communicate with the child with concrete examples rather than abstract ones. In other words, trying to explain philosophical concepts to a child will only prove to be frustrating and fail to reach the child in a manner that they can understand. Tarot reading with children should reflect their world back to them. It’s important to remember that their frame of reference is only as old and sophisticated as they are.

There also needs to be a great deal of consideration when choosing a Tarot deck. Although many of us enjoy the rich imagery and symbolism found in traditional Tarot decks, children can have a completely different experience, particularly to Tarot decks that are more graphic in nature. It’s always helpful to choose a Tarot deck that the child can relate to.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Children Tarot by Lele Luzetti
• Fairytale Tarot by Aleksey Kluev & Vladimir Strannikov
• Tarot of the Animal Lords by Angelo Giannini
• Inner Child Cards by Isha and Marker Lerner & Chistopher Guilfoil

In some cases, you may want to get a few decks that are more playful or whimsical in nature. By allowing the child to choose which deck they are drawn to will help you learn more about them.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Card image is from the Children Tarot Deck by Lele Luzetti and is used for example purposes only.

Tarot Reading with Children is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

As a beginning Tarot reader there are a few simple tips that can help you find the answers you seek. The most important thing to remember when consulting the Tarot in a Tarot reading is the ability to focus your intentions. Learning how to frame your questions can also help you determine which areas in your life that you would like to explore. It's important to be clear and concise with your thoughts. Ultimately, the more focus you put into a Tarot reading, the more you can expect to get out of it.

Prior to shuffling the Tarot cards, you should always focus on a question or specific area in your life that you wish to get answers. Take the time to sit and focus on your intentions. When you are ready, simply ask your higher power or divine energy to guide you through the Tarot.  Remember, the Tarot card themselves are really nothing more than fancy card stock. Their true power comes from the power we give them. By focusing on your question and concentrating on the cards, the goal is to channel your energy to the cards themselves so they can speak to you.

It’s also helpful to try and avoid yes or no questions. This limits you and the Tarot’s ability to shed light on hidden or unseen influences that are shaping your situation. Tarot reading is really about learning about yourself. The goal to Tarot reading is learning how to identify the appropriate choices that will improve your life. Fundamentally, Tarot reading is a means to expand your level of awareness and insight.

Once the cards or dealt and placed in a Tarot spread, take the time to really investigate the cards. Quickly scanning through them will fail to produce a thorough reading. As a beginner it is absolutely fine to use other material to help you with your Tarot card meanings, but also try to take the time to discover your own meanings.  Over time, your will develop your own interpretations for the cards and the answers you seek will come with ease.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

Tarot Reading and Finding Answers is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

The key to receiving a great Tarot reading is primarily dependent on two things. The first is based on the skill of the Tarot reader and the second is based on the quality of questions you ask before your actual Tarot reading begins. Learning how to ask the right questions during a Tarot reading is one of the most important elements to getting the answers that you seek.

The first thing you need to understand about Tarot readings is that a Tarot reading can be both specific and general. They can delve into specific subjects or simply highlight general influences. The more specific you get with your question, the more a Tarot reading has an opportunity to address your issue in a specific manner. With that being said, it’s also wise to focus on one issue or question at a time.  Asking too many questions at one time can be confusing for both you and the Tarot reader. Determining which questions are being addressed by which cards can often be difficult so it is always wise to be as clear and concise as possible.

There are certain circumstances where yes or no questions may be necessary, however, in most cases, it’s always helpful to ask open ended questions during your Tarot reading. Open ended questions give the Tarot cards an opportunity to reveal hidden and subtle nuances that you many not have been aware of. Open ended questions also encourage the Tarot reading to delve into core issues and influences that surround your question and provide helpful information about all aspects of the issue addressed.

Finally, don’t be afraid to give the Tarot reader a bit of background regarding your question. Often, this will help the Tarot reader interpret the cards in a manner that appropriately addresses your concerns. It’s important to note, that not all Tarot readers are psychics. The more open you are during your Tarot reading, the more you will get out of it. It’s perfectly O.K. to share your experiences with your Tarot reader as long as you feel as though you are working with someone you trust.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

How to Phrase a Tarot Question is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

In tarot reading, the Major Arcana tarot cards are the fist 22 cards of the Tarot deck. Each card in the major arcana is rich with symbolism and imagery. Out of all the cards in a Tarot deck, the Major Arcana cards are the most dramatic. They represent characters and themes that are symbolic in nature and often reference monumental and life changing events such as marriages, births, separations, or a change in career or residence.

More importantly, the Major Arcana refers to an individual’s psychological development. Each card represents a various stage in personal growth or level of maturity. In Tarot reading, cards of the Major Arcana typically signify an important life lesson or experience. With each stage of development, one is faced with a new task. The Major Arcana references these particular tasks and how they relate to each person’s level of development.

In tarot reading, the figures and images within the Major Arcana Tarot cards are archetypes. Archetypes are common images, themes or myths that are repeated throughout time. Their symbolism is universal regardless of one’s cultural, religious or educational background. Archetypes are expressed in our myths, fairytales, literature, religions and iconography. They represent a shared experience that each one of us participates in.

Tarot Reading is a unique divinatory art. Not only can be it be predictive in nature, it can also encourage self-growth and self-realization. The cards of the Major Arcana encourage shifts in perspective and can mirror important life transitions or transformations. Each Major Arcana card has its own distinct symbol and archetype. They are there to guide, teach, and help us understand our many life stages and challenges.

The Archetypes of the Major Arcana:

1. The Fool: The hero as a free spirit and wanderer with a childlike perspective.
2. The Magician: The master of manifestation, the alchemist, and the skilled and cunning master of his environment
3. The High Priestess: The protector of secrets and the goddess of mystery.
4. The Empress: The great mother, mother earth, and the source from which all things grow.
5. The Emperor: The authoritative father, protector and leader who is ruler of his own civilized domain.
6. The Hierophant: The teacher or moral principles and traditional values.
7. The Lovers: The hero as lover. The conflicting forces of attraction and opposition
8. The Chariot: Serves as the vehicle for movement, change, intention and direction. The Persona.
9. Strength: The maiden who masters her world with inner courage and compassion.
10. The Hermit: The recluse who finds wisdom in solitude.
11. The Wheel of Fortune: The Wheel of fate, fortune, cycles, and destiny.
12. Justice: The Authoritative figure on equality, justice, and balance.
13. The Hanged Man: The selfless and sacrificial hero.
14. Death: The Angel of Death or Grim Reaper, the Angel of Transformation.
15. Temperance: The angel of moderation and temperance.
16. The Devil: The darker sides of our nature. The shadow self.
17. The Tower: Purposeful cleansing, acts of divinity, or restructuring of one’s identity of belief system.
18. The Star: The spirit of hope, healing, guidance and recovery.
19. The Moon: Rites of passages where things do not always appear as they seem. Mirrors, reflections and deceptions.
20. The Sun: The life source, illumination, and enlightenment.
21. Judgment: Rites of passage in which one must become accountable for past actions. Entrance into a new level of consciousness.
22. The World: Completion, beginnings, endings, and the cycles of life.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used for example purposes only with his permission.

Archetypes & the Major Arcana is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

Most tarot readings revolve around a particular tarot card spread chosen by the tarot reader. The tarot spread serves as a sort of map to help identify the key issues or challenges that relate back to the question asked. There are literally hundreds of tarot card spreads that can be used for a tarot reading, and usually each tarot reader has a few favorite tarot spreads they prefer to work with depending on the type of question being asked.

Tarot card spreads are one of the most significant aspects for tarot reading. However, one element that often gets overlooked while performing a tarot card reading is the combination of tarot cards and how their tarot card meanings build upon each other during the course of a reading.

The first thing to remember when doing a tarot reading is that all of the cards in a tarot card spread should always relate back to the primary question posed before the reading began. It’s not uncommon for some beginner readers to lose direction during a tarot reading and miss the basic principles that relate back to the initial question. Going off in different directions can at times be appropriate, however, if it doesn’t return to answering the initial question be asked, more often than not, the reading can fall short. For this reason, it’s always best to try to stay on track as much as possible and associate the cards to the initial question.

It’s also important to recognize which card represents the various aspects of a tarot spread. If you are interpreting a tarot reading, don’t confuse a card that represents the past with one that represents the future. As you lay the cards down, be sure to identify which card comes first and which one comes last and what the significance of each card is within the spread. In most cases, the tarot card meanings are influenced by the cards that are placed in their sequential order. For example, after the first card is placed down the meaning of the second card will often be influenced by the card that came before it.

Finally, be aware of specific card combinations. You will want to determine how many Major Arcana cards come up versus Minor Arcana cards. You will also want to look for the number of specific suit cards that come up. Finally, be aware of numbers. If there are two or more cards with the same numerical associations, there typically is a specific numerological reason for this.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

Tarot Spreads and Card Meanings is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

In tarot reading, there are often times when a tarot reader will draw extra cards to clarify the interpretation of a particular reading. These extra tarot cards are known as clarifying cards. Depending on the tarot reader, clarifying cards can be used in conjunction with whatever tarot spread the reader chooses to use.

Some tarot readers prefer to uses clarifying cards during their tarot reading while others will use them after. In either case, clarifying cards are used to augment the overall reading, often shedding light on areas that need further exploration.

Clarifying cards are also used in a tarot reading when the tarot reader may be struggling with a particular card or tarot card meaning. Every time a new tarot card is pulled, it deepens the meaning of the tarot reading. If a tarot reader misses something the first time around, clarifying cards can keep help get the tarot reading back on track. When a new card is placed in a spread it can change the relationships of the cards and can shift the direction and interpretation of the reading.

Some tarot readers avoid clarifying cards altogether. Many feel that if a tarot reader needs to pull a clarifying card, they may be missing important information in the initial reading. They feel that clarifying cards are a product of being lazy or noncommittal to the initial reading.

Using clarifying cards in a tarot reading is a personal choice. It’s important to remember that there is no wrong or right approach to tarot reading. You need to choose what works for you. In the end, clarifying cards can certainly add to the quality of a tarot reading. It’s really up to you to decide.

Clarifying Cards in Tarot Reading is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

Unfortunately this can happen to even the best tarot card readers. Usually when we are unable to interpret the cards effectively during a tarot reading, it’s rarely about the cards we have pulled. In most circumstances, a tarot card reading that appears confusing, or one that lacks any real consistency, is most likely about our own selves.

In a tarot card reading, the tarot cards are reflections of who we are. When we have difficulty interpreting them, most likely there are seom issuess  surrounding feelings of inner conflict, fear or uncertainty. It’s important to remember not to project these issues onto the tarot cards. When this occurs it’s always wise to take a step back. Many people will attempt to ignore the spread altogether and re-shuffle the cards. This is not always the best approach.

If you have the time, record the tarot card reading into a journal for later reflection. A misunderstood tarot card reading is not unlike a symbolic dream. It may take some time to process the material you have received. A tarot card reading that lacks clarity in the present, might take on a whole new interpretation if you allow yourself some time to process its meaning. 

Should you be performing a tarot card reading for another person and you can not decipher its meaning, don’t be afraid to ask the person being read for their own interpretation. There is no right or wrong approach to tarot reading. You can ask the person being read to identify the symbols that stand out for them; what might this mean to them and how does it apply in their current life stage. Opening up a dialogue helps build a stronger relationship and it can also help you understand more about the tarot card reading.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved.

When A Tarot Card Reading Doesn’t Make Sense is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

If you are familiar with Tarot readings, then are most likely familiar with the imagery of the Rider Waite Tarot Deck. The Rider Waite Tarot Deck is the most popular Tarot Deck in use today. Its imagery is imbued with rich symbolic references that are loosely associated to early Christian motifs that were depicted in earlier Tarot decks, such as the Versailles Tarot Deck and the Tarot de Marseilles.

The Rider Waite Tarot deck was created by the artists Pamela Cole Smith under the direction of the famous mystic, A.E. Waite. Together, they collaborated on the first Tarot deck that incorporated detailed imagery on all 78 Tarot Cards. Prior to the Rider Waite Tarot deck, Tarot imagery and symbolism was only depicted in the 22 major arcana cards, known as trump cards. The Court cards also represented imagery, however, they were primarily associated to the four suits and did not necessarily include symbolic imagery. The remaining cards, known as the minor arcana, depicted numbers and suits which are very similar to modern playing cards.

A.E. Waite was influenced by the French occultist Eliphas Levi. Levi is most noted for his influence on the Spiritualist movement (1840’s – 1920’s). Levi was an author and considered to be a practitioner of magic. He wrote a number of books that related to occultism, symbolism and magic. Like A.E. Waite, Levi developed his own symbolic interpretations of Tarot Cards. His version, however, is mainly associated to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was a Britain based movement that practiced magical rituals associated to spiritualism. Although the Rider Waite Tarot Deck is influenced by the earlier work of Eliphas Levi, Waite continued to develop his own interpretation of Tarot cards.

The Rider Waite Tarot deck became mainstream in the early 1900’s. Although the Spiritualist movement did contribute to its popularity, A.E. Waite authored a book entitled, “A Pictorial Key to the Tarot,” which explained his interpretations of the Tarot card. Waite’s book also included the history, origins and symbolism reflected in the Tarot. This made the art of tarot reading accessible to everyone.

C. J. Jung would later discuss the significance of the imagery within the Tarot and applied it to archetypal associations. Jung’s influence further increased the Rider Waite Tarot deck’s popularity. Modern Jungians and psychoanalysts associate the tarot cards as a metaphor for psychological development.

Today there are a number a Tarot decks that are based on A.E. Waite’s Tarot deck. The most notable are Universal Waite Tarot deck, Coleman-Smith Tarot Deck and the Aquarian Tarot Deck. Most publications and reference guides also uitlize similar A.E. Waite’s symbolism and imagery. For the beginning tarot reader, the A.E. Waite Tarot deck remains the easiest and most accessible tarot deck to learn from.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are for example purposes only.

Rider Waite Tarot Card Deck is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

This is largely due to the difficult task in learning how to remain objective during one’s own Tarot readings. Remaining neutral and objective for self-readings can be tricky and frustrating. For many, there is a constant struggle in managing one’s own expectations, fears and projections during their own tarot readings.

There are a number of tools that can help you increase the efficacy of self-readings. One of the most important is establishing a personal space or environment that promotes relaxation and feelings of safety. This is a space in which you can take the time to center yourself, process your feelings, and allow yourself to explore new levels of consciousness.

It’s important to allow yourself the freedom and permission to explore what you are feeling at the time you begin a self-reading. This will help you manage your own expectations and projections. Say, for example, your are in fear about a particular situation. By acknowledging this fear, you can identify where your own fears may be influencing your reading. Ultimately, your tarot readings will be much more objective when you have appropriately processed your feelings.

Another useful tool for self-readings is that of keeping an open mind. When you have an open mind you are more likely to be receptive to the information revealed during your own Tarot readings. It also helps with detachment. The more overly attached we are to an outcome the more difficult it is to see the other variables that are influencing a situation. Detachment enables a  tarot reader to grasp important subtleties that may have been otherwise missed. Most importantly, detachment prevents a biased perspective and can help a  tarot reader accurately interpret the cards.

Another effective tool for self-readings includes the practice of mediation or prayer. This is a great method for helping one tap into their intuition, sense of awareness and state of consciousness. It also helps to slow the mind and can psychologically prepare one for their tarot readings. Mediation and prayer encourages connection to the spiritual realm. It also can help shift one’s level of consciousness and encourages the flow of valuable information.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

Learn Tarot Reading for Yourself is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

In Tarot, the signifier card (also sometimes referred to as the “significator card") serves as a representation for someone or something in your current life. In most cases, people use the signifier card to represent themselves. In this respect, the signifier card is the central figure or question posed during a tarot reading. This is done by incorporating a person’s signifier card as a specific key card in a tarot spread. As the key card, the signifier represents the person or central issue being read with the surrounding cards relating back to it.

The beauty of signifier tarot cards is their ability to aide the tarot reader in remaining focused on a specific person or issue during a tarot reading. In essence, they are ensuring that the tarot reading stays on course. In most tarot readings, signifier cards are centrally positioned within the tarot spread. This helps the tarot reader to identify they key challenges the subject who is being represented by the signifier card is faced with.

Signifier cards can also influence the design or pattern of a tarot spread. Depending on the needs of the subject, tarot readers will often incorporate spreads that are quite specific in nature. Signifier cards play an important role in determining the type of spread a tarot reader will choose to utilize during a tarot reading.

Typically signifier cards are identified through one’s astrological association to the tarot cards. Both the Major Arcana and the Court Cards have astrological associations. It’s really up to the individual to choose their own personal preference. Major Arcana cards tend to focus on developmental stages in a person's life while Court cards focus on personality types and physical attributes. In general, most people prefer to work with the Court Cards because they tend to be more descriptive in nature.

When working with the Court Cards, one’s age can also play an important role. As a general rule, the Court Cards can represent various ages. Pages are associated to children and adolescents. Knights are associated to young adults. And Queens and Kings are associated with mature adults. Obviously, there is a great deal of flexibility in identifying signifier cards based on chronological age. Take, for example, the 50 your old man who still acts like a teenager.

The most important thing to remember when identifying a signifier card is your own personal associations to it. Signifier cards are really tools for the tarot reader. In the end, they are there to deepen the experience of the tarot reading.

Astrological Associations of the Major Arcana

• The Fool: Uranus
• The Magician: Mercury
• The High Priestess: Moon
• The Empress: Venus
• The Emperor: Aries
• The Hierophant: Taurus
• The Lovers: Gemini
• The Chariot: Cancer
• Strength: Leo
• The Hermit: Virgo
• Wheel of Fortune: Jupiter
• Justice: Libra
• The Hanged Man: Neptune
• Death: Scorpio
• Temperance: Sagittarius
• The Devil: Capricorn
• The Tower: Mars
• The Star: Aquarius
• The Moon: Pisces
• The Sun: Sun
• Judgment: Pluto
• The World: Saturn

Astrological Associations of the Court Cards

• Aries: King of Wands
• Taurus: Queen of Pentacles
• Gemini: Knight of Swords
• Cancer: King of Cups
• Leo: Queen of Wands
• Virgo: Knight of Pentacles
• Libra: King of Swords
• Scorpio: Queen of Cups
• Sagittarius: Knight of Wands
• Capricorn: King of Pentacles
• Aquarius: Queen of Swords
• Pisces: Knight of Cups

Please also visit our Tarot Astrology section to learn more about your Tarot sign.

The Signifier Card is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

Tarot cards serve many functions. One of the most useful is their ability to help us focus or meditate. In general, meditation involves focusing the mind in order to reach a level of relaxation, concentration or sense of presence. There are many types of meditation methodologies and Tarot cards certainly can be useful for many of these practices. Not only can they enable one to focus on specific life lessons or intentions, meditations with the Tarot can certainly help you develop a richer relationship to your Tarot cards. More importantly, meditations with the Tarot can deepen your interpretations of the cards.

Tarot readings offer powerful spiritual lessons. They truly are one of the most resourceful spiritual tools available today. They offer advice, teach us about ourselves, and help us to develop self-confidence. They can also help us to focus and visualize. To really understand how we can implement the Tarot in all areas of our lives, we need to know them intimately. Meditations on the Tarot can do just that. 

When learning to read Tarot cards, it’s always useful to gather as much information about each individual card as you can. Remember, that every card has a distinct story and meaning. Each card depicts a character or characters that represent individual temperaments and dispositions. As we meditate on these, we can find ourselves relating intimately with these personas. We can gather strength from them. We can also learn from them. In the end, the Tarot can teach us about our very natures.

This is a great meditation exercise that can be used with Tarot cards. I often use this exercise when I am performing Tarot readings for myself. Because it’s much more difficult to remain objective while reading for myself, I will utilize this meditation method to gather as much meaning as I can from the cards themselves.

1. Begin by establishing a space that is quiet and safe. You may sit or lay down.
2. Pick a card from the deck or use one of the cards from your readings.
3. Visual grasp everything you can from this particular card. Note its colors, imagery and characters.
4. Close your eyes and see this image in your mind. Imagine it expanding, becoming larger and larger until it fills the room.
5. Now, imagine that you can step into this image. Visualize yourself becoming part of its image.
6. Once you have achieved this, it’s time to let your mind start wandering. What are you feeling? What are the characters doing? How are they interacting?
7. When you feel comfortable, visualize yourself interacting with the characters. What might you say to them? What might they say to you?
8. When you feel as though you have received all the information you need, you can slowly pull yourself out of the image. Allow it to shrink back to its normal size and when you feel ready, open your eyes.
9. Now for the most important aspect of this Tarot meditation. Write your experience down. If you have a Tarot journal, this is the place to describe your experience. Be as detailed as you can. You may want to write about your emotional process or simply just dot down what you discovered within the card.

You can practice this exercise when ever you feel the need or simply want to know more about a particular card. One thing that is important to note, is that your experiences will change over time. What you experience with one card may be a totally different experience on another day. They key is to stay present with your discoveries as they reveal a great deal of information about yourself at a particular time.

Tarot Meditation is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

Although many people tend to consult the Tarot cards for knowledge about particular situations, Tarot readings can also disclose important information about one’s self. In fact, tarot readings can provide us knowledge about our own, individual natures. When I refer to natures, I am referring to our distinctive personalities and emotional temperaments.

Tarot readings reflect your emotions and perceptions. Perhaps the most powerful contribution the Tarot offers is its ability to help you discover who you are. Self-awareness helps one identify what their world view is. It also reflects how one’s ideas and concepts affect their significant relationships. More importantly, Tarot readings can disclose one’ own view of themselves.  

Tarot readings can reveal your specific personality type, your emotional tendencies and what you may be feeling at the time of the reading. The knowledge you receive from a reading can help you have a shift in consciousness. When this occurs, you have an opportunity to not only gather important information about your self, but you can also have a change in perspective. You can view the world from a new frame of reference. In other words, the more you understand yourself, the easier it will be to navigate through your current life issues or challenges.

It’s important to acknowledge, however, that the Tarot does not represent real permanence. They are merely a tool for reflection. So when you are utilizing the Tarot for self-knowledge, it typically only discloses information for that particular time. When you have and emotional shift, the cards change accordingly.

The Tarot can help facilitate change, both as an internal process as well as influence your relationship to your particular circumstances. Thus, what you experience one day may not represent what you will be experiencing on another. This is an important function of growth. Self-knowledge does not remain stagnant. It changes as we grow and mature as individuals.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved.

Tarot Reading for Self-Knowledge is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

While there are literally hundreds of  tarot card spreads to choose from, there are certain times where there are situations that require spreads of our own design. There may also be specific spreads that work better for you than others. By designing your own Tarot spread, you can frame a Tarot reading towards your particular style. More importantly, a personal spread connects you to the Tarot. It does this by allowing the Tarot to speak to you in your own language and philosophical viewpoint. Regardless of your motivation, there a number of approaches that can help you design your own spread.

There are times in which a specific problem calls for a certain type of spread. In these cases you need to examine the true nature of the problem. It’s important to understand the underlying issues that are at hand. For example, is the Tarot reading about love, spirituality, money, career, or health? Tarot spreads are largely dependent on the types of areas you wish to focus on. There are times when certain areas of focus can overlap and, in these cases, it’s important to remain flexible.

Tarot spreads can be broken down into as many components that are necessary. For example, if you choose to do a health Tarot reading, you could include as part of your spread a design that focuses on how the health issue in question are effecting the nature of relationships with others. To do this, you could place a card within the Tarot spread that highlights how those around you may be adapting or influencing your health issues. Ultimately, your own designs can be both practical and intuitive. You need to be aware of the issues that need to be addressed from a practical point of view and allow your intuition to guide you towards the issues that you feel require attention.

As you develop your own design for a Tarot Spread, you need to determine a meaningful pattern. In other words, which cards get placed in which positions? Which card goes first and which card comes last? This is the most personal element in designing your own Tarot spread. This process depends on your own associations to the design you choose. For example, do straight lines refer to time? Do circles refer to cycles? Below I have noted some quick references that may help you in your process.

• Squares: Order, Stability, Practicality
• Diamonds: Divinity, Four levels of consciousness, Four elements
• Circles: Cycles, Seasons, Phases
• Lines: Time (past, present and future), Movement, Causes
• Below: Unconscious, hidden influences, Core beliefs
• Above: Spiritual implications, Guidance
• Right: Outcome, Future, Expectations
• Left: Past, Influences

The most important thing to remember when designing your own Tarot spreads is to allow your creativity and intuition be your guide. There is no right or wrong Tarot spread. The goal is to design a Tarot spread that reflects your own approach to problem solving and self-discovery. Get creative and allow the Tarot to work for you.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

Getting Creative With Tarot Spreads is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

If you go into any metaphysical bookstore you will very likely find several books on the Tarot. They can be a valuable tool for the beginning Tarot reader. However, as you become increasingly familiar with the Tarot and tarot reading, you will find that you will interpret tarot card meanings less and less from what you have read in books, and more and more from your own personal interpretation of the cards. In the end, you will find that the best and most experienced Tarot readers are always the one’s who utilize their own personal associations to the cards.

Just as every individual has their own, unique point of view, Tarot reading offers you the insight to truly understand and interpret your own, personal story. It does this by illuminating the nature of your purpose and identifying how your story has framed your own view of the world. The more you become conscious of your story, the more you can understand yourself. This process you can also help you to understand the story of others. When we identify with another person’s experience, we can gain a deeper understanding of our shared experience. This is our humanity.

As a Tarot reader, it’s important to be able to identify where your story ends and another person’s begins. Neutrality and objectivity will be your greatest allies in Tarot reading, particularly if you are reading for someone other than yourself. It’s also important that you become conscious of your own projections. In other words, you do not want to project your story onto someone else's. One way to ensure that you don’t do this is by committing yourself to your own process of self-discovery. Tarot reading can help you do this by reflecting your own story back to you.

The following exercise can be very useful for this process:

Separate the 22 Major Arcana cards out from the rest of the deck. Begin first with the Fool Tarot Card followed by the rest placed in numerical order. Thus, the Fool would be followed by the Magician, The Magician would be followed by the High Priestess, etc…

Next, take out a piece of paper and examine the first card: The Fool Tarot Card. Ask yourself the following question:

• What is the story of the Fool?
• Where have I been the Fool?
• Where does my story differ from the Fool? Where is it the same?
• If the Fool where to speak to me, what might he say to me? What might I say to Him?
• What might the Fool say to the card that follows him? In this case, it would be the Magician.

You can continue this narrative throughout the Major Arcana until you finish with the World Tarot card. Allow each card to tell you a story. In turn, you can use the cards to tell your own story. The ultimate purpose of this exercise is to help you identify your own story and life journey. This exercise can also deepen your understanding of tarot cards meanings.

This exercise is also a great way to interpret the cards for those for whom you may be reading. Knowing traditional interpretations can be useful, but there is nothing more powerful than letting the Tarot cards speak for themselves.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

Tarot Reading: Finding Meaning in the Cards is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

There tends to be an overall apprehension when interpreting reversed tarot card meanings in Tarot readings. Typically, many tarot readers and reference books tend to believe reversed card positions are more negative in nature. What people fail to recognize, however, is that reversed cards often provide us with the solutions that we have been seeking. They reveal what behaviors we must become aware of and, in some cases, reference important influences we may not necessarily been conscious of. They always encourage a shift in one’s perspective.

All of the cards have unique reversed meanings which are subject to interpretations. Some people find this particularly uncomfortable due their off-putting associations. However, more often than not, reversed cards tend to reveal important clues to our current challenges and situations. In Tarot readings, they reveal delays, frustrations, misdirected energy and uncertainty. Discovering why you may be experiencing such obstacles certainly helps you explore the areas you need to change. More importantly, they can help you as a Tarot reader; giving you guidance as to how you might help those you are reading for. They serve as wake up calls and disclose the areas in which someone may need to pay closer attention.

In most Tarot readings, reversed cards tend to also highlight blocked energy. Often they represent the areas in which growth is being prohibited. The true question lies in what one must do to work through these blocks. Energetic blocks tend to come from one’s emotions, psychology, past trauma, or spiritual stagnation. We all have them and they are there to encourage us to find our own inner harmony and balance. Energetic blocks serve a purpose. In some cases they protect us from information we are not ready to process and, in other cases, they are there to protect us from getting hurt. Working through them can be a daunting process, but it always a necessary one. In the end they teach us about our own selves and help us discover who we really are.

Another important aspect to reversed cards is their associations to our pasts. In Tarot readings, reversed cards can reveal past issues that we have not worked through or let go of. This is particular true for Tarot readings that deal with the influences of one’s past. In these cases card reversals tend to reveal where one’s past is hindering their desired outcome. The most common occurrence of such issues is in love Tarot readings. Relationships, in general, struggle with the projections of one’s past. When there are card reversals in love Tarot readings, it usually pertains to the influence of one’s experiences from past relationships. Fear is the underlying root for the majority of our relationship issues. Reversed cards can reveal the source of theses fears and can help one overcome their apprehension and defensiveness within their relationships.

Finally, reversed cards can disclose one’s own level of inner conflict. In Tarot readings, reversed cards can emphasize where we feel incongruent. They can also highlight were we have internalized our problems. These issues typically involve the unresolved emotions that we continue to struggle with throughout our life times. By becoming aware of our own inner conflicts, we can discover the areas in our lives that we wish to change or master. We can learn to identify the path of the heart; our sense of purpose and belonging in this world.

Even though reversed cards may appear to have negative connotations, they truly are our beacons of light. They always remind us to look outside of the ordinary. In most cases, reversed cards are the doorways to inner knowledge. They always provide us the answer we need to move beyond our limitations.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

Reversed Cards in Tarot Reading is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

Perhaps the most effective method for learning the Tarot is to start a Tarot journal. A Tarot journal enables you to explore your own personal associations to the Tarot cards. It is also helps you to identify the key tarot symbolism that you are personally drawn to. As you become more comfortable with the Tarot’s imagery, the easier it will become to identify and remember the various Tarot card meanings. Ultimately, as you become more comfortable with the Tarot cards, you will be able to perform your own Tarot readings with ease and confidence. The best Tarot readers are the ones that have developed their own system of interpretations. Books can be quite useful, but by developing your own associations to the cards, the Tarot interpretations become much more meaningful.

I always suggest using a three ring note book. This allows you the freedom to move the pages around or separate them into categories. Some people, however, would prefer to keep their journals on their computers. In either case, both approaches are valid. The important thing to remember is to find a process that you are comfortable with. Keeping a Tarot journal is merely a process that helps you keep track of your thoughts, ideas and feelings about the Tarot cards. You are free to get as creative as you want. You may wish to illustrate the cards in a sketchbook. This method certainly helps you become familiar with the cards. It also helps you retain the Tarot’s imagery. As you start to do you own Tarot readings, you will come to appreciate the nuances and reflections you explored in your journal.

I always recommend starting with the Major Arcana cards.  The Major Arcana are the non-suit cards, which make up the first 22 cards of the Tarot deck.  The Major Arcana Tarot cards refer to the important life challenges and spiritual lessons we must face on our journeys through Life. They represent our levels of self-development and reveal major life transitions. In Tarot readings, the Major Arcana reveal the karmic and consequential lessons you must grasp in order to move forward.

To begin, separate the 22 Major Arcana cards out from the Tarot deck. Although the Fool Tarot Card is associated number is zero, he can be placed in the beginning or end of the twenty-two Major Arcana Cards. As you grasp the Fool Tarot card, allow yourself to explore the image. What stands out for you? What message does he wish to tell you? Here are some helpful questions that can help you in this process.

• What are the colors? What do these mean to you?
• What symbolism sticks out to you? What do these mean to you?
• What does the landscape reveal?
• Is there any vegetation? What does this mean to you?
• What is the “feel” of this card?
• Are there any animals?
• If this card had words, what would it say to you?
• If you could imagine yourself in the picture, where would you be going? What would you be doing? What would you be feeling?

The list of question can go on and on. In time, you will develop your own system of exploration. The important thing to remember is to let the cards speak to you. Your Tarot journal is there to record your thoughts and feelings. As you gain a deeper understanding of the Tarot cards, your own associations will begin to make perfect sense and, ultimately, your ability to perform tarot readings will become second nature.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved. Images of individual tarot cards are from the Aquatic Tarot Deck created by Andreas Schröter and are used with his permission. They are for example purposes only.

Keeping A Tarot Journal is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.

The Hero’s journey is mankind’s oldest story. It is a story that transcends all cultures and ideologies. Symbolically, it is our own story as it is an allegory for the individual paths we must journey upon. It is constantly being retold and manifested within each of our own lives. It is the story of the soul; and its ultimate purpose is to remind us why we are here and what we must accomplish.

The Hero’s journey shares a common thread. This thread reflects the experiences of our souls. These are the common themes and experiences we instinctively understand. C.G. Jung first explained this phenomenon as the experience of the Collective Unconscious. The Collective Unconscious is part of the unconscious mind. This is an inner realm that ties all mankind together into one collective experience. It is inherent knowledge. It is the parts of our selves that have an unspoken understanding of a shared experience.

We can identify our shared experiences through archetypal imagery. These are common images and visual patterns that are repeated throughout time. They are the symbols that have universal meanings and references. Regardless of one’s cultural, religious or educational background, archetypal imagery speaks to us all. They are depicted in our myths, fairytales and iconography. They are everywhere. They are our witches, angels, crones, maidens and warriors. They are within every story told and they are within our own personal stories.

The Tarot is one of the only pictorial sources that depict the Hero’s journey in its entirety. The Hero’s journey is told through the 22 Major Arcana cards. The Major Arcana refer to the non-suit cards, which make up the first 22 cards of the Tarot deck.  What is so impressive about the Major Arcana, is their visual reference to archetypal symbolism. More importantly, they emphasize the significant life phases we all must encounter on our journeys. These are the stages of our psychological and spiritual development. The Tarot offers a structured interpretation for our life path and enables us to grasp these concepts at our deepest core.

Jung described the human experience as a process of individuation and self-growth. This is a process of discovering who you are, of becoming whole and conscious of your individuality. In the Tarot, the Major Arcana reflects this journey into two distinct stages. The First half of the Major Arcana explores the path of self-development and individuality. This typically relates to our growth from child to adult and addresses many of the external challenges we face along the way. Such difficulties may include the development of our own self-identity or dealing with life's major transitional challenges. The second stage involves an inward journey towards spiritual transcendence. Their Tarot card meanings most often illustrate the road to enlightenment. These include the many philosophical challenges and spiritual phases we encounter as we mature towards enlightenment. When this process is completed, the personality becomes unified and the psyche is whole.

By truly understanding the process of this journey, one can learn about the important aspects of the development of one’s self. The Tarot can reflect where you are on this journey, what you must overcome, and what you must come to accept. The Tarot enables us to explore the hidden parts of ourselves. They bring light into the unknown and highlight the significance of our journeys. They are guides to self-awareness and never cease in bringing forth our own truths.

© 2010 Tarotreadingpsychic.com. All Rights Reserved.
 

The Hero’s Journey is a post from: Tarot Reading Psychic your free tarot guide.