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The Basics of Tarot

The

TAROT

is one of the most commonly used tool

for divination. Amazingly, it is a

very simple

process - but rarely presented in a simple way.

And since this is "The Basics of Tarot", my hope

is that I can do that now. That being

said,

Tarot readings can get quite complicated, so

let's keep it simple for now.

STEP 1:

A traditional tarot reading involves a "seeker"

(someone who is looking for answers to

personal

questions) and a "reader" (someone who knows how

to interpret the cards).

STEP 2:
After the seeker has shuffled and cut the deck, the reader lays out
the chosen cards in a pattern called a "spread".

STEP 3:
Each position in the spread has a meaning, and each card has a
meaning as well. The reader combines these two meanings to shed light
on the seeker's question.

Before we go any further, remember to always use PROTECTION when
using any TOOL of DIVINATION.

THE CARDS:
The standard tarot deck consists of 78 cards divided into two
sections, the major and minor arcanas. The word arcana is the plural
of arcanum which means "profound secret." To the alchemists of the
Middle Ages, the arcanum was the secret of nature. The tarot cards
are therefore a collection of the "secrets" that underlie and explain
our universe.

THE MAJOR ARCANA: (click here)

The 22 cards of the major arcana are the heart of the deck. Each of
these cards symbolizes some universal aspect of human experience.
They represent the archetypes - consistent, directing patterns of
influence that are an inherent part of human nature.

THE MINOR ARCANA:

The other 56 cards are called the Minor Arcana. They are broken down
into four (4) "suits" - each with 14 cards. The first ten, just go
by numbers 1 to 10 -- and then you have a Page, a Knight, a Queen and
a King. Note: the 1 is called "Ace".

First, let's look at the 4 "suits" - after that, I will provide more
information about each individual card.

DEFINITION

1) Meaning, 2) Season, 3) Element and 4) Signs

WANDS / RODS

1) Jobs, employment, security; 2) Spring; 3) Fire; and 4)
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

CUPS

1) Emotions, feelings, perception; 2) Summer; 3) Water; and
4) Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer

SWORDS

1) Thoughts, mind, intellect; 2) Fall; 3) Air; and 4)
Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

PENTACLES / COINS

1) Security, material issues, money; 2) Winter; 3) Earth,
and 4) Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

So, just remember that WANDS have to do with Job/Security, CUPS have
to do with Emotions, SWORDS have to do with THOUGHTS, and PENTACLES
have to do with Money.

Now, each of these suits have 14 cards with individual meanings.
NOTE: These are NOT the only possible meanings of each of these
cards. I would imagine the meaning varies based on who you ask.
Just remember that the TRUE MEANING of each card is the one that
intuitively comes to you as applied to the QUESTION the seeker is
asking. Make sure to interpret it that way.

For example, if someone is asking about a job, you would expect to
see a lot of wands on the spread, but maybe a lot of pentacles come
up. So, the question they are asking may has a lot more to do with
"money" than a particular job. If you get a lot of cups, maybe see
it as how the job or change is job is affecting the individual on an
emotional level.

So here are the definitions I learned for each card: click here

NOW, THE SPREADS:

After you review these, then let's take a minute and speak of the
"spreads". There are many types of known spreads, and then there are
many who create their own. In a spread the position of the card and
the meaning of the card work together to get the seeker closer to the
answer they are seeking.

Here we are going to look at a 10-card spread. So, first, let the
seeker shuffle the card (the main purpose of this, is so that the
cards can absorb some of the energy of the seeker). Also ask him or
her to think of the question as they are shuffling.

Then, lay down the 10 cards as shown. Place them face up.

OK, HERE WE GO...

1) The "present situation" card (as it appliesto the question.
2) The "crossing" card (laid sideways on top of the first card. It
indicates what is "helping" or "hurting" the present situation.
3) The "basis of the matter" card. It indicates what the issue is
really about.
4) The "present" card. That which is happening now.
5) The "what's hanging over my head" card. This may or may not
happen.
6) The "immediate future" card. What will be the next thing to
happen.
7) The "worry" card. Your subconscious fears.
8) The "outside influences" card. This represents other's actions.
9) The "hopes and expectations" card. This is subconsciously what
your goals are.
10) The "outcome card". This is how it will ultimately be.

So keep in mind the seeker's question, the meaning of the placement
of the card, and the definition of the card itself. Then use your
intuition to package the data together to create the answer the
seeker needs to hear.

NOTE: As you see, I don't have any images of any particular Tarot
Deck. There are hundreds of them. And they all have 22 Major Arcana
and 56 Minor Arcana. Simply find the deck that most resonates with
your particular energy.

Hope that wasn't too complicated.