Rosewicket Wicca Coven

Tarot cards are one of the most popular forms of divination. There are dozens of ways you can use them, spreads you can use, ways to interpret the cards, and even thousands of decks out there that you can purchase.

By the end of this lecture/guide, I hope to go over the meanings of all 78 cards, their reverse meanings, general use, and some spreads. That is, however, a lot to tackle, so

I will start with the general use.

Section One - Introduction

The first thing to think about is what deck should you choose. This is totally up to the individual. You may find that you want one deck for yourself and another deck to do readings for others with. You probably want to start with the deck that only you will use. Look for one that speaks to you, don't get one just because it's cheap - The first rule of Tarot is building a bond with your cards, so make sure it's a deck you like.

I suggest you do not buy a deck that has been used, opened, or touched. Tarot cards are very receptive to energy (which is why they work so well) so be sure you don't let any bad energy cling to them.

Cleansing and charging your tarot deck is one of the most important steps. You may use your method of cleansing to make sure no extra energy clings to your cards, and charging is different depending on each person. It is however VERY important that you bond with your cards...or else their just pictures printed on cardstock. One of the best methods is to spend a while shuffling them so that the cards are randomized and to sleep with your deck under your pillow. However you may construct a ritual to do so if you choose.

Because Tarot cards are so receptive, it is generally recomended that you keep your tarot cards on yoru altar or in a special place. You may choose that your cards will work fine if kept in your backpack, but it is usually best to make sure that they aren't put in any surroundings that can damagae the accuracy of their readings. You may keep them in the box they came in, but it is a general consensus that you shoudl keep them in something like a wooden box or wraqpped in cloth, preferably something with meaning to you. Both of my decks are wrapped in scarves my Mom gave to me.

Once you decide to do readings, there are some general lines you need to follow. These are very general, as I have not yet gone over all the steps, and these are for those who are starting out with reading tarot cards. It is important that when you begin, you need to take into account that teh deck is introducing itself to you ; just like how you are trying to figure your deck out, it is trying to figure you out. So don't be swayed if your first few readings make no sense at all. Also, the closer you are to your deck the better you are at reading it (just like people), so it's common for the first few predictions to be inaccurate, just have faith and keep practicing.

Anyway, if you have a question in mind, here is a good general guide for simple readings:

1) While not always necessary, it is best if you clear your mind first. This can be anything from spending a while meditating to simply taking a few deep breaths.

2) shuffle the cards. There are many ways to do this, depending on what you want to do, I will go over specific methods later. I, personally, shuffle by splitting the deck into two halves, pulling them back and letting them overlap by running my thumb across - this is the way playing cards are shuffled, called "rifling". However, the important part here is that you are shuffling the cards while focusing on your intent. Focus on your question and the question only, do not try and force an answer thought the cards. If your mind wanders and you start thinking about homework, your cards will likey tell you about your homework.

3) Lay the cards down infront of you. Some people use specific spreads, some make up their own, and some use none at all. cards can be anywhere from one card to teh whole deck. Generally, spreads are from 4-15 cards, but not always. The cards that show up dictate your interpretations.

4) Interpret. This is the most important step. The more effort you put into reading your cards, the better your readings will be. be sure you take into account (1)the general card meaning, (2) the author or artist of the decks meaning, and (3) your own interpretation or feelings about the card.

Sometimes, however, after you bond with your deck and get used to it, you may find that sometimes you don't want to find the answer to your question, you just want to ask your deck for it's opinion or show you what you need to see. when done correctly, this is a great way to do readings. When you ask a question, you are usually taking into account only your side of things, and you are looking at only the details you think are significant. sometimes a more cansual, and almost conversational method works well, where you just ask your deck to show you what it wants you to see or what you should think about. I will go over this more in teh next post when we go over different spreads and reading methods.

Coming Next: Simple Spreads...

The next portion will be written by next Monday at the latest...

Okay, so before I actually give you spreads, I want to go into a little more depth as to how a reading words...

First, you set up your space. For some of you this means laying down an altar cloth and lighting lots of candles, and purifying the room. For others, it means you put your cards out on thd table. Do what works... I personally only do really formal readings if the question is very imporant (or with someone else), otherwise I can do a simple spread without having to cast a circle. It's up to you.

Then there is deciding what you are going to do. What is your question? Do you have more than one? What aspects of the quetion are you concerned with? Will it be beneficial to know the answer, or will it just stress you out? Further more, what variables are involved? If you have a question like 'when will the world come to an end' there are so many variables and it would be so difficult to interpret that you are unlikely to get a solid answer. On the other hand, doing a reading to see what your day will be like is much more likely to be successful because the variables are mostly dictated by the events of today.

The third is shuffling... You may do this in whatever manner seems to work, but be wary of how damaging it can be if you shuffle too forcefully. The main methods used are "riffling" (the way one shuffles playing cards) and "lacing". It is best if you find a consistant method.

Be sure you focus on the question while you shuffle, but try not to force and answer.

Now, you lay the cards down and interpret. Here are some good simple spreads...

Tarot Card Spreads

The Celtic Cross Spread...

This is a very common method, probably because it is able to reveal many variables in one small spread. Here is the layout:

As you can see, this spread forms a celtic cross, a circle, and a staff. The cards are numbered in the order they should be put down & read.

1. The Significator: surprisingly, there are many ways you can read this first card. Usually it represents the person asking the question (usually you). This card can be picked at random to show you the heart of the matter and your position at the moment. Or you can choose it from the deck because it relates to you. Some believe if you choose a card it would depend on your age, gender and appearnce (for example, a young man with dark hair and eyes would be the Knight of Pentacles) and others say you should just use a card that you personally feel connected to. It's up to you.

2. The second card was traditionally called "that which crosses him/her", meaning it is the opposing force. This is usually the case, but not always. Most often it is the source of the problem, or the main force that is working against you. However it can also be a 'counterpart' or balancing force.

3. The third card is usually the root of the cause, or unknown factors that contribute to the situation. Often it is what lead you to the problem in the first place, or unseen events that contributed without your knowledge.

4. The past, or events that have lead up to this point and contributed in some way. It is the forces that are behind you, but that brought you to where you are now.

5. There are many ways to read this card. It is usually reffered to as "what crowns him/her" depending on the situation, it could be the most positive outcome. It is above the significator, and therefor could be what you know, or what you believe to be true; conversly this could be a bad thing, such as assumptions and things you have misinterpreted. It depends on the question and how you intend it to be read.

6. The sixth card is both literally and figurativly what lies before the significator. It is often future events or trends that will develop on the way, the immediate future development, but not the final outcome.

7. The first card that makes up the 'staff' of the spread. It pertains to the subconciousness, things that you may not have been aware of or things that "have been hidden" up untill now.

8. The eigth card is the environment, such as friends and family, relationships and their attitudes towards the situation or how they will effect it.

9. The ninth card represents some of the strongest internal factors. They are your hopes and fears relevent to the situation.

10. The final outcome if things continue on this path.

The Pentagram Spread

This is a very simple but good spread to work with, especially if you do a lot of work with the 5 elements.

1. The significator. See the first card in teh celtic cross spread (above).

2. The question in relation to earth. The roots or stability of teh situation, what is likey to stay the same or what is likely to inflouence material variables.

3. air. The thoughts and intellect involved, your current mental state, overall the intellectual aspect of the situation.

4. Fire. Any big changes in the situation, things that are likely to change, or teh source of restlessness/anger (if any) in the question.

5. Water. Things that will gradually or smoothly change. Your emotions about the situation, or the feelings of others that are imporant. Relationship issues or factors thata re imporant or likely to shift.

6. The spiritual side of the situation, divine forces or things that you cannot change. Possibly the future outcome.

The Past - Future Spread

1. The past, things that lie behind you or have inflouenced you before.

2. The present, your current standpoint or forces acting on you right now.

3. The near future or immediate outcome.

4. The long term effects or long lasting consequences.

To be continued later today!

Tarot Card Spreads Continued

The 15 Card Pentagram spread

(1-3, The uppermost point, are the spirit of the situation)

1. The Past

2. The Present

3. The Likely Future Outcome

(4-6, the lower left point, are the Earth of the Situation)

4. The Roots of situations in the past, the foundation of the problem

5. The Foundation or acting forces of the Present

6. The root issues/foundation of the Future.

(7-9, the Upper right pointds, are the water of the situation)

7. The emotional issues/feelings of the past

8. The feelings in the Present (that should be acknowledged)

9. The emotional State of the future

(10-12, the upper left points, are the Air of the situation)

10. Mental State or Thoughts of the Past

11. Your intellectual standpoint at the Present

12. Your mentak state in the Future

( The lower right point, cards 12-15, are the Fire of the situation)

13. Actions that have lead to the past.

14. Actions that should be taken now (short term)

15. Actions/reactions that should be taken long term.

Romany Spread...

This one is popular because it's simple and gives a lot of information. It's good if you want a general overview or have many "sub questions" that play a role in the final outcome.

The first row is the relevent past, or elements of the past that need to be recognized. It reads from 1 being the most distant past to 7 being the recent past.

The second row is the present, or issues pertainig to the present. The cards read as 8 beign the most dependent on the past, with 14 being the element most likely to inflouence the future.

The third row is the future, read with 15 being the nearest future and 21 being the farthest.

Notes: some peopel read this spread with the bottom row being the past and top being the future, I leave it up to you.

And be aware that the farther into the future you try to read, the less accurate or more subject to change your readings will be.

Tarot Encyclopedia

I do hope to sometime get around to posting definitions and meanings for all the cards and their reversals, but untill then you can try using these.

Aeclectic Tarot Card Meanings

Aeclectic Tarot Reversed card Meanings

Mystic Eye Basic Tarot Card Meanings

ATA Tarot Interpretations

Good Luck.

I have been doing a daily (when I can daily) spread that is simple and informative. It is in a cross pattern such as....

               1

       3      5      4

               2

1= Work

2=Home 

3=Unexpected

4=Your feelings

5=Final outcome

I always tell people that even if you are not working at a job - you are performing work of somekind - school, if you are a stay at home mom or homemaker, voluenteer work and things of that nature.

I like this spread because it compartmentalizes different aspects of your day.

Chi - I was wondering if you have ever experienced this when working with the tarot...

Last week I was giving a friend a daily reading using the spread above and it felt like the tarot was not working with the spread...it was like it was moving the spread to the side and telling me more. Like it had it's own agenda of what it wanted to tell me (usually I find that true anyway) but it was like, no Autumn - I am trying to tell you something else and the individual cards I am showing you do not represent what the individual cards in the spread represent. Do you get what I mean?

So after I got through the 5-cards, I looked at all of them and went over them again and told her what I was feeling each card really represented. It was like an urgent feeling - they wanted her to have this information - but not in the way the spread would have represented. So I re-read them in the way I felt was right. I will say it was not a "good/ fluffy" reading. It was kind of harsh information and that is why I think it was necessary to re-read them as a whole, not as each card represented a specific area in her life like the spread (work, home, unexpected, your feeling, final outcome)

That has happened to me once before. Have you ever picked up on that - where the Tarot is not complying with the spread you chose to use because it has something more important to tell and the information will not be clear in the spread that you chose.

Autumn, your question leads righty into my next topic/suggestion...

The conversational Method.

When you get good at using Tarot cards, or maybe if you have a knack for them, you will notice that asking a tarot deck a question is much like asking your friend something.

Tarot cards are not necessarily 'fortune telling' cards - they tell us things based off of what we know at the present, and answers are subject to change. Just like when you ask a person a question, they answer as best they can: sometimes their answers are concrete, and sometimes not, sometimes they are enthusiastic, sometimes they are not.

Once exercise that I think is very important for people to do is what I call a conversational method. Instead of saying "tell me this" it is exactly like carrying on a conversation with your deck. Such as "What do you think?" "What should I do here in your opinion?" "What should I watch out for at work/home/school?" and so on.

Going back to the thought that consulting the Tarot is like consulting a friend, sometimes giving them a spread detracts from their meaning (though otherwise they can be quite useful). Imagine if someone asked how you were, and then halfway through you interrupted them to say "No, tell me about work." That would take away from what they really had to tell you.

The nice thing about this method is it can be done in dozens of different ways. maybe you just want to shuffle the deck and then flip cards over at random, and interpret them as you may in whatever way that fits. I, personally, like another method.

I cut the deck into three piles after shuffling. sometimes if I want an answer from a certain category I will ask things like "Tell be about school" or "Tell me about my relationships with friends and family" and so on... Then I spread one third of the cards out in an arch. The other two piles are kept to my left and right. I pick a card from the arch at random and flip it over. I usually feel that this is what the deck wants me to see, such as "this will come up", and then I usually take cards from the left and right piles and let these represent what I should do or the outcome.

But you can be even more general, and let the cards tell you what they want, without directing them at all.