What spreads are best to use for a beginner?

It is true that there is a bewildering number of complicated spreads are out there.  However, if you're just beginning, it's best to keep things simple. This helps with the continuity of the reading.  If you have to check your books for the meaning of each position and each card, it's difficult to form an overall picture of the reading. 

It is best to use no more than four cards for each spread.  You might also for example use the three-card past-present-future spread.  This is very simple: the card on the left represents past issues, the middle the present, and the right issues that may impact your question in the future. 

If you'd like to be a little more creative, try assigning your own position meanings.  In a relationship question, for example, the left-hand card may represent you, the right-hand the other person, and the middle card the resolution or answer to your question.

When you're more experienced, add more cards to your basic spread.  You can either create your own more complex spreads, or consult the Internet or books on the various ways to use spreads.  www.facade.com is a good Web site to investigate spreads.  You can select a spread from a drop-down menu, and see the focus of the spread, as well as the meaning of each position.

Do I need some special psychic abilities to read the Tarot?

No you do not.  Everybody has some latent psychic ability within themselves.  The point is to develop this ability while focusing on your specific personality, the appeal of your cards, and the person you are reading for.

It is of course best if you begin by doing readings only for yourself.  This will help you to get to know your cards and spreads thoroughly.  As you become increasingly good at interpreting your cards, you'll become more confident, and you can begin doing readings for others.

You should give yourself time and enjoy the process of getting to know the cards.  Reading them is a combination of knowing each card meaning and your intuition.  Ultimately, the answer is that anyone who wants to can read the Tarot.

How can meditation help in the preparation process?

Meditation is a good way to focus on the reading you are about to do, especially if you're reading for yourself.  Draw a significator and hold it between your hands.  Feel its energy and how its meanings connect to you.  Clear your mind and look at the card.  Then close your eyes and focus on the image.  Let the image push everything else from your mind.  This will result in a much more focused and effective reading.

If reading for others, you can perhaps ask them a few questions before the day of the reading.  When they make their appointment with you, try to get a feeling for their personality and needs regarding their reading.  Immediately after speaking to the person, draw a significator card, and meditate on it.  Do this daily until the time of the reading arrives.  Once again, the reading will be more focused and effective for your effort.

How can I use learning in my Tarot adventures?

When you are a beginner, it is vitally important that you spend about 75% of your Tarot time on learning and planning.  This process helps you to get to know your specific deck, and also to become familiar with the interpretation process.  When you become more experienced and choose to purchase more decks, you will begin to find that every new deck becomes a new set of 'friends' to discover and get to know.

There are several ways in which you can learn the Tarot.  Start by looking at the cards themselves.  Consider each card and think about what the images mean to you.  Don't be discouraged if nothing comes to you. This is a process that takes time, like a new relationship.  If thoughts to come to you, make notes.  It is a good idea to get a notebook specifically for this purpose.  Take your time investigating the cards.  Take days or weeks.  Look at one or two cards per day.  Or do them all at once!  It doesn't matter - as long as you're happy and comfortable with the process.

Once you've looked at the cards and the images, you can read through the accompanying booklet.  Most card decks have a booklet with explanations of each card, and also suggestions for readings and spreads.  Compare this with your notes.

Finally, you can also look at sources such as books or the Internet to help you get to know your cards, the interpretation process, and how to read the Tarot.  A good place to start is:

<a href="http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/">Aeclectic Tarot</a>

How do I choose a significator?

You can go two ways with this: you can either choose a signifcator that is representative of the querent, or let the deck choose one for you.

In the first case, when the querent is not you and you don't know them very well, make an assessment by asking questions.  Ask the person what she enjoys doing or where she would prefer to take a holiday.  What languages does she want to learn and does she like to read?  It is perhaps best to do this before the day of the reading so you can put some thought into selecting a significator card.

In the second, ask the querent to shuffle the cards, and tell him or her to draw a card from the deck.  Discuss the significator and relate the meaning of the card to the attitudes or personality of the querent.

Who should I do readings for?

In the beginning the best querent is yourself. Learn all you can about your card deck and the various spreads you can use.  Practice different questions and see if you can find insights from the cards before you check for their meanings.  In this way, you learn to interact with the cards.  A good starting point is the booklet included with most new decks.  Usually these contain not only the card meanings, but also valuable suggestions for readings and spreads.

When you feel more confident and experienced with the meanings of the Tarot, you can begin to read for family and friends.  It is important to realize that you don't have to read for others if you don't feel you want to or can.  Some card readers use their decks only for themselves, and this is perfectly okay.

When you feel that you are sufficiently experienced, and you want to, you can begin to do readings for others.  It may be a good idea to do this for free at first and then gradually increase your fee as you gain experience and confidence.

When you get your cards, remember that there is no obligation to read only for yourself, for family, or for others.  The only requirement is that you should be happy and comfortable with your decision.

Is cleansing an important step in preparation?

Cleansing is important in that it helps you and your cards to focus on reading at a particular time, without being burdened by past readings or any other concerns.  It also keeps the bond between yourself and your cards strong.  Cleansing is necessary because when you perform a reading, the cards become saturated with the energy of the particular people and reading involved. This needs to be cleansed away in order to optimize future readings.  You can cleanse your cards just before or after a reading, or both.  Even if you don't read very often, cleansing regularly is a good idea in order to maintain your connection to your cards. 

You can cleanse your cards in a variety of ways; this is a matter of personal choice.  Some prefer visualization, meditation, or affirmations, while others like a physical cleansing ritual such as incense or candles.  You can use any combination of elements for cleansing your cards.  Here are two rituals you can use for a starting point:

1.  Take your deck of cards in your hands and sit comfortably within your ritual space.  Close your eyes and take a deep breath.  Imagine a clean, white light entering you and absorbing any impurities in your body.  Exhale the impurities away.  Inhale again and open your eyes.  Look at your cards and exhale clean, white energy onto them.  Imagine the energy removing any impurities from your cards.  Blow on your cards and imagine the impurity dissipating.  Repeat this as many times as you feel necessary.

2. For this ritual, light two white candles and an incense stick of your choice.  Arrange these on your altar together with your card deck.  Visualize the light from the candles merging with the smoke from your incense.  This forms a ball of white light over your altar.  Pick up the cards and hold them over the altar.  Imagine the white light surrounding your cards and then absorbing into them.  Do this as many times as necessary, until you feel that your cards are cleansed.

What is a Tarot Deck?

A Tarot deck consists of 78 cards.  These are decorated with symbols, pictures, colors, and numbers.  Each card also has a “name," which is associated with its meaning in relation to the deck as a whole and its interpretation. 

The cards are divided into two groups: the Minor Arcana or everyday cards, and Major Arcana or life lesson cards.  There are 22 Major Arcana cards.  The rest are Minor Arcana, but these also have their own specific hierarchy.  Each group or 'house' of minor arcana is numbered from 1-10, and each also includes what are generally known as the "Court Cards", consisting of the page, the knight, the Queen and the King.

Where did the Tarot Begin?

The history of the Tarot has been more or less lost in the mists of time.  Even experts can't agree on so much as when exactly the first Tarot deck saw its first light.  The first Tarot deck's origin is placed somewhere between teh 14th and 15th centuries.  It is however generally agreed that the first Tarot deck was created in Italy.

It is said that the original purpose of the Tarot was simply to play games.  Indeed, the Tarot is the ancestor of our playing cards today.  The first Tarot was based upon the playing cards of the time, with number cards and court cards.  The difference was that a Queen was added to each court suite, and 22 cards not belonging to any of the suites were also added.

At the time, the Tarot was most popularly used in a card game that was similar to bridge, called the Game of Triumphs.  Of t he 22 added cards, 21 were used as permanent trumps in this game, and they outranked all the other cards, much like they do in Tarot readings today.  The Game of Triumphs and the Tarot cards became very popular throughout Italy, and later spread to France, Sicily, Austria, Germany, and the rest of Europe.

It was only centuries later that occultists in France and England began to see deeper meanings in the Tarot images.  This led to the use of the cards as divination tool and its general use in the occult arts.

For more on the fascinating history of the Tarot, feel free to visit "The Hermitage" at http://www.tarothermit.com/.  This is an excellent site that explores the history of the Tarot, and how the cards relate to our playing cards, as well as how the Tarot itself is used today.

How do I prepare for a Tarot reading?

The first step is to create an atmosphere that will help you get in the right "mood" for Tarot reading.  Some people like to make it a really occult experience, with candles, incense, an altar and dim lighting.  Others simply like to do their readings in a tidy and organized space.  You should create a space that will help you focus on the reading and the cards - there should be as little noise and distraction as possible.

The second consideration is whether you are doing the reading only for yourself, or for others as well.  When reading for others, you can perhaps have a preliminary meeting to discuss their needs regarding reading space.  Some may expect a more occult setting, while others prefer a simple, everyday setup.

When it is time for the reading, the person for whom you are reading should shuffle the cards.  If it's you, obviously you shuffle the cards; if you're reading for someone else, they should shuffle them.  This charges the cards with the energy of the querent.

How do I apply Numerology to the Tarot?

Numerology is a very common direction to take with the Tarot.  You can approach this from a very general to a very specific viewpoint. 

Specifically, each card has its own number.  This applies to both the major and minor arcana. Each of these numbers have a numerological meaning that can also apply to the meaning of the card.

More generally, look at the amount of cards in the deck (78), the amount of arcana (2), and the amount of suites (4). The amount of cards in the two arcana (major =22; minor= 56) can also provide greater depth of meaning for your Tarot experience.

Here are some helpful web sites for your investigations:

www.bewitchingways.com/tarot/numerology.htm

accessnewage.com/articles/Tarot/Tarot3.htm

How can I use astrology with the Tarot?

Astrology is a very wide and complicated field of study. It consists of a spiritual science that uses the stars, planets, and astral bodies to provide the individual with self-knowledge and knowledge about the world. While it may seem a bit overwhelming to the beginner, astrology can also help to enhance your experience of the Tarot.

A good place to start is the birth or sun signs, as they relate to the Tarot cards.  The site http://supertarot.co.uk/astrology/ gives some very good guidelins on this.

Some Tarot decks also include elements of astrology as part of their design.  If you want to make the learning process easier, you can buy one of these.  The Elemental Tarot and Celestial Tarot are good examples. These decks feature astrological symbols and a booklet of instructions on how to interpret these with the cards. This is an excellent way to start the learning process.

How do I cleanse myself before a reading?

There are many different spiritual directions you can go with this.  Cleansing your chakras is a very good starting point.

Begin by finding a comfortable place.  If you want, you can use the same room in which you do your readings.  This will connect your cleansing exercise with your reading.  Sit down, relax, and breathe slowly in and out.  Clear your mind and begin concentrating on each chakra.

Begin with the root chakra: visualise it clearly and feel it in your body.  Imagine that its color brightings with every breath that you inhale, and imagine any impurities flowing away from it as you breathe out.  Do this until the chakra feels thoroughly clean.  Continue until you reach the crown chakra.

When all the chakras have been individually cleansed, imagine that you are breathing in a clean white light.  It flows from the crown to the root chakra, and surrounds your body with a cleansing light.

You are now ready to come out of the visualization and begin your reading.  Slowly open your eyes and notice how your body feels cleansed and renewed.

Here is some good information on chakras:

Cleansing Your Chakras: http://www.mysticfamiliar.com/archive/healingcircle/ar_hc_cleansing_your_chakras6.htm

Chakras for Beginners: http://hubpages.com/hub/Chakras-for-Beginners

Chakra test: http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/chakratest.php

What are reversals and how do I used them in a reading?

The word "reversals" refers to upside-down cards in a Tarot reading. It is interesting to note that not all Tarot readers use reversals. The reason for this is that there is a lot of information already coming in from normally positioned cards. Others again feel that reversals provide a valuable extra dimension in a Tarot reading.

So how to interpret reversals?

There are a number of possibilities.  My blog post for 3 August includes web sites with valuable suggestions in this regard.

The most well-known interpretation for a reversal is the opposite of the card's upright meaning. A reversed Tower may for example be interpreted as some sort of prosperity or good luck. Although some experts believe that this interpretation is a misconception and should be avoided, it is up to you as the reader to use if it feels right.

Another very useful interpretation is that reversed cards represent blocked energy. If you get a reversed Star, for example, there may be energy that blocks your positive sense of the future.

Thirdly, reversed cards can add additional interpretations to the cards around them. They may for example represent influences that either block or assist the energies depicted in the upright cards in their proximity.

What is the best way to shuffle the cards?

Shuffling is an important step in the card reading process.  It is the physical connection between the querent and the cards. However, this does not mean that there is any one "correct" or "best" way to do it.  Whatever method is comfortable for you is best for you.  You may want to choose a method that does not cause too much damage through things like bending or accidental folding.

When reading for yourself, you can shuffle the cards as many times or as thoroughly as feels right to you.  When reading for someone else, shuffle the cards first, and then give to the querent to shuffle.  This physical contact promotes a feeling of connection with the outcome of the reading.

Like almost all other aspects of the Tarot, shuffling is a matter of choice and preference.  It is however important to approach the shuffling process with care: always respect your cards, and do not let them get damaged unnecessarily during the process.

How can I use the Tarot to increase my intuition?

What Tarot is not

The Tarot is not a prediction tool.  It will not give you any indication of exactly what will happen in your future.  It is therefore unlikely that a reading will reveal tall, dark, handsome strangers anywhere in your near dating future. 

The Tarot is also not evil.  Some people have been led to believe that the Tarot is evil by misguided leaders, teachers or parents.  They are simply a collection of cards with pictures on them.  Any properties that your deck has are those that you ascribe to them.  You use the cards for your purposes, as you see fit.

At its very basic level, the Tarot cards can be seen simply as a tool to help you on your life path.  Your readings can clarify and organize the events in your life, and help you decide what you need to do.  It can also give an indication of likely outcomes for certain actions, but this should not be confused in any way with predicting the future.