Tarot cards can be quite alluring to those who don’t know much about them. From the intricate symbols to the meaning behind each card, there is a lot to unpack from a simple tarot reading. Of course, the tarot is anything but simple. If you have a passing curiosity when it comes to tarot, you may be hesitant to try your hand at a reading yourself. But while it can make sense to have reservations about the unknown, there is a lot to discover about yourself and the world by learning how to read the tarot.
Whether you actually want to become adept at understanding the meaning of each card or you just want to satisfy the itch of intrigue you have about tarot, there are a few things to understand in advance. Consider these tips and discover more about this ancient practice.
Receiving a Deck
There are many loose guidelines surrounding tarot, though you should not feel restricted by these suggestions. As long as you respect the practice, being flexible with how you read the cards is fine. Most experts, for example, will suggest that a tarot deck needs to be given to someone instead of purchased directly. This can be easily resolved by asking a friend or family member for a pack of tarot cards as a gift. You can also buy the deck yourself if you don’t mind breaking the unofficial rule.
Once you have your deck, you need to consecrate it, and there are plenty of suggestions available for how to do this and make it your own. Some people suggest wrapping the cards in a fabric of significance to you, like a blanket from childhood or a favorite scarf. Take the wrapped deck and place it under your pillow, sleeping with it beneath your head that night. The idea here is to transfer your psychic and emotional energies into the deck from both your mind as you sleep and the residual energy of the wrap enclosing the deck.
Learn About Different Spreads
You might feel tempted to start delving into the meaning behind the symbols on each card, but first you should think about spreads. How you conduct a reading and the placement of each card matters in your interpretation. The most commonplace spread is the Celtic Cross, which is a way of using the tarot to address a specific obstacle a person might be dealing with. However, experts suggest beginners start with a more simplistic option like the 1-3 spread. This is much less involved than the Celtic Cross and can still offer wonderful insight.
Start Understanding the Card Meanings
After you get a better idea of how to place the cards during a reading, it is time to look at what each card represents. Instead of overloading yourself with information, think about selecting one or two cards each day to interpret. Pull a card in the morning after you wake up and at night before going to bed. Take ten or fifteen minutes to read up on the card, what it symbolizes, and how it can impact a reading depending on its specific placement.
Learn To Be a Guide
Tarot is not about reading a crystal ball or telling the future. It is more akin to a psychological test during which the person asking questions of the tarot is left to interpret what the cards mean in relation to his or her own life. Someone who draws The Lovers when dealing with financial problems will have a different relation to the card than one who is going through a romantic conundrum. If you provide a reading for a friend, don’t try and force your own interpretation. Instead, act as a guide and offer insight on what each card represents.
Reading the tarot can be a fun and fulfilling exercise. Learn how to conduct a reading and try your hand at this ancient practice.