Ways to read tarot cards

There are many beliefs, superstitions and ways to read tarot cards. They are simply another form of divination, the same as a crystal ball, using a scrying bowl, runes, I-ching and so on. What is most important about any form of divination is finding the way that is right for you. The following is only the way that I read Tarot, it may or may not be the best way for you. Go with your instinct and your intuition, it will never let you down.

Firstly: make a nice home for your cards. Again this is all personal preference, some people keep them in a box some in a silk bag some wrapped in velvet with crystals. Whatever does it for you. Just treat them with respect. Here I have mine in a crocheted bag, I have celtic dragon tarot cards and the bag kinda reminds me of dragons scales. I like the purple as it is the colour of the third eye chakra and hence your psychic vision.

Here are my cards, its a 78 card deck with major and minor arcana.

In simple English the minor arcana are like a packet of playing cards, running from ace to king in 4 different suits.

The major arcana are 22 individual cards, often called the trumps.

Some people use the minor only, some the major. I personally use them all, seems pointless to waste them.

So now, there are many different types of layouts serving as different types of readings. ranging from a one card draw for an instant answer to a question to a 12 card calendar draw with a card showing each month for the upcoming year.

The layout I find most accurate and informative is called the celtic cross. Ask the person you are reading for to choose 10 cards, then lay them all out face up as follows:

1- Your main goal/ biggest wish

2- What is currently blocking your goal from being realised

3 & 4- your recent and distant past (3 being the distant) relating to the subject

5- your present

6- what is recommended to you at this time

7, 8, 9, 10 your future

How to make a cohesive reading:

Ok this is where a lot of people will disagree with me. I have had many a reading where the reader has just learnt the set meaning for each card out of a book.. oh the ten of cards means you are facing opposition from bla bla. Totally not relatable. The point of divination in any form is to allow your intuition and vision to flow freely. So find a deck of cards with images that work for you. let them tell you a story. Look at the picture and look at the cards around it. relate it to the position the card is in and let it flow. You will find yourself giving a very accurate and personal reading rather than a generic 'could mean anything' kind of reading. Doing readings this way you will also develop your connection to your intuition which will filter out into all aspects of your life.

Let me give you an example:

If you were doing a reading and these two cards came up in their future, you can see clearly that the left hand card shows an uphill struggle that their path is difficult but that there is a goal in sight, they are working hard but the reward will pay off and they are nearly there. After that you will see by the right hand card that their path becomes a lot smoother and easier, their hard work has paid off for them. This is a very simplistic reading of the cards but you get the idea. Its much more relatable than saying right ten of wands means...The Ten of Wands shows a man overburdened with the weight of a heavy load. He walks toward a town and seems to indicate someone who has just finished a harvest and is struggling to bring the fruits of his labours to market. its not quite the same is it?!

Card reversals: I do not believe in reversing cards, each card has a negative and positive side to it dependant on its placement, surrounding cards and just general feel of it.

So go out there, get your cards on. practice makes perfect ^_^