GETTING STARTED in 1

GETTING STARTED in 1. Introduction 2. What is Tarot? 3. Which deck should I use? 4. How to look after you Tarot cards 5. Keeping a Tarot Journal 6. A Tarot Practice 7. Connecting with the cards 8. Simple steps for reading the cards intuitively 9. The Tarot deck 10.The Tarot cards meanings 11.How to shuffle the cards 12.How to do a simple reading 13.About Natasha

I'll show you how to select the right deck, how to look after your cards and provide the underlying meaning of the cards. I will also provide some techniques for developing a personal connection with the cards and how to read the cards intuitively.

And, you do not need to be psychic to read Tarot! Everyone has some psychic ability, and it is a matter of connecting to your intuition and learning to trust what you feel and think. It is a skill that we can all develop with practice, over time.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au Tarot is amazing! We can use Tarot for divination or fortune-telling, spiritual growth, spirit guide communication, psychological analysis, meditation, visualization and manifestation.

Tarot cards first appeared in Europe in 1450. However, standard playing cards have been used in divination by Islamic cultures for centuries.

Today, the most widely-used Tarot deck is the Waite-Coleman Smith Deck because of its rich imagery. There are hundreds of beautifully illustrated modern Tarot decks available now, and these are all based on the original Waite-Smith deck.

Divination & Fortune Telling

Many people believe that Tarot is just a divination tool for fortune-telling. That Tarot is similar using a crystal ball, scrying mirror, I-Ching, pendulums, palmistry, astrology, tea- cups, runes, dowsing rods or spirit boards.

As well as all these systems of divination, there are also other types of cards such as Oracle cards, Angel cards, Lenormand and Kipper.

Tarot is different from other divination techniques as it is much more complex and structured. All Tarot decks comprise of 78 cards, Major and Minor Arcana with Four suits. Oracle cards vary in theme and the number of cards in a deck. Tarot is unique as it also looks at the psychological aspects, relates to archetypes and connects with synchronicity.

Psychological Analysis

We are unconsciously attracted to cards that reflect our situation, what is in our conscious mind and what is hidden deep in the subconscious. Many readers use Tarot as a tool for psychological analysis. The cards that we are attracted to and select often reveal what is going on in the subconscious mind. They reflect our beliefs, as well as emotions such as fear, guilt, anxiety, insecurity, possessiveness, grief, unhappiness and past pain.

Tarot can be used to bring your issues to light so that you can address your problems and work through them. There may be some images in the cards that will have some significance, e.g. the dog in the Fool may relate to your dog or an experience that you had with a dog. Your connection with the cards is just as important as the traditional meanings of the cards.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au Manifestation, Visualisation & Meditation Tarot is a fabulous tool for visualisation and meditation. You can use a Tarot card for manifestation or meditation by focusing on the meaning of that card and drawing that energy into our lives.

In 1937 Napoleon Hill said: “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the body can achieve”. What you focus on you manifest and create.

Therefore you can use Tarot cards as the theme of your meditation. You could take the Temperance card, for example, and meditate on ways in which you can manifest a more balanced life. How you can create a harmonious lifestyle where there is a work-life balance, or we moderate our negative habits or behaviour.

The cards can also use Tarot cards for visualisation. For example, you visualise yourself as the woman in the Nine of Pentacles, seeing yourself as successful and having your life filled with abundance.

Or, you could use the Magician card to remind yourself that you have the skills and ability can manifest what you want in your life. That if you believe you can, you will.

Spiritual Growth

Tarot is not always about seeing what is coming up in the future. It can be so useful in helping us to understand ourselves better. Rather than focusing on questions like “Will he come back?”, “Is he the right one?” “When will Mr. Right come into my life?” a more pro-active approach would be to use Tarot to investigate the blockages that you have towards love and relationships.

Perhaps you may be asking “Why don’t I ever have enough money?”, “Why do I feel so much unhappiness? I don’t know why I’m here” or “I don’t know my life purpose”.

Tarot can uncover the limiting beliefs and blockages that prevent you from enjoying an abundant life or discovering your purpose in life.

Tarot can also be used to connect with our Spirit Guides. A reader can use Tarot cards to receive messages from spirit guides, guardian angels or loved ones who have passed. These messages can bring comfort, guidance in helping us with our problems or understanding as to what it is that we are here to do, our life purpose.

Free Will

It is always important to remember that although Tarot can reveal the energies around us, as well as possible outcomes, every one of us has free will. Nothing in the future is set in stone. We need to take responsibility for our own decisions and actions, as we are always able to change our destiny if we wish consciously.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au The Waite-Smith Deck (Rider Waite) is the most popular Tarot deck to use, especially when you begin, because of its abundant symbolism. Interpretation of the cards is more natural as the meanings are apparent from the symbols and images in the cards.

If you learn Tarot using the Waite-Smith deck, you'll be able to read most Tarot Deck that are available today - and there are hundreds of them! The Sacred Circle and the Wildwood Tarot are both Wiccan-based Tarot decks, and the Mythic Tarot uses Mythology as its theme. Choose a Tarot deck that resonates with you.

The appearance of the cards is important. Some cards have borders, keywords, astrological or Kabbalistic symbols. If you understand the meaning of these added symbols, it provides another layer of information. However, some people find these are distracting.

In addition, you may find that you were attracted to some cards in a deck, but don't connect with the whole pack. If you find that you don't connect with the entire deck, select another one that you do like.

Aeclectic Tarot has a website, www.aeclectic.net, where you can see a review on individual decks, and this may help you to get a feel before you buy.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au A Tarot deck is incredibly special and should be treated with love and respect! It's important to cleanse the cards regularly, especially if you're doing lots of readings or if you have read for a client who was stressed, negative or aggressive. If your cards are beginning to feel heavy or sticky, then you'll need to cleanse them.

Here are some tips for the most effective ways in which to cleanse your Tarot deck :

• Shuffle the cards thoroughly using a 3-pile shuffle or messy shuffle. Make sure that the cards are all upright at the end

• Using a Tibetan singing bowl or bell over the deck will also cleanse the cards as the vibrations from the sound will disperse negative energies

• Put the cards under the Full Moon to cleanse the cards using a “Moon Bath”

• Salt is extremely purifying, so giving the deck a salt burial to remove the energetic residue from your previous readings. Bury your deck in a bowl of sea salt crystals overnight and through away the salt afterwards.

• Smudge the deck with a sage, smudge stick or incense.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au In between readings, you may want to wrap your deck in silk and keep your Tarot deck either in a beautiful Tarot Bag or a Tarot Box. You can also place a crystal on top of the deck for protection and ward off negative energies. The cards are special and should be treated with care, love and respect, so store them in a beautiful way. However, keep them away from water, moisture, heat and sunlight as these will damage the cards.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au It is a great idea to keep a personal Tarot Journal to record your special meaning for the cards and also your experiences with Tarot. The Journal can be a lovely leather-bound book with blank pages, a note book, a binder with loose sheets that you can add to or simple stored electronically on your computer, but remember to regularly back it up!

The last two are great as you are not limited and can continually add to the journal. You may want to record readings that stood out for you, your daily card readings or the personal meanings that you have for individual cards.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au An excellent Tarot practice is to draw one card every day. See what meanings come up for you initially and write them down. In the evening, see if you can connect the definitions with your experiences that day. Record your thoughts and experiences in your journal. You’ll find that after a few months you will become more familiar with the cards. If a card doesn’t resonate with your experiences that day, don’t worry. Sometimes it takes time, and if you look back later, you will make the connection. But remember that it does take years to develop a rich understanding and knowledge of the cards, so be patient. Tarot is a life-long and exciting journey of discovery, so enjoy the experience.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au The best way to connect personally with the cards is to take each card individually, and observe what your immediate reaction or feeling to the card is.

• Does it make you feel happy, sad, worried, anxious or excited? • Are there any colours or symbols that jump out at you? • Do these colours or symbols have any special meaning for you or significance? • If there are figures in the card, which one do you identify with? How do they look? • If you pulled out a specific card in the morning, how was it reflected in your day? • Can you relate an experience that you have had to the card? • Is there any personal connection that you feel with the card? • What is the first thing that jumps into your head? • Are there any sayings or quotes that come to mind? • Learn to trust your intuition and write the first thought that comes to mind, your first instinct or impression, as well as your gut feelings. Try not to second-guess yourself, go with the first feeling and learn to trust yourself.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au Although there are universally-accepted meanings for each Tarot card, developing your own personal, intuitive definitions for the cards is just as important.

Only 50% of Tarot card reading is based on traditional meanings. The other 50% is based on your connection and interpretation of the cards.

So, here are three simple techniques that you can apply to read the cards intuitively:

Symbols

The first way you can interpret the cards intuitively is through symbols. Which symbol jumps out at you first? Just go with it and then ask yourself what you associate with that symbol.

Make a list of the symbols - crowns, clouds, children, mountains, thrones, angels, water etc. and what you associate with each symbol. For example, we associate swords with injury, harm, surgery, truth and justice. Water is associated with tears, crying, happiness, joy or sadness.

Emotions

Study the images of people in the cards. Are they happy, sad, angry, worried or aggressive? What emotions do you feel when you look at the cards? Do you feel serenity, joy, happiness, determination, fear or anxiety?

Words What is the card name, and what do you associate with this word? What does it mean for you? What words or meanings do associate with the word or card title? For example, The Hermit suggests someone who lives alone. Do you like being alone, what to spend time on your own, or do you feel lonely and alone in the world? What does it mean to you? What about the Empress? It suggests abundance, sensuality, the harvest, motherhood, a goddess, beauty, love, sexuality?

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au Now to the Tarot deck! A Tarot Deck consists of 78 illustrated cards - 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards. The word Arcana means “secret” and suggests that Tarot cards are mysterious, containing hidden messages that only an experienced Tarot Reader can understand.

The Major Arcana are the titled cards, 0 Fool to 21 The World and they represent significant events and life lessons. The Major Arcana represent the soul’s journey through life. We can read the cards in sequence following the Fool’s progress as he sets out into the world and experiences life’s successes and challenges, ups and downs.

The Minor Arcana consists of four Suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles, and these correspond to the four suits in a regular pack of playing cards. The cards are numbered 1 (Ace) to 10, with four additional Court Cards: Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings. The suits of the Minor are also related to the four elements: Fire, Water, Air and Earth, each with their different qualities.

WANDS

Wands are represented by the element of Fire and symbolise: • Passion • Excitement • Action • Creativity

CUPS

Cups are represented by the element of Water and symbolise: • Emotions • Love • Creativity • Happiness

SWORDS

Swords are represented by the element of Air and symbolise: • Thoughts and beliefs • Communication • Conflict • Truth, fairness and justice

Pentacles are represented by the element of Earth and symbolise: • Material possessions • Wealth • Stability • Health • Work, career and money

NUMEROLOGY NUMEROLOG

The numerology of the cards is also significant, so take note as you will often see a number coming up frequently in a spread. For example, the Aces may appear, indicating new beginnings; or the number five, suggesting conflict, disagreements and adjustment. Some basic knowledge numerology is beneficial, so here are the primary number associations:

Aces – New beginnings and opportunities Two – Balance, harmony, mediation and decisions Three – Growth, expansion, birth, creativity and fun Four – Stability, order, structure and discipline Five – Conflict, disagreements, difficulties and chaos Six – Harmony, peace and beauty Seven – Challenges, obstacles, opposition and struggle Eight – Power, strength, achievement and success Nine – Conclusions, nearing an end Ten – Endings, completion, ending and new beginnings

0 THE FOOL • New beginnings, entering a new phase of life, starting something new • Having Faith, trusting your intuition, being optimist • Spontaneity, acting on impulse, living in the moment, freedom • A powerful desire for change • Innocence, gullibility, child-like enthusiasm, lack of inhibitions • Taking a risk, pursuing a dream, taking a crazy chance, no sense of fear or worry • A free Spirit, being carefree or footloose, living in the moment • Travel, going on a journey

1 THE MAGICIAN • Manifestation • Taking action • Using your talent and skills • Concentration and focus, having a clear purpose • Knowing your motives and intentions • Focussing on a goal, being centred and focussed • Power, skill, concentration, action and resourcefulness

2 THE HIGH PRIESTESS • Intuition, higher powers, mystery, subconscious mind • Unconscious awareness, using your intuition, trusting your inner voice • Non-action, withdrawal from involvement, waiting patiently, not intervening • Potential, understanding the possibilities, seeing your hidden talents • Mystery, seeing beyond the obvious • Something hidden or concealed from you, secret • Psychic and spiritual development, clairvoyance, tapping into your intuition • Passive or receptive time

3 THE EMPRESS • Growth, abundance, fertility, femininity, nature, beauty • Mothering, caring for others, working with children, giving birth, pregnancy • A card of marriage, fertility, pregnancy, compassion and caring • Abundance, feeling wealthy, enjoying extravagance, fertility, maturation of plans • The senses, passion, feeling vibrantly healthy, giving and receiving pleasure • Nature, connecting to nature and the earth • Domestic harmony and bliss

4 THE EMPEROR • Order and structure • Success through self-discipline and practical efforts • Fathering, security, comfort, protection and guidance • A father figure or boss • Structure and order, being organised, law, solid foundations • Authority, taking a leadership role, exerting control, being in a position of strength • Law and order, applying rules, working or encounters with law, police force or government • Strictly sticking to the rules, a structured and rigid environment

5 THE HIEROPHANT • The card of Religion, tradition and beliefs of society • Spiritual direction and guidance • Education, teaching, learning, seeking a deeper meaning • Churches, organizations, schools and education systems • Conforming to rules, being part of the establishment, or being non-conformist • Group identification, belonging to or joining a group or organization • A wedding or christening

6 THE LOVERS • The Lovers card is THE Tarot card for love and relationships • Having to making a choice or decision, particularly regarding a relationship • It signifies a choice between two paths • Sexuality, physical attraction, desire, falling in love • Personal beliefs, making choices, deciding whether to remain with the old or move onto the new • Values, struggling with temptation, choosing between right and wrong • Deciding whether to give in to temptation

7 THE CHARIOT • Drive and ambition • Victory, achieving a goal or winning, beating the competition • Card of discipline, control and will power • Will and determination to succeed, success thru tenacity • Asserting yourself, feeling self-confident, having faith in your self • Hard control, showing authority, control opposing forces in life • Car or travel by car

8 STRENGTH • Inner strength and courage, showing strength • Face life, difficult circumstances or change with hope, inner strength and courage • Patience, staying calm • Compassion, tolerance and forgiveness • Soft control, persuasive and influential • Balancing our masculine animal force within with the softer feminine side

9 THE HERMIT • Inner wisdom • A wise teacher, guide • Introspection, withdrawing from everyday life to do some soul searching • Looking inward for answers, thinking things over, time for reflection • Psychological withdrawal • Searching, looking for something, desiring a new direction, seeking the truth • Guidance, giving or receiving guidance or counselling, being or looking for a mentor • Solitude, the desire to be alone, withdrawal from the world • Going out on your own and taking a risk

10 THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE • Change for the better • Fate, destiny and Karma • Life is all about change, cycles of life, seasons, natural cycles • Turning point, moving into a new direction • Movement, experiencing change • Taking risks and chances • Good luck, good fortune, opportunity, expansion, prosperity • Personal vision, discovering your purpose in life

11 JUSTICE • Justice, ethics, honesty, fairness • Events will work out the way they are supposed to, and you have what you deserve • Cause and effort, recognising the action of Karma • Time to be honest with yourself and those around you • Legal issues, a lawyer, a legal decision in your favour • Wanting to make the right decision, choosing the right action • Balance and equality

12 THE HANGED MAN • Suspension, being in a state of limbo, waiting, hanging around • Surrender and acceptance, going with the flow • Being still, reflecting on past and also future plans • Letting go, giving up control, emotional release, ending a struggle • Sacrifice, being a martyr, putting others first • Limitations and restrictions • Reversal, turning your world around • Higher understanding and reflection, a new perspective

13 DEATH • Clearing away the old to make way for the new • Time for a change, surrendering to change • Transformation or a transition phase • Death and re-birth • Endings, closing one door and opening another, putting the past behind you • Eliminating excess, getting back to basics, concentrating on what is important • Accepting the inevitable, letting go

14 TEMPERANCE • Moderation, tempering your behaviour or habits • Reaching a compromise, finding middle ground • Balance, harmony, avoiding extremes • Health, enjoying wellbeing, renewed energy & vigour • Mixing, tempering, integration, merging, synthesis, alchemy • Combination, bringing gifts and talents together to create something of greater value • Card of travel and holidays

15 THE DEVIL • Card of control, bondage, obsession, addictions, being enslaved • Feeling stuck or powerless in life; limitation, stagnation, feeling trapped • Materialism, material success, focussing on the material or physical • Ignorance, staying ignorant, choosing to remain in the dark • Hopelessness, feeling hopeless, thinking negatively • Sexuality and hidden desires • Fear, guilt, envy, the Unconscious, our Shadow side

16 THE TOWER • Sudden change, upheaval, going through a crisis, disaster, chaos • Surprise, an awakening, revelation, liberation, awesome • Release, revelation, exploding, erupting in anger, emotional outbursts • Letting go of everything, breakdown, breakthrough, change • Destruction of old forms; new structure • Downfall, crashing down, blow to the ego, humbled • Revelation, suddenly realising the truth, seeing everything in a flash • Releasing old limiting beliefs and replacing them with a new mindset

17 THE STAR • Hope, faith, trust • Faith in yourself, faith in the Universe, spirituality • Being looked after by your guardian angels or the Universe • Inner confidence that tomorrow will be better, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel • Card of healing, inner healing, peace of mind, tranquillity, serenity • Realising your life or soul’s purpose • Self-respect, self-esteem, self-love, self-sufficiency • Radiating and sparkling, a shining star, a natural talent

18 MOON • Overcoming personal fears to use your imagination creatively • Unconscious programming, evolution • Fear, anxiety, need to face your fears, irrational fears, paranoia • Strong dreams and intuition, listening to your dreams • Illusion, deceit, deceiving yourself, unrealistic ideas, chasing a fantasy, self-deception • Confusion, losing your direction and purpose, disorientation • Imagination, wild dreams, distortion; being outlandish or crazy • The realms of the Feminine; myth; fantasy, calmness

19 THE SUN • Happiness, joy, success, excitement, life force energy, optimism, vitality • Birth, freedom, confidence, self-expression • Clarity, illumination, all is revealed • Hopeful, idealistic, childlike • Bright personality and positive nature • Success in career, relationships and life in general

20 JUDGEMENT • A major re-assessment, choices and decisions, drawn in a new direction • Ending Karmic patterns; coming to terms with past experiences, day of reckoning • Being accountable for your previous actions and learning from your experiences • Having clear judgement • Rebirth, transformation, renewed hope, a fresh start, discovering joy • Inner calling, aware of your life purpose, recognising your true vocation • Absolution, forgiving yourself and others, atoning for past mistakes

21 THE WORLD • Natural conclusion, completion • Permanent and lasting success • Integration, experiencing wholeness, bringing parts together • Accomplishment, realising your goals, seeing your dreams come true • Fulfilment, peace of mind, success & happiness, satisfaction • Enlightenment, Nirvana, balance • Travel around the world

ACE OF WANDS • New Creative Beginnings • Inspiration, power, creation, beginnings, potential • Desire to put plans into action, opening up to greater possibilities • Pursuing goals and plans with enthusiasm • Confidence and believing in yourself • Courage • Travel

TWO OF WANDS • Decisions to move or stay in a job or home situation • Future planning and making decisions • Personal power, having authority and influence, achieving your goals • Making necessary preparations for success • Making choices to ensure steady progress • Boldness, taking a risk, facing fear directly • Originality, being a pioneer, discovery

THREE OF WANDS • Travel • Expanding your horizons • Moving forward • Putting plans into action • Foresight, future planning, visionary, being a pioneer • Assistance coming, the “ships coming in”

FOUR OF WANDS • Establishing a happy and secure home life • Freedom, breaking free from bonds or an oppressive situation • Excitement, success, celebration • Marriage, weddings, celebrations, festivals or a happy event • Moving home or changing jobs • Settling into a new environment

FIVE OF WANDS • A group of people not working together as a team • Struggle, tension and conflict in business or at home • Disorder caused by obstacles and different opinions • Conflict and disagreement, quarrelling, arguing • Competition, having a rival, rising to the challenge • Hassles, getting annoyed by demands, feeling irritated • Scattered energy, perhaps from having to do too much

SIX OF WANDS • Public recognition and acclaim • Reaching a goal • Triumph after a struggle • Victory and achieving success • Promotion, acclaim, being acknowledged, getting praise or reward, recognition • Pride, healthy self-esteem, self-confident • Answer to a question – “YES”, it will be successful!

SEVEN OF WANDS • Struggle, challenges, competition • Aggression, fighting, asserting yourself • Constant effort & encouragement is needed to keep on top • Defiant, resisting authority, defending your position • Suggests opposition • Conviction, standing up for what you believe in • Perseverance, not giving up

EIGHT OF WANDS • Quick action, making your move, striking while the iron’s hot • Putting plans into action • Fast movement, speediness • Having all the elements come together, a time of few obstacles • Being free to pursue your goals with enthusiasm, no hindrance • Travel, either for career or holidays especially by air • News, discovering the truth, getting an important message

NINE OF WANDS • Defending yourself, your position or situation because conflict is expected • Being paranoid, expecting the worst, remembering past attacks and anticipating another one • Perseverance despite setbacks, refusing to take no for an answer • Getting knocked down & getting up again • Stamina, drawing on hidden reserves, continuing despite fatigue • Courage, persistence, test of faith • Exhaustion, burnout

TEN OF WANDS • Overextending, taking too much on • Oppression caused by too much pressure & strain • Shouldering all the work, working overtime, having problems delegating work • Having an “if you want something done, you have to do it yourself” attitude • Burdened, never having time to relax, burn out • Too many or heavy responsibilities • Struggling, pushing against the current

PAGE OF WANDS • Being Creative, original, inventive, coming up with a solution • Being enthusiastic, being passionate and optimistic • Being confident, believing in yourself, focus on success • Being courageous, taking risks, adventure, discovery • Could be someone who is young at heart or a free spirit • Travel

KNIGHT OF WANDS • Energy, lust and passion • Having the courage to move forward to new things • Expansion and enterprise • Action, adventure and impulsiveness • New opportunities to expand or move onto something better • Looking for a new home or new job • Travel

QUEEN OF WANDS • Attractive, popular woman who makes friends easily, is warm and outgoing, sexy and charismatic • Wholehearted, enthusiastic, open and sincere, doesn’t hold back • Someone who is competitive, assertive and independent • Sincere, loyal, charming, patient and loving woman who holds friendships dear • Energetic, radiates health and vitality, inner vibrancy, is busy and active • A person who is cheerful, optimistic with a warm and sunny personality • Self-assured, not easily rattled or provoked, quiet self-confidence, deep faith in your abilities

KING OF WANDS • A natural leader or entrepreneur • Someone who is creative, innovative, original and inventive • A person who is powerful and has a commanding presence, natural authority • Enjoys challenges, the outdoors, and adventure • Charismatic, magnetic attracts others, may even be theatrical • Bold, dares to be different, doesn’t care what people think, believes in himself

ACE OF CUPS • A new love relationship • Emotional beginning, getting in touch with your feelings • Developing intuition, developing your psychic awareness • Intimacy, falling in love, developing a relationship or bond with another • New happiness, joy and overwhelming emotion • Compassion, forgiving and forgetting

TWO OF CUPS • A love relationship, attraction, unified love • Friendship or relationship that is balanced • Connection, marriage, union, friendship or partnership • Truce, forgive and forget, reconciliation • A spiritual connection in partnerships or friendships which are productive and creative

THREE OF CUPS • Celebration, reunion or gathering that brings joy • Socialising with friends • Friendships • Exuberance, burst of energy • Enjoying friendship, sharing, companionship, relying on outside help • Community, team spirit, being part of a support group, forming a bond with others

FOUR OF CUPS • A time for meditation, contemplation and re-evaluation before proceeding • Discontent and dissatisfaction • Self-absorption, concentrating on your own feelings • Being unaware of others, ignoring gifts and blessings • Open your eyes to current opportunities before they pass you by • Apathy, losing interest, lacking motivation, feeling little desire • Introspection, meditating, contemplation, reflection

FIVE OF CUPS • Suffering a loss, grief, feeling defeated, despair • Feeling bereft, feeling deprived of love, separation • Regret, disappointment, crying over spilt milk • Wanting to turn back the clock • Belief that you made the wrong choices • Bereavement, grief and sorrow

SIX OF CUPS • Home, childhood, memories • Safety, stability, emotional security, being in your comfort zone • Stability in the home or family, settling down • Good will, being kind or charitable, receiving a gift, feeling blessed • Childhood, children, working with children • Feeling nostalgic, returning to the place of birth, sweet memories • Giving and receiving, generosity

SEVEN OF CUPS • Dreams, daydreaming • Wishful thinking, dreaming, fantasy, caught up in illusions • Building castles in the air, lacking focus & commitment • Having several options or choices, being able to pick and choose • Not knowing what it is that you want, scattered energies • Dissipation, overindulging, being disorganised, procrastinating

EIGHT OF CUPS • Moving on, abandoning a hopeless situation, letting go and moving on • Outgrowing someone or a situation • Seeking a deeper meaning, realising that there is more than this • Leaving a stable situation to explore opportunities for more fulfilment • Escaping the rat race • Becoming more spiritual • Growing weary, lacking energy, losing hope

NINE OF CUPS • Wish fulfilled, dreams come true, realising a goal • Inner needs fulfilled • Inner satisfaction, pride, fulfilment in a job well done • Happiness, joy and contentment from within • Comfort and happiness • Overindulgence

TEN OF CUPS • Joy, radiating love and happiness • Emotional fulfilment • Peace, serenity, restoring harmony • Happiness, harmony, marriage • Family, working for peace in the home, happy families • Bonding with family members, forgiving someone in the family • Commitment to a group, teamwork or sharing

PAGE OF CUPS • Dreaming of a spiritual or emotional goal • Good news, a social invitation or event • Being sentimental or romantic, emotional, moved or “touched” • The potential of a new relationship • Being intuitive, having a psychic experience, trusting your gut feeling • Getting closer to someone, start or renewed love affair, meeting someone you’re attracted to • Being loving, being thoughtful, forgiving someone who has hurt you

KNIGHT OF CUPS • An opportunity or offer is coming soon • Social and romantic invitations • Someone who is romantic, imaginative, sensitive and emphasises feelings • Could be a job offer or new business opportunity • A time to follow your heart to find emotional fulfilment • Romance • A charming and romantic “Knight in shining armour”

QUEEN OF CUPS • A mother, nurturer or counsellor • Success through intuition and the nurturing of your plans • Loving, unconditional love, sensitive to the feeling of others, patient and calm • Tender-hearted, compassionate, sensitive, kind and gentle • Intuitive, trusts her inner sense of what is true, understands without asking • Spiritual, feels ones with God and the Universe, open to knowledge within & beyond • Someone who is good at counselling, social work and psychological healing

KING OF CUPS • Someone who is gentle, sincere, compassionate and creative • Success through emotional and creative discipline, as well as trusting your instincts • Wise, gives good advice, deep knowledge of the world comes from the heart • A person who is calm, relaxed, emotionally stable and secure • Being diplomatic, diffusing tense situations, says the right thing at the right time • Someone who is tolerant, open-minded, allows others freedom, comfortable with everyone • Caring, natural healer/therapist, volunteer or charity work, compassion for less fortunate

ACE OF SWORDS • Mental clarity, applying logic and reasoning, break-throughs • Fortitude, finding strength to overcome problems • Justice, wanting what is fair, championing a cause • Truth, honesty, justice and integrity • Seeing through illusion or confusion, clarity of thought • A clear understanding of what needs to be done • Victory

TWO OF SWORDS • Indecision, choices, stalemate • Avoiding the truth, ignoring the signs, pretending everything is fine • Refusing to look at the facts, choosing not to know • Blocked emotions • Closing off your heart or blocking someone out • Stalemate, staying stuck, refusing to make a decision • A truce is needed

THREE OF SWORDS • Heart break, a broken heart • Betrayal, stabbed in the back • Being let down, disappointment • Rejection, feeling rejected • Loneliness, feeling deserted at a time of need • Painful separation • Loss, sorrow, grief

FOUR OF SWORDS • Sanctuary, peace, retreat from life • Contemplation, recuperation, passivity, relaxation, rest • Contemplation, taking time to think things through • Rest and recuperation, convalescence after a stay in hospital • Meditation bringing clarity to a situation • Quiet preparation, consolidating inner resources • Needing time out

FIVE OF SWORDS Conflict, tension, loss, defeat, win at all costs, betrayal Someone may be working against your interests out of jealousy and spite Acting only in self-Interest, selfishness, gloating, setting aside the needs of others Conflict, ill will, “us against them” mentality, being in a hostile environment Open dishonour, sacrificing integrity, dubious victory, letting ends justify the means Taking on something more than your capabilities Taking on too many obligations and not being able to fulfil any of them properly

SIX OF SWORDS Letting go of the past, regretful but necessary transition, rite of passage Leaving your troubles behind you and shifting on to calmer emotional waters An unhappy situation is improving Depression, sadness, “the Blues”, just making through the day Recovering, getting over a tough time, picking up the pieces, feeling hope again Travel, boat travel or cruise

SEVEN OF SWORDS Theft, betrayal, getting away with something Secrecy, dishonesty and hidden motives, deception If you are not receiving the rewards you desire, try a different approach, don’t giving up Running away, sneaking off, avoiding obligations, procrastinating Keeping something to yourself, stealth Wanting to go alone, keeping people at arm’s length Hidden dishonour, deceiving or being deceived, being two-faced lying or stealing

EIGHT OF SWORDS Prisoner of your own thoughts, isolation Self-imposed restriction or imprisonment A lack of personal power, blockages Indecision, worry and consistent fretting are causing energy blocks Restriction, fenced in by obstacles, feeling trapped, feeling persecuted Confusion, unsure which way to turn, not understanding what is happening Powerlessness, feeling victimised, avoiding responsibility

NINE OF SWORDS • Nightmares, depression, intense anxiety • Brooding, getting worked up, feeling anxious and tense • Guilt, regrets, refusing to forgive yourself, wanting to turn back the clock • Overwhelming remorse, despair • Anguish, despair, wanting to cry, depression, reaching your limit • Sleeplessness • Strong dreams that come from your subconscious

TEN OF SWORDS • Back-stabbed, defeat, crisis, betrayal, loss • Endings and new beginnings • It can represent ruin and betrayal through slander and lies • Someone is stabbing you in the back • Bottoming out, reaching the lowest point, being at the lowest point • Victim mentality, self-pity, feeling powerless • Martyrdom, feeling like a doormat, letting others go first, putting yourself last

PAGE OF SWORDS • Talkative, curious, mentally restless, feeling energetic • News, receiving news or results by letter, email or phone, internet • Gossip • Be truthful, acting honestly, stop deceiving • Being just and fair, champion a cause, act ethically, righting a wrong • Face problems with renewed energy, refuse to be discouraged • Flying as a career or plane travel

KNIGHT OF SWORDS • Swift action; recognising and seizing opportunities quickly • Being hasty, scattered energy, rushing around • Someone who is action-orientated • Communication, internet, internet technology • A person who is direct, outspoken, frank, intellectual, logical and analytical .

QUEEN OF SWORDS • A person who is strong, cool and confident, honest, direct and perceptive • Someone who is astute, difficult to fool, picks up hidden motives • Forthright, direct and open, gets to the heart of the matter • A person who is eloquent, witty, a good sense of humour • Success through careful planning, quick thinking and negotiating with others • Someone who is independent and thinks for themselves

KING OF SWORDS • A person who is strong-willed, intelligent, perceptive; intellectual, analytical and logical • A knowledgeable or creative thinker • Clear thinking or applying reason and logic to a situation • Articulate and having good communication skills • Being ethical and concerned with truth and fairness • Intellectual power, an authority

ACE OF PENTACLES • Manifestation, a new financial opportunity, prosperity, abundance • Money is on the way, either through a new job, promotion or bonus • Improving body and health • Prospering, A new job or business opportunity • A windfall, unexpected gifts or inheritance • Trust, feeling safe, secure and protected • Having enough money to do what you want

TWO OF PENTACLES • Juggling finances or making a decision about money • Balancing time & energy to do the things you want • Multitasking, time management • Flexibility, adapting quickly • Fun, doing something you enjoy, feeling in high spirits • Life’s ups + downs, success + failure, optimism + pessimism • Feeling light-hearted or having fun

THREE OF PENTACLES • Teamwork, collaboration, a combined effort • Skill, apprentice, plans, building • Doing something to improve your circumstances such as study, a course or reading books • Improving your home or property, renovations • Laying down solid foundations for the long term • Planning, being prepared • Study, education

FOUR OF PENTACLES • Financial stability, security, possessions, material gain • Greed, miserly, penny-pinching • Financial consolidation, saving, paying off debts and living within your means. • Fond of being in charge and in control; someone who likes power & money • Possession, ownership, keeping or protecting what you have • Saving money for a holiday or travel, paying off a debt • Maintaining control, wanting to be in charge, setting limits and rules • Possessiveness

FIVE OF PENTACLES • Poverty, poverty consciousness, financial anxiety, hard times • Homeless, feeling like an outcast, isolation, inner loneliness • Rejection, lacking support, being ostracised, feeling excluded • Not being able to see a solution that is staring you in the face • You need to ask and accept help from others • Loss of job or income, struggling to make ends meet, hardship, poverty • Poor health, illness, feeling run down or tired, neglecting your body

SIX OF PENTACLES • Charity, sharing, giving, receiving, generosity, philanthropy • Applying for a loan or borrowing money • Spending money on a purchase such as a house, car or trip • An unequal relationship where one partner is always giving and the other just taking • Dominant / submissive relationship • Someone who expects handouts or constant support • Financial stability, having money to share around

SEVEN OF PENTACLES • Hard work, reward, vision, perseverance, profit, investment, reassessment • Reward, reaching a milestone, finally seeing some results • A change in direction, thinking about change, pondering alternatives • A time-out card that suggests a need for reassessment • Investing your time and energy in something because you see rewards at the end • Take time to plan the next move, before you proceed • Perseverance, you may feel like giving up, but the card urges you to keep ongoing

EIGHT OF PENTACLES • Apprenticeship, skill and workmanship, working with your hands • Hard work, being productive, achieving success • Employment in a skilled field • Education, courses, developing your skills • Commitment to a person or situation, working hard to succeed, dedication • Attention to detail, being extra careful, checking and rechecking, tying up loose ends • A time of diligence and focus

NINE OF PENTACLES • Independent wealth, financial security, self-sufficiency • Abundance, comfort, luxury, refinement • Achieving a comfortable lifestyle, enjoying the finer things, enjoying leisure • Gratitude for the abundance in your life • Discipline, self-control, showing restraint, sacrificing to reach a goal • Overindulgence, over-investment in work • Pregnancy especially if the Pages also appear

TEN OF PENTACLES • Material wealth, financial stability, inheritance, family, establishment, retirement • Affluence and established wealth, financial security you and your family • A gain, perhaps through inheritance, family money or business • Important family affairs, wills, legacies, endowments • Finances beginning to prosper and becoming free from monetary concerns • Having enough financial stability for retirement • Lasting foundations, material success, long-lasting and on-going success

PAGE OF PENTACLES • Manifestation • A new financial opportunity • Good news about money, new job or academic achievement • Being a student, starting a new course, studies or hobby • Being practical, using common sense, being realistic, find a solution that works • Trusting, have faith in others, keep your word, stick to your commitments • A child who enjoys studying and is dedicated to their studies • Could symbolise contracts or documents

KNIGHT OF PENTACLES • A person who is practical, conservative, methodical, trustworthy and loves routine • Being committed and there for the long term • Someone who is hardworking, persistent, reliable and dependable • Slow movement of financial and business dealings • A person who is stubborn or slow to commit • A situation that has drags on for a long time • Having long term goals and working slowly and steadily towards achieving them

QUEEN OF PENTACLES • A woman who is homely, motherly, down-to-earth, nurturing • A person who is trustworthy, keeps secrets and confidences, loyal, faithful, reliable • A sensible and practical approach is required in a situation • Security, home and family are very important • Someone who is down-to-earth, practical and sensible, a “Mother Earth” • A person who enjoys nature, gardening and animals • A woman who is successful in career or business and is financially secure

KING OF PENTACLES • Security, authority, power, discipline, fatherly, abundance • A man who is enterprising, attracts wealth, has a Midas touch • Someone who is a banker, investor, real estate agent or business owner • A fatherly figure who is reliable, responsible, dependable and provides well for the family • A person who is steady, stable, calm, has regular habits and loves routine • A successful, competent businessman who has worked hard to achieve what he has • Achieving financial success and abundance in your life

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au When starting out, it's best not to reverse the Tarot cards, as it will only complicate the meanings and make the reading more difficult. Begin with all the cards facing the same direction and every time you divide the deck, make sure the two piles stay facing the same way. There are several different techniques for shuffling, but here are three simple techniques for you to try, and trust me, these will be easy!

The Three Pile Method: This method results in a thorough shuffle, without causing any damage to the cards. Simply deal the cards out into three piles, one at a time. The piles are then stacked on top of each other, back into a single pile. This ensures that all the cards are separated. The Pile Shuffle is a simple method for those that find shuffling difficult.

The Scissor Shuffle Method: Hold the deck, sideways, in your non- dominant hand. Draw some cards off the bottom of the deck with your dominant hand holding your middle finger at the top of the card and your thumb at the bottom. Place these cards on top of the deck in your non-dominant hand. Continue drawing a few cards at a time from the bottom of the deck and placing them on top, repeating the process several times.

The Insertion Method: Hold about half the deck in each hand and insert one half in a scattered manner down through the other half of the deck. You can hold the cards either on their long or short side. This method is fast, efficient and involves a lot of hand contact with the cards. However, you will need to take care with the edges as they tend to fray over time.

“Cutting the Pile” After the cards have been shuffled, the cards may be dealt in a few different ways: 1. If you think that the cards have been shuffled thoroughly, you may simply select the cards from the top of the deck. 2. After shuffling, you can cut the deck in two. Take the bottom pile and place it on top. Draw the cards from the top of this new pile. 3. Cut the deck into three piles and choose one pile. Draw the cards from the top of the selected pile. If you run out of cards, select a second pile.

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au When starting out it is best to use a simply 1-Card, 3-Card or 7-Card Tarot Spread to help you get familiar with the cards. You will need to look at the spread and interpret the Tarot spread in relation to: • The meaning of each card • The position of the card in the spread • What the question relates to: work, love, career, money or life purpose • The questions asked, and the person for whom you are reading

This is often challenging when you are starting out, but with practice and experience, you will see your skill developing. Tarot is an exciting, lifelong journey of discovery.

The 3 Card Tarot Spread is the easiest spread for a beginner and ideal for a quick basic reading.

1. THE PAST Past influences that may be currently affecting the situation. It can be either recent or distant past.

2. THE PRESENT This card represents current matters that are affecting the situation here and now.

3. THE FUTURE This card suggests the final possible outcome of the situation.

This 7 Card Tarot Spread is one of the most popular spreads for a General Reading or for an answer to a Question.

1. THE PAST This card represents past experiences in the last 18 – 24 months

2. PRESENT This card represents the present situation

3. THE FUTURE What is coming up in the near future, within the next 3 months

4. THE SELF/ ANSWER This card represents the client at present. It also represents the Answer to a question, in a Question Reading

5. THE ENVIRONMENT This card represents surrounding energies, either people or in your environment (work or home)

6. HOPES / FEARS This card represents your hopes, fears and attitudes

7. THE OUTCOME What is coming up for the next 18 – 24 months

© Copyright Tarot Wisdom, www.tarotwisdom.com.au Hi, I'm Natasha, and I'm the founder of Tarot Wisdom. Sharing Tarot's incredible wisdom with others or helping them navigate through their issues in life is my soul's purpose.

Nothing gives me more satisfaction than to help others by bringing clarity, hope, healing and inspiration. Tarot is an excellent tool for self-discovery and understanding of ourselves, life, other people and the World around us.

A Tarot Reading should be illuminating, empowering and uplifting. A genuine Tarot reading will never take away your decision-making power, but instead bring clarity, understanding, a sense of empowerment, happiness and peace.

Natasha

Tarot Card images used throughout this book are from the Coda Tarot Deck are courtesy of Coda Design Art and are available to purchase from the website.