WEEK 7 - INTUITIVE TAROT READING The Tarot is a set of 78 standardized cards that was originally used to play card games around the mid 15th century. But it is believed that somewhere in the 18th century, the Tarot began to be used for divination. Tarot is excellent for reading energy, whether in the present, future or past. Just like when I first started aura reading, with tarot, I felt like I had to know every single meaning out there for every single card. But after I memorised The Tarot Bible, my tarot readings just felt robotic, and sort of ‘meh’. So my guides reminded me that what the cards me to me (and particularly how they all feel together in that moment) is so much more important. So with the Tarot. I say that it is important to understand the suits, the progression of the numbers, the major arcana basics, and the court cards… and then after that, simply use your intuition!!! As well, some people choose to read the dead with cards reversed if they show up as such. That way of reading doesn’t resonate with me, so I have not included that here, but feel free to read Tarot with reverse meanings if that resonates with you (each card reverse is simply an opposite meaning of the card when upright). THE TAROT DECK The Tarot Deck consists of 78 cards, broken down into 56 Minor Arcana Card and 22 Major Arcana Cards. The Minor Arcana is further broken down into 4 suits (14 each of cups, wands/rods, swords, and pentacles). Many decks call the suits, or major arcana cards by new names, but they follow the same deck pattern. Each suit has cards from 1-10, representing a journey from beginning to end (with 5 being the conflict or climax in the middle). And, there are also 4 court cards in each suit – a page, knight, queen and king. CLEANSING YOUR DECK In between readings, whether for yourself or others, you will want to cleanse your deck. As with any divination method, you can use smudge or incense, the full moon, or even by setting a clearing crystal on it (like selenite). Or you can simply hold your deck, and knock three times on it before and after each reading. When I do Tarot Readings for clients, I like to have them shuffle the deck to put their energy into it, so I have them grab the deck, knock on it three times and then begin shuffling. Many people believe that you shouldn’t allow others to touch your deck, nor should you buy your own deck. However, as with pretty much anything, I don’t really believe in “rules”. BEFORE STARTING A READING Knock three times on your deck of cards to clear the energy from anyone else, or past readings. Or run them through the smoke from incense/smudge, but knocking is my preferred method (also if I am reading for someone else, I hand the deck over to them and have them knock on the deck before shuffling). Shuffle the cards until you feel a sense of completion. It may feel like the cards start getting sticky, and seem to like where they are… or you just feel you are ready to go. Trust that. Then place the deck down on a table, and with your non-dominant hand, split the deck into 3 (however it feels right). Then again, with your non-dominant hand, pile those 3 stacks back into one facedown stack however you are called to. If I am reading for someone else, I have them do all of this themselves. Then you are ready to read the tarot! THE MINOR ARCANA The Minor Arcana cards represent the energies (emotions, actions, behaviours, worries) of our everyday lives. These will generally make up the majority of the cards in any spread. Each suit represents a different aspect of these energies. WANDS/RODS – MATTERS OF ACTION SWORDS – MATTERS OF THE MIND CUPS – MATTERS OF THE HEART PENTACLES – MATTERS OF THE MATERIAL Every tarot reading will be a blend of some or all of these suits. Once the cards are flipped up, I like to start all readings by counting how many there are of each suit. This gives me a great idea of the theme of the reading. SUIT OF WANDS/RODS -Matters of Action -Movement -Element Connection: Fire -Keywords: Passion. Creativity. Adventure. Confidence. Enthusiasm. Reactive. -Visualization: Throwing a Stick. Movement of a Fire. Moving Towards a Goal. SUIT OF CUPS -Matters of the Heart -Emotions -Element Connection: Water -Keywords: Relationships. Fulfillment. Reflection. Emotional Intelligence. Moods. Feelings. -Visualization: Filling Up a Cup with Tears (of happiness or sadness). Holding a Cup Close to Your Heart. SUIT OF SWORDS -Matters of the Mind (or even Battles of the Mind) -Thoughts -Element Connection: Air -Keywords: Decisions. Reasoning. Intellect. Anxiety. Stress. Justice. Ethics. Over-Thinking. -Visualization: Stabbing Yourself with Swords (hurting yourself by over-thinking). Feeling Threatened. SUIT OF PENTACLES -Matters of the Material -Security -Element Connection: Earth -Keywords: Money. Job. Safety. Abundance. Practicality. Physical Experience. Health. -Visualization: Coins. The Things You Do To Make Money and the Things You Spend Money On. THE COURT CARDS The Court Cards generally represent the energies of other people bringing in their influence. They do have unique qualities reflective of their suit and rank (i.e. a king of cups is different from a king of swords and a page of wands is different from a queen of wands). THE PAGE CARDS A young, playful child-like energy. A symbol of naivety, spontaneity, and reckless-abandon. Full of possibility. Vulnerable and possibly insecure. Easy-going and outgoing. Can represent a male or female child-like energy full of energy and adventure. THE KNIGHT CARDS A wildly expressive, and immature teenage-like energy. Does not do anything in balance. Swings from one extreme to the other and definitely prone to excess, but does so with tons of spirit and energy. Can represent a male or female energy, but is always sincere and eager. THE QUEEN CARDS An experience-oriented, mature and intelligent energy. The Queen is, rather than does. She is relaxed, and enjoys life, expressing herself with ease. Can be male or female, but demonstrates a calm, feminine energy. THE KING CARDS An action-oriented, mature and authoritative energy. The King is assertive, strong, results-based, but guarded. He is a master in his particular suit. Can be male or female, but demonstrates a confident, masculine energy. THE NUMBERS IN THE SUITS The ace is the beginning of the journey and the ten is the ending. The higher the number, the more strong the suit energy will be influencing the meaning as well. Below are some general meanings for each number, but be sure to use the meanings that you came up with as well! ACE – New beginnings. New opportunities. Unlimited potential. Time for a new start. TWO – Opposing forces. Possible crossroads. Two distinct energies meeting. THREE – A coming together of new beginnings and opposing forces. A challenge or goal. FOUR - A foundation. Something to continue building upon. A time to reflect or retreat. FIVE – Conflict. Climax. Struggle. Sorrow and hurt. Challenge and competition. Defence. SIX – Reflections after changes. Reflecting on motivations and memories. Moving away from or resolution of conflict. SEVEN – A breaking down of what is so we can create what we want. A re-evaluation. Lingering wounds. EIGHT – Retreat. Stuck. Vacation. Stillness. Feeling victimized or powerless. Hopeful. An unlimited (or even overwhelming) amount of the suit energy. NINE – A huge amount of the suit energy. Completion or near completion. Won’t surrender or end feeling the strong suit energy. TEN – A completion of a cycle. And new beginnings. End of a struggle. Changed forever. Huge realization and re-alignment. THE MAJOR ARCANA The Major Arcana expresses universal themes or archetypes (outside influences) as they relate to you. The more Major Arcana cards in your reading, the more major life events that are currently happening in your life and upcoming energy. *Note that in your deck, Strength and Justice may be switched. Use the meaning relative to each card and not where they are located in the Major Arcana. Don’t forget to add in your own intuitive meanings for each of these cards based on what the numbers mean to you, and what imagery is on your cards. Do not take the names of the cards literally (like the Death card). The are much more symbolic than literal! 0 – THE FOOL – Carefree and adventurous. Innocence. New beginnings and spontaneity. Free spirit. Not a time to be fearful before you leap…. Just jump. I – THE MAGICIAN – The power of manifestation and creation. Achieving goals. Resourceful. Time to concentrate and take action. You have the power to get what you want. II – THE HIGH PRIESTESS – Intuitive and mysterious. Represents the subconscious mind and higher powers. Make sure to listen to your higher self. III – THE EMPRESS – Feminine, nurturing and motherly. Fertile and abundant in all ways. Self-sacrificer. Empath. Tends to always take care of others before yourself. IV – THE EMPEROR – Authority and father-figure energy. Someone to lean on. Structure. A solid foundation. Take control and dominance over the situation. V – THE HIEROPHANT – A spiritual leader and mentor. Tradition. Rules or conformity. Staying true to your beliefs. You have been asking for help and are heard. VI – THE LOVERS – True unconditional love energy, whether romantic or not. Family. Marriage. Self- love. Alignment of values. You have a deep-seated connection with someone. VII – THE CHARIOT – Quickly moving through obstacles.