Tarot is a mirror that reflects back to you the hidden aspects of your unique awareness.” - James Wanless, Tarot Innovator

Contrary to what popular pop culture may suggest, tarot reading isn’t a psychic ability, nor is it dark magic. Tarot is an ancient practice that provides a framework for understanding our mental and emotional psyches. Earnest enthusiasts will tell you, it’s part spirituality, part psychology, and entirely enlightening. Let’s embark on a journey to understand this mystifying yet attractive ancient practice.

Tarot’s enduring popularity underscores its relevance even in our modern society where it continues to serve as a mirroring tool, reflecting our inner thoughts, fears, desires, and potential futures.

What is Tarot, Really?

Tarot is a system of divination that uses a set of cards to gain insight into the past, present, or future by posing questions to the cards then interpreting the symbols and images. In essence, it serves as a bridge between our conscious and subconscious minds.

Traditionally, tarot has been used for various purposes such as divination, meditation, psychological introspection, problem-solving, creativity, and personal development. In modern society, tarot has found its place in therapeutic counseling, coaching, and even in business decision making.

A Brief History of Tarot

Tarot’s roots dig deep into history, tracing back to 15th century Europe where it started not as a spiritual tool, but as a card game known as “Tarocchi”. It was only in the 18th century that it started to be used for divination purposes. With the occult revival of the 19th and 20th centuries, it gained popularity as a tool for spiritual exploration.

Key Historical Moments in Tarot History

Year	Key Event
15th Century	Introduction of Tarocchi cards in Italy
1781	Antoine Court de Gébelin publishes “Le Monde Primitif,” suggesting Tarot has ancient Egyptian origins.
1789	Jean-Baptiste Alliette (Etteilla) publishes the first Tarot divination manual.
19th Century	Tarot gains popularity for divination and esoteric purposes.
1909	The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is published, becoming one of the most popular and influential Tarot decks.
1910	Arthur Edward Waite publishes “The Pictorial Key to the Tarot,” explaining the symbolism of the Rider-Waite deck.
1960s	Tarot experiences a revival and is embraced by the New Age and counterculture movements.
1970s	Tarot decks with various themes and artistic interpretations are created.
21st Century	Tarot continues to evolve with digital decks, online readings, and a diverse range of Tarot practitioners.

How Tarot Cards are Used Today

Tarot readings are a form of divination that use a deck of cards to help you find answers to your most important questions about love, relationships, your career, finances and just about any situation in life.

Believe it or not, many people, including CEOs and entrepreneurs, leverage tarot reading as a decision-making tool. It allows you to delve deeper into your subconscious mind and explore different perspectives. This exploration makes decisions more informed and strategic.

Tarot Reading and Psychology

Modern psychology integrates tarot into therapeutic practices. The archetypal images on the tarot cards, inspired by a deep-seated shared symbolism, resonate with our psycho-emotional states. This connection allows individuals to bring forward their subconscious thoughts to conscious awareness.

From a psychological angle, tarot cards act as projective tests, similar to Rorschach inkblots. The meaning you derive from a tarot card provides an understanding of your current mental state, hidden fears, and desires.

Deepening Spiritual Exploration Through Tarot Reading

Tarot reading provides an opportunity to delve into spiritual exploration. Many use it as a proficient means for meditation and understanding life’s greater purpose.

Practicing tarot reading is seen as a spiritual journey, helping the reader to raise their awareness towards the Universe’s energy and understand how they fit into the larger scheme of things.

For instance, contemplative tarot meditation focuses on a specific card to get in touch with its archetypal energy and lessons. Meditating with the The High Priestess, encourages introspection and intuition, while the Two of Cups promotes partnership and mutual exchange.

What are Tarot Cards?

A traditional tarot deck is composed of 78 cards. Each card in the deck represents specific energies, archetypes, and symbols that can provide guidance and interpretation for the reader or recipient. Tarot cards are often illustrated with intricate artwork, rich in symbolism, and each card holds its own unique meaning.

Discover the meanings of all 78 Tarot Cards

Tarot decks are divided into the Major and Minor Arcana. The word “Arcana” is derived from the Latin word ‘Arcanus’, meaning ‘secret’ or ‘mystery’.

Major Arcana

The Major Arcana, also referred to as the Greater Secrets, consists of 22 standalone cards numbered 0 to 21. They represent life’s spiritual and karmic lessons, from Fool (0 card), which symbolizes the beginning of a journey, to The World (21 card), signifying completion. They are thought to be the most powerful cards in a reading, signifying critical life-changing events or situations in one’s life.

Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana, regarded as Lesser Secrets, consists of 56 cards and reflects the details of everyday life. This collection is further divided into four suits: Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles, each consisting of 14 cards ranging from Ace to Ten, and four Court Cards—King, Queen, Knight, and Page. Each of these suits signifies a particular aspect of life.

1. Cups: Symbolize emotions, relationships, feelings, love
2. Wands: Reflect actions, creativity, movement, ambition
3. Swords: Represent challenges, conflicts, intellect, moral principles
4. Pentacles: Denote money, careers, material possessions, practicality

Interpreting Tarot Cards In a Reading

While the Major Arcana symbolizes significant events or influences, the Minor Arcana focuses on the mundane details, creating a comprehensive narrative when drawn together in a reading. By acknowledging the synergy between the Major and Minor Arcana, one can achieve a holistic understanding of their tarot readings and consequently, the unfolding of their individual journey.

In a nutshell, understanding and interpreting tarot cards goes far beyond just memorizing their definitions. To truly read tarot cards, one must learn by engaging with them—connecting on an intuitive level, exploring their meanings, and applying them to the reader or querent’s personal circumstances.

Role of a Tarot Reader

A Tarot Reader’s role in a session is often misunderstood. They are not mystics, fortune-tellers or mind readers. Rather, think of them as guides, interpreters of the cards’ messages in context of your specific questions or situation.

Tarot Readers draw from their understanding and intuitive interpretation of the cards to provide you fresh perspectives and new insights. They can facilitate self-reflection, offer a reframe of your existing views, or introduce alternative ways of responding to your circumstances.

Common Misconceptions About Tarot

When it comes to tarot reading, misunderstandings and misconceptions abound, leading to feelings of fear or skepticism among those unfamiliar with the practice.

Myth: Tarot Predicts the Future

The role of tarot isn’t to lay out a rigid roadmap for the future, but to shed light on the undercurrents of your present situation. Instead of determining an unchangeable fate, tarot cards guide you in making informed decisions and support personal growth by providing insights into emotional and psychological states.

Myth: Tarot Reading Is Evil or Dangerous

Tarot has been wrongly associated with dark forces or the occult. However, tarot reading is a tool for introspection and self-discovery, bearing more similarities to meditation or therapy than to dark voodoo or black magic. Therefore, there’s nothing inherently evil or dangerous in a tarot deck.

Myth: You Can’t Buy Your Own Tarot Deck

Another common misconception is the belief that bad luck will follow if you buy your own tarot cards. The truth is that the personal connection you feel with a deck matters more than its origins.

Approaching Tarot With an Open Mind

To truly benefit from the tarot, one must keep an open mind. Disregarding tarot as a hoax simply due to preconceptions won’t allow the riches of self-insight to unfold. Tarot card reading thrives on openness to fresh perspectives. A rigid mindset may obstruct valuable insights and might limit the potential growth tarot can offer.

Be ready to question your assumptions, recognize patterns, and confront things you’ve been avoiding. Through this openness, tarot reveals itself as an effective tool for personal revelation and evolution.

Getting Started with Tarot Cards

If you’ve developed a fascination for the wisdom that tarot cards offer, you might be wondering how to go about learning to read tarot. Our Tarot Reading Guide for Beginners is a great start. Here are some tips and techniques to help beginners take the first step into the world of tarot reading.

• Choose the Right Tarot Deck: Selecting the right tarot deck is crucial as you’ll be establishing a connection with it. Experiment with different decks, notice the vibe you get from each, and choose one that resonates with you. Make sure your deck is full and intact, typically comprising 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana.

• Dedicate Time for Learning: Like any new skill, learning tarot reading requires dedicated time and patience. Following a consistent study routine improves your understanding and interpretation of the cards.

• Use a Tarot Guidebook: For beginners, a tarot guidebook is a boon. It aids your learning process by providing detailed meanings and interpretations of each card. However, remember to rely on your intuition as you progress.

Learning to read tarot is an enriching and transformative journey. Remember, the world of tarot is expansive; learning to navigate through it is a lifetime endeavor. Enjoy this mystic ride and always trust your intuition because, in tarot reading, it’s your strongest guide.