Your Crash Course on Tarot and How to Use it Without Knowing the Rules

When a tarot deck falls into your hands, it is incredibly tempting to shuffle it and it is almost instinctive to draw some cards. No matter how little knowledge one has of the meaning within any given hand, the card or cards before you always seem to communicate something. And so you stare, musing, knowing that the unspoken message has been delivered however mysterious and unspoken. This is, of course, if you happen to fall upon it without the intervention of an experienced reader. Which is more exiting in ways because discovering a tarot deck on your own ignites your inquisitive senses as oppose to igniting your surrendering senses which happens when you get a reading from someone else. 

 Now, let’s start with a few good things for you to keep in mind. There are three kinds of commonly used tarot decks, the Tarot of Marseilles deck, the Rider-Waite Tarot deck and the Allister Crowley Tarot deck. The three are fascinating in their own right, all differ in design and presentation but besides that, there are very minor differences. The Marseilles one, is the one most interlinked with the origins of Tarot which originated in presumably in north Italy in the 15th century. It is the hardest to read because you will notice a lack of clear illustrative direction yet a highly mystical presentation. The Allister Crowley Tarot, as beautiful as it is, gained popularity although its authors died before it’s publication. This leads us to the Rider’s deck, which, really, is most recommended if you are a beginner. The reason for this is that the way the cards are illustrated is positively intuitive and pleasantly mystifying in terms of the symbolism. Although one must mention that if you have been handed a deck for the keeping, it is probably meant to be. It is probably the deck meant for you and so you must proceed accordingly. I will focus myself a little more on the Rider’s as we get deeper into the reading realm. 

I cannot emphasize enough this next statement. Do not go digging on the internet. At least not now, in the beginning. Later on, once you have shuffled a few times and start to recognize a few card, then by all means, google away! There are however a few good books on the matter. An interesting one is the “the way of tarot” by Alejandro Jodorowsky but I wouldn’t say it’s the staple. A trusted book is recommended as sourcing from the internet could lead to a lot of wishy washy descriptions. This could result in you having too much of a simplistic connection to each card. Be attentive! This is a mystical object with hidden meanings for you to discover. 

Let’s move on to the basics of the deck itself. There are two kinds of cards in the deck: the major and the minor arcana. The majors you will recognize for being the many character in the deck, for instance: the magician, the high priestess etc. They represent deep consciousness, your karmic life. Basically, the symbolic archetype you are cosmically and practically linked to. The minor arcana, which are the numbered ones, illustrated by what looks like a scene in action or in suspense in our beloved Rider’s deck, represent the trials and tribulation experienced on a daily basis. Each Arcana, as important as the other collaborate beautifully in all their variations. 

Chat With An Expert Psychic by Phone or Chat.

Get 5 Free Minutes on AvidAdvice.com

Another essential point in the whose and Whats of our little lesson are the suits. You will notice this pattern immediately in all the cards. Allow me to make your life only slightly easier here. The suits are: the cups, wands, swords and pentacles, illustrated as a golden goblet, a long leafy staff, a swords and a 5 sides encircled star respectfully. I urge you at this point to start connecting to your sense of imagination and intuition. How do the objects in the suits read to you, how do you process them in your immediate intuition. We start with the suits which have more defined implications but from there on, you must try to engage with each element in these artistically rendered cards as a metaphorical element in your own personal life.  The general meaning: Cups are the emotional connection to yourself and the world, your creativity. It’s about the life of the spirit. Come to think of a cup, the receptacle of water, source of life. The pentacle: similar to a coin, a star, represents all of the material riches in your life including your career and your financial wealth. The sword: the weapon of thought, a perfect stand in for your ability to communicate and courage that starts in the mind. The wand: this suit I find links to the others in that it represents your motivations and your purpose in life. What is it that you want to plant in the earth, watch grow and then harvest as your elementary tool in life. 

In terms of knowing your deck, you have passed the most essential part. Now you must be wondering how many you should be drawing and why, I recommend, to start, not to have any set idea on the spread. Be creative. Draw as many as you want and lay them out at your will. See what you see and let the cards tell you their meaning through their interactions. Meaning see the patterns and if they seemed linked. I like to notice if the characters are facing each other or away. Is there a common landscape in the background? Is it the same setting? Does it look like a journey somewhere or does it look like a scene occurring before one stage if I combine all my cards into one composition? Are there any little cats or dogs hiding in the corners? How many of the same suit can I see in all my cards? Basically have fun with it! This is the best read you can give to yourself. If you would like a simple spread, try starting with the 3 card draw. The Where you were, what it has led you to and what may come of the present. Further more, I urge you to consult the next level of your tarot education. 

You must keep in mind that the deck is neutral in terms of its message. It does not have an intention towards you. Meaning there is no negative or positive. When you find yourself facing cards that look scary, remember that they are there to lead you in what you feel is the right direction for you and remember that often the object in the card Is almost never literal (for example: the death card is actually really a symbol of real change. The death of oneself into a new self in this lifetime) Remember that any simple spread, even one card, could be read in a million different ways so rest assured there will be no tragic fates bestowed upon you. Last but not least, remember not to get to that point of tarot reading of immediately assign that one significance to that one card. Each time is different. Such is life. Enjoy!