LEARNING THE TAROT ONLINE
Reading the Past, Present & Future
Divination is the practice of determining the unknown by the manipulation and observation of tools recognized by their users as possessing the ability to provide such information.
The ancient art of divination has never lost its popularity. Even today, in our largely materialistic world, we perform age-old rites to discover the shape of the future. In its many forms, divination is as much a part of our lives as it was in the ancient world.
The practice of foretelling the future through the use of tools predates history and so we have no record of the first culture that acted upon its desire to peer into tomorrow. Perhaps the earliest forms consisted of gazing into lakes, watching the smoke rising from cooking and heating fires, and observing the shapes of clouds. In preliterate times all such phenomena were invested with spiritual energies, and it seems logical that it was to these that our ancestors turned for glimpses of tomorrow.
In the great cultures of the past, divination was usually linked with religion. The deities, it was believed, were willing to provide hints of the future if they were given the opportunity to do so. This was provided to them by the presentation and use of specific tools, which the deities manipulated to provide specific responses. The earliest diviners thought that divination revealed the will of the deities. The future, they thought, was unchangeable.
After many centuries of practice, however, it became obvious that this concept could easily be challenged. Why did some events revealed in predictions never occur? Weren’t the deities in total control of human life? Some cultures answered such questions by altering their definition of divination. Rather than revealing a fated future, divination provided glimpses of possible future events. The future could be altered by human action. Thus, divination provided a window into potential tomorrows not of fate. Negative messages were now considered to be useful warnings, not inescapable messages of future doom.
Today, divination is often defined as a branch of magic. This is untrue. The two practices are entirely different. Divination attempts to discover the past, present, or future, while magic is an active process by which the future is thought to be changed. Though magic and divination can be used together, they are in no way related. Those who claim that they are one and the same have no understanding of either practice, or have their own axes to grind.
How
It Works
There are many theories that attempt to explain the mechanism at work
during divination, some of which are applicable only to specific forms.
In general, however, it is believed that our actions and thoughts
produce non-physical waves of energy that extend into the future, and
thus shape it to a certain extent. They produce a map of tomorrow based
on our current speed and direction, but many destinations lie upon its
surface, and we can change course at any time.
Divinatory techniques examine these energy waves which may not be consciously known to the diviner and, by taking them as well as other forces into account, paint a picture of the future if things continue on the present course for some time.
The tools reveal the unknown information in a wide variety of ways. Some of these (the use of the pendulum or sand divination, for example) seem to rely on the subconscious mind, in which we become aware of these streams, to produce the response.
Others techniques are completely free of our conscious or subconscious control, relying on other forces to manipulate the objects and to produce the prediction. In these forms, which are usually the most reliable, we simply present the tools and allow them to do the work.
The
Major Types of Divination
By studying the hundreds of techniques used in cultures throughout
history, scholars have divided divination into two basic forms:
operational and natural. Operational divination consists of the
manipulation of tools (smoke, oil in water, eggs, dice, pieces of paper,
knives, stones, and so on) to determine the future. Such tools are used
in specific ways for this express purpose. These represent later
developments of divinatory technique.
Natural divination consists of the observation of occurrences in the natural world. A specific time and place is set aside for the express purpose of asking that omens derived from natural physical phenomena present themselves to reveal the future. The casual observation of omens that may unexpectedly occur at any time isn’t true divination. Omens must be preceded by a request for information in order to be classified as divination. These are known as provoked omens.
Such omens are created by the world around us. The flight or appearance of birds, the behaviour of animals, observation of the stars and clouds, the winds activity, and the sudden appearance of meteors and lightning are some popular forms.
The
Divinatory Response
Messages received during divination are known as responses. They usually
take one of three forms. The nature of the technique determines the
messages form.
The first form produces so-called binary responses. The techniques that create binary responses are the easiest to perform and often produce the clearest answers. Questions are asked that can be answered with a yes or a no; hence the term binary. Occasionally, a third option, maybe, perhaps, or no answer is also included.
The second response consists of the creation of symbols or images. These forms are termed symbolic. The divinatory tools (particularly crystal spheres, clouds, fire, smoke, and oil dropped into water) produce symbols that are interpreted in conjunction with the diviners’ question. Forms that produce such responses aren’t limited to answering specific questions; they can be used to determine the general future. The symbols thus produced are interpreted to provide information such as it will be a prosperous year, or expect losses, and so on.
Symbolic responses rely both on the diviner’s powers of observation as well as on her or his ability to unlock the symbols inner meanings. Generally speaking, only symbols familiar to the diviner will appear, and this enhances the probability of a successful interpretation.
The
value of techniques that produce binary responses is obvious: no such
interpretation is necessary. Both of these forms, however, can produce
satisfactory results if used with the proper attitude.
The third type of divination produces what we may term selective
responses. A number of likely future events are written on pieces of
paper, leaves, stones, or on other tools. These are then manipulated
(placed in a windy spot, chosen at random) to provide the most likely
prediction.
Divination Isn’t Psychic Awareness
Many of the processes at work during divination are little understood.
However, one fact is clear: true divination doesn’t consist of the use
of psychic abilities. It doesn’t rely on a person’s ability to tap into
a bank of knowledge usually unknown to the conscious mind. Because of
this, anyone, psychic or not, can successfully practice divination.
It can certainly be argued that our psychic minds may be at work during some techniques that they examine waves of future energy and then relate them (through symbolic responses) to our conscious mind. No such awareness can be at work during techniques that produce binary or selective responses, yet all three systems can produce insightful answers.
Some diviners still believe that higher beings manipulate the tools or, alternately, place symbols within them for us to see. This, the ancient view, may or may not be accepted according to the diviners’ spiritual beliefs. Such a belief isn’t necessary, for even nonreligious persons can satisfactorily perform divination.
Why
Is the Past of Importance?
Some question the need to examine the past to discover the future. This
is based on the assumption that we know everything about our pasts
because we’ve lived them.
Why, then, do so many divinatory techniques focus on both the past and the future? Most Tarot spreads include a placement for a card that symbolizes the past as well as the future. Magic mirrors and other tools are used to illuminate the past, especially to see the circumstances surrounding a crime that has been committed at an earlier time.
The fact remains that divination has always been used for this purpose. The explanation of why is rather simple: every day, were building our futures. Every decision that we make affects tomorrow. When were faced with a difficult situation, we may ask ourselves, Why? The answer often lies in the past.
Though most of us can remember our pasts, we may not be able to make the conscious connection between past and present. Were incapable of seeing that we reap the fruits of our actions. If, yesterday, a man decided to sit on train tracks for twenty-four hours, and is then run over by the train, he’s feeling the effects of his past decision.
If we make unwise choices well suffer because of them. Deciding not to take an important medication may result in a severe relapse this week. If we allow another person to steer us away from our goals and dreams, we may find ourselves living an unfulfilling experience bereft of happiness. Moving to a town that’s flooded every year during heavy rains will probably make our shoes wet. Though these are simple examples, the fact remains that many of us are simply unable to link past actions and the present state of our lives.
The past also affects the future, for the streams of energy not only follow us, they race on into the future, continuing to mold our lives. Becoming aware of these past streams can not only answer questions concerning our present lives, but can also provide hints of the future Therefore, examination of the past can be of great importance in divination.
Divination remains a mysterious art. Perhaps this is part of its appeal. Scientific inquiry and education have largely stripped our lives of mystery. Though the purpose of divination is the clarification of the future, the manner in which this is achieved is highly romantic and evocative. This may explain why divination has never lost its popularity during the 5,000 years of its practice.
Find out more about tarot here
How the Tarot Works
Regardless of its history, the Tarot is, without a doubt, one of the most useful spiritual tools at our disposal. That's because it not only bridges the gap between the mundane and spiritual worlds, but also delivers clear and accurate advice that we can use to our benefit. That's good news.
The best news, though, is that people can use it to empower their lives and increase their productivity. It doesn't take special card-reading skills or psychic ability. A high IQ isn't necessary, and neither is a red phone to the spirit world. All it takes is a firm desire, a little imagination, and the ability to follow a storyline. It's as simple as that.
Working with the Tarot comes easily because it speaks to us in images-a subliminal language that the brain not only understands, but uses to process every single thought we think. Here's how it works.
When we look at a picture, the mundane self (the conscious mind) immediately strikes up a conversation with the inner child (the subconscious mind). And as they talk, the subconscious mind searches the memory banks for every image that relates to that picture. The pictures form in the mind's eye and when that happens, both sectors of the spiritual self (the personal unconscious and the collective unconscious) come alive. The personal unconscious processes every bit of personal knowledge that we've ever accumulated in connection with that image. The collective unconscious gets busy, too-it searches out every related instinctual and intuitive reaction, draws its own conclusions, and matches those up with the data collected by the personal unconscious. Once they have all the information together, they tie it up into one nice, neat little package and deliver it to the conscious and subconscious minds. The brain's work is done and-voila!-we suddenly understand what the image is saying.
Even so, many people have difficulty using the Tarot. Why? Simply put, they just try too hard. They think that they're supposed to get some sort of mysterious set of messages. That being the case, they send their brains into overload with the search. And when it comes back empty-handed, they pack up the deck and put it aside, never to be used again.
The truth of the matter is that the Tarot is nothing more than a set of pictures designed to tell a story. In fact, it's much like reading a comic strip without the benefit of words. Once we determine what the characters are doing and how they're interacting, the message comes through loud and clear. There's nothing to ponder, nothing with which to tax our brains. We see it and understand it. End of story.
That's all well and fine. But other than the fact that the card images speak to all parts of the brain, what makes it a spiritual tool? Isn't it just another fortunetelling device?
Contrary to popular belief, the Tarot does not in any way forecast the future. Instead, it gives us choices and allows pause for thought. It taps into what we either cannot see or refuse to see on a mundane level, and puts it right in front of us. That, in itself, is quite a feat. But it doesn't stop there. It goes on to show us what is likely to happen if we continue upon the current path. We can then decide whether it's in our best interest to change the route or move forward as planned. And that's something a mere fortunetelling device can't do.
Finding the Right Deck
Long ago, my mother presented me with the Rider-Waite deck. I studied it. I worked with it. I even went as far as to memorize the instruction booklet. But no matter what I did, I simply couldn't make it work for me. To say that I was disgusted was the understatement of the century. I'd always been able to accomplish anything I'd put my mind to, and for the life of me, I just couldn't understand why I was having so much trouble. Suffice it to say, the deck finally wound up on a shelf-never to be used again-for even looking at it made me feel useless and stupid. As a result, I resolved never to pick up another Tarot deck again.
Of course, there was a lot I didn't understand about the Tarot back then. There was nothing wrong with the deck. There was nothing wrong with me. In fact, the only problem with either was that we just didn't belong together. Not knowing that, though, cost me dearly. And it almost kept me from ever discovering the empowering joys of the Tarot.
This doesn't have to happen to you. Finding the deck that's right for you isn't difficult, but shopping for it may take some patience. That's because there are literally hundreds of decks to choose from. And if it's your first deck, you may not even be sure of what you're looking for. It's a trial and error process much like finding the perfect outfit. You see it and like it, but can't get the whole picture until you try it on.
Fortunately, most stores that carry decks now have sample copies on hand. This allows you to look through the cards and play with them a bit before you buy. That's very important stuff, because there's nothing worse than taking something home that just won't work for you. That being the case, be prepared to spend a little time-at least twenty minutes or so-with any deck that appeals to you. Examine each card and see how it makes you feel. Make a few notes. Pay special attention to the colouring, the imagery, and, of course, any emotional response that particular cards evoke in you. Then take your notepad and go home.
Leaving the store before you buy is imperative because it prevents the two most common problems involved when searching for a deck: first, you're not tempted to buy on impulse (impulsively purchased decks frequently wind up unused because they seldom really speak to you); and second, you're more apt to search a little further for the perfect deck if you haven't already purchased one. With that in mind, wait a day or two and pull out your notes. Then take a good hard look at what you wrote down. Does the deck still appeal to you as much as it did then? Is the imagery still as vibrant within your mind's eye? If you can honestly answer "Yes!" to both questions, then it's definitely the deck for you. If not, keep searching. And above all, don't worry. The perfect deck will definitely present itself in short order!
One final note of advice-especially for beginners. It's much easier to work with a deck that provides full pictorial scenes on every card, rather than one that depicts only a set number of rods (also known as wands in many decks), cups, swords, or pentacles. In fact, after more than twenty years of experience with the Tarot, I still shy away from those. It's not that there's anything wrong with those decks per se, it's just that their images don't speak as loudly to the subconscious, and this makes it easy to miss the intended messages.
Blessing the Deck
Although using the Tarot isn't difficult, not many people would turn down an extra boost of energy to get the best performance possible. And I'm sure you're no exception. That's where blessing the deck comes in. It not only puts you in tune with the cards, but paves the road toward your own personal empowerment. It's something that's just too good to bypass.
I've provided a sample blessing ritual for you. Don't be afraid to vary from its guidelines or rework it to suit your lifestyle, though. Know that there is no right or wrong way to bless your deck, and that whatever you decide will work perfectly for you.
Materials
1 purple candle
Incense of your choice
Tarot deck
Water
Salt
Begin by lighting the candle and incense, and placing the deck in front of them. Close your eyes and inhale deeply through your nose. Exhale fully from your mouth. After four or five breaths, open your eyes and pass the deck through the incense smoke, saying something like:
I
give you now the breath of Air
Inhale its twirling riches, fair
Being careful not to burn yourself or the cards, quickly pass the deck through the candle flame. Say something like:
I
give you now the warmth of fire
So you may answer my desire
Lightly sprinkle the deck with a few drops of water, saying:
I
give you water-life's true force
Drink deeply as you chart your course
Then sprinkle the deck with a few grains of salt, saying:
I
give you earth that you may sow
The seeds of power, my Tarot
Finally, lift the deck skyward and say:
Power of the ancient Tarot
Bring your knowledge; let it flow
Into my soul-into my brain
From this deck, let knowledge rain
Then spend fifteen minutes or so in visualization mode. See yourself reading the cards with insight and accuracy, understanding every message completely. Leave the deck in front of the candle until the wick burns out.
After the Blessing
The deck is blessed and it's ready for use, right? Well, that depends solely upon who you ask. Many folks subscribe to the "put the deck under your pillow and sleep with it" rule. Some disagree, saying that a new deck should be carted around in the purse or briefcase. Still others insist that the deck must be housed with an assortment of crystals-rose, smoky, and clear quartz, to be exact-wrapped in silk, and carried somewhere on the owner's body. The only thing they do agree upon is the length of the methodology: a one-week period. You're not alone if you think these sound like strange preparation tactics. But the reasoning behind them is sound. Simply put, it's that constantly having the deck close to you for the first week literally saturates the cards with your personal energy. And that being the case, it stands to reason that the deck will always read well for you.
But I beg to differ. At one time or another, I tried each of the methods described above. The problem wasn't that they didn't work-the problem was that because my personal energy is quite strong, they simply worked too well. And as a result, no one else's energy was ever able to penetrate the cards-not even temporarily. No matter who shuffled the deck, the reading presented by the cards always seemed to reflect my energy and life, not the querent's.
For that reason, I urge you to try this first: spend some time-fifteen to twenty minutes-with your new deck every day for a week. Shuffle them. Look at them. Commit some of the images to memory. In short, bond with them. If, at a later date, you decide that you're not as well connected to your deck as you'd like to be, you can always try one of the other methods.
Storing the Deck
If you think disagreements fly fast and furious around deck preparation, you should hear the disputes regarding storage. I've heard everything you can imagine- from insulating the deck in silk to hiding it in a dark place where uninvited energy won't disturb it. There are also those who insist on specially prepared wooden storage boxes, velvet-lined pouches, and a plethora of other things. I could go on and on. Fact is, there are as many deck storage methods as there are folks who use the Tarot.
To be perfectly honest, I've never found that one particular storage method worked any better for me than another, or that any of them ever improved the performance of any deck I used. For that reason, I believe in keeping it simple. If you find a pouch, scarf, or box that appeals to you, so be it. But if you're just as comfortable keeping your cards together with a rubber band, that's okay, too. Just don't get caught up in an inner struggle over something as trivial as deck storage. Simply do whatever feels right to you, and know that you can't go wrong
Find out what the Tarot is and isn't
The history of the Tarot is speculative at best. In fact, no one-not even the most acclaimed Tarot scholars-seem to agree on its origins or historical value. One of the most popular theories is that the Tarot came to Europe by way of a nomadic group of Egyptians known as "Gypsies." And even though there isn't sufficient evidence to support this notion, its supporters insist that the Tarot was not only based on an ancient book of personal development called The Book of Thoth, but that the mysteries of its wisdom were hidden within the illustrations of the Major Arcana.
A more widely accepted theory, however, is that the system originated in Italy, was born of a regular deck of playing cards, and began as nothing more than a parlor game designed to entertain early fifteenth-century Italian nobility. And though it's not nearly as romantic or appealing, this seems a bit more plausible. Why? For one thing, the earliest names attributed to the system, carte da trionfi and tarrochi, were Italian, and there was no recorded term in any other language to describe the deck for more than a century. For another, the original trump cards did not depict Egyptian figures. Instead, they held illustrations of European court nobility. And that being the case, it only makes sense that the system originated in Europe rather than Egypt.
Perhaps more interesting than the actual origins of the Tarot, though, are the facts surrounding the playing cards it was born of. Designed by the Spanish Muslims in the early 1300s, these playing cards hit Europe sometime between 1375 and 1378. And though the decks did, indeed, incorporate four suits, the hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades that we know today didn't exist until the French revised them in the late 1470s. Instead, the original suits were nearly identical to those we use in current Tarot decks: sticks or staves, swords, cups, and coins. It's also interesting to note that the suit-related court cards-a king and two others that are lesser in value- were all masculine in nature. When the Tarot came into being, however, all that changed. A set of queens appeared, as did the Fool and the trump cards. It's important to understand that the additions had nothing to do with divination, though. They were simply necessary components for playing the original game-a game with trumps that was played much like bridge.
If that's the case, how did we come to use the Tarot as a spiritual device? How could a simple parlor game evolve into such an important tool? Since regular playing cards had been associated with fortunetelling since 1487, there's no reason to think that the Tarot escaped the seer's eye. However, it wasn't until some 350 years later that precise divinatory meanings were associated with the cards, and the illustrations were modified to reflect this. In fact, the Tarot wasn't even considered valuable to occult study until the early 1780s. It was at that point that the system took its place as an integral part of the philosophy and began its development into the powerful spiritual tool we know today.
How to Read Tarot Quickly & Easily
You've bought a tarot deck and are eager to use it. You shuffle. You lay
out a Celtic Cross.
(Celtic cross spread)
You're at a loss. The book that came with your deck lists dozens of
meanings for each card. Which to choose? What to do? How to read them?
Throw out the book! Separate the Major from the Minor and try this
method instead of getting lost in the madness.
Divination can be easy. Shuffle the Major . Focus on the backs to clear your mind. Deal them in rows of three across. Place the odd card to the side. It represents the outcome.
Look at the cards. Their symbols activate the intuitive part of your brain. What do you think they mean? I strongly recommend considering this only with your mind and the guide below.
Identify patterns that strike you. Do you see shapes that seem to repeat? Are there similarities/opposites in the pictures that seem to jump out? Try to find a group that tells you a story. What is it? Use the guide below to help identify interconnections.
Patterns may occur left to right or more haphazardly. The first one you see identifies the major issue. For example: If Sun (money) is beside Magician (job) beside the Tower (chaos), this person's main issue is financial because of job chaos. Read the pattern like a sentence. Subsequent patterns illustrate other issues you or the person you're reading for have.
That’s right – you.
There are taboos about reading your own cards. This is because it’s difficult to be objective about yourself. Pretend they're someone else’s cards for better results.
When reading for another person, don't ask what's on their mind. You need to learn to pick up on it yourself. Additionally, their current idea of the problem is probably not the true problem at all. Usually current issues are the result of past events. Providing insights about these events is what then resolves current situations.
Here Is A Quick Guide
The Fool:
Meaning: You
Phrase: Look before you leap.
The Magician
Meaning: Employment
Phrase: You're expected or able to pull a rabbit out of your hat.
The High Priestess
Meaning Hidden knowledge
Phrase You know more than you're letting on.
The Empress
Meaning Creativity
Phrase Be fruitful and multiply.
The Emperor
Meaning: Will
Phrase: Intent follows action.
The Hierophant
Meaning: College, Marriage
Phrase: Take things to a higher level.
The Lovers
Meaning: Love or choice
Phrase: There is always choice.
The Chariot
Meaning A car, moving quickly
Phrase: Take control.
Strength
Meaning: Physical health
Phrase: Tame the beast within.
The Hermit
Meaning: Introspection
Phrase: Lay low.
The Wheel of Fortune
Meaning: Unexpected events
Phrase: For better or worse, its happening fast.
Justice
Meaning Rationality
Phrase Fairness rules.
The Hanged Man
Meaning: Plans are suspended. The sacrifice may be too great.
Phrase: When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot & swing.
Death
Meaning Death of a person, situation, issue
Phrase Every end is a beginning.
Temperance
Meaning: Emotions
Phrase: Keep things flowing smoothly.
The Devil
Meaning: Abuse of people or substances, sex
Phrase: You're controlled only as much as you allow yourself to be.
The Tower
Meaning: The chaos that comes before enlightenment
Phrase: Everything has blown up because you've let it build up. Learn something from it so it won't happen again
The Star
Meaning Hope
Phrase Careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
The Moon
Meaning Secrets
Phrase You're in the dark about something.
The Sun
Meaning: Money
Phrase: You reap what you sow.
Judgment
Meaning: Fate
Phrase: You get what you deserve.
The World
Meaning: Communication
Phrase: Talk about things.
Next, make your own guide. Draw a Major card each day. Consider the figures and their environment. Write down the card & your impressions. At the end of the day, compare what you wrote down with what happened and record connections. When you've done this with each card, you'll have your own interpretation of the Major.
The Minor represent human experience:
Cups: Love; emotions
Swords: Conflict; mentality
Wands: Health; creativity
Pentacles: Money; business
To understand these, lay out each suit in order. You must use a deck with pictures in the Minor. If you love the Major of one deck but the Minor look like playing cards, get 2 decks and combine them. Write down what you think the story of each suit is. Use your interpretation of them as a guide.
Deck books are useful for interpreting court cards. Consult the meanings listed there and keep in mind the fact that they often represent real people. Assign the characteristics of the card to people in the situation at hand for more insight.
Use
the Minor to elaborate on situations you've already identified. If you
want to know more about a job issue, lay some Minor cards on top of the
Magician and the surrounding pattern cards. Continue to do this for any
situation you want more information about.
Practice frequently on yourself and friends. The key to this
method is to learn to trust your intuition. You'll be amazed how quickly your reading skills develop.
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