A tarot reading can provide guidance and insight. It can also help you manifest your goals and dreams. Work on memorizing the cards and their meanings, and practice by doing readings for yourself or friends. Ferguson compares tarot to learning a language, so jump in and get fluent.
The 22 major arcana cards represent a journey through life, covering archetypes and overarching themes. They include seismic shifts, losses, discoveries, and stillness. For more information, check out Bohemi Chic.
Major Arcana
A traditional tarot deck contains 78 cards, which are divided into two major groups: the Minor Arcana and the Major Arcana. The Major Arcana is the foundation of the deck and contains 22 cards that represent important archetypal themes and symbols. Often, these cards symbolize life lessons and karmic influences that affect our lives and the overall spiritual journey toward enlightenment. When the Major Arcana appears in a reading, it’s usually a sign that you’re experiencing major changes that will have long-lasting effects.
When a card from the Major Arcana shows up in a reading, it’s a sign that you need to take your power back. This is particularly true for the Emperor card, which symbolizes leadership and strength in the physical realm. The card encourages you to cultivate stability in your relationships and take a disciplined approach to your work.
The Death card, which is one of the most feared Major Arcana cards, is actually a very positive symbol. It symbolizes the transformation of your beliefs and the release of the past. This card can also suggest that you are ready to let go of your old identity in order to embrace a new one.
The Hanged Man, the second-most feared Major Arcana card, is a sign that you need to slow down and focus on your spiritual growth. This card can also indicate that you’re at a crossroads and need to make a choice between your heart and your head.
If you pull The Magician in your tarot reading, it’s a good time to start manifesting your dreams into reality. This card represents your ability to turn the impossible into the possible with hard work and a bit of imagination.
When Justice appears in a tarot reading, it’s an indication that you need to be fair and honest in your dealings with others. This card is a reminder that everything you encounter in life is a result of decisions and actions you’ve made in the past, reflecting natural cause-and-effect. This is a great card to draw when you’re facing a dilemma or a challenge that needs some impartial perspective.
Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana are the cards that deal with the quotidian issues that we encounter in our everyday lives. They deal with the things that we have control over such as jobs, relationships and finances. The Minor Arcana also deals with more abstract themes such as beliefs and ideas. They can also symbolize more practical issues like health and healing. These 56 cards are often grouped into four suits that loosely correspond to the modern playing card suits of wands, swords, cups and pentacles. Each suit has 10 numbered cards (Ace through Ten) and four court cards, which are called Page, Knight, Queen and King in most tarot decks.
Each suit is also associated with a specific element and an astrological sign. For example, the Suit of Swords is ruled by the air element and the astrological signs of Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra. It speaks to our thoughts, belief systems, mental activity and conflict, and the ability to communicate with others and solve problems. The Ace of Swords is the potential for new thought and belief systems, which are often related to justice.
When a reading contains mostly Minor Arcana cards, it is a good indication that you are dealing with day-to-day issues. These issues will not have a long-term effect on your life and will be passing through, giving you an opportunity to learn from them. For instance, if you pull a lot of Pentacles in a reading, it may be an indication that your health and finances are stable enough to begin dating again.
It is also important to understand the meaning of each card in the Minor Arcana. Many tarot decks come with an in-depth booklet that explains the card’s meaning. Alternatively, you can also find a number of websites that provide interpretations for each card.
One of the most useful ways to interpret tarot cards is to look for patterns in their numbers and suits. For example, the number five in the Major Arcana typically represents instability and conflict, while the number three in the Minor Arcana often indicates that you are being presented with a solution. Understanding this can help you read the tarot cards more effectively and understand what is happening in your life.
Spreads
Tarot readers can use a variety of spreads, depending on the type of question they want to ask and how many cards they want to draw. The most well-known spread is the Celtic Cross, but there are countless other layouts available. When choosing a spread, it’s important to consider how the cards will interact with each other. A card’s position can have a significant effect on its meaning. For example, a card in an upright position might suggest traditional interpretations while a card in a reversed position might represent a different perspective.
In the Celtic Cross spread, a card in the center represents the current situation and a card on each side of it illustrates obstacles or possible solutions. The final card indicates a potential outcome of the situation. This layout is an excellent choice for exploring a complex issue. It also allows the reader to explore how other people may be involved in the situation.
The Four-Card Spread
The four-card spread is a good option for beginners who are looking to get started with reading tarot cards. This simple layout consists of four cards that are laid out in a row. The first card will represent the person or situation for which you’re seeking guidance. The next card will identify the obstacle that is standing in your way, and the third card will provide a solution to the problem. The final card will guide you towards the best possible outcome of the situation.
While this is a great starter spread, it’s important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to tarot readings. While there are certain common meanings for individual cards, it’s important to trust your intuition and be open to different interpretations. Additionally, it’s important to remember that a card’s meaning can change depending on its placement within a deck or in a specific reading.
The Wheel of Fortune is a popular tarot spread that helps to reveal the future. It can be used for personal issues, career or relationship concerns. The first two cards in this spread are often interpreted as the present and past. The third card is interpreted as the future. It is important to remember that the third card does not necessarily indicate an exact date, but can also be interpreted as an overall feeling or energy.
Cleansing the deck
If you’re new to the world of tarot cards, it can be overwhelming at first. It’s common for beginners to feel confused and intimidated by the complex illustrations and mysterious interpretations of the 78-card deck. But don’t worry – it takes time and practice to master the art of reading tarot.
The tarot is a tool that can be used to help you gain insight into your life and find guidance. It can also serve as a means of tapping into your intuition and accessing the universal energy that guides all life. However, it is important to understand that the tarot is not a form of fortune-telling. It’s more like a mirror that helps you see your own truths.
A tarot card reading involves shuffled cards that are laid out in a specific pattern known as a spread. The cards are then interpreted by the reader using their intuition and insights. The process of interpreting the cards is different for each reader, and it’s helpful to start out with small readings for yourself or with friends. Eventually, you’ll be able to read larger readings for others.
There are many ways to approach a tarot reading, but most follow a similar format. The reader shuffles and fans the deck out face down, and then asks the querent to select a series of cards from the deck. The cards are then placed in a particular order, called a spread, and the reader interprets them in accordance with the spread.
The cards are divided into two sets, the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana is a sequence of 22 cards that represent major life changes and challenges. The Minor Arcana is a set of 56 cards that represent various themes, such as love, work, and health.
Intuition plays a critical role in the interpretation of the tarot, and it is vital to the success of any tarot reading. Intuition allows the reader to go beyond traditional meanings and create a more personalised reading for the querent. This is especially useful for readings in which the cards depict significant emotional shifts or dramatic events.