Tarot 101: The Beginner’s Guide
Credits: Pixabay
Updated: 29 May 2024
Contrary to popular belief, Tarot doesn’t tell you what will happen. More importantly, it tells how you should proceed with what might happen.
“What is the world becoming?”, “Are you seeing what you are seeing?” As we try to survive in an increasingly chaotic world, you may experience doubts and uncertainties from time to time. This is where divination tools such as Tarot, numerology or Bazi come into place to provide greater clarity to deal with the situation that you find yourself in. Interested in learning more about Tarot and what it can do? Read on!
What are Tarot Cards and where did they come from?
Dating back to the 15th century, the first recorded tarot cards were found to be playing cards sold to wealthy families in Italy, subsequently being recognised as a divination tool. Interestingly, cartomancy, which is a divination or fortune-telling technique using a deck of playing cards, was already in practice a century earlier.
Be it Tarot cards or playing cards, one thing is for sure. Intuition plays an important part in this divination method, to connect the tarot card reader and seeker to gain greater clarity and be closer to the truth.
Each standard Tarot deck comprises 78 beautifully drawn cards (with unique symbolism), of which 22 are known as the Major Arcana cards that represent life’s karmic and spiritual lessons, while the remaining 56 Minor Arcana cards reflect the trials and tribulations that one may experience on a daily basis.
The widespread use of Tarot cards for divination took off in the late 18 century with the first Tarot card reading guide being published by the Frenchman Jean-Baptise Alliette, who supposedly referenced the Book of Thoth – an Egyptian text believed to be written by Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom.
How do Tarot Cards work?
Many Tarot card readers believe the Tarot to be the storybook of one’s life, the mirror to one’s soul and the key to inner wisdom. There are many things that you can do with the Tarot, be it to manifest goals, make critical decisions or even meditate. While it doesn’t exactly predict the future, it can be a powerful tool to access your intuition and inner wisdom.
In the world of Tarot, it is believed that all of us are connected to a collective universal wisdom. When you partake in a Tarot card reading and tap into your intuition, you are also tapping into this universal wisdom and connecting with the collective mind rather than just the individual mind.
Each card portrays a unique image with a story of its own, and the drawn cards can help you to access your subconscious mind to gain inner power and wisdom. With that, you can learn how to take positive actions to manifest your goals or deal with a particular situation.
Feeling lost or at a crossroads in your life? Contact us to find out what a Tarot analysis can do for you!
Understanding the Major Arcana
The Major Arcana is often a prompt to reflect on your life’s lessons, and it can help you to interpret the overall long-term aspects of your life. Also known as the trump cards, the Major Arcana comprises 21 numbered cards and a card ‘0’, which is represented by the Fool – usually placed either at the beginning or the end of the Major Arcana. Don’t be fooled by the name, though, as card ‘0’ implies infinite potential as the Fool moves through each card and learns lessons along the way in the Major Arcana.
List of Major Arcana cards:
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- The Fool
- The Magician
- The High Priestess
- The Empress
- The Emperor
- The Hierophant
- The Lovers
- The Chariot
- Strength
- The Hermit
- Wheel of Fortune
- Justice
- The Hangman
- Death
- Temperance
- The Devil
- The Tower
- The Star
- The Moon
- The Sun
- Judgement
- The World
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Understanding the Minor Arcana
Sometimes known as the Lesser Arcana, the Minor Arcana can provide insights into your daily life, how it affects you and the steps to deal with the situation(s). Despite their name, these 56 tarot cards can have a significant impact on your life and have equal importance to the Major Arcana. As the Minor Arcana represents a force that is taking place in your life at the present moment, it can easily change based on the actions that you take.
The Minor Arcana comprises 4 different card suits, namely the Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Each suit contains 14 cards that include 10 numbered cards and 4 court cards represented by the Page, Knight, Queen and King. These cards are associated with different life aspects, so one can be guided accordingly when they show up in a Tarot reading.
What each card suit represents (in general):
- Wands – associated with action, initiative, invention and energy
- Cups – represent emotions, intuition and relationships
- Swords – linked to challenges, conflicts and heartaches
- Pentagons – associated with work and finances
Basic Tarot spreads
Everyone has their own intuition, and Tarot is a powerful tool that can help you tap into your intuition. Daunting as it may seem, the fact is, anyone can read tarot. Of course, with proper guidance from an experienced Tarot master, you will be more well-equipped to gain even deeper insights through your Tarot readings.
People often ask if it is possible to get your own Tarot cards (Of course! Choose one that resonates with you), can you pull a daily tarot and is it possible to ask yes/no questions with Tarot. The answers to these questions are yes, yes and yes.
To get you started, you may want to consider the following basic Tarot spreads.
Daily 1-card draw
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- Think of an open-ended question as you hold your Tarot cards. You can also knock or tap the cards a few times to spread your energy in the deck.
- Next, shuffle the cards when you are ready, and for as long as you like. When you feel it is time to stop, spread the cards out.
- Choose the 1 card that you are most drawn to. At times, one or more cards may ‘jump’ out of the pile when you are shuffling. If you feel drawn to this card, you can take it too.
- Analyse your drawn card with your intuition. For greater insights, you may want to consult a guidebook.
3-card Tarot spread
The classic 3-card spread is adaptable to many questions. The above table shares some popular themes, such as the past-present-future spread or a situational Tarot spread. Bear in mind that reading Tarot is an intuitive practice.
Whether you are the one asking for guidance or helping others to do a Tarot reading, it is important to stay grounded and focus on the intention or question. Generally, the entire deck should be shuffled and cut by the one seeking answers. When doing the shuffling, one is encouraged to think of the question.
Depending on the theme or pattern of your Tarot spread, the reader shall be able to interpret based on the drawn cards. If in doubt, refer to the guidebook that usually accompanies a Tarot deck. Also, always trust your intuition.
Learn more about Tarot reading
Tarot reading is one of the most accurate divination methods originating from the Western world. It can help you to tap into your deepest subconscious and bring it to light. Interested in learning more? Engage in a personal consultation with Master Ruanna Segal at Way Fengshui today! Get in touch with us to find out more!
