How to Deal Tarot Cards: A Step-by-Step Guide
Want a little sprinkle of magic on your day? Welcome to this great adventure into the realm of tarot which we consider special to have you with us. Tarot cards are like opening a door through which your inner voice speaks to you when you are learning how to spread the tarot cards.
Tarot is a method of divination, but also a way to create a link with one’s subconscious and try to understand the turns of life. You will learn the steps of how to spread tarot cards and also how to read a tarot spread and give you the skills to create your own Tarot reading. We have a solution for you no matter how experienced a reader you are or if it is your first time reading cards.
Introduction to Tarot Cards
Okay, so let’s get familiar with Tarot cards a bit more! Tarot cards are a set of 78 picture cards each with a special message on it. They are more like a mirror that is somewhat reflecting yourself and energies within your close proximity. Tarot has been around for hundreds of years, and people have been using it not only for divination, but as a tool to understand the present, our roles in the present, and relationships and our personal development.
Originally, tarot cards had been employed in the course of the 15th century for playing a game. However, as years passed people began to understand that they could be so much better. These cards grew up; the images portrayed in them and the significance ascribed to them developed into something qualitatively superior. Today, tarot is a method to find answers to questions concerning the future and personal development.
So, how is a tarot deck structured? It’s split into two main groups: the Major Arcana as well as the Minor Arcana.
Major Arcana is the set of 22 Playing Cards which contains the major characters and milestones of our life. These cards are the overall themes of one’s life – events as significant as the change of career, marriage or death of a loved one, or spiritual message one can receive in life. You should think of them as the main characters in the story of your life.
Then we have the Minor Arcana, made up of 56 cards divided into four suits: The great suit divisions such as Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. These suits are related to creativity, feeling, thinking and material parts of a person respectively. The Minor Arcana is focused more towards the routine aspects in one’s life – the small things.
Learning about the structure of the deck is the equivalent to knowing basic grammar of tarot. After becoming acquainted with the cards, you’ll learn how to combine them into a composition and understand what it sends you.
How to Choose the Right Tarot Deck
Now we go to the most exciting part of the entire process which is selecting your tarot cards. It is as simple as choosing clothes; you want something that is appealing, something that suits you.
Of course, there are many tarot decks in existence today, and each may have its own set of character and design. For the beginner, quick comprehension is often desired, and the Rider-Waite deck could well be the easiest to understand. Or the Goddess Tarot decks are stunning to look at and embrace the female divine. So do not restrict yourself to these sources! Spend the next few minutes to look at various decks either here on the internet or at your nearest bookstore.
Pay attention to the artwork. Does it resonate with you? Do bright colors and images make you think? Just a reminder: you will work with them, so choose the designs you like to look at! Some of the decks are traditionally styled while others are more contemporary. It is also possible to come across decks associated with pop culture or, for example, related to animals or crystals.
Be informed of the topics and signs in the deck. Do they suit things that you believe in and things that you are interested in or do care about? While some decks are oriented to certain religions, others are nearly generic. For instance, if you like nature more than anything else, then you might find a deck with lots of botanicals appealing.
Last but not the least, the most accurate course for choosing the tarot is to follow one’s heart. Take two decks in your hands, shuffle them and pay attention to them. Is there a particular type of deck that attracts your attention?
After choosing the appropriate deck it is high time that you build a rapport with it. Get to know the cards, their meanings, and how they speak to you. Of course, the more you interact with your deck, the more profound intensity will be between you.
How To Prepare For a Tarot Reading
Now that you have learned the basics of tarot, it is high time to discuss the circumstances for accurate tarot reading. Imagine if you have to set up a room to comfortably talk with your best friend – you will want to feel relaxed and ready to listen and understand.
One thing that you should remember, before you start, you should ground yourself. Choose a place where you will not be disturbed – it is recommended to light a candle, or preferable put some soft music on. It is always a quest to develop necessary circumstances that will put you close to your intuition and, therefore, tarot.
Of course, that’s where you need to remember that tarot is not just about divination, it is about getting insight. So, it is better to stand before your reading with no prejudice, with a desire to understand the messages received. In general, irrespective of the fact that you might have a particular question that needs an answer or you merely wish to understand yourself better, tarot could help you as a means of discovering yourself.
As soon as you plot out where and when the reading is to take place, you need to consider what specifically you want to ask. It is much better to have clear questions when reading so you are able to get more accurate and profound results. There is nothing wrong in devoting some time to think of what occupies our minds and what we expect in return.
Selecting a Tarot Spread
With your beautiful deck in your hand it’s time to discuss how to select the right tarot spread. Just like choosing what kind of food to prepare in order to get the best meal – you pick something that you fancy and which is within your skill set.
For those new to tarot reading, basic spread is probably one of the most useful things. The one-card tarot reading is a suitable means to get an instant response or one daily lift. All you need to do is mix the cards and select just one, when you need an answer to a certain question. Its meaning will help give a better understanding to your situation.
Another simple spread for beginners is the three-card spread. This one provides some more information, it usually portrays past, present and future or mind, body and soul. It is useful when you need a bit more information or when focusing on a certain case.
Becoming more practiced you can therefore attempt various other complexities of the spreads. There are relationship spreads, career spreads, spiritual growth spreads, and much more. It is as though you have the manual to every single tarot recipe ever!
So always bear in mind when choosing your spread, find one that is appropriate for your question and you. It’s not necessary to always stick to one, experiment with what might work at a given time. And if, for some reason, you are a little foggy on which Tarot spreads to choose, always listen to your gut feeling.
Cards Interpretation
Now comes the magical part: bringing your cards to life! When you look at the cards in your spread, try to be aware of your first feelings about them. What kinds, if any, of feelings or thoughts does it give you? The voice inside your head is the best guide that you can ever get.
Of course, it is also important to understand the conventional interpretations of all the cards as well. For symbolism and interpretations involved in the designs of the Tarot cards, you could always read here. Just a reminder, the most important thing you need to know is that there is no absolute correct approach to reading tarot cards. And it’s about identifying that which has meaning for yourself and the circumstances you find yourself in.
When you are attempting to read the tarot cards, try and look for interconnections between cards. What regularities, look for themselves, or repeat frequencies, are discernible here? What kinds of relations are there between the cards? This will make it easier to tell a story and get more understanding of your question as you make connections across different ideas.
If you are stuck at any point or need further clarification there is no harm in seeking extra help. Remember that tarot is about empowering your way. Therefore have fun when using it, go with the flow, and just let the magic happen!
Tips for Accurate Readings
So let’s go one step further; explore the deeper level of your tarot readings! Here are some tips to help you gain even more clarity and accuracy from your spreads:
First, examining the idea of tarot journaling. It is very useful to monitor your performance, to note down the questions, spreads and interpretations you made. Furthermore, looking at how you found meaning with the cards and how that has changed is interesting.
Let us consider the following ideas on how to read a tarot spread always taking into account the context. Take into account the question which was posed, the position of the cards and the energy of the spread as a whole. Overall, do not be afraid to go with your feelings in regards to the cards and how they are being interpreted because it may differ from standard meanings.
You should also be conscious of the mental set you are in while doing a tarot. If you are feeling stressed out, distracted, or experiencing an array of boiling emotions then it is probably not the best time for a reading. But that is the time you should wait until you get calm and clear headed.
As much as possible, do not pressure the interpretation or weave your own opinions and make the cards tell you what you want to listen to. Occasionally, the messages can be harsh, just knowing that they are there for your enlightenment to make you a better person should encourage you.
Lastly, try not to stick to only one type of tarot layout. The only thing that you are going to lose is the feeling of inexperience and the only thing that you are going to gain is confidence and inevitability. And last but not least, enjoy it! Tarot is a genuinely wonderful method of focusing.
Conclusion
And there you have it! We’ve explored the basics of how to deal tarot cards, from choosing the perfect deck to creating meaningful tarot spreads and interpreting their messages. Now it’s your turn to shuffle, lay out those cards, and let the magic unfold. Remember, the more you practice how to read tarot spreads, the more confident and connected you’ll become. So go forth and embrace the wisdom of the tarot!
