In this thread i will post the following:

~one specified lesson about a part of tarot reading, a certain card, or a spread.
~ a link to a sample/practice spread:
to which you can mail me what answer you come up with for it and i will tell you if you are right
or wrong
~several examples of how to use it.

lesson 1- Elemental dignities

In some spreads, especially those with elemental specifically associated with them(like in the
sample reading below and the elemental spread in the useful tarot spread thread), or if
requested otherwise ''elemental dignities'' may be applied to a reading. when using elemental
dignities you apply an element to the cards. this is done in two ways:
1. by the area of the area of the spread (i.e. west side of the spread, north/top of the spread)
2. by the elemental association of the suit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
directional elemental dignities are as follows:
~north= earth= finace/stability/physical health= feminine
~east= air= mental health/thoughts associated with/creativity=masculine
~south= fire= passion/energy= masculine
~west= water= emotions associated with/ emotional health
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
suit associations are as follows:
major arcana- spirit
cups- water
wands- fire
swords- air
pentacles/rings/coins- earth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
all spreads in which you apply elemental dignities, the spread is read from the perspective of
the querent. i.e. the south card will be at the reader's north(the top of the spread), unless the
reader is the querent (reading for themselves) and then it is at your own south (bottom of the
spread).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot%20samples/?
action=view&current=elementaldignit ies1y.jpg
there is this lesson's practice/ sample spread. gotta mail me for the answer or to check your
answer. (DO NOt POST ANSWERS TO THE READING HERE OR ON MY PHOTOBUCKET!!)

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot
%20samples/elementaldignities1reversed.jpg

that is the same spread but what it should look like if you read for some one else

lesson 2- significator cards

Significator cards can be used with any spread or reading, and are called for in some. they are
used to represent the querent of the spread and/or the situation, influences, extra guidance, or
in some cases, another person that the reading is about (i.e. if a mother wanted a reading done
about the secrets her son is keeping from her, a significator could be used to represent the
son).

the significator is picked in one of two ways:

~randomly drawn from the deck before drawing cards for the spread
~ picked specifically by the querent and/or reader.

when picked specifically the card is picked to match certain traits of the reading and that which
the significator represents. when picking a significator in this method, both the suit and the
position of the card is important. For all cards also apply the cards? meanings as traits. here are
the correlations:

suits
cups- feminine, emotions, needfulness
wands- creativity, passion, masculine
swords- swiftness, inelegance, masculine
pentacles/rings/coins- finances, stability, focus, feminine

position
king- mature male figure, authority, stability, knows where he is going/what he is doing. Can
also be used for forceful women or women in high authoritative positions in a masculine way
queen- mature female figure, compassionate person, has authority but rules with grace. Can
also be said for a soft spoken man of authority that acts in a feminine way or position
Knight- person who is active in different things. Not necessarily mature or in an authoritative
position, is making progress and going somewhere
Page- a youth or immature person or someone who is new to a path or job, ect
Numbers- higher number= higher ranks
alternative positions
(some decks have these instead of knights or pages. May be used in the same place or
differently depending on desire)
Princess/lady- young woman or girl
Prince- young man or boy

http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot%20samples/?
action=view&current=celticcross-sig nificatorsamplecopy.jpg&newest=1

lesson 3- reversed cards

some times when a reader shuffles the deck of cards, some of the cards will get flipped upside
down. cont despair however, or worry about turning them right side up for a reading- there is a
use. when a card is flipped upside down it is called ''reversed''. as the name pretty much
suggests, the process for reading ''reversed'' cards is to reverse the meaning of the card (read it
as opposite). we will use as an example the three of swords

right side up the three of swords traditionally symbolizes heartache, strife, and a need to better
communicate (emotions especially).

reversed the three of swords means confusion, unnecessary pain an/or suffering, and telling
too many of your secrets.

card right side up ~~~> http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot

%20samples/?action=view&current=s3rev.jpg&n ewest=1#!oZZ3QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F
%2Fs611.photobucket.co m%2Falbums%2Ftt197%2FAnamelechRayne%2FTarot%2520samples
% 2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3Ds3.jpg%26newest%3D1

card reversed ~~~> http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot

%20samples/?action=view&current=s3rev.jpg&n ewest=1

sample spread ~~~> http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot

%20samples/?action=view&current=5cardreversalsc opy.jpg&newest=1

lesson 4- symbolism
actually reading the cards themselves are based on the meanings we associate with them. but
the meanings we know are based on symbolism of the images. for examples in this lesson i will
be using images from my osho zen deck instead of the raider-waite deck.

symbolism can be found in any source or place. omen readers read shapes of things to tell us
what will come to us or advice that would be beneficial to us. our totem and spirit guides' forms
are symbolic of the lessons and advice they are here to give us. For example, if you have
raccoon as a spirit guide, he will teach you to let go of disguises, or to work with your talents.
The same is to be said for the images on a tarot or oracle card.
The card I will be using for this lesson is ?courage? from my osho zen tarot deck.

http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot%20samples/?
action=view&current=zen009Courage.j pg&newest=1

the image on this card is a plant with two flowers growing up from a crack in a rock. The plant is
depicted as glowing with a yellow light. And the background is a green color. Now lets look at
the parts of the card without looking at the card?s name.
symbols and meanings
~Flowering plant- growing, life, something good that we need to aim for or be.
~rock- struggles and hard times
~glowing- emanating, projecting, something obvious about that which is glowing
~yellow- life, vitality, happiness

So if we read each of these symbols together the card?s meaning would suggest that the card
means this:
?the need to grow with success into our fullest potential regardless of situation or hardships?
Since the name of the card is courage we can add this to the cards meaning as well:
?the need to grow with success into our fullest potential regardless of situation or hardships
and to not be ashamed of who/what we are and who/what we have become?

Homework-
http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot%20samples/?
action=view&current=zen009Courage.j pg&newest=1#!oZZ1QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F
%2Fs611.photob ucket.com%2Falbums%2Ftt197%2FAnamelechRayne%2FTarot%2520 samples
%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3Dzentarot.jpg%26ne west%3D1
lesson 5- using spreads

there are many different ways to go about reading tarot cards. the three most common are:
guided (uses the help of spirits/totems/guides/ect. to do readings), intuition (using intuition or
instinct to read the cards and draw them), and the most common of all three; spread reading.
spread reading does not require the ability to contact spirits or feel out for things, which not
everyone can do (or has learned to do or do well). with a spread everything is laid out for you.
cards are first drawn form the deck, laid out in a pattern, and have corresponding numbers,
which have specific meanings.

examples of spreads ~~~> http://www.spellsofmagic.com/read_posts.html?post=271702

after applying the meaning of the spread position, you apply the meaning of the meaning of the
cards, reversals (if any), and elemental dignities (if being used). so a reading goes like this:

position meaning+ card meaning+ reversals+ elemental dignities (optional)= reading

sample 1 celtic cross spread-

http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot%20samples/?
action=view&current=celticcross-spr eadsapmcopy.jpg&newest=1

sample 2 triskle spread-

http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot%20samples/?
action=view&current=celticcross-spr eadsapmcopy.jpg&newest=1

lesson 6- reading as a whole

so we have covered how to read the meanings of each of the separate cards, and we have
covered what a spread is and how it works. now we will put the finishing touches on both
lesson and cover how to read a spread as a whole.

for both the lesson and practice spreads we will be using the horseshoe spread located in the
tarot spread forum thread as usual.

the cards used in this sample will be:

1. ace of cups- new paths
2. 7 of cups (reversed)- dissappointment and obsession
3. ace of swords (reversed)- fears of loss or strife
4. 4 of swords (reversed)- stress and worry
5. 3 of swords- letting go of things previously attached to/heartbreak
6. 8 of wands- sudden changes
7. queen of pentacles (reversed)- stability and financial wisdom

the situation for the reading is a woman who is pregnant wants to know about her pregnancy
and how it will go.

let's look at the cards+ the position meanings individually.

1.the past + ace of cups= she recently began a path or a journey.

2. the present + 7 of cups(reversed)= disappointment and obsessions that needs to be

overcome

3. hopes and fears + ace of swords(reversed)= she is afraid of loosing her child

4. obstacles + 4 of swords(reversed)= she is worrying and stressing out too much

5. environment + 3 of swords= there has been a recent loss in her home/ or she is letting go of a
relationship

6. the future + 8 of wands= sudden changes till grace her life for the better

7. the outcome + the queen of pentacles(reversed)= it's going to be an unstable adjustment

baby to the baby after it comes

time to put it all together (the reading as a whole)

the woman has recently found herself pregnant which is a pleasant change in her life. she is
obsessed and worries constantly about the baby's status and health. she also has a constant
fear that she will loose the baby. her fears and worrying cause unnecessary stress for her and
the child along with the fact that she has recently lost some one ore something that was
important to her. she needs to let go of this stress. the future shows that the baby will be fine in
the end and bring welcome changes to her lifestyle, but it will take some adjustment to raising
a kid.

homework
http://s611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/AnamelechRayne/ Tarot%20samples/?
action=view&current=horshoereadingc opy.jpg&newest=1

lesson 7- “yes/no readings”

In the process of doing readings for others, you might find that more often than not, that the
questions that the querent will ask will be a “yes or no question”. Now, quite obviously the
cards don’t specifically spell out those kinds of answers. However, there are several different
ways to get answers for a yes or no reading. I am going to give three different ways. One of
them will use as many cards as you need. The other two will be one card dealings.

-Full Readings-

The first method is to do a full reading with whatever spread you choose (or no spread still
doesn’t matter) and read it like a normal reading. After you evaluate the reading as a whole, see
how the outcome applies to the question.

~does the reading denote any form of success or failure?

~is the reading over all positive? Or is it negative?

~what definite things do you get out of the reading?

From these questions you can determine a yes or no answer with you judgement

-Conditionals-

A second option would be to set up conditionals for the cards. That way you can determine yes
or no, clearly based on a theme that you can easily recognize. A conditional would be for
example: major arcana=yes, minor arcana=no, feminine card=yes, masculine card= no.

-Emotional Connotation-

Another possible way is to read the emotional connotations of the card you draw, or in other
words, what emotions you associate with it. Positive(happy cards) or negative (unhappy cards).
Positive cards are used to signify a “yes” answer, likewise negative are “no” answers. For
example: the tower is seen as a negative card dealing with destruction, where as the four of
wands is a happy card dealing with celebration.

Homework-

I don’t have an image for this one, but I am going to give you a question instead and you need
to answer it 3 times using each method. Be sure to list the cards you draw.
Question: will I go on a canoe trip next year?

Lesson 8- Deck Structure

the structure of a tarot deck goes as follows:

major arcana: 22 cards numbered 0-21 that represent pressing information.

Minor arcana-

Cups: feminine suit of water. Contains an ace, number cards 2 through 10, a page, knight (page
and night may be replaced with: prince, princess, lady, knave, lord ect.), queen and king.
Expresses matters of emotion

Wands: masculine suit of fire. Contains an ace, number cards 2 through 10, a page, knight (page
and night may be replaced with: prince, princess, lady, knave, lord ect.), queen and king.
Expresses matters of instinct movement, energy and changes.

Swords: masculine suit of air. Contains an ace, number cards 2 through 10, a page, knight (page
and night may be replaced with: prince, princess, lady, knave, lord ect.), queen and king.
Expresses matters of obstacles and aggression.

Pentacles(coins/rings/ect)- feminine suit of earth. Contains an ace, number cards 2 through 10,
a page, knight (page and night may be replaced with: prince, princess, lady, knave, lord ect.),
queen and king. Expresses matters of home, finance, business, and stability.

Lesson 9- The Major Arcana and The Fool

The major arcana is the first suit in the deck. It contains the first 22 cards numbered 0 through
21. The major arcana starts with “The Fool” and ends in completion with “The World”. In many
decks the numbers on the major arcana cards are done in roman numerals, where the cards in
the minor arcana (the other 4 suits in the deck) use normal number characters (most of the
time). The major arcana does not have a special theme or color pattern that applies to all of
the cards in it, but the cards themselves tend to express more pressing, sudden or large
obstacles or events. It is the cards of the major arcana that receive the most publicity and
attention whether it is in advertisement or in an actual reading. Especially if it is one of the
cards that are associated with “bad” things (i.e. the tower, death, the devil). A comparison
would be the bad publicity that the death card receives, but that the 10 of swords (ruin) or the
3 of swords(heartbreak) receives little attention at all.
The Fool

** note: card descriptions are based on traditional style decks and images will vary. The
interpretations should be the same or at least similar.

The fool typically shows a young man who is carrying a walking stick and a flower, while walking
dangerously close to a cliff with a dog following him close behind barking at him. The young
man is oblivious to the danger and appears to be enjoying the beautiful day.

Symbolism

Young man- new to life, new experiences, naivety

Walking stick- journeys, paths, experiences

Flower-beauty

Cliff- danger

Dog- teacher, lessons

Barking- distraction

Sunny day- opportunities

Meaning

The fool means that that there are many new experiences to be had and many new things to be
learned. But be careful that you are not letting yourself get distracted by too many of them at
once or you’ll find yourself over stressed and in danger of some kind.

Reversed

Think things through, you might not be understanding what is going on around you.

Lesson 10- The Suit of Cups and the Ace of Cups

The suit of cups is the second suit in the deck. Cups is the suit of water and matters of emotion.
As such this suit is associated as feminine. The themes displayed on the suit(besides the
presence of cups) are blues, grays and greens. The suit of cups contains an ace, number cards 2
through 10, a page, knight (page and night may be replaced with: prince, princess, lady, knave,
lord ect.), queen and king.
The Ace of Cups

The ace of cups being is usually shown as a cup being held (either by a person or by a hand
reaching down from the sky). The cup is over flowing or filled very full with water, and it is in a
pond or a tranquil pool of water. There is also usually a bird flying around the cup.

Cup- femininity, firtility

Water- emotions

Overflowing/fullness-abundance

Bird- light heartedness

Hand/person- power, action, creation

Pond/pool- peace, happiness

Meaning

New love, emotions or happiness is out to find you. It is a good time to look for support from
others or is a time where you will feel uplifted. Let yourself have peace mentally and
emotionally, you will not be disappointed in what is coming

Reversed

Don’t let your emotions get carried away or get the better of you. Your situation is not as bad as
it looks. Beware of lies, dissatisfaction, regrets, insecurity and sudden changes. Time for some
disillusionment.

Lesson 11- The Suit of Wands

The suit of wands is the third suit in the deck of cards. The suit of wands contains an ace,
number cards 2 through 10, a page, knight (page and night may be replaced with: prince,
princess, lady, knave, lord ect.), queen and king. This suit is a masculine suit and is associated
with fire. The themes on the wand suit is that of fire, reds, yellows, oranges and desert scenes.
The suit of wands cover matters of intuition, energy, movement, and changes.

Ace of Wands

The ace of wands is the first card in the suit of wands. The image is that of a single
wand/staff/scepter. The staff is held from the sky or supported somehow. The scenery is
usually that of a dessert or an uninhabited place like a forest or field with a buildingin the
distance. The staff has leaves growing from it.

Symbolism

Building-inspiration, ambition

Hand/support- crteation, power, action

Dessert/uninhabited place- opportunity to create or for new things to come

Leaves- growth, initiative

Meaning

Now is the time to take initiative. It’s time to drop what you are doing and begin to make
something new. It’s time to let enthusiasm take control, but be careful of new obstacles and
problems popping up.

Reversed

Be careful of letting your ambitions get carried away. If your ambition gets to be out of check,
you are in a good position to find yourself in trouble or losing money and definitely losing
friends. Likewise jealousy over another’s work is very likely at this time

Lesson 12- the Suit of Swords and Ace of Swords

Suit of swords

The suit of swords is the fourth suit in the tarot deck. It contains the same numbered cards and
royal cards as in all of the other suits (big surprise there). Swords is the suit of air and like air is
masculine. This is the suit of aggression and conflicts. The colors favored on the suit of swords is
blue and grey.

The ace of swords

The ace of swords is the first card in the swords suit. Much like all of the other aces it shows a
singular sword being held in the sky or supported likewise by something. The sword’s hilt is
often decorated by a plant on one side and feather on the other. The most typical scenery is
that of mountains or a very dense forest.

Symbolism

Sword- strength, protection, and threats

Hand-power, creation, action

Plant- achievement, growth

Feather- air, motion, victory

Mountains/forest-obstacles

Meaning

The ace of swords is a card of triumph and victory. Through ability and strength you have
achieved what you set out to do, however you must now combat a new obstacle

Reversal

Loss, failure, laziness. The effort to achieve your goal was not enough or the goal proved to be
futile.

Lesson 13- the Suit of Pentacles and the Ace of Pentacles

Suit of Pentacles

The suit of pentacles is the fifth and final suit in a tarot deck. It is also called coins or rings in
some decks. Pentacles is associated with the feminine gender and the element of earth. She
represents on a whole matters of business, finance, stability and home matters. Most of the
cards in this suit are painted with greens and yellows and show a fruitful and rich
harvest/growth motif.

Ace of pentacles
The ace of pentacles follows the same path as all of the other three aces as a single pentacle
held or supported, but the scenery is that of a garden or a prosperous field.

Symbolism

Garden- fruitfulness, production

Hand/support-creation, power, action

Flowers- beauty, good times, and success

Fields- stability, food, money

Meaning

Contentment, prosperity and good work opportunities are ahead of you. Rewards will come
out of your hard work and opportunities will continue to open up for you

Reversed

Loss and instability await you/are prevalent right now. Take extra precautions at work or at
school or other places where your performance is being reviewed.