Tarot for Beginners

Course Overview

Course Creator(s): Joan Bunning

Description
Have you ever wondered how the tarot works? How a deck of cards might reveal hidden truths?
The tarot is a tool to help you access your inner wisdom. As you explore the patterns in the cards,
you uncover the deeper patterns in your own life. In this course, you will learn everything you
need to know to read the tarot cards successfully for yourself. You'll learn the features of the deck
and a simple, step-by-step procedure for laying out the cards and interpreting them. In the end,
you'll come away with a new skill to draw on whenever you want insight into your life and its
direction.

Prerequisites

 Curiosity and an open mind

Objectives

 Understand how the tarot enhances intuition and self-understanding

 Learn the features of a standard tarot deck
 Explore patterns for laying out the cards
 Learn how to do a basic tarot reading about a personal question
 Discover ways to uncover the meaning in a reading
 Find out how to continue your tarot practice once the course is over
 Enjoy learning a new skill for personal growth

Faculty
Course Creator and Instructor: Joan Bunning

Joan Bunning is the author of Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners. Since
1995, she has managed the Learning the Tarot Web site, which has helped
thousands

Lesson 1: Making Sense of the Tarot

A discussion of how the tarot cards work and why using them makes sense
in the modern world.

Getting Started Welcome to Tarot for

Beginners!
In years past, whenever I mentioned the tarot, the usual response
was a puzzled look or frown. Now I'm more likely to hear "Oh, will If you have ever wondered
you do a reading for me?" These days the tarot seems to be about the tarot cards and
everywhere -- in malls, on TV, even at company picnics. More and what they have to offer, you
more people are becoming curious about these unusual cards. will have a chance to find out
What are they exactly, and how do they work? in these eight lessons. I know
you will come away with a
The tarot is a deck of 78 picture cards that have been used for deeper appreciation of this
centuries as a way to divine hidden truths. The traditional reading fascinating subject and the
involves two people -- the reader and a seeker, often called the tools you need to explore
querent. The seeker is looking for insights into his life, and the further on your own. Please
reader provides these insights by interpreting cards chosen by the visit the course Message
seeker. Board. Tell us a little about
yourself and what brings you
You can read the tarot cards for yourself as well. In this case you
to the Tarot.
are both the reader and the seeker. We will focus on this kind of
tarot reading in these lessons because it is the way most people
learn. You may never read for others (although I guarantee you
will be asked), but you will always find it useful to know how to
interpret your own cards.

In this first lesson, I would like to talk a little about the philosophy
of the tarot. Learning to read the cards is not the same as learning
to drive a car or set a broken arm. It's a skill that depends upon
your inner state. The tarot cards are mirrors reflecting back your
own awareness. They are a tool to help you access truths that you
know, but perhaps don't realize you know.

To work with the cards successfully, you need to feel comfortable

with them. If the tarot doesn't make sense to you, your doubts will
hold you back. If you have concerns, they can limit your free
responses. Before we go further, I'd like to clear up some of these
potential blocks, so you can feel free to dive into the rest of the
course with enthusiasm.

Getting Past Fear Watch Out for These

Tricks
Many people have told me they feel somewhat nervous about the
In the hands of a dedicated
tarot. They're curious, but afraid at the same time. Why might this
be so? One reason is people are concerned a tarot reading will reader, the tarot can be a
wonderful tool for personal
reveal a horrifying, but unavoidable future. They say, "I don't want
to know what lies ahead. I'd rather just live from day to day in guidance. Sadly, the cards
blissful ignorance." But, in truth, this fear is based on a can also be abused by the
misconception about what the tarot cards can reveal. The future isunscrupulous. Be very
careful if a reader tells you
not a fixed inevitability. It is created dynamically from within the
present. that he or she has detected a
"curse" that can only be
When you do a tarot reading, you are opening yourself to perceive removed if you agree to pay
the many influences in and around you at that moment. You ready for more services. Be
yourself to sense the energies on both the outer level of events suspicious if a reader is
and the inner level of beliefs, desires and fears. Knowing these, needlessly prolonging a
you can then "predict" an outcome, but it is only a probable one, timed session to run up
not a given. It is the result most likely to occur if all the forces of costs.
the moment continue unchanged.

This is exactly why a tarot reading is so helpful. Simply by doing a

reading, you inject change into your situation. By taking the time
to think about your life and your choices, you give yourself the
opportunity to set in motion a new path for yourself. By
understanding your situation better, you come closer to creating
the future you want. Fears about the future are reduced and you
can move forward with greater awareness and confidence.

Opening to Mystery

The tarot can also be unsettling because it challenges comfortable assumptions. For most of us,
life is fairly secure and predictable. There aren't too many surprises in an average day, and the
few that do occur are easy to accommodate within our normal reality. A tarot reading can
puncture this aura of safe familiarity because it opens a door into the unknown.

We are so much more than we appear. Each of us has incredible depths of feeling, knowledge
and experience, but too often these remain hidden behind this veil. To the conscious mind,
Mystery is threatening. It's easier and safer to stay on the surface and ignore the wild underside
of life. The tarot reminds us of our depths and offers a way to plumb them. Exploring the unknown
can be scary sometimes, but it is also exhilarating. Each time we go deeper, we come away a
richer, more aware being.
In the next few weeks, try to stay in a mood of excited anticipation as you work with your cards.
Be open to the fact that you have unsuspected talents and potentials. If you begin to feel doubt or
concern, remember this is your conscious mind trying to stay in charge. With the tarot, it is not
your mind that is primary, but your intuitive heart. Feelings and impressions lead the way . . . for a
change!

This possibility may seem more vivid to you if you pause for a moment to reflect on who and what
you really are. You are a lively and amazing whirl of energy! A universe of trillions of molecules
interacting with each other and the environment in incredible ways. I hold out to you the thought
that in a world such as this, just about anything is possible -- even the idea that a few cards could
mirror life patterns.

Thankfully, there is still room for the unknown and "magical" in everyday reality. Science has not
yet ruled out the possibility that there are ways to perceive and understand other than the senses.
If you are open to this possibility, you will find the tarot can lead you in surprising new directions.

Moving Forward

The text for this course is my book Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners. It's also
organized into a series of lessons that will supplement what you're absorbing online. I'll refer you
to the corresponding text pages when appropriate as we go through the lessons.

There are exercises for each lesson in the text. I'll be assigning some of these, but I encourage
you to try the others as well. The art of tarot reading is a practical skill that can only be developed
through experience. Learning the Tarot also contains a section with detailed information about
each tarot card. These pages will be a valuable reference for you as you work with your deck.

Finally, I urge you to visit the Message Board often and take part in the discussions. I know many
of the questions that occur to you will also occur to others. You will speed up your progress
tremendously by comparing notes with your fellow students. I hope that you are now eager to
begin this adventure.

In the next lesson, we will get take a good look at the most important tool of the reader's trade --
the tarot deck itself.

Here are some wonderful books that will help your knowledge and understanding of Tarot grow:

The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra; Shambhala Pubns; ISBN: 1570625190

The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukov; Bantam Books; ISBN: 055326382X

Synchronicity, Science and Soul-Making by Victor Mansfield; Open Court Publishing Company; ISBN:
0812693043

Lesson 2: The Tarot Deck

A detailed look at the features of the standard, 78-card tarot deck.

History and Background Why the Rider-Waite?

In the 1400s, card playing was all the rage in Italy. Games were The Rider-Waite is arguably
played with decks much like our modern playing cards. At some the most popular tarot deck
point, a new kind of deck was introduced that had 22 extra cards in use today. Readers
called triumphs. These cards had the power to take or "trump" the appreciate its story pictures
suited cards. Most scholars now believe this larger deck was the and evocative symbols. It is
original tarot deck. suitable for beginners, but
also has lasting appeal for all
skill levels. I will be referring
to the Rider-Waite throughout
this course. You don't have to
learn with this deck, but it's
useful to be familiar with it
since it is the model for so
many other tarot decks.

From Italy, the game of tarot spread quickly throughout Europe.

Many different tarot decks were printed. Although there were
variations among decks, a general pattern developed early on.
This pattern became known as the Tarot of Marseilles. Decks of
this style are still popular to this day.

It wasn't until the 1700s that the tarot became more than just a
card game. People began using the tarot for divination. Occultists
speculated about the "true" origin of the cards. They believed the
cards contained secret symbols conveying mystical knowledge.
Some drew correspondences between the tarot and other esoteric
subjects.

In 1910, Rider & Co. in England published the Rider Tarot. This
influential deck was the result of a collaboration between artist
Pamela Colman Smith and mystic Arthur Edward Waite. It is often
called the Rider-Waite Tarot, or sometimes the Smith-Waite.

Major Arcana
Take a moment to remove the major arcana cards from your deck. The Energy of a Card
You can recognize them by the names printed at the bottom. (The
court cards and the aces also have names, but do not remove A card's energy comes from
these now.) Arrange the 22 cards as shown in the illustration. many sources -- its history,
image and the thoughts of
Spend a few minutes looking over your cards. What impressions those who have worked with
do you get? Does one card catch your eye? Do some seem more it. This energy is rather like
positive to you than others? Notice the different colors, symbols, the meaning of a card, but
and figures -- celestial, human, and animal. more dynamic. It's not a fixed
set of ideas, but a quality that
In the tarot, every card has a unique "energy" -- a mood or feeling resonates.
tone it conveys. You probably sensed some of these energies as
you scanned the cards. The Emperor is firm, strong, and
authoritative. The Sun feels bright, expansive, and confident.

The major arcana cards have energies that are deep and strong.
You will find yourself coming back to these special cards over and
over, perceiving ever more rich and subtle meanings within them.

Beginning students often wonder how you can read the tarot
correctly if card meanings aren't fixed. The answer is you open to
the energy of a card anew each time you see it. In this way, you
receive the message the card is communicating in the moment.
Usually the message is a familiar one, but sometimes it's
unexpected.

Knowing how to sense a card comes with learning and

experience. You begin by using meanings you learn from others,
but over time, you adapt those teachings to fit your own vision and
experience. As you work through these lessons, don't be
concerned about "getting it right." Just be aware of your
responses to your cards. You are in the process of creating your
own set of tarot meanings.

Minor Arcana

Gather the major arcana cards and set them to one side. Spread the remaining 56 cards face
down in front of you. Move them around so they are well shuffled. Next, pick up a card you feel
drawn toward. You'll be making a rectangle of four rows, one for each suit. Follow the model for
the cups suit as shown in Figure 2. Place the card you picked up in the proper location in its suit
row. Do you feel attracted to the card, or do you recoil a little? Do you notice any specific details?
Continue choosing and placing cards one at a time. Give yourself a moment or two with each
one.
 The "Wrong" Suit!
The Four Suits of the Minor Arcana

The most obvious feature of the minor arcana is its division into The suits that show up in a
four suits. In the Rider-Waite, the suit names are: reading are not always the
obvious ones. You may
 Wands gravitate toward one suit
style over another in your
 Cups
personality or in the
circumstances of your life.
 Swords
When you were picking up
your cards, did you choose
 Pentacles
an unusual number of one
suit at first? Imagine this act
Other tarot decks may use different names, but these are the
was not random, but a sign
most common.
that you are drawn right now
In the tarot, each suit has its own unique focus. This chart shows toward that suit's style for
the special focus of each suit and the element associated with it: some reason. See where that
thought leads you.

Suits and Elements

Suit Element Suit Focus

Passion, action, confidence,

Wands Fire creativity, aggression,
excitement, brightness

Emotions, moods, spirituality,

Cups Water compassion, connection,
fluidity, inner experiences,
Mind, intellect, reason, ego-
Swords Air states, disharmony, tension,
lightning strikes
Material matters, practicality,
money, nature, survival,
Pentacles Earth
security, groundedness

The element associated with a suit can help you remember its
focus. Fire is bright and active. Earth is solid and grounded.

Each card in a suit reflects the orientation of that suit in a different

way. The ten of cups shows the emotion of joy. The three of cups
shows the connection that is friendship. Joy and friendship are
aspects of the cups suit. The wands suit has a completely
different focus. The five of wands shows competition -- an
aggressive action.

In most readings, you will see a balance of suits. If one suit

predominates, you know that suit's style is important in some way.
Many swords can show a stressful situation. Extra cups can point
out a moody atmosphere.

Court Cards Making a "Tarot" Deck

from Playing
The 16 court cards are a subgroup within the tarot deck. Each one Cards
represents a personality type that reflects the card's suit and rank.
The easiest way to remember court card personalities is to You can turn a regular deck
imagine the cards of each suit as members of a stereotypical of playing cards into a partial
family: tarot deck. Clubs = wands,
hearts = cups, spades =
Court Cards and Family Positions swords, and diamonds =
pentacles. Ace through10
and the queen and king
Family remain the same. Jack =
Court Card Focus
Position knight (historically the jack is
King Father Action, outer events the page, but it's more
interesting to make him the
Queen Mother Being, inner states knight) and joker = fool. (No
Knight Teenager Excess, extremes other major arcana cards are
included.)
Play, enjoyment
Page Child

From this scheme, you can guess that the knight of cups is
excessively (knight) emotional and sensitive (cups). The king of
swords acts (king) with reason using his intellect (swords). Of
course, this chart is overly simple, but it does give you an idea of
the nature of each court card.

In readings, a court card usually represents someone who is

demonstrating a certain personality style. This could be you or
another person. Students often find court cards difficult to interpret
because of this ambiguity. When is a court card you, and when
someone else? Usually the circumstances and other cards give
you clues. It's also helpful to remember in tarot work that the line
between inner and outer is blurred. A court card can represent a
quality in you and in another person at the same time. You draw to
yourself certain personality types and see in others reflections of
yourself.
Confused?

At this point, you're probably feeling somewhat overwhelmed by

all this new material. Don't be discouraged. It does take some
effort to get to know your deck well, but this is a hurdle every tarot
student faces. You've made a good start, and many of these ideas
will become clearer as you continue. Be sure to do the assigned
readings in Learning the Tarot as these concepts are explained
there in more detail.

In future lessons, I will help you get more comfortable with your
deck in ways that are fun and insightful. In time, you will find your
tarot cards have become familiar friends. In the next lesson, we
will explore the extra dimension of meaning introduced by the
tarot spread.

Lesson 3: Tarot Spreads

A look at tarot spreads, or patterns for laying out the cards.

Definition of a Spread Same Card, Different

Meaning
You're now more familiar with your tarot deck. Your next step is to
learn how to put that deck to use. You could simply shuffle your The same card implies totally
cards, lay out a few on the table, and interpret them. Some tarot different understandings
readers do prefer this straightforward method, but it is much more depending on where it lands.
common to use a tarot spread. This extra layer of meaning is
what makes spreads so
A spread is a pattern or template for laying out the cards. Spreads powerful and useful in tarot
give readings structure and a deeper layer of meaning. There are work.
hundreds of spreads for different purposes. Tarot lovers pick them
up from teachers, books, and each other. You can create spreads
for yourself as well.

Organization of a Spread

A spread organizes a reading in five ways. It tells you:

1. The theme

There are spreads about work, relationships, health, past issues

and many other topics. Some spreads are more general and do
not have a specific theme.

2. The number of cards to lay out

A spread tells you how many cards to use in your reading. A

spread can be small, with just a few cards, or quite large. The
larger the spread, the more complicated and detailed the reading.

3. Where to place each card

Every spread has a shape outlining the places for the cards. I call
these places the card positions. Figure 1 shows a spread shaped
like the five on a die. For this spread, you would need five cards --
one for each position.

The shape of a spread often reflects its theme to help you

perceive the relationships between the cards. Figure 2 shows a
spread shaped like an arrow pointing to a single card. The
meanings of cards in the arrow "point" to the result in the outcome
card.
 4. The order of placement

The order of placement is important because it determines each

card's position. Cards are usually taken in order from the top of
the deck after the shuffle and cut. The top card goes in Position
One, the second in Position Two, and so on.

5. The context in which to interpret the card

Each position in a spread has a certain meaning associated with

it. This meaning influences how the card is interpreted.
Let's say you are doing a reading about a problem in your office.
You have chosen a work-related spread to use. The Eight of
Pentacles happens to fall in the position that means "what
someone expects of you." This card often stands for diligence --
working long and hard. In this case, you could interpret the Eight
of Pentacles as "someone expects me (position meaning) to work
long and hard (card meaning)."
The position gives a context or framework within which to
evaluate the card.
Another position in the same spread might mean "what is most
satisfying about my job." Here, the Eight of Pentacles would tell
you "what is most satisfying about my job (position meaning) is
the hard work (card meaning)."

Quick Spread Power of the

Unconscious
Now that you understand the purpose of a tarot spread, let's take
a look at a useful example. There will be many times in your life In these lessons and in
when you need guidance about a problem, but don't want to do Learning the Tarot, the
an elaborate reading. The Quick Spread is ideal for these cards in the examples are
occasions. It is a simple three-card spread shaped like a triangle. always "authentic." They
come either from actual or
simulated readings. At first,
I tried picking cards
consciously to fit my
examples, but the results
always seemed forced and
 artificial. The unconscious
selects with much more
subtlety and awareness!

Figure 3 shows the layout. Position One is on the bottom left,

Position Two on the bottom right and Position Three in the middle
on the top. Here are the meanings:

1. Position One = Key Factor: You

Position One represents a key factor about you in the situation,

perhaps your attitude, actions or needs in relation to Position
Two.

2. Position Two = Key Factor: the Other

Position Two represents a key factor about what is "not-you" in

the situation. It might be a person, group, idea or tendency -
something you consider to be other than yourself.

3. Position Three = What I Need to Know

Position Three offers guidance and commentary. It tells you what

you need to know to make well-considered choices in the
situation.

A Quick Spread Example

Let's say you are concerned about arguments you've been

having with your strong-willed child. She refuses to cooperate,
even when cooperation would be to her advantage. You want to
understand why there is so much conflict in your relationship, so
you do a Quick Reading and draw the following cards:

Sample Quick Spread

Position Card Meaning
Assess, consider a
One 7 of Pentacles
direction change
Assert yourself, use
Two Chariot
your will
Act consciously,
Three Magician experience power

How Do You Read This?

What can these cards tell you about your dilemma? By combining
the position and card meanings, you learn:

Sample Quick Spread Interpretation

Position Card Interpretation

A key factor about
me is my need to
One 7 of Pentacles
assess and consider a
direction change
A key factor about
my daughter is her
Two Chariot
need to assert herself
and use her will
What I need to do is
act consciously and
Three Magician
experience power

Normally, you would not use this fill-in-the-blank formula to

interpret your cards. I've used it here so you can see how the
card and position meanings interact. On your own, try going
deeper into this reading. Look up these three cards in the
Individual Card Description section in Learning the Tarot (page
107). Read over the material for each one, and see what occurs
to you. Consider sharing your ideas with others on the Message
Board. Remember: there are no wrong impressions.
Celtic Cross Spread Spread Variations

The most popular spread in the tarot community is the Celtic There are several versions of
Cross. This ten-card spread is useful in any situation. It is the Celtic Cross. The
divided into two parts: a six-card circular section on the left and differences are usually in the
a four-card staff section on the right. The circular section order of placement of cards
describes the situation at the time of the reading, and the staff three through six. It is OK to
section offers insight and guidance (See Figure 4). try out spread variations, but
once you have learned a
particular version well, it is
probably best to stay with
that one. You don't want to
disrupt the clarity you have
built up about a spread over
time.

In Learning the Tarot, I describe the Celtic Cross in detail (page

275). I concentrate on this single spread in my book because it
is easier for students to focus on just one layout in the
beginning. Becoming familiar with 78 cards is challenging
enough without having to learn many spread definitions as well.
Later, you will want to explore the nuances of meaning offered
by a variety of spreads.

Experience and familiarity are very important in tarot work. The

more you use a spread, the more deeply its structure and
meaning becomes embedded in your consciousness. After
continually practicing a piano piece, your hands seem to know
exactly where to go without conscious thought. When a tarot
spread is that familiar, you will be able to "play" it beautifully as
well.

Creating Your Own Spreads

It is easy to create or customize a spread for your own purposes. All you need do is specify the
five elements of the spread beforehand:

1. Theme

2. Number of cards

3. Shape (positions)

4. Order of placement

5. Meanings of the positions

Make the order of placement as logical as possible. Outcome or result cards work better at the
end. Also, simple, all-purpose meanings are best. "What I'm hoping for" is better than "what I
hope Peter will do after I talk to him."

The most important point to remember about creating a spread is to be sure you define all five
elements before using it the first time. If you are uncertain about any elements, your reading will
be confusing to you. Once you have tried out your spread, you can refine or change it, but be
sure you are clear before trying again. Intuitive impressions can be subtle and fleeting. To capture
them, you need a familiar, unambiguous framework. This is the support the tarot spread provides.

Lesson 4: Doing a Tarot Reading: Step-by-Step

How to do a tarot reading for yourself based on a personal question.

Getting Ready

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a wise, compassionate counselor at your side day and night?
Someone to consult whenever you needed advice? You do have such a counselor -- your own
Inner Guide. Your Inner Guide is that part of you that knows what you need to do to meet your
challenges and follow your destiny. A tarot reading offers a way to communicate with your Guide
so you can receive its wisdom.

In this lesson, I describe a simple, step-by-step procedure for doing a reading about a personal
issue. You write a question about your situation and then receive an answer through the medium
of the tarot. Question Readings are a powerful way to tap into your inner guide.

A tarot reading has two aspects: the acts to be performed and the inner process that goes with
those acts. In this lesson, I concentrate on just the actual steps. In the next lesson, I'll talk about
the inner events.
First, read over this lesson to get an idea of what is involved. Then, read the corresponding
material in Learning the Tarot (pages 22-26). There are many details to absorb when you are first
learning, and these are explained more fully in the text. You will find a summary of the whole
procedure in Appendix F (pages 311-312).

This procedure is meant to be a foundation you can build on as you work with your cards. Follow
the steps closely at first, but know that they are flexible. As you practice, look for ways to adapt
the steps to suit your experience. This is how you create a personal relationship with your cards.

Hints for Writing a Question

The Shuffle, Cut, and Layout
Ask for insights, not
1. Writing Your Question
solutions. Keep your options
Naturally enough, the first step for a Question Reading is writing a open. Find the best level of
question. You think carefully about your situation and then craft a detail.
question that covers what it is you most want to know. This step is
Focus on yourself, not other
not as simple as it sounds. The words you choose have important
people. Stay neutral about
implications. I've summarized some suggestions in the sidebar,
your situation. Be positive.
but please read over pages 19-21 in the text so you know the
rationale behind each one. Dealing With Reversed Cards

A tarot card can be upright or

2. Gathering Your Materials

reversed (upside-down).
Before you start the reading, you will need: Reversed cards are usually
 Your written question interpreted differently, so it's
best to ignore them until you
 Your tarot cards
know your deck well. You can
 The layout for the spread you have chosen discourage reversed cards by
 A reference book with card and spread meanings (optional) starting your shuffle with all
cards facing in the same
3. Setting the Mood direction. Then, every time
you divide the deck, make
You want to do your reading in a quiet, private place where you
sure all the cards stay facing
feel comfortable and secure. Seat yourself on the floor or at a
the same way.
table with some clear space in front of you. Take a few moments
to relax and breathe deeply. Switch your focus from the outer
world to the inner. In the text are some suggestions for creating
the ideal inner and outer environments for a reading (pages 17-
18).

4. Asking Your Question

Hold your cards in one hand, and place your other hand on top.
Close your eyes, and imagine you are in the presence of an all-
wise, all-loving being. Share out loud what is most in your heart at
the moment. If you feel awkward, don't let that hold you back.
Simply express all that you are feeling. When you ask for help in
this humble, sincere way, the universe always responds.
Your final statement should be your question. Say it from memory
or read it exactly as written. The unconscious is quite literal and
will respond to your specific words.

5. Shuffling the Cards

During the shuffle, your unconscious mind sifts through the cards
to find those that are most appropriate for you at the moment.
Choose a shuffling method that is comfortable for you (page 310).
Focus on your question while you shuffle, but in an easy way.
Continue until you feel an urge to stop. Then, gather the cards into
a stack, and place them in front of you as shown in figure 1 (page
23 in your text).

6. Cutting the Cards

Cut the cards as follows:

 Grab some number of cards from the complete deck

 Drop this pile to the left

 Grab some part of this second pile and drop it further to the left

 Regroup the cards back into one pile in any fashion

I like to cut slowly by feeling my way down the stack with my

fingers until I've reached just the "right" spot. Then, I restack
quickly. Feel free to experiment with the shuffle and cut, but you
should eventually settle on one technique so that it becomes
second nature to you.

7. Laying Out the Cards

Pick up your cards and hold them cupped in one hand. With your
free hand, turn over the top card as if you are turning the page of
a book.

Look at the card immediately so you know whether or not it is

reversed. Then, place it in its proper location following the order of
the spread you have chosen. Continue until all cards have been
placed, then put the rest of the deck to one side.

You will begin receiving impressions from the moment you turn
over the first card (and sometimes even before). These
impressions are the answer to your question. I'll talk about this in
the next lesson, but for now, know that every reaction you have
during a reading is noteworthy.

Reading for Others

Uncovering the Message
When you read the tarot for
This page will continue to explain the process of doing a tarot someone else, you want to
reading. involve that person as much
as possible. Let her shuffle
8. Analyzing the Reading
and cut the cards. When the
In this step, you try to uncover the message of the cards by cut is over, pick up the cards
bringing to bear all the understandings you have about the tarot. yourself, but be careful to
Every reader's approach is unique, but there are certain principles maintain the same orientation
of interpretation that are useful to know. I'll mention these in the of the deck. Arrange the
next lesson. cards so they face the other
person. Sit side-by-side, if
9. Creating the Story
you can, so you can view the
"Creating the story" is the phrase I use to describe the process of cards together.
organizing your impressions into a coherent picture. As you
examine your cards, you will have many different reactions. They
will make more sense to you once you have discerned the
underlying pattern and vocalized it. I'll offer hints about this step in
the next lesson.

10. Writing the Summary Statement

A summary statement is a sentence or two that captures the

essential message of your reading. Writing a summary statement
helps you recognize the answer to your question and leaves you
with a handy way to remember it.

11. Finishing Up

Write down the cards in your reading so you don't forget them.
Then, return your cards to the rest of the deck. Once again, hold
the deck in one hand with your other hand on top. Say out loud
what you learned from your reading. Express your gratitude for
the guidance you received and what you intend to do as a result.
Finally, do a few quick shuffles to remove all traces of the reading.
You can now put away your deck and return to everyday life.

Putting Your Insights to Use

You can approach the tarot from many different levels. Readings can be a source of light
amusement, or they can be profoundly revealing. Either way is fine, but I have found that the
value of a reading exactly corresponds to the level of trust and openness you bring to it. When
you play with the tarot, insights are superficial. When you honor your cards, you discover through
them the depths of understanding you hold within yourself.

Every step of this reading procedure is designed to help you become more aware and confident
about your choices in life. The tarot cards cannot tell you what to do, but they can offer you a way
to gain more clarity about your situation so you know what to do. The secret is to act on the
insights you discover in a reading. This is the final, validating step that demonstrates your trust
and seriousness of purpose.

At first these actions will be small and tentative. You need time to gain confidence in this new way
of operating, but the acts you take bring results that then feed into your next reading. Each
reading will become more meaningful as you train your unconscious to open up to you. If you are
willing to put your insights on the line, you set in motion a cycle that keeps getting stronger and
stronger.

In the next lesson, we will go beyond the mechanics of a tarot reading to explore why these
enigmatic cards can have such a major impact. In the meantime, have fun taking the quiz, and be
sure to log on to the Message Board and let the rest of us know how your first reading went.

Lesson 5: The Art of Interpretation

An exploration of ways to uncover the meaning of cards in a reading.

The Nature of Meaning Deeply Rooted Answers

Imagine for a moment you are trying to discover the "meaning" of You ask a question
a tree. A tree has leaves, roots and a trunk, but these don't exactly consciously and receive your
define it. A lumberjack might say a tree means profits. A poet answer from the deepest part
would tell you it's a source of inspiration. A hot traveler says it's a of you, where the answer
shady place to rest. Which one is right? It depends on your point lies. One part sends a
of view. The meaning of a tree is all these and more. message, another part
responds. The cards are the
The art of tarot interpretation is the art of discovering the meaning triggers that allow this
of a reading. Just as with a tree, there is no one interpretation that process to unfold.
is correct. In tarot groups, members often ask each other for ideas
about a reading, and the variety of responses can be startling.
Each respondent sees a different truth in the same set of cards,
and each is valid in its own way. Responses may be similar due to
tradition and human nature, but each one bears the mark of its
creator.

What is the point of a reading if it can mean anything? A reading

mirrors for you the meaning of your own life. Just as a
lumberjack's view of a tree says a lot about his concerns and
values, your responses to your readings say much about you. A
tarot reading is a game you play with yourself - a game that takes
place within your own mind, and at different levels.

In this lesson, we'll take a look at some of the techniques you can
use to "play" this fascinating game. I'll describe typical responses
you might have during a reading and show you how to deepen
those responses over time.

Recommended Reading
Responses
The Tarot: History, Mystery
Your responses during a reading are the key to its meaning for and Lore by Cynthia Giles
you. A response is any feeling, thought or physical reaction you
have as a result of the reading process. Tarot for Yourself by Mary K.
Greer
Take a moment now to watch your own thinking. Notice how
thoughts and feelings "pop" into awareness as if from an outside Seventy-Eight Degrees of
source. They may be triggered by something you see or do, but Wisdom: A Book of Tarot by
they still arise fully formed. You don't decide to craft a thought, it's Rachel Pollack
suddenly just there. This phenomenon corresponds to the send-
and-receive process I described earlier. For tarot purposes, we Tarot Plain and Simple by
assume the outside source is our Inner Guide, and our thoughts Anthony Louis
and feelings are its messages.
Encyclopedia of Tarot:
At first, your responses will come mainly from looking at the card Volumes I, II and III by Stuart
images. The scenes on the Rider-Waite cards are mini-stories. Kaplan
They have the power to evoke complex reactions. I have watched
Jung and Tarot: An
people who are totally new to the tarot come up with detailed
Archetypal Journey by Sallie
interpretations simply by considering the feelings they have when
Nichols
looking at the cards.
Classic Tarot Spreads by
Most students also consult tarot authorities to enrich their
Sandor Konraad
responses. Teachers, books, and fellow readers are all sources of
information about meanings and techniques. When you start
investigating these sources, you'll find out how varied tarot
opinions can be.

Evolution of Your Responses

Personal reaction and outside opinion will be the mainstays of

your tarot work in the beginning, but over time, you'll rely more
and more on experience. When you know your cards well, you will
have familiar reactions to draw on from each one - impressions
you can trust. Your responses will get easier and more assured.

In movies, tarot readers always receive messages dramatically --

as a whispered voice or vivid mental scene. Such responses are
possible, but unusual. At first, you are more likely to experience a
mixture of thoughts and feelings jumbled together. Your long-term
goal is to smooth out this response pattern. If you can make your
background mental state as blank as possible, what pops in will
stand out with great clarity. Meditation and other relaxing practices
are ideal supplements to tarot work.

With practice, you will gradually develop the ability to clear your
mind and capture impressions as they come. You will have a
working symbolic vocabulary your Inner Guide can draw on to aid
and advise you. There may even come a time when you are no
longer reacting, but simply receiving. Meaning comes to you
without effort as direct knowing.

Individual Cards and Combinations A Little Math

Let's look at some of the techniques you can use to encourage What course would be
meaningful responses. There are three areas of interpretation: complete without a little
individual cards, card combinations, and the overall pattern. Each math? You can calculate the
one offers its own challenges and rewards. total number of card pair
combinations in any reading
Generally you consider each card individually first (see pages 34- by using the following
35). There are four sources of meaning for each one: formula:

1. The card's image N * (N-1)/2

2. The card's traditional meanings N is the number of cards

(positions) in the spread you
3. The card's position meanings
are using. In the Celtic Cross
4. Your question of 10 cards, there are 45
possible pairs you could
Your interpretation of each card will be a combination of these four analyze
factors. Be systematic at first about considering each one. Start
with the card in position one. Look carefully at the picture. Note
the details and the overall mood it conveys to you. Then, look up
the card and position meanings in your text, and add these to the
mix. Finally, bring in your question.

As you progress through these steps, you'll be forming some

sense of what the card means. Sometimes the meaning will strike
you like a lightning bolt. Other times, it will stay hazy even until the
end. Accept whatever you receive for the moment, and move on
to the next card.

When you have completed each one, begin relating the cards to
each other. There is a wealth of meaning to be discovered in this
way. In the text, I talk about card pairs (pages 43-55). You could
compare all the cards in a reading, but that's really not practical.
It's better to focus on pairs that have one or more of these
features:
 Opposite meanings
 Similar meanings
 Both are court cards
 Both are in linked positions

Some cards have meanings that are polar opposites. The Six of
Cups and Nine of Swords are an example. These cards
sometimes identify an innocence/guilt issue in a reading. Cards
with similar meanings can show a doubling of some influence. By
comparing two court cards, you can tell what kind of sparks will fly
when two personality types meet.
In most spreads, certain positions are linked by design. Positions
one and two in the Celtic Cross are an example. The cards
physically overlap to reinforce the idea that they are connected. It
makes sense to interpret such cards jointly.

Creating the Story

A half-tone image is made up of hundreds of little dots. You can see the dots when you look at the
image up close, but when you pull back they blend together to reveal a face or object. A tarot
reading works the same way. At some point, you move from card-by-card analysis (the dots) to
the overall picture (the face). In the text, I call this "creating the story," but this phrase is a little
misleading.

A tarot story is not usually an elaborate plot full of characters. It is a coherent description joining
all the cards in a meaningful way. Until you arrive at this description, your understanding of a
reading may not feel complete. The process is different for each reader and reading, so there is
really no way to explain exactly how to go about it.

I can offer two techniques that may help. One is to allow a story to arise spontaneously from
within you without conscious thought. I describe this technique on pages 59-60 of the text.

A second method is to focus on your question. Imagine a friend has asked you the exact question
you wrote originally for your reading. The elements of the answer he needs are in your cards, but
it's your responsibility to piece them together. Go through the cards one by one, and tell your
friend how each one answers his question. This method forces you to make each card fit in some
way, and connections will occur to you as you go. This technique works best when you actually
address someone, either real or imaginary. Talking is a skill we all know well, and it requires being
able to organize thoughts on the fly.
There are many layers of meaning to be uncovered in a reading, but no matter how deeply you
go, you will never reach the bottom. With the tarot (and life), uncertainty is built in, and that is the
wonder and the mystery.

In the next lesson, we will work through one complete reading so you can see how some of these
ideas are put into practice.

Lesson 6: Mary's Dilemma: A Sample Reading

A detailed look at a sample tarot reading about a personal question.

The Context Using action phrases

In this lesson, I'll go through an interpretation so you can see how In the text, there are certain
the process works. We'll analyze a reading Mary did to gain action phrases for each card
insight into a personal question. Read the lesson through once that highlight different
then look up each card in the text. Read that material, and also meanings. A useful technique
review the Celtic Cross (pages 275-287). Finally, read the lesson when interpreting a card is to
again. The interpretation will make more sense to you the second scan these actions looking
time around. for ones that "jump" out at
you. You may feel an inner
"Mary" and "Al" have been married almost 20 years. They have recognition telling you that
two teenage children, and both work outside the home. Mary particular meaning is
began working part-time when her first child was born, and her important.
career leveled out at that time. Al works long hours, but is an
involved and caring husband and father when he's home.

Mary and Al get along well. There are few fights and no financial
or health problems. Mary knows she should feel blessed, but
instead she feels restless and lonely. She longs for more
excitement in her marriage and life in general. Over the past year,
she has felt a growing impulse to leave Al and strike out on her
own.

Al suggested they go to counseling, and she agreed, but there

was little progress. Mary kept wavering. She wanted to separate,
but the thought of breaking up the family held her back. Finally the
therapist said, "You must decide by our next meeting. Either
commit to working on the marriage or else let it go."

It was at this time that Mary sought a reading. We decided to do a

Celtic Cross reading to get guidance on this question:

"Can you give me insight into my marriage and my desire to

separate at this time?"
Let's go through the interpretation process described in Lesson 5.
First we'll look at individual cards, then card combinations and
finally the overall story. Figure 1 shows the cards Mary drew.

Individual Cards Puns and Word Play

The tarot is a great punster.

You will find the meaning of
certain cards comes to you in
the form of puns or other
word play. Al thinks the world
of Mary. You can't look for
these connections; they just
pop into your mind. But they
are always worth a chuckle.
The Page of Swords often signifies a challenging situation. Mary's
need to resolve her ambivalent feelings about her marriage is the
heart of this matter for her (Position One). It's a tough life lesson,
but one full of meaning and opportunity for growth. A page also
represents a call to action -- the challenge posed to Mary by her
counselor.

The King of Wands represents qualities Mary feels are lacking in

her life right now. This king is bold, creative and forceful. Mary's
desire to experience his style is a factor for change in the situation
(Position Two).
Position Three shows the deeper meaning of a situation. The
Justice card often appears when a major decision needs to be
made. Should Mary go or stay? What is the right and fair choice?
She must weigh all the factors in the scales of Justice.

Position Four represents the past -- something fading in value.

Mary smiled ruefully when she saw this card because she feels
her enjoyment of her family life is receding. The young children in
the picture remind her of when her children were little and she
was more contented.
The Hermit wants to be alone. He seeks seclusion because he is
searching for a more meaningful way of life. Position Five
represents Mary's conscious concerns and hopes. Her desire to
withdraw is much on her mind right now.

Mary was taken aback when she saw this card because she had
been thinking about it before the reading. Deep inside, she knows
her desire to leave is a form of running away. Position Six
represents an unresolved factor in the near future. Mary will be
dealing with this urge to separate for a while.
Position Seven represents an ideal Mary holds for herself. Aces
show beginnings. Mary wants a new beginning characterized by
the passion and freedom of the wands suit.

Position Eight represents how Al sees Mary. He thinks the world of

her and wants the marriage to last. The World also tells Mary her
environment holds many blessings and chances for fulfillment.
A second page, another call to action. Position Nine is a guidance
card reinforcing the importance of adventure for Mary. She
definitely needs to find a way to incorporate new experiences into
her life.

The Hierophant surprised and confused Mary. To her, it was the

first card that didn't seem to fit. She associates the Hierophant
with a spirit of narrow-minded conformity. She would prefer a
different outcome (Position Ten).

Card Combinations
With these initial impressions, we can now begin comparing the cards looking for meaningful
configurations.

Three Wands Cards

The three wands cards make a striking combination. Mary's reading shouts out -- in triplicate! --
her deeply held need for more passion and excitement. An ace in a reading often shows the early
presence of its suit's qualities. A page of the same suit tells you to grab that potential and act on
it; a dynamic combination.

Reinforcing Pairs

The Hermit and the Seven of Swords are a reinforcing pair. The Hermit is the archetype of the
seeker who withdraws from the company of men to seek answers within. The Seven of Swords
indicates a desire to be solitary. Mary is feeling the call of this "lone wolf" energy right now.

The Ten of Cups and World are a second reinforcing pair. Together they highlight the positive,
supporting atmosphere that surrounds Mary. The Ten of Cups shows a happy family, and the
World is the major arcana card that most represents fulfillment.

Opposing Pairs

Justice and the Seven of Swords are an opposing pair. They tell Mary she could choose to
assume responsibility, or shirk it. The Justice card is key. It reminds Mary of the serious (major
arcana) nature of her decision and the need to choose with full awareness. Notice the sword on
the Justice card. The Page of Sword is swinging that sword in his efforts to take fair and just
action.

Putting Everything Together Premonitions

Are you beginning to see the overall pattern of Mary's dilemma? Working with the tarot opens
Mary recognizes that her life with her husband and family holds up inner perceptions. Mary
many blessings, but she still feels an undeniable urge for had a premonition that the
adventure. In the Celtic Cross, Positions Five and Ten sometimes Seven of Swords would be
show alternate possible outcomes. Mary could go it alone (Hermit) meaningful. I often find a
or she could remain part of a group (Hierophant). Which will it be? certain card will pop into my
mind right before a reading.
Mary did not breathe a sigh of relief when she saw the glowing Usually it then appears
family in Position Four (fading into the past). Instead, she felt a among the selected cards, so
certain nostalgia. Her family is still important to her and a source I know to give it special
of joy. consideration. Your Inner
Guide is on call even before
The Seven of Swords is significant because it flashed into Mary's
the reading begins.
thoughts before the reading started. This card has a sneaky
quality. It implies that leaving will not make Mary feel better, only
guilty.

Mary's surprised reaction to the Hierophant is noteworthy. It

suggests the projected outcome may not be one she has
considered. Her first impression was negative. To her, the
Hierophant represents conforming to outside demands and
expectations. I pointed out to her he also represents being
devoted to a cause or group (family). Perhaps Mary will find the
answer she is seeking if she changes how she looks at her
situation -- how she perceives the energy of the Hierophant.

Mary's knows she must acknowledge her desire for a more vibrant
life -- the wands cards tell her that in no uncertain terms. But,
maybe she has been assuming she must satisfy this need by
leaving. Could Mary find what she is seeking at home? Mary's
reading has not given an answer, but it has clarified the issues.
Mary asked for insight into her desire to separate, and this is what
she has received. Now, she must weigh this information and take
action.

Considerations

Before I wrote this lesson, I asked my Inner Guide to bring me a

reading that would demonstrate the principles and techniques
involved in tarot work. With Mary's help and permission, I received
the ideal example. This reading is full of meaningful card
combinations. I've only touched on the possibilities.

I encourage you to examine this reading in depth. If other insights

occur to you, share them on the Message Board. You will quickly
discover how rich one reading can be. In the next lesson, we will
look at some ways to establish an ongoing tarot practice so your
new skills can be integrated into your life.

Lesson 7: Establishing a Tarot Practice

How to make the tarot a real and valued part of everyday life.

Early Learning Phase Star Trek and the Tarot

It's common for students to begin their tarot studies with a burst of The original Star Trek series
enthusiasm, but then get discouraged and quit. Many tarot decks is full of characters that
are lying in drawers unused because their owners weren't able to match court cards:
get through the early learning phase.
Captain James T. Kirk = King
In this lesson, I want to share some guidelines to help you of Wands
integrate the tarot successfully into your life. If I can anticipate
some of your questions and concerns, then you'll have more trust Scotty = King of Pentacles
in your efforts. You'll keep going until you can do readings
Mr. Spock = King/Knight of
comfortably without outside assistance. From then on, your
Swords
practice will be established. Your tarot skills will be available if and
when you need them. Dr. McCoy = King/Knight of
Your biggest challenge right now is to get to know your deck well. Cups
There's no way around this key step, but once you have a working
knowledge of all 78 cards, you will feel much more at ease during Chekov = Knight of Wands
your readings. Begin now to become as familiar as possible with
Uhura = Queen of Pentacles
your tarot cards.
Any Tribble = Page of Cups

Exploring Your Deck The Daily Reading

1. Make a tarot notebook with a page or two for each card. 1. Shuffle the deck once or
Enter everything you learn about a card in the appropriate twice.
section. Include useful ideas from teachers, books, fellow
students and your own experience. This notebook will 2. Ask for guidance covering
become your personal tarot reference manual. the next 24 hours.

2. Use the charts in the text to memorize the keywords for 3. Place the deck in front of
each card (pages 111, and 158-159). These will give you you and cut once to the left.
some basic ideas to work with during interpretation.
4. Turn over the top card as
3. Practice daily Readings. the basic procedure is given in your card of the day.
the sidebar, but see pages 15-16 in the text for details.
5. Return the card to the
4. Spend time looking at each card's picture. Allow the mood deck and shuffle again.
of the scene to suggest meanings to you. Look at the
image intensely for one minute, then look away. See how
many details you can remember before looking back.
Notice which ones were easy to remember and which
were difficult (ask yourself why).

5. Develop your ability to call up a card's image in vivid

detail in your mind's eye. Use visualization techniques to
help.

6. Enter into a dream-like reverie after gazing at a card for a

while. Flow with the energy of the card as it presents itself
to you from moment to moment.

7. Find a tarot buddy. Take turns sharing your impressions of

a card. Create a hypothetical situation, idea or personality,
then ask the other person to choose a card that fits. (This
technique works better once you've made some progress)
Support each other's choices.

8. After some event, look through the card descriptions (or

your memory) to find a card that matches, or choose a
card at random and make a connection, even if it's far-
 fetched.

9. Tape a photocopy of a card to your computer. Glance at it

from time to time for inspiration. Don't tape the card itself
unless you have a spare. It might get damaged or lost,
and you want to maintain the integrity of your deck by
keeping your cards together.

10. Do an Internet search on a card and see what comes up.

Plunge into the history of the tarot to see if you can
deepen your understanding that way.

11. Draw your own version of a card. The tarot has inspired
many artists and designers. If art isn't your specialty,
capture the energy of a card with free-flowing lines and
color.

12. Choose cards that match people you know, famous

figures and fictional characters. Notice how different traits
manifest in the tarot, especially in the court cards.

Common Questions and Concerns Validation

At first, you will probably

have a strong desire to
validate your interpretations
by seeking an outside
opinion. Interpreting a
reading is not like shooting a
basketball where you get
immediate feedback on
whether you've missed. Seek
insight from others, but
remember that validation is
never possible from the
outside. Ultimately, you are
the only one who can tell if
an interpretation is
meaningful, and it is if it has
brought you greater
First tarot readings are often powerful and striking. Perhaps it's awareness.
because we are more open and receptive the first time (the Fool).
Maybe our Inner Guide wants to grab our attention. Whatever the
reason, this early success is often followed by a period of slow
progress and doubt. This slump tends to begin right after the last
tarot class is over, and you're on your own. I encourage you to
push through this low period. The learning pattern for any new
skill involves cycles of little progress followed by leaps forward.
Don't give up when a leap is overdue.

Here are a few common reactions people have in the early phase
of tarot study. If you know the kinds of experiences you can
expect, you can work your way through them.

Environment

In lesson two I talked about the energy of a card -- its dynamic

feeling tone. Environments have energies as well. We've all felt
the chill of emotional tension in a room or the up mood of a party.
If you can do your readings in a place of beauty and calm, your
experiences will be more positive and you will be more likely to
continue. In the text, I offer suggestions for ways to establish a
pleasing environment for readings in your home (pages 17-18).

Second Readings

You may be tempted to do many readings about the same

situation, especially if the first is discouraging. Resist this
temptation. Extra readings will just confuse you, and they tend to
be flat and unrevealing as well. It's like telling your Inner Guide
you want advice, but then not listening to the response. Make it a
rule to accept your first reading no matter what. Only do a second
when your situation has changed substantially, or when some time
has passed. How long to wait depends on how fast your situation
is developing, but on average, a few weeks is minimum.

Being Objective

You may wonder sometimes if you're being objective when you

read your cards or if you're just seeing what you want to see.
Objectivity is not possible or desirable in tarot work. Your goal is to
become more aware, and this will happen naturally over time.
However, you can learn much by watching your reactions
carefully.
 Did you feel a little jolt of disappointment when certain
cards appeared?
 Did you try to twist and turn your interpretation to get a
good one?
 Did you suddenly get bored with your reading and decide
to put it away?
 Did you want to do a second reading just to see what
 else the cards would say?

These reactions are signs that you are avoiding some truth about
your situation. Switch your focus to this matter, and you'll be on
the right track.

Trouble Creating a Story

Many tarot students have trouble creating a story. They become

discouraged when they can't sew all the material together
seamlessly. Indeed, this step is easier for some people than
others. It helps to be able to think holistically -- to see the big
picture. If you have trouble with this step, make an extra effort to
review your readings.

You receive a ready-made story from the way a situation plays out
in reality. By working backward, you can improve your story
awareness. Also, practice reading for others. The pressure of
having to present a good case to a listener can make a real
difference. Keep working with the procedure described in Lesson
6, and know that sometimes partial understandings are all we can
expect from our tarot readings.

Perseverance

Your moments of doubt and hesitation will lessen over time if you persevere. In fact, you may
eventually have such great success that pride becomes an issue. Take note if you find yourself
thinking, "Hey, I'm getting pretty good at this. I really know what I'm doing. I guess I'm a natural."

This level of confidence is exciting, but risky. With the tarot, it's important to remember the source
of your impressions is not your ego-self, but your Higher Self. Your pesky ego is going to try to
take credit for your accomplishments, but don't let it get away with this little maneuver. Pat it
kindly on the head, but tell it gently to "Go lie down." Keep your beginner's mind of openness and
humility, and your tarot work will continue to deepen. You'll discover how much this new skill
enriches your life.

Lesson 8: Expanding Your Tarot Horizons

Different ways to continue exploring and learning more about the tarot.

Hundreds of Decks Artists Take Note!

There are many ways you can expand your tarot horizons. A A special deck is available to
major area of exploration is the deck itself. The tarot has inspired use when designing your
artists and thinkers for centuries. Each works with the same basic own tarot cards. This deck
pattern, but infuses it with a personal vision. There are hundreds has the uniformity and
of decks, both common and rare. Tarot lovers enjoy assessing the stiffness of regular cards, but
different ones for their reading potential and inherent beauty. without the preprinted
Once you own one deck, you won't be able to resist getting images. One side is blank,
another, and soon you'll be a collector. the other side has the
backing used on the Rider-
The typical tarot deck comes packaged with a small booklet of Waite.
instructions. In the tarot community, these booklets are jokingly
called the "LWBs" for Little White Booklets. They offer some
information, but not much. Larger books are sometimes available
that cover a deck's purpose and design in more detail. These are
usually offered with the deck as a set.

Sometimes extra cards are included. The usual print run has
space for 80 cards -- two more than required. Publishers
occasionally leave these cards blank. You can add one or two to
your deck as a "wild" card or personal message card.

Variations in Rider-Waite

There are variations of the Rider-Waite itself:

 Universal Waite Tarot

 Albano-Waite Tarot

 Golden Rider

 Original Rider-Waite Tarot Pack

 Diamond Tarot

 Quick and Easy Tarot

Themes and Variations Justice and

Strength
Most tarot decks fit the pattern described in lesson two: 78 cards with a
major arcana and minor arcana of four suits. The Rider-Waite is the model Historically Justice
for this type, but variations are common. They usually fall into one or more was card #8 and
of the following categories: Strength, card #11.
When designing his
Themes deck, Arthur Edward
Waite exchanged
Many decks have a definite theme that colors every aspect of the deck. these two cards
There are cultural decks such as the Chinese, Egyptian and Celtic. Other without really giving
popular choices include historical, novelty, esoteric, animal, and fantasy a reason why. Tarot
themes. The Rider-Waite is an all-purpose deck with no particular theme. decks based on
The Aquarian, Morgan-Greer, and Hanson-Roberts are other decks of this Waite's deck follow
type. his numbering.
Other decks follow
 the older order.
Name Changes
Sample Deck
There are certain common variations for the traditional suit names:
Styles

Suit Suit Variations If you would like to

sample some deck
Wands Rods, batons, staves, scepters, spears, staffs, clubs choices, please visit
Cups Chalices, cauldrons, hearts my Web site at
learntarot.com. I
Swords Spades
have a description
Disks, coins, stones, shields, diamonds page with sample
Pentacles
cards for every deck
I carry so you can
browse and
Many deck designers make suit names fit the theme of their deck. The
compare.
Wonderland Tarot is based on Lewis Carroll's famous story about Alice.
The suits of this deck are the Peppermills, Hats, Flamingos, and Oysters.

Court card names are often changed as well. A common variation is calling
the knight a prince, and the page, a princess. This change is made to
follow the example of the influential Crowley Thoth deck or to adjust the
gender balance in the court cards.

Major arcana names can vary too. The High Priestess is also known as the
Papess or Popess and the Hierophant, the Priest or Pope. The World card
is often called the Universe. Major arcana names can also match a deck's
theme. In the Vision Quest Tarot, the Magician is the Medicine Man and
the Wheel of Fortune is called the Small Medicine Wheel from the Native
American way of life.

Extra Cards

Most decks have 78 cards, but occasionally extras are added. The smaller
version of the Crowley Thoth includes three versions of the Magus
(Crowley couldn't make up his mind). The beautiful Osho Zen deck has an
extra Master card showing Osho, the guru who inspired the deck.

Pip Card Differences

An important difference among tarot decks is the style of the numbered

suit cards. Some pip cards have scenes, others just have suit symbols (as
in playing cards). Most historical decks do not have scenes, most modern
decks do. The Sola Busca deck is believed to be the first deck to introduce
this feature in the late 15th century. We know this deck influenced Pamela
Colman Smith, the artist for the Rider-Waite.
Size

Tarot decks vary in size from the tiny Smallest Tarot of the World to the
large Visconti-Sforza. There are several versions of the Rider-Waite:
miniature, pocket, regular and giant. Decks cannot be too large because
they must fit comfortably in the hand.

Esoteric Features

Some decks have symbols and phrases showing correspondences

between the tarot and other esoteric sciences. The Zolar Astrological deck,
and the Tarot of Ceremonial Magick are two examples.

Keywords

Many decks have key words or phrases printed on them to act as cues for
each card's meaning. The Quick and Easy Tarot offers detailed upright and
reversed interpretations on each card. This feature can be useful for
learning, but has two potential drawbacks: the printed meanings may not
match your understandings, and they can be distracting later when you
know your cards well.

Non-Tarot Decks

There are many decks for divination and personal growth that are not
considered tarot decks. The line between tarot and non-tarot is blurry
sometimes, but the best indicator is whether or not the word "tarot" is
included in the deck name.

Non-tarot decks do not follow the 78-card standard. They can be any size
or adopt any structure. A popular little divination deck that been around for
years is the Gypsy Witch Fortune-Telling Playing Cards. These cards are
similar to regular playing cards, but have tiny scenes and interpretations
on them. Another example is Jamie Sams' Medicine Cards deck, which is
based on animal traits and tendencies.

Some Tarot Organizations

Tarot Publishers

There are two main tarot deck publishers in the United States:

U. S. Games Systems, Inc.

U. S. Games has been publishing card decks for over 30 years. They offer scores of tarot decks
of all kinds for collectors and users. Each year in late spring, their new catalog comes out, and it
is always fun to see the decks being introduced. You can request a free copy of their Tarot and
Cartomancy catalog by calling 800-544-2637 or 203-353-8431.

Stuart Kaplan, the president of U. S. Games, is an avid deck collector and enthusiast. He wrote
the Encyclopedia of Tarot: Volumes I, II, and III to share his knowledge with the tarot community.
These books are a wonderful archive of information with reproductions of over 1,000 decks from
the 15th century to the present. Some card images are in color, but most are in black and white.

Llewellyn Worldwide

Llewellyn offers many popular tarot decks, books and products. The Robin Wood and Sacred
Circle are two of the best known. Each year Llewellyn publishes the Tarot Calendar with
information on decks, spreads and more. Llewellyn is the North American distributor for the
quality decks from Lo Scarabeo in Italy. Lo Scarabeo specializes in historical and art decks, such
as the Ancient Tarot series and the Bosch Tarot. Llewellyn is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. The
numbers are 1-800-THE MOON or 651-291-1908.

Tarot Organizations

There are many excellent organizations dedicated to the tarot. Here are two examples:

American Tarot Association

The American Tarot Association is devoted to establishing high ethical standards for tarot readers
and promoting the idea that the tarot is a useful tool for personal and spiritual development. The
ATA offers correspondence courses, seminars, conferences, a newsletter and certification
information. The Web site is www.ata-tarot.com.

International Tarot Society

The International Tarot Society promotes communication between tarot enthusiasts and
professionals. The ITS hosts the World Tarot Congress every two years -- three days of tarot
presentations, products and a Saturday night costume ball.

Tarot-L Discussion Group

Learning the tarot with others is an ideal way to pick up fresh ideas and techniques. The Tarot-l
on-line discussion group is popular with beginners and experienced readers alike. Subscription
information is on this site: fortunecity.

Tarot Books

If you check the tarot section of your local bookstore, you'll be amazed at the volumes people
have written about the cards. Here are some recommendations:

1. The Tarot: History, Mystery and Lore by Cynthia Giles

This book is a great introduction to the non-interpretation aspects of the tarot, such as its history,
occult traditions, and theoretical underpinnings.

2. Tarot for Your Self by Mary K. Greer

This book truly launched the read-for-yourself tarot concept. It's full of ideas and techniques for
exactly the kind of tarot I've been describing in this course.

3. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot by Rachel Pollack

This book will deepen your understanding of the meaning and symbols on the cards of the Rider-
Waite. Pollack's insights will change how you see your deck.

4. Tarot Plain and Simple by Anthony Louis

Tarot Plain and Simple lives up to its title. Louis presents the tarot in a simple, but thorough
manner with valuable information for readers at all levels.

A Few Final Words

When you learned to walk, you first mastered the art of standing up. Then you found the courage
to take a few steps while holding on to objects around you. Finally, one day, you launched
yourself into the open on your own. At each point you stumbled and fell many times, but you
always got up to try again. Now, walking is second nature to you. You accomplish this amazing
feat every day without a thought.

Learning to read the tarot follows the same pattern. Most of us are not accustomed to using our
intuitive muscles, so our steps are still hesitant. If you keep trying, you will eventually be cruising
around your inner rooms like a trooper.

You know you are making progress when you begin to sense your environment in a new way. As
we go about our lives, we can accept outside reality at face value, or we can recognize that
underneath every object, person and place is a deeper level of meaning and purpose. This
invisible layer is what you tap into when you work with the tarot. You become more self-aware as
you discover the deeper layers within and around you.

The tarot is certainly not the only tool or method for plumbing this Mystery, but it is one that holds
great promise. The secret is trust. You must trust this kind of work is worthwhile, and you must
trust in your own wisdom and goodness.

I hope you have enjoyed this course and are taking away some new ways to look at your life and
your destiny. I wish you all the best in your explorations of your tarot deck and yourself.