Hello dear readers! Today I would like to share with you all the art of tarot reading. It is a fascinating practice that has captivated individuals for centuries. The Art of Tarot Reading: A Beginner’s Guide involves the interpretation of a deck of cards. Each card is imbued with rich symbolism and meaning. This practice can reveal insights into our past, present, and future. Many people turn to tarot as a tool for self-reflection and guidance, seeking clarity in their personal lives and relationships. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a curious beginner, exploring the intricate world of tarot can transform your experience. It deepens your understanding of yourself and the universe around you.

We will start with a mini history lesson first. The original tarot decks had no occult meaning. They were simply playing cards with four normal suits and a trump suit. The Art of Tarot Reading: A Beginner’s Guide should also highlight that today, places like France still play these card games. They do not use them for cartomancy, which is divination using cards. The first record of tarot cards being used for cartomancy was a manuscript dated around 1750. Since then, many occultists have turned to these tarot decks to find guidance, or to glimpse their future. Some people have tried to claim that tarot cards are linked to ancient Egypt. Others suggest connections to ancient places or writings. However, no one has found any suitable proof that tarot were used for divination much before the 18th century. 

So, now that we have that established here’s how reading tarot cards works. You can either do readings for yourself, or for another person. Depending on preference, either you shuffle the deck or the person you are reading for shuffles the deck. They then concentrate on the question or guidance you want the cards to help answer. Then you lay down however many cards for the spread you have chosen. You examine what each card means. Then, you infer how it interacts with the rest of the cards in the spread. A quick, easy example is the simple past, present, future spread. The first card is supposed to represent where they have already been, or what has already happened. The second card shows what is going on now. The third card reveals what could happen if they do not make any changes in their life. Whether you follow The Art of Tarot Reading: A Beginner’s Guide or your own method, it’s all about the connection with the deck. 

I do not try to divine the future. It is ever changing. There’s no way to know what choices will impact which part of your future. Knowing your future doesn’t do much for your now. I find that seeking guidance is much more effective than simply looking into the future. 

The first thing I ever learned upon getting my first tarot deck was that each deck has its own personality. Each deck comes jam packed with unique traits. To properly read tarot you must learn how your deck, or decks, communicate with you. For example, my first deck is the Angel Tarot by Doreen Virtue. This deck has a very bold personality. It seems like no matter what I try to do, this deck always chooses to yell at me. I am forever haunted by any card associated with the archangel Gabriel. So, this deck I can only use for self-reflection, whether I like it or not. 

You are supposed to clean your deck regularly, to prevent it from collecting negative or foreign energy. There are dozens of methods to clean a deck. A few that come to mind are full moon light, salt, and various cleansing spells. I sprinkle salt on my decks and let them sit for a while. It seems to work fine for me. I use salt for pretty much all my cleansing needs. I will say that every reader should find the method that feels right for them, and not anyone else. 

I love trying different spreads. I have an entire Pinterest board full of different tarot spreads. But when it comes down to it, all you need is intent. Whatever intent you, or the person you are reading for, put into the cards, is what the cards respond to (excluding decks like my Angel Tarot). Want a relationship reading? Make sure you put that energy into the deck. Life guidance? Same thing, so on and so forth. There is nothing wrong with staying simple, there is nothing wrong with being fancy, I do both ways on occasion. This is truly The Art of Tarot Reading: A Beginner’s Guide.

One drawback I encounter with my tarot readings is the limited number of people wanting them. I only have about four different people at any given time who let me give them readings. Unfortunately, to really improve, it helps to read for a lot of different people. I have mentioned Pagan Pride before. I tried doing readings there one year. I guess something in our paperwork got messed up. I was told to stop because I was not “registered” as a reader. While this was going on a little girl in another booth was giving free readings. Guess who everyone was going to. 

At the end of the day, there is no wrong way to go about reading tarot. This is true just as with many other crafts. There are certainly more efficient ways, more useful ways, but no truly wrong way. Let your deck help guide you into a routine that works best for you. Embrace the journey with The Art of Tarot Reading: A Beginner’s Guide.