What The Tarot Can Tell Us About Our Realtionships

Relationships aren’t easy. They require a tremendous amount of effort and commitment. There are, of course, those times where one feels lost and hopeless within their relationship. Misunderstandings and lack of communication seem to permeate everyday matters. Love feels as though it has been replaced with distrust and confusion. Obviously, there can be a number of issues that cause strife within one’s relationship. The difficulty often lies in an inability to uncover the causes and issues surrounding the discord within the nature of a relationship. So what can the Tarot really tell us about our relationships? Just about everything.

When we lack the faith and understanding, our behaviors tend to get rigid, pessimistic, and hostile. Letting ourselves be vulnerable proves to be quite difficult. We hide our feelings and become resentful. The Tarot offers a new perspective. It reveals hidden motivation, feelings and needs. The Tarot can offer a struggling relationship new hope.

The Tarot enables us to tap into our intuitive natures. Thus, it provides us with a new sense of awareness and perception. When applied to one’s relationship, awareness can often reveal the key challenges a relationship must overcome. The Tarot has the unique ability to identify not only your own needs, but the needs of your partner. It offers insight into one’s behavior patterns and projections that are influencing a relationship. It also reveals where both partners expectations may be unrealistic. Most importantly, it can redirect the energy of a relationship. It always offers a new way of seeing. Both partners may come to learn that their relationship is there to teach something.

Utilizing the Tarot can inspire a couple as it often can set a new course for a relationship. On some level, it is there to map out a new path for action. The Tarot reveals what needs to be accepted by each partner and what may need to be changed. It can also identify important challenges that may come up in the future.

When inquiring about love relationship, it is always important to get specific. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that get right to the point. Here is a list of some questions that can be very valuable when utilizing the Tarot:

1. What are the key issues that my partner and I are struggling with?
2. Where do my partner and I need to grow?
3. How might we overcome our difficulties?
4. What are the lessons we need to learn from each other?
5. What can I expect from my partner? What can they expect from me?
6. Where am I not willing to give of myself?
7. What do I need from my partner? What do they need from me?
8. What are the issues of my past that are affecting my current relationship?
9. What direction should my partner and I take?
10. How might we make our relationship more loving?

The list can go on and you are free to get as creative as you want. Using the Tarot with your partner can have tremendous results. It certainly helps a couple to feel a deeper level of commitment and intimacy. In truth, the tarot can help build a joyful relationship. It is there to ease a couples fears and get them back on track.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Paracelsus - The Coelum Philosophorum Or Book Of Vexations
Talismagick - Love Spells And Rituals For Love And Relationships
Jean Despagnet - The Hermetic Arcanum The Secret Work Of The Hermetic Philosophy

The Psychology Of Tarot

I want to start by telling you what I am not. I am not a new age guru, I hate those guys. I think they are phony, pompous, and banal. Nor do I believe in religion, astrology, fortune telling, or crystals. For the most part I look to science for answers to my deep questions not religion. The point I’m making is I am not your typical tarot enthusiast.

I am not ashamed to admit that tarot has become an important tool of self exploration. Tarot has given me a deeper understanding of myself. Since I started reading tarot I’ve discovered meditation, became a vegetarian, and I understand more of what I want out of life. I have searched my emotions further than I ever have before and because of this I see my world differently.

Having said that, I do not feel tarot cards need to be in any way mystical. Because tarot communicates through images, it helps you think in terms of symbols while forcing the analytic part of your brain to form explanations for those symbols. It is probably more like how the mind works in a dream state.
For me this has resulted in an awaking of sorts. When I pull a tarot card its image compels me to form meaning. I think about the card and what advice I can glean from it or how it could apply to my life. To accomplish this I must examine my emotions, thoughts, and experiences deeply; in essence become my own therapist.
It is my opinion that the deeper you explore yourself the more self reliant you become. You find that you have the solutions to your own problems. You realize that you have a higher tolerance for the drama of life. Tarot for me has been a catalyst for this sort of self discovery.

The key is to have a clear, analytical, but open mind. Don’t fret about a negative card or constantly ask about what is going to transpire in the future. The future, what ever that is, will happen in its own time. Use the tarot cards for the present. Focus on questions about how to overcome obstacles and setbacks now.
To get started you need to find the right tarot card deck. I like the Thoth deck because it is full of beautiful imagery and esoteric symbolism. Follow your instincts when choosing. Make sure you purchase accompanying books about tarot as a guide for interpretation. Also there are plenty of online sites that will make understanding tarot easier. I Personally like http://www.angelpaths.com because it provides self affirming interpretations.

After you gain a solid foundation in reading tarot, try coming up with your own meaning for the cards. You might find that your truest personal thoughts and feelings will bubble to the surface. This might be painful at first, but it will also be cathartic. For me exploring my own pain helped me see myself and others in a more accepting light.

It is important to remember that making greater sense of your life can be approached in many ways. Don’t be quick to judge the merits of anything on face value. A mind that is open but discerning has the possibility for great insight. Tarot for me is another tool for my own search of meaning. Maybe it could be one for you as well.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Arthur Edward Waite - The Pictorial Key To The Tarot
Phil Hine - Aspects Of Tantra
Edna Kenton - The Book Of Earths
Aleister Crowley - The World Of Tarot
Aleister Crowley - Psychology Of Hashish

The Emperor Tarot Card

I'd like to offer the following interpretation of The Emperor card. It is important to bear in mind that when it comes to symbols and archetypal images that our perception of these representations may vary from person to person. My interpretation is my own and is by no means the only way of reading this card, so use my words as a way to see the Emperor in a different light. I could literally write a book for each card but I've tried to highlight the major aspects.

The fundamental impression this card leaves me with is that of masculine strength and the willpower to succeed. The Emperor calls upon you to develop your own sense of right and wrong, act when necessary and to reassess your moral codes. You may be placed in a situation where you must be bold and courageously defend your beliefs in the face of strong opposition. This is not the time to flee or back down but a time to take a stand and do what's right for you. Aries is heavily associated with this card as seen in the rams to either side if the Emperor's throne. Aries governs individuality and is of the element fire, ruled by Mars and the first house we can begin to see what the Emperor is all about.

The father image is also strongly inherent. In nature self-preservation is essential for survival and the Emperor represents this energy. It signals a time when you must reevaluate your positions on important issues...are you merely going along with others, or do you truly feel this way in your heart? These questios the Emperor boldly poses. Behind him is a tower representing material accomplishments and the determination to persevere. Before him lies the scepter and a wand, the tools of his dominance, this indicates the skills required for material manifestation.

When the Emperor appears in a reading he is delivering the message that the situation will require to you to put your money where your mouth is and utilize your training for to achieve the intended goal. You must be ambitious, self-motivated, and fully determined towards victory. The Aries energy does not sit well with defeat so you must continue to put for the effort if you want the reward. The Emperor is asking you to assimilate your life, to weed out the dead parts then cultivate that which motivates you. The lesson here is that you must do things to please yourself, to set short and long term goals so that one day the tower will be constructed in ways that support your lifestyle. Before you continue to lay these bricks in accordance with society you should consider if this is the pttern that pleases you.

The golden bust of Charlemagne was the appropriate inspiration for The Cosmic Tarot Deck's Emperor card. The Emperor is calling on you to take full responsibility for your future. Do you know where the road you are now paving leads to? Plan accordingly and with great concentration and you will find that it leads towards satisfaction. On a negative note the Emperor can be in reference to a person who is self-centered and egotistical. They may place their goals and desires before anyone else's and ultimately isolated themselves from those close to them. The goal therefore is to strike a balance between your personal desires and their correlation with those who are affected by your actions. An it harm none do what thou wilt. That is how I interpret the Emperor.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Montague Summers - Malleus Maleficarum
Matthew Ikonen - Warlocks Handbook
Phil Hine - Aspects Of Tantra
Anonymous - The Emerald Tablet Of Hermes

Tarot And Politics

Lately, I’ve been thrown off balance by the number of tarot readers who venture into politics online. Today, someone I admire greatly for her kindness and generosity promoted a Deepak Chopra essay on Sarah Palin that was so vitriolic and mean-spirited that it literally took my breath away.

You can go read Chopra’s work for yourself, if you like. It’s a pretty straightforward attack on conservatives. Chopra writes that Republicans represent the shadow side of life, and he says that Republicans base their opinions on fear, rejection, hostility to change, and narrow-mindedness.

Here’s what the tarot community needs to remember, though: Half of this country is conservative. Half of this country regularly votes Republican. Half of the people you meet in everyday life lean toward the right, and half of the people who might be interested in learning or reading about tarot could very well disagree with you politically.

What’s more, no conservative would ever agree with Chopra’s assessment of their beliefs — and no conservative could ever feel comfortable confiding in a tarot reader who publicly suggests, as Chopra does, that Republicans are a demoralizing force who exhort others to obey their worst impulses.

On a practical level, I’m always shocked when tarot readers attack conservatives. As a professional tarot reader and an author, I don’t think I can afford to antagonize half of my prospective clients and readers.

I also think that political attacks cross an ethical boundary we need to recognize. Most of us would never demean a client based on religious beliefs or cultural differences. We go out of our way to be non-judgmental when it comes to other characteristics that define us as individuals, like race and sexuality.

For some reason, however, political opinions don’t fall under the same umbrella of compassion and protection. In fact, politics seem to be the only arena in which tarot readers regularly feel free to make insulting remarks about other people; you can hardly go to a tarot conference or symposium in which most of the speakers don’t make disparaging jokes about conservatives and Republicans.

I don’t think we should keep going down this road. It’s not healthy on a personal level, to feel either on the defensive or on the attack.

It doesn’t suit us professionally, either. As tarot readers, we’re already marginalized enough. A lot of us even know what it feels like to be demonized for our beliefs. We face an uphill battle when it comes to gaining respect from the general public — and we don’t need to go looking for people to hurt or offend.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Zoroaster - The Chaldean Oracles
Marcus Bottomley - Nine Proven Magical Rites
Anonymous - Wicca Beliefs And Practices
Sepharial - A Manual Of Occultism
Archmage Bob Andrews - Old Witchcraft Secrets

Tarot Numerology Eights

The tarot can be understood better if the underlying numerology is understood. Cards of the same number in different suits and in the Major Arcana have similar meanings derived from the following qualities...

Corresponding - Major Arcana - Strength

Major characteristics: Power, Success, Progression to a new phase or cycle.

Also: Regeneration, a fresh sense of direction, completion of one stage of a project before moving on, setting new priorities, new ways forward, balance, stability, control, reorganization, enterprise, executive ability, harmonizing opposing forces, death of the old to make way for the new.

Thing "twice four" for strongly stable, and "seven plus one" for spiritually stable and wise.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - Candlelight
Walter Scott - Letters On Demonology And Witchcraft
Thomas Muldoon - Numerology For The 21st Century

Tarot Meditation On Cups

The suit of cups (also chalices, cauldrons, grails, hearts) is the suit of emotions. This includes love, friendship, trust, happiness, faith, and intuition, our gut instinct. How many times do we make decisions based on gut instinct?

How many times do we choose our friends, lovers and business partners based on this gut instinct? The down sides of this suit are fear, indecision, sadness over past losses, laziness, all of which arise when there is too little love, too little happiness, too little trust.

This suit is often illustrated with lots of water. Just like the Earth, our bodies are mostly water, and we feel the magnetic pull of the moon. We express all of our emotions with water. Tears, blood, sweat, orgasms, saliva when we kiss, and the water in our mouths communicate the way we sense taste. It is good to pay attention to emotions when making decisions. The decisions that are right for you feel good and the decisions that are not, feel bad.

Flow with your feelings. Let your self be moved. Follow the currents and they will lead you to where you want to be. When cups are the cards you draw, how do you feel? What do the pictures suggest you do?

Books You Might Enjoy:

Anonymous - Protection Of Space
Anonymous - Divination Spreads
Aristotle - Metaphysics

Tarot Math Spreads

How clever is this idea from the Tarot Dame?

Tarot Dame’s Blog: Tarot Math Spreads

Here are a few spreads I put together a couple years ago, using mathematical equations.
1. A + B = C
Combining Card A and Card B will bring you the results of Card C.
2. A – B = C
When you remove the energy of Card B from the situation of Card A, you will get Card C.
3. A + B – C = D
When you remove the energy of Card C from the combination of Cards A and B, you will get Card D.
4. A – B + C = D
Remove the energy of Card B from Card A, then add Card C and you’ll end up with Card D.


Books You Might Enjoy:

Harold Macgrath - The Pagan Madonna
Tarostar - The Witchs Spellcraft Revised
Aristotle - On Dreams
Anonymous - Divination Spreads

Tarot Cards Meanings The Tower

The Tower ~ Rejuvenation, rebuilding and the break down of old ways, old forms and old patterns. The very first time I saw the Tower in a reading, I must admit, I felt tremendous fear; major change was on the horizon.

This card looks like violence and chaos are on the way, at least that's the way that I perceived this card, when I first began my journey learning about the Tarot and then eventually teaching the Tarot. It would be many years, through many, many experiences, that I would finally come to appreciate all that the Tower, in a reading, had to offer.

In our human nature, we become complacent with having things remain the same, with little or no change, thinking that no change is a safe place to be and to live. However, this is not true. Becoming complacent to our life and hoping for no change in our lives, prevents us from growing, learning and evolving into the adults that we are meant to be from heart centered and soul blueprinted awareness.

The Tower and the changes that the Tower represent can sometimes be scary, but it is through the breakdown and breakthrough of old forms of thinking, that we see the world and our life in a new light.

When my journey began with the Tarot back in the 80s, I remember the Tower coming up a lot in the readings that I did for myself. I also remember the Tower coming up when another was doing a reading for me. And although I had no deeper understanding to what was in the process of coming into my life and altering the course of my life drastically, I knew that it was going to be big.

It has been 25 years since the Tower first made its presence known to me. Everyday that I consider and contemplate the life changes, that at first began as negatives, shifting and transforming to challenges and obstacles, it would be through the Tarot, that I would finally understand that I was being challenged to grow, to step into my life's work and my life's path. The Tower insured that I would bring much needed insight and clarity to each changing experience in my life, until I learned how to utilize the gifts and tools of my awareness to truly understand that all negatives have the ability to transform into knowledge and awareness on our life journey.

So, if in a reading you see the Tower come up, have no fear. Remember that change is on its way and that with common sense, intuition and the tools of inner knowing, each of us can transform our experiences to ones of heart centered and soul blueprinted awareness.

For in truth, the Tower offers great opportunity to step into alignment with the true voice and wisdom of our own inner knowing.

In the end, the Tower offers us opportunities to build a much stronger, inner foundation in our lives.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Carl Mccolman - The Well Read Witch
Melita Denning - The Aurum Solis
Aristotle - On The Soul
Paul Foster Case - The Life Power

Tarot Cards Do They Work

Do Tarot cards work? Yes, they do. I was introduced to the Tarot, back in the early 80's. The first time I saw them, I immediately felt drawn to them. The energy of the cards, felt as tho' they had been with me in like forever. I was 27, when the cards were introduced to me a second time. Prior to seeing the cards in the 80's, my first husband had had a deck, wrapped with some other neat stuff from the 60's and prior to that, I had had many dreams about a caravan of gypsies, traveling through Europe, with their colorful tents and their unusual and unique way of life, stopping off to different villages.

Now, how on earth would this little sharing signify that the Tarot cards work? It turns out that the dream of the traveling gypsy caravan was actually my grandfathers' adopted parents and family doing the traveling. They were a psychic band of gypsies that did fortune telling and palmistry, for each town they visited. I had been having this dream, on and off for a few years, until one day, while recuperating from knee surgery, I was telling my mom about my dream and she informed me of my grandfathers' life, when he was a kid. Imagine my surprise!

My grandfather’s adoptive mom was the one that did card readings and palmistry. My grandfathers life, was very hush, hush back in those days, those days being the early 1900's. For me, back in the 70's, the timing of talking about the Tarot was just not right. Obviously, I was in awe, but would soon forget about the dreams, until 7 years later, when I got married and my husband and I were unpacking and out came the deck of cards: the Rider Waite Tarot. Again, the cards made their appearance and were put away and forgotten. Finally, in 1984, the cards made another appearance in my life. I was 27 and it seemed like the timing was right.

The Tarot is a journey of consciousness and of wisdom, that shows us visually and energetically, the creative ideas and levels of consciousness that appear to us in our life experiences.

The Tarot, and the energy and essence of these cards were determined to be a part of my life. I was born into an Italian/Catholic family in this life and so logically and humanly, the Tarot was not a topic of conversation that would take place in my home life and yet, as an empath, with a high level of intuition, the Tarot was going to become a part of my life, no matter what.

The Tarot cards work, however, not in the way that I logically thought they would. In my teens, 20's and very early 30's, I always felt very overwhelmed by everything I was feeling. I would sense and feel life around me, and had to play catch up, with myself in learning how to put it to words. I began to notice, that once I learned the meanings of the cards and began doing readings for others, I was able to tap into my intuition and find the words to the feelings that needed expression. Now, as I look back on this 25-year journey, it all makes perfect sense

The Tarot worked for me in the way, that it opened my logical mind and expanded and evolved my perceptions. It taught me and guided me in how to step out of logic, yes, I continue to be very logical and practical, however, my intuitive sense is my guide on my journey.

The Tarot works in teaching us how to go deeper under the surface to the visual of life. It teaches and guides us into discovering the purpose and nature of life changes.
Yes, there are times where the energy of a reading will present the potential of something coming to pass, however, for me; my journey was more of a discovery for understanding the subtle happenings under the surface to everyday life.

It is safe to say, that the Tarot works in connecting our emotions, feelings, the metaphysical and the spiritual; bringing our life and the deeper meaning, into balance and a better understanding; to live a more heart centered and soul-guided life.

When we are ready to step out of the everyday norm and follow the promptings of our heart, the Tarot works in bringing amazing new discoveries and insights to our life, that we may not have had the chance to discover.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tarostar - The Witchs Spellcraft Revised
Paul Foster Case - The Life Power
Aristotle - On The Soul

Reversed Tarot Cards

Personally I generally try to avoid using reversed cards if at all possible. Before each reading I make sure that the cards are all upright, if a card appears reversed during the course of my reading as sometimes they inevitably it will I may interpret it as an energy blockage but I usually disregard it. This as with anything concerning the Tarot is a matter of personal preference. Just remember that reversed cards are not simply the opposite meaning of its upright interpretation as some references seem to indicate.

It is better compared to the retrograde motion of a Planet in Astrology, the influences of this Planet (card) are often turned inwards thus the outward expression tends to be somewhat awkward. A reversed card is not fully expressing itself to its greatest potential.

A method that you can employ to interpret reversed cards is to lay another card over the reversed card to reveal how the energy can be allowed to flow freely. This will determine what characteristics need to be developed to overcome the blockage or perhaps the blockage itself. If the reversed card is The Tower for instance it could indicate that you are suffering from a powerfully internal transformation. Your inner foundations are crumbling and your values are being challenged slain and overcome. This is in contrast to its upright position where it could indicate external transformation. You could then do another reading to see how this inner conflict could best be resolved and what qualities are required to overcome the adversity.

Remember that reversed cards often represent that we are unable to deal with the energies of the card and thus it is manifests internally. Spiritual readers may also see this to be representative of karmic challenges resulting from previous reincarnations. Reversed cards can also be viewed as a stalemate point of soul growth that must be worked through in order to evolve to your next challenges.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Steve Roberts - Zhine Tibetan Dream Yoga
Aleister Crowley - Thoth Tarot Deck
Swetha Lodha - Your Love Life And The Tarot Cards

Numerology And The Tarot

Traditionally there are 56 minor arcana cards -- the Ace through Ten, plus the four Helper Cards. Esoterically, 56 was known as the god number, the masculine energy, the active energy, the force of the creation principal.

The 56 is the vibration of the natal number of the Celtic sun god, who was known as the son of Tara, the Earth Mother; his aura shot-out 14 feet in all directions from his head (the rays went out into the four directions evenly balanced).

When the fourteen minor cards of each Element suit (Ace through Ten and the Helper Cards) are laid out in each of the cardinal directions -- east, south, west and north -- we see the design of the Celtic Cross, which represents the energy vibration of the number 56. Thus, the number of the solar god becomes grounded into the earth plain.

The design of the minor arcana, the lesser secrets, the 56 vibration, the male number, then becomes representative of the phallic or the fertilization gods, activating the masculine principle of the life force here in physical world of action, and within the conscious mind.

It is important to take into consideration that each card in each suit represents a particular aspect of human consciousness or experience. In each of the Element suits, the Ones contain many of the same properties; the Twos are similar, as are the Threes, and so on, through to the Tens.

When the 56 concept of energy vibration is applied to the Element Suits it is represented through the numerological vibration of each card's number first and foremost, and secondly, through each card's astrological affiliation.

The science of numerology is based on harmonious vibration. The understanding of numerology is to find the inner harmony, which will enable each of us to vibrate at an equal pace with the vibration of our planet Earth.

The world travels at a rapid rate. Scientists have noted that the vibration of the earth increases at the rate of one hour a week, which means our inner vibration, will also continually shift.

The vibrations that govern the universe affect us all for we are all a part of it. As a part of the whole we are affected by every change in the universal rate of vibration -- and the rate changes every time there appears a different number in year, month or day, or in the case of Tarot, with every card.

The universal vibration is like a stage set for a play. We may read the whole play but we memorize only the lines in our own role. Numerology helps us to work with these natural vibrations rather than against them.

When the science of numerology is applied to the tarot cards, the number, which governs the card, gives deeper insight into the hidden meaning of the card, and can thus be used as an additional correspondence -- an important action for our role in the play.

The following is an easy reference for the basic constructive value of the numbers One through Nine.

One: Creation, originality, independence, courage, progress, ambition, positiveness, will power, leadership, pioneering, activity, force, raw energy.

Two: Love, service, gentleness, harmony, adaptability, charm, diplomacy, friendliness, rhythm, music, receptivity, cooperation, consideration for others, will, purpose, initial understanding.

Three: Artistic expression, joy of living, freedom from worry, optimism, inspiration, talent, imagination, good taste, sociability, friendliness, kindness, conception, beginning manifestation.

Four: Practicality, service, patience, exactitude, organization, application, devotion, patriotism, conservatism, pragmatism, dignity, economy, trust, worthiness, endurance, loyalty, production, mastery.

Five: Freedom, progress, versatility, understanding, variety, adaptability, mental curiosity, life experience, cleverness, non-attachment, sociability, change, discord, travel, adventure, companionability, surrender, release.

Six: Love, harmony, home, responsibility, adjustment, musical talent, sympathy, understanding, domesticity, guardianship, stability, poise, protection, healing, firmness, balance, idealism, conscientiousness, justice, burden-fearing, service to All, solution, exaltation, seeing.

Seven: Mental analysis, technicality, introspection, peace, poise, scientific research, spirituality, faith, trust, stoicism, refinement, wisdom, silence, “theories and fundamentals,” feeling, deepening, mystery.

Eight: Power, authority, success, material freedom, judgment, discrimination, executive ability, organization, leadership, management, practicality, thoroughness, dependability, self-reliance, control, the power to succeed, repose, consideration, retreat, ripening.

Nine: Universal love, sisterhood, brotherhood, charity, compassion, the Higher Law, artistic genius, selfless service, philanthropy, humanitarianism, magnetism, sympathy, understanding, romance, generosity, breadth of viewpoint, understanding before or beyond words, strengthening.

Each number's "key words" can be applied to the meaning of a tarot card, when the number of the card seems to stand out prominently to you, which would then have a significant interpretation in the spread.

The application of numerology to the Element suits can be taken a step further by applying the concept of mathematical or geometrical symbols, which tell the story of how numbers evolve, as well as adding the expression of the energy movement behind numerology.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Swetha Lodha - Your Love Life And The Tarot Cards
Thomas Muldoon - Numerology For The 21st Century
Robert Wang - The Qabalistic Tarot
Aleister Crowley - The World Of Tarot
Aleister Crowley - The Zodiac And The Tarot

Major Arcana And The Hero Journey

The Hero’s journey is mankind’s oldest story. It is a story that transcends all cultures and ideologies. Symbolically, it is our own story as it is an allegory for the individual paths we must journey upon. It is constantly being retold and manifested within each of our own lives. It is the story of the soul; and its ultimate purpose is to remind us why we are here and what we must accomplish.

The Hero’s journey shares a common thread. This thread reflects the experiences of our souls. These are the common themes and experiences we instinctively understand. C.G. Jung first explained this phenomenon as the experience of the Collective Unconscious. The Collective Unconscious is part of the unconscious mind. This is an inner realm that ties all mankind together into one collective experience. It is inherent knowledge. It is the parts of ourselves that have an unspoken understanding of a shared experience.

We can identify our shared experiences through archetypal imagery. These are common images and visual patterns that are repeated throughout time. They are the symbols that have universal meanings and references. Regardless of one’s cultural, religious or educational background, archetypal imagery speaks to us all. They are depicted in our myths, fairytales, and iconography. They are everywhere. They are our witches, angels, crones, maidens and warriors. They are within every story told and they are within our own, personal stories.

The Tarot is one of the only pictorial sources that depict the Hero’s journey in its entirety. The Hero’s journey is told through the 22 Major Arcana cards. The Major Arcana refer to the non-suit cards, which make up the first 22 cards of the Tarot deck. What is so impressive about the Major Arcana, is their visual reference to archetypal symbolism. More importantly, they emphasize the significant life phases we all must encounter on our journeys. These are the stages of our psychological and spiritual development. The Tarot offers a structured interpretation for our life path and enables us to grasp these concepts at our deepest core.

Jung described the human experience as a process of individuation and self-growth. This is a process of discovering who you are, of becoming whole and conscious of your individuality. In the Tarot, the Major Arcana reflects this journey in two distinct stages. The first half of the Major Arcana explores the path of self-development and individuality. This typically relates to our growth from child to adult and addresses many of the external challenges we face along the way. Such difficulties may include the development of our own self-identity or dealing with life's major transitional challenges. The second stage involves an inward journey towards spiritual transcendence. Their Tarot card meanings most often illustrate the road to enlightenment. These include the many philosophical challenges and spiritual phases we encounter as we mature towards enlightenment. When this process is completed, the personality becomes unified and the psyche is whole.

By truly understanding the process of this journey, one can learn about the important aspects of the development of one’s self. The Tarot can reflect where you are on this journey, what you must overcome, and what you must come to accept. The Tarot enables us to explore the hidden parts of ourselves. They bring light into the unknown and highlight the significance of our journeys. They are guides to self-awareness and never cease in bringing forth our own truths.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Third Eye
Jester Raiin - Major Arcana 2nd Update And 1st Typohunt
Arthur Edward Waite - The Hermetic Museum

Love Tarot Readings The Crossroads Of Our Relationships

One of the most common inquiries during a Tarot reading typically concerns matters of romance and partnerships. Naturally, people consult the Tarot for answers about love. One would expect that most people would want knowledge about their future love life: who and when that special somebody would be entering their life. Yet, many come to the Tarot for guidance about a current relationship. Typically, these are the relationships that have reached a stalemate. In these cases, the relationships have lost their sense of direction or purpose.

The Tarot has an exceptional ability to uncover the areas in a relationship that are struggling. More importantly, the Tarot can identify the key issues that are going on within each partner. This often refers to each individual’s emotional development, expectations, and past experiences that are being projected into the relationship. One would hope that the Tarot would tell us exactly what we need to do in order to bring harmony back into a relationship. In truth, this is not always the case. More often than not, the Tarot only opens the door to our own inner knowledge. Each individual holds the answers that they need. The Tarot is a conduit, a divinatory tool that enables you to access your unconscious and higher self. In the end, you are always your own best guide.

When utilizing the Tarot for answers on a relationship, it is important to recognize that there are some significant cards that often question your intentions and motivations. These cards often reflect important crossroads that require you to look within yourself to make important decisions. They encourage you to take a good hard look at your relationship and ask yourself if this relationship is something that is in your best interest. It’s important to remember what the Tarot teaches us. They are there to guide us on our path. They are always a reflection of our level of personal growth and emotional development. In some cases, the Tarot is there to redirect us, to remind us that we have made the wrong choice or have become blinded to our own truths.

Although the Suit of Cups often plays an important role in Love Tarot, they are not the only cards that depict relationship issues. As I mentioned before, there are other significant cards that require you to ask yourself some important questions. Some of them our rather obvious like the Three of Swords, the Devil or the Lover. However, there are some that are unobvious. These are the cards of the Hermit, Death, and the Two of Swords.

In terms of relationships, the Two of swords often reveals the barriers you have placed between you and your partner. This is the nature of the stalemate. You have emotionally shut down or the relationship has become resistant to compromise. In this case, there are often issues of inner conflict or confusion about the relationship.

The issues your relationship is struggling with will not be found through outside influences. The Two of Swords urges you to once again go inward. It is time to face your inner conflicts. To move beyond your current stalemate, balance must be restored. This is often achieved by exploring the past experiences that are influencing your current situation. The Two of Swords encourages you to get honest with yourself and with your partner. The ultimate goal is to communicate and speak your truth.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Yacki Raizizun - The Secret Of Dreams
Aleister Crowley - The Confessions Of Aleister Crowley An Autohagiography
Solomonic Grimoires - The Book Of Secrets
Talismagick - Love Spells And Rituals For Love And Relationships
Robert Ellwood - The Encyclopedia Of World Religions

Learning The Tarot An Intuitive Experience

My journey with the Tarot began back in September of 1984. Prior to my journey beginning, there were little things of a psychic nature that had always made itself known to me, including, at various times, the Tarots presence coming into my physical awareness.

My introduction to the Tarot, began with a story from a friend, that could read auras and read the Rider Waite Tarot. And so, it was in September of 84, that I had had my very first reading done for me. Prior to my reading, I had no logical knowledge of the Tarot, other than its visits from time to time, or when watching a movie and there was a psychic doing a reading. Intuitively, I had already had a head start; being very empathic and highly intuitive.

As my girlfriend layed out the Tarot in the Celtic Cross for me, although I had no knowledge of the meaning of the cards, at least at that point in time, my last card, the very first time the cards were layed out for me was the Death card. Again, I had no knowledge of the cards meanings, but knew in that moment that the Death card didn't mean physical Death, but Death to my life as I knew it in that moment. That was my immediate sense and then that sense kicked into my logical reality and I knew that my marriage to my first husband, was about to undergo a huge amount of change. However, that did not stop me from feeling drawn or pulled to the cards.

Little did I know, I was about to step into a whole other journey in my life. Being empathic and highly intuitive and being raised in a house, with a huge amount of logical focus and discipline and a huge dose of the practical, would eventually send my mind into a tailspin. I wanted to learn the meanings of the cards. Each one, individually. But my dilemma would be; which part of my mind would I use. And so, my first book and cards were of the Rider Waite Deck. I was having quite the time figuring out which part of my awareness to utilize in learning the Tarot. So, I decided to let go of the figuring out part and take my learning and discover the meanings of each individual card.

It would be a year, before I finally understood how to combine the meaning of the cards with the layouts. In the meantime, my proficiency came from doing readings for my friends and myself. Each time I utilized the wisdom and the guidance of the cards, I trusted my sense of feeling a little bit more.

Did I mention that I was 27, when this part of my life started changing? I found that the more I connected to the energy and the essence of the Tarot, the more I found myself opening to other Tarot decks. Understanding the meaning of the Tarot cards is a completely intuitive experience. We can utilize our logical minds to learn the meanings of the cards, learn about the cards origin and symbolism, however, the Tarot is a completely intuitive experience.

Eventually, I would teach the Tarot. Yes, there are many, many excellent sources of information out there to guide us, on this inner journey of discovery, it is however, our intuition that will become our guide on this journey.

There are many exercises to guide us on this inner journey. The ones that I shared in my classes were to get a journal and work with each card individually. Yes, the meanings are helpful, but once you have learned the meanings of the cards, the next level of discovery becomes your intuition. When teaching the Tarot to my classes, I always recommended that it would be good to suspend judgment about whether our inner sense was right or wrong and learn to open ourselves to our inner knowing.

Another exercise in discovering the inner meaning of the Tarot, was to pull a card everynight and put it by your bedside, with a notebook and pen to jot down any dreams that were connected to the Tarot.

Understanding the meaning of the Tarot Cards, is an inner journey of awakening. It would be many years and thousands of readings later, that I would eventually understand, that when we began a journey of spiritual, metaphysical or psychic/intuitive discovery, it not only changes our perceptions of awareness, it also changes our approach to life. Once my journey began, and I found my relationships with friends changing, I would pull the cards. (I had already started working with the Alleister Crowley Tarot-I found that the cards were helpful in taking me deeper under the surface, for a better understanding to the changes taking place in my life.)

Once I began working with the cards, for a deeper understanding and purpose to my life changes, although I could not change what was happening, I was able to bring clarity to my experiences.

Understanding the meaning of the Tarot cards is an inner journey; one of discovery, transformation and change. If we allow the wisdom of our inner knowing to guide us, and we understand that our logical focus is now utilized towards intuitive understanding, then our journey with the Tarot, becomes an awakening experience.

Understanding the meaning of the Tarot cards; have patience and trust in yourself and your journey. The rewards for a deeper understanding to the meaning of lifes' challenges and obstacles are great. And yes, we may not be able to change the experience, however, bringing understanding and awareness to the experience, will bring its own rewards on your journey.

Understanding the meaning of the Tarot cards becomes a step by step, one breath at a time experience; trust in yourself and your inner sense of knowing.

Happy Journey!

Books You Might Enjoy:

Paracelsus - The Book Concerning The Tincture Of The Philosophers
William Godwin - The Lives Of The Necromancers
Max Heindel - The Rosicrucian Mysteries
Max Heindel - Teachings Of An Initiate
Rabbi Michael Laitman - The Kabbalah Experience

Intro To Tarot

Modern Tarot decks are comprised of 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards in four suits, much like the standard playing cards we use for regular card games today. This 78-card deck is the widely-accepted standard. There are also many other decks that have varied styles and numbers of cards. These are generally called Oracle decks.

The origin of Tarot cards is no longer known. One strong held belief is that Tarot originated in ancient Egypt, spreading thence to the Greeks, and moved through the world by the Gypsies. There are still links to Egyptian, Greek, Roman and other early religions in modern Tarot. It is also generally believe that what we know now as modern Tarot came about in the 13th century, and while it shows obvious differences from that time, it still follows the same basic principals.

Tarot cards have had an arduous journey through history, at times only being allowed to nobles, occasionally sanctioned by the Catholic Church, and sometimes seen as something evil. Some, even now, believe Tarot cards to be something dark and evil. While this is not the case, Hollywood has taken hold of this idea and frequently presents it as such.

The cards of the deck are used to represent the different stages in the journey through life. The cards give their meaning in the different positions and corresponding cards in the spread. Each position in the spread has a meaning, and each card has a meaning as well.

The Major Arcana are generally seen as an important significator. If a Major Arcana card shows up in a reading, it means that is something you want to pay closer attention to in your life. Major Arcana cards represent the journey through life; the major points one may go through while traveling the path of existence.

The four suits that make up the Minor Arcana each have an overall meaning, and each individual card has a more specific meaning.

Cups, which coincides with the element of water, is associated with relationships and emotions and the development of feelings.

Wands, coinciding with fire, is the development of creative imagination and the challenges one meets through their life.

Swords which represents air, is the realm of the mind, looking at intellect and thoughts.

Pentacles, representing earth, is the material world and its reality, the resources the one will have or need on the journey.

Each of the suits contains 14 cards; ten numbered cards and four court cards. Day to day events are generally depicted in the numbered cards, whereas the court cards tend to indicate personal characteristics or stages of development. Tarot cards can be a wonderful tool to help you see into your life.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Aleister Crowley - To Man
Aleister Crowley - Chart
Aleister Crowley - The World Of Tarot
Aleister Crowley - Thoth Tarot Deck

Finding Meaning In The Tarot Cards

There are countless books on Tarot Cards and Tarot Card Meanings. They can be a valuable tool for the beginning Tarot reader. However, the more you become familiar with Tarot reading, the more you will begin to associate your own personal meanings to the cards. The best Tarot readers are one’s that utilize their own personal associations to the cards.

Every individual has their own, unique point of view. Tarot reading offers you the insight to truly understand your own, personal story. It does this by illuminating the nature of your purpose and identifies how your story has framed your own view of the world. The more you become conscious of your story, the more you can understand yourself. Furthermore, it helps you understand the story of others. When we identify with another person’s experience, we can gain a deeper understanding of our shared experience. This is our humanity.

As a Tarot reader, it’s important to be able to identify where your story ends and another person’s begins. Neutrality and objectivity will be your greatest allies in Tarot reading, particularly if you are reading for someone other than yourself. It’s also important that you become conscious of your own projections. In other words, you do not want to project your story onto someone else’s. One way to ensure you don’t do this is by committing yourself to your own process of self-discovery. Tarot reading can help you do this by reflecting your own story back to you. The following exercise can be very useful for this process.

Separate the 22 Major Arcana cards out from the rest of the deck. Begin with the Fool Tarot Card and spread them out in numerical order. Thus, the Fool would be followed by the Magician. The Magician would be followed by the High Priestess, etc. Take out a piece of paper and examine the first card: The Fool Tarot Card. Ask yourself the following question:

What is the story of the Fool?
Where have I been the Fool?
Where does my story differ from the Fool? Where is it the same?
If the Fool where to speak to me, what might he say to me? What might I say to Him?
What might the Fool say to the card that follows him? In this case, it would be the Magician.

You can continue this narrative throughout the Major Arcana until you finish with the World Tarot card. Allow each card to tell you a story. In turn, you can use the cards to tell your own story.

The ultimate purpose of this exercise is to help you identify your own story and life journey. More importantly, this exercise can deepen the Tarot cards meanings. This is also a great way to interpret the cards for those you may be reading. Knowing traditional interpretations can be useful, but there is nothing more powerful than letting the Tarot cards speak for themselves.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Saffron Robe
Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Thirteenth Candle
Melita Denning - The Aurum Solis
Naomi Janowitz - Magic In The Roman World

Choosing A First Tarot Deck

When you first decide to learn Tarot, beginners ask what kind of deck should they choose?There are hundreds and hundreds of tarot decks available for purchase. There are people whose only interest in Tarot is collect and study the decks from history and from current artists.

There are two different perspectives as to how to go about acquiring your first tarot deck (pronounced tar'?oh or ta?row'). The first idea is that you are best served by selecting a deck that appeals to you or speaks to you in some way. This way of selecting a deck underlines the theory that every reader will respond to various styles and symbols in a different way and that it is important to respect this aspect of reading the tarot. It also is beneficial because it suggests that obtaining a deck that you respond to and like will encourage you to learn the deck.

The second theory is to obtain a widely used deck like the Waite, and Waite derivatives, or the Crowley/Thoth, or derivatives. These deck types represent the vast majority of decks that are purchased and used. The Waite deck is the most popular deck ever sold and is the one most often reconized.

I have come to the opinion that the second method, selecting a Waite-based or Crowley-based deck, is the best one for beginners. I have noticed that beginners who have acquired an offbeat deck struggle when they go to read a beginning tarot book or take a class.

So, your first assignment to find a deck to learn on. Choose a Waite based deck (including the Universal Waite, Robin Wood, Morgan Greer, Tarot of the Old Path, and some more whose names escape me right now!) or a Crowley/Thoth based deck (the smaller deck will have more lively coloration ? so notice which size you are selecting). If you will stick to these, it will be a bit easier to learn Tarot at first. Then, later, you can branch off and pick a Marseilles style, or Motherpiece, or Wheel of Change, or Osho Zen, or another offbeat tarot deck. This is all, however, just my observation. I have plenty of students simply pick the deck they like and they do fine (some however do not and break down and purchase a Waite deck so they can more readily compare what the instructor or book is saying to the deck images).

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Saffron Robe
Swetha Lodha - Your Love Life And The Tarot Cards
Marian Green - A Witch Alone
Robert Wang - The Qabalistic Tarot
Aleister Crowley - Thoth Tarot Deck

A Tarot Quiz

The Quiz

1. How many cards are in a standard Tarot deck?
2. How many cards are in the Major Arcana?
3. Name the 4 suits in a standard Tarot deck and what elements they correspond with.
4. Which card is said to journey through the Tarot?
5. What is the Tarot's connection to modern day playing cards?
6. Why is the Rider Waite is such a popular deck...what sets it apart from the others?
7. Define court cards.
8. Define Arcana.

The Answers

1. 78
2. 22
3. Wands-Fire ..... Cups-Water ..... Swords-Air ...... Pentacles-Earth
4. The Fool
5. In ancient days the Tarot went underground to avoid complete destruction by the churches. It was often disguised in a game form similar to today's playing cards.
6. Because it was the first Tarot deck to include pictures for the Minor Arcana rather than just numbered suites. It has since grown in popularity & is the number one selling deck.
7. Court cards are the Prince, Princess, Queen, & King
8. Arcana- mysterious knowledge, language, or information accessible only by the initiate.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Aleister Crowley - Magick
Israel Regardie - The Art Of True Healing
William Lammey - Karmic Tarot

A Tarot Journey

There is plenty of very good information about the Tarot, its symbolism and its origin. What I would like to do is share about the journey of the Tarot and all that it could and can teach.

As a kid and well into my 20s and 30s, I could always feel when something was going to change, sometimes it appeared not for the good, at least on the surface.

I could feel my mood swings and everyone else's mood swings around me. Pretty much not knowing where my personal space began or ended and where another's space began or ended. There were times, many times, where communication was almost impossible. It was bizarre to feel my words organized in my thoughts, but to speak them out loud, somehow the translation was lost.

It would be the Tarot that would assist, guide and teach me how to connect all the pieces for clear communication. Prior to my journey, learning about each card, I did read a bit on its origin and its symbolism. It was at this point, that I had not yet discovered that I was an empath, with high intuition. So, as I took a journey through each card, I found myself becoming clearer and more connected in my communication.

The Tarot is an excellent source of teaching, when wanting to have a deeper understanding about life changes. The Tarot teaches us how to open our minds and approach these changes from another angle, another perspective. Because we are living in very new and different times, consulting the Tarot, is no longer about predictions and outcomes, but a means to resolution, from another level of thinking.

On our journey with the Tarot, take your time and work with each card individually. Be patient with your learning experience. When working with the Tarot, this is the part of our life, where we slow down a bit and allow our intuition to develop and guide us on this journey.

And yes, our intuition does open and in the process of opening, we learn how to blend logic and intuition, to troubleshoot and guide us to our life changes. As human beings, when life changes come to us, they at first will appear as negatives happening in our lives. When we begin working with the Tarot, we begin to discover that the so called negatives of our lives, are actually new opportunities to better align with our life, at a deeper intuitive level.

We are all entering a time in our life, where common sense and intuition can act as a guide to our life changes.

So, for all who feel drawn to the Tarot, yes, by all means, read about its history and then consider how you feel drawn to the Tarot and allow your intuition, your inner knowing to guide you on your journey. The more that we learn how to be grounded in the now and present moment; in our bodies, our breath and our knowing, the better our experiences of change, that we can master with our intuition.

The Tarot is a wonderful teacher and guide, to the journey of your own inner discoveries.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Michael Prescott - Darklore
Lyall Watson - Supernature
Nick Farrell - Notes On Geomancy
Aristotle - On Dreams

3 Secrets To Reading Tarot Cards

Reading Tarot cards is not really as complicated as it is made out to be – at the same time, it is not that simplistic either. Here we have 78 different cards with a variety of images on them which convey so many things. How can one remember these meanings? How is it even possible to keep a track of all the different interpretations? And in the end, how does one know which meaning to go for during an actual reading?

I am going to tell you a few simple methods of being able to do so. However, it is equally important that one does not remain too rigid in these methods – the lessons in the cards talk about and teach flexibility – they essentially tell us to remain open and aware to what our inner voice or instinct or gut or intuition tells us.

So, are you ready to begin? Here we go:

1. Visual Cues: This is the first step towards deciphering the meanings of the Tarot cards – look at the picture on the card. What is happening in the picture? What feelings does it evoke within you? Pay attention to what are the first impulses in your mind when you see the images. These visual cues will tell you what is going on in your client’s life on the different planes of his existence. For example, look at the image of the 3 of Cups card. We see 3 finely dressed ladies holding their cups high in the air. Around them are fruits and flowers. Straight off, one can guess that they are having a party or a celebration of some sort. So, this may reveal to you that there is a celebration going on in the client’s life.

2. Elemental Cues: Each of the Tarot cards corresponds to a certain element: Wands with Fire, Cups with Water, Swords with Air, and Pentacles with Earth. Each of these elements talks of a different aspect of life: Fire is burning energy and passion, Water is flowing emotions and feelings, Air is the windy thoughts and logical mind, and Earth is solid practicality and money. And of course, let’s not forget the Major Arcana which corresponds to the element of Spirit / Ether, which is the representation of the higher spiritual planes of existence. So, in a reading, when you see a card from a particular suit, you know which aspect of life you are dealing with. And add to it the imagery of the card and its visual cues, and you have your interpretation right there! So taking our previous example of the 3 of Cups, we can see that cups are emotions and feelings.

Plus the visual cues talk of celebrations. So now, we can say that these 3 ladies in the card are also emotionally bonded with each other – they could be friends. This interpretation thus reveals that the celebration in your client’s life is a party with his close friends with whom he can easily share his feelings.

3. How the Card Falls: This is another aspect of the reading – whether the card is upright or whether it is reversed. There are many ways of looking at card reversals – either you can see it as a total opposite of the upright meaning, or you can say that there is a blockage in the situation depicted in the upright meaning. So, continuing with our 3 of Cups card, we can say that in the reversed position this card will mean that either the celebration has gone bust, or that there are problems within the group of friends which does not allow them to bond completely with each other.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Yacki Raizizun - The Secret Of Dreams
Richard Spence - Secret Agent 666 Introduction
Samuel Liddell Macgregor Mathers - The Tarot
Swetha Lodha - Your Love Life And The Tarot Cards
Will Herberg - The Writings Of Martin Buber