The tarot is one of the most enduring artifacts of the Renaissance. Cards were once used only as playing decks. During the 18th century, they were associated with magic and mysticism. It was then that the Tarot was used for divination.
Basic tarot reading
The idea behind the Tarot reading is simple: the cards are shuffled, placed on a spread, and the reader interprets what the cards say. A Tarot deck consists of 78 cards each with a specific meaning related to life.
The art of divination through the use of the Tarot is called Taromancy. Contrary to public opinion, Tarot cards do not predict fortune or future events, but they measure potential outcomes and examine the influences surrounding a person.
The tarot spread
Spread is the term used for the arrangement of the cards in a reading. First, the person asking for guidance shuffles the cards and then the reader places them in a pattern. Every position on the spread has a meaning.
There are numerous types of propagation: five cards, Celtic cross and mirror are some of the most used. The type of diffusion in a reading depends on the question being asked, and sometimes it is up to the reader.
Type of readings
1. Question reading is done to address a specific question. Although you do not intend to answer a yes or no question, it can guide you in making the decision yourself. Therefore, the way in which the question is asked is fundamental.
Be positive. State your question positively rather than negatively. Instead of asking why your promotion didn’t happen, ask what you can do to make it happen. In this way, the cards can give you better guidance.
Focus on yourself. If the reading is for you, ask the questions about yourself and not about the people around you. For example, asking why your partner is cheating focuses on you. Always refocus on you.
Be open. If you already have the answers to your questions, you are not letting the cards do their job. Keep your options open and don’t narrow the scope of the real question. Be neutral and open to other points of view.
2. Open reading is used to address a larger aspect of a person’s life rather than a specific problem. It offers guidance to people who are entering a new stage in life, such as getting married, becoming a mother, or graduating from college.
Popular tarot cards
Tarot decks have two types of cards: Minor and Major Arcana. The minor cards are similar to the standard deck of playing cards divided into four suits. The Major Arcana are independent cards that have a unique and particular meaning.
1. The devil. The card shows Satyr, a half-man, half-goat creature. If the devil’s card appears in a love question, it may mean that the relationship is nearing its end. Both parties can feel trapped and the magic of love is gone.
2. Hanged Man. The card shows a man suspended upside down from a tree. In general, Hanged Man conveys that you are divided between two options: up or down, in or out, yes or no. There is something you must let go of.
3. The fool. The card shows a man looking up at the sky about to come down from a cliff. The Fool is generally referred to as a positive card with a reminder that it is important to take your time and look where you are going. It also indicates a new beginning.
4. Death. The card shows Death himself mounted on a white horse. It does not necessarily mean physical death, but rather it represents transformation. Death reminds you to accept more of a change and move on.