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How to read Tarot cards

 

You can do a Tarot card reading

Reading Tarot cards has been a pastime and practice for centuries at least. The activity has been used as a casual game and as a genuine occult spiritual practice. The achetypal images on the cards have appeared in artistic symbolism for longer than they have appeared on playing cards.

Instructions
Step 1
Choose your Tarot card deck

There are numerous Tarot decks of a variety of themes from angels, oracles, goddesses, to spirit animals. The Rider Tarot deck, conceived by Arthur Edward Waite, claims to be the original and only authorized edition of the 78-card Tarot deck. In any case, all cards are read in a similar way.

At Tarotpassages.com, you can read numerous Tarot deck reviews.

Step 2
Discover Tarot card symbol meanings

If you purchase a new Tarot card deck, you can thumb through the accompanying instruction booklet to learn the basic meanings of the symbols on the cards. You'll discover the archetypes and personified virtues on the Major Arcana cards (i.e., The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress...) and the four suits of the Lesser Arcana (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles).

You can find many online resources for discovering card meanings. Ata-tarot.com provides an easy reference of Tarot card meanings.

Step 3
Learn Tarot card spreads

You can read Tarot cards individually or in spreads. A spread is a layout that adds meaning to the individual Tarot cards.

Angelpaths.com provides instructions for six useful Tarot card spreads: the Five Card Spread, the Ellipse, the Celtic Cross, the Mirror, the Mandala, and the Relationship Spread.

Step 4
Try a Five Card Spread

Shuffle your Tarot cards and lay them out in the classic Five Card Spread, as follows.

  1. The first card placed in the center represents the general theme of the reading.
  2. The second card placed to the left of the first represents past influences on the present issue.
  3. The third card placed to the right of the first represents the future.
  4. The fourth card placed beneath the first represents your or the readee's reasons.
  5. The fifth card placed above the first represents your or the readee's potential.

That's it. Reflect upon the reading. Try some other spreads.

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Things Needed
Tarot card deck
Tarot card manual
Tips & Warnings   
Relax and have fun.
Consider meditating before reading Tarot.
Practice first with yourself and close friends.

Tarot websites

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Sara Mcgrath
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The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck
by: Arthur Edward Waite Pamela Colman Smith

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