Tarot 101
Tarot is so many things to me. It is perspective, clarity, guidance, a check to the ego, a way to connect with myself, with people, with energy. I always preface a reading with “I’m not a psychic, nor am I a fortune teller,”. I’m someone who has spent a lot of time learning the cards, connecting with them in a personal way before ever considering to share my experience with others. I spend so much time working on my connection to myself, strengthening my intuition and trusting my ability to read the cards and interpret their messages.
My Tarot Experience
A little under a decade ago, I was exploring more about certain spiritual practices and ancient sciences like astrology, numerology, and sacred geometry with some close friends and decided to research more into where tarot comes from and what is has been used for over time. I got my first deck of cards from my partner, and a book as well. I got the classic Rider-Waite Smith deck and I started with one card per day. I shuffled the deck, pulled out a card, learned about that card and went about my day, seeing how certain interpretations could be related to my thoughts or experiences during that day. I learned the entire Major Arcana that way.
In time I learned the importance of numerology and symbolism, the connection with nature and the elements, along with the suits and the court cards. I started doing readings for friends and family, coworkers and even a few close clients. I have gone through many decks, and have settled on a few(for now) that really embody my practice. I decided a little over 18 months ago that I would start offering readings to the public, and start sharing more about my practice. I even started working at markets, and doing public and private events in the last few months, and am very excited about sharing tarot with more people.
in History
While much of tarot’s history is up for debate, it is known that at a certain point the cards were used for a card game in the Mediterranean, and over time certain cards were associated with certain meanings and representations, and eventually were picked up by people who associated the cards with divination practices. Our modern use of tarot cards comes from a long line of intuitive and spiritual individuals who have been able to draw patterns between the cards, their meaning, and their connection to the people being read. There are many connections to numerology, astrology, and even psychology within tarot.
Many places and cultures throughout history have links to using pictures and drawings to interpret meaning and offer insight or perspective to the observer. I often refer to tarot as an intuitive Rorschach test; a way in which to connect your circumstance to your psyche; to see your reality in a different perspective which you may not have consciously been aware of prior. Tarot is there to open our minds; to give us that push to do the thing, or the check-in we needed to make sure we are making a solid choice, the friend to call you out on your bullshit but also be there to pick up the pieces and allow you space and grace to carve out a new path. Tarot can see you for where you are and where you come from, and can offer insight on what is to come and what to prepare for. Tarot offers us advice while also allowing us our free will to decide for ourselves without judgement.
In practice
People who practice tarot have different ways in which they connect to their cards and how they offer readings. I have fellow tarot readers who I follow and book with and seek guidance and education from, and I find so much value in the things we share and the things we do differently. Anyone can find a connection to the cards and become a reader, but it is a very personal thing. How we interpret the cards is based on that personal experience and therefore the ways in which we offer to read will be different. Much of learning tarot for me was learning the patterns and different spreads and all of the little details, just to remove most of them from my practice. The things that stick are the things that offer me the most information while allowing my intuition to pick up on the energies at play. Many people who practice tarot use it to gain insight on the future or to help them with their spiritual gifts and practices. There are so many ways that people can use and interpret tarot in their own lives. With tarot, I have something that can offer so much to me, as long as I am willing to be open-minded and take in what is being offered.
Tarot to me
Tarot has opened my eyes to many opportunities and given me confidence in making tough choices or big changes. There are times when we need reminders to trust our gut, stand up for ourselves, to think big, or even to just be more loving to ourselves. But there are also times when we need to be checked, to give pause, look inward, reflect, or apologize. I feel confident that I have the ability to remind myself of these things, but I don’t always have the perspective to see it when I need it most. Staying present is hard, no matter how much you meditate or do breath-work. It can be easy to get swept away in big changes or in one space of our realities, but doing tarot helps bring me back to center, to the present moment. Context is key, intent is everything, and tarot allows me to see how those factors may not be working compatibly. We are all trying our best and tarot can help us see where and/or how we can put those efforts differently to achieve our best. It is an extra voice of support, or an extra voice of reason. Tarot can be a wall that you didn’t see coming to make you face your grief, your shame…yourself.
tarot for you
The hardest part of tarot reading is being honest enough with what is being put in front of you. When you receive a reading you should try to be as open as you can to the cards and the reader, and attempt to connect to your own intuition and inner self. The energy you give is the energy you get. You may go into a reading expecting a certain topic to come up or for a certain outcome, but I often find that if something is important enough, it will come through regardless of topic or question. I think of tarot as a friend in many ways, as I have described, but I think it is a wonderful tool to bring one clarity, keep their mind open, offer perspective, and connect with oneself and spirit.
Hopefully reading this has given you some insight about tarot and that you consider booking a reading, if not consider practicing or learning tarot yourself. If you are new to tarot and looking to get started just remember: a gift can be something you give yourself.
***If you’d like to learn more about how I connect with & interpret the cards and what readings look like for me, or if you are interested in a more spiritual interpretation of tarot, please feel free to reach out and let me know! I plan on writing more tarot content in time.***
