The Occult

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No one knows for sure how far the world history of tarot card readings dates back but scholars suggest it goes back at least to the 1400s. The most famous and widely used tarot cards were created in the 1800s; the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. In the early 1900s, Western culture learned of tarot cards, which become extremely popular during World War I. Today, some people believe the tarot cards are an evil symbol associated with the occult, while others believe they can be a psychologically empowering tool to influence one’s personal path and future.

If you were to walk down any big city block, then you may stumble across a glowing neon sign that reads “TAROT CARD READINGS.” Surprisingly, most countries have organizations that offer courses on learning tarot cards, as well as certification programs! The rise in popularity of these “fortune tellers” has led to tarot card readers who work in coffee houses and as private party tarot readers. There are even entire festivals dedicated to the subject. For instance, Montreal holds the “International French Tarot Festival” each year and Lilydale in New York State has a spiritualist community of psychics, fortune tellers and tarot card readers.

There are generally two types of readings you may receive at one of these places: the Question Reading or an Open Reading. With question readings, you ask a specific open-ended question to which the cards suggest an answer. Open readings are recommended for people who are going through a life transition, such as a marriage, graduation or career change, or are suffering with health problems. You can address a general area but your priorities are suggested by which tarot cards come up.

Tarot card readers allow seekers to cut and shuffle the deck as they please and then the cards are laid out into a “spread” for an overall message. There are many different types of tarot spreads: the yin/yang, elemental, a seven card horseshoe, rainbow, spheres of life, a ten card celtic cross, astrological and three card spreads. These variations are just different ways to look at the messages. For example, in the three card spread, three tarot cards are laid out and represent the past, present and future. In the celtic cross spread, there are ten positions with different meanings: the present inner environment, the obstacle, the deeper root cause of the situation, the resolved factor/quality to let go, the goal or purpose, the unresolved factor, you as you see yourself, another’s expectations, hopes and fears and outcome.

The seven card horseshoe spread has positions representing the recent past, the present situation, what is hidden, obstacles/challenges, surroundings, advice and outcome. You have many options, depending on what sort of answer you’re hoping to find, but generally if you approach the tarot cards reading with an open mind, you’ll get something positive from it.

Let’s be honest with each other, okay? Chances are probably pretty good that you check your horoscope occasionally. Checking your daily horoscope is fine but it is a pretty general way of predicting your day or your week. Why not go a little more in depth? You should give tarot cards a try. A good deck can reveal plenty about your current financial situations, your personality and even let you know when to make big decisions regarding your finances. It is a way of getting a little hint at what the future may reveal about you.

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There are many layers of sub-text with a tarot deck. When you are reading the tarot cards, you’re not just looking at the picture on a superficial level. For instance, when “the Death Card” comes up, it doesn’t mean the seeker is about to die! Rather, there are finer points within the card and the series of cards that will paint a broader picture. In fact, the card may even be dealt upside-down, which adds an extra layer of meaning as well. Getting to know your deck of tarot cards is a matter of education, intuition and practice.

Once you have your deck of tarot cards selected, you’ll need to choose a tarot spread, which is the way you lay the cards on the table before you. This spread very much depends on the needs of your seeker who should be thinking of an open-ended question. For example, the popular ten-card “Celtic Cross” spread gives a snapshot of the seeker right now, which can reveal the individual’s emotional make up, as well as a glimpse at their past, present and future.

The “Seven Card” spread can be used to take an in-depth look at a more specific situation, showing all the factors that led to the present and all the options for the future. The “Zodiac” spread will also delve into a particular issue more deeply, letting you know how the year will pan out. The three card “Yes or No” spread can be used to answer the most basic yes-or-no queries. Furthermore, the “Lover’s Spread” or “Mirrors Spread,” will shed some light on romantic fortunes, the “Daily Lessons” spread will give you something to work on for today, the “Mandala” spread will help you grow spiritually and emotionally, the “Wish” spread will help you define what you want out of life and remove obstacles to getting it. As your seeker shuffles the tarot cards, his or her energy will pass through the cards to you to help you get a more accurate reading.

Once you’ve dealt the tarot cards into the specific spread, then you will turn over the first card. First, you must know the significance of the position for that spread. For instance, in the “Mandala” spread, the first card of the tarot deck represents a view as to how the person sees him or herself. In the “Celtic Cross” spread, the first card represents the present situation. To begin the reading, you may turn over one card at a time or flip them all, depending on your style as a reader. Some people have a natural knack for looking at the entire snapshot of the situation and detailing at random, whereas other tarot card readers are best when moving in a linear fashion, describing the spread one card at a time, drawing conclusions later.

When looking at each card, judge the landscape, the imagery, the colors, the shapes, the symbols, the suits and the type of card. The Major Arcanas, for example, signify events, whereas the Minor Arcanas signify emotions. Furthermore, the “Court Cards” show other people that affect the course of the seeker’s life. Always keep the seeker’s question in mind when reading the tarot cards and you may even ask the seeker to describe how a particular card makes him or her feel. If the end card is a Major Arcana, then the outcome is rather fixed. However, if the end card is a Minor Arcana, then the seeker can take actions to alter the path. If the end card is a Court, then the outcome will be affected by others.

You may want to purchase a book by Mary K Greer or Joan Bunning about “Learning Tarot Reversals” to help shine some light on upside-down cards from your tarot deck. Not everyone deals with reversed cards, but there can be many more tarot card meanings by putting these into play. First look at the reversed card’s position in the spread. If you’re doing a Celtic Cross and the first card is reversed, then perhaps they are in a state of looking back at the past or a mixed-up present situation. You may also consider a reversed card to signify untapped potential or energy.

Maybe it’s a delayed project, something from the past that isn’t resolved, a private part of oneself, a refusal to change, something that is lacking, an energy that has been used or developed inappropriately, overcompensation for something that is lacking or something the seeker would like to see fixed. If the reversed card is a Court Card, then that may signify a troubled relationship with someone close to the seeker. For the advanced reader, this additional interpretation of the cards can be very fulfilling and intriguing.

Looking at the daily horoscope has become routine for many people. They use their horoscopes to make major decisions in their lives. There is a problem with this logic. Often horoscopes are too vague to do anyone any good. There is an answer that means a more personalized conjecture about your past, present and future. That answer is in tarot cards. These cards can be easy to learn and you can have a deck right in the comfort of your own home. There is no need to consult a psychic to get a reading.

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Some people believe that psychic healers have a “sixth sense” or special powers passed down through their bloodlines. Others believe tarot card readers are just a little more intuitive than most people, able to see “auras” or receive impulses about a complete stranger. Many of us are skeptics who are simply curious as to what tarot card readings could do for us. After all, as the popular adage says, “Don’t knock it ’til you try it!” No matter the back-story, a psychic card reading has more power than you might think.

So, what’s the fascination behind live tarot readings? Are people losing faith, looking for answers, or just plain curious? “People come by because they are looking for some kind of direction,” said Dawna SuMaria, one of the more experienced tarot card readers at the Hawaiian Islands’ 12th annual Psychic Faire in Lihu’e. For her 49 years of practice, Miss SuMaria charges $25 for fifteen minutes and aims to help people focus and reflect on their self growth.

Another tarot card reader, Erik Taylor, said that self-actualization is a big part of his readings as well. “It’s about helping people get through their everyday things and be the best possible person they can be,” Taylor said. Like a mirror, he reflects back to them so they “see the scene as it really is.” The Psychic Faire is just one of many spiritual events happening this year.

Ma Prem Usha, one of India’s well known tarot card readers, explains why tarot card readings are picking up in popularity in her country. “The Tarot has been evolved for spiritual growth and this should be a person’s essential reason for using it. It gets you in touch with your strengths and weaknesses at the four levels of consciousness: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.” She adds that the tarot cards allow you to “change energies, look at situations from another viewpoint,” eventually overcoming obstacles and progressing.

Whether tarot card readings are a cash grab for fundraising and amusement for skeptics, or a legitimate source of psychotherapy, many people report a rejuvenated feeling inside following their reading. “I see them as philosopher’s cards. The answers are already inside of you. The cards just prompt them out,” said Cheryl Pelow, a Canadian artist whose work is largely inspired by the tarot cards. “[People who read tarot cards] learn their own psychological makeup. You can turn things around in your own life.”

If there were a crystal ball that could see the future for anyone, people would be lined up in the streets to buy one. It is natural to be curious about the future. People want some sort of reassurance that they are taking the right steps or making the right decisions. Some people find guidance in the form of daily horoscopes. But others want a more personalized outcome that is specific to themselves. They turn to tarot cards to divine their present and future troubles. But you do not have to be a psychic to use these cards. You can read them yourself.

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The general advice for learning how to read tarot cards is to sit down and examine/define the cards for yourself before you do a reading. It’s good to buy a tarot book and read up on symbolism or get a psychic card reading prior to getting started. But in the end, understand that it’s a spiritual exercise and learning process that you will develop. In a traditional reading of the tarot, you generally shuffle the cards, pick the spread and define the meanings. If the person seems disagreeable, then you may want to do what is called a “mirror reading,” which allows the person to shuffle, select and define the cards, while you perform the interpretation.

Let’s take a look at a few of the Major Arcana cards in a deck of tarot cards. The Fool, or number zero card, can have variable meanings depending on the question asked. In a positive light, the Fool represents adventure, a fresh start, boldness, freedom, innocence, blind faith and youthful exuberance. On the downside, the Fool can mean impetuousness, immaturity, inexperience and blindness to consequences. In some ways, the Fool can be the most linked card with the rest of the tarot cards. The Fool is on a journey of self discovery and symbolizes the “inner child” combined with the “inner sage.” The Fool alerts us of choices we need to make in our lives, a new life cycle met with energy and enthusiasm, or keeping faith in our impulses; yet, if shown in reverse, the Food can signal reckless decision making, our inability to accept responsibility or mental and emotional restraints.

One of the most dreaded cards in the tarot deck is #13, which is the Death card. In its assumed negative form, the Death card can alert us to stagnation, inertia, inability to accept change, agonizing transition, periods of loss, lack of opportunity, hardship, fear of change or the loss of a friend. However, on a positive note, tarot card readers say the Death card may also mean an ending, a transformation, closure and sweeping change. Sometimes Death actually means a radically different, new beginning: a new job, a new relationship or a new outlook. Whatever the case may be, you know when this tarot card comes up, it means there is something monumental going on in your life.

One of the tarot symbols people usually like to see is # 6, which is the Lovers. When reading tarot cards, this one almost always symbolizes good things to come and positive emotions. The Lovers indicate a deep passion and sexuality, romance, bonding, trust, devotion, health, vulnerability and self-sacrifice for a fulfilling relationship. In some instances, it may be a reminder to remain open to communication or to strive for “the whole package.” The Lovers can pertain to a new relationship, an existing relationship, a job partnership or connectedness with a family member. The tarot cards can hold significant meaning for all seekers who approach their live tarot readings with an open mind.

Did you know that tarot cards can give you a glimpse into how you work,play and function with others? It can guide you in making decisions that will have a huge impact on your life if you know what the cards mean. You do not need a psychic on a phone or in a booth to tell you that though. You can find your own future by learning to read the cards yourself. With a little help and the right guidance you can read the cards and know what your future holds in store for you.

The Tarot Major Arcana Cards

Many great tarot card readers have written books throughout history to shed some light on their revelations and instinctual readings of the tarot cards. For beginners, this knowledge is priceless. Not only are there many interpretive tarot card meanings, but there are also different tarot spreads and ways of finding divine answers that you will need to be aware of. Let’s take a look at a few of the tarot books that can light your path.

Historically speaking, there are some books that have wielded enormous influence over tarot card readers for decades. A classic tarot book is “The Pictorial Key To The Tarot,” published in 1910 and written by Arthur Edward Waite. This is the original companion book to the most popular deck of tarot cards in America: the Ride-Waite deck. Here, you’ll read a little bit of history and an in-depth study of the hidden meanings behind the tarot cards. You can find this book for free online at Sacred-Texts.com or you may purchase it if you’d like to start a studious collection.

Another of the classical tarot books is famous occultist Aleister Crowley’s “The Book of Thoth,” published in 1981. While the original Book of Thoth is a legendary spell-book from ancient Egypt that is said to have been buried with Prince Neferkaptah, Aleister Crowley’s book is intended to describe the philosophy of Crowley’s deck of tarot cards (the Thoth tarot). The connections with ancient Egypt are outlined and the book carries overtones of occultism and magic.

If you’re looking for skill enhancing tarot books, then try Mary K. Greer’s “Complete Book of Tarot Reversals” to learn more about reading cards that appear upside-down. “Learning Tarot Spreads” is an excellent book on various arrangements for you to try, or you may want to read “Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads” for a more personal, advanced practice. Delve into transpersonal psychology with “Messages From the Archetypes.” Try something new with “Past Life & Karmic Tarot,” which will allow you to look into the idea of reincarnation and kindred souls. “Understanding the Tarot Court” will give you extra insight into the court cards. Lastly, “You Are Wiser Than You Think: A Whole New Approach To Giving Guidance” will help you get in touch with your deeper meditative, intuitive nature.

For thousands of years people have turned to mystics to help guide them in their life journeys. People all over the world want to know what the future holds in store for them. Some are disbelievers of anything mystical yet still occasionally read their horoscopes to see how the week will pan out. Some are true believers and live their lives according to what another person says. Why take that risk? You can learn how to read tarot cards and divine your own future.

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