Tarot

[AveSatanas]

I think it really depends on the amount of supernaturalism you ascribe to to Tarot and oracles, how you will want to use use them. The rules will really vary greatly if you see the cards as sacred and magical as opposed to seeing them as an introspective tool that you own and control. It's funny how decks of all sorts will "cooperate" with this process of projection and validate any amount of hocus pocus you put on them, as in the story of the death card above. This being the case I don't think there is any right or wrong way to use Tarot and Oracles in general only right or wrong ways of getting the kind of information you want out of them. I want very psychological information so that is my approach. That being said I have never seen any deck that responses well to "will I die or win the lottery?" or "how many children will have?" To say it better I have never seen any reader who can make sense of the cards they draw under these conditions.

[Asterion Orestes]

I read once that tarot cards that you have made yourself have more power than any you buy or are given, because they contain only your own energy.

I used to be very into Tarot cards, back when I was into wicca and longed to learn more. I struggled to remember anything though. It is something I'd love to go back to someday, but I'd like to make my own cards and coming up with designs would be hard.

Reminds me of an idea I've had for a few years: Making a Tarot deck that would appeal to "right wingers"--though perhaps that'd be a lost cause & not profitable.

The other thing I wanted to mention is that the official story of Tarot is related to regular playing cards. Ostensibly it's only in the Anglosphere that Tarot's seen as a psychic tool; elsewhere people use it for card games! Related, perhaps, is the claim that one can also "read" playing cards as an alternative to Tarot.

[EverHopeful]

I own the wildwood deck. It's a gorgeous deck, full of symbolism drawn from Iron Age/'Celtic' Britain (which is great for a mythology nerd like moi). The illustrations are beautiful, and the results are uncanny. I don't know how or why it works, but I'm open minded enough to entertain all possibilities.

[AveSatanas]

Reminds me of an idea I've had for a few years: Making a Tarot deck that would appeal to "right wingers"--though perhaps that'd be a lost cause & not profitable.

The other thing I wanted to mention is that the official story of Tarot is related to regular playing cards. Ostensibly it's only in the Anglosphere that Tarot's seen as a psychic tool; elsewhere people use it for card games! Related, perhaps, is the claim that one can also "read" playing cards as an alternative to Tarot.

Funny you should mention playing cards, I tend to tell people that my first divination experience was with Brian Froud's Fairy Oracle but actually I had been reading playing cards for months before I got the Oracle. I had had forgotten all about that, thanks for reminding me.

[Tunes]

Oddly enough, when I was learning Tarot, I struggled for a long time before finding this site that told a story in the cards. I wish I culd link you to it, but I don't know what it was or where. But I actually found that a more fluid description actually helps me interpret them (and remember them) a lot better. The four suits tell a story - with sleight variations among them, but the same general meanings - they are based on numerology. Then the major arcana tells a story of a man looking for enlightenment and all the things he learns along the way. It's very interesting. I will look for the story for you tomorrow (it's so late that it's early), and if you are interested, send me a pm and if I can't find the site, then I will recite it to you over pm. ^^

As for the type of deck, just get something that resonates. I got a color version of the oldest (traceable) deck available. I also got an extra one that I got just because I loved the artwork. Both work equally well for me. Just make sure to cleanse them periodically. Cleansing will work differently based on your own personal beliefs. Some methods of cleansing involve crystals or other precious stones, some involve sunlight or moonlight, some involve incense, some involve prayer, some involve meditation - just whatever you do to get rid of negative energy. I use a combination of these things and sometimes switch it up. I find lavender to be the best cleansing scent, but my sister prefers sage. It's all very relative.

And in my own personal opinion (although I have met some who disagree with me), do not try to do readings over the internet or telephone. If you do readings for someone else, do it in person. There needs to be spiritual energy from both the reader and the client. Like I said, this may not apply to you - some people insist that it is not necessary to do in person, but anything not in person has always failed for me. Whether or not you charge money for readings (once you get good at them) is another thing that you have to decide for yourself, but I would advise against. Unless that is how you plan to make your living, I feel like it's bad karma. But again, that is just my opinion.

Mood lighting never hurts. Mood music might. Tbh, I have never tried doing a reading with music playing, but with all the different messages that can be portrayed through a reading, I don't know of any music that would be appropriate for all of them, and you never know what the cards will say, so to speak. Decorations are good. Don't do readings on the ground or in the dirt - again, it's disrespectful for the cards. Do keep a soft cloth or cloth bag to store your cards in. I mean, it's not necessary, but it's nice. And if the client decides to ramble about what they think the cards mean, LISTEN! Clues from the client are invaluable. The cards are vague. A person's circumstance is specific. The more specific you can make the reading, the more impressive it is (as indeed it takes more skill).

And more than anything, remember this: the tarot cards are not for predicting the future. The future can change, and can change very easily. What the cards do is help you interpret your present so that you know where you want to go or how to get there. They guide you, not predict the future for you. Make sure your clients understand this as well, or they will always be disappointed. It helps you understand your present - where you are, how you got there, and where the path that you are on will probably lead you. It does not tell you what WILL happen. It is a tool for clarification and understanding, not predicting the uncontrollable future. A lot of people tend to think it will tell them specifics about their future, and it usually will not. If you get a client that wants to know how they will die, for example, dismiss them. That is not what the Tarot does. (And yes, I have gotten more than one client asking that question.)

And if you ask a silly question, you will probably get a serious answer about a completely different topic. That's usually what happens with me. One night it went differently. We had just gotten back from a shopping trip and my friend asked me to take out my tarot cards (he is always asking for readings, so I always have my deck when I visit him). He asked "Where did I put the milk?" I almost put the cards away. But he told me that he knows that isn't how the tarot works, but he wanted to see what it would say. And he begged, so I did. It threw out a bunch of random cards (many of which were favorite cards of his, even if for the wrong reason) and it ended with the hermit: "The answers are within you". We got a good laugh that night. Didn't find the milk for almost 2 more days, but we had a good laugh. Of course, it was probably sheer coincidence, because that is the only time my deck has shown humor. But man it was good. ^^

[AveSatanas]

I have done readings for people over the phone, BUT they were people I knew well and they were using their deck on their end of the line. I was just interpreting cards as they came into the reading. I wouldn't advise it in general.

I love that you got a Tarot deck to tell you a joke. I don't know that that has ever happened to me with Tarot. I had an oracle deck once that was a total prankster, though. Good times.

[Tunes]

I had an oracle deck once that was a total prankster, though. Good times.

What's an oracle deck? Got any good stories? :)

[Tunes]

Alright, success! I don't know if these were the original sites that I used, but the information on them seems consistent.

This is the story for the Major Arcana:

http://78nightsoftarot.com/post/13379877530/the-fools-journey

**I highly recommend going over this while you look at the card that each part of the story represents. Just put them in a pile in numerical order and when each one is finished, move on to the next one. The story follows numerical order.

This one is for the Minor Arcana (the pip cards):

http://pwalker281.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Read-Tarot-Cards-Part-2-The-Pip-Cards-of-the-Minor-Arcana

**It mentions that there is a story, I think, but it doesn't really tell it. But the descriptions of the cards seem to build on one another, so fill in the blanks with your imagination. If you are having a hard time of that, then this site tells the story better, but does not seperate it by suit well and does not have pictures of the card to refer to:

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/minor_arcana_storyline.shtml

And this link is for the rest of the Minor Arcana (the court cards):

http://pwalker281.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Read-Tarot-Cards-Part-3-The-Court-Cards-of-the-Minor-Arcana

**This one just gives some general meanings for them. I don't know if there is a story for them: I have never found one. For me, pages always bring news, knights always bring action, and kings and queens represent people: queens are the ones who get things done and kings are the planners. Then I just add the element and what that element stands for to the meanings. But any of the court cards can represent people as well as a varity of other meanings. They are (to me) the most confusing cards in the deck. This link gives a connection to that roles each of these cards would be in an actual court during that time and links that with a variety of possible meanings. I think it's oretty clever.

As for reversed cards, they are actually not that complicated. I learned it more through trial and error and bits and pieces that I read here and there. So I don't have a link. But here is the general idea:

- For the Minor Arcana, a reversed card usually means that the normal meaning is there, but somehow blocked off (by a circumstance or by the client themself) or hidden (by the client or from the client) - just in some way unseen. Sometimes it completely reverses the meaning, but that has been a very rare reading for me. Just go with whatever seems to make the most sense in the context.

- For the Major Arcana, It usually emphasizes the warning the comes with the card. For example The Fool (beginning of a journey, who knows what is ahead) becomes something to the tune of: "You are about to begin a new journey. But be careful; there may be dangers along the way." Or The Star (hope, optimism, patience) becomes: "What you are want/are waiting for will come, but is it worth the cost?" I have found that all of the cards in the Major Arcana are inherently good cards. They might not sound good, because there are certain circumstances where you simply don't want to see one. For example, if you are about to take a big step in your business, you dont want to see The Tower (destruction of all that you have built up in order to get rid of the misconceptions and build anew from a more sturdy foundation). Inherently, it is a good card - you will see more clearly and what you build upon it will stand this time. But the timing for it could not be worse. Other than timing, the cards all seem to be inherently good. But if a recovering alcoholic got the Devil card (controlling your temptaions), it could just mean that he will be in a situation where there is alcohol, and he will have to control the temptaion to drink it. Or reversed it could mean that those temptations will be very hard to deny and it will be a struggle to succeed. Neither one means that he will or won't succeed. They both mean that he can. But reversed, it implies more of a struggle. It's a warning. Again, just go by whatever seems to make the most sense at the time.

- If the reversed card represents a person, it often means that either 1) the represented person has not been quite themselves lately, or it could mean 2) the client will recognize this person by their negative traits. For example, a reversed Queen (one who gets things done) or pentacles (material gain, money, time) could be someone who is usually generous, but hasn't really been willing to share lately, or it could mean that the client will recognize this person because they are usually greedy. Again, whatever seems to make the most sense. I usually give the client the negative reading and if they don't seem to gain any recognition from that, I switch over to the other reading and see if that works better. Feel free to experiment.

**Another note that I have discovered is that pentacles can also represent time. I haven't seen time mentioned anywhere and maybe it's because I have been doing a lot of readings for college students (where time is often even more valuable than money), but pentacles in my readings have represented time at least as often as it represented anything material. So since that did confuse me for a while, I thought I'd give you a heads-up, in case that happens to you as well.

[just another fangirl]

I haven't worked with tarot cards before but I do have an oracle deck that has always given extremely relevant readings

[AveSatanas]

I had an oracle deck once that was a total prankster, though. Good times.

What's an oracle deck? Got any good stories? :)

An oracle deck is a divination/introspection tool using cards with pictures and definitions like Tarot only without the specific structure of Tarot. Tarot has a really rigid format that only varies slightly from deck to deck and generally speaking all Tarot decks have the same cards with basically the same range of meanings. An oracle deck may have any number of cards, of any meaning whatsoever, and the cards may be organised into groups or not as the author decides. An oracle deck may be themed upon fairies, angels, nature, animals,colors, crystals etc and may claim to contain messages from the spirits of these things.

I do not have any good stories for you that would make sense with out explaining the entire deck and all its workings, sorry. But I will say that deck made punny jokes with it's artwork which was whimsical in the extreme.

[Tunes]

Yeah, hearing how varied the decks can be, I imagine that any specific stories would be hard to explain. ^^ But thanks for the information.