Tarot reading is an art form (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
While I have been reading, creating and teaching tarot for over 25 years, that does not make me the ‘gatekeeper’ of all things tarot.
Please do not think of the below as rules, as such, but as my experience gifted to you as guidance.
Do the things below and you will get to know, like, and love your tarot cards a lot quicker than I did!
Learn from my mistakes and missteps, and you’ll be on your way to mastering the art of tarot, diving from your deck in no time.
Choose the right tarot deck
The first must-do is to love your cards visually, to pick a deck whose illustrations resonate with you (you can always buy a different guidebook, so focus on the cards themselves, and make sure the whole deck, not just the major arcana, is well illustrated).
Visuals are important in tarot because it’s a pictorial medium. You glance at the card, and you pick up its meaning. If there are minimalistic or overly repetitive illustrations, then you will find it harder to resonate with and remember the cards’ individual traits and messages.
I struggled with a certain deck for 15 years, I couldn’t get on with it but felt it was all on me. When I look back, I realise that the deck’s minor arcana was overly simplistic (just wands or coins in their appropriate number, no story-telling).
Keep spreads simple
The second rule is to keep your spreads simple, maybe even just one card for at least the first few months.
On TV, you will see tarot actors drawing dozens of cards and interpreting them without prompt or questioning. I used to get in a terrible tangle with the Celtic Cross. Too many cards, in a contrived lay out, lots of questions to answer. Ugh!
In real life, you prepare your questions first (make sure they’re singular). One question per card pulled – ideally writing your questions down so you keep your headspace clear for interpretation. I never pull any more than six cards at a time (meaning six questions), as it can quickly get overwhelming otherwise.
Keep your tarot spreads simple – especially at first (Picture: Getty Images)
Be patient
Patience with yourself is key Speed only comes with time and practice. At first, you will feel clunky, probably looking up every card and agonizing over how it answers your question.
Write stuff down, return to it, mull on it. The deeper you think, the more you’ll remember and resonate when you come to read again. In time, you will speed up, maybe not even needing your guidebook one day.
Understand that you are not just ‘making this all up’. There is a great deal of what I call mental gymnastics in tarot reading. However good a guidebook, it’s unlikely the card meanings will answer every question you could ask.
Trust your intuition
Many times, you will draw a card and be unable to figure out how it answers you question. Don’t draw another card, stick with the one you’ve got.
Be intuitive, daydream, let your mind wander to associations, feelings, memories and see what comes forth. This is all valid.
There are all sorts of rituals and customs around tarot (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Do it your way
Many, many people will advise you of certain practices or rituals you must undertake (never buying your own deck, wrapping cards in silk, not letting anyone touch the cards, using reversed meanings, tapping on the deck three times etc).
I am not denigrating anyone’s rituals or customs, but I don’t think any of them are a 100% must-do. My rule of thumb with rituals and customs is to listen to them, respect them, but apply my own ‘eye roll test’. If it makes me want to roll my eyes, then it’s not for me. If I think ‘oooh, interesting, I like that idea’ then I will give it a go!
Enjoy yourself! Have fun with this and make it your own.Maybe you create your own rituals or activities which accompany your readings – a certain candle, a Full Moon, a glass of expensive red, a new grimoire to record your readings etc.
Kerry King, the tarot queen, uses tarot and star sign wisdom to create inspiring forecasts and insights, with over 25 years fortune telling experience, and many happy clients all over the world. You can book a personal, written reading, which comes as a beautifully illustrated brochure, through Etsy or join her new Tarot Club and get weekly forecasts and more for £5 a month.
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Master the art form with these tried-and-tested rules.