Learning the Tarot can sometimes seem overwhelmingly complicated. So many cards, so many meanings, so many spreads from which to choose. Where to start? And how can you be sure the messages you are picking up are correct?
Learning the Tarot takes time, patience and a deep sense of trust that you will develop the skills necessary to give good readings for self and others. Here are some suggestions that may assist you in the process:
Select a deck you feel comfortable with. I often suggest the Robin Wood Tarot Deck and the Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck for beginners because the images on these cards lend themselves well to intuiting each card's meaning. The little instruction books that come with these decks are easy to follow and understand. For those more familiar with Tarot or wanting to delve into a powerful, spiritual approach right from the beginning, I highly recommend the Crowley-Thoth Tarot Deck. I also like the Haindl Tarot Deck, the Goddess Tarot Deck, the Native American Tarot Deck and the Medicine Cards. Recently, I've been using The Gilded Tarot with great results. (If you want to see samples of over 100 Tarot Card Decks, visit AstroAmerica and click on their Tarot section.
Set aside a few minutes daily to familiarize yourself with your deck. You may want to spend the first week with the Major Arcana cards. Review each card and do some one and three card spreads. Before you rush to the instruction manual for clarification, try to intuit what the cards are telling you. Repeat this procedure with the Minor Arcana cards and the Court Cards during the second and third weeks. By the beginning of the fourth week, you should notice an appreciable increase in your ability to interpret cards and perform simple spreads.
Keep a Tarot Log. Each morning, pull one to three cards, asking for guidance about the day's activities or conditions you should be aware of. Make notes of the messages you receive and jot them down. At the end of the day, review your notes. Are there any correlations? As the days and weeks progress, you should see great improvement in your ability to interpret the cards.
Don't be afraid to read for yourself. There are no "bad" cards. Each card contains useful and practical information that can help you identify your own strengths and weaknesses. Becoming conscious of your own inner workings is one of the greatest benefits of learning to read the Tarot. I strongly encourage you to get Angeles Arrien's book, The Tarot Handbook and Trish MacGregor and Phyllis Vega's Power Tarot. These books will help you approach the Tarot in both a spiritual and practical manner.
Blessings,
Mary Hawkins
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