A Little Out of the Box...

We did a little research project on alternative therapies, holistic alternatives, and new age past times, so I thought I would share a little of what I learned...

Tarot Cards

Tarot cards, a set of 78 cards used for divination, were first used in the 15th century to play card games in Europe. The first uses for divination are thought to have been in the 18th century.

Tarot cards are not meant to tell the future, but to connect you with a higher conciousness within yourself, and to assist you in answering questions that you may have about your life and the path you are now traveling. According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, "The most powerful sources of information come from within; the Tarot aids in coming in contact with one's Higher Self."

In the 78 cards, they are split into two groups, the major arcana and the minor arcana. The 22 cards that make up the major arcana are based on archetypes, such as The Fool, The Devil, The Lovers and The Moon. The minor arcana is very similar to typical playing cards, with 4 suits, swords, wands, pentacles and cups, and 14 cards in each suits.

When using tarot cards for divination, typically there is a seeker, the person asking the question, and the reader, the person reading the cards. However, there does not need to be two people to complete a reading, you can do your own tarot readings as well. The seeker will ask a question (that is not yes or no) and shuffle the cards, infusing the cards with their energy. After shuffling and cutting the deck, the reader will then place top cards in the spread, being mindful of the direction that the cards are facing, which can alter the meaning of the card a great deal.

There are a number of different spreads that can be used, ranging from the traditional celtic cross to a very simple three card spread, simply indicating past, present and future. Some spreads use all 78 cards, while others may only use the Major Arcana.  Each position in the spread has a different meaning, and how the order in which the cards are laid out is important.

 After the cards are laid out in the spread, the cards then shape the answer to your question based on the location of the card in the spread and whether it is right side up, or upside down, or "reversed". There are different views on whether reversed cards mean something different than their right side up counter-part, if it weakens the meaning of the card, or if there is no difference in the cards meaning at all. Since Tarot is all about seeking your inner knowledge, I feel that it is best left up to the reader to be the judge of how they feel about reversed cards in their spreads.

Below is an example of the Celtic Cross Spread, to show the specific meaning and order of placement in the spread.

Learning to read Tarot is something that does take a lot of time and effort, and learning what the cards mean to you. Some of the best card readers have been taught generation by generation, while some simply were simply drawn to the cards. There are even levels of certification and standardized tests to take to become a certified reader. If you are interested in learning to read the cards, or are simply drawn to the many different interpretations of the cards that are out there, Amazon is a great place to start looking for books on basic card meanings, spreads, and different decks.