Tarot cards contain 78 symbols, from which one deck of cards is formed. It is used for fortune telling, and the signs that are hidden in it are so difficult to decipher that those who tell fortunes on such cards are considered to be endowed with “secret knowledge.”
Main functions
- Divination. This map system probably dates back to the 16th century. F.M. Forlì wrote a whole book called “Fortune-Telling” (1540). It described various methods of fortune telling, as well as interpretations of possible combinations.
- A game. At least one has survived to this day, card game using Tarot. It comes from France and is designed for four people.
- The name comes from the Italian word “tarocco” - subtraction.
- The number of card sets with various symbols released to date exceeds the 10,000 mark.
- Interpretations of the cards drawn are based on the fortuneteller’s own experience and understanding, therefore, in different sources of interpretation, they can vary significantly.
- Psychologists also use Tarot. They ask the client to choose a card with which he relates himself. Thus, it becomes possible to create his psychological type.
- In the world modern technologies, Tarot fortune telling online is very popular.
- It is believed that fortune telling is effective only if the person being told the fortune shuffles the deck himself. Thus, he puts his energy into it.
- In many religions, prediction is considered unacceptable, since a person cannot control fate.
- The symbols on the cards contain otherworldly signs that are revealed only to people with a special gift. They know how to change states of consciousness and find answers to many questions, thereby changing the future.
Tarot is capable of:
- find any answers regarding relationships and partners;
- explain events happening in life;
- predict the future;
- find solutions to difficult situations.
How to choose your tarot deck?
Today, Tarot reading is still as relevant as it was many centuries ago. Many people want to learn this themselves. For them, the first, and perhaps the most important, step is right choice kart. Experts advise you to start with theory - familiarize yourself with the history of the Tarot and study the relevant literature.
It is best to purchase cards for fortune telling in esoteric stores. As a rule, they have a large selection, and you can truly find your own deck. Tarot readers recommend holding it in your hands and listening to the sensations; they should only be positive. Feel free to trust your inner voice, this is extremely important for Tarot.
Don’t forget, Tarot cards are not just pictures on paper, they can open up new ways of understanding yourself and the world. So take them seriously.
Traditionally, we associate Tarot with fortune telling, occultism, astrology and even alchemy... The Tarot deck includes 78 various cards, each of which has a specific interpretation assigned to it. Therefore, Tarot fortune telling is associated with “secret knowledge”, because this art is very mysterious
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Tarot is the most widely used divination system in the world. The tarot card deck is sometimes even called the Gypsy Book of Fortunes. Tarot has been used for many thousands of years to reveal hidden truths and predict the future of the fortuneteller.
Some psychologists even use tarot to understand how the client imagines himself from the outside, how he sees himself. To do this, the psychologist asks to choose a card with which the client associates himself, and then draws conclusions based on the interpretation.
Very few facts are still known about the origin of the Tarot. Some researchers claim that the Tarot appeared in the 11th century, but the most convincing hypothesis suggests that the Tarot was discovered in the 15th century in Italy - the Fool and 4 Queens of each suit were added to the usual deck of 21 cards. This is what gave rise to the modern 78-card Tarot deck.
The traditional 78 deck consists of many symbolic pictures. Typically a deck consists of 22 cards called the Major Arcana and four sets of 14 cards each, similar to playing cards. They are called the minor arcana. The word Arkan literally means “secret” or “mystery”.
On this moment More than thousands of decks have been released, symbolizing different images - from sports stars to voodoo. But the Raider-White deck remains the most famous and popular. Although, many people buy a deck of cards, the images on which and the style of their execution are in harmony with their own nature.
There are as many opinions as there are people, so different interpreters interpret the cards in different ways, and everyone adds their own opinion to the interpretation, based on experience and understanding of the symbolism. Many tarot readers lay out cards in special combinations - layouts. The most famous and common is the 10-card layout - the Celtic Cross. In this scenario, the fortuneteller sees a detailed, symbolic representation of the client’s problem. The tarot reader sees what provoked this situation and how it will most likely be resolved in the future.
The mechanism of the Tarot still remains a mystery. Some experts believe that when shuffling cards, the fortuneteller receives a kind of psychological picture your client and his situation. The layout of the cards itself marks the many available ways to solve the client’s problem. When the client sees several solutions to his problem, he himself chooses the one most suitable for his circumstances. If this theory is correct, then the future is not something “carved in stone”, and people are the masters of their own destiny.
Because many people mistakenly associate tarot cards with fortune telling, some religious movements oppose their use. Society often rejects predictions based on traditional teachings or religious beliefs in which man has no control over his destiny, but is subject to the will of God or several gods. In general, people have polar opinions on completely different things and theses, so it is not surprising that some have prejudices against the Tarot.
IN modern world Too many people use tarot cards as a simple and relatively safe form of entertainment. Followers of the growing New Age movement go further and use the Tarot to contact their “Inner Spirit”, the Self. They believe that reading Tarot cards can direct their thoughts in the right direction and help them achieve harmony with the Universe. For others, it may be a spiritual practice to which they are truly committed and which ends up becoming an integral part of their life's journey.
1. Tarot is the most common divination system in the world. These cards are sometimes called the “Gypsy Book of Fortunes.” They have been used for thousands of years to reveal hidden truths and predict the future of the person reading the cards.
2. Some psychologists use Tarot to understand how their client views themselves. To do this, they ask him to choose a card with which He or She identifies.
3. The origins of the Tarot are shrouded in mystery and it is impossible to say with certainty where they came from. Some argue that they could have come to us from the 11th century. But the most plausible hypothesis is that the Tarot was discovered in 15th century Italy by adding the Fool and 4 Queens of each suit to a regular 21-card deck. This was the impetus for the development of the modern 78-card deck.
4. The traditional 78 deck consists of many symbolic pictures. Typically a deck consists of 22 cards, called the Major Arcana, and four sets of 14 cards each, similar to playing cards. They are called the minor arcana. The word Arkan literally means “mystery” or “secret”.
5. More than thousands of decks have been released containing various symbols - from sports stars to voodoo. But the most common deck remains the Raider-White deck. Although, many people buy a deck of cards, the images on which and the style of their execution are in harmony with their own nature.
6. Different interpreters interpret the cards in their own way, and each adds their own opinion based on the experience of interpretation and understanding of the symbolism. Many tarot readers arrange cards in special combinations called spreads. The traditional 10 card layout is called the “Celtic Cross”. In this scenario, the fortuneteller sees a detailed, symbolic representation of the client’s problem. The tarot reader sees what provoked this situation and how it will most likely be resolved in the future.
7. Nobody knows how the Tarot works. Some experts argue that when the cards are shuffled, the fortuneteller receives a kind of “psychological portrait” of his client’s situation. Then, laying out the cards, he identifies the many ways in which the client can solve his problem. When a client sees multiple ways to solve a problem, he chooses the one that best suits his circumstances. If this theory is correct, then the future is not something “carved in stone”, and people are the masters of their own destiny.
8. Because of Tarot cards' association with fortune telling, some religious movements oppose the use of Tarot. Society often rejects predictions based on traditional teachings or religious beliefs in which man has no control over his destiny, but is subject to the will of God or the Divines. However, as with any controversy regarding lifestyle or religious preference, many people can be found on both sides of the fence, supporting or condemning the use of tarot cards.
Safety precautions when working with Tarot cards
There are many types and techniques of magical protection when working with Tarot cards, ranging from the use of simple things, such as candles, to complex rituals. I will tell you about the simple and most common methods that I mostly use myself.
Firstly, before and after the session you need to wash your hands under running water, and in difficult cases it would be nice to take a shower if possible. In this way, we wash away all other people’s information and energy. The use of candles is similar to this. All alien energy and negativity burns in their fire. You can use church candles, or you can choose candles of a certain color depending on the topic of the issue you are considering. For example, red candles - passion, pink - pure and true love, green - health, brown - finances, etc. If you are interested, you can easily find more detailed information on the Internet. Personally, I use church candles; they burn during the entire fortune telling process, and I cleanse my hands over their fire. Often I also wash my hands under running water.
Secondly, it is used to protect incense. They can be in the form of sticks, cones, or aromatic oils that are dripped into the aroma lamp. It is for protection that it is good to use such incense: jasmine, lemon balm, almond, sage, cloves, rose, rosemary, juniper, lemon, incense. For myself, I use incense.
Thirdly, semi-precious stones such as obsidian, black tourmaline (sherl), hematite and others are used for protection. As a rule, these are black or dark stones that protect the owner from energy attack, negative impact through magic. For protection, they wear rings, bracelets, pendants, or simply wear or place the stone on the table by itself. Now there are beautiful icons painted on obsidian with gold paint that can be placed on a table or worn as a pendant. It seems to me that this would be a good choice for protection.
Fourthly, they use special security amulets.
And fifthly, it is closing the information channel between you and your client so that you do not take on his problems. The easiest way to do this is to receive payment from him in money, some things, or services. In a word, a person must give you at least something in return.
General rules for working with Tarot cards
When working with cards, you should adhere to the following rules:
1. Practice is very important for a tarot reader; try to work with cards, if not every day, then regularly. BUT. If you begin to experience various unpleasant sensations at the same time, or you are no longer drawn to cards, then this means that you need rest. Put the deck aside for a while, give both it and yourself a rest. Do not engage in either the theory or practice of the Tarot. How long it will take you to recover is purely individual. I had a period when I didn’t pick up cards for about two months. A few days may be enough for you.
2. Don't work with people you don't like. You will spend more energy than usual, but whether you can read the information correctly is in question.
3. And treat the people you work with with understanding. After all, often (judging from my own experience) you have to act not only as a tarot reader, but also as a psychologist: listen to a person, try to understand his situation, and, if possible, give advice (here I mean in addition to the layout). And, of course, the information you receive must be strictly confidential.
4. Do not start making a layout if there are strangers in the room.
5. Do not cross your legs and arms during fortune telling, this prevents energy from flowing freely.
6. As you practice and increase your experience, do not begin to feel omnipotent and omniscient. You will never become God)).
7. Calculate your strength, how many layouts per day you can do. Usually about three full-fledged layouts per day are enough. Otherwise, you will feel like a squeezed lemon later. And do not rush, so that the quality of your work does not suffer.
8. My advice to you is not to spread too much information about what you do among your friends and acquaintances. Otherwise, more than half of them will want you to tell fortunes for them, you will be faced with the question of whether to take payment from them or not, and if you take it, how much, and they are unlikely to take your fortune-telling and recommendations seriously. And if suddenly there is an unfavorable forecast that comes true, then they may also be offended by you, they will say that it is your fault, you prophesied. Therefore, think about who to tell about your activity.
9. You should not often present a person with the same situation. It happens that you make a layout for a person, the result is not what he wanted, and literally a few days later he asks to make another layout on the same question, then another one... You shouldn’t do this, unless some global changes have occurred , otherwise you can only worsen the situation with your constant interference. Allow at least about a month.
10. Also, if you get an answer that you don’t like, you don’t need to do the same layout again in the hope of getting the answer that you would like to hear. It’s better to ask the cards how you can improve and correct the situation.
11. And finally, a piece of advice - respect your cards, then they will respect you too. After work, many people close the deck with the Sun, Ace of Pentacles, or another card that is more suitable in your opinion. Store them in a specially designated place. Let them rest periodically, having previously folded them in a certain order. If they are worn out from age, then they are not thrown away, but burned, like other mantic tools. Decide for yourself whether to give cards to strangers. There are different approaches here. Personally, I don’t give it to anyone, not even my husband and son, because I believe that only my energy should know the cards.
When not to pick up cards
1. If you feel bad, or if you are overwhelmed with negative or positive emotions. For example, you quarreled with someone or, on the contrary, you were very happy about something. Your emotions will not allow you to focus on the person for whom you are making the alignment; the information may be distorted, or you may read the alignment incorrectly.
2. No alcohol before or during readings!
3. Fortune telling during critical periods is not recommended lunar days and days of seduction. These are 9, 15, 19, 23, 26 and 29 lunar day. It is also not recommended to guess during lunar and solar eclipses.
4. Many people do not tell fortunes on major Christian holidays.
5. Different sources also provide different information regarding the time of day or days of the week when you should not lay out cards, but I believe that these are personal preferences and concerns. Therefore, whether you should guess on Sundays, Mondays, at night or in foggy weather - decide for yourself, listen to your feelings.
6. And I would add advice here - do not pick up cards for the entertainment of a group of curious friends and acquaintances, just to pass the time. Firstly, you must be with the person you are doing the reading to, one on one, in order to tune in to him. Otherwise, it will no longer be a serious approach. And secondly, respect yourself, your cards and the profession of tarot reader.
My view on the ethics of working with Tarot
1. Confidentiality.
I believe that it is impossible to disclose what a client says or writes to me without his permission. Here, like the secret of confession or medical confidentiality, the situation is similar. I think everyone will agree with this.
2. Honesty.
I interpret the cards to the fullest extent of my capabilities and honestly admit that if I doubt any interpretation, I write that I am not sure about it. I describe the layout without trying to embellish it, even if I know in advance that the person will not like it very much. I answer the questions that were asked to me, I don’t get involved in other questions. I can only suggest that additional points be considered - but only with the client’s consent. Perhaps the person does not want to know the truth on this topic.
3. Don't judge people.
I always try to look at a situation with empathy and without judging the person.
4. Framework of competence.
I will not give advice in areas in which I am not competent. For example, if a person needs medical or legal advice, and I am neither a doctor nor a lawyer, then I will not give any advice other than contacting the appropriate specialist.
5. Responsibility.
I will not tell a person categorically what he should do and what he should not do. My goal, as a tarot reader, is to see which course of action would be best, to describe possible options and let a person decide for himself, choose which path he will take.
6. Support.
If necessary, if the future appears completely different from what a person would like to see, I explain that the Tarot shows the most likely development of events, that the future can be changed and how to do it. I try to get a person to decide to make some changes in his life that can lead him to success in this matter. I also try, if necessary, to support the person, to say that everything will work out, everything will be fine.
7. Curiosity.
I don’t look at questions like “What is such and such a person doing, thinking,” asked out of curiosity. Only if it is really important to consider the current situation (let's say a wife asks how her husband feels about his mistress). This point, in principle, could be attributed to Confidentiality.
These are, perhaps, all the main points that I wanted to say.
History of Tarot cards, myths and historical truth
Listen or download The History of Tarot Cards for free on ProstoPlayer
Choosing a Tarot deck, storing it and starting to work with cards
Exercises to develop a sense of cards
Listen to or download Development Exercises for free on ProstoPlayer
Are Tarot Cards Magic?
Tarot cards are not inherently magical, but by using them you may notice miraculous changes happening in your life. This happens because maps allow you to see what is happening in a new light - from the point of view of an outside observer, rather than a participant. An outside perspective helps to objectively assess the situation.
Some people actually use cards for magical purposes. Tarot cards will not only help you express previously unspoken dreams, desires and aspirations, but also help you understand your fears and hopes, and describe the way of life you would like to lead. You can even experiment with different events and their possible outcomes.
Tarot cards are also compatible with several esoteric teachings, such as Kabbalah and astrology, which are often considered magical due to the fact that they were kept secret.
Although the cards may seem mystical, you should not treat them as something more sacred or important than yourself. They are an extension of your understanding and analytical skills - nothing more and nothing less.
Do Tarot Cards Represent the Forces of Evil?
No. Tarot cards are just pieces of paper. They dont have internal forces- neither good nor bad. It's just a tool, but like any tool it can be used for a wide range of purposes.
It is no secret that Tarot cards have been used by fortune tellers with a guilty conscience to scare and confuse people. Unfortunately, this means that when you start reading tarot cards for friends or family members, you may have problems with how they perceive you. You may also have to defend yourself from all sorts of “well-wishers” who will experience religious fear for your immortal soul.
Many people, especially those raised in Christian traditions, truly believe that Tarot cards are a manifestation of evil. They had heard that the Bible prohibited their use. Some even claim that Tarot cards are used by Satanists.
In fact, many modern decks use a large number of religious images and symbols, such as angels, priests, crucifixes, priests. And none of the decks use designs designed for evil purposes. Tarot is not mentioned in the Bible because these cards were invented much later than its writing.
Can using the Tarot open you up to the influence of evil forces?
Some church leaders believe that predicting the future encourages the acquisition of information and knowledge that is closed or forbidden because it comes from supernatural forces such as angels, demons and the dead. They also believe that fortune telling is an activity in which God does not protect us, but opens the way for evil spirits and demons who want to deceive and lead gullible people astray, and even physically inhabit them in order to create evil in the material world.
However, many people who practice divination lead highly spiritual lifestyles. They believe that they work with God's permission, and they pray, asking for guidance and protection from evil in life and in Tarot readings.
Some critics also believe that divination diverts the attention of fortune tellers from God and forces them to trust in inanimate objects. Here they are somewhat right. The desire to consult Tarot cards even on the smallest everyday problems can become a great temptation. In the most difficult cases, a passion for Tarot can become mania and obsession. However, there is a huge difference between drawing a single card from a deck in the morning to better set yourself up for the day ahead, and laying out a full Celtic Cross to see if it's worth going to the supermarket today.
So, to summarize, we can say that if you use the cards consciously, with good intentions, and do not make arrangements for any trifle, you will definitely get good results.
Solitaire on Tarot cards “Wish spread”
This solitaire game has been around for many years; it was played in the courts of the French and Italian nobility. Having played the first part of the solitaire game, you will find out the answer to the question of whether the wish you made before starting fortune telling will come true. And with the help of the second part, you will get answers to the questions of how the desire will come true or why it will not come true.
Part one "Revelation"
Take a Tarot deck, remove the Major Arcana from it, make a wish, shuffle the cards and place them in 4 identical piles face down. Reveal the top cards in each pile. If two cards with the same value are drawn (for example, 10 and 10, Queen and Queen), then remove these two cards and put them aside. In place of these removed cards, open those that lie under them, and again see if out of the 4 open cards there are two with the same value. Further according to the same scheme. If all your cards come together, the answer is “Yes,” if they don’t match, the answer is “No.”
Part two "Collaboration"
Collect all the cards that were used for solitaire, mix them, remove them and lay them out one at a time in 4 rows, while saying: “Ace, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Page, Knight, Queen, King." And again the next row: “Ace, deuce, etc.” Put the cards that match the face value of the ones you spoke to the side and consider their meaning. They will give you an answer to the question of what will help if you receive the answer “Yes”, or what will hinder you if you receive the answer “No”.
Numerology and Tarot cards
Let's look at how numerology and Tarot cards are related.
One is the number from which counting begins, so it symbolizes beginnings, the beginning of something new, the root of a plant. It represents unity, as in the saying “One for all, all for one.” But one is also a single number, so it refers to the personality and the ego.
Two symbolizes polarity, well, for example, heat and cold, inside and outside, above and below, yes and no. As a result of such polarities, we have choices, so the number two is also associated with decisions. Two teams or armies can come into conflict, which gives another meaning to this number. Two can also represent balance if we visualize scales. She can communicate the resolution of the conflict.
When two things come together, their union creates something new, a third entity. For example, two people can join together to create a union and a child if it is a sexual union.
When two colors are mixed, a new color is created. Therefore, the three represents creation, integration and reproduction. By connecting your intentions with action, progress will occur, this implies that the number 3 symbolizes growth and expansion.
If you think about what a four represents, the following associations may ripen in your mind: 4 cardinal directions, seasons, corners in an ordinary room, legs of a table or chair. This implies that four is the number of structure, stability and boundaries. Since these properties can provide a chance to rest and strengthen the growth that the number three symbolizes, four can relate to rest, recuperation and unity.
The inherent risk in structure and stability that the number four symbolizes is being depleted and impoverished in its in the usual form, when the number five appears, representing changes and conflicts that destroy comfort, etc. Five reports crisis and struggle, but here you need to remember that it is, after all, the most human: a person has five fingers, five senses and five extreme points (one head, two arms and two legs). In fact, our life is a certain challenge thrown by heaven, and we either overcome it or become victims of it, whatever the specific case may be. Therefore, the number five represents a difficult life lesson and an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience. Ironically, since the fifth element is the element of spirit, five is also the number associated with the soul. Therefore, this number symbolizes spiritual work, which becomes possible through the means of physical expression.
After the destruction represented by the number five, a new balance is simply needed. So, the six indicates the choice that we make in search of such a restructuring. But this choice is not just the “this one” that the number two symbolizes. Rather, it is a difficult choice necessary to resolve the outcome of the struggle that the number five symbolizes. The changes we make are often the result of relationships with our environment or with the people around us. We find understanding, peace and harmony when a new balance arises.
However, the number six is still far from completing the number sequence. The eternal ebb and flow of life represents a new test of what we have learned from the number of chaos - five, and in the process of balancing in this chaos, as shown by the number six. While the challenge of the number five can be called life's homework, the number six represents mid-semester exams and seven represents final exams. This is a test of how we will either show our level of skill and thereby win, or we will have to reconsider what we have covered and how much remains to go.
The number eight follows the test exam given by the number seven and is therefore associated with rebirth, progress and moving forward. Another way to understand this number begins by thinking about how the film's frames change dramatically as the climax approaches. Eight, the second from the end of a series of single-digit numbers, symbolizes an accelerated transfer to the course ahead, on the way to final exams. Therefore, this number is dedicated to movement, strength and power, or the need for all these things.
Nine, the last single digit number, symbolizes the end of a cycle, the completion of a task or project (positive or negative). This is the culmination of the final exams. The frantic activity of the number eight brought about the completion of the sequence symbolized by the number nine.
So what comes after completion? Ten is the result of this completion, that is, its epilogue. Ten is reduced to one when we add it (1+0=1), so it indicates the beginning of a new cycle, rebirth. Moreover, being the transcendental version of the one, signifying the individual entity, the ten represents the community, the collective entity. On the other hand, following the completion that the number nine shows, ten can mean a long journey. It then indicates the use of excessive force against the straw.
Any number greater than ten can be interpreted using a contraction. Reduction is the process of adding numbers to get a new number. So, for example, 19 is reduced to 10 (1+9=10), which can be further reduced to 1 (1+0=1).
We have looked at all the numbers except the number zero. This number is compatible with only one card in the Tarot deck - the Fool. This number is never taken into account in calculations, and in some ancient cultures it is not even taken into account due to the lack of the very concept of zero. In the same way, hundreds of years ago, the Jester did not belong to the trump cards (Major Arcana) at all; he was, as it were, outside the game.
Zero means nothing, emptiness, yearning to manifest. Just as many creation myths begin with a vast cosmic void, zero symbolizes the unlimited potential of creative energy. The symbol of this number, 0, represents an eternal circle with no beginning or end. Therefore, many people consider the Jester card, which corresponds to 0, as representing divine potential.
The above discussions about numerological meanings can shed light on the number cards of the Tarot, but what about the Court cards, which are not assigned any numerical value?
If we consider them as an extension of the sequence from Ace to Ten, then the Page can be assigned the value 11, the Knight 12, the Queen 13, and the King 14. These two-digit numbers can be interpreted by abbreviation.
Main keywords and phrases for all Tarot suits
Wands
Key words: work and social activity, growth, energy, will, passion, desire, enthusiasm, inspiration.
Fire element: action, enthusiasm, courage, zeal, passion, enterprise.
Zodiac signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.
Cups
Key words: love and emotions, sensitivity, subconscious, imagination, vision, feelings, relationships.
Water element: emotions, intuition, subconscious, memories, birth, marriage.
Zodiac signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.
Swords
Key words: problems and troubles, mental activity, thought, intelligence, logic, reflection, analysis, decision, action, conflict, inconstancy, communication.
Air element: mental state, discrimination, struggle, adaptation.
Zodiac signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.
Pentacles
Key words: money and health, earthly, earthly, strength, resources, wealth, commerce, labor, prosperity, security, value, generosity, body, material possession.
Earth element: stability, reliability, solidity, material possessions, health issues.
Zodiac signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn.
Major Arcana
Key words: Spirituality, soul, morality, ethics, religion, philosophy, karma, archetypes, stages of life.
The relationship of the elements with the suits of Tarot cards
Now let's turn to the relationship between the elements and the Tarot suits. Many centuries ago, scientists came to the conclusion that the world consists of four elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. This ancient concept is still useful in philosophical and metaphysical senses, and the characteristics attributed to each of the four elements can by extension be associated with the four suits of the Tarot. So:
Wands - Fire
Cups - Water
Swords - Air
Pentacles - Earth.
This scheme is widespread. This is what is used in the almost universally used Waite deck and many decks based on it.
Let us now examine the characteristics of each suit in relation to the elements. Some of the meanings assigned to suits are intuitively understood through the suit's emblem and its associations with the element, while others, which may seem less obvious, are due to tradition and general customs.
Wands carved from wood are associated with Fire. They represent growth and energy. As an aspect of our being, this suit corresponds to the flame of life that burns within everyone. Therefore, it is associated with will, passion and libido. As an aspect or projection of our aspirations, the suit of Wands corresponds to the spark of desire and inspiration that ignites it into blazing enthusiasm.
Cups are a kind of storage, this suit is associated with Water, which flows, feeds and refreshes. In addition, the surface of the water can reflect like a mirror. On the other hand, the depths of the ocean are bottomless and endless. Therefore, this suit is associated with depth, with the subconscious, ever-flowing stream of feelings that ascend to these depths and go there. As an aspect of our being, Cups correspond to emotions, relationships and our imagination. As an aspect or projection of aspiration, the suit of Cups refers to the emotional response to the initial idea or impulse for an enterprise, it relates to the vision of that aspiration. Notice that it is the vision that begins to give shape to the project, just as a cup gives shape to the liquid poured into it.
A sword with its sharpened edge can be either a weapon or a useful tool. This suit corresponds to the element Air. A person's mind can be sharp, it can be both a weapon and a tool, depending on how it is used. This suit is usually associated with intelligence, logic, reasoning and communication. Considering the ways in which the sword is used, it can be seen that this suit is also associated with action, conflict and cruelty. The airy aspect of the Swords suit gives birth to the mind about impermanence and dangerous situations, on the one hand, and about clarity of thought, on the other. Thus, as an aspect of our being, this suit corresponds to thoughts, prejudices and concepts. As a project of aspiration, it is associated with analysis, decision-making, planning and the call to action from which the enterprise's intention flows.
Pentacles, as they are most often depicted in tarot decks, are coins that bring wealth and success in commerce. This suit corresponds to the element Earth. It relates to the earthly and mundane, to bodily and material resources, to money and prosperity. Associated with security, values, dignity, as well as generosity and mercy. As an aspect of our being, it corresponds to strength, health and the physical body. In addition, there is a deeply spiritual aspect to the suit of Pentacles. Simple work can be deeply contemplative, even an object of faith, and it is through the act of charity and generosity towards others that we come closer to our spirituality.
Finally, the Major Arcana cards, which can be considered the fifth suit of the deck, represent the quintessence of the soul. These cards are associated with morality, spirituality and themes of philosophical understanding of life. They are associated with human karma, with the main milestones and archetypes that appear in our lives.
Court Cards or Figure Tarot Cards that represent another person
Face cards are difficult to study and understand for a tarot beginner. The Major Arcana reveals the amazing energy of the archetypes that evokes a visceral reaction, and the Minor Arcana number cards reveal the daily lessons we live. Figure cards reflect psychological nuances that are difficult for a beginner to understand.
Let's look at the different meanings of the Face Cards, relating them to their respective suit.
There are two ways to interpret the Court cards - this is to consider each of them as real people in the life of the Questioner or as attributes of the Questioner. If you view a Face Card as another person, the suit it matches can shed light on the character of the person it represents. this map. You must decide for yourself what the card means in this case.
Wands indicate people with a fiery temperament and passionate character. Cups indicate emotional and sensual people. Swords can represent a person who is indifferent, analytical or emotionally unresponsive, while Pentacles represent practical people who have their feet on the ground. In another aspect of the interpretation, the four elements are associated with the four inclinations, which, as medieval psychology believed, determine the state of health and temperament of a person. In this case, the Wands represent choleric people, Cups - sanguine people, Swords - melancholic people, and Pentacles - phlegmatic people.
The dignity of each Face Card plays an important role in interpretation. Pages, for example, are children and teenagers, or very young boys and girls. Knights are middle-aged men. Kings are mature men. Queens are women. The Page of Wands, for example, may be a stubborn and disobedient child, prone to temper tantrums. In another aspect of the interpretation, the Page card can symbolize a person younger than the Questioner, the Knight can represent his peer, and the King or Queen can represent a man or woman, respectively, older than the Questioner. For example, if the question of fortune telling concerns professional activity Querent, the Page may be a subordinate of the Querent, a Knight may be a colleague or equal in office, and a King or Queen may represent persons occupying a higher position.
The Page can represent a person who assists the Querant or brings a message, the Knight is a person who helps the Querant research something, the Queen is a person who supports and trains the Querant, and the King is an authority figure who instructs and helps the Querent.
The suit to which the Face Card corresponds determines the area in which that character influences the life of the Questioner.
For example, if one attributes desire and enthusiasm to the Wands, the King of Wands may represent a person helping the Querent to satisfy some desire. If you associate Cups with love relationships, the Queen of Cups can represent a woman trying to support love relationship. Swords mean thoughts and ideas, which means the Knight of Swords can symbolize a person exploring the hypotheses of the Questioner. Pentacles relate to work, and the Page of Pentacles can represent the person helping the Querent learn the skills needed to do the job.
As an alternative to using Figure Cards to shed light on someone's personality, they can be used to indicate a person's physical characteristics. One way to attribute physical characteristics to the four suits is that Wands represent people with red-brown hair or rosy cheeks, Cups represent blondes, Swords represent people with brown hair and olive complexions, and Pentacles represent people with dark hair and dark complexions. face. And again, the value of the Face Cards can indicate the age of a person.
However, there are several options for associative connections, so if you adhere to another way of identifying Face Cards with a person's appearance, of course, use it.
We have looked at Figure cards that personify not the Questioner himself, but another person. But any Court Card can also represent aspects, roles and characteristics of the Querant himself. Let's look at this in the next article.
Court Cards or Figure Tarot Cards Representing the Apostle
Most easy way to understand what features of the Questioner the Face Card represents is to consider it as a degree of maturity or level of dedication, associating it with the suit to which it corresponds.
So, the Page may indicate that the Questioner is studying or just starting something. Therefore, it can represent the search, the learning of something, the luck of a beginner, or the sense of awe and wonder of a new initiate.
The Knight, who is no longer an immature Page but has not yet attained the maturity of a Queen or King, is the most fickle of all the Court Cards. He has seen and known enough to be confident, but more often than not, he is cocky and self-confident. The Knight in the reading may indicate that the Questioner is not afraid to push forward and explore something, even if the consequences are negative. But if the Questioner has a better character than the Knight, he will rise after falling, learn from his own mistakes and grow.
The Queen hints that the Questioner has matured and acquired skill, she knows what she is doing. She improves her skills and begins to approach them creatively. As the Queen, she tries to be friendly, educated, expressive, and build relationships with others.
The King can indicate that the Questioner has become a specialist or a powerful person in the space governed by the suit of the card. Kings can also command, direct and control. While the Queen tends to be more involved in interpersonal relationships, the King is more inclined towards civic duty and social responsibility.
When the Court Card is used to describe the Querant (rather than other people in their life), its value does not indicate the Querant's age. Sometimes a youth can act with the maturity of a Queen or King, while older people can be immature like a Page. An octogenarian man may become interested in a new hobby and show an abundance of enthusiasm, like the Page of Wands, or a girl may take care of a younger brother or sister, like the Queen of Pentacles. Likewise, neither gender is limited to cards of a certain value.
A man can act as a caregiver, like a Queen, and a woman can take on the responsible position and leadership role of a King.
We've looked at several ways to understand the 16 Court cards. You are free to choose from these paths the one that suits you best, although you may use different paths for different readings, depending on the circumstances. You need to clearly decide for yourself what the value of each Court Card and the suit it corresponds to mean to you.
One final note about using Court Cards. It must be remembered that no one can be exhaustively characterized by any one card. Each of us is a fabric woven from the threads of all 16 Court Cards, although for some of us one thread is more characteristic than another. In readings, the Court Card can indicate the role that the Questioner (or someone else in his life) plays in a given circumstance, an aspect of his personality that needs to be explored, or a recommendation regarding characteristic feature, which he needs to develop in order to solve the problem facing him. For example, the Queen of Cups may indicate that the Questioner can straighten out a troubled relationship with loving support and understanding. Or the Knight of Wands may say that the Questioner is too impulsive and is now risking a lot.
In short, remember that the Court Map cannot capture the entire richness of the human soul. Rather, it points to something related to that person, and all the cards in the spread must be taken into account.
Once again about numerology
Aces. The first cards of each suit represent the starting point, beginning and springboard. They symbolize creativity, a new beginning and the time to take action. In them you can see the beginning of incarnation, something is ripening and emerging.
All Aces strive to implement plans and projects, and symbolize their implementation. The Ace is visible in every life principle: in grain, in an egg, in the embryo of a person or animal. Without it there is no development and action. Thanks to him, the birth of something new is possible, because he is responsible for the appearance of both a living being and an idea and plan...
Two is plus and minus, unity and the struggle of two opposites, yang and yin. Twos give the Questioner the opportunity to restore harmony and resolve conflicts. Two are either irreconcilable antitheses, or a union of two complementary principles. This number is very significant in love and manifests itself in dual ways. It can signify connections and indicate upcoming choices.
In the three, yin and yang are balanced through den. At the level of the troika, the contradiction has been removed, it is harmonized, stable and tough. It is the number of creativity, growth, action, energy and enthusiasm. The troika requires a special set of conditions for its existence, at the level human relations the troika is symbolized either by the triad mother - father - child, or by the notorious " love triangles". With this number, the Questioner can enjoy what has been achieved through the relationships begun in the Two. The Three represents creation, integration and reproduction, it implies the connection of one's intentions with action, thereby moving forward.
Four is the number of stability, keeping matter from decay within the framework of form. The number 4 is a purely earthly number, it is the world of geometric shapes. Its appearance is interpreted differently, depending on the situation in which the Questioner finds himself. This number of earth, matter, elements, can become an obstacle between us and our desires and deepest aspirations. Four is a strong, reliable, organized, but completely passive number, it is not capable of action.
Five symbolizes risk, an attempt to go beyond limits, instability, unpredictability, change. The appearance of cards with this number may indicate loss, insolence, and the search for creative thought. Five portends difficulties, acute moments, critical situations, difficult transitions. This number is never passive and calm, it is tense, full of rage and brute force.
Sixes show the happy completion of the restructuring begun by the five. It is the number of harmony, balance and mastery. It is associated with love for family and home and means success, the reign of reliability and stability. The image of the six is a masterpiece in anything, it is a triumph of technology, it is brought to perfection and completeness. Its appearance portends comfort, positive emotions and events.
Seven symbolizes the unity of earth and sky. It includes the earthly and heavenly triads. Seven is the number of wisdom, perfect harmony, philosophy, spirituality and psychic abilities. In the seven there is always something mysterious, unreal, not of this world.
Seven is a material creation, the end of a cycle or the completion of a phase, associated with time. Yet Seven is unsettling because it implies the idea of moving from the known to the unknown. In the Tarot, this number invites you to join the fight, hints that the time has come for choice and decision-making.
Eight is a symbol of death and rebirth, endless changes in the karmic chain. It is also a purification that is achieved through love and true devotion to another person or a beloved idea. The number eight is associated with progress and moving forward. It means material success, prosperity - in the everyday and spiritual spheres - and a combination of opposites. The Eight also concerns power, justice and discipline in our daily lives, in everything that concerns the laws that govern society and each of us. It may indicate a revolution in life in the personal, professional or spiritual sphere...
Nine carries love for the world around us and for people, mercy, deeply conscious humanism, brotherhood and understanding of others. Nine is expansion, gaining benefits for oneself. Appearing in a reading, a card with this number shows that a person is satisfied with his life and strives to move forward. A person who lives in harmony with the vibrations of nine knows how to feel the needs of others very well, and the whole world becomes the sphere of his work and activity.
Ten opens the door to a new level. It points upward and symbolizes success and prosperity. Ten gives the ability to implement projects without putting them off, it gives energy for active action and ensures the fulfillment of desires. Ten symbolizes an unstoppable desire for a goal, as well as security and home. It signals the wisdom we gain as we move through life's stages.
And about the figured cards.
Pages can represent both male and female persons. Age up to 21 years, maximum up to 25 years. May mean news as well as problems related to children. In the Tarot, the Page is a character who submits and serves. It can represent a child or teenager, an employee, and sometimes an animal.
Knights do not know fear, they show heroism. In a reading, these cards can personify a person and represent an event. They hint at movement, activity, ardor, passion, creative energy. A dropped Knight can indicate that a new person or even something new.
Queens are endowed with all the riches of femininity. They have more charm than common sense, they are the embodiment of female success. The Queen can represent the women in the Querant's life. These cards may reflect one of the traits of the Questioner, which is important at the time of fortune telling. The queen can equally symbolize both majestic and brilliant power and empty and vain seduction.
Kings represent the men who appear in the life of the Questioner. The king represents the image of a father, an authoritative man, wisdom and life experience.
Magic, what is it?
For most people on the planet, magic is either something from the world of fairy tales, or something evil and associated with witchcraft.
Let's try to figure out what magic really is. Magic has existed since ancient times and under different names. It was religion, alchemy, and Kabbalah. But in all these directions there is one meaning. Magic is fundamentally the study of the laws of the universe and understanding the interconnection of everything in this world. Yes, magic can work miracles, but in fact these are not miracles, but just the correct manipulation of the forces of nature. These are the same miracles as water boiling from fire and water hardening from cold. Magicians, alchemists, and clergy are, first of all, researchers who study the laws of nature from the texts of their ancestors and from their own experiences, just like scientists of any other branch of science. The only difference from other sciences is lack of recognition, but it is worth recalling that almost all current sciences have suffered this fate, each in its time.
Nowadays, interest in the paranormal and esotericism is developing very strongly, in addition to spiritual development to improve the standard of living. One of the books for this is “Reality Transurfing” by Zeland. He combined all the teachings about the power of thought, the materialization of what he wants, that man is the creator of his own happiness and that everyone in the world has their own corner and their own universe, into one large work, and explained everything in a more intelligible language.
It follows that magic is nothing more than an as yet unrecognized science about our world and its powers. Although it is worth saying that official science, as technology develops, proves the existence different forces and energies that healers spoke about several thousand years ago. A materialist should perceive this as a real thing, but it is impossible to touch either microbes or the magnetic field, but this does not deny their existence.
Study yourself and the world in which you live, and you can understand how to live well and healthy.
The book by Anna Parvati, a professional psychologist and tarot reader, presents a description of the Tarot system in the key of modern psychology. Now a visit to a psychologist can be replaced by a Tarot deck! The cards will help you build harmonious relationships, find love, achieve financial well-being, open the path to personal growth. You will become familiar with basic information about the Tarot and the myths that surround this area of knowledge. Together with the author, you will understand the structure of the esoteric pyramid of human development - from personal to spiritual. You will learn how you can combine working with the deck and self-improvement, because each card carries a special message that a person can use to his advantage. Thus, in the Major Arcana of the Tarot, a person’s life mission is “written down,” and the Minor Arcana contains the necessary information for the comprehensive development of the individual. You can also master the art of meditating on Tarot cards. For a wide range of readers.
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The given introductory fragment of the book In the language of Tarot cards. Psychological notes of a tarot reader (Anna Parvati, 2016) provided by our book partner - the company liters.
Basic information about Tarot cards
What are Tarot cards?
Tarot cards – famous in modern Western world prediction tool. But for the ability to handle them in the Late Middle Ages, a person could be sent to the stake... or made an influential person at court! Written in Latin as Tarot, with an unpronounceable last letter, the word refers us to the place of its birth. However, most likely, the French only chose a name for an object that became famous later, but had long existed in the world. What was it used for? The first mentions hint at the most different ways: this is both a sophisticated intellectual game, and an “alphabet of wisdom”, and simply a subject of aesthetic pleasure...
The history of the appearance of Tarot cards is surrounded by mystery. According to one version, they came to us from the lost Atlantis, and all the secrets of the universe are encrypted in the mysterious images of each card. Another version calls the birthplace of Tarot Ancient Egypt. The process of training the priests included the study of symbols and archetypes that we see on maps today.
Version for skeptics: initially it was just a playing deck, which became widespread in Europe in the 16th–17th centuries, and only then they began to use it to guess.
Perhaps the place and time of the appearance of the first deck is no longer particularly important. The main thing is that in the hands of a professional, these cards still work today. How? Let's figure it out gradually.
The deck consists of 78 or 79 cards (if it contains a special, “empty” card), divided into the Minor Arcana and Major Arcana. The younger ones repeat the playing deck - these are four suits, distributed from Ace to King, plus - in addition to the usual Jack (Knight), Queen (Queen) and King - there is also a Page for each suit. And the Major Arcana are 23 unique archetypes that are reflected in the lives of each of us.
For example, the Empress is the patroness of family and marriage, harmonious relationships between a man and a woman.
Death is a state of “hanging” between the past and the future, when one has already ended, and the other is just ripening.
Jester-Fool - playfulness, creativity, a fountain of great ideas and luck in their implementation...
The list can go on and on. But many books have already been written that examine each card in detail from different angles - everyday, philosophical, psychological... We will touch on the meanings of the Major Arcana only in the context of purpose, and the Minor Arcana - in the context of how they reflect a person’s ability to achieve social and financial success , enter into emotional connections, interact with the world at the level of energy and intention. Some cards will be mentioned again in the chapter on meditation on the Arcana - based on personal experience such meditation, I will share the opportunities and insights that open up for a person immersed in such a practice.
How can tarot reading help?
First and foremost, the layout helps you see the picture objectively. If this is a quarrel with a loved one, then what? true reasons for the conflict (usually we succumb to our own conjectures, mixed with blaming others and defending ourselves, “white and fluffy”). If you don’t get promoted at work, what is the situation there? Maybe the assistant is attracting the attention of his superiors, or the manager is expecting some specific action from us that we are not even aware of. By the way, you can separately look at subjective opinions: what the boss, assistants, beloved woman, and anyone else thinks about the client. But this is for the sake of completeness.
The second is good way understand themselves. How does the work we go to every day reflect our deepest values? Perhaps the feeling of vague dissatisfaction has real grounds, but it is not possible to formulate them? Maps are ideal for helping you sort out the “mess” in your head and put everything into order. In addition to everyday issues, with the help of Tarot you can find out your purpose, how it is realized, which will improve this process.
Third, maps will help you understand perspectives. How profitable is it to invest money in this particular project? Is it better to do this now or in a month? What would a marriage be like? current partner? Are children possible in it? What difficulties will you face? In these and other similar situations, it is not always possible to calculate the prospects yourself - a person does not have all the information.
And fourth, they make a layout to decide what to do. Change jobs or stay and ask for a promotion, break up with your partner or not... What results will the actions lead to and which of them are most favorable at the present moment.
Remember: information is power! It allows you to control your life to a greater extent and get what you want more easily.
Where do Tarot cards get their information from?
Often people who have just begun to be interested in Tarot cards, including clients, wonder: where do Tarot cards get their information from? Is the quality of this information influenced by the mood of the tarot reader or client or, say, the day lunar cycle?
In the system created by Dr. Papus, a French physician and occultist, it is believed that Tarot cards draw information from a kind of “database” that contains all the information about our past, present and future options. In esotericism, this base is also called the Hindu term “Akashic Chronicles”. They contain the entire human experience and history of the origin of the universe, as well as timeless, eternal truths. You can join the Akashic Chronicles (or, simply put, the information flow) as a result of clairvoyance (clairaudience, claircognizance), astral travel(exit from physical body) or fortune telling, for example, using Tarot cards.
How this happens, judging by the sensations: when a tarot reader asks a question and stirs a charged deck (for more information about charging the deck, see the section “How to find out your purpose”, chapter “Destination Layout”), he enters an altered state of consciousness, as a rule, “pulling in” the client as well. A very pleasant, quiet state, similar to meditation.
Cards are laid out on the table in certain positions. Interestingly, by this moment the tarot reader is already in the information flow and therefore sometimes feels in advance which cards will appear in the layout.
Most often, there are no problems with interpretation - the interpretation of the meaning of the cards and their connections with each other comes on its own, as if someone were prompting it. It is enough just to be receptive and trust the deck, because it is it that connects the tarot reader to the flow of information. Sometimes during fortune telling you really want to say something that is not in the cards. If remaining silent seems impossible and wrong, it means that this information came from the stream, but was not transmitted through the cards (or was transmitted, but the tarot reader did not notice it). After all, there are a limited number of cards in the layout, and most life situations are so multidimensional! Most often, in such cases, if it is not at all common for a tarot reader to speculate and make “gags,” everything said hits the nail on the head.
Let's return to whether circumstances can influence the fortune-telling process. It is believed that it is unfavorable to tell fortunes on sunny and lunar eclipses, as well as on the client’s birthday - at such moments the energy is so seething around the person that there is a danger, like in troubled waters, of seeing the information incorrectly or not clearly enough.
Also, you should not guess if the White card (an additional “empty” card used in the Papus system of Tarot fortune telling) appears all day in different layouts. This means that the situation is now subject to strong changes and it makes sense to look at it the next day or a little later.
Regarding the state of the tarot reader and the client: since the “database” itself is impartial, only the one who reads it or then perceives it can distort the information.
Therefore, a tarot reader needs to begin work only when he feels that he is able to detach himself from his affairs and worries, and become as impartial as possible when reading the layout. This skill is facilitated by regular yoga and meditation - the mind does not chatter too much, emotions do not cloud the view.
As for the client, the tarot reader’s responsibility is also partly manifested here - he must state as clearly as possible the situation seen from the cards. But there are still no guarantees that the client will understand everything exactly. So the person who comes can be advised to simply not think of anything beyond what was said at the session.
Myths about Tarot cards
There are a huge number of myths associated with Tarot cards and the process of fortune telling; I think most of those presented here are familiar to the reader. Unfortunately, many of them were invented not only by ordinary people, but also by tarot readers who want to add weight (and for some reason frightening weight!) to their profession. The reason I decided to debunk these preconceptions is simple: Tarot consultations deserve to be looked at correctly, not as a “moment of fear”, but as a key to awareness, an opportunity to receive wise advice, to learn more about yourself.
Myth #1: The future is impossible to predict.
Supporters of this option are either skeptics who are deaf to everything (and, as they say, medicine is powerless here), or brave and desperate people - those who believe that predetermination in fate simply does not exist and man himself shapes the entire flow of life events.
Let's look at a banal and often encountered example: a certain lady really wants to marry a certain man, she is sure that he is her destiny and together they form happy family. If you rely solely on logic and will, then she needs to interest him, make him fall in love, marry him (and if she uncompromisingly professes the idea of one marriage for life, then she must always control the situation so that her husband never disappears from her life). Heroic woman! Will she succeed in her plans?
There are several serious aspects here that cannot be ignored. 1) Her “potential groom” has his own interests, views and plans, 2) as well as fans, who, in turn, also have plans for him. Another point that cannot be predicted by the everyday mind at all: 3) past incarnations and the “tails” stretching from them. Roughly speaking, if in the last incarnation this man left our heroine with a child in his arms, then in this life he will probably (depending on the true tasks with which his soul incarnated) will have to go through a “school of courage” and try to become a good husband and father.
So, what can we say about the prospects for this wonderful couple? Variability of the future certainly exists here, but it is driven into a certain framework of cause-and-effect relationships - it is a lump of lessons from fate, karmic debts, one’s own (possibly forgotten) desires, which still act as a kind of “order” made to the Universe, and others Not accidents. From all this it follows that our future is predetermined. Dotted line. And while passing from one point to another, you can get creative!
If our heroine came for a consultation with a tarot reader with a question about the man of her dreams and joint prospects, she could find out, for example, the following:
1. The meaning of the fact that the paths of the two crossed, their common tasks. In this story, suppose this is working off karmic debts from past life, getting rid of illusions and expectations, adjusting some of your manifestations in relationships with the opposite sex. According to the laws of learning in the school of life, sooner or later both will have to go through these lessons.
2. As it became clear from the previous scenario, the connection is karmic (and you can’t “throw it out the window” no matter how hard you want, since we are talking about serious lessons for the souls of all participants in the situation), which means it makes sense to look now how does the partner treat to the client, what plans he is making for her. Perhaps he already senses something special between them.
3. If a man has no plans, and he treats this woman rather indifferently, look at the advice “What to do to harmonize relationships” . Harmonization refers to the experience that a couple is destined to go through (see the first question), with maximum benefit and minimal resistance. Most likely, it will become clear what actions our heroine should take (outside) and how to work on herself (inside). Maybe the cards will tell you that you need to start a joint work project or deal with fears left over from a previous relationship.
4. If you wish, watch couple's prospects for the coming months. Regarding the general objectives, it is already clear that the emergence of a relationship is a matter of time, and regarding the previous point, what to do in tactical terms.
5. Of course, the possibility of living together until the “last breath” remains unclear. If our heroes slowly and painfully go through life lessons, then their whole life is ahead, please. But, most likely, the Universe will use some kind of “chasing stick” towards them in the form of difficult circumstances, tension in relationships - so that they think and change faster. If dynamics and awareness are high, the time frame decreases. New tasks may appear within the union (for example, having a baby, creating family business or write a book “How to survive next to your loved one?”), or maybe the option “thank you for everything - goodbye.” To maintain awareness (in the union and in your own head), it makes sense to periodically ask the cards: What local challenges are people facing now?.
As a result, we get the opportunity to “steer” our destiny in the desired direction (while remaining, of course, within the framework of the future that is already inevitable) and do this, realizing where we are “going”, for what purpose, in what company and what all this can do end.
Myth No. 2: guessing means telling fortunes
I’ll answer the pun makers with a biting rhyme: guessing is not pointing your finger at the sky!
For many, the word “fortune telling” is associated with throwing a boot over a shoulder, pouring wax onto water, and similar unusual actions. But Tarot cards in this regard are psychological and even a little harsh: if you want happiness, do it yourself!
Are you tormented by the question of “the weather in the house”? Why does the man I love come home every evening with a sour face? What's the best way to proceed? Should I go to my mother for an evening or two, feed her in silence, pay special attention to the sexual side of the relationship, or something else? All these questions can be answered by asking the cards the following questions:
What unites the partners?
What energies surround them in terms of male-female relationships?
What is the real reason that a man is in a bad mood?
What does a man think/feel towards his woman?
What can be done to harmonize relations?
By the way, why does the Tarot as a source of information scare some suspicious people? After all, similar information could be given by a psychologist (“When your man comes home irritated, leave him alone / feed him / show attention...”) or an astrological horoscope (“Be careful with irritated Leos, they can attack without warning...”). But have you ever heard that “going to a psychologist means ending up in a mental hospital” or “reading a horoscope means being abducted by aliens”? The danger of myths is that they take root in people’s minds, after which it is difficult to force a person to think about the question, because he has a template answer that he uses from year to year. And life is time goes by, and the problems are only getting worse.
The more information we have, the more appropriate and relevant actions we can take to improve the situation. In the end, the one who miscalculates is the one who is afraid to know the truth, does not want to see cause-and-effect relationships in life, and does not dare to take responsibility for the formation of events and results. Tarot cards in this case are just one of the tools for achieving awareness.
Myth No. 3: Tarot reading programs
Within the framework of this myth, the situation is presented as follows: no matter what the tarot reader predicts to the client, success or misfortune, the person, still impressed by the session, will fulfill the prophecy himself. Because the Tarot programs, the fortune teller recruits, the client receives subconscious instructions...
When crossing the threshold of a tarot reader’s office, many people think that something like this will follow: “Come in, sit down, now I’ll tell you your whole life.” But - surprise! During the consultation, we work together with the client; this is an active process on both sides. Programming is possible if a person comes with a passive position: “Tell me what will happen to me.” But here, even without maps, you can predict - you will go with the flow, neither shaky nor unsteady.
If a person comes to understand what is happening to him, how he can change the course of events, turn them in his direction and generally takes an active life position, then programming is impossible. Usually he himself already suspects his failed positions on certain issues. In this case, the fortune teller only increases his awareness, suggests where and when problematic issues, which he himself can guess about, can escalate, and how a person can rectify the situation.
Whether to do this or not is up to the client to decide. As well as whether he should listen to a fortune teller at all - maybe “it will somehow resolve itself”... Free will is an element of the divine in us, it is a very powerful tool, which, however, allows, if desired, to put the brakes on even the most successful life.
Myth No. 4: A tarot reader can predict something terrible.
It must be admitted that this myth is partly true. A tarot reader, indeed, can tell the client something not very pleasant. But here a significant difference between specialists is revealed.
In my opinion, a true professional will not be intimidating, because his task is to inform about upcoming difficulties, their causes and find out how to get around them. If this is not possible, then explain to the client how such a lesson will be useful to him. Lesson! Not a test! A good specialist will not put pressure on the client’s psyche, although sometimes professional psychologists resort to pressure, but only so that the client begins to understand what situation he finds himself in and who brought him there (and guess who?..).
That is, the tarot reader is called upon to help the client get out of a difficult situation (or warn about its occurrence in time so that he does not get into it), and not to drive him into depression with his predictions. Although some clients need a “magic kick-off”, there is such a style of work. Unfortunately, specialists very often go overboard with rigidity.
After the “correct” consultation, the client leaves satisfied, but thoughtful. He gets answers to the questions that tormented him, the direction of movement in life becomes clear, true goals become clearer and a huge amount of energy is released! But the next day it can “cover you” - dissatisfaction with your current life, despair, irritation, fear of change... This state is normal.
I usually suggested that my clients write down the main conclusions and plans that would arise during fortune-telling; in case of negative states, wait for a while, and then get down to business. And indeed, after a day or two, the energy and positive outlook on things return, and the person is ready to roll up his sleeves and get down to building his own happiness.
Myth No. 5: the client leaves a good tarot reader exhausted.
The creation of this myth lies entirely on the conscience of the representatives of the professional workshop. Allegedly, after a “real” fortune telling session, the client feels “gutted” and exhausted. After all, the flow of energy cannot be touched with your hands, but such a state of a person proves that something happened, and the energy came from where it should and flows where it should.
Perhaps, of all the statements I have come across on the Internet about the obligatory “hard arrivals” of clients after the “high-quality” work of a tarot reader, I only agree with such descriptions as the feeling of being “sucked into a hole,” “flowing out of energy,” and “changes in state.” But I agree partly. Why? Yes, the client will most likely have feelings. But which ones? And is it guaranteed? But it is unknown. Energy is really too subtle a phenomenon, and a common person, who has not engaged in any practices, cannot touch it with his hands, see it...
The same applies to Reiki, the Japanese system of healing using hands, to which I devoted several years. You can place warm palms on the client’s head, but the palette of sensations will largely depend on his ability to relax, trust, listen to himself, and not just on how wide the flow of energy conducted by the healer is. So it is in the Tarot - by completely surrendering to the process of fortune-telling, a person can feel the powerful energy of the alignment and its movement throughout the entire session. And if his mobile phone rings, then he checks the tarot reader “for lice”... here he has no time for subtle conditions!
The idea of measuring the professionalism of a tarot reader by the degree of “evisceration” of the client seems quite inhuman and far-fetched. During the reception, we work with the information space, a kind of database about each person. It is from there that Tarot cards take information that even the client himself does not own, not to mention the information that is known to him or is in his subconscious. The client receives answers to his questions, specific recommendations - why bother?
Another thing is the manner of presenting information. Some clients need to receive shock therapy from a tarot reader, yes, they don’t get it any other way. But this is only style work, not an indicator of efficiency. It also happens differently: when the client, even if he learned some not very pleasant information during the session, leaves noticeably cheerful, full of strength and new ideas.
Myth #6: Cards bring magical trouble.
We often hear questions: “Is it dangerous to guess on maps?” and “How often can you guess that nothing will happen for it later?” The profession of tarot reader is already surrounded by a bunch of prejudices, but also colleagues in the shop, quite venerable ones at that, add fuel to the fire. Here is a quote from my beloved Alicja Chrzanowska’s book “The Magic of the Tarot”:
“Many people are afraid of Tarot cards, and rightly so, because in the hands of a charlatan or dishonest person they can become dangerous and show their “dark” appearance.”
Most troubles only occur if a person has been magically influenced. Magic is “induced” by other people or “caught” during special magical processes. But it cannot be “infected” from a Tarot deck if you are its first and only owner, that is, it has not been subjected to ritual charging on anyone’s part.
Of course, the neutrality of the deck does not mean that it can be treated anyhow, after all, it is a serious magical tool (even if you have something like “The Fey Tarot” pictures). You can ask the cards for advice on almost any issue: from your purpose in life to choosing a method of contraception. Of course, there are exceptions: Aleister Crowley’s deck, for example, will not tolerate such “everyday stuff”; the Black Magician himself generally believed that one should not often turn to the Tarot - only on really important issues. However, this was his personal opinion, and many followers of his school have not followed this rule for a long time.
The deck should be stored in a box or a special case (you can do both), laid out on a special cloth or simply on a clean surface. If you want to get rid of the deck, you need to burn it - this is the last tribute to the instrument.
Let's turn to more mundane circumstances. Thus, negative experiences after an appointment with a tarot reader can become a tangible “trouble.” But in this case, you need to separate where your own emotions are after receiving answers, and where you throw off responsibility: “Oh, the deck did something to me!” If the client has learned that her lover is rapidly losing interest in her and that it is unlikely that she will be able to change this trend, there is no point in blaming the “mirror,” that is, the Tarot cards. They are not responsible for the client’s emotions, although no one can completely cancel the professional and attentive approach on the part of the tarot reader, as already mentioned above.
Let’s return to the quote from Khshanovskaya’s book and other “scares” from the tarot workshop. The work of a tarot reader is, of course, not for everyone, like a huge number of other professional activities. But not only “hereditary sorcerers” who received “special abilities from their grandmother” deal with cards. These are simply people with strong intuition, with the ability to capture the energy of a process, to look closely at symbols, who want to help those who are looking for answers in difficult situations. Therefore, to be afraid of a person because he is a tarot reader, or to be afraid of cards because they are called Tarot, is stupid. Treat with respect - yes. Shaking and fawning - no.
Myth No. 7: A tarot reader should tell fortunes for free.
A few years ago, a woman expressed her opinion to me, saying, “ gift given from above for nothing, therefore, taking money for its use is dishonest and ungodly.” I repeated these words at each of my Tarot training courses, when I explained to future tarot readers why they should take money for their work. Can And need to.
Look how many diversely gifted people there are around—everyone is the first! Do you disagree with me? That's right, because every gifted person is first, and exhibiting your own gift - it’s good if every tenth. We are accustomed to thinking that gifted people are somehow special, they say, not everyone has this gift, only the lucky ones. What a convenient position: “You have a gift, but I am poor and poor!” You should help me for free, because you are lucky and I am not!” Let me bring to the attention of the “untalented”: everyone is gifted in something, and this “ start-up capital“It is truly given to us as a gift. But the process of discovering your gift - acquiring the necessary tools, paying for studies, books, time, effort, money spent on this - is far from free. Only those who have invested in their gift will be able to reveal it.
The logical question is: who will recover all these costs? And why should a tarot reader do his work for free? Let then seamstresses, bakers, taxi drivers, dentists, lawyers join the ranks of “unselfish workers”... And you too, yes, yes!..
As for clients who “would be happy to pay, but there is no way.” They can do something else useful - give a box of chocolates, a book they need, offer some of their professional barter services... But this most often does not happen, because it is a waste of resources, and freeloaders just start a record like “we ourselves not local” - so as not to be wasted in any form - neither monetary, nor energy, nor time.
And even despite this, the problem is solvable! The Internet is full of communities where tarot readers tell fortunes for free, answering the question with several (sometimes one) phrases. Of course, the information provided is minimal. Of course, the quality of the work of tarot readers in these communities varies; the answers of different specialists to the same question often contradict each other - here the client has to rack his brains about which prediction to choose and how much to believe in it.
Well, excuse me: when you have a toothache, you can go to the dentist, cure caries carefully and relatively painlessly by paying money, or you can knock out your own tooth - but for free. However, sometimes it is sad to watch how people try to solve global issues in this way, such as wedding or divorce, emigration, starting their own business... Those who understand understand and go for a full-fledged consultation.
Despite all of the above, I myself often read fortunes using Tarot cards for free. Sometimes to friends (by the way, for friends this is also not always free of charge: if your friend is the owner of a store, will you be able to regularly shop with him for free?), sometimes to people you barely know, in the case when communication with them filled you with energy. But I did it exactly then and as much as I considered necessary. In other cases, this position can help (if you do your own fortune telling with cards): yes, my services are not available to everyone, but this is not my problem - I invest enough in my business to set some conditions. If the question is really important, the client will find a way to get an answer, through you or otherwise.
Myth No. 8: You can’t guess for yourself and your loved ones.
Supporters of this myth are divided into two categories: those for whom prohibition means the presence of danger, and those for whom “you can’t” equals “nothing will work out.”
We will not spend much time discussing the former; it is enough to mention that if the deck is loaded according to all the rules, then it will not lie to the owner, no matter whether he is telling fortunes to himself, a relative, or someone else. As stated earlier, the deck cannot “curse” a person or “give” him any magical problems for telling fortunes about himself. But it makes sense to consider the arguments of the second group of people in more detail. Usually, all the reasons why it is supposedly impossible to make an accurate prediction for yourself come down to one thing - the bias of the fortuneteller.
Indeed, it is difficult to be objective when analyzing your own problem, especially when it is acute (for example, breaking up or not breaking up with your partner). I want to blame someone else when it comes to relationships. Or you don’t want to understand what’s happening if it’s something very important...
But Tarot cards, in my opinion, are there for this purpose - they indicate our share of responsibility in conflicts, our mistakes and misconceptions. Of course, to admit something unpleasant requires a certain amount of courage. And to change it, you will also need knowledge and skills from the field of psychology or the help of appropriate specialists (rarely the problem disappears on its own, only because we now know about it). It is not enough to simply diagnose the situation - you also need to convey the idea of the importance of changes to the client... or to yourself.
It is my deep conviction that a tarot reader who does not want to be responsible for what is happening in his life will not be able to truly help other people. So this is a question of not only personal, but also professional development. Ask yourself more often (especially in difficult situations): “Why did I create this for myself?” The lessons and discoveries may surprise you greatly.
Difficulties in maintaining objectivity also occur when emotions overwhelm. Suddenly, all the plans suddenly become incomprehensible, and, to be honest, you don’t want to understand anything. In this case, several ways help: 1) wait until the emotions subside, and then do the layout, 2) do the layout on a simpler deck, such as the Osho Zen Tarot (description of the deck in the chapter “Osho Zen Tarot”), or better yet, on one card, so that everything is as unambiguous as possible, 3) admit to yourself: “I’m “slowing down” now, because the topic is very sensitive for me, I feel strong emotions,” then write down the layout and try to read it, and if that doesn’t work, go back see him later.
After a few hours, you will notice that your understanding has increased dramatically. Of course, if a decision needs to be made quickly, and you can barely distinguish between tears and cards, it makes sense to turn to another tarot reader for help. But, in my opinion, these are rather exceptional situations, and most often you just need to pull yourself together. A tendency to exaggerate colors can also prevent you from making an objective reading, however, this is a purely psychological question, which probably affects not only communication with Tarot cards, but also a person’s entire life. Maps teach you to see the truth and can greatly bring a person closer to understanding your problem.
There is also an opinion that the less the tarot reader knows about the situation, the more accurate the fortune telling will be. I absolutely agree with this, but on a different level. The point here is still not about knowing the facts, but about remaining a “tabula rasa” (blank page). Neither the client's age nor his Family status, neither profession nor anything else should force one to draw a conclusion about the essence of his problem. Otherwise, the tarot reader begins to make ad-libs, guided not by the information that the alignment gives, but by his own prejudices (“Young, which means she’s not yet mature enough to have a serious relationship,” “Many years of marriage, therefore, cooling has set in,” “An accountant, rather All in all, life is boring."
The saddest thing about this is that the tarot reader himself can sincerely mistake the impact of the stamp on consciousness for “insight,” “information from the stream.” In such cases, I used the following method: first I checked whether the information that came to me from the stream was reflected in the cards. If not, then I put it off until later (while voicing what the cards say clearly) and watched how this information “behaved.” While you were reading the cards, did you forget about the information you received? This means, most likely, there was a “gag”, or the client did not need to find out about it now. If the information seems to be “beating” in the throat, waiting for its turn to be voiced, then it really is a flow.
I will also mention one more difficulty that is relevant when doing fortune telling for yourself - the imaginary “understandability” of the layout. When you feel the general mood of the cards, you seem to “understand” everything, but then you put the cards together, and in your head - wow!.. This happens immediately or a short time after the layout. Emptiness, it is impossible to remember anything, which means that the specific recommendations of the Tarot cards have sunk into oblivion. They are usually remembered much later, for example, when what the cards warned against happens.
For several years I could not bring myself to write down the layouts - it seemed like a very tedious task. And when I finally got around to it, I discovered a wonderful effect - literally a pocket book of wisdom with a detailed description of the important answers received - and always at hand! Since then, I wrote down everything essential in a special notebook - not only the question and layout diagram, but also a brief interpretation.
Of course, acquiring professional impartiality requires a lot of time and effort. Therefore, it is easier and faster for a person who does not deal with cards to go to a tarot reader than to break through the jungle of his own doubts and mistakes. However, if you are involved in a professional workshop (or want to be), then, in my opinion, it is not only possible, but even necessary, to learn how to help yourself on your own.
Myth No. 9: You can’t say “thank you” for fortune telling.
At the end of the session, some clients fearfully ask if they can now say thank you. The word “thank you” has become firmly established in everyday life, and most people no longer know its roots, but in magical matters, just in case, they adhere to the myth of the ban on verbal expressions of gratitude.
The word “thank you” comes from the phrase “God save us.” And since among religious people it is most often believed that divination of any kind is a dispute with God and a great sin, its mention before, during or after committing an “ungodly” deed automatically becomes blasphemous. Some even believe that in this way the entire prediction can be destroyed, they say, God will be angry and “mix the cards of fate.”
In this part of the myth, the fear of the “evil God” is especially clearly manifested, as well as crafty attempts to appease him - the “policy of double standards.” Do not fast, but find convincing reasons for it. Having sex before marriage, but then lighting a dozen candles, trying to “outweigh” this sin. Go to a fortune teller, but do not mention the name of God there. In general, be a vegetarian, but eat meat on weekends. By the way, people with a red level usually believe in such a God - persecuting, vengeful, zealously guarding his flock. spiritual development(See “Levels of Spiritual Development”). Therefore, he is distinguished by pagan cruelty among them.
There is another view of God - as a Being who is loving and compassionate towards his children. A being who wishes for humanity to “get rid of suffering and the causes of suffering, to know happiness and the causes of happiness” (as stated in Pema Chödrön’s book “Where It’s Scary”). And such a God does not care how you look for answers to your questions - through meditation, prayer, map layouts or shamanic journeys. This God is equal to the Universe, equal to the Absolute. And there is no battle for the flock here and there cannot be, as well as disputes on the topic “whose religion is more correct.” Because the world is one and God is one. In this last case, we are free to choose our own rules and, of course, bear responsibility for our words and actions, focusing not on the fear of receiving “punishment from God,” but on the vision of cause-and-effect relationships in our lives.
Which God to believe in is up to you. And also to answer the question: to say or not to say “thank you” for fortune telling.
Now about the contribution of the professional workshop to this topic.
Some fortune tellers support the myth about the dangers of verbal expressions of gratitude for completely mercantile reasons. Almost any person who has been given time and effort has a desire to balance the situation by giving something in return. For example, saying “thank you.” But, as you know, you can’t spread it on bread. Therefore, the fortuneteller seems to “lock” the client in a situation where he wants to balance the situation, but cannot do this with “little blood,” that is, with words. All that remains is to either suffer from a vague feeling of guilt due to the broken mutual exchange, or pay back with money.
The services of a tarot reader, like any specialist, should be rewarded - this is true. But resorting to manipulation for the sake of payment is simply unethical. It is much more fair, in my opinion, to set a stable fee for your consultations. This creates a feeling of calm in the client and an understanding of the rules of work. And then he himself will decide whether to say “thank you” or not.
P.S. If, after all you’ve read, the topic still bothers you and the word “thank you” still gets stuck in your throat, try replacing it with “thank you.” As my yoga teacher says: “There is no need to save us. It’s better to give something good.”
Myth No. 10: All fortune tellers have an unfortunate fate.
I’ll close this ten myths about the Tarot with a prejudice that I heard from people who are interested in cards, but are afraid “whether I will get something for it.” Let's figure it out.
First, let me remind you about the troubles of a magical nature - this question stands a little apart. The cards themselves will not cause any “damage” to their owner, but clients can do this spontaneously, without realizing what they have done. Therefore, when carrying out work of this nature, a person is recommended to have a talisman against magical influences or regularly do cleansing practices, removing from oneself and releasing the energies of other people who come to the appointment in different states and with different thoughts.
If problems have already begun and you associate them with Tarot studies, you need to look at which area is suffering. I would leave the diagnosis of magical effects as an afterthought - most often, discord in life is associated with simpler factors. By the way, I always suggested that clients who come to be tested “for magic” due to worsened problems in relationships / at work / elsewhere, first look for more simple reasons, such as unexpressed grievances, insufficient involvement in the process, the need for change, etc. A magical effect in this case can indeed take place, but it is not the only issue, which means that we will not solve the problem by removing only it.
The main idea of this question can be expressed in one sentence: having the gift of prediction itself does not require any special “payment” other than awareness and the ability to integrate this awareness into one’s own life. Is it so easy? Try it - it's actually not a simple process at all.
First, the tool we use every day should also be used for ourselves. At the very least, I tried to instill in my students the “shoemaker with boots” attitude, so that at the end of the Tarot course they would be able to competently help not only others, but also themselves. Otherwise, our activities have very little meaning. After all, a tarot reader is partly a psychologist; he works with a person’s soul, and not just with earthly questions a la “how to improve financial position" This means that the state that is transmitted to the client during the session has special meaning. And it is highly desirable that optimism, wisdom, and balance be shown during the reception. Getting answers to your questions, facing the truth and accepting it, and not wandering in the dark, is the key to not becoming a “miserable fortune teller.”
Secondly, you need to be able not only to receive information, but also to integrate it into life. Nothing will change just because you understand: the main cause of problems at work lies, say, in an obsession with career growth. It is necessary to understand what actually lies behind this fixation, from whom it was transmitted, and what you want yourself... That is, to carry out the usual psychological and spiritual work. In this regard, a tarot reader is no different from people “on the street” - they have problems in the same way and must solve them in the same way if they want to be happy.
Another reason why a person who deals with Tarot cards may feel unhappy is a banal waste of resources. When others constantly ask you to “save” them, and you do it absolutely free and/or almost around the clock, it’s no wonder you “burn out at work.” The topic of resource recovery will be discussed in more detail in the chapter “How to restore resources when practicing esotericism?” Here I would like to remind you of two basic rules: set a price for your services (any work must be paid equivalent to the effort and time invested) and set the boundary between professional and private life(investing in yourself is just as important as giving back to the world).
Towards the end I will say a few words about Wang. Alas, the name of this woman is regularly mentioned not only in connection with “sensational predictions”, but also as an example of the creation of a myth, which is what we are talking about now. There is no need to connect everything so linearly! Of course, the loss of vision forces a person to look deep into himself, sharpens his intuition - anyone who has attended “blind seminars” or has had the experience of living without the use of the visual channel knows this. But many people lose their sight, and only a few of them are clairvoyant.
Another thing is more significant in this example: each of us has our own karmic debts that need to be worked off. Some do this while going through difficult life situations, tense relationships, others through financial difficulties, others through illness. In Vanga’s case, blindness could be a type of karmic work-off, and clairvoyance could be a way to serve the world. One was not a punishment, a “payment” for the other.
The theory about the purpose (more about this in the section “How to find out your purpose”) of each person says: when we fulfill what we came to this Earth to do, the world encourages us, helps us, brings people who need our help. After all, the Universe is primarily interested in ensuring that each of us is in his place. Conscious and happy.
