Nebula 1994 June/NEBULA_SE.ISO/Documents/FAQ/Tarot-faq

Text File | 1993-04-12 | 74.1 KB | 1,468 lines

         Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Tarot

                                by

                          Nina Lee Braden

                         [e-mail]

Please be sure to read and understand the copyright notice at the
end of this document.

Questions:

Q:  Exactly what is a Tarot deck and how did it come into being?
Q:  How does Tarot work?  What makes it valid?
Q:  Exactly what is a Tarot reading?  What might I expect to happen
in a reading?
Q:  Can I read for myself?  How should I get started?
Q:  What is a Tarot journal?  How do you advise using one?
Q:  Is it okay to ask a question when I read Tarot?  How should I
phrase the question?
Q:  What is a significator?  How do I use one?  Do I have to use
one?
Q:  Why are some cards so negative and others so positive?
Q:  Do I need to use a book or can I just use the little booklet
that comes with my deck?  Do I have to use a different book for
each deck?
Q:  Can you recommend some good books on Tarot?
Q:  What if I disagree with the meaning in the book?
Q:  How should I choose a deck?  Can you recommend some good decks?
Q:  Does a Tarot reading have to be done in person?  Does the
readee (querent) have to touch the cards?
Q:  What is the correct way to shuffle Tarot cards?
Q:  Is there any sort of special treatment for Tarot decks?  Do I
need to observe special rituals with them?
Q:  Where can I find Tarot books and cards?
Q:  How should I read reversed cards?
Q:  Can I use Tarot to predict the future?
Q:  Can you help me to understand court cards?
Q:  What do I do with my Soul and Personality Cards once I figure
them out?  (This applies to those who use Greer's _Tarot for Your
Self_ or Arrien's _The Tarot Handbook_.)
Q:   How important is it to use spreads?  Do I need to use them at
all?  How do I decide which spread to use?  How will I know which
one is the right one?  Are all spreads equally effective?
Q:  How do I know when I'm ready to read for others?  How do I read
differently for others from how I read for myself?  Are there any
special things I need to know or be aware of when reading for
others?  How do you suggest getting started reading for others?
Q:  Can I get by with just one deck?  What are the reasons to have
more than one deck?
Q:  Is it all right to just look at the pictures when I read and to
never study a book?  Can I get just as much from the pictures?  Can
I read intuitively from the pictures alone?
Q:  How can I incorporate Tarot into a religious or magickal
tradition?  Do I read the cards differently under religious
circumstances or as a part of a ritual?
Q:  Can Christians read Tarot cards?  There's nothing in them
that's against Christianity, is there?
Q:  Do you read the Majors and the Minors differently?  If so, how?
Q:  Is it all right to use a used deck?


Q:  Exactly what is a Tarot deck and how did it come into being?

      The answer to the first question is rather simple, but the
answer to the second is shrouded in mystery and misinformation.
A physical deck of Tarot cards consists of seventy-eight cards
divided into two basic parts:  the Major Arcana, sometimes called
the Trumps, and the Minor Arcana.  The Major Arcana consists of
twenty-two cards, twenty-one of them numbered one to twenty-one
and the twenty-second card usually numbered zero.

     The Minor Arcana of the Tarot consists of four suits of
fourteen cards each for a total of fifty-six and is related to a
modern deck of playing cards.  The names of the four suits may
vary from deck to deck but are commonly variants of swords,
wands, cups and pentacles.  Their playing card counterparts are
spades (swords), clubs (wands), hearts (cups) and diamonds
(pentacles).  As with playing cards, the Minor Arcana has ten
numbered cards, ace through ten; however, the Minor Arcana has
four court cards instead of three, commonly called pages,
knights, queens and kings.  The four suits of the Minor Arcana
are often assigned to different elements and areas of life.
Swords are normally thought to correspond to air or the
intellect.  Wands are commonly associated with fire and the
spirit or creativity.  Cups are the suit of water and the
emotions.  Pentacles are the suit of earth and the physical or
material world.  These attributes may be different in certain
mystical or hermetic traditions.

     Although there is a great deal of similarity between playing
cards and Tarot cards, no one knows which set of cards came
first.  Some theorists posit that playing cards came first and
that the Tarot Major Arcana was developed separately and then
tacked on to playing cards.  Others say that Tarot came first and
that the Major Arcana was removed from some decks which became
the forerunners of the modern playing card deck.

     No one knows how old the Tarot is, what its origins are, or
what its original form is.  We don't even know the etymological
origins of the name "Tarot" or the correct pronunciation.  Some
people think that the Tarot came from China; others say India;
and still others say Egypt.  Tarot as we know it today is a
collection of images and symbols from a wide variety of cultures,
from the ancient Greeks and Romans to the prehistoric Norse
peoples, from the ancient religions of India and Egypt to the
medieval courts of Italy and France.  As Cynthia Giles points out
in _The Tarot:  History, Mystery and Lore_, no matter what the
origins of the symbols of the Tarot are, at the time of their
first known appearance, "an abundance of esoteric themes was
abroad" (p. 19).

     The first clear reference that we have to Tarot cards is
from a sermon that was collected with many others about 1500 in
Italy found in the Steele Manuscript.  The sermon is thought to
date from about 1450 to 1470 and is a diatribe against games of
chance.  It gives a detailed description of the Tarot trumps, not
only numbering them but naming them as well.  All of the
twenty-two trumps named by the unknown friar can be recognized
today, although some of the names and concepts have been changed
somewhat.

     By about 1500, Tarot decks had become fairly standardized
although there were individual differences from deck to deck
even as there are today.  By the seventeen hundreds the standard
format of the Tarot deck became known as the Marseilles deck, and
this form continued to be the most popular until the early
twentieth century.

     In 1910, Rider and Company of London published a deck of
Tarot cards designed by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by
Pamela Colman Smith, both initiates of the Golden Dawn secret
mystical society.  This deck has since become the most popular
and influential of all Tarot decks.  The Rider-Waite deck (as it
came to be called, much to the displeasure of those who point out
Smith's contribution to the deck) was revolutionary in at least
two respects:  it reversed the positions of two cards, Strength
and Justice, and it used storylike pictures on the numbered (pip)
cards of each suit, two through ten.

Q:  How does Tarot work?  What makes it valid?

     Tarot is a key, a tool, a way to reach the inner self and
the world beyond.  Also, a guide, a help, a body of images and
knowledge that people can study and tap into.  To me, the Tarot
is not an Oracle with all of the answers to life, but a map which
can help each of us on our paths.

     In using the Tarot, I want to learn who I am, what my part
in the world is, and how I fit into the world.  I want to learn
to understand the past and to fully see the present, without
blinders.  I want to learn to open myself to the future, not to
close myself off to the future out of fear.  I want to learn to
understand other people whose lives touch mine and whose lives I
touch.  In my philosophy of Tarot, the cards do not determine the
future, merely point out probabilities, based on the directions
that we are taking in the present.

      In _Pynchon:  Creative Paranoia in Gravity's Rainbow_, Mark
Richard Siegel says

     "Symbolism and psychology merge in consideration of the
     tarot.  As C.G. Jung pointed out in Psychology and Alchemy,
     alchemy, tarot, and I-Ching all contain sophisticated
     systems for the attainment of psychic integration remarkably
     similar to Jung's own 'process of individuation.'  It is
     entirely possible, according to Jung, that these so-called
     occult practices were actually designed as tools of
     psychotherapy and consciousness-expansion.  The tarot cards
     and the I-Ching hexagrams are, as methods of divination,
     closer to the Rorschach inkblot test than to a crystal ball.
     They suggest patterns of experience which the subject
     fleshes out with his own associations....the tarot and
     I-Ching do not predict hard certainties about a static
     reality, but delineate possibilities for action within the
     dynamic interrelationships of an individual and
     society."

     Siegel seems to see a more unified and singular origin for
Tarot than external evidence suggests, but his points about
modern use of Tarot are quite valid.

     James Wanless says,

     "the strength of tarot...is its    versatility....Tarot is
     first and foremost a philosophy of life....Tarot is a
     psychology.  It tells us how we work--how our mind, heart,
     body, and spirit (the four suits of the Minor Arcana)
     function together, and how they relate to the archetypal,
     universal aspects of our being represented by the Major
     Arcana cards....Tarot is a holistic map of the human
     psyche...Tarot is a life guide....Tarot is an entertaining
     game....Tarot is art....Tarot is a wisdom book disguised as
     a card deck....Turn the tarot into what pleases you and
     entertains you.  Play with the tarot through your own mask
     of perception--that is its purpose."

     Tarot can be used in many ways, on many levels.  It can be
used for meditation, for study of symbolism, for mental
discipline, as an allegorical method for self-exploration, as a
tool in the working of magick, as a part of a religious ritual
and more.  I often use it for showing me what I need to know but
am afraid to face, most often as a tool for self-discovery and
inner confrontation of things feared.  I feel that the purpose of
the Tarot cards is to help us on our own paths and to help us to
help others on their paths, to reveal to us that which is hidden,
especially that which we hide from ourselves.

Q:  Exactly what is a Tarot reading?  What might I expect to
happen in a reading?

     Simply, a Tarot reading is when a reader reads or interprets
Tarot cards for a querent.  My feeling is that the best Tarot
readings always involve dialogue and are a partnership or
co-operative venture between the reader and the querent.  When
you read for yourself, you act as both reader and querent.  If
you (as a querent) do not co-operate in the reading, by offering
more input and making your decisions, then you will not get much
from the reading.  In Tarot, you get what you put in.  A reading
can only be successful to the extent of each party's
participation.  To me a real reading is not having the reader
tell the querent about him- or herself (fortune telling).  I
think of a reading as having the reader work with the seeker to
explore possibilities in the querent's life that the Tarot
spotlights or highlights as either being important or needing
work.  This is not passive on the part of the querent.  It
involves a temporary bonding between reader and querent. You have
to be willing to come into a reading with a spirit of openness
and willingness to take part of the responsibility.

     Sometimes readers use patterns of cards called spreads to
help them with readings, but you can read Tarot without the use
of spreads.  Some readers incorporate various other metaphysical
disciplines in a Tarot reading, such as astrology, numerology, or
the Qabala.  Some readers approach the Tarot from a Pagan or
Wiccan background.  Other readers treat Tarot very much as a
psychological tool.  All of these approaches are valid, but you
might want to find out a readers' approach before hand, just so
that you can better evaluate what the reader says and so that you
can find a reader who is compatible.  Obviously, there is a great
deal of variety and flexibility in Tarot reading.  Even people
who are skeptical about psychic phenomenon can use Tarot and
benefit from it.

Q:  Can I read for myself?  How should I get started?

     Many people learn Tarot in order to read for themselves.
While some people seem not to be able to read for their selves,
most of us can.  You have to be honest and willing to accept the
truth--not what you want to see, but what's really there.  One
reason that I like Mary Greer's _Tarot for Your Self_ so much is
that it is written specifically for those who want to read for
themselves.  Amber Jayanti's _Living the Tarot_ is good for this
too, but it just deals with the Major Arcana.  And certainly,
there is the possibility in reading for yourself that you can
interpret Tarot to turn out the way that you want, but if you
are seriously looking for the truth, this won't happen often.
I've never had much trouble with it.  The biggest trouble that
most people have with self-reading is that they don't spend the
time on a self reading that they would on a reading for someone
else.

     I started out reading for myself.  I read for myself before
I ever had anyone else to read for me.  Miriam, my first reader,
told me that she almost never read for herself because she didn't
devote the proper time to her own self-readings.  I thought about
what she said, and from then on, I've tried to take more time
with my self-readings.  When I do, I notice much better results.

     What has helped me as much as anything is drawing three
cards a day.  I study the cards individually, but, more
importantly, I try to see them as a whole, to make some sense of
the three cards together.  What I recommend at first is to just
look at the cards, sans spread, and to try and make sense of them
as a grouping.  Then, I look at them with a very simple
spread--maybe

  Card 1 = main idea
  Card 2 = commentary on Card 1
  Card 3 = undercurrents

Then, I take the same three cards and try a more complex (yet
still simple) spread on them.  We can get a lot from just three
cards, more than most people think, because it is easier to focus
on three cards than ten.  If we delved deeply into ten cards, we
would spend a lot of time on a reading and we would also tend to
get lost.

     The comparison would be to getting very complicated
directions on how to find a place or getting a recipe for a very
complicated dish.  You become lost until or unless you break it
into pieces.

     After you learned to read 3 cards together, applying that to
a larger spread becomes simpler.  When doing self-readings, a
full Celtic Cross spread every day is a bit much for most of us.
If you are reading for yourself every day, I would recommend only
a 3-card or 1-card spread with longer spreads to be done once a
week or 2-3 times a month.  Your conscious mind can only work
with so much at a time.  Sometimes it is better to use fewer
symbols and to ponder longer on them.  Take one step at a time,
and don't let yourself get overwhelmed.  If three cards are too
much for you or seem to overwhelm you, just draw one card a day,
but dealing with small numbers of cards frequently is better than
dealing with a lot of cards less often.  Regular hands-on
experience seems to help as much as anything, so make this a
priority.

     Another suggestion is when you look at cards together,
count:  count majors vs minors,  count court cards, count the
number of cards of any one number, count how many cards in each
suit.  Is the spread dominated by Pentacles?  What does that
suggest?  Are there 3 3s in the spread?  Well, does that have
significance?  (Anytime that you have 3 or more of one of the
minors, you multiply the impact or message of those cards.)  Is
there a conspicuous absence of cards?  (If the reading is about
romance and there are no Cups in the spread, this would be a
conspicuous absence.)  If so, what does this suggest to you?
Questions and thoughts along those lines will help you to tie
cards together.

     Concentrate on how the cards make you feel, on your own
intuitive responses to the cards.  For example, when you look at
The Moon, think about the unconscious.  Think about things hidden
and mysterious.  How does this apply to your life?  What things
are hiding in your unconscious waiting to come out?  What does
your conscious need to learn from your unconscious?  How can you
learn to tap into your unconscious.... questions like this and
careful thought on your answers/responses will have the best
results in the long run.  Take one card, the one that is most
puzzling or intriguing to you, and then meditate and study that
card.  When you are done with it, go on to the next card.
Continue drawing one to three cards a day and make careful
note of them, your reactions to them, and to the way that they
seem to fit together.

     James Wanless makes an appropriate comment; he says that
perhaps the most important thing to consider when interpreting
cards is, "Does it make sense?"  If it doesn't, go to another
meaning, one that does make sense.

     Try not to be impatient.  Learning the Tarot is the task of
a lifetime, not a few weeks.  Those of us who have been at it a
while often feel like advanced beginners or intermediate students
rather than masters.  That said, even beginners can learn a lot.
Trust yourself.  Listen to your inner voice.  Use the Tarot as a
tool to reach into that side of yourself.  Learning Tarot is
really learning yourself, the universe, and your place in the
universe, all in a lovely symbolic card system.

Q:  What is a Tarot journal?  How do you advise using one?

     Something that is invaluable for both the newcomer and the
more experienced reader is a Tarot journal or notebook.  You
should make notes on your own impressions of the cards, on your
card spread readings and on your book readings as well.  I like
to use three journals:  a bound book to record readings
(chronologically), and a loose-leaf notebook for other notes so
that I can add and rearrange pages.  In addition, my computer's
hard drive serves as a notebook of many of my Tarot notes.

     If you haven't already started a Tarot notebook or journal,
I'd recommend it.  What I do with all spreads is to record them
with a notation as to date, question (if any), deck used, spread
used, etc.  Sometimes, I'll work with a spread, record it, and
then come back to it in a day or two.  Throughout the day/week, I
find my thoughts coming back to this spread.  I jot those
thoughts down in my notebook.  As I read and study, I might get
an interesting idea about a card that relates to the spread.  I
jot that down too.  Finally, it seems to all come together.

     I also like to do anniversary or special date readings--for
my birthday, New Year's Day, the solstices, and so forth.  I find
it very rewarding to compare spreads from year to year, to use
this as a tool for reflection upon my life--where I've been and
where I'm going.

     If you repeatedly get the same cards over and over, start a
looseleaf notebook entry on those cards and take all the notes
that you can on those cards.  Sooner or later, all of that
reading and writing and thinking will begin to coalesce for you.
Study the symbolism on the cards.  What do the symbols say to
you?  Write it down.  Read and take notes.  Put them in your
looseleaf journal.  Begin with the cards that you are getting
frequently, rather than trying to begin systematically from the
Magician to wherever.

Q:  Is it okay to ask a question when I read Tarot?  How should I
phrase the question?

     Sometimes when I read the cards, I use a specific question.
At other times, I merely indicate a loose, general area for the
reading, even if it's only a "state of my life" or "thought for
the day" or "lesson that I need to be concentrating on at this
point" type of subject.  Often, I feel the need for this type of
limiter or direction giver to add focus to a reading and to allow
the cards to "hold" together.  In other words, to add cohesion.
Sometimes a reading will not seem to work with the proposed
subject, will seem to have its own subject matter.  If so, I go
with that.

     I have learned from experience that I have strong personal
preferences in types of questions to address to the cards.  For
me, these are tied closely to my personal philosophy of Tarot.  I
don't usually ask questions like, "Will I receive a gift of
money?"  Instead, I might ask, "What can I do or where can I look
to find ways of bettering my finances?"  Sometimes, a spread just
won't seem to work at all.  If so, I still record it in my
journal and mull on it.  If after a few days, I haven't been
enlightened, I'll try rewording my question and/or trying a
different spread or deck.

     When I read for myself, I read to increase
self-understanding, self-awareness.  When I read for others, I
try to read in such a way that their self-awareness and
understanding is increased.  My philosophy influences how I
phrase my questions.

Q:  What is a significator?  How do I use one?  Do I have to use
one?

     Think of a significator as a card that represents the
querent or readee, a card which expresses who you are in Tarot
symbolism.  The Significator is an optional card used in some
spreads and/or in some ways of thinking about yourself and the
Tarot.  This card can be a card that is chosen particularly for a
reading, or it can be a card that, over time, you've come to
associate with yourself. Normally, Significators are Court Cards;
sometimes they are other people cards that appear in the Tarot;
however, any card can function as a significator.  Some people
don't use cards, but use another object--a photograph or talisman
in place of a significator.

      Initially, I would suggest just picking a court card that
appeals to you.  If you continue to read and study the cards,
eventually, you will find one (or it will find you) that just
feels right.  When you do, that will be your significator.  In
the meantime, you can use a temporary significator.  And your
significator can change, according to the situation or stage of
your life.  Choose the card that you most closely identify with
at this moment; this changes according to time and circumstance
and mood.  The purpose behind using a significator is to have a
focus for the reading.  If you don't need an external focus,
don't use one.  If you do/need want one, you should choose the
card that you identify with most closely in order to make
the spread correctly focused.

     One simple method to help you to choose a significator is
just to get out a deck and to study all of the court cards.
Which one appeals to you most?  With which one do you sympathize
most?  To which one do you feel most drawn?  Don't think about
the book meanings at this time.  Instead, look at the pictures.
You might want to look at more than one deck.  And a significator
is not permanent.  You can be the King of Wands one day, and the
Page of Pentacles another day, depending on how you are feeling.
Don't limit yourself by gender.  As Rachel Pollack says, the
court cards don't necessarily reflect gender.  They reflect
attributes.  Tarot is a very fluid, very flexible system, and
like most things in Tarot, there is no definitive rule or
practice concerning significators.

     When a significator is used, it is then (usually) chosen
ahead of time and removed from the deck.  It is placed at the
center of the spread.  In the Celtic Cross (the most common Tarot
spread), it is the first card, the PRE-card, the one that the
first card covers.  In fact, the traditional expression for
laying down the first card in the Celtic Cross spread is "This is
what covers."  The actual first card goes on top of the
significator card.  This card is that which covers the querent to
show the situation that he/she is in NOW.  You can use the
significator as the first card, but in the Celtic Cross this is
not standard practice.  Other spreads (such as the Dancing
Maidens and Blessing Spread) have a definite place for a
significator.  If a spread doesn't have a place for one, you can
still use one, if you wish.

     There are advantages and disadvantages to using
significators.  It does help you to focus when doing readings;
however, it removes a card from the deck, a card which might be
important to come up later in the reading.  There are two
workarounds to the disadvantage.  You can choose a significator,
study it, and then place it back in the deck for the reading,
mentally holding it as your significator.  Also, if you have more
than one deck, you can use the significator from one deck and do
the rest of the reading from another deck.

     Personally, I rarely pull a card deliberately from the deck
to be a significator.  If I use one, I always put it back in the
deck so that it has a chance to come up in the reading.  If the
card that you think of as your significator does come up in your
spread, it has particular significance, and you should pay close
attention to it and to the surrounding cards.  Many readers do
not use significators at all, at least not formally.  Other
readers use them routinely, never doing a spread without choosing
a significator first.  Both methods are valid.

     Some authors teach that The Fool is the universal
significator, since anyone requesting a reading is like a Fool,
starting out on a journey through the unknown.  This view has a
great deal of merit to it.  Some teachers teach to randomly let
the cards choose a significator for the querent before each
reading.  They will cut the deck to find a significator or let
the first card dealt be the significator.  Obviously, with these
methods, each significator is a temporary one, lasting for only
one reading.

     You will also find that the persons close to you will come
to be associated with certain cards.  I have a dear friend who
is, to me, the Knight of Pentacles.  When this card comes up in a
spread for me, I always check to see if it could apply to him
first.  I also check for other meanings, of course, including
parts of my own life.

 Q:  Why are some cards so negative and others so positive?

     First, there are no totally negative or totally positive
Tarot cards.  All cards have a full spectrum of meanings ranging
from positive through neutral to negative.  Some do seem to tilt
more one way than the other, and how far the card leans depends
in part on the circumstances of the particular reading.

     Second, when I read Tarot cards, I read them as an
interactive experience between different aspects of myself,
normally between the rational self and the intuitive self.  I use
Tarot to help the intuitive self to communicate to the rational
self.  I try to interpret all cards in this fashion:  What does
this card mean to me here and now?  What can I learn from this
card now?  What am I avoiding looking at now that centering on
this card can show me?  Using this type of thought process, all
cards are valuable tools for self-discovery and no cards are bad
or negative, not even those that we normally groan when we see
them come up in a spread.  I admit that there are cards that I am
less happy to see than others, but I see this as part of my
problem with images and symbols and confrontations with certain
darker sides of myself.

     Having a "negative" card in certain positions in certain
spreads sometimes takes a bit of thought to understand.
Sometimes a "negative card" is the best card for a
position/question.  Suppose you had asked the question, "Why am I
having trouble completing this project?"  The 9 of Swords might
be the perfect card for helping you understand your situation.
And, for the question, "How should I resolve my problems at
work?" you might get Death, which would indicate to me that you
need to think seriously about changing jobs.  This could be very
good advice, but it came from a card sometimes considered to be
negative.

     One way to deal with so-called negative cards is to find a
way to interpret all cards as either affirmations or challenges
to be met.  For me, this is a very practical and useful way to
read Tarot.

Q:  Do I need to use a book or can I just use the little booklet
that comes with my deck?  Do I have to use a different book for
each deck?

     I find that most small booklets that come with Tarot decks
have interpretations that are too cut-and-dried and too
simplistic.  Tarot cards are complex, and often one card will
have several meanings that seem to contradict.  As you read the
cards and study them together, you'll develop your own resonance
with the cards and your own style of reading.  As this happens,
it will become easier and easier to decide which of the meanings
to apply to a reading.  Sometimes several of them will apply.

     My thoughts are that the closer a deck is to either the
Waite Smith standard or the Thoth standard, then the less
important it is to use a book keyed specifically to that deck.
Sometimes the book written to go with a particular deck is not
any good.  In that case, I'd toss the book.  Some books and decks
are very closely keyed, and I wouldn't want to try and read much
with these decks without making reference to the books.  One
example is the Daughters of the Moon deck.  It is different from
a lot of other decks and to fully understand it, you need to use
the book, which does not come with the deck.

     With many decks, most of the cards will work with
Waite-Smith interpretations or some other standard, such as the
Marseilles or the Thoth.  The meanings won't be drastically
different, and you can get by without the special book, but
sometimes having the book would add to your reading of that
cards.

     What is usually best is to read a variety of books, study
the pictures on the cards, and then come to your own conclusions
about the meaning of a card.  And, of course, key your
interpretation to the particular deck you are using.  I don't
change my meanings drastically from deck to deck, but I do shade
the meanings to reflect the deck.  Trust your instincts.  You
can't go wrong by studying the cards themselves.  However,
sometimes in your study, you may become stuck.  Use your books
then.

     For instance, ever noticed those crescent moons and masks on
the Waite-Smith Chariot driver's shoulders?  What could they
mean?  Why are they there?  And why would this card have solar,
stellar and lunar symbolism on it?  Why do some decks show the
chariot being pulled by horses and others by sphinxes?  Books can
help you with these questions, which, in turn, can help you with
your readings, adding a depth that you did not have before.
However, often new and inexperienced readers give very good, very
deep intuitive readings.

Q:  Can you recommend some good books on Tarot?

     Some of my personal favorites to recommend for beginners
(and more advanced readers as well) are Mary Greer's _Tarot for
Your Self_, Rachel Pollack's _Seventy-eight Degrees of Wisdom_ (2
vols.), Almond and Seddon's _Understanding Tarot_,  Angeles
Arrien's _The Tarot Handbook_, Sasha Fenton's _SuperTarot_,
Marcia Masino's _Easy Tarot Guide_, Alfred Douglas' _The Tarot_,
James Wanless' _New Age Tarot_, Gail Fairfield's _Choice Centered
Tarot_, and Juliet Sharman-Burke's _The Complete Book of Tarot_.

     In addition, there are many fine books for working with
individual decks or within special traditions.  And there are
also other books that I recommend after a person has gotten his
or her feet wet with 2 or 3 of these books.  My highest
recommendations go to the Pollack and Greer books.  If you know
these books, then you are really in excellent shape to determine
the value of all other books.

     Fenton's _SuperTarot_ has some exercises in it, but it is
shorter and not as comprehensive as _Tarot for Your Self_.  Her
philosophy is similar in many regards to Greer's
though--emphasizing personal interaction with the cards rather
than memorizing.  Her approach is different in that she tends to
lean more towards predictive Tarot reading.

     _Understanding Tarot_ by Jocelyn Almond and Keith Seddon is
a slim book, only 160 pages, including the index, but I think
that it is arranged well and makes an excellent introductory text
for persons interested in Tarot.  It also has enough in it to
make it worthwhile for more experienced readers as well,
especially since it has a low price.

     _Tarot Unveiled_ by Laura Clarson is all right for
beginning; it was my first Tarot book, but I would make sure that
I didn't stop with it--you need something else that goes deeper.

     Arrien's book and Wanless' book are both keyed to the Thoth
deck, but they have wonderful information about Tarot in general.
Wanless also has a book keyed to his Voyager Tarot.

     I like Sharman-Burke's book.  She also has another book out
on Tarot, but I prefer this one; it's more universal.  Alfred
Douglas's _The Tarot_ has also been re-issued in trade size
paperback, and it's a good standard work and contains some
history and miscellaneous information not usually found in
introductory texts. Gail Fairfield's _Choice Centered Tarot_ is
good for both beginners and advanced students, although some of
her interpretations are a bit "different," so, like the Clarson
book, don't make it your sole source.

     I also like Amber Jayanti's revised _Living the Tarot_.
Jayanti takes each major card and talks about the meanings and
symbolism (using the B.O.T.A. deck), and then she has a section
on divinatory meanings, and she has a section on her personal
experiences with the cards, followed by a section on experiences
of her students with the cards, and then she concludes with
suggestions on how to incorporate the lessons of that card into
your life.  All in all, a very good, thorough book.

     Depending on your interests in Tarot, I would add Robert V.
O'Neill's _Tarot Symbolism_ and Cynthia Giles' _The Tarot:
History, Mystery, and Lore_.  You might want to look into Sallie
Nichols' _Jung and Tarot_ and _Tarot Revelations_  by Joseph
Campbell and Richard Roberts.  None of these four books deal with
reading Tarot, but they all have wonderful background material
that could contribute to making someone a good reader.

     There are many, many good Tarot books out there, and a few
bad ones.  There are also a lot of books that are just not suited
to particular persons at particular times.  Giles has an
excellent annotated Bibliography at the end of her _The Tarot:
History, Mystery, and Lore_ which you might want to consult.

Q:  What if I disagree with the meaning in the book?

     If you feel that your meaning fits the situation and the
picture on the card better than the book's meaning, by all means,
go with your own meaning.  It is a mark of growth as a reader
when you feel confident enough to disagree with the book.

Q:  How should I choose a deck?  Can you recommend some good
decks?

     I recommend that most people have at least two Tarot decks.
First, I recommend that everyone have a "standard" deck.  What I
mean by a standard deck is one of the better-known decks, such as
the Marseilles deck, the Rider-Waite (Smith) deck, or the Thoth
deck, or a deck which is modeled after one of these decks.  Most
books written on Tarot are keyed to one of these three decks or a
derivative of one of these decks, so if you have one of them,
then you will be better able to follow the discussion in the
books.  Personally, unless either the Marseilles tradition or the
Thoth tradition speak to you more, I would recommend the Rider
Waite because it is the most widely accepted deck in use today,
although there is no true single standard.  If you don't like the
Rider Waite (Smith) deck, but are interested in it, I would
encourage you to check out the Universal Waite.  It has the same
pictures, but it was colored by Mary Hanson-Roberts and many
people find it more attractive.  Waite-Smith clones or variants
include the Hanson-Roberts deck, the Robin Wood deck, the
Aquarian deck, the Morgan-Greer deck, and the Russian Tarot of
St. Petersburg.  These and many others are decks that have minor
differences that make them more appealing to some but that don't
really confuse the newer reader who is trying to use a book or
guide keyed to the Rider Waite Smith deck.

     In addition, I would advise everyone to choose at least one
other deck.  For this deck, I would advise just being sensitive
and seeing what deck "calls" to you.  Different decks call to
different people.  In fact, different decks call to the same
person at different times.  Some people are fortunate and find
that one of the standard decks is the one that they like most,
and for them, one deck may be sufficient.  I tell everyone to use
a deck that he/she feels comfortable with, that works for
him/her.  I have several decks, and I choose the one to read with
based on the purpose of the reading and the mood of the moment.

     When choosing decks, there is really no substitute for being
able to look at the cards in person.  Try to patronize a store
that has open decks for you to look at.  Barring that, get a copy
of the U.S. Games catalog to look at.  (The address of U.S. Games
is 179 Ludlow Street, Stamford, CT 06902.  Their phone number is
1-800-544-2637.  Their fax number is 1-203-353-8431.)  This
catalog doesn't list all decks, but it does show pictures from
many different decks and may help you to get a feel for what
speaks to you.  Stuart Kaplan's 3 volume _Encyclopedia of Tarot_
has pictures of more decks than you can imagine.  Rachel
Pollack's _The New Tarot_ has pictures on many of the newer
decks, along with Pollack's personal evaluation/comments on each
one.

     Depending on what sort of deck you are looking for, there
are many excellent ones to choose from.  The Hanson-Roberts deck
is a very soft, gentle deck, derived from the Rider-Waite.  It is
smaller in size than most decks and easier for many people to
shuffle.  (It also takes up less room on the table.)  This was my
first deck and the deck that I usually give as a gift to those
first expressing interest in Tarot.  It is also a good deck for
children.  The Robin Wood is also a Waite clone, but it has a
breezier feel, more contemporary, and a slight Pagan touch as
well.  The Witches Tarot is a Qabalistic Pagan deck.  There is a
Native American deck and a Medicine Woman deck, for those
interested in Native American culture.  There are feminist decks,
Celtic decks, Norse decks,....the list is practically endless.

     Choosing a Tarot deck is highly subjective.  Some decks seem
to work well for many people.  Others work well for only a few
people.  You need to find the deck that works best for you.  No
deck is really universal.  One more word:  I would recommend that
most beginners choose a deck that has descriptive pictures on the
Minor Arcana.  This seems to help us to learn the meanings of the
Minors.  The Waite decks and their derivatives all have
descriptive pictures on the minors, as do many other decks.  Be
sure to check this though before buying a deck unless you don't
mind a deck with pictures only on the Majors and court cards.

     In making a decision on how many decks to own, you might
think about who you read for.  Do you read primarily for
yourself?  Or do you read for others?  If you read for others,
you might want to have at least one other deck, even if it is a
second copy of your main deck, so that you can have a private
deck and a public deck.  If you have only the Norse deck (a good
deck), and were to read for someone who had no affinity at all
for the Norse tradition, there might be a problem.  A more
neutral deck would be better in that case.  I know one
professional reader who uses the Daughters of the Moon deck
almost exclusively.  She loves it and it resonates for her better
than any other.  However, she keeps a couple of other decks handy
for those querents who do not like the Daughters of the Moon
deck.  (Many men would have trouble with a reading from that
deck, for instance.)

     As long as you are comfortable with the deck or deck(s) that
you are using, that is the main thing.  Different decks do seem
to respond to us differently; sometimes we respond to different
decks differently.  We have to learn which decks work best for
which kinds of readings.

Q:  Does a Tarot reading have to be done in person?  Does the
readee (querent) have to touch the cards?

     Some people believe that it is necessary for persons to be
physically close for a Tarot reading to be effective and that it
is necessary for the querent to physically touch the cards.
Other readers are very firm about not letting anyone else touch
their cards.  I have found that physical proximity and/or whether
a querent touches my cards makes some difference, but that long
distance readings can be very effective.  When I read in person,
I do usually ask that the querent touch the cards in some way,
either to shuffle, to cut, or to choose randomly from a row of
face-down cards.

Q:  What is the correct way to shuffle Tarot cards?

     Personally, when I do traditional Tarot, I shuffle until "it
feels right," usually cut the deck into 3 piles with the left
hand and then restack the cards in opposite order.  Three piles
with the left hand does seem to be a common practice.  When I do
non-traditional Tarot, I again shuffle until it feels right, and
then I spread the cards out in a row and have the querent choose
cards that way.  When using round cards or other hard-to-shuffle
cards, I place the cards face down and mix them up thoroughly,
and then gather them back up.

     Some people have trouble deciding when enough shuffling is
enough.  If this is a problem for you, you could try setting an
arbitrary number, a low one, and shuffle that number. And, when
you got done, you could ask yourself, "Does this feel right?"
And, if the answer is "No," tell yourself to shuffle x more
times.  Sometimes I shuffle a lot, even getting lost in the
shuffling.  If this happens, I usually change decks and start
over.

     When you use reversals, you need to be sure that you shuffle
so that the cards are thoroughly mixed up and down as well as
regularly.

Q:  Is there any sort of special treatment for Tarot decks?  Do I
need to observe special rituals with them?

     Some people teach that you have to keep your deck in a fancy
box or special bag or that you have to purify them in a certain
way or that you have to do this or that.  I disagree.  I try to
keep my favorite decks and more fragile decks either in a silk or
cotton velvet bag or in a wooden box--just to prolong their life.
I can't afford the cost or space to keep all of my decks
specially wrapped.  For me, the ones in their plain boxes seem to
read just as well as the ones that get special treatment.

     If you feel better keeping your deck in a special box or
bag, please do so.  If your deck feels fine without one, that's
fine too.  The bond between each person and his or her decks is
special and unique, and it is up to no one else to dictate to you
what you must  do with your own deck.  Just treat your deck with
respect and tenderness and follow your own feelings.  If you do
want to wrap your cards in cloth, black silk is what is most
often recommended.  This can also be laid out on the table for a
reading surface, if you so desire.

     I find that I get comfort from having my special decks near
me--in or on my nightstand or under my pillow.  Other decks go
in my purse, my backpack, and my chest of drawers.  This way they
are close to me.  I keep one deck in my backpack and one
miniature deck (in a silk bag) in my purse.  I keep a few decks
in the drawer of my computer desk as well.  Whenever I travel, I
usually take at least 2 decks with me

     I do most of my self readings in bed, but I usually read for
others on my kitchen table, freshly cleaned but with no special
cloth or  candles.  I always wash my hands before reading the
cards.  The cards get dirty easily enough even with clean hands
and a clean surface. Also, when I read for others, instead of
having them face opposite me, I have them sit beside me.  In this
way, we are both looking at the cards from the same direction.  I
turn and look the person in the eye a lot, to maintain contact.

     If you only let others touch your deck that you feel good
about or at least neutral about, I don't think there would be any
problem.  But have you ever had someone you didn't like to touch
either you or one of your possessions?  And didn't that part of
your body or that object just feel "dirty" afterwards?  I think
that sort of thing applies to all of your body and your
possessions, even Tarot cards.  If I don't like someone, I don't
let them touch my cards--or anything else, if I can help it.  On
the other hand, I have no qualms in sharing my cards with friends
and loved ones.

     Mary Greer lists several simple yet effective purification
rituals in her _Tarot for Your Self_.  You can smoke or smudge
your decks.  You can rinse them carefully in sea water (drying
them immediately), or any number of other rituals.  Mentally
picturing my decks filled with love and light does a lot. So does
ritually setting them out in a pattern, ordering them.  Sometimes
when a deck feels chaotic or disturbed (usually reflecting my
inner state), I will sort the cards, Magician through World, then
Fool, Swords--Ace to King, Wands, Cups, and then Pentacles.
Therefore, my decks, when sorted, have the Magician on the bottom
and the King of Pentacles on top.  This helps to restore my mind
to peace and order, and my mind and the deck seem better in tune
as well.

     Tarot cards (unless being used specifically as a magickal
object) are just cards.  The mind is really the key.  However,
the relationship between the mind and the cards is very important
and very individualized.  If you want your cards to be keyed to
your mind and to work best for you, follow your own impulses.
Above all, be honest with the Tarot.

     If you feel the need to break in a new deck, there are
several good ways to do this.  One is to sleep with the cards
under your pillow.  Another is to take all 78 cards of an old
favorite deck and to spread them all out.  Then take all 78 cards
of the new deck and cover the old cards with the new cards.
Study the cards as you cover them.  Notice the similarities and
differences.

     I think that it is very important to establish some sort of
ritual, but it need not be complicated or elaborate.  My own
rituals are so simple as to appear to be to some to be
nonexistent.

Q:  Where can I find Tarot books and cards?

     To find a local store that sells Tarot cards, turn in your
Yellow Pages to Books and look for listings for New Age stores.
Some of the major chain stores also sell Tarot cards.  Look in
the New Age, Metaphysical, or Occult sections.  You can call them
to see how large a selection that they carry.  Also, some stores
have open decks for you to look at and others don't.  You might
ask about this when you are checking stores out.

     The U.S. Games catalog is nice to have and to order from
(see above for address and phone), but I usually give most of my
business to local stores who also sometimes have additional decks
from other distributors.

Q:  How should I read reversed cards?

     Reversals are upside-down cards in Tarot.  Some people
shuffle so that the cards stay upright at all time and don't deal
with reversals at all.  This is the way that I read with a few of
my decks.  Others shuffle less carefully, but treat all cards as
upright no matter how they turn up.  To others, whether or not a
card is reversed or upright is very important.  For those who use
reversals, they seem to be one of the most difficult part of
Tarot to understand.  Perhaps the most difficult part is learning
to accept that there is no one, absolute way to read reversed
cards in Tarot.  There are many ways.  Each reader has to learn
to be sensitive to the individual circumstances  when reading any
card, especially reversed ones.

     To me, you have to learn the upright meanings very
thoroughly before you can go on to try and interpret reversed
meanings.  I use reversals for some decks and some spreads, but
for some decks and spreads, I still use all uprights.  Many new
readers (including me when I was a new reader) just use upright
cards.  I think that it is often best to start out with uprights
only and to add reversals later if you want.  Some readers use
only upright cards under all circumstances but read these cards
with a full range of meaning that encompasses reversed meanings.
Do what feels best to you.  Whether or not to use reversals is an
entirely personal decision.

 Here are some common ways to read reversed cards:

   1) the exact opposite of the upright meaning (rare),
   2) as a delay in time to the upright meaning,
   3) as a block or barrier to the upright meaning (either
          internal or external),
   4) a weakened version of the upright meaning,
   5) an ending of a current state or period,
   6) Gail Fairfield's method of assigning internal attributes to
         reversed cards vs. external attributes to upright cards,
  7) James Wanless's designation of cards as either evolved or
         unevolved,
   8) Ellen Reed's dicta of reverse travel along the Qabalistic
         Tree of Life path (for the Major Arcana),
   9) an overindulgence of energy (in the Minor Arcana, again,
         according to Reed),
   10) the meaning implied by the physical reversal of the card--
         for example, what does looking at The Fool spinning on
         his head and dancing on the ceiling of the sky suggest?
   11) related to 10), the "ungrounding" of a card--when a card
         is reversed, it is ungrounded or de-stabilized.  What
         does this do to its meaning?  (from Amber Jayanti),
   12) an embryonic or immature state of the upright meaning,
   13) subconscious rather than conscious expression or
         experience--what is beneath the surface that needs to be
         brought to the surface,
   14) being indirect rather than direct--relying upon others to
         act for you in this area rather than acting yourself, or
         choosing a "close" substitute rather than what you
         really want to do--living through others (from Amber
         Jayanti),
   15) a geographical block or distance,
   16) depression,
   17) impatience,
   18) no change in meaning, and
   19) other variations or adaptations of upright meanings.

     Feel free to use some of these or none of these when you
read reversals.  Use the meaning that feels right and that makes
the best sense under the circumstances of the individual reading.
Use the  context of the reading as a whole, the context of the
situation, and your own impulses or instincts to guide you.

     Remember that cards have a range of meanings and a degree of
intensity, and this allows you to do readings with upright-only
cards that are extremely rich and balanced, not at all overly
optimistic.  I have found that using reversals does add subtlety
to readings.  A lot of reversals, for instance, might indicate
delays or blocks, which is kind of hard to get with upright-only
readings, but still possible.  There are many, many ways to read
reversed cards.  In my experience, the most common meaning is a
block or a delay.  Limiting oneself to only one or two of these
ways can produce negative and depressed readings, depending on
which choices are chosen.  If one reads with flexibility and
sensitivity and variety when using reversals, very balanced and
neutral readings are just as likely as when using an
uprights-only deck.

Q:  Can I use Tarot to predict the future?

     Yes and no.  Some people read Tarot for divination, to
discern the will of the god(s).  This type of reading can utilize
Tarot as a magickal tool.  Often, foreseeing the future is part
of this type of reading.  Others of us do not read for
divination.  To me, Tarot is a path, a gateway, a tool for
self-discovery, a meditative focus, whether I read for myself or
for others.  Foreseeing the future plays little part in this type
of reading.  When the future is discussed, it is more in the
nature of how to deal with the events of the future rather than
trying to gain knowledge of what will happen in the future.
Sometimes, in learning about ourselves in the present and
past, we can get new insights into the future.

     Some people read the Tarot in both ways, although not
usually at the same time or in the same way.  Many cards can be
read/interpreted the same way for both types of readings.
However, there will be some differences.  What will be the most
responsible way to read according to one school will not be the
most responsible way to read according to another school.

     I normally adhere to the self-discovery school rather than
the divination school.  Tarot can be predictive, but it is
frequently not predictive.  Having a card show up with great
frequency does not always mean that it is foretelling something
that will happen in your future.  It may be pointing to some
issues from your past that you need to resolve.  It may be
showing you an area where you need to think and meditate and
to explore intellectually or spiritually.  It may be reflecting
your inner desires.  I usually take it as a message to study a
particular card when it shows up a lot--and I go through most of
my books, looking it up in several copies, and maybe I pull out
the card and place it on my computer where I can see it often and
meditate on it.  Sometimes I photocopy a black and white picture
of the card, blown up to 5 x 7, and I color the card in colors of
my choice.  Then I study my version of the card compared to the
original.  Anyway, getting a card frequently may refer to a dozen
other things.  Be open to a wide range of possibilities and know
that even when Tarot is being predictive, we as readers may not
always accurately interpret the cards because of the difficulty
in reading the future.

     Tarot does seem to have a high correlation of serendipity,
and sometimes the cards will show an event that will happen in
the future, no matter what your intentions are in reading.

Q:  Can you help me to understand court cards?

     Most Tarot readers and teachers agree that court cards are
among the hardest to read in Tarot.  I believe that court cards
can represent a person, an aspect of a person and/or a situation.
Some teachers teach that court cards always represent a person.
I find this too limiting.  If a court card does represent a
person, it can be yourself, part of yourself, someone else and/or
an aspect of someone else.  Mary Greer says, drawing on Jungian
psychology, that all court cards are aspects of ourselves as well
as whatever else they are.  In other words, court cards can have
especially complex layers to their meanings.  Unfortunately, most
Tarot books are very skimpy on help with court cards.

     According to Greer, if I get the King of Wands and the Queen
of Swords both in a spread, they can represent others and/or a
situation, but they always (at least in part) also refer to me.
I like this way of reading court cards.  I find that it
complicates the reading sometimes, but that it always adds a
great deal of meaning/insight to the interpretation.  Context is
important and so is patience and persistence on the parts of the
reader and querent.

     I don't know of a single book that treats court cards
satisfactorily, but the court card exercises in Greer's _Tarot
for Your Self_ are the best that I have found and have helped me
a great deal.  If you also read the chapters on court cards in
Greer's _Tarot Constellations_ and _Tarot Mirrors_, then you will
have a good background in court cards.

     Generally speaking, Kings represent mature persons in
leadership roles or with leadership talents.  Queens represent
persons in nurturing roles or with nurturing talents.  Knights
are energetic and forceful.  Pages are students, explorers,
children, curious people, and new beginnings, regardless of
gender.  All of these descriptions are regardless of gender.
Knights and Pages don't have to be chronologically young, but
they have to have a feel of youth and/or recklessness to them.
Paul Revere was probably King age when he made his midnight ride,
but, to me, that is a very Knight-ish thing to do.  Similarly,
going through a mid-life career change might be a Page thing to
do.  Age can be very useful in thinking about court cards, but do
not rely too heavily upon it.

     To amplify, let me give an in-depth look at the four Tarot
knights.  To me, all of the Knights are related to The Chariot.
They have a great deal of drive, energy, and will power.  They
are motion, movement, change, travel.  These knights have the
attributes of focus and singlemindedness, which can be positive
or negative.  They are immature versions of the Kings and Queens.
They may have some flaw that prevents their maturing into Kings
and Queens or they may just be young, in age, experience, or
personality.  They may be male or female, but I am going to use
the male pronoun since we normally think of knights as male.  I
have tried to use both male and female examples for each knight.

     To me, the knight's element is Fire.  (Some people assign
Air to the knights.)  Their individual attributes are shaped by
their suit.  My favorite set of Knights are those by Robin Wood
whose deck is a Waite Smith clone.  She takes the images of the
Smith Knights and hones it a bit.  In her deck, the Knight of
Swords rides a Pegasus through the air, and lightning actually
strikes the Knight's sword.  The Knight of Cups rides a merhorse;
the Knight of Wands rides a horse with a flaming tail and mane,
and the Knight of Pentacles, very much like Smith's Knight, rides
a stocky workhorse.

     The Knight of Cups is romantic, often psychic, creative,
brilliant, and frequently unstable (like heated water).  He can
be quite impetuous, giving his all to art or love.  Examples of
this Knight might be the poet William Blake or Shakespeare's
Romeo and Juliet.   The Knight of Wands is similar to the Knight
of Cups but more intense, hotter, even more focused.  He is
driven by an inner heat or compulsion, but he can be even more
impulsive or impetuous than the Knight of Cups.  Two examples of
the Knight of Wands are Joan of Arc and the young Simon Peter in
the Garden as he cut off the guardsman's ear and later as he
denied Jesus before the crowing of the cock.

     The Knight of Swords is the young warrior/scholar.  He makes
an excellent detective, but may be too quick or impulsive and may
miss a vital clue.  Or he may become so singleminded and wrapped
up in his chase that he forgets to be human.  Examples of the
Knight of Swords might include Inspector Javert from Victor
Hugo's _Les Miserables_, Ensign Ro from _Star Trek:  The Next
Generation_, and Indiana Jones from _Raiders of the Lost Ark_.  A
little heart is sometimes lacking in this Knight.  He is not
cold, merely distracted, preoccupied.  He is often extremely
attractive to the opposite sex, but usually makes an
unsatisfactory partner in a long-term relationship.

     The Knight of Pentacles is the easiest for me to understand
but the hardest to explain.  This is the steadiest, the firmest,
the least impetuous of the Knights, and it is all too easy to
think of him as nothing but steady and dependable and possibly
somewhat dull.  However, beneath his exterior, there is a
smoldering fire, hot coals that may burst into flames at any
moment.  Although this Knight is pictured as standing still, he
is a superb organizer, very efficient.  He is one who gets things
done.  He is the one who plans, who works behind the scenes,
often in the shadow of either a King or Queen or even one of the
other Knights.  If you want a job to get done and to get done in
a fast yet comprehensive way, give it to a Knight of Pentacles.
They are dependable without being flashy.  Andrew, brother
of Peter, is a Knight of Pentacles.  Walter Cronkite strikes me
as a Knight of Pentacles.  Many wives of famous men have been
Knights of Pentacles.  It is hard to give examples of this Knight
since we don't usually notice him.

Q:  What do I do with my Soul and Personality Cards once I figure
them out?  (This applies to those who use Greer's _Tarot for Your
Self_ or Arrien's _The Tarot Handbook_.)

     You can merely figure them out and have a nice experience of
mild interest and curiosity in finding out what your Soul and
Personality cards are.  You can take them as your special cards
which will have a significant message to you throughout your
life.  Or, you can regard them somewhere in between (which is
what I do).  Greer's books have a lot of exercises.  To me, the
primary benefit of these exercises is that they get you actually
working with the cards and thinking about the cards.  If you find
additional benefit from them, that's wonderful.  I find that it
has been helpful to meditate on my Soul and Personality cards,
and if they come up in a reading for me, I pay particular
significance to them.  If you find them useful concepts, then use
them however you wish.  If you don't find them particularly
useful, then go on to something else that you do find useful.

Q:   How important is it to use spreads?  Do I need to use them
at all?  How do I decide which spread to use?  How will I know
which one is the right one?  Are all spreads equally effective?

     I'll answer these questions in reverse order.  First, no,
not all spreads are equally effective.  Some spreads are good for
many different purposes and some are better for specialized
purposes.  Some spreads seem to work better for certain people.
Second, knowing which spread is the right spread is tough.  I'd
start out using short spreads that are fairly general in nature
and then move on to the Celtic Cross.  After you feel comfortable
with that, there are some other spreads that are good to learn.
You can also invent your own spreads.  Mary Greer's _Tarot for
Your Self_, and Gail Fairfield's _Choice Centered Tarot_ both
have sections on using and inventing spreads.

     Third, you don't have to use spreads at all.  Many Tarot
readers don't.  I think that they are particularly helpful when
you are first learning to read Tarot.  I find them useful and use
them most of the time, but not always.  You can just fan out your
cards in front of you face down and ask questions and draw cards.
This can be extremely effective.  Fourth, using spreads can add
form and focus to your readings.  They add structure.  It is
important to use the right spread if you know enough spreads to
have a choice.  I think that it is better to use no spread than a
wrong one.  When in doubt, though, try a general purpose spread
first.  If that doesn't answer your question, try another spread.
You can either use the same cards for the second spread or you
can re-deal.  Using permutation exercises where you use the same
cards for different spreads can really help you to get a feel for
how different spreads work.

Q:  How do I know when I'm ready to read for others?  How do I
read differently for others from how I read for myself?  Are
there any special things I need to know or be aware of when
reading for others?  How do you suggest getting started reading
for others?

     It's hard to know when you are ready to read for others.  I
would  suggest that you be familiar enough with the cards that
you don't need to resort to a book (at least not very often)
before you read for someone else.  I think that it's also a good
idea to find (if possible) a Tarot partner that you can practice
doing readings with.  The two of you can learn together and read
for each other.  After a time, you will feel ready to read for
others.  Your Tarot partner doesn't have to be someone that you
see in person; you can practice with a partner via mail or on a
computer network.

     Remember when reading for others to always tell them that
they have the power to change their lives and that if the cards
show unpleasantness, that it is best to deal with these things
rather than to avoid them or deny them.  Also, I would strongly
hesitate to predict an absolute calamity.  Don't lie or hedge,
but instead of saying, "You are going to have a horrible car
accident," you might say, "You should exercise caution and care
when travelling.  You might even want to postpone taking a major
trip just now."

     You need to use tact and concern at all times.  Remember to
read with love and caring and to use common sense.  Sometimes
it's important to give strict "by the book" meanings when
reading.  At other times, it's more important to be attuned to
the person and to tell him or her what he or she needs to hear.
(The two are not mutually exclusive.)  In the latter case, it
helps to think of the Tarot as a tool, a jumping off point,
meditation with pictures or a method of creative brainstorming.
In these cases, Tarot is just what you use to get you started.
Be flexible.

Q:  Can I get by with just one deck?  What are the reasons to
have more than one deck?

     You most certainly can get by with just one deck.  Many
readers do so.  I have found that it helps me to have (and use)
several decks though because I can get a variety of impressions
about the various cards.  For instance, the Moon in the Daughters
of the Moon deck gives a different (and more positive meaning)
than the Moon in the Waite Smith deck.

Q:  Is it all right to just look at the pictures when I read and
to never study a book?  Can I get just as much from the pictures?
Can I read intuitively from the pictures alone?

     This is a tough question.  I think that you need to rely
first and most upon the pictures on the cards, but I think that
if you don't read and study that you are shutting yourself off
from the valuable experience of other Tarot students.  For
instance, I bring to the cards only my own experiences.  Perhaps
there hasn't been much in my own life that deals with the
concepts of The Tower.  If so, I will have a very narrow
interpretation of that card.  Reading what others have to say
about it will help me to be more sensitive to the possibilities
that The Tower can bring.

Q:  How can I incorporate Tarot into a religious or magickal
tradition?  Do I read the cards differently under religious
circumstances or as a part of a ritual?

     You can incorporate Tarot into a religious or magickal
tradition.  Usually, this is done so in meditation, study, or
ritual.  How you use the cards specifically would depend on the
traditions of your religion and your own inclination.  The
meanings of the cards are basically the same, but there are some
differences.  Cards such as the Hierophant and the High Priestess
may have more concrete meanings and less abstract ones when used
this way.  For more information, you should probably consult
those in your tradition who use Tarot.

Q:  Can Christians read Tarot cards?  There's nothing in them
that's against Christianity, is there?

     Many Christians can and do read Tarot cards.  Certainly
Tarot cards use Christian symbols and themes.  In my opinion,
there is nothing in the Tarot cards themselves that would go
against liberal Christianity.  Some more conservative branches of
Christianity would have trouble with Tarot cards, especially
those who forbid the practice of playing cards.  In addition, not
all uses of Tarot cards are compatible with Christianity, but
there are many ways that Christians can use Tarot cards.  Many
early mystics of the twentieth century were Christian mystics,
and there is a strong tradition of Christian mysticism and Tarot.
For an approach to Tarot that is extremely Christian in outlook,
you might want to look at the work of Eileen Connolly.

Q:  Do you read the Majors and the Minors differently?  If so,
how?

     I tend to assign more "weight" to the Major cards.  I also
tend to see the Minor cards as representing things that I have
control over and the Major cards as representing things that I
have little control over, such as Fate.  These are
generalizations, and the context does qualify these concepts.
For instance, I see the Majors in a daily 3-card reading as less
significant than I do if the same Majors appear in a Celtic Cross
spread done for a specific purpose.

Q:  Is it all right to use a used deck?

     I think so.  If a deck feels unpleasant to you, don't use it
whether it is new or used, but if the deck feels all right, then
I think that it is fine to use a used deck.  There has been the
tradition that decks were buried with their readers and that no
one could use someone else's deck.  I respect this tradition, but
I do not follow it.

     One friend uses his grandmother's deck.  Before she died,
she wrote key words on her cards, and now when her grandson uses
that deck, he has a connection to his grandmother and how she saw
Tarot.  This is a very special gift, and one that he highly
prizes.  Another friend who was just learning Tarot received a
gift from her Tarot mentor, his own personal deck.  When she uses
this deck, she can sense his confidence in her, and she is
encouraged.  I think that this was a wonderful way of sharing.  I
have a few used decks that I bought from an estate.  A Tarot
collector died, and her decks were auctioned off.  I have nine of
her decks, and I like to think that her spirit is happy that her
decks have found a home with another collector.

     But in this, as in all else with Tarot, follow your own
heart and be true to your own feelings.

Nina Lee Braden

Brief Bibliography

Almond, Jocelyn, and Keith Seddon.  _Understanding Tarot:  A
     Practical Guide to Tarot Card Reading_.  London:  Aquarian-
     HarperCollins, 1991.

Arrien, Angeles.  _The Tarot Handbook:  Practical Applications of
     Ancient Visual Symbols_.  Sonoma, CA:  Arcus, 1987.

Budapest, Zsuzsanna.  _The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries
     (Complete in One Volume)_.  1980.  1986.  Oakland, CA:
     Wingbow, 1989.

Butler, Bill.  _The Definitive Tarot_.  London:  Century
     Hutchinson, 1975.  Rpt. as _Dictionary of the Tarot_.  New
     York:  Pantheon-Random House, 1975.

Connolly, Eileen.  _Tarot:  A New Handbook for the Apprentice_.
     1979. rev. ed.  North Hollywood, CA:  Newcastle, 1990.

----.  _Tarot:  The Handbook for the Journeyman_.  North
     Hollywood, CA:  Newcastle, 1987.

Douglas, Alfred.  _The Tarot:  The Origins, Meaning and Uses of
     the Cards_.  1972.  Harmondsworth, Eng.:  Penguin, 1973.

Fairfield, Gail.  _Choice-Centered Tarot_.  1981.  Smithville,
     IN:  Ramp Creek, 1990.

Fenton, Sasha.  _Super Tarot:  New Techniques for Improving Your
     Tarot Reading_.  London:  Aquarian, 1991.

Gearhart, Sally, and Susan Rennie.  _A Feminist Tarot_.  Rev. ed.
    Boston:  Alyson, 1981.

Giles, Cynthia.  _The Tarot:  History, Mystery and Lore_.  New
     York:  Paragon House, 1992.

Gray, Eden.  _A Complete Guide to the Tarot_.  Toronto:  Bantam-
     Crown, 1970.

----.  _Mastering the Tarot_.  New York:  Signet-Crown, 1971.

Greer, Mary K.  _Tarot Constellations:  Patterns of Personal
     Destiny_.  North Hollywood, CA:  Newcastle Publishing, 1987.

----.  _Tarot for Your Self_.  North Hollywood, CA:  Newcastle,
     1984.

----.  _Tarot Mirrors_.  North Hollywood, CA:  Newcastle, 1988.

Greer, Mary and Rachel Pollack, eds.  _New Thoughts on Tarot_.
     North Hollywood, CA:  Newcastle, 1989.

Jayanti, Amber.  _Living the Tarot_.  1988.  rev. ed.  St. Paul,
     MN:  Llewellyn, 1993.

Kaplan, Stuart R.  _The Encyclopedia of Tarot_.  3 vols.
     Stamford, CT:  U.S. Games Systems, 1978-1990.

Knight, Gareth.  _The Treasure House of Images:  An Introduction
     to the Magical Dynamics of the Tarot_.  Rochester, VT:
     Destiny Books, 1986.

Masino, Marcia.  _Easy Tarot Guide_.  San Diego, CA:  ACS, 1987.

Morgan, Ffiona.  _Daughters of the Moon Tarot_.  1984.  Willits,
     CA: Daughters of the Moon, 1986.

Nichols, Sallie.  _Jung and Tarot:  An Archetypal Journey_.
     1980.  York Beach, ME:  Samuel Weiser, 1984.

Noble, Vicki.  _Motherpeace:  A Way to the Goddess Through Myth,
          Art, and Tarot_.  New York:  HarperSanFrancisco, 1983.

O'Neill, Robert V.  _Tarot Symbolism_.  Lima, OH:  Fairway Press,
     1986.

Pollack, Rachel.  _Seventy-eight Degrees of Wisdom:  A Book of
     Tarot Part I:  The Major Arcana_.   Wellingborough, Eng.:
     Aquarian, 1980.

Sharman-Burke, Juliet.  _The Complete Book of Tarot_.  New York:
     St. Martin's Press, 1985.

Summers, Catherine and Julian Vayne.  _Self Development with the
     Tarot_.  London:  Foulsham, 1992.

Waite Arthur Edward.  _The Pictorial Key to the Tarot_.  1910.
     York Beach, ME:  Samuel Weiser, 1989.

Wanless, James.  _New Age Tarot_.  Carmel, CA:  Merrill-West,
     1987.

----.  _Voyager Tarot:  Way of the Great Oracle_.  Carmel, CA:
     Merrill-West, 1989.

Wanless, James and Angeles Arrien, eds.  _Wheel of Tarot:  A New
          Revolution_.  Carmel, CA:  Merrill-West, 1992.


copyright 1994 by Nina Lee Braden.

Freeware.  Permission to redistribute given as long as authorship
is acknowledged and no fee other than download or reproduction
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Questions can be addressed to the author via the Internet at
[e-mail] or at the following address:

Nina Lee Braden
c/o Crystal Wonders
4921 Homberg Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919
[phone]

Nina Lee Braden is available for private readings, lessons and
workshops.