six tarot cards paired up in a spread
Magic, Tarot

Reading Tarot is a Practice not a Skill

Tarot is an ever unfolding journey. It isn’t a study that you become expert at after so much time, tests, classes or structured “learning” (or should I say memorizing?). Tarot is not stagnant, it is not linear, it is not universally fixed in its meanings. Symbols are not easily defined, intuition and personal interpretation hold much value, maybe even more than the traditional way of seeing it in some situations.

Tarot is not stagnant, it is not linear, it is not universally fixed in its meanings.

As in all healing and spiritual arts, it is ever changing, shifting and unfolding. It is fluid like water that never stagnates. You change, evolve, grow and the Tarot is always there to aid and guide you into deeper understanding. The Tarot lends its energy in gentle nudges and huge revelations in whatever ways it’s needed, all in divine timing.

Awaken Your Intuition with the Tarot

Intuition is important in studying the Tarot. Unfortunately intuition is often stomped out of people, especially women and the oppressed, because a wounded instinct means someone or a system has access to power, through your lack of it. The Tarot begs to be recognized by the instinctive psyche of our souls. When we exercise our intuition, it becomes stronger, empowering us in our lives. Your intuition may be lying dormant, unused or undervalued but working with the Tarot can help you awaken the slumbering gifts of seeing and sensing.

woman's hand with rings holding bleeding heart flowers in her palm

Balanced Learning: Books and Intuition

As with most things, a balance is key. We need both the traditions, the guide books, the collective and the instinct, the intuition, the personal narrative. The Tarot can be a door into the psyche. Symbols, colors, images and energy awaken insights into ourselves. The Tarot Is pragmatic and mystical, both in balance, it informs and moves.

In order to interpret this divination practice, we need to weave the card meanings together, relate them to ourselves or whoever we are reading for, and most importantly, meaningfully connect to the deck. The energy of the cards needs to be felt, your energy and that of the cards needs to mingle. This dance of energy needs to affect your reading, how you relate the cards to your life, your questions, and how you weave the cards you’ve pulled together.

woman walking away through a path in a flowering meadow

Preparing to Read Intuitively

Taking a few deep breaths as you shuffle the cards, with the intention of connecting to your deck, can bring you more in tune for a reading. When you go to lay a spread or pull a card make sure you are relaxed and ready to enter into sacred space, to enter a liminal space and let time stand still.By welcoming in sacred energy you will have a much more meaningful reading that feels really aligned with what’s going on in your life. Allow yourself to lend meanings that are deeply personal, things that someone may not see at all. Weave your meanings with the those of the traditional. Be open to what’s in front of you.

The Tarot does not push. It won’t tell you what to do. It isn’t a tool of defined direction. It isn’t a GPS, it’s a compass. It leads us where we want and are meant to go. There is always a serendipitous effect with the cards. You cannot control, predict, or manufacture what is to be revealed. The Tarot is a gateway that opens into the universe but it is also a mirror that reflects you back into yourself.

Tarot is a Practice that could be considered an “old way.” The old spiritual ways are good Medicine that never spoils, getting stronger the more they are used. Tarot draws from the knowledge of the past and the powerful present to gain insights into the mysterious future, leaving us with well nourished souls.

eight mixed tarot cards laid out in a spread with a black stone on a sheepskin

Tiana

Author

  • Tiana

    Tiana writes about a wide range of esoteric practices, including earth-based spirituality, ritual and tarot.

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