What is tarot? What are the different types of tarot decks that exist (e.g., Rider-Waite, Thoth, Marseilles), and what are their key differences in symbolism and imagery? How does a tarot reading typically proceed – what is the role of the querent, the reader, and the cards themselves? What are the common tarot spreads (e.g., Celtic Cross, Three-Card Spread), and how does one interpret the positions within those spreads? Are the cards simply archetypal representations, or is there a deeper, potentially psychic or spiritual element involved in how they work? Is it possible to learn to read tarot effectively on one’s own, or is mentorship generally required? Finally, what are some ethical considerations for tarot readers in relation to client privacy, providing guidance, and avoiding potential harm?

Answer

Tarot is a system of divination and a deck of 78 cards used to gain insight into the past, present, or future by posing a question, then drawing and interpreting cards. While often associated with fortune-telling, many practitioners view tarot as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth, offering different perspectives on situations and potential outcomes.

Structure of a Tarot Deck:

A standard tarot deck is divided into two main sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.

• Major Arcana (22 cards): These cards represent significant life lessons, karmic influences, and archetypal themes. They often depict major turning points, profound changes, and universal experiences. Each card has a name and number, such as The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Justice, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Strength, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, and The World.

• Minor Arcana (56 cards): These cards reflect day-to-day events, practical matters, and the challenges and opportunities encountered in daily life. The Minor Arcana is further divided into four suits, each representing a different aspect of life:

  • Wands (or Rods): Associated with fire, wands represent action, energy, creativity, passion, and spiritual drive.
  • Cups: Associated with water, cups represent emotions, relationships, love, intuition, and the subconscious.
  • Swords: Associated with air, swords represent intellect, logic, communication, conflict, and difficult decisions.
  • Pentacles (or Coins): Associated with earth, pentacles represent material possessions, finances, security, health, and practicality.

Each suit contains numbered cards from Ace (1) to Ten, and four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

How Tarot Works (Different Perspectives):

There is no single, universally accepted explanation for how tarot works. Various perspectives exist, ranging from psychological to spiritual interpretations:

1. Psychological Perspective: This view sees tarot as a tool that taps into the user’s subconscious mind. The cards act as a visual stimulus, prompting intuition and helping to reveal hidden thoughts, feelings, and patterns. The symbols and archetypes resonate with universal human experiences, allowing for self-reflection and new perspectives on personal situations. Carl Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious is often invoked in this context. The reader acts as a facilitator, guiding the querent (the person seeking the reading) to interpret the symbols in a way that is meaningful to them.

2. Intuitive Perspective: This perspective posits that the reader uses their intuition to interpret the cards in relation to the querent’s situation. The cards serve as a starting point, triggering intuitive insights and psychic abilities within the reader. The reader may tap into a higher level of awareness or connect with a universal consciousness to gain deeper understanding. This approach emphasizes the reader’s personal connection to the cards and their ability to "read" the energy surrounding the situation.

3. Spiritual Perspective: This belief suggests that the cards are connected to a spiritual realm, acting as a conduit for guidance from spirits, angels, or a higher power. The cards are seen as a symbolic language that communicates messages from the divine. The reader is a medium, channeling spiritual insights for the querent’s benefit.

4. Symbolic and Archetypal Perspective: The tarot is rich in symbolism derived from various sources, including mythology, astrology, numerology, and ancient traditions. Each card represents a specific archetype, a universal pattern of behavior or experience. The arrangement of cards in a spread creates a narrative, reflecting the interplay of these archetypes in the querent’s life. Understanding the symbolic language of the tarot allows for a deeper comprehension of the underlying forces at play.

5. Synchronicity Perspective: Inspired by Carl Jung’s concept of synchronicity, this view suggests that the cards chosen are not random but are meaningfully connected to the querent’s question or situation. Synchronicity refers to meaningful coincidences, where events occur together in a way that is not causally related but feels significant. The appearance of certain cards is seen as a reflection of the querent’s inner state and the events unfolding in their life.

The Reading Process:

1. Formulating a Question: The querent first formulates a clear and specific question or area of focus. Open-ended questions tend to yield more insightful responses than questions with a simple "yes" or "no" answer.

2. Shuffling the Deck: The deck is typically shuffled by the querent to infuse it with their energy. Some readers shuffle the deck themselves.

3. Choosing a Spread: A spread is a specific arrangement of cards, each position representing a different aspect of the question or situation. Common spreads include the Celtic Cross, the Three-Card Spread (past, present, future), and the Horseshoe Spread.

4. Drawing the Cards: The reader or querent draws cards from the deck and places them face down in the designated positions of the spread.

5. Interpreting the Cards: The reader turns over the cards one by one, interpreting each card based on its meaning, its position in the spread, and its relationship to the other cards. The reader considers both the traditional meanings of the cards and their own intuitive insights.

6. Synthesizing the Information: The reader synthesizes the individual card interpretations into a cohesive narrative, providing insights and guidance to the querent. The reading should offer different perspectives and potential outcomes, empowering the querent to make informed decisions.

7. Reversals: Cards drawn upside down are called reversals. They often indicate a blocked or weakened energy, a hidden aspect of the card’s meaning, or a need for caution. Interpretations of reversals vary among readers. Some disregard them entirely, while others see them as essential to a nuanced reading.