How To Use Tarot Cards For Divination

Have you ever received goosebumps after receiving a reading or after using a deck of cards for yourself because they were so accurate? Or maybe you’ve been trapped in life and found that using cards every day for a few weeks helped you get through a difficult moment. The majority of us who use Tarot, whether as readers, students, clients, or casual experimenters, have experienced its mysterious power. We continue to study, grow, and use tarot because of its power.

There is no doubting that the Tarot’s visuals and archetypal meanings have a profound power and the capacity to enable us to connect with our higher selves and access spirit guides, despite the fact that they originated as ancient playing cards.

There are 78 cards in the Major and Minor Arcana of the ancient Tarot deck. The Major Arcana, often known as the “process of individuation” by Carl Jung, consists of 22 cards that reflect archetypal symbols of the human journey. Wands, Cups, Swords, and Disks make up the four suits of the remaining 56 playing cards (or Pentacles). They will resemble playing cards from today, so you will be familiar with them.

The iconography used in tarot cards was taken from myth, mystery plays, and other enduringly meaningful medieval sources. In the 19th and 20th centuries, astrological and Kabbalistic correspondences were added.

Despite the fact that some modern decks appear to have nothing in common with the ancient Tarot, the majority do rely on a fundamental symbolic interpretation for each card. The diviner must then use their intuition to interpret the cards in their own unique way. The Tarot is a unique art form that calls for practice and innovation.

The Major Arcana appear in readings for significant difficulties or locations within a spread. They demonstrate how the archetypal forces operate in our daily lives. The Minor Arcana allude to commonplace problems. The court cards of each suit symbolize individuals or, more frequently, unskilled aspects of our own personalities.

The Tarot uses symbols to pique the reader’s subconscious mind as a means of divination. It usually awakens intuition and engages the right brain.

The Tarot is a tool that is used frequently for personal storytelling and development.

Intuition and psychic abilities are frequently seen as “supernatural.” However, since we all have access to intuition, anyone can develop psychic skills. So everyone can interpret Tarot cards!

Riah, one of my clients, had doubts about the Tarot. How could a framework that was dependent on predetermined readings be a true “psychological tool”? I stated that the skill of tarot is to combine the underlying meanings with one’s own intuition or psychic abilities and then apply that meaning to the current scenario.

Riah countered, “But you can make the cards imply whatever you choose. ” How on earth is that useful?

Yes, that is accurate. This is why getting readings from knowledgeable readers at first is a good idea. But you can improve your objectivity by using the cards more often.

She wasn’t persuaded, so I encouraged her to randomly select a card each day with no expectations. I instructed her to keep a journal of the day’s happenings and link them to the card she had selected as part of the activity. Don’t overthink it; simply use your first thought to draw connections, I advised her. You will notice correlations if you stick with this activity even if they might not always be clear.

For a month, Riah engaged in this activity. She set out in her scientific enthusiasm to demonstrate that Tarot cards were, at best, just a collection of random, subjectively perceived images. She was startled to see that just by selecting one card in the morning and watching it throughout the day, patterns and wisdom started to appear.

Despite always doing a good job of shuffling the cards, Riah discovered that three of them frequently appeared and were directly tied to her mother-related problems. Other cards accurately anticipated things that happened in her life! Naturally, there were other instances in which the card didn’t seem to have any effect at all. More significantly, she experimented with many readings and was open to the thought that her personal interpretations of some cards were more insightful than the conventional ones.

She came to understand that by playing with the cards with no actual expectations, she might free herself from preconceived notions and allow her own intuition to guide her in ways that would enhance her life.

It is disputed how the Tarot actually functions. Similar to how we see what we want in life, we frequently see it in the cards. We don’t need science to demonstrate that the brain generates the images it anticipates seeing, according to current studies. We already know this from experiencing life.

However, it’s crucial to understand that there is wisdom beyond your conscious understanding if you’re going to use the Tarot or any other form of divination. It doesn’t matter if you believe that knowledge originates with your subconscious, the collective unconscious, God, your guides, or your higher self. If you use the Tarot over time, its truth will become apparent to you. You might even end up designing your own deck!

There are undoubtedly situations in which it is preferable to get an impartial reading than than selecting your own cards. Why not give a Keen counselor a call right away if you want to learn more about the magic of the Tarot?

In This Article...

How are tarot cards activated?

What to Do First:

Get out your tarot deck.
The cards are in your hand.
“Knock or tap the pile of cards numerous times while holding them in your palm to disseminate your energy throughout the deck.
Shuffle the cards completely.
The cards are divided into three heaps, which are subsequently reassembled into one pile.

How do you personally use tarot cards?

I discovered early on in my tarot excursions that knowing the meanings of each card isn’t necessary, even if there is much value and wisdom to be gained from them. Your intuition holds the key to learning how to interpret tarot cards. And this makes sense given that they are instruments for receiving and deciphering messages from the universe or our inner selves. Get the best advice from readers below to learn how to read tarot cards for yourself instinctively and without memorization.

After a breakup

Draw one card for each of the following inquiries if you’ve recently broken up with someone and want to know more about the reason or determine whether you’ll get back together:

How energetic is the partnership right now?
What caused the divide in the first place?
What do they really think of me right now?
What do they intend for me right now?
What kind of relationship will this be in the future?
Which action is ideal for me to take right now?

When job searching

You can use this spread to explore what kind of career guidance the tarot can offer if you’re feeling uncertain about your career path or thinking about a new employment. Draw one card once more for each query.

How active am I in my career right now?
What challenge must I overcome?
What is my calling in life?
How can I follow this calling more closely?
What should I do to prepare for the upcoming month?

When deciding between two options

This spread can highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each option, guiding you toward the best decision if you’re using tarot to pick between two possibilities (two job offers, two apartments, perhaps a love triangle???). Getting the deal Per card, ask one question.

What is the fundamental cause of this fork in the road?
What is the likely result of choosing option A?
What is the most likely result for option B?
What more should I take into account that was overlooked?
What’s the best thing I can do right now?

When something is off with a friend

If you’re concerned about the state of a friendship or feel like something is wrong but are unable to pinpoint the cause, you might be interested in seeing what conclusions and solutions this spread offers. Ask one question per card, once more, I repeat.

What makes this friendship so crucial?
What led to this sudden change in tone, and why?
What has changed, in my friend’s opinion?
What can I do to make this matter more urgent?
What is the future of this friendship?
What should I do at this moment?

Questions you don’t really want answered

Even though it might seem apparent, it’s advisable to refrain from asking the tarot cards questions that you aren’t prepared to hear the answers to. That’s because answers to these questions can reveal information you’re just not quite ready to hear.

“Tarot can definitely come off as offensive if you’re not willing to hear the truth or consider an opposing opinion. Tarot reading Nicole Fortunaso

According to tarot reader and life coach Nicole Fortunaso, “tarot may truly come out as offensive if you are not willing to hear the truth of the problem or look at an alternate viewpoint.” She advises analyzing why you’re reacting the way you are in order to reflect on how to effectively address the underlying problem if you ask the question and aren’t satisfied with the response.

How do I connect my tarot cards’ energy?

Advice on connecting with your tarot cards whether it’s your first time using them or you’ve owned your deck for a while.

Connecting or reconnecting to your deck can be a helpful activity, regardless of whether you haven’t picked up your deck in a long, are hesitant to conduct a reading for yourself, feel “wrong” with the readings you’ve been conducting, or have purchased a new deck.

Check out Reading Tarot for Beginners: How to Start Reading Tarot for Yourself for advice on how to pick your deck.

Being a competent reader requires you to connect with your tarot deck. But you must invest time, effort, and attention in a good relationship.

How can I tell if I’m not meant to work with a deck or I just need to reconnect?

The connection you have with the deck has to be strengthened, or it might not be the best fit for you at this time, if you’re having trouble getting a good reading from it or feel off with it.

It’s possible that you and your tarot deck aren’t intended to be in a serious long-term relationship if you don’t feel like you connect with it or if you don’t appear to speak the same language. There is a deck available for you if you want to learn, therefore this does not imply that you are not destined to be a reader.

However, there’s also a strong chance that you can establish the connection with a little time and effort. especially if you were initially drawn to your deck.

You can utilize some decks for specific purposes and not others. The majority of your magic will probably be performed with one main deck, although you may occasionally use other decks for fun, support, or clarity. Since decks are exquisite works of art, I love collecting them. And I adore using them when I want to switch things up or am performing a certain style of reading, but I only use my original ride or die deck for all of my professional readings and lectures.

All of this is to indicate that testing out a variety of decks is a wonderful idea. For your first deck, conduct some study, examine the imagery, and choose the one that sparks your interest.

Here are some methods for getting back on your deck. I’ve listed them in the sequence I’d perform them, but you should feel free to customize this exercise according to your own preferences.

How to connect with your tarot cards

You can accomplish this in a number of ways, including by shuffling, using crystals, moonlight, salt, or sacred incense. Click here to learn more about cleaning your deck.

Hold your cards firmly in your palms while taking a few deep breaths. After that, think about the intention you want to have for your practice with them. It could be a word, a sentence, or an emotion. You can use this time to ask any guides or spirits you enjoy working with for assistance or to help you open your channel to divine advice that is in your highest and best interests.

Cleaning the energy in the deck through shuffling. Additionally, it creates the random system that allows us to access the advice we need from the deck. We can gain a completely new viewpoint from the cards because of the randomness that shuffling creates; by doing so, we are deviating from logic and embracing the unknowable. Check out this article on card shuffling.

To get to know one another, gain some fresh perspectives, and, yes, bond, spend some time completing a tarot spread that is tailored to your deck.

What details about you do you want me to know?
Your restrictions?
What type of partnership are we capable of having?
What task are we supposed to complete jointly?
Which card can currently be my teacher?
How can I use this card to explore deeper?

Make putting your deck away a ceremony. You might keep it in a box, cover it in a special scarf, place a crystal on top of it, or place it on an altar while not in use. Choosing to follow this quick procedure at the conclusion of each session or day is a way to show your deck some love, gratitude, and appreciation.

Bonus Tarot bonding exercises:

the whole picture The Major Arcana numbers 0 to 22 should be arranged in lines of seven cards across. Next, arrange the Ace through King cards for each suit in the following order: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Take a good look at the deck in this format. Then thoroughly jumble everything together.

Select a map. To serve as your anchor and guide for connecting with your deck and intuition, choose a card based on its look and/or its meaning. Write down all the thoughts, emotions, and queries this card triggers for you in a journal. Use it to meditate. Keep track of how it manifests in your daily life and tarot practice (and keep a notebook of your observations!). When not using your deck, place this card on your altar. You can carry out this for a week or a lunar cycle before selecting another.

Put your deck beneath your pillow while you sleep. You can connect with the cards in your unconscious time if you can make it comfy.

Also keep in mind that it takes time to establish a connection and relationship with your deck. Like any relationship, it evolves as you develop and gain new knowledge.

Do tarot cards need to be purified?

That’s correct

Magdaleno really suggests cleaning your deck before each reading to achieve the most accurate results. She advises starting with a cleansing to make the cards clear for your reading, whether it’s for yourself or someone else.

Can regular playing cards be used to read tarot?

You may have used an oracle deck or heard of tarot cards, but did you realize you could perform a reading with a standard deck of playing cards for a friend or yourself? Anyone is welcome to try this method of divination, known as cartomancy.

How should I maintain my Tarot deck?

While rearranging the cards in the tarot deck is a good approach to purify and clear their energy, there are some circumstances in which you might wish to perform a more specialized ritual. If you’re just getting started with tarot, cleaning your deck can be an excellent place to start.

You might want to clean your tarot deck for a variety of reasons, including:

beginning with a fresh deck
readings for other people
You think you need to recharge.
Your card readings seem a touch “odd” or “disconnected”
Your deck hasn’t been used recently.
Your deck has been handled by others
You think you’ve been utilizing your deck a lot. A LOT, especially for books with strong emotional content

Why should you cleanse or clear your tarot deck?

Tarot deck cleansing helps keep the energy flowing between you and your deck. Consider it as a little spiritual hygiene to maintain a strong and clear connection. It’s not necessary, but if you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, try a few of the energetic cleansing techniques listed below and note which ones seem to work the best for you.

How often should you cleanse your tarot deck?

This is another way of stating USE YOUR INTUITION: there are no hard and fast laws. Don’t stress if you don’t believe it is necessary for your deck. Alternately, if you like to cleanse them once per week or once per month, that’s great. If it feels appropriate to you, you can even place your favorite crystal on the balcony each night.

If you frequently place crystals on your deck and store it on an altar while not in use, you might not feel the need to cleanse it frequently because this quick ritual will likely be sufficient to keep your deck feeling nice.

There are numerous ways to cleanse your cards, just as there are numerous reasons why you might desire to do so.

Different ways to cleanse your tarot deck

Use holy smoke. Light a dried rosemary, lavender, cedar, sage, or palo santo cleansing wand until it begins to smoke. Hold the smoke a safe distance below the deck while holding the burning herbs in one hand and the deck in the other so that the smoke drifts upward onto the cards. Turn the deck so that the smoke covers it from all angles. Next, safely put your deck to the ground and put out the fire.

On the deck, set a selenite stone (or a black tourmaline or a transparent quartz). It works well to leave it like way for an hour, but I prefer to leave it overnight.

Set them on display during a new moon. The New Moon is energy of a blank slate; you can purify the deck by setting it on a window sill on a new moon night. At this moment, you can also make a brand-new intention for your deck.

Place the cards in a salty dish. A strong and stabilizing cleaner is salt. My preferred choice for a thorough cleansing is this. Allow it to sit anywhere from one to eight hours in a dry area.

Unorderly shuffle. Spread the cards out on the ground, then shuffle them around like a child playing in dirt. This method’s freedom and randomization serve as an excellent reset.

the shuffle and sort. Set up the deck in rows of seven cards across, commencing with the Major Arcana numbers 0 to 22. (see photo above). Next, arrange the cards, Ace through King, one for each suit, as follows: Swords, Pentacles, Cups, and Wands. View the deck in this configuration, then mix everything up (like the chaotic!) and shuffle it thoroughly.