Beginner’s Guide to Tarot Cards
Beginner’s Guide to Tarot Cards
By: Michelle Walter
As more and more people search for a deeper meaning to their lives, Tarot cards have become a very popular tool. Here is a brief outline of the history of Tarot cards from Michelle Walter.
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The Tarot is a key to help us go deeper into the meaning of of life. The symbols of the Tarot deck help us to bring out subconscious knowledge into the open to be discussed and understood. The Tarot deck comprises 78 of these symbols divided in 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana.
The word “Arcana”from the word Arcane simply means mysteries, secrets, that which is hidden. The Tarot card names themselves contain links to the wisdom of ancient civilizations, e.g. Egypt, the learned secrets from the Book of Thoth, the Jewish Kabbalah, which has 22 symbols like the 22 major arcana, as well as Chinese and Indian philosophies.
But nobody really knows the historical origins of the Tarot cards. What we do know is that the Tarot cards have evolved out of people’s search for meaning in their lives, and that it embodies many shared truths. The first historically recorded use of Tarot was by King Charles VI, in Paris in 1393. This deck was called the Marseille Deck.
Although the strands of Tarot cards do go back a long way they do seem to have a short history in comparison to the I Ching, Astrology and Runes Stones which go back to primitive times. Although not as old as Astrology and the I Ching, Tarot cards probably do go back longer that historical records would indicate. Tarot cards were almost certainly used in secret for many years since they were frowned on by Church authorities. They were even banned in some European countries during the Middle Ages.
Do not think of the Tarot cards as a list of meanings to be memorised and then regurgitated when learning to do a reading. No, Tarot cards have a symbolic life of their own which we can use as a medium for exploring our intuitions. We need to build a relationship with the cards, immerse ourselves into the symbolism and slowly let their meanings seep into our conscious and subconscious mind.
Using your intuition is the supremely intelligent way to read the Tarot. When you do this then guessing or trying to remember meanings are eliminated. In fact, you are developing your own personal power by strengthening your communication skills with your subconscious mind.
If you have a set of Tarot cards, try this simple intuition exercise, to begin the process of learning to read the Tarot cards ..
- Firstly, separate out the major arcana cards from the minor arcana. Hold the Tarot cards between your hands while you relax and breathe in and out at least three times. Each time you breathe out, feel yourself relaxing down into a more receptive state of consciousness.
- Focus now on the question you are wanting the Tarot to give you guidance.
- Slowly shuffle the Tarot cards. Place the Tarot deck face down on the table, cut the tarot cards once, place the bottom pile on the top, and then turn over one card.
- As you hold the Tarot card in your hand, quietly focus. Have a journal handy and write down your first impressions. Do this directly and without hesitation. Avoid analysing and filtering. No thinking about things. You could see a colour or a face. Some expression or insight about life could come into your mind. Don’t at this stage be looking for some definite answer, first impression often don’t operate that way.
- Do this exercise each day for a week. You will find the process of self-discovery to be very interesting
Author Resource:-> Michelle Walter is a gifted tarot card reader. Her vast experience in psychic work, coupled with her background in psychology. Michelle offers guidance and support, especially in very difficult emotional situations and heartbreaks. To find more by Michelle, and to find out how she can help you in your relationship.
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