What I’ve learned through this process that mastery of tarot may take a lifetime. A deep understanding is going to take years. I’m going to continue to do readings. I’m going to continue to investigate my cards and develop a deep understanding of them. I think tarot has taught me to be a more receptive person. I’m a deeper listener. I think more about myself (in a good way somehow?). They keep me accountable. I find comfort in their continuity. I don’t fear as much. I think that may have something to do with this program in general. I’m settling in and as a creature of comfort, that is really what I’ve been striving for.

I’m never going to be that person who is a full believer. I’m not going to give myself daily readings. I’m not going to decide my future based on a deck of cards. I’m going to use them as a tool for introspection. I’m open to the possibility of using them as a “sometimes” guide. We’ll have to see.

I was recommended to try a two-card reading. It’s supposed to be simple and insightful. It relates to a situation and a challenge. A goal and roadblock. So I tried it out and let me tell you, I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw what I drew.

For some context, I’m currently hiding away from civilization as I complete this semester with just as much gusto as I can manage (which isn’t a lot I’m afraid). So the hermit blocking me from the sun is a twist I should’ve expected. Don’t you love it when the universe gets right to the point?

So it seems i’ve taken self-reflection to a whole new level, so much so that it’s become a roadblock in my life. And as much as I love solitude, I tend to agree with this reading. On the upside, there’s the sun lurking just behind this blockage. This is my favourite card, one that I never get to draw for myself. It is a card of vitality! It shows enlightenment, success, happiness and positive energy all around. This reading is probably telling me I should break down some of those boundaries right?

This reading seems a little too pointed. I’m mad at my deck.

I did a distant reading for a friend in Boston who had some relationship questions. We drew a three of pentacles, the high priestess and the ace of cups in reverse. This reading tells a story of growth and maturity. The three of Pentacles represents her past. It is a card of collaboration. My friend often had problems in making decisions on her own. She saught advice for most everything in her life, particularly in relationships. Her relationships were never between two people, but rather a collaborative effort of her friends and family who weighed in on every aspect. This is something she is moving away from. Though she still commonly seeks advice, she is more sure of her abilities to make decisions. The high priestess is a card of knowledge and mystery. It is a call for intuitive decisions and inner wisdom. This moves logically to the ace of cups, reversed. Though this card may mean new love and relationships if upturned, the reverse speaks to self-love. This card also speaks to intuition and introspection into your emotional mindset. My friend fears being emotionally honest. It can make her feel vulnerable and “stupid” to be honest in what she wants. We believe this card is a development in her ability to be honest with herself about her wants, goals, and emotional state.

For the next few weeks or so, I’m going to be giving myself a weekly, specific reading. I’ve learned that tarot is largely intuition-based. Though anyone can use the cards, I think they become a more effective tool the more you investigate them. Today I did a simple reading: past, present, and future. I’m looking for insight into personal goals.

My first card or “past” is the 5 of swords. This is a card of self-destruction (rude, I know). Disagreement, “ bad blood”, maybe a competition. It’s a card that is relevant to my past (maybe even my present) and I’m happy to leave it there.

The six of wands is a victory card: a “rising up.” It is an achievement of a goal. This card represents success and public acknowledgement.

My final card, the future, is the ace of wands. It is a card of new beginnings and inspiration. It brings potential and opportunities. It recognizes great promise.

I think what I have found most interesting in tarot is its ability to tell a story. A narrative seems so relevant whenever I pull cards. Maybe that’s my bias and others see a string of generalizations. Still, I find these narratives to be continually revealing.

Recent Tarot in Fantasy Literature for those interested in this faction of text.

Tarot Reddit MASTER POST

Truly all you could ever need.

Tarot Master Post: Free Resources For Learning About Tarot from Tarots

I suppose it’s strange that over the past couple of months of investigating tarot, I’ve never actually tried to define it. I suppose I’d like to make my own definition but for now, I’ll rely on what others have to say.

Oxford Dictionary gives the following definition.

Wiki gives the following definition.

I wanted to look a bit further into the etymology of tarot but unfortunately, much of the origins are unknown. Etymonline states that tarot’s etymology comes from the “1590s, from French tarot (16c.), from Old Italian tarocchi (plural), of unknown origin, perhaps from Arabic taraha “he rejected, put aside. (etymnonline, 2019).”

This Arabic connection is an interesting parallel to Tarots introduction to Egypt. I’m not sure how to connect this rejection. I wonder if this has something to do with the modern game of Tarot. Tarot as a game is trick making, making choices of betting, rejecting etc.

I’ve taken this definition of the Major and Minor Arcana in the tarot deck directly from the “Tarot” page of Wikipedia.

• “The Major Arcana (greater secrets), or trump cards, consists of 22 cards without suits:
  • The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, The World, and The Fool. Cards from The Magician to The World are numbered in Roman numerals from I to XXI, while The Fool is the only unnumbered card, sometimes placed at the beginning of the deck as 0, or at the end as XXII” (Wikipedia, “Tarot” October 15, 2019).

• “The Minor Arcana (lesser secrets) consists of 56 cards, divided into four suits of 14 cards eachTen numbered cards and four court cards. The court cards are the King, Queen, Knight and Page/Jack, in each of the four tarot suits. The traditional Italian tarot suits are swords, batons, coins and cups; in modern occult tarot decks, however, the batons suit is often called wands, rods or staves, while the coins suit is often called pentacles or disks” (Wikipedia, “Tarot” October 15, 2019).

These Arcanas make up the Tarot deck and in sequence ” the Tarot trumphs are like a secular Neoplatanic rosary. They tell of a similar heroic journey, through three layers equated to three parts of the soul, but the hero in the Tarot is not Christ. The hero is Everyman or Everywoman” (Place p.129). I think it’s this idea that draws so many to tarot; it’s the power that comes with being the hero in your own story. The focus on self. Still, I don’t believe this desire manifests through narcissism. The desire to seek place and make room for your own journey in an expansive world doesn’t scream self-absorption to me. It just seems human. A human urge that has lasted centuries exists in a deck of cards.

Citations

Meet the Libra. Jason has ever so graciously offered to be one of my test subjects as I learn how to properly read tarot. For this reading, I did it pretty intuitively. He had questions about the upcoming school year. This is the final year of his undergraduate degree and he has lots of uncertainties about the future. These uncertainties relate to time, place, success etc. Basically he’s got questions.

As a typical libra, his opinion of tarot is quite… balanced; he’s certainly not a devote follower of the craft but he also wouldn’t define himself as a sceptic. He takes what he thinks relates to him and his life, and he uses it. What he doesn’t relate to, he tends to disregard. This reading will act as a baseline for my Inquiry: a place to grow from.

On to the reading… Gulp.

Now Tarot doesn’t just prophesize the future; it tells a story.

We begin with the three of swords. Now I’m under the belief that no card is a BAD card… but this one certainly doesn’t look too friendly. The card speaks to betrayal, heartbreak, a deep hurt. It’s a card of intense emotion. Still, there is a possibility (and likeliness in regards to the later reading) to move from this betrayal.

The two of wands speaks to future planning. A card of potential. Though Jason still has a lot of questions about his future post-graduation, there are plentiful opportunities for success for him on the horizon. This card speaks to travel, longterm goals, and a decision that must be made. Great success may be in his future if he is able to take a few risks.

The king of cups is balance (hey king libra). He is calm and open to his emotions without being overwhelmed by them. This may speak to three of swords… a point in his journey where he is able to reconcile his emotions.

Finally the queen of swords- facing forwards to the future, to change. She has emotional maturity and mental clarity. This card speaks to the independence Jason is building towards as he finishes his degree both in his personal life and career.

Thus concludes my lower than amateur baseline reading. I had to omit some aspects for the sake of privacy. I’ve found that tarot can surely be intrusive.