How do you use a tarot deck?

Question

Ok...I finally got myself a tarot deck and now it is time to start getting the hang of this thing. The book that comes with it doesn't have very clear instructions and the instructions online are very long. @_@

When you shuffle, how to you shuffle it? Do you have to cut it using your left hand? And when you are doing a reading for another person do you shuffle it for them or do you hand the deck to them?

I have never actually seen a live person do a tarot reading before. Can someone explain to me what they do step by step when they are doing a reading for someone else?

Or can you just do it the way you feel most comfortable with?

Ok, why do people dislike tarot cards so much?

I'll never know if Tarot decks are really evil or not until I try...

Answer 1

There are readers who cut with their left hand but it doesn't matter to me. Sometimes I cut the deck but it depends. I usually just shuffle them over and over again until I feel it is right and then immediately starting laying down the cards. Often this is just 7 or 8 shuffles and then sometimes I will shuffle for a good couple of minutes or more. Basically, I figure that whatever cards need to turn up will regardless of how that ends up happening. (By the way, if a card pops out when you shuffle, be sure to note what card it is--it's funny how that card often times end up showing up again :) )

Instead of shuffling the cards you can also lay the deck down and "stir" them around on the table. Some people do this just because of personal preference, the cards are just too large to shuffle, injured hands, etc.

In regards to doing a reading for someone else the choice of letting the querant touch your cards is totally up to you. Some readers won't allow it, others have particular rules about it, and others want the querant to be totally involved in touching the cards. This is something that you have to decide for yourself.

The key is to do what feels right to you. There are really no rules. Over at the Aecletic Tarot forums there are a lot of terrific discussion about the very subjects that you have brought up and more. (I love reading about the ideas others have for storing their decks.) Plus, there are other sections devoted just to sharing spreads (if you want to use them), card meanings, Tarot games, readings, etc.

http://www.tarotforum.net

Answer 2

If you are using Tarot cards as an oracle, you may be more inclined to read card meanings and spreads. But if using Tarot Cards as a tool for Psychic Ability you would be less likely to hold to any hard and fast guide lines. I’m a profession psychic and use Tarot Cards in a random way. In 25 years of professional readings I’ve never used any ‘meanings, spreads or reversals’ of tarot cards from any books.

So if you want to develop ‘Psychic Ability’ throw the books and guidelines away and let the images inspire you. But you may need to try the Rider Waite or another imaged deck.

I believe we are all psychic, but for the majority the gift or the belief has been long knocked out of them. Educated out is another way of looking at it. Many professional psychics have grown up in a psychic friendly environment. Perhaps a grand-parent or parent with the knowledge has helped bring the extra sense out in the open and encouraged its use. But there are as many practicing psychics who have not had the benefit of caring psychic guidance and who have still managed to develop and hone this natural extra sense. The Psychic Sense.

To tap in to it more you can go to my free develop-psychic-ability page here: http://www.psychic-junkie.com/develop-psychic-ability.html

But on the other hand, if you want to use the Tarot as an oracle, a form of divination that needs no real ‘psychic ability’, then keep the books and use the meanings and spreads if you prefer.

Here is a free download demo for a great Tarot program. To keep the size of the demo manageable it contains the Rider/Waite deck, the actual program will have 10 complete decks. This Demo version of Tarot is a full working copy for 30 days. So you get 30 days to study meanings and spreads! http://www.free-tarot-download-demo.wotsnext.com


And don’t worry about the fruit cakes who carry on about tarot being bad.

Spirituality is born from a personal occurrence with a divine, psychic or mystical experience of one form or another which inevitably connects a person to All that Is/God/Goddess/Allah/Great Spirit /whatever you want to call it.

Religion is second hand opinion of someone else’s divine experience. I think you will find that religions, and especially fanatical religions, tend to separate and divide people, while spirituality brings people together.

Thank God that Spirituality is on the increase!

Answer 3

Please just throw them away. I know this isn't the answer you are looking for but getting into stuff like that is bad news.


Why do we dislike them? Because it is witchcraft and of the devil and you are opening doors for demons. You shouldn't get mixed up with that kind of stuff.

Answer 4

I would have to agree with the first person who answered, that sort of thing is NOT a good thing to get into

Answer 5

Toss it away. this is witchcraft may look fun in the beginning but this is dangerous, nothing to play with.

Answer 6

Buy a book!