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Tarot Cards 101: A Guide For Beginners
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You may have basic familiarity with tarot card reading but may not feel confident enough to get a pack for yourself and start using them.
In this article, we tell you everything you need to know to use these divination cards efficiently. Aside from learning the meaning behind each card, it is important to also learn how to connect with your cards, how to cleanse and shuffle them.
In this article, we tell you everything you need to know to use these divination cards efficiently. Aside from learning the meaning behind each card, it is important to also learn how to connect with your cards, how to cleanse and shuffle them.
What Is Tarot Anyway?
The history of tarot cards dates back to the 14th century. Originally, these cards were used for playing various card games all around Europe. Centuries later, people started to use these cards for divination. Now, tarot cards are mostly used for fortune-telling rather than games.
Tarot decks consist of 78 cards – 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards. Also known as major mysteries, Major Arcana cards represent major events. Minor mysteries, i.e. Minor Arcana cards, imply issues that are not as important but still need to be handled.
Tarot cards give insights into the past, present, and future. They reveal hidden thoughts and emotions and help make decisions about some important aspects of life, including relationships, careers, health, etc.
A basic tarot reading consists of three steps. Creating a question, shuffling and laying out the cards, and reading the cards. As you interpret the cards, you will receive the answer to your question.
The history of tarot cards dates back to the 14th century. Originally, these cards were used for playing various card games all around Europe. Centuries later, people started to use these cards for divination. Now, tarot cards are mostly used for fortune-telling rather than games.
Tarot decks consist of 78 cards – 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards. Also known as major mysteries, Major Arcana cards represent major events. Minor mysteries, i.e. Minor Arcana cards, imply issues that are not as important but still need to be handled.
Tarot cards give insights into the past, present, and future. They reveal hidden thoughts and emotions and help make decisions about some important aspects of life, including relationships, careers, health, etc.
A basic tarot reading consists of three steps. Creating a question, shuffling and laying out the cards, and reading the cards. As you interpret the cards, you will receive the answer to your question.
How To Connect To Your Cards?
You may feel disconnected from your cards whether you have had them for years or have just bought them. This may happen for different reasons, including anxiety, stress, feeling low energy, etc.
But there are ways to connect to your cards as long as you have the desire to do so. Here are some ways to connect to your cards.
You may feel disconnected from your cards whether you have had them for years or have just bought them. This may happen for different reasons, including anxiety, stress, feeling low energy, etc.
But there are ways to connect to your cards as long as you have the desire to do so. Here are some ways to connect to your cards.
- Set an intention. It is important to start your practice with a clear intention. Hold your cards in your hands, breathe, and think about your intentions.
- Get to know your cards. Not understanding your cards can be a major reason why you may feel disconnected from them. Take some time to explore and reflect on each card.
- Meditate. A great way to connect to your cards is to use them for meditation. You can meditate with each card individually or use the entire deck.
- Have a ritual for storing your cards. Tarot cards are not just any plain pack of cards. To further connect with your cards, create a ritual for when you are storing them away. You may store them in a special box you have with crystals and other spiritual items, wrap them using a silk scarf, tie them with ribbons, etc.
How To Shuffle Your Cards?
Shuffling the cards before a tarot reading is important for two reasons. The first obvious reason is that shuffling the cards provides an element of chance and ensures random results every time you lay out the cards.
The second reason to shuffle tarot cards before your practice is to have time to set an intention and concentrate. While you shuffle the cards, take that time to concentrate, ask questions, and request guidance. This pause is really helpful before laying out the cards and reading them.
Don’t take the process of shuffling the cards too seriously. You don’t need to have any extraordinary shuffling skills. So long as you mix up the cards, you are good to go. Here are three easy shuffling techniques you can use.
1. Drop the cards on the table. Spread the cards and collect them again to form a pack.
2. Hold the cards in your less dominant hand. Remove a stack of cards from the full deck and place them somewhere else. Repeat this 5-7 times for a well-shuffled deck.
3. If you do have some shuffling skills, try the riffle shuffle – the shuffling technique popularly used in casinos. Using this shuffling technique too often may cause the cards to warp, especially if your cards are too delicate.
Shuffling the cards before a tarot reading is important for two reasons. The first obvious reason is that shuffling the cards provides an element of chance and ensures random results every time you lay out the cards.
The second reason to shuffle tarot cards before your practice is to have time to set an intention and concentrate. While you shuffle the cards, take that time to concentrate, ask questions, and request guidance. This pause is really helpful before laying out the cards and reading them.
Don’t take the process of shuffling the cards too seriously. You don’t need to have any extraordinary shuffling skills. So long as you mix up the cards, you are good to go. Here are three easy shuffling techniques you can use.
1. Drop the cards on the table. Spread the cards and collect them again to form a pack.
2. Hold the cards in your less dominant hand. Remove a stack of cards from the full deck and place them somewhere else. Repeat this 5-7 times for a well-shuffled deck.
3. If you do have some shuffling skills, try the riffle shuffle – the shuffling technique popularly used in casinos. Using this shuffling technique too often may cause the cards to warp, especially if your cards are too delicate.
How To Cleanse Your Tarot Cards?
As tarot cards are used for spiritual practices, it is only natural that they need to be cleansed every now and then.
Each session puts a lot of energy and intention into these cards. Thus, it is good to cleanse them after each session especially if you use them for different people.
We recommend you cleanse your cards when you first get them, after someone else has used them, or when you feel like you have lost connection with your cards.
Here are some efficient tools you can use to cleanse your tarot cards.
1. Crystals. If your crystal is big, set the pack of cards on it. If the crystals are small, simply put them on the cards. Either way works. Selenite, clear and rose quartz, obsidian, black tourmaline, citrine, and moonstone are only a few of the crystals you can use to cleanse cards. You can choose a crystal considering the type of reading you are doing.
2. Sea salt. Put the cards in a bowl of sea salt overnight if you feel like they are infused with negative energy.
3. Sunlight or moonlight. Similar to crystals, you can cleanse tarot cards by leaving them out in the sun or under the moonlight.
4. Sound. Sound frequencies can also be used to cleanse tarot cards. You can use bells, singing bowls, and even your own voice to cleanse cards.
5. Visualization. If you don’t have trouble visualizing, you might as well use it to cleanse your cards. Hold your cards in your hands, close your eyes, and imagine a bright white light refreshing your cards and removing all old energy.
As tarot cards are used for spiritual practices, it is only natural that they need to be cleansed every now and then.
Each session puts a lot of energy and intention into these cards. Thus, it is good to cleanse them after each session especially if you use them for different people.
We recommend you cleanse your cards when you first get them, after someone else has used them, or when you feel like you have lost connection with your cards.
Here are some efficient tools you can use to cleanse your tarot cards.
1. Crystals. If your crystal is big, set the pack of cards on it. If the crystals are small, simply put them on the cards. Either way works. Selenite, clear and rose quartz, obsidian, black tourmaline, citrine, and moonstone are only a few of the crystals you can use to cleanse cards. You can choose a crystal considering the type of reading you are doing.
2. Sea salt. Put the cards in a bowl of sea salt overnight if you feel like they are infused with negative energy.
3. Sunlight or moonlight. Similar to crystals, you can cleanse tarot cards by leaving them out in the sun or under the moonlight.
4. Sound. Sound frequencies can also be used to cleanse tarot cards. You can use bells, singing bowls, and even your own voice to cleanse cards.
5. Visualization. If you don’t have trouble visualizing, you might as well use it to cleanse your cards. Hold your cards in your hands, close your eyes, and imagine a bright white light refreshing your cards and removing all old energy.
Your path now unfolds with newfound understanding, where the language of tarot becomes a conduit for self-discovery, guidance, and personal growth. As you venture forward, remember that every draw of the cards offers a glimpse into the tapestry of possibilities that reside within you, waiting to be illuminated and explored.
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