Mystical Angels

Does anyone know anything about reading tarot cards and how to get started?

I've always been interested in learning them but I don't know of anyone who actually uses them. It would really help if someone could give me a general guideline of how to begin.

Public Comments

1. Start by reading "The Book of Thoth" by Aleister Crowley I would also recommend researching the history of the tarot.
2. I heard you're supposed to get your deck as a gift but I'm not sure. That's the extent of my knowledge.
3. I heard that you are supposed to be given tarot cards, and you shouldn't by them yourself because then you will have bad luck.
4. First you need to learn about the history of tarot and then go step by step to learn how to read them. Go to one of the websites below or find books for beginners maybe in the library. Beginners course: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/tarot98/index.html http://www.holisticshop.co.uk/library/b_tarot.html .
5. Tarot cards are to be given as a gift. They can tell the possible future. It gives you the option to change your future if you feel you need too. Find a book on tarot cards and read. Most of all. Do it for fun. I love my cards.
6. I got started by going to a book store and getting a learning book and a deck of cards. No one but you should ever use or even touch your deck. It's personal to you. Actually it is probably better to buy your own cards. You alone can feel the right energy from a deck, and you alone know which style or art that you desire. The notion that they must be given as a gift is a an old wives tale, and although it is nice to receive a deck as a gift, you might find that you cannot get on with the cards given to you. In order to be an effective reader you really need to have a relationship with your cards, allowing your energies to mingle effectively so that they respond to your handling. This leads to the notion that only you should handle your cards, although this is open for negotiation. It certainly makes it far easier to establish this relationship if you choose the cards yourself!
7. You are supposed to get your first deck as a gift but nothing will happen if you go out and buy your own. In your deck, you will also get a book and the book will explain different spreads you can do depending on the question you are asking. If you are doing this for your own spiritual growth and are going to ask questions about yourself, then you want to start with "oracle cards" and it will say that on the outside of the box. A few good ones are "Messages from your Angles" and "Dolphins and Mermaids" If you want to read other people then you can just buy a regular deck of tarot cards. They will not say oracle on them. I really love the oracle cards for myself and this is what I usually use but if I am reading other people, then I will use a regular deck. Over time I have accumulated a few decks of the oracle and about 6 or 7 decks of the regular tarot. The more you use them, the more you get to know the cards and the less you need to read meanings from the book. You will also get to know how a reading will change depending on which card comes before and after another etc. The book your deck deck comes with will tell you everything you need to know to get started. They have alot of them in Chapters book store if you want a selection. I am not too picky when it comes to a friend using my cards. You just have to clear the energy from the card and replace it with your own. It will show you how in your books aswell.
8. There are a lot of beliefs surrounding tarot. I've read for several years and never bought into the idea that a deck must be given as a gift. There are many different decks with a variety of artwork and symbolism. Purchasing your own allows you to chose a deck that resonates with you. I would recommend that you begin with a classic Waite variation though, for several reasons. Waite decks (such as Rider Waite, Universal Waite, Albano Waite, Hanson Roberts, etc...) all share common artwork and symbolism. They are fairly easy for a beginner to grasp the basics and most literature deals with Waite versions. Opinions among readers will vary, of course, but it's frequently thought to be a good starting point. Some points on getting started: - Once you've found a deck, get familiar with your cards. Study the pictures and make notes about what you see. Tarot is very intuitive so don't be afraid to consider what meaning or feeling each card has to you. That's just as, if not more important than traditional meanings. - Although there is debate about this, I see no harm in reading up on traditional meanings associated with the cards. Aeclectic Tarot (www.aeclectic.net) has decent interpretations for free. Traditional interpretations can help you sort out more obscure cards and consider the cards from different angles. - Practice. Read for yourself, your friends, your family, your pets even. Whatever or whoever will sit still long enough. Pull one card each day and study it. Shuffle through the cards in your free time. Anything that gets you looking at your cards will help you become familiar with them. - Start simple with your spreads. Spreads (laying out a certain number of cards in a specific pattern with assigned meanings) don't have to be complicated. You can pull one card and designate it as the general tone or goal for the day, for example.