WHAT IS THE TAROT?
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Tarot by Wendy provides insightful sessions for clients in
Southeastern Arizona and Columbia, South Carolina.
Learn more about the Tarot on this page, especially if this is your first reading.
Origin of Tarot
Origin of Tarot
The Tarot emerged from within the Western esoteric tradition. The first cards originated in Italy in the 15th century. However, the symbols used in the Tarot are much older. People used them initially as a game. By the 18th century in France the cards were being used for divination. By the late 18th and early 19th century Tarot saw a revival in England with occult organizations such as the Order of the Golden Dawn. The use of Tarot spread to other countries in Europe. In the early 20th century, the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung was very interested in the Tarot as a manifestation of deep collective unconscious archetypes. Interest in the Tarot took on another wave of expansion in the Western world in the 1960s. Interest in Tarot has increased since then worldwide.
There are more than a thousand different decks that have been published in recent times. Technology has made it easier for people to create their own decks and use the cards for personal daily practice. Some decks have been developed with an emphasis on specific themes. People are clearly attracted to the results that they receive and this has been so, for a very long time. The majority of Tarot decks manifest the classic 78 card structure used in the Rider-Waite Golden Dawn deck of the early 20th century.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CLASSIC 78 CARD TAROT DECK
DESCRIPTION OF THE CLASSIC 78 CARD TAROT DECK
MAJOR ARCANA CARDS
MAJOR ARCANA CARDS
There are 22 Major Arcana cards referred to as the "Landmark" cards. In our life these are always present at every moment; they are so big we can see them from anywhere and get our bearing. When we use these landmarks, we can always discover where we are. (Marcus Katz, The Tarosophy Tarot Association, UK)
MINOR ARCANA CARDS
MINOR ARCANA CARDS
There are 40 minor arcana cards. The minor arcana cards provide useful "signposts" in the realm of Tarot. The Minor Arcana provides illustrations of human activity, and it can be useful in various situations. As they construct a matrix in four elements (earth, air, fire water), and in ten stages (cards 1-10) within each element, they also provide a logical progression, teaching us how to move from one state to another. (Marcus Katz, The Tarosophy Tarot Association, UK)
COURT CARDS
COURT CARDS
The 16 court cards have been referred to as the "Direction" cards. Each of the four elements has a Page, Knight, Queen and King card. They represent the forces at play in the universe, so they provide us with directions in our journey. We can seek help from the court cards when we need to kickstart something in our lives or restore balance within us. (Marcus Katz, The Tarosophy Tarot Association, UK)
THE READING
THE READING
A “querent” is the person who comes to the reader for a Tarot reading. The querent and the reader place themselves in a quiet and reflective atmosphere. Both put their energies into the reading by touching the deck. Then the reader shuffles or sometimes the querent shuffles the deck. Some querents may ask specific questions or they may ask for a general reading. A general reading is a request to the reader to manifest unconscious concerns or energy surrounding the querent. Then the reader selects the appropriate spread depending on the conversation with the querent. The cards manifest the answer and the reader interprets the spread to achieve the answer. A skilled and knowledgeable reader will have various spreads to choose from based upon the querent’s concerns.
A trained and competent Tarot reader not only knows the various meanings of the cards but also the meanings of the cards depending on whether they are upright or reversed. The proficient reader will also know what a card means in relationship to the other cards in the spread. This type of reading will also include an overview and may also use techniques for clarification.
RECOMMENDED QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
BEFORE APPROACHING A TAROT READING
RECOMMENDED QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
BEFORE APPROACHING A TAROT READING
Why is it important to ask good questions at your next Tarot reading?
Why is it important to ask good questions at your next Tarot reading?
It is important to formulate your questions so that you can receive the best results.
- Information: A Tarot reading helps you gain insight (consciously or subconsciously) and the guidance you may need.
- FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS: Once you ask a question, you may want to be ready for follow up questions on that same topic so that you can obtain clarification.
You should not ask:
- YES OR NO QUESTIONS: “Yes” or “No” questions will not give you quality answers. All situations in our lives are more complex than they may appear to us. This type of question will not give you the guidance you need. We cannot over simplify our situation at any time with a “yes” or “no” question.
- DEATH/SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES: Death or the outcomes of a serious health issues are not ethically appropriate.
- OVERLY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS: Specific questions about “Love” OR questions about how someone feels/reacts. (ie. What is my soul mate’s name? When/where am I going to meet my life partner?)
IMPORTANT: The reading is for the self-improvement of the querent. …when asking questions, the focus is on you and your reactions to the life forces in play. A Tarot reader cannot help the person. The querent is the only one who can help himself/herself. However, the Reader will give the querent information so that he/she can make decisions how to react or not react to a specific situation.
If you don’t ask good questions, you may feel discouraged or even hopeless. The Tarot reader usually does not read minds so it is the querent’s job to ask good questions.
The following are typical “good questions” that a Tarot reader can work with and give you better results. This is just a guide. (See website: kelleemaize; dreamdashjournal; biddytarot)