Knowledge is crucial, but don’t forget that this is supposed to be fun!
Over the years many people have asked me about how they can learn to read Tarot cards. They are genuinely interested in Tarot, but they feel intimidated by the memorization, the amount of study necessary, the time commitment. So, that deck just stays in the box, on a shelf…
I’m not going to lie to you. Learning to read Tarot takes a lot of study. I see it as a lifetime pursuit, there is always more to be learned, to be absorbed, to be practiced. To me, this is exciting, sometimes overwhelming, and one of the reasons why I love these rich, deep and magical cards. And I do strongly feel that a solid knowledge base is essential for a good Tarot reader.
That being said, working with Tarot cards should also be fun. Approaching your cards in a spirit of exploration, curiosity and play will help you to bond with your deck, and be fully open to the messages that they have for you.
Here’s my top 5 list of fun ways to play and bond with your cards:
1. When you are about to go to bed, draw a card and take a moment to really look at it. Put that card under your pillow (you might want to put it in a book or between two pieces of cardboard so that it doesn’t get crushed) and before you go to sleep, tell yourself that you want to dream about that card, you want to hear the message it has for you. See what happens! If you remember your dream, write it down in your journal.
The Star as a Pendant, inspiring me to shine like a star!
2. Think about the energy that you need for the day, and consciously choose a card from the deck that depicts that energy. Throughout the day, call up the image of that card in your mind (or carry the actual card with you) when you need that boost. For example, I wear a pendant with the Star card on it when I want to really shine, to be open and peaceful, and let the real me shine through.
3. Choose a card for the day, dress like the figure on the card, wear the colours predominant in the card, take the physical position of the figure on the card…see what happens!
The Fool as a Pendant, I like to choose a different card to wear depending on the day
4. Draw a card at random in the morning, and look for signs of it throughout the day. For example, if you pull the Fool, did you see a little white dog today? A white rose? If so, what did that mean to you? What did you notice? Was there a message there?
5. Be good to your cards. Find a beautiful Tarot bag to hold them, give them a crystal to clear their energy, take a moment to thank them for their wisdom and guidance.
Bonus tip: please see my previous post and video that shows you a meditation exercise you can use to bond with your cards when you are learning Tarot!
How do you bond with and have fun with your cards? I’d love to hear your suggestions!
Crystals have different properties, I find clear quartz the best for clearing my deck, but I use other crystals to support me during readings…what crystals do you resonate with?
I would like to ask you about the direction of the cards, I heard they can be straight or upside down with different meanings each ? Is that right?
Do you mean reversals? Yes, you can read the cards upright, or turned upside down (reversed), depending on how they are shuffled and laid out in a reading. There is a lot of discussion about reversed cards, and how it impacts the meaning of the card. It’s a big topic!