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Tarot

Introduction

The Tarot has a long history. Although divination methods go back to dawn of time, there is much evidence to support the theory that Tarot became commonly known around a thousand years ago. After the fall of Constantinople (Istanbul) the use of Tarrochi became common among the royal courts of Europe within ten years. If the knowledge was secret and sacred before then, now it had been made secular.

The symbolism of the Tarot cards has gone through various evolutions. Yet since the earliest days the Tarot cards have settled down to a standard formulae. There are 40 suit cards, divided into four suits of ten. To this number are added 22 Trumps and picture cards. The standard deck of Tarot cards has 78 cards, which stick to this formula. This is held as a constant.

Method
    1. Shuffling

      2. The first stage of the reading is picking up the cards and shuffling. Many people consider this a pretty minor part of the Tarot reading. However a moments reflection will reveal that this stage is the most important. It is at this stage that your aura and subtle energies in your body influence the cards. Your chi and thoughts go to the cards and change their energy. The thoughts you have about your recent past and future are transmitted to the cards by the shuffling at this stage.

      You should shuffle well enough to give a full and complete message for the cards to relay and transfer to the Reader. If you over shuffle the cards you may add too much mixed information. Therefore you should neither shuffle for too long a time or too short a time.

      At the end of the shuffling the cards are cut and we are ready for the next stage.
       

    2. Layout

      3. At this stage of the reading the Reader picks up the cards and proceeds to lay them out in a pattern. This pattern is another important part of the reading. The pattern gives a structure and meaning to the cards, some cards will be in an important position and some will be in an unimportant position. Just as spelling and grammar allow us to get meaning from language - (otherwise we see a jumble of letters)) - so the layout allows the cards to speak meaningfully to us.

      Often a Tarot Reader will have a few different layouts available so they can choose which style of reading they want. Each particular Reader will have one particular style, which is their favourite; which is the most meaningful layout for them. The cards are laid out in a particular order, face down. This keeps the actual cards hidden until the next stage.

      The position influences the message in two ways. Firstly each card has a meaning in its individual spot, which will influence the message. Secondly the other cards around will add their influence on the reading so that each cluster of cards has a group meaning. Finally there is an overall meaning for the reading. The choice of layout influences these options and influences the depth of reading given.
       

    3. The question and the narrative

      4. The next stage is the most visible and obvious stage of the Tarot Card reading. It is where the cards are gradually turned over. As the cards are revealed, more and more of the story becomes apparent. At first with a few cards visible, no one knows what the narrative will be. It is only later in the reading where we start to see the plot and the theme to the story. A good reading will be like a good story with plot and theme and characters and deeds and a message.

      Some Tarot card Readers will be answering a specific question, in the mind of the client. However, in some readings and in my experience, there is only one question that is asked that is worthwhile. It is to this hidden question in the soul of the client that the Reader directs his story. As the cards are turned over, more and more of the story is revealed, and the client learns more and more about themselves and also their fate. Should they have ability and success then this is revealed and equally if there is failure and doom about the client this is also revealed. The cards give a true and complete picture and story and so the cards reveal both problem and possible solution(s). Likewise for every success that the cards reveal they also reveal the cost. The cards are simply giving back the picture and story that the client shuffled into them.
       

    4. Conclusion
      Finally there is a last card which gives a conclusion and summary to the whole reading. This card gives a quick overview of the whole reading.
       
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        2    Layout

Although there are many different layouts possible, this is the one that I was taught and the one that seems to be easiest for others to understand.
Past - core, spiritual, heart 

:

 Past - mental, studies, ideas, thoughts, learning

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 Past - emotions, friends, relationships

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 Past - work, job, career, vocation, business, reality

:

  
Present - core, spiritual, heart 

:

 Present - mental, studies, ideas, thoughts, learning Present - emotions, friends, relationships

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 Present - work, job, career, vocation, business, reality

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 Conclusion and summing up

:
Present - core, spiritual, heart

: 

 Present - mental, studies, ideas, thoughts, learning

:

 Present - emotions, friends, relationships

:

 Present - work, job, career, vocation, business, reality

:

  

      3. Notes

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Further Reading

Crowley Alister (1945) The book of Thoth, isbn 0-87728-268-4

Kaplan (1978) The encyclopedia of the Tarot, isbn 0-913866-11-3

Papus (1914) The Tarot of the Boheims, isbn

Regardie Israel (1945) ch 8? The T book, The Golden Dawn,

Sadhu Mouni (1969?) The Tarot, isbn 0-87980157-3

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