��������������You see a lot of 900 numbers and commercials about people who claim to be physic and use the tarot to tell your future. In my humble opinion, anyone who charges money to tell you your future is in all likelihood a fake and is only interested in relieving you of your money. They want you to become dependant upon them and take advantage of you. There are gifted individuals who are physic, but there is a big difference between a person that reads the cards and a clairvoyant.

����������First off learning to work with the Tarot cards takes a lot of time and study. Most dabblers in the Tarot learn the major arcana. These 22 cards are the most fascinating. It is the fun part of the study process. The Minor arcana requires much more time and study. This is where the hard work and patients comes in. It is where the meat and potatoes of the tarot exists. Every aspect of the human nature and day to day life is contained in them. The ups and downs of life. The leaders the followers, the wannabe's, the never will be's. The forgiver's, the get even types, the hard workers, the skaters in life, the users, the used all are here. There good days there bad. When you do a reading these cards come up far more often that the easy to learn major arcana cards so learning all the cards is a must.

����������Once you learn the basic meanings of all the cards you will find that every card and it's meaning is an opinion. The tarot book you study is that authors interpretation of the card. I like reading as many books on the tarot as I can find. After one does this you get to the point where the more you learn the more confusing things become. One author has this meaning for a card and the next author some thing a little different. Ahhh don't be discouraged, this is where you branch off on your own. You take what makes sense to you from all the styles and start coming up with your own conclusions about what the cards stand for. What they mean to you.

����������When you start reading, keep a Tarot Journal. This is most important. This is how you learn. What the cards are showing you may not be clear at all at the time of the reading but later on in the year you go back and say to your self Duhhh why did I not see that? It was right there and I missed it. You learn from your mistakes. The best way not to keep making mistakes is to be objective. Quit putting in your opinion and read what the cards say. In other words just because you want something, you may be looking for signs of this thing to happen and are not being objective. Stick to what the cards are trying to tell you. The cards have never lied to me. I have how ever missed out on what the were trying to tell me because I was on the wrong track. The tarot journal shows us where we missed the obvious. Clear the mind and be objective. Later on you learn to listen to what the cards are saying.

����������Once you have became proficient with the cards you are ready for the next step. You can find your magickal deck of cards. You will always keep your working deck and use it from time to time like an old friend. Some people find a deck that is suited to them and can identify with. Others make there own deck. This is very powerful magick. Once you have chosen your deck you should keep this deck sacred to you. Never let anyone look at it or touch the cards except to cut them when you are doing a reading for them. Never let the cards touch anything but your reading cloth. You do not want to dilute the energy these cards will contain. You do not want any energies contaminating the cards as well. I sleep with a new deck of Tarot cards and dream about them and become very close to the deck. I keep them in a safe place and wrapped in a magical cloth. My magical cloth is a bandanna that I had tied around the handlebars of my harley while I took a 5000 mile journey. This has my energy in it and is personal to me. I am sure that you can find a suitable wrapping for your magickal deck as well. Some thing that is personal to you. I keep my deck in a wooden box wrapped in this cloth with some magickal crystals and stones. When I do a reading I have a candle lit and my crystal ball out as well. This gets my mind relaxed and clear and ready for doing a reading. I like to burn incense as well. I try to do each reading the same way and shuffle the same way, kind of a ritual for me. the more I repeat he same movements the more power I build for the cards. I never take the credit for a correct reading. The cards answer the questions I just have learned how to read and understand what they are saying. I have consecrated my cards in a magickal circle and have prayed to the angel Hru\/ to grant me the wisdom the cards. He is set over the operations of the Tarot. I meditate and pray to Hru to grant me the wisdom to read and understand the cards and what they have to say. You can get a feeling what the meanings are about. He grants me insight. I always thank him after a reading. You must understand some thing about this practice, There are no shortcuts with the tarot and you need to study long and hard before praying to this angel. You must be a worthy student of the tarot and be very reverent when dealing with this angel. He is very helpful but commands respect and is not for the novice card reader to contact him. That is why you start out with a working deck and practice your skills for a few years and become proficient with the cards.

������������The Tarot cards are like a well of knowledge. If you dip from the well to often, The well goes dry. Some people I read for become dependant on the readings. I will never give anyone a reading more than once a month with these cards. I have how ever in dire circumstances have given readings with other cards if the need arises. Most of the time, It takes several months for my readings to manifestate so why would I want to read again till the past reading has come about anyway? If you bug the cards they become cranky and you cloud the reading with to much information. Some people have an excessive personality and take any thing they do to excess and use the tarot as a crutch. I prefer to use the Tarot as a tool myself. Say you have two job offers or some other important decision to make in your life, then is a good time for a reading, not every night. Some times I like surprises in my life and prefer not to divine the future. Other times there is two much at stake to just roll the dice so to speak.

������������Another point I want to make is that we are all in charge of our own destiny's. The cards are just a road map to show you where you are headed if you maintain you present course in life. You can always turn the ship around or turn down a side road in life. You are in ultimate control of your own destiny. The Tarot just shows you what options are available to you. You ultimately decide your fate.