Lesson 1 Introduction
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Tarot cards are an accessible way for anyone to channel their intentions around decision making, meditation, communing with familiars to spirit guides, spell work, or just to clarify your own thinking on a matter.
There are many variations on the traditional methods of drawing and interpreting tarot cards. However I urge you to remember that it is not an exact science, and often intuition will serve as a better guide than an established system. The more you regularly use and consult your deck of choice, the better acquainted you will become with each card, and the more easily you will begin to see the patterns and interplay between cards.
Tarot cards are simply a tool. You do not need to be psychic to use them. Your intuition, guides, and the cards themselves will all collaborate to help you. You will also notice as your connection to your deck grows, so do your powers of interpretation and understanding.
What is the difference between tarot cards and an oracle deck?
Tarot cards have a fixed number of cards, seventy eight, divided into the Major Arcana and the four suites of the Minor Arcana. The symbolism in the tarot deck is widely recognized and while each individual may read the cards differently, there are some accepted universal truths within them. All tarot decks follow this structure where as oracle decks vary wildly in design, symbolism, and card number.
How do I choose what tarot deck to use?
Your most effective tarot deck is the one you most enjoy using. I bought mine off Amazon because I loved the aesthetic of the gold foil and the durability of the plastic cards. You can buy a deck at your local bookstore, inherit it from a family member, or pick one up at a flea market. Use your intuition and allow yourself to be drawn to a deck. Consider this your first lesson in the art of tarot and the importance of intuition. Allow yourself to be connected to your gut and listen to any nudges it may giving you toward one deck or another.
I recommend most beginners start out with a Rider-Waite deck. These cards are packed full of symbolism and rich imagery and there are tons of resources to help you interpret and understand the cards. It’s iconic and a great place to start.
That said, buy the deck that makes your heart sing, whatever deck it is. And if you are anything like most witches I know, it certainly won’t be the last deck you own.
Do I need more than one deck?
Ultimately, you may want to invest in a few tarot decks: one for personal use, one for readings of others, and a deck specifically for spells. Your personal deck for your own readings should never be touched by anyone but you, unless you plan to cleanse it between uses. That adds a lot of time and preparation. Keep one deck as your own, and use it often, if not daily. The more you use this deck, the more it will become connected to you, imbued with your energy and intentions. When others hold the deck, shuffle the cards, and draw, their energy is transferred and lingers in the cards. You must cleanse between readings for others in order to avoid spiritual cross contamination.
Finally, consider picking up a deck second hand or cheaply that you can use in spell casting. Some spells involve tearing up, burning, or writing on a tarot card. Keep an eye out for incomplete decks to use in your magick workings.