In the previous article, we looked at an easy tarot card reading method using just the 22 major arcana cards, and got as far as the Wheel of Fortune. We will carry on this week with the 11th card, Justice.
Justice reminds us in an almost karma-like way that ultimately, life is fair and just, and our deeds have to be answered for. If you are in a moral dilemma, or are unsure which of two paths to take, expect this card to feature heavily in your readings. You may also find it if you are suffering remorse for past actions, or have done something particularly good - the deed has come back to you. You are being put on warning that no deed however small goes unnoticed, and ALL need to be paid for eventually, even is this just means accepting responsibility for your actions.
Next up, possibly the scariest and well-know of the tarot cards, the 'Hanged Man'. The Hanged Man is telling us that sometimes, the only way to truly control is to set free, to let go. In readings, the Hanged Man should alert you to the fact that the best answer to a problem is not always the most obvious. On occasion, the desire for action can be counter-productive, and you must withhold from precipitous jumps. This counterintuitive reasoning has to be experienced to be understood.
The next card, card 13, is Death. Of course, it has no relation to physical death, but is associated with endings, or openings of new doorways. Great changes are often heralded by this tarot card. The end of an era can be a sad time, but you must see it for what it really is - an opportunity to grow into the next stage of the cycle. The card may also be a warning that irresistible events are about to unfold, and 'going with the flow' is the only way to keep your head above the turbulent waters. By swimming with the current, you will reach your destination faster.
Temperance is the next tarot card of the major arcana. Temperance means showing moderation and self-control. This card is often a warning that you must slow down if you are to center yourself again. While this may seem dull, even a hurricane has calmness at the center. Certain other cards reinforce the voice of Temperance, and make it doubly important that you 'reign in' your wildness and rediscover your balance, your 'wa'. If you are in the middle of a conflict, the Temperance card is a warning that you should seek the middle ground - an outright victory is impossible, and both sides will lose. In health terms, Temperance suggests the worst may be over - and better times lie ahead.
After Temperance comes 'The Devil'. In a reading, this card does NOT stand for evil, but instead puts you on notice that you are in a dead-end situation, which you must escape. You may be suffering some kind of obsession, or focussing too hard on the physical world to the exclusion of the spiritual. You may have been lead to this pass by incorrect assumptions - the Devil warns you that it is time to re-evaluate those assumptions if you are to have any hope of escaping your current bind.
The last card we will look at this week is 'The Tower' or sometimes 'The Tower Struck By Lightening', meaning a sudden, extreme change of fortune. Often, your p[personality itself dictates the form of the reversal - if you are proud, expect a blow to your ego. If you are obsessed with money, expect a financial loss. Your reaction to the blow is the important thing. The old saying is true - every cloud does have a silver lining, but it can be a terrible job to find it sometimes. Blows of this magnitude serve another purpose too - they allow us to understand more fully who we actually are. Only in times of crisis does the veneer of upbringing fall away to reveal the true person underneath.
Next week, we will look at card 17, the Star.
Interpreting Tarot Cards - Part 2
Last time we looked at a ... tarot card reading scheme based on the 22 major arcana cards, and got as far as the Emperor. We will continue this week with the 5th card, the ... Hieropha
Interpreting Tarot Cards - Part 4
Last time, we looked at a simplified tarot card reading technique using only the 22 major arcana cards, and we got as far as the Tower. We will resume in this article with the 17th card, the Star.
Interpreting Tarot Cards
Interpreting Tarot cards is, as you might expect, quite difficult and requires much practice. So is there an easy way? A short cut? yes - by focusing only on the Major Arcana cards. What are the major cards I hear you ask? The standard tarot deck, whatever imagery is used to depict the symbols, is 78 cards in 2 sections, namely the major and minor arcanas. The major cards are by far the most important, and for quick readings, it is perfectly permissible simply to discard the minor cards and concentrate solely on the major arcana ('secrets' in latin). To lay out the cards in a standard reading is beyond the scope of this article, consult www.psychicsuperstore.com if you need instructions on how to start a reading.
