A Brief Insight into Interpreting your Tarot Cards

A Brief Insight into Interpreting your Tarot Cards

Tarot card reading is a practice where the expert tarot reader uses a deck of cards to get an insight into an individual’s past, present, and future. You can say that this practice of reading tarot cards is a type of cartomancy. One of the first instances of tarot reading has been found since the 1450-1470s through the Devil’s card by a Dominican preacher. Tarot cards are rich in symbolism. From a deck of 52 cards, the individual must pick three after forming a question in their mind. The cards are then interpreted to answer the questions. The concept is quite fascinating and believer or non-believer I’m sure one has wanted to know how to perform such interpretations, at one point in their life! Each tarot card is full of symbols and sometimes it may get overwhelming to decide what to interpret and what to not; what connections to make and what to not. There are thousands of architectural symbols like castles, huts, to religious symbols like symbols from Judaism, Christianity, Kabbalah, the Golden Dawn, and Astrology. In addition to this, there is also the whole concept of numerology! However, it can be really easy to interpret a tarot card if one knows the tricks and techniques around it. Tarot card reading should be a light, fun, and enjoyable experience instead of being a stressful, chaotic, and overwhelming one. Read below to know the basics of interpreting various symbolisms of the Rider Waite Tarot deck. 

 

Understanding the difference between collective knowledge and personal wisdom:

 

One of the first things to keep in mind before venturing into the world of tarots is that there lies a difference between the collective knowledge about the symbols and your personal opinions and interpretations. Collective knowledge is the wisdom that has been passed through traditional beliefs and rituals whereas personal knowledge is derived from one’s own experience of the interpretation and playing out of symbols. Although many may preach that following the collective opinion of symbols is the right way, it is better to follow what works and has worked for you. Trust your gut and your instincts. And after doing so relate it with the traditional norms and make a well-balanced connection between both for the best results.

 

Few Beginner tips to get started with reading tarots:

 

Start with what you know. 

Tarot reading should be a fun and enjoyable experience for all and thus start with something that both interests you and makes you feel comfortable. For example, if you already have some knowledge and interest regarding Judaism symbolism, then start with that. A helpful tip will be to research some basic and common symbols as well.

 

Research on common symbols. 

If you’ve ever observed a tarot deck you might have noticed that there are a few symbols that are common across most cards. For example, tarots usually have a lot of clouds, castles, and landscapes in their pictorial depictions. Researching these symbols gives you insight into their meanings and makes the experience of reading and interpreting simpler. 

 

Explore personal connections and intuitions. 

When you pick up a card, try and interpret it in your way. Let your creative juices flow. Think and imagine. Ask yourself what this means to you. Does it resonate with the current situation in your life? Does an open window mean a storm is coming to an end? Make questions, interpret, and carry forward with interest.

 

Compare Symbols across cards. 

Suppose you pick out a card with a castle on it, pull out all the other cards on the deck which have the castle. Then form a variety of questions in your mind using basic logic and common sense. For example, what is happening around this castle? In the four wands, the picture depicts a celebration around the castle whereas, in the Tower, the castle is seen to be tumbling down. Based on these, use your interpretative and judgment skills to form a conclusion. Having a question, you need to answer in mind, it becomes all the easier as you interpret the symbols based on it.

 

A tarot reading can give you an insight into your life and help with positive affirmations. It can give you the push you need to dive ahead. So, enjoy the ride and don’t get too overwhelmed. One step at a time, honey!