Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 26-09-2009-05-2008
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The tarot spreads or layouts are the basis for tarot readings without which interpretations and meaning deductions would not be possible. Life sectors like health, work, love and so on are assigned a special position in the spread. The difficulty appears when you have to decipher the meaning of the card and give it a probabilistic interpretation for the future. The reading of the tarot spreads is taught in all basic lessons and tutorials but the skills and the techniques are sometimes built in years of practice. Experts actually speak about the identity call for divination like an innate talent that one can develop in time.
The tarot spreads are arranged only after the person for whom the reading is performed has finished shuffling the cards. Usually one seeks answers for a particular life area such as love, work or health, and therefore he or she has to focus on the question that needs a reply. Once the cards have been shuffled, the next step is to create the tarot spreads. The diversity of the tarot spreads is incredible covering very complex combinations on the basis of the 78 cards available.
Certain tarot spreads bring information on the emotional elements in one’s life while others will indicate various aspects of the relationships with the people around or the career issues. The Celtic Cross is the most popular and commonly used of layouts and it is available with detailed instructions and lots of positions explained online. The meaning of the tarot spreads grows out of the card pairings; yet, one cannot make important decisions based on such readings alone. Tarot makes an alternative learning choice for those who want to take a guess about the direction of their lives.
All in all, you can learn about tarot spreads from a variety of sources, but definitely the Internet is by far the richest in the category. There are people who have turned card reading and divination into a profession, and such workers often advertise both online and in local magazines and broadsheets in the sections for classifieds. Most of these tarot gurus will perform the reading you want in exchange for a fee; however, criticism is vividly pointed in the direction of interpretation authenticity. Many such experts remain frauds, and the explanation for such a label comes from shared skepticism in occult practices according to the opinion of people in urban areas.
Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 25-09-2009-05-2008
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The fascination of tarot readings seems to have touched lots of people all around the world, and there is no quicker way to see the truth of this assertion than by having a look at the many Internet sites that provide tarot readings for free or as fee-based services. People can also learn to perform their own tarot readings; thus, spreads are widely explained online together with the separate card meanings taken out of context. Although, divination can be fun, it is a mistake to trust tarot readings to the extent of running your life in the light of their revelations.
Tarot readings vary in complexity and extent depending on the position one card or another occupies in the spread. Thus, you cannot interpret one card without the help of another. People often consider the step-by-step explanations for tarot readings pretty difficult to understand and perform, particularly if they are beginners in the art of divination. Moreover, you will come across all sorts of tips and words of advice about how to preserve the intensity of the meaning or how to relate the beginning with the end of the spread.
Tarot readings require a concentration level on the part of the participants, thus the person who is looking for an answer should focus both on the situation and the question he/she wants to ask. The intensity and the depth of the tarot meaning afterwards may vary depending on the above mentioned elements. However, tarot represents an art and not real divination science. Do not expect real truth revealed together with clear action suggestions! Do not take card reading as the main way to make decisions about important life aspects.
Special card readings, books and courses are available for those interested in learning tarot readings, and one can choose between independent tarot teachers and tarot organizations. In the United States, you can become a certified tarot reader according to a seven level scale that recognizes the experience according to standardized test results. Thus, one can begin as an apprentice tarot reader and move to superior stages such as professional tarot reader, tarot consultant, tarot master, tarot instructor and tarot grandmaster. These categories only aim at classifying skills and helping people with tarot interests turn it into something more than a hobby.
Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 24-09-2009-05-2008
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How can we describe the best tarot layouts? A beginner will not be able to tell much about the distinction particularly since the spreads vary from one-card patterns to other using the entire deck. It all relies on the reader’s skill. It is obvious that someone with little experience at card reading will choose simple tarot layouts. Practice clearly points out that it is a real problem to focus both on the card placement or the layout and the meaning divination at the same time. Beginners have two possible directions to start: they devote time to the tarot layouts or focus on card meanings more.
Only when you have enough knowledge to create good tarot layouts can one pass to a different learning level. Several personal aspects require attention in the choice of the best tarot layouts and they all gravitate around the end results. What exactly is it that you want to achieve with a certain reading? Whom does it concern or involve? What are your overall intentions for the issue in question? Time comes next as a factor of decision; more elaborate tarot layouts will take plenty of time to create, therefore do not use them for too pressing issues.
Another tip here for good easy tarot layouts is the use of the Major Arcana only. With the twenty two cards in this Arcana you’ll be able to refer to all main life sectors, and therefore you’ll receive the keys to the most important events without too complex tarot layouts that take both lots of time and intricate interpretations. When the preparatory stage is over, proceed with the reading. Cards will carry a form of relevance only in relation with the others.
Some tarot layouts are perfect for study; take for instance zodiac tarot. It only needs twelve cards in the spread, one for every sign of the zodiac; once you create the layout, the cards are read in context depending on every life area you are interested in. The cards are used in a clockwise circle, in the places corresponding to clock numbers. Many tarot readers find this kind of tarot layouts funny and easy to work with;plus they make excellent entertainment opportunities.
Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 23-09-2009-05-2008
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Tarot decks were first described in the early 15th century in relation to Martiano da Tortona who mentioned tarot-like games. The motifs on these early illustrations were Greek deities with the suits made of four different types of birds, which differed greatly from the regular Italian suits. These precursors of tarot decks had only sixteen cards, but they surely enjoyed great popularity. Later, during the same century other mentions of tarot decks are found in Italian documents. The ideology and the symbolism of the cards were very impressive even then with social, heraldic, poetical and philosophical implications.
As for the oldest tarot decks ever preserved, they date from the mid 15th century and they were made on the special order of the Visconti family. The sixty-six cards are presently on public display at the Yale University Library in New Haven. Another famous deck was painted by Bonifacio Bembo at the request of Maria Visconti, two cards from these tarot decks were lost or missed from the very beginning. The design and fame of these cards have grown under the Visconti-Sforza patronage.
Plenty of modern reproductions combine batons, swords, coins and cups with trump cards as the clear image of the classic iconography of the old times.
An analysis of the first-made tarot decks indicates a reduced number given the painstaking effort required for their design. Old tarot decks have survived to our days from Switzerland, Egypt or Marseilles, and the centuries gave them the occult or mystical connotations they have today. Occultism and magic fans were the ones to start reading the cards for all divination purposes that have passed on to our modern world too.
Some analysts discovered all sorts of origins for the tarot decks with etymologists identifying the Egyptian meaning of the very word tarot: tar stands for royal while ro means road, tarot would thus mean the royal road. According to tradition, Gypsies are said to have spread the tradition of card reading in the first place, but the exact period when tarot decks started to serve for predictive purposes is not clear. As for the passage of tarot popularity to the English speaking world, Eliphas Levi was the one to make the transfer possible, and introduce tarot to aristocratic and middle classes too.
Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 22-09-2009-05-2008
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The suits, illustrations and cards in the tarot deck are available in a large number of designs. Some decks correspond to a certain theme such as occult representations, animals and the natural world, while others are original works of art. The best known tarot deck sold in the United States is the Rider-Waite package, created by A.E Waite in the first decade of the 20th century. His preoccupation with the occult and the fact that he was a member of a hermetic order represent the elements that led to the creation of this very popular tarot deck. Nevertheless, calling the Waite variant the standard tarot deck would be false as there is no definite rule to determine the number of cards and their imagery.
A tarot deck can only be discussed according to the major and the minor arcana; the minor arcana consists of swords, wands, cups and circles/pentacles that replace the classical hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. The cards can only be interpreted in relation to life events. The tarot deck spreads in the minor arcana attempt to refer to day-to-day events in one’s life. On the other hand, the major arcana relies only on cards with pictures and symbols that stand for principles, concepts and ideas.
The cards in a tarot deck could thus bring personal information and all sorts of predictions more or less likely to happen; therefore, the best attitude towards divination is a cautious one. Maybe tarot can help you understand there is something more to this world than just the immediate touchable reality around, but making decisions on such grounds could prove very wrong and even irresponsible. Use the tarot deck for entertainment purposes only and you won’t run the risk of falling into the trap of future telling scams.
The elements that allow the selection of the perfect tarot deck vary from case to case; some people would rather go for personalized decks, others are content with the standard look of many printable tarot cards, while others are more interested in the meaning of the cards than in their design. The bright side is that the richness of options allows for all sorts of choices, and the fun part has preponderance over tarot as business. Don’t panic if someone predicts some terrible event close in the future. Live your life the best way you can!
Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 21-09-2009-05-2008
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Tarot card readings can be performed by using the Major Arcana only, the Minor Arcana only or the entire deck. The third variant is considered the most difficult and complex of all since it provides more in-depth meaning to the so-called divination process. The entire discovery of what we know as tarot card readings consists in the ability to associate cards, images and symbols. While the explanation of certain cards is obvious, other get most of the significance thanks to the others in the vicinity. Also known as the obscure cards in the Minor Arcana, such examples are not sufficiently explained in the descriptions available in books and courses.
Tarot card readings also take their meaningful substance from numerology, and this is one aspect on which any first level apprentice should focus. Investigate a bit about what numbers mean in tarot interpretations and get at least some rudimentary knowledge for the matter. Otherwise, it is very possible for some details to remain hidden, and thus make the prediction incomplete. The next aspect that needs great attention for the success of tarot card readings is the emphasis on correct focusing. Remember the fact that tarot does not give yes and no replies as it is rather about subtle hints than about direct implications.
The position of the cards in their connection mode with the reader proves very important; it is imperative that they all face you appropriately for good tarot card readings. Reversed cards have alternative explanations when in the wrong position or get less relevant for the interpretation. Furthermore, the decks should be chosen depending on the skills of the reader since at the beginner’s level the illustrations have to make reading easier. The dragon decks are very popular for instance, but there are other sets that picture human occupations. Once the proficiency level gets higher, you may choose from other more attractive and complex designs.
A basic question about tarot card readings is whether they work at all. And if they do, why and how? Although far from considering tarot card readings in the realm of the supernatural, one cannot explain the working mechanism specific to the divination processes in very easy terms. Sometimes the answers you can get from the cards can puzzle you by truth in their essence, while some other times you’ll find them too foggy to understand. Whichever be the real explanation behind tarot card readings, they definitely seem to trigger some inner psychic thrill in most people.
Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 20-09-2009-05-2008
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People expect predictions and divination revelations from the tarot card reader without knowing that they influence the card interpretations themselves. Although tarot fans are encouraged not to take the card meanings too seriously and merely enjoy the pastime, lots of readers put a lot of energy and belief in the profession. It is actually said that the truthfulness of the reading results from the focus emphasis and the strength of belief one puts into the divination process. It is therefore a must that you know well how high to place your expectations before going to a tarot reader. The way you process the results of the inquiry is up to you, but it should remain in accordance with the rules of common sense.
Tarot reading fame has developed so much that there are even professional tarot card reader categories certified by a national commission according to various training levels. Presently, anyone can develop such a career if he/she has knowledge and experience and would like to commit to tarot full time. The richness of teaching materials is incredible, from books and paper-printed guides to books and web pages, but none of them can give the tarot card reader the untouchable ingredient necessary for good card interpretations.
It is believed that a good tarot card reader should have knowledge of the unwritten laws of the unseen universe in which negative and positive invisible energies move. Cards can only be interpreted in the vicinity of other symbols and representations, since only their combinations show degree of relevance for life aspects and issues. If you ask for the services of a tarot card reader, put your mind to work seriously if you want an answer to the question as rewarding as possible. Even when you do so, the hazard chances remain incredibly high.
One further element Internet users should be aware of is that many of the tarot card reader services provided online are software generated. Thus, you draw six cards from the deck and you are given some random interpretations for each draw without the implications of the human factor. Such automated web pages are designed for entertainment and they require no charge at all most of the time. The tarot reading is free and so is the information about tarot origins, tarot training courses, further in depth tarot interpretations and so on. Have a look around such sites and decide for yourself whether they are worth using or not!
Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 19-09-2009-05-2008
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Profound symbolism and strange tarot card meanings make the elements for which tarot is one of the most well know arts of the occult. If in the past people believed them to be very accurate in the prediction of wealth, personal ruin, political changes, love affairs and death warnings, things are not very much different nowadays, with the symbols being less emphasized. Tarot card meanings have turned into epitomes, but when investigated in context they simply make a combination of elements that could or could not refer to your life or influence it. Although prediction was the initial purpose, entertainment is definitely the main role of this future-telling art.
The most striking tarot card meanings and symbols can be uncovered and investigated in the Major Arcana cards, they also carry the name of trumps. The magician, the fool, the hermit, the emperor, the queen, the hanged man, the devil or the hierophant represent the main figures in the spiritual and real realms. For the Minor Arcana the tarot card meanings substitute in fact the instances or the elements that relate to common real life occurrences, and these actually represent the ancestors of modern playing cards.
The four elements of the alchemy support the Minor Arcana suits, and they are just as important as the complex illustrations designed in the Major Arcana. The pentacles are firmly grounded, reflecting the essence of the earth element, the wands stand for the courage and passion in fire, the swords represent the air and the cups were created under the influence of the water element. Thus, if some tarot card meanings relate to emotional affairs as it is the case with the fire element, the air keeps the interpretation in the realm of logic thinking while the earth makes reality seem closer.
Tarot card meanings will often appear stirring and surprising in the very evocative essence of the symbols and pictures. Images have always been able to convey feelings, emotions and ideas, and we all share a huge visual repository in the deep mind layers. This is one of the main explanations for the effect tarot card readings trigger in people; a person who has never seen a tarot deck will show admiration for the symbols, designs, prints and figures combined in a very complex structure. In alternations, the visual representations become even more striking which is why the tarot card meanings charge with more significance layers.
Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 18-09-2009-05-2008
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Tarot card meaning is what gives power to interpretations and predictions; each card has a significance and a peculiar symbolism attached to it. What people don’t get to understand is that the overall spread and the card combinations give the full tarot card meaning to define a certain life aspect. In the Rider Waite tarot, there are seventy-eight cards, and the first step beginners have to take is to learn what each of them means. From the Fool to the Queen and the King, the tarot cards can be analyzed, studied and understood depending on the every user’s sensibility.
Tarot card reading has evolved over the years; for people who are no strangers to the Kabbalah or alchemy, the symbols similarity cannot pass unnoticed. Thus, all sorts of symbols have been added in time so that the present-day form of the decks is a very complex one. It is also common practice to complicate things even further by personalizing the cards and adding other subtle interpretations to the decks. Thus, many amateur philosophers have their own interpretations of the mystic representations in alchemy and the Kabbalah and they choose to add them to the cards.
The tarot card meaning changes depending on the reading; thus, a single card can be given different explanations based on the location of the card in the spread and the meaning of the other cards in its vicinity. Very often, according to the reader’s own common sense and judgment, a tarot card meaning can be discarded as irrelevant for the question that is under discussion. The cards in the Major Arcana insist on a distinct symbolism, while those in the Minor Arcana stand for the traditional alchemical elements. Thus, the swords correspond to the air, the cups to the water, the pentagrams/circles to the earth and the wands to fire.
In short, the tarot card meaning gives one a clue about the way he/she goes through the personal journey: is one on the right path or has one strayed away? This tarot card meaning is obvious for the spreads in the Major Arcana where each card matches a certain life aspect: the fool stands for the beginning of a journey, the magician indicates the way towards wisdom, the high priestess indicates the level of self-balance, the empress hints at love, wealth and pleasure, while the emperor represents claimed power and authority, and so on and so forth.
Posted by admin | Posted in Tarot | Posted on 17-09-2009-05-2008
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A basic software program makes printable tarot cards easy to design and improve as starting materials for entertainment purposes. Lots of online web pages provide two different options: customized tarot decks or ready made/mass produced variants. Why go for the printable version? First of all, it is a lot easier to find the decks you like, and then, you can save tons of time that you’d otherwise waste on searching in all sorts of shops. Depending on the site you access, two variants of printable tarot cards usually get the user’s attention: either the classic Rider-Waite tarot or original creations closer to works of art than to series products.
Some sites allow one to create fall the seventy-eight printable tarot cards with complex graphics and all sorts of interesting backgrounds. Users also find it a lot easier to get familiar with the various symbols on the tarot cards when one can color and design the tarot decks individually. Then, Alternatives for printable tarot cards can be found in ebooks and training courses. Unique deck illustration is also richly provided on the Internet in very suggestive formats.
The main reason for personalizing the printable tarot cards is the necessity to make cards more accessible in terms of symbolism. For those who are more than simply familiar with the meaning of tarot cards, the printable versions available on the Internet may not bring enough satisfaction. Collages, individual artwork, personal digital photos could be very well used in the design of printable tarot cards; one will relate to the deck in a superior way afterwards if the images touch upon a personal cord. Last but not least, here are some technical facts to consider when printing tarot decks.
In order to get some smooth and resistant decks, laminated paper is perfect for printable tarot cards, not to mention that it is a good way to avoid gluing pictures to cardboard too. Thus, the paper comes either in a matte finish variant or with a glossy card coating; other varieties do exist, but the two we’ve mentioned remain the most reliable and suitable for the creation of the tarot cards. Before printing the decks, have a look on various Internet sites to see what suggestions you can find to help you with the downloads.