Now back to our reading.
You are comfortable at the table. You have taken a few minutes to get yourself and the sitter into the proper frame of mind. Maybe you have lighted a candle on the table to ask the spirit of the cards for guidance. You have assured the sitter that you are there to look at the positive side of things, and given them a brief overview of the Tarot and the particular deck you will be using. The sitter has mixed the cards and chosen the proper number of cards to be used in the reading.
What next?
Lay out the cards in whichever spread you have chosen to use for the reading. If you are using a spread that involves cards for the past, present, and future, you may choose to only have the past cards turned upwards for the moment, and then turn the other cards over as you come to them.
Take a quiet moment and look over all of the cards to begin to get a general feeling for the theme they are trying to present. Does it involve money? Relationships? If the sitter has given you an indication of what they would like to discuss, try to see how it relates to that subject. If not, try to get an impression of what the cards would like to talk about. Once you have an overall feeling for the theme of the reading, you will begin to determine what each card is saying individually. In most spreads, the position of each card will tell you what area of the reading that card is addressing. Try to imagine how the card fills that particular spot in the reading. Take your time. Think about what you are going to say. Try to let what you say come from your intuition and imagination and not your analytical mind. Make sure it is in a positive light. Then, begin to work through the cards and describe what you see. This part will need to come from your heart, I cannot tell you what to say. Just remember, as long as you are speaking of what the cards say to you and how you feel about them, you cannot be wrong. Always stay positive!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
About Reading the Tarot . . . part 5
There is a misconception that we are fortune telling. This is not true. What we are doing is looking at the symbology in the cards and attempting to interpret how the story presented relates to the sitters current situation, and how it shows recommendations for actions that will lead to one possible future. The sitter can always get up from the table and change that future. So if we always approach the reading from the point of view that we are relating to the sitter what we FEEL about what the cards are saying, we cannot be wrong. It is truly what we feel. If the sitter sees how it relates to them immediately, fine. If they do not, it does not change how we feel about what we see, and may relate to something that has not happened yet, or is just so vague that the sitter cannot find a connection at that time. But it is still our true feeling and therefore correct within the context of the reading. This is because the words you speak are coming from your own intuition and imagination. The sitter can take from it what they like.
Also, never be afraid to ask the sitter for input or clarification.
“Does this make sense to you?”
“Do you know this person that the cards speak of?”
Remember, we are Tarot readers, and we are reading the cards. It is not expected that we understand how what the cards are describing fits into our sitters experience; there’s no way we could. That is for them to work out in their own minds. This is why we take the time to encourage participation at the beginning of the reading. Leave the need to achieve miraculous ‘hits’ on correct information to the magicians. It has no place in true divination.
Also, never be afraid to ask the sitter for input or clarification.
“Does this make sense to you?”
“Do you know this person that the cards speak of?”
Remember, we are Tarot readers, and we are reading the cards. It is not expected that we understand how what the cards are describing fits into our sitters experience; there’s no way we could. That is for them to work out in their own minds. This is why we take the time to encourage participation at the beginning of the reading. Leave the need to achieve miraculous ‘hits’ on correct information to the magicians. It has no place in true divination.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
About Reading the Tarot . . . part 4
I find it useful during the time that the sitter is mixing the cards to take a minute to do several things.
First, let them know that even though the Tarot can show both dark and light, we will always concentrate on the positive side of things. This is important as many of your sitters will have some anxiety over what you may be about to reveal to them.
Next, it is nice to give them some background about the Tarot itself and the specific deck you are using. This is knowledge you will gain from studying a bit of the history of the Tarot and the history of the particular deck you use. I have included previously a very brief overview of the Tarot, but I encourage you to do more research as you progress so that you can speak intelligently to this point.
Finally, it is good to encourage participation and let the sitter know that they should provide input to you as you work through the spread. Of course if they choose to sit silently during the reading you can still go through the spread and describe what the cards say, but the whole thing will be much more meaningful if they actively participate and let you know if what you are saying relates in some way to their own experience, or if it makes no sense at all.
A quick word about being right or wrong:
Before you begin reading the cards for other people, you must set aside your natural fears of failure. Remember, we are describing to the sitter what we see in the cards, and more importantly, how we FEEL about what the cards are trying to tell us. There is no way to be wrong here. We are not telling them what lottery numbers will hit tomorrow, nor are we predicting the future. We are interpreting positive energy!
First, let them know that even though the Tarot can show both dark and light, we will always concentrate on the positive side of things. This is important as many of your sitters will have some anxiety over what you may be about to reveal to them.
Next, it is nice to give them some background about the Tarot itself and the specific deck you are using. This is knowledge you will gain from studying a bit of the history of the Tarot and the history of the particular deck you use. I have included previously a very brief overview of the Tarot, but I encourage you to do more research as you progress so that you can speak intelligently to this point.
Finally, it is good to encourage participation and let the sitter know that they should provide input to you as you work through the spread. Of course if they choose to sit silently during the reading you can still go through the spread and describe what the cards say, but the whole thing will be much more meaningful if they actively participate and let you know if what you are saying relates in some way to their own experience, or if it makes no sense at all.
A quick word about being right or wrong:
Before you begin reading the cards for other people, you must set aside your natural fears of failure. Remember, we are describing to the sitter what we see in the cards, and more importantly, how we FEEL about what the cards are trying to tell us. There is no way to be wrong here. We are not telling them what lottery numbers will hit tomorrow, nor are we predicting the future. We are interpreting positive energy!
Monday, November 14, 2011
About reading the Tarot . . . Part 3
At the most basic level, a reading involves several simple steps. You and your sitter (the person you are reading for) will sit down at a table and get comfortable. You may spend a minute to get into the proper frame of mind. I like to have myself and the sitter take turns holding a piece of Hematite, which is a small polished stone, to remove negative energies from our minds.
You will mix the Tarot cards, and then hand them to your sitter to mix. The idea here is that by mixing the cards themselves, the sitter will place some of their personal energy into the deck, and that their subconscious mind will direct the order of the cards in some way. Following this you may have a ceremony that you will develop as to how the sitter will choose the cards for their reading. This may involve having them cut the deck three times using their left (or non-writing) hand, and then having them fan the cards out and carefully choosing whatever number of cards is required for the reading you will do.
As before, there is no right or wrong way to do this. The process that you will develop for the introduction, mixing, and selection of the cards is totally of your own making and should simply have some meaning to you as the reader, and serve the purpose of personally connecting your sitter to the process.
You will mix the Tarot cards, and then hand them to your sitter to mix. The idea here is that by mixing the cards themselves, the sitter will place some of their personal energy into the deck, and that their subconscious mind will direct the order of the cards in some way. Following this you may have a ceremony that you will develop as to how the sitter will choose the cards for their reading. This may involve having them cut the deck three times using their left (or non-writing) hand, and then having them fan the cards out and carefully choosing whatever number of cards is required for the reading you will do.
As before, there is no right or wrong way to do this. The process that you will develop for the introduction, mixing, and selection of the cards is totally of your own making and should simply have some meaning to you as the reader, and serve the purpose of personally connecting your sitter to the process.
About Reading the Tarot . . . part 2
So what's going on? The truth of the matter is that since the Tarot is a collection of symbols, the reading you will give to someone will flow from YOUR interpretation of what those symbols mean and how they fit together. This is the basis of true divination. Now, that's not to say that you don't have to work with the cards and get a general understanding of what the symbols on the cards are saying, but that's just what it is, a general understanding. There are commonly accepted guidelines relating to the meanings of the cards, and these are taken from the symbology itself, but there is definitely no paragraph of information that you must memorize that is the definitive meaning for any card.
Once you understand the overall idea behind a card, your own interpretation of that card will evolve over time. Likewise, your own intuition, personality, and life experiences will begin to shape your interpretation of the card combinations as you begin to understand your own Tarot deck. There is no right or wrong interpretation as long as it comes from within you and truthfully relates to how you perceive the cards. Whether you wish to call it intuition or imagination, and there is a very fine line between the two, this is where your readings will come from. So relax a little bit and start thinking about the Tarot as a book that you will both read and write yourself as you and your deck begin to spend time together.
After you have gone through the portions of this text that describe the general meanings behind the cards, and you have spent some time getting familiar with the symbology of your deck, you will be ready to start working on giving readings. You will be a Tarot reader!
Once you understand the overall idea behind a card, your own interpretation of that card will evolve over time. Likewise, your own intuition, personality, and life experiences will begin to shape your interpretation of the card combinations as you begin to understand your own Tarot deck. There is no right or wrong interpretation as long as it comes from within you and truthfully relates to how you perceive the cards. Whether you wish to call it intuition or imagination, and there is a very fine line between the two, this is where your readings will come from. So relax a little bit and start thinking about the Tarot as a book that you will both read and write yourself as you and your deck begin to spend time together.
After you have gone through the portions of this text that describe the general meanings behind the cards, and you have spent some time getting familiar with the symbology of your deck, you will be ready to start working on giving readings. You will be a Tarot reader!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
About Reading the Tarot - part 1
So how do we ‘read’ the Tarot? As previously mentioned, the Tarot deck at its core is a collection of pictures, or symbols. These symbols represent emotions, feelings, people, situations, and much, much more. For the most part, any emotion, feeling, or typical situation that a person could feel or experience during their lifetime is contained somewhere within the cards or represented by a combination of cards. Since there are seventy eight cards in the Tarot deck, there are literally a limitless number of possible combinations of cards in the various card spreads we will use when doing a reading for someone.
You will find out soon enough if you begin studying the Tarot in earnest that it is easy to become confused by seemingly conflicting information contained in different books on the subject. It is the natural tendency of the beginning reader to think that they first and foremost must memorize the exact meanings of all the seventy eight cards in the deck. This is not only incorrect, but is where the confusion starts. If you look through two or three different books on the Tarot (including this one), you will likely find two or three different meanings listed for a good number of the cards.
The fact of the matter is this, and please read this sentence twice –
There are no ‘set’ meanings for the cards.
Say that aloud to yourself now so that you will internalize it. You will have a much more enjoyable experience if you understand this premise right from the start. Don’t worry if that sounds counter to everything you have assumed about learning the Tarot. Just know that you are not facing the daunting task of committing a very large chunk of numbered information to memory. As I stated before, the reality of the process is much simpler than that.
You will find out soon enough if you begin studying the Tarot in earnest that it is easy to become confused by seemingly conflicting information contained in different books on the subject. It is the natural tendency of the beginning reader to think that they first and foremost must memorize the exact meanings of all the seventy eight cards in the deck. This is not only incorrect, but is where the confusion starts. If you look through two or three different books on the Tarot (including this one), you will likely find two or three different meanings listed for a good number of the cards.
The fact of the matter is this, and please read this sentence twice –
There are no ‘set’ meanings for the cards.
Say that aloud to yourself now so that you will internalize it. You will have a much more enjoyable experience if you understand this premise right from the start. Don’t worry if that sounds counter to everything you have assumed about learning the Tarot. Just know that you are not facing the daunting task of committing a very large chunk of numbered information to memory. As I stated before, the reality of the process is much simpler than that.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tarot History . . . part 2 (from "You Can Learn the Tarot!" by Dennis)
Divination using playing cards is in evidence as early as 1540 in a book entitled “The Oracles of Francesco Marceline da Forli” which outlines a simple method of divination, though the cards are used only to select a random oracle and have no meaning in themselves. Manuscripts from 1735 (The Square of Sevens) and 1750 (Pratesi Cartomancer) document rudimentary divinatory meanings for the cards of the Tarot as well as a system for laying out the cards. Giacomo Casanova wrote in his diary that in 1765 his Russian mistress frequently used a deck of playing cards for divination, so we can indeed trace the use of the Tarot for divination back at least several hundred years.
It was also in the 1700s that Tarot cards became strongly connected to fortune telling and the occult, as they are today. The writings of Antoine Court de Gebelin in 1781 were hugely influential on the development of the images that appear on the more modern Tarot deck. An amateur scholar, Gebelin suggested at the time that the pictures on the Tarot deck were related to occult Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Tarot divination really gained in popularity during the 19th century, spurred on by a growing public interest in spiritualism and all matters pertaining to the occult. Ouija boards are another good example of this trend as they also became increasingly popular during this time period.
It was also in the 1700s that Tarot cards became strongly connected to fortune telling and the occult, as they are today. The writings of Antoine Court de Gebelin in 1781 were hugely influential on the development of the images that appear on the more modern Tarot deck. An amateur scholar, Gebelin suggested at the time that the pictures on the Tarot deck were related to occult Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Tarot divination really gained in popularity during the 19th century, spurred on by a growing public interest in spiritualism and all matters pertaining to the occult. Ouija boards are another good example of this trend as they also became increasingly popular during this time period.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tarot History . . . part 1 (from "You Can Learn the Tarot!" by Dennis)
Tarot's origins are perhaps as misunderstood as the mystical symbols on the cards themselves. Thoughts of the cards invoke images of Gypsies in traveling wagons or Monks in secret rooms attempting to divine or influence the future.
The word “Tarot” itself has no historical meaning that can be determined with any certainty. The earliest use of the word seems to be French, as the name for a deck of seventy eight cards that were used for both games and divination. The word may have come from the Italian “Tarocco”, which was likewise used to describe such a deck of cards as early as the fifteenth century, but which of these terms came first is still up for scholarly debate.
The earliest deck of actual Tarot cards is believed to have been a hand-painted set created around 1440 for the Duke of Milan. They were used for a game similar to bridge and as inspiration to create amusing poetry. The promotional images and text on some of the early divination decks claim ancient origins or gypsy ancestry, but most serious sources say the roots of these symbolic cards can simply be traced to traditional playing cards.
The word “Tarot” itself has no historical meaning that can be determined with any certainty. The earliest use of the word seems to be French, as the name for a deck of seventy eight cards that were used for both games and divination. The word may have come from the Italian “Tarocco”, which was likewise used to describe such a deck of cards as early as the fifteenth century, but which of these terms came first is still up for scholarly debate.
The earliest deck of actual Tarot cards is believed to have been a hand-painted set created around 1440 for the Duke of Milan. They were used for a game similar to bridge and as inspiration to create amusing poetry. The promotional images and text on some of the early divination decks claim ancient origins or gypsy ancestry, but most serious sources say the roots of these symbolic cards can simply be traced to traditional playing cards.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
My Services
By way of further introduction, a word about my services . . .
I do private Tarot readings for my clients either in their own home or at my location. I am based out of Mead, Colorado, just a few minutes from Longmont, and serve the area from Denver to Boulder to Ft. Collins. I also do Tarot parties, and am available for events such as birthdays, holiday parties, and the like.
Additionally, I do Graphology (hand writing analysis) for corporate events and large gatherings. Everyone gets a brief personality profile based on their handwriting and/or signature. This is always very popular!
I am a member of the Boulder Healing Arts Association, and attend most psychic fairs in the Denver / Boulder / Ft. Collins area.
If you would like more information about my services, please visit www.privatetarot.com, or feel free to contact me at DennisPerez@privatetarot.com.
Enjoy the day!
I do private Tarot readings for my clients either in their own home or at my location. I am based out of Mead, Colorado, just a few minutes from Longmont, and serve the area from Denver to Boulder to Ft. Collins. I also do Tarot parties, and am available for events such as birthdays, holiday parties, and the like.
Additionally, I do Graphology (hand writing analysis) for corporate events and large gatherings. Everyone gets a brief personality profile based on their handwriting and/or signature. This is always very popular!
I am a member of the Boulder Healing Arts Association, and attend most psychic fairs in the Denver / Boulder / Ft. Collins area.
If you would like more information about my services, please visit www.privatetarot.com, or feel free to contact me at DennisPerez@privatetarot.com.
Enjoy the day!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Day 1
Heading into the new season, it is time to start this blog.
For those who are not familiar, my name is Dennis Perez. I am a Tarot Consultant and Graphology Expert (hand writing analysis) based in Colorado and serving the Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins areas.
My website is www.privatetarot.com.
My email address is DennisPerez@privatetarot.com.
I am also the author of "You Can Learn the Tarot!"
For those who are not familiar, my name is Dennis Perez. I am a Tarot Consultant and Graphology Expert (hand writing analysis) based in Colorado and serving the Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins areas.
My website is www.privatetarot.com.
My email address is DennisPerez@privatetarot.com.
I am also the author of "You Can Learn the Tarot!"
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