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In this first lesson, we will only be
using the minor arcana, or pip cards. The pip cards are the
Aces through the Tens of each of the
four suits. The pip cards do not include the Court Cards (face cards), nor do
they include the 22 Major Arcana. Don't worry about reversed meanings at this point. Some readers never use reversed meanings. Ultimately, the decision to read or not to read reversals will be up to you. But for now, we won't concern ourselves with trying to learn them. Take your deck of cards, remove the Major Arcana cards and the Court cards. Set those cards aside for now, we'll learn those later. Separate the 40 cards into their respective suits of Wands, Pentacles, Swords, and Cups. Wands are usually associated with our work/careers. All of the cards of this suit are identified with spirit and passion. Look at a card. What comes to your mind first? Review the traditional meaning, but you don't have to use the exact definition. If the traditional meaning doesn't make a "connection" with the card for you, try looking at other author's definitions. Choose a keyword or phrase for all 40 cards and write it down in your notebook. After you have chosen a keyword or short phrase for all 40 cards, memorize them. Do this one suit at a time. Look at the card, look at your meaning, form a connection. Once you are fairly confident that you know all 40 cards by heart, you are ready to learn a simple 3 card spread. I suggest you use the past, present, future 3-card spread. Shuffle the 40 cards and think about the question you'd like guidance with. When you feel you've got the cards well shuffled, you can fan them out or cut them if you wish. Select your 3 cards from the deck in whatever way feels comfortable for you. Place the top card down in front of you. The 2nd card goes to the right of the first card. The 3rd card goes to the right of the 2nd card.
Pentacles are usually associated with money and material objects. Including possessions, physical health, and even physical appearance.
Swords represent the wide array of our mental states. Hopes, fears, dreams, nightmares, thoughts, memory, strife, confusion, intellect, and action.
Cups represent emotions, feelings, relationships, and creative expression.
Sample Reading:
Where are my Tarot Card studies taking
me?
Answer
Past: 6 of Wands
Present: 5 of Wands
Future: 6 of Swords
Let's assume that for these cards I've
chosen these key words:
6 of Wands=Triumph
5 of Wands=Competition
6 of Swords=Passage
In the past I have had some "triumphs"
in learning the Tarot Cards. Right
now, there is a lot of "competition"
out there, so becoming the best I can be is
extremely important. Coming up, I will
leave all my problems and worries
behind me. A "passage" on to bigger
and better things through my studies.
This is just one possible interpretation.
Your interpretation of the same spread
may vary depending on your key words.
Once you feel comfortable with the pip
cards, feel free to continue on to the
Court Cards.
Swords Key Words
since 6/6/1999.
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