Are you intrigued with the idea of a Tarot reading, but would like to understand more about it before you dive in? Then, this is for you!
I’m often asked “what is Tarot and how does it work?”. I had the same questions when I first discovered Tarot, and here is a concise version of the answers I’ve found.
A spur of the moment decision led me to my very first Tarot reading. I’d heard of a woman that did readings, and thinking it sounded like fun, I went in with the expectation of having my “fortune told”. What I came away with was an entirely new sense of how I might more effectively shape my life. It was an enlightening, exciting and empowering experience.
This began my study of Tarot, and a path of healing that is now part of my daily routine. The revelations and guidance I’ve found in Tarot have been powerfully transformative in my life, opening new pathways to connection with Spirit, allowing deeper access to my intuition, empowering my journey and presenting a means for me to help others light their way.
What are Tarot cards?
A deck of Tarot cards is a tool for divination—a means to gain insight and inspiration from the universal energy that flows through and connects us all.
Each of the 78 cards in a Tarot deck contains its own unique imagery and symbolism that represent a life situation, experience, personality, emotion, thought pattern, desire or need—making the deck rather like a picture book of life.
When we consult the Tarot for an answer to a question or clarification of a situation, the cards serve as a mirror to our subconscious mind, allowing access to our own inner wisdom. The messages revealed by the cards offer clarity for making choices, self-development, manifesting goals, and empowering our lives.
How does a Tarot reading work?
It’s all about energy. Absolutely everything in this world and beyond emits its own energy—people, places, things, thoughts and Tarot cards, for example. A Tarot reader interprets the energy of the cards that are drawn and their alignment with the energy of the querent, whether that be themselves or a client.
So, it’s easy to see how a reader could access their own energy for a reading, but how do they connect to the energy of someone they’re reading for, especially if the person is far away?
All energy is connected in a universal consciousness. When asked to do a reading, a reader is given permission to access the querent’s own personal energy. This allows the reader to tap into that energy through the collective, and interpret the cards as they apply to the specific energy of the querent. The process is intuitive, spiritual, magical and very powerful.
How do I ask a question of the Tarot?
Tarot is a tool to help you create the future you want by indicating paths to your goal, and pitfalls to avoid along the way. Asking questions in the right way, openly and honestly, will allow deeper revelations from the Tarot.
The best questions are open-ended, beginning with words like ‘what’, ‘where’, or ‘how’. Starting with these specific words creates the type of question that has enough depth to provide you with an insightful, guiding answer.
Avoid questions that begin with ‘should’, ‘will’ or ‘when’. These are closed-ended questions, which offer limited insight, as they imply future happenings, when the future has not yet been created. What you really want to know is how to create the future you desire, and the right questions provide empowering answers.
Keep the questions focused on yourself. If you’re looking for answers about a relationship with another person, the Tarot can address your participation in that relationship, as well as give insight to the energy of the other person and how it melds with yours, but the reading is for your own personal guidance.
Well formed questions create a connection to your subconscious mind, allowing access to the answers of your own inner wisdom, and giving you the ability to bring those answers into conscious awareness where you can then take action.
Here are some examples:
Ask “what steps can I take to land a job I desire?”, instead of “why can’t I find a job?”
Ask “where are my strengths and weaknesses in attracting money?”, instead of “when will I win the lottery?”
Ask “how can I invite love into my life?”, instead of “when will I meet my soul mate?”
Ask “what are the energies surrounding my idea of a new business?”, instead of “should I start a new business?”
You may already consciously know the message or insight you receive in a Tarot reading, in which case, the reading can be supportive confirmation. Or, you might be completely unaware of the message until you see it reflected in the cards, in which case you are now empowered to take action based on your new awareness.
I hope this gives you a better understanding of what Tarot is and how the Tarot works. I’d also be happy to answer any other questions you may have—just drop me an email.
If you’d like to tap into guidance for your own path, I invite you to check out the readings I offer at Healing Path Studio Tarot. I would be honored to read for you.
Blessings,
Torie