Tarot 101: The Rules of Tarot
I decided to venture off the path of Vessels as our usual Friday card as things at home are chaotic with a lot of negative energy after an “eventful” night with the boy-child. Reading Tarot when your mind is not in the right place (or even working with intuition in general) is not productive. Rather than do the disservice of deep-diving into the VI of Vessels with a cloudy mind, I thought I’d bring on something informative, yet lighter: the “rules” of Tarot.
The TL;DR version is that there are no “rules.” Interpreting Tarot is left entirely up to the practitioner. There are some commonalities and general guidelines that can help a reader to be successful, but nothing is set in stone.
General Guidelines
Choosing a Deck. Anyone who reads my posts knows that there are literally thousands of different decks out in the world with new decks being produced on a daily basis. Most modern decks follow the general concepts and interpretations of the “gold standard” Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, but some deviate and provide their own meanings, alternative cards/interpretations, or entirely new representations.
While most people start reading with the traditional RWS deck, the key is to find a deck that feels at home to you. While that may be a corny thing to say, I can tell you that I have over 25 decks at home, and feel strongly connected to only 3. This level of connection is important because the more you appreciate and understand the deck, the more you will be able to interpret its intended meanings. This is largely a trial-and-error process of finding “your” deck, but is a journey well worth taking and one you won’t regret.
I would also like to mention while some decks are available on Amazon, it has come to my attention that MANY of these decks are knockoffs (not all, of course), printed in China and sold at a fraction of the cost of the original decks. This goes against the general energy of Tarot. If possible, please research your decks before purchasing and make sure they are legit and original. You can also support your local metaphysical shop or bookseller to buy authentic decks.
Setting your Intention. I’ve given a lot of readings to people who want a Tarot reading but have no idea what question to ask. While that seems pretty straightforward, this is the premise of a reading. How you go about setting the intention for a reading can vary between doing a personal reading for yourself and doing it for others. When doing a personal reading, you may take the time to meditate to really focus on what you hope to gain from the reading. This isn’t necessarily something you will have the time to do when reading for someone else. But there are a few things you can do to help set the intention:
Be clear and specific: Think about what you want to gain from the reading, and be as clear and specific as possible. You might set an intention to gain insight into a specific situation, to find clarity on a decision you need to make, or to receive guidance on a particular issue.
Visualize your intention: Take a few moments to close your eyes and visualize yourself receiving the guidance and support you’re seeking. Imagine the cards revealing insights and information that will help you move forward with confidence.
State your intention out loud: Speak your intention aloud. This can help to solidify your intention and keep it front of mind.
Write it down: If you’re having trouble clarifying your intention, try writing it down on a piece of paper. This can help you to organize your thoughts and get clear on what you hope to gain from the reading.
Choosing a Layout: Layouts (a.k.a. Tarot Spreads) are pre-defined patterns used to place the cards for the reading. Each position in the spread has a particular meaning and provides an additional layer of insight into the meaning of the card. For example, one of my favorite spreads, The Rose, starts with a card at the bottom of the spread referred to as “The Root” — that which nourishes our flower. If The Empress was drawn for this position, it may tell us that “the root” of our situation is based in emotional nurturing, grounding, and safety.
There are thousands of spreads out in the world and available for free on the internet. However, spreads are 100% customizable, and you can even create your own spreads.
I personally find it beneficial to have a spread picked out before we start shuffling. It helps me to organize my thoughts about the intention and helps me to better understand the “story” of the cards when we’re reading to begin.
Some people read Tarot without the use of a spread (again, no rules, right?), but I personally find this can limit the reading, as an appropriately picked Tarot spread can help add some additional insight into the intended meaning of the card. I see this done more often with people who are in a hurry to do a reading and need a “quick” answer.
Cleansing the Deck. Once you have a deck that is personal to you, where you feel a strong connection, it is common to want to occasionally cleanse your deck. This is not taking Ye Olde Lysol to your cards, but rather to cleanse the energy of the deck.
Here are some commonly used methods:
- Place your deck(s) (hopefully in protective, plastic packaging) outside during a full moon.
- Knock on their deck three times before shuffling.
- Run your deck through the smoke of incense or burning sage.
- Rest crystals on their deck or store them in special containers or bags.
- Sort your cards back into their original order.
- Wipe your cards down with a gentle, oil-free cleanser and light cloth (not this could cause fading of the printed ink over time)
The idea here is that sometimes Tarot readings can be heavy and dark (especially if you are working through personal trauma or very emotional situations). Sometimes that “vibe” sticks with the cards (and the reader) and needs to be shed. How and how often you cleanse your deck is entirely up to you. You may not even feel the need to do so; your intuition will tell you when it needs to be done.
Shuffling. There are so many different ways to shuffle a Tarot deck. There is no right or wrong way. Sometimes this is dictated by the size of the cards. I have a few decks that are so large I can’t hold them comfortably in my hand to do a traditional shuffle, so I resort to a “fish pond” shuffle, where I scatter the cards on a table and swish them about.
The type of shuffle you choose may also be based on whether you read reversals in your readings (some do, some don’t — again, no rules). Some types of shuffles will natively introduce reversals into your deck, while others will keep them all the same direction.
It is also important to remember while shuffling your deck that you focus on your intention. I personally find it helpful if all involved in the reading focus on the intention while we shuffle.
Here is a great video that discusses the different types of common shuffles used by Tarot readers.
Interpretation of the Cards: Tarot has a generally accepted array of meanings for each of the cards in the deck. However, these meanings are entirely up to your personal interpretation. They can be dependent on the specific deck, the spread and card position, the card’s direction (upright/reversed), and your own intuition.
For example, I did a reading recently (again using The Rose spread), and the card that represented The Blossom (the most beautiful outcome) was the VII of Swords — typically a card of betrayal and deceit. That’s not a particularly beautiful outcome. However, I immediately understood that this card was something I’d never thought of — it was a person removing the swords (in this case, hurtful words) from play, taking them off the field so they can’t be used to hurt others. That is certainly not in any book I’ve seen, but 100% made sense for this reading.
Having a base knowledge of the cards in your deck, the symbolism involved, and the general meanings (or at least some keywords) will help you to begin to connect with and understand the narrative of your reading. As a beginner, it is more than ok to keep the reference book at your side. If you feel perplexed, take a few deep breaths to try to center yourself and take another look.
Ethics: The last thing to mention is understanding when it is appropriate to give a reading on a specific topic and when it isn’t. This is a hot topic for many, and — since there are no rules — different people are comfortable doing different types of readings. For me personally, there are a few types of readings I will not do:
- Health-related readings. I am not a medical professional and do not have the ability to tell you if you are pregnant. The cards may indicate one thing or another, but at the end of the day, it’s all up for interpretation. Trust in science and get a test.
- Readings about other people. This is something of an invasion of privacy. It’s one thing if the question is about your relationship with another person; it is another trying to get insight into someone else not present at the physical reading.
- Law-based readings: I won’t give readings to predict the outcome of mediation, legal proceedings, or insight into imprisonment.
- Financial advice: I won’t give readings that provide recommendations on financial investment. This isn’t a cosmic cash machine.
Hopefully, this helps provide some basic insights into the guidelines of working with Tarot. It is adaptable and full of good intentions. Remember to be open-minded and come at it from a place of compassion and understanding. I hope it serves you well and feel compelled to continue learning more.
Originally published at https://www.pixel-tarot.com on April 7, 2023.
