| After decades of being regarded as part of | | | | local areas but also online. |
| dubious occult practices, Tarot is now | | | | |
| becoming more mainstream and available for | | | | My top tips for learning the Tarot more |
| everyone to experience and learn. Decks and | | | | efficiently: |
| books are widely available from most | | | | |
| bookstores, New Age shops and on the | | | | • Choose a beginner's deck, such as the |
| internet. Numerous websites offer information | | | | Rider-Waite or Sharman-Caselli deck. Don't be |
| on Tarot and message boards, where | | | | tempted by the Star Wars or Flower Fairy |
| like-minded people can meet and exchange | | | | Tarot deck; you need cards that offer plenty |
| ideas. It has never been easier to learn the | | | | of archetypal symbolism and meaning, so you |
| Tarot. | | | | can develop your intuition. |
| | | | |
| If you are interested in learning the Tarot, | | | | • Don't try and memorize card meanings |
| you can rest assured that you do not need to | | | | from books. Instead, try looking at each card |
| be 'psychic' or possess a 'special gift' to | | | | and figure out the meaning for yourself. The |
| be able to read the cards. All you need is | | | | cards need to speak to you. Relate each card |
| the enthusiasm and perseverance to keep | | | | to an experience or phase in your life; this |
| practicing. Your skills and knowledge will be | | | | will help you to remember its meanings more |
| reflected in the efforts you put into your | | | | easily. |
| studies. | | | | |
| | | | • If you need to buy a beginner's book, |
| Before you start, however, consider why you | | | | choose one that provides plenty of exercises |
| want to learn the Tarot. Most people at first | | | | to help you learn the Tarot more intuitively. |
| are interested in the fortune-telling aspect | | | | A good example is Mary K. Greer's 21 Ways to |
| of Tarot, as the ability to predict the | | | | Read a Tarot Card. |
| future offers excitement and perhaps even a | | | | |
| feeling of power over those, who ask you for | | | | • Find yourself a friend to learn Tarot |
| a reading. You need to be aware though that | | | | with or a mentor. Sometimes it is hard to get |
| the Tarot cannot make any predictions, as the | | | | motivated on your own. A mentor will also |
| future is not pre-determined. However, it is | | | | help you to focus by guiding you with |
| possible to establish future possibilities or | | | | individual exercises and reading material, so |
| a trend by analyzing a situation's past and | | | | you can achieve your goal more quickly. |
| present. | | | | |
| | | | • Be realistic on how much time you can |
| Most of all, the Tarot offers a tremendous | | | | devote to your studies; Tarot cannot be |
| potential to better understand yourself. By | | | | learned from one day to the next, although it |
| examining problems or issues with the cards, | | | | offers insight and guidance the moment you |
| a more informed decision can be made on how | | | | start. Your accuracy will improve in time. |
| to proceed. Learning the Tarot to get to know | | | | |
| yourself is a rewarding and enlightening | | | | • Have fun! This is very important. |
| experience. | | | | Don't put yourself under pressure. If you |
| | | | cannot invest much time, use the cards for |
| The beginner soon realizes that learning the | | | | meditation purposes or just reflect on them |
| cards can be a daunting task. Memorizing the | | | | informally. Pick a daily or a weekly card and |
| many different meanings of 78 cards doesn't | | | | see how its image reflects the events |
| seem to be an easy undertaking. But there are | | | | occurring during the day or week. |
| ways of learning the Tarot more easily and | | | | |
| efficiently. Most Tarot students nowadays | | | | Overall, learning Tarot offers possibilities |
| learn to read the cards with the help of | | | | way beyond fortune-telling. According to Gerd |
| books or mentors; the latter will save time | | | | Ziegler, it is the Mirror of the Soul. It |
| and money. Check out your local area for | | | | reveals your true personality and offers |
| courses or look on the internet for contacts; | | | | opportunities for self-realization and |
| The Tarot Association of the British Isles | | | | discovery. May your Tarot journey be filled |
| (TABI) has a list of professional readers, | | | | with pleasant and enlightening surprises! |
| who also offer tuition not only in their | | | | |