The Joy of Learning Tarot

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