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Surrey UK based Tarot Reader, Astrologer and Creative Artist.
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How to lay out a tarot spread
continued
Positions 1&2
Central pivot
In the mind we have the Ace of Cups showing a loving and caring nature while at the Physical level we have the 10 of Batons showing that the questioner is burdened by responsibilities for others.
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Overall we gain a picture that in the past the questioner was overwhelmed by a very strong person which has resulted in them now being timid and put upon by others through a false sense of obedience. This results in them agreeing to do everything for everyone and exhausting themself. The Ace of Cups highlights the fact that the questioner is very loving and caring and that others easily take advantage of their kind nature.
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In a reading I would then lay out the cards which represent the future. If the questioner’s life continues in the same vein of being subservient I would then request the questioner to take cards for guidance on how they might adjust their behaviour so that they obtain more mastery of their life.
When directing enquiry towards a specific question I use the 3 card spread. The principal behind this is that one then has action, reaction and outcome.
This simple spread can be used as either as a tool to build up an entire reading or to answer specific questions during a reading.
This 3 card spread came up for one woman who was just about to retire early. The 4 of Coins depicted her financial stability while the knight of cups and the world card highlighted the fact that she intended to spend her time and resources on traveling and meeting exciting new people.
The Tarot is a powerful tool which can be used in many ways. Here is a simple technique that even the beginner can practice and obtain potent result. I call it Drawing Ones Power Cards.
Split your tarot pack into major and minor cards. Shuffle each section and then draw one card from each. The major card will symbolise the highest insight into where you are at the moment and the minor card will direct whether or not any action needs to be taken. Both cards can be used as tools for meditation.
In this true example of The sun card and the 8 of cups reversed it symbolised the questioner’s true happiness and inner contentment in life and the fact that this was a time of enjoying where they were in life rather than pursuing any new goals.
The questioner fed back that she was happier than she had ever been in her life and that she recognised her need to enjoy her contentment. One issue was preying on her mind but she accepted that it could wait a while longer. She had separated from her husband over 15 years earlier and had been with her current partner for some years. She knew that to divorce and marry her new man would be ideal but that right now she did not need the aggravation of a legal issue when it was not absolutely necessary.
In this true example of the World card and the 5 of Coins reversed it symbolised the questioner’s potential for opportunities in the world and the fact that whatever they encountered they had to do certain things on their own.
Although the client recognised and accepted what was shown they admitted that the idea of having to face some circumstances totally without support was frightening.
The craft of Tarot reading is not simply learning 78 interpretations but the art of how to synthesise several cards together to make a whole story. Practice is everything. Practice on your friends, practice on yourself and explore various techniques for using the cards.
There are lots of packs to choose from, and you may need to buy several before you find one that you’re really comfortable with. Why not pop along to my tarot card shop and see what takes your fancy.
There are also various tarot programmes that can help you learn and practice the Tarot. They are also great fun.
Orphalese Tarot is a terrific programme which lets you freely move the cards around to suit your own spread and write in your own interpretations. It’s suitable for both learners and more experienced readers.
You can now download the entire Toni Allen Tarot to use in the Orphalese Tarot programme, as well as lots of other exciting new tarot designs.
Tarot for Meditation & Personal Insight
