Basic Flow of Tarot Reading

Tarot reading is performed in the following stages:

  1. Preparation Phase: Preparing the environment and mind.
  2. Question Setting: Creating clear questions.
  3. Card Selection: Shuffling and selecting cards.
  4. Spread Layout: Arranging the cards.
  5. Interpretation: Reading individual cards and the overall message.
  6. Integration: Integrating the message and advice.

1. Preparation Phase

Environmental Preparation

Physical Environment

  • Quiet Place: A silent space where you can concentrate.
  • Clean Table: A flat surface to place the cards.
  • Good Lighting: Brightness that allows the cards to be seen clearly.
  • Comfortable Seating: A chair that allows you to relax.

Tools Preparation

  • Tarot Cards: A familiar deck.
  • Card Cloth: For protection and energy.
  • Notebook: For recording (optional).
  • Pen: For recording (optional).

Mental Preparation

Mental State

  • Relax: Calm your mind with deep breaths.
  • Open Mind: Let go of preconceptions.
  • Focus: Direct your awareness to the present moment.
  • Respect: Show respect for the cards and the reading.

Energy Purification (Optional)

  • Wash Hands: Physical purification.
  • Meditation: Short meditation.
  • Prayer: Your own prayer or intention setting.

2. Question Setting

Conditions for a Good Question

Be Specific

  • ❌ Bad example: “Will my love life go well?”
  • ✅ Good example: “What should I do to develop my relationship with [person’s name]?”

Be Open-Ended

  • ❌ Bad example: “Does he love me?” (Yes/No question)
  • ✅ Good example: “What are his feelings towards me?”

Focus on What You Can Control

  • ❌ Bad example: “When will he propose?”
  • ✅ Good example: “What is necessary to deepen our relationship?”

Approach by Question Type

Current Situation Assessment

  • “What are the key points in the current situation?”
  • “What is the fundamental cause of this problem?”

Future Direction

  • “What developments can be expected if I proceed this way?”
  • “What should I be aware of for the coming month/year?”

Action Guidelines

  • “What actions should I take in this situation?”
  • “What steps are necessary to achieve my goals?”

Relationships

  • “What is the current state of my relationship with [person’s name]?”
  • “What is necessary to improve this relationship?”

3. Card Selection

Shuffling Methods

Basic Shuffle

  1. Hold the cards and focus on your question.
  2. Shuffle at your own pace.
  3. Continue until it feels “enough.”
  4. Decide when to stop intuitively.

Riffle Shuffle (Method that puts less strain on cards)

  • Divide the cards into small piles.
  • Take a few cards from each pile and mix them.
  • Repeat several times.

Cutting Method

  1. After shuffling, divide the deck into three piles.
  2. Rearrange the order of the piles intuitively.
  3. Return them to a single pile.

How to Choose Cards

Drawing from the Top

  • Simplest and most common.
  • Draw the required number of cards from the top of the deck.

Fanning Method

  • Spread the cards in a fan shape.
  • Choose intuitively.
  • A more intuitive selection.

Jumping Cards

  • Cards that jump out during shuffling.
  • Believed to carry a strong message.

4. Spread Layout

Basic Procedure

  1. Decide on the Spread: Select a spread appropriate for the question.
  2. Confirm Positions: Reconfirm the meaning of each position.
  3. Place Cards: Arrange the cards in the specified order.
  4. Overview: Look at the entire spread once all cards are placed.

Notes on Placement

Determining Upright/Reversed

  • General Method: Use the orientation of the card as it was drawn.
  • Intentional Method: Use only upright positions (for beginners).

Handling Cards

  • Handle Carefully: Treat the cards with care.
  • Follow Order: Place cards in the order specified by the spread.
  • Value Intuition: Intuition felt during placement is also important.

5. Interpretation

Step-by-Step Interpretation Process

Step 1: Record First Impressions

  • Overall Impression: Bright/dark, harmony/conflict, etc.
  • Prominent Cards: Particularly striking cards.
  • Color Tendency: Overall color scheme.
  • Intuitive Feelings: What you felt first.

Step 2: Read Individual Cards

  • Basic Meaning: Confirm the basic meaning of each card.
  • Meaning in Position: Meaning in its position within the spread.
  • Upright/Reversed: Adjust meaning based on orientation.
  • Symbolic Elements: Additional information gleaned from the imagery.

Step 3: Examine Relationships Between Cards

  • Adjacent Cards: Interaction between neighboring cards.
  • Diagonal Relationships: Contrast between diagonally opposed cards.
  • Suit/Number Tendencies: Meaning of similar elements.
  • Major Arcana Ratio: Indicator of importance.

Step 4: Construct the Overall Story

  • Chronological Flow: Past, present, future development.
  • Causal Relationship: Cause and effect.
  • Main Theme: The overarching message.
  • Practical Advice: Concrete action guidelines.

Interpretation Tips

From Basic to Advanced

  1. Start with textbook meanings.
  2. Adjust within the context of the spread.
  3. Add intuitive insights.
  4. Compare with the querent’s situation.

Balancing Act

  • Theory and Intuition: Utilize both.
  • Positive and Negative: Convey both sides balanced.
  • General and Specific: Adjust to the querent.

Approach for Difficult Cases

  • Return to Basics: Reconfirm the basic meaning of the card.
  • Different Angle: Consider from a different perspective.
  • Additional Cards: Draw supplementary cards (with caution).

6. Integration and Advice

Message Integration

Core Message

  • Narrow down to 1-2 most important points.
  • Direct answer to the question.
  • Concrete advice for immediate action.

Supplementary Information

  • Explanation of background and causes.
  • Future possibilities.
  • Points to note.

Delivering Advice

Constructive Expression

  • Do not instill fear: Include hope even with negative information.
  • Action-Oriented: Clearly state what needs to be done.
  • Present Options: Show multiple possibilities.

Appropriate Distance

  • Do not impose: Leave the final decision to the querent.
  • Supportive: Maintain a supportive stance.
  • Clarify Responsibility: State that the reading is advisory.

Practical Example: Three-Card Reading

Question

“I’m considering a job change, should I leave my current company?”

Spread

Three-card spread: Past, Present, Future

Cards Drawn

  1. Past: Eight of Pentacles (Reversed)
  2. Present: Two of Swords
  3. Future: Three of Wands

Interpretation Process

First Impression

  • Past struggles, present decision time, future development.

Individual Cards

  1. Eight of Pentacles (Reversed): Lack of effort in skill improvement, dissatisfaction with monotonous work.
  2. Two of Swords: Difficult decision, indecision between options.
  3. Three of Wands: Future plans, potential for expansion.

Overall Message It is clear that you feel unfulfilled in your current job, which is why you are considering a change. Now is a crucial time for decision-making. A new development can be expected in the future, but careful planning is necessary.

Concrete Advice

  • Prepare for a job change (skill development, information gathering) in parallel.
  • Clearly identify dissatisfactions with your current job to guide your job search.
  • Do not rush the decision; allow sufficient preparation time.

Common Mistakes and Solutions

Interpretation Mistakes

Over-generalization

  • Interpreting card meanings rigidly.
  • Solution: Consider the context and the querent’s situation.

Instilling Fear

  • Overemphasizing negative cards.
  • Solution: Reframe from a constructive perspective.

Too Ambiguous Answers

  • Vague, non-committal generalities.
  • Solution: Provide concrete and actionable advice.

Technical Mistakes

Spread Confusion

  • Misunderstanding the meaning of positions.
  • Solution: Confirm position meanings beforehand.

Incorrect Card Orientation

  • Misjudging upright/reversed positions.
  • Solution: Clearly determine orientation during placement.

Practice Methods for Improvement

Daily Practice

One-Card Draw Habit

  • Draw one card each morning to set the day’s theme.
  • Review the day’s events against the card in the evening.

Self-Reading

  • Regularly read for your own situation.
  • Practice developing an objective perspective.

Reading for Others

Practice with Family/Friends

  • Ask for permission to practice readings for them.
  • Get feedback to improve.

Utilizing Records

  • Record reading content and results.
  • Analyze patterns and tendencies.

Summary

Practicing Tarot reading is an art that requires both skill and intuition. By mastering the basic procedures and practicing consistently, you will gain deeper insights.

The most important thing is to use the messages from the cards for the querent’s growth and happiness. Use it as a tool to promote self-understanding and positive action, rather than creating fear or dependence.

Next Steps