Learning Tarot: Beyond The Books

I have written a bit on tips and tricks to learning the tarot, but I’ve been having so much discussion around the idea of other aspects of life influencing our ability to read the cards well, so I wanted to add to those posts.

It is my perspective that our spiritual growth moves in tandem with our development in all other areas of life. I also believe that tarot is a tool that works through us as much as we work with it. This is why, for as many books as we read or people we consult, we can only go as far as our inner guide is able to take us.

For example, I can learn what the cards mean, but I also recognize that there is much more happening in these scenes than just the basic definitions that we find floating around. To see how the cards play off each other, to grasp the symbolic and visual significance, to be confident in your intuition to know which bits are relevant…well, that’s more an art that evolves over time.

How? Let’s explore some ideas…

Pacing…

Consider this sentence: Tarot is a life long study. Reading this may cause you to feel overwhelmed, but on the other hand, maybe it can also take some of the burden or pressure off. Let’s be honest. Even those who can devote a good part of their lives to uncovering its secrets will still only know what they know. In other words, it’s not possible to consider Tarot from every angle in one lifetime, so don’t worry about it! Simply let the study unfold for you at its natural pace. Honour your rhythms. Stop when you feel anxious. Work with it when you are inspired. If you show yourself that you trust it enough to know when to do either, tarot and your intuition will respond positively.

In addition, consider also that tarot is an individual tool that can be used in any number of ways. One person’s path isn’t a statement on how tarot should be used. Stick to your path and the issue of pacing should resolve.

Trust…

Reading and learning tarot is a practice in trust. It asks that you trust yourself. It asks that you trust those who you serve. It asks that you trust it and the history/foundation it’s built upon. It asks that you trust your intuition even in instances where the cards are not involved (day to day life).

Of course, I do not mean unquestioning trust! This trust should be the kind that feels good and honours yourself.

Example: You read a book that tells you that you must keep a record of your personal card pulls, but you struggle to stay organized in this way and it feels cumbersome to keep up. In this case, try trusting that you know the best method for you and that this piece of advice just doesn’t apply.

Example 2: You read for a seeker and have a difficult time knowing how the feedback landed. In absence of information to the contrary, can you trust in your message to them and that they received what they were meant to?

Example 3: You flip a card over and you intuit something totally different than what the book meaning suggests. Can you trust that your intuition has provided an override at that moment?

These little acts of trust build up over time, not only raising your confidence but your effectiveness as a reader.

Traditional Learning…

There are an overwhelming number of resources aimed at helping new readers. No one can tell you with certainty what the best book to read is or where you must start. With that being said, there is nothing wrong with following through on a suggestion, especially if it feels right to you.

My personal approach is to just read whatever kind of calls to me without a clear sense of rhyme or reason. This goes a bit back to the trust topic above. If I feel compelled to explore something, I believe it’s because it has something for me. If it captivates my attention until the end, then it was certainly worthy of exploration. If I pick something up and I’m bored or it’s becoming a chore, I put it down and move on. It’s not to say it won’t be handy later, but it’s obviously not for me right now.

In that way, we know there are many branches of metaphysics/religion/symbolism/psychology built into the cards. Use what interests you to decide which of these, if any, you wish to explore further. Who cares if everyone is talking about what signs associate with which cards. If you have a penchant for mathematics (I do not) I promise there is a lot to uncover in this way. Let your “other” interests and skillsets guide you!

Don’t waste time on things that aren’t inspiring. There are a million paths to learning this tool, so spending your energy on the one that puts you to sleep, even if it’s a “MUST”, is a misstep in my opinion.

Personal Experience…

I believe I can only go so far in my study with tarot as I am willing to go with my study of self. This is why other areas of life cannot be ignored or misunderstood as being disconnected from this tool. When we have experiences, we grow. And sometimes in that growth, a new understanding comes our way. Our world view shifts or broadens. Our ideologies are questioned and sometimes overhauled. We learn about ourselves and others! Tarot is a mirror for life - and the more we contemplate and embrace those life experiences, the more we can open the door to the mysteries behind each card.

Consider it this way. There may be a card right now that is a bit elusive to you. Maybe it’s the 2 of Swords or Justice or Judgment or The High Priestess. No matter how many books you read on the topic of those cards, we cannot underestimate the power of personal association to make these unclear keys bare significance.

In that vein, you can even ask an elusive card to make itself known to you in life. In doing this, you are consciously inviting an experience that may mimic the energy behind that scene and in this, something may just click! Like the lightning strike on The Tower, suddenly things become clear! Try it :)

Associations…

If you’re in the process of learning the meanings of each card, or committing that knowledge to memory, one tip that worked really well for me is to practice associating the cards to experience. If something happens during the day, stop, and consider what card it reminds you of and why. When you’re talking to a friend or meeting someone new, what attributes do they possess? Is there a court card they share similarities with?

Furthermore, if you’re looking for the solution to a problem, is there a card in the deck that resembles that dilemma? Or better yet, a card that may look like the best possible outcome? This is part learning, part intention setting - but all of it will contribute to a deeper understanding of each key.

The Bottom Line…

There are many paths in the study of tarot and you should be empowered to travel the one that is best for you.

There is a lot of information out there and this can be overwhelming. Let me assure you that you don’t need any of it. With that being said, there is a lot of REALLY good stuff available, but if you let your inner guide take the lead, you’ll find what is meant for you.

And the same goes for people sharing advice. What works for some may not work for others. Do not regard any advice as gospel. Do what feels right. The best gauge is how you’re feeling.

Julia