Your Card of the Day

Tarot is a centuries-old system of divination that combines symbolism and intuition to offer insights into the past, present, and future.

Tarot readings are done through a 78-card deck and are usually performed by a skilled practitioner, although one doesn’t have to be a professional to give a tarot reading.

Tarot readers draw and then interpret cards in response to a seeker’s questions or concerns.

This crash course has been leading toward a simple goal: a readiness to give yourself — or soon, perhaps others — a reading. If you’ve heard that it’s bad form to read for yourself, know this is a myth.

In fact, using the cards to gain insight is one of the quickest ways to start getting honest with yourself — all it takes is a simple shuffle.

There are a variety of Tarot spreads to try. And while it may be tempting to lay out a ten-card Celtic Cross, it’s best to begin with something a bit more basic, though equally powerful. A three-card spread is both illuminating and versatile.

1. Begin by shuffling the deck while contemplating your question. You may want to cut your shuffled deck into three piles and then reassemble it before pulling your cards, or you may not — do what feels right. Likewise, you may want to spread the cards out face down and move them around before picking, rather than splitting the deck. How you shuffle is entirely up to you; the most important aspect is your unwavering concentration on the question you want answered.
2. Pull three cards off the top of the deck, and position them to be read from left to right. This spread may seem simple, but it’s also very versatile. You can use the cards to denote past, present, and future, or situation, action, and outcome.
3. If you’re doing a relationship reading, you can even designate the first card as yourself, the second as your partner — or potential partner — and the third as the relationship between you both. Just don’t change the parameters of the inquiry mid-reading.
4. Don’t worry if you don’t know the meanings of all the cards yet. A big part of reading the Tarot is building up your own intuition. Master the keywords associated with each card, use your booklet or the web for reference, and remember that the illustrations are there for a reason. Look at the cards closely, notice how they relate to one another, and look for the story they are telling together.

Most importantly, don’t worry about perfection. Time, practice, and an open mind will serve you well on this journey.

Now, press pause on your research, shuffle your deck, and pull a three-card spread. You’re well on your way to reading the Tarot like a true seer.

A card rarely speaks alone. Its meaning changes when another card reinforces, challenges, or continues its message.

One card may describe the energy, while the next reveals the obstacle, response, or likely outcome. A gentle card beside a severe card can suggest hesitation, recovery, contrast, or a lesson that only becomes visible in context.

When you read combinations, pay attention to repeated suits, mirrored symbols, direction of movement, and whether the pair feels harmonious or tense. Very often, that relationship between the cards is where the real answer lives.

The major arcana is made up of cards that directly represent archetypes, and suggest major themes and lessons that the querent — the subject of the reading — should pay attention to.

There are many cards in your deck that symbolize impending change. If cards from the major arcana — think Death, or The Tower — show up, that means that the changes are going to be big, important, and an opportunity for a life-altering lesson.

Of course, not all of the cards that comprise the major arcana are created equal. Depending on your deck — and they are available in increasing, and increasingly creative, numbers — some card names may be altered. Be sure to read up on your deck to catch all of its idiosyncrasies.

The minor arcana represents the joys, triumphs, hopes, fears, annoyances, and challenges we experience every day. The word “minor” doesn’t imply that these issues aren’t important; it just means that they’re more temporary and less far-reaching than those you’ll see in the major arcana cards. They’re also easier to act upon.

The minor arcana is separated into four suits, traditionally. Each suit relates to a facet of human experience:

• Wands represent action and motivation.
• Swords represent thought processes and decision-making.
• Cups represent feelings and emotions.
• Pentacles represent the material world, including work and finances.