by
Karen Szabo
One: A "must" is a deck that absolutely, genuinely appeals to you. It doesn't matter what deck anyone else has, nor what you hear about any certain decks being just fantastic, or how easy it is for someone who uses it to read with it; every reader is different and therefore she is going to identify or resonate with different decks. A deck that works well for one person may not "talk" to you at all. There are many websites online where you can look at some of the cards in dozens of decks to get an idea of what they will look like before you buy.
It's a good idea to know what your cards are going to look like first, and this is why: you may get "the" deck that you've been sighing over, only to find that the artwork on might not appeal to you, (or actually bother you in some way), that it confuses you, or any other number of problems. If you can't get past those kinds of feelings, you aren't going to be able to have much success with the deck. If you have cards that you really enjoy looking at, and that you feel an attachment to, you're on the right track.
Two: read thru the little book that comes with it, look it over again..........and put it away. Don't attempt to memorize what each card means according to the book or you'll make yourself crazy, trust me. Yes, you need to know the general meaning and get a sense of the card's purpose for being in the deck, and a basic idea of what it represents. But if you feel like you have to memorize that whole book, you're going to feel overwhelmed and defeat yourself from the start.
Three: first think about the suits in the deck and get a feeling for what each one stands for. The Cups cards all deal with emotions, love, relationships, family.....and also dreams and intuition, and they are associated with Water. The Pentacles cards deal with prosperity, security, abundance, your home/job, and groundedness.......and are associated with Earth. The Wands cards have to do with activity, career, studies, energy, business, responsibilities, action, etc. and are associated with Fire. And the Swords cards deal with ideas, thoughts, strength, and also conflicts. They're associated with Air. There are more associations with each but that's just a basic outline to give you an idea. You might sit and look at all the Cups cards, for example, and consider how each one might relate to the issues that Cups represent, and how they make you feel. Try doing the same with each suit. Now you've got a basic feeling for the suits, the elements of the suits, and your reactions to the cards.
Four: After you've taken some time to do that, try adding the energy of a little numerology into it. For example, the number 1 has the energy of new beginnings, fresh starts, etc. So with the cards, each Ace (for the number 1) is going to be about a fresh beginning of some kind. Examples might be Ace of Swords representing a brilliant new idea or a fresh challenge., or Ace of Cups a renewed feeling or brand new relationship with someone.
Five: Try looking at symbols and things on the cards that stand out for you, or mean something to you that you can use to identify some of the meanings to a card. This could be animals, symbols, an abundance of a certain color, etc. Those can turn into cues for you to help you remember something about the card. Look at them carefully and closely too, because sometimes there are things on the cards which you might not notice just with a first or even second quick glance.
Six: Cues can come from what the people on a card seem to be doing, the expression on their faces, and the activity that is going on in the card. The faces on the two figures on the Two of Cups are very happy, and the card is a positive one. In most decks, the face on the King of Swords is very stern, and it usually does represent a rather stern, almost domineering male, as examples.
Seven: The Major Arcana are a little harder, I think, because they pretty much are what they are, and these you really do have to take some time with and understand their basic meanings. They represent major concepts and lessons, whereas the Minor Arcana deal with more common daily aspects of our life, our choices, relationships, hopes, conflicts etc. The cards of the Minor Arcana (the suits) are also a little more negotiable in terms of 'will this happen or not' because what they describe can often be worked with or worked around. The Major Arcana cards are 'bigger' in impact on, and meaning in, a person's life.
Eight: A very helpful idea to get a notebook when you are first learning and write down the impressions you get while looking through the deck. Make notes about what comes to you, what you feel from the card, what it means to you. Don't censor or judge yourself as you write --- just let it flow, and don't worry about how it sounds or what someone else might think if they read what you're writing -- this is for you, not them. Later you might want to compare it with the booklet that came with your deck, and see how much of each agrees with the other. Bet you'll surprise yourself! While I truly believe using our intuition and reactions to the cards is really important, again I also think we have to tie that to the intended meaning of the cards.....so if your impression of a card seems to be radically different than what your book says, see if you can find something on the card to remind you of it's basic meaning, then tie your own impressions in with it, and perhaps you can combine the two.
Nine: Remember as you read your cards that they don't just stand alone; each one has an effect on the others nearby. They can lessen the impact of a specific card, or they can intensify it. Sometimes seeing them as a group is very helpful.
Ten: I think it's wise to spend the time to get a really good understanding of the cards for awhile, THEN try to put it all together in a reading. Once you know what they mean individually, it's easier to try to relate them to each other. It's worth the effort. Don't rush into a full reading, and don't force yourself either. You will know, believe me, when you are ready to try an actual reading.
(note from Frances: don't do the Celtic Cross as your first tarot spread. It's overwhelming if you are a beginner. Try some 3 - 5 cards spreads first).