LET'S GET STARTED!

I will be giving you the basics to get your started on your way.
Studying the Tarot for me has been nearly a life long process.
I have, in my opinion, a different understanding of the Tarot than most practicioners, teachers and others.
I set up the pages to be a progression of the process of learning. Make use of it as you will.
You may or may not agree with my methods and my understanding, but that to me is a part of what Tarot is.
I feel that it is an ART, not a SCIENCE. It is a Universal palette from which one paints their own map or path.
And like art, there may be some abstract moments. DON'T FORCE the answers...learn rather to WAIT for the answers to flow naturally. When you become discouraged with the process, be patient and wait again for the results to clarify themselves. They often will, eventually.
Many great teachers of the art of Tarot can be found on the Internet and at your local bookstore. I encourage you strongly to investigate all that you can, for there is no ONE WAY to read. My Favorite author is Mary K. Greer. You would do well to read evry book she has written.
Studying the history of Tarot is equally important.
I stress again the importance of making the meanings of the cards your own.
Trust your intuition, your feelings and your heart and they will lead you toward your goal.
Persevere in your studies.
Your Journey will be filled with wonder and a greater understanding of yourself and your place in the Universe.
It is the belief of some that astrology, numerology, and other methods of "divination" are a part of the Tarot. There are those who find a connection to the Kaballah. You may find researching these subjects interesting and perhaps helpful, however, your "visions" and impressions of the cards themselves are ultimately the most important focus.
There is also no substitute for experience and practice, so "read" often as you can.
I feel that it is unethical to claim to
PREDICT
events
The cards are a tool to assist you in making decisions, they may provide you with a new perspective, and can perhaps lead you to a greater understanding of yourself and those around you. If, along the way, the cosmos opens up and brings you this greater understanding or answers to the questions you ask, then it is a true

BLESSING

Make an effort to acquire a Tarot deck with
images that SPEAK to you.

The more esoteric, elaborate, or strange the images are, the less success you may have.
Later on, as you progress, you may decide to use a more complicated deck.
My personal choice is THE UNIVERSAL WAITE deck, which is a recolored version of of the standard RIDER WAITE deck. Separate the twenty-two MAJOR ARCANA from the rest. These are the ones with Roman numerals. It is best to begin with this group.

THE FOLLOWING GUIDE WILL WORK WITH ANY CARD FROM THE MAJOR ARCANA OR MINOR ARCANA.

Choose a card that appeals to you.
*Place yourself "inside" the card's environment.....
What's going on there..."talk" to the characters, what are they trying to tell you? Smell the flowers, feel the wind or whatever is depicted. Become a part of the action, don't just be a spectator! Notice every possible detail. Make up a poem about the characters, hum a tune, tap out a rythym, interact as much as possible with anyone you encounter. For now, don't worry if you don't know the "meanings" of the cards. You're doing FINE, this is an exercise to hone your understanding without any preconceived ideas. It'll be fun, just go with it for awhile!
AND THEN
ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

HOW DOES THIS CARD MAKE ME FEEL. WHAT EMOTIONS DOES IT EVOKE?
Be honest, if you don't like a certain card or if you are afraid of it, it is important to note this in your journal.

WHY AM I LIKE THIS CARD, WHAT SIMILARITIES DO I HAVE TO THE CHARACTERS ON THE CARD?
WHY AM I *NOT* LIKE THIS CARD, WHAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT FROM THE CHARACTERS ON THE CARD?
WHAT CAN I DO TO OVERCOME NEGATIVITY. RISE ABOVE NEGATIVE IMAGES IN THE CARD?
WHAT POSITIVE STATEMENT CAN I MAKE ABOUT THIS CARD?
MAKE A ONE WORD DESCRIPTIVE STATEMENT ABOUT THE CARD

Write your impressions and observations in your Tarot Journal.
At the end of a period of time, perhaps a week, return to your journal and read the entries. Compare them with real life events during that period. What has happened?
Have you received cards in a reading that have some bearing on the events, trends and happenings in your day to day life?
Are you surprised? As you can see there are hidden "prompts" there after all that you hadn't counted on! Yes. this is a little like playing "pretend" as a child does. Children are so open to new things and so should we, as adults be ready to be open. This is an exercise to help you see th rough the eyes of a child! I truly hope this works for you. It can be truly relaxing and enlightening!
Now, let's move on to some of the traditional meanings and attributes.