Learning the Tarot: An Intuitive Approach

by Anne Harwood, Certified Tarot Reader (CTN)

(Please note: some of the exercises and techniques indicated in this article are inspired by material found in Teresa C. Michelsen's The Complete Tarot Reader (2003, Llewellyn Books) and Mary K. Greer's Twenty-One Ways To Read A Tarot Card (2004 Llewellyn Books). These are two of the most excellent, thorough and accessible guides available on the subject, and whether you are just starting on your journey or if you are looking to deepen your insight, I cannot recommend them them highly enough. An edited version of this article appeared in The Mosaic Mind, Body and Spirit Magazine, Fall 2006 edition). 

Many people are drawn to the Tarot and purchase their first deck with enthusiasm, only to have that enthusiasm diminish in the face of having to memorize the meanings for all 78 cards from the information contained in the Little White Book (hereafter referred to as the LWB) that accompanies the deck. Learning by rote is, in my very humble opinion, no way to access information in a meaningful way--many of us can remember having to memorize passages from a poem for school, and while we might still recall the lines, how many of us can say we really have an understanding of the poet's message? Most often, the exercise has simply become a group of sounds that we can parrot with no appreciation for the meaning of the words. That is why so many Tarot decks languish unused in drawers and closets all over the world, appreciated for their beauty, perhaps, but ultimately ignored.

Because Tarot is an intuitive process, the most important first step is to find a deck that appeals to you. There is an old adage that claims your first deck should be a gift, that it is bad luck to buy it for yourself. While it is lovely to receive a deck as a gift, this is not absolutely necessary, and if you are buying the deck yourself, at least you have the satisfaction of knowing that it's one you can work with. The images on the cards should speak to you on a very personal level. Look around at novelty or pagan shops in your area to get an idea of what's out there. If you are in a small or very conservative community, the Aeclectic Tarot Forum and the Tarot Garden online are excellent resources for exploring the many thousands of available decks. (These and many other websites can be found on my Links page. I also offer reviews on Tarot decks and books on this website, which you are welcome to peruse here.) It will become immediately apparent that there is a deck out there to suit virtually every taste and interest. Many are based on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck of 1910, yet there is a startling array of variation on that theme: some decks depict dragons, faeries, Arthurian legends, Gothic imagery, cats, dogs, Wiccan or Aboriginal spirituality, sexuality, feminist ideology and even rock and roll legends. There is even a British deck called the Alcohol Tarot that celebrates all things potable and tasty! Some decks have a sense of humour (The Housewives Tarot) and others are deadly serious (The Thoth Deck by Alistair Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris). Some are round (The Motherpeace Tarot). The most important thing is to find the deck that sets your heart and soul on fire, one that you will enjoy learning from and using.

That being said, I would caution the beginner to shy away from reproductions of the oldest decks, such as the Visconti Sforza and Marseilles Tarots. The pip cards (or Minor Arcana) in these decks are un-illustrated and since we will be using the images on the cards to intuit their meanings, these pose a stumbling block to that process.

Once you have your shiny new deck in your hot little hands, then what? My next suggestion might cause a little panic, because what you do next is get rid of the LWB. Oh, don't throw it out, because you'll be referring back to it later, but put it somewhere out of sight for the next little while. 

"But," you might be thinking, "it's got all the answers!" 

To this I respectfully reply, "Bullshit!" 

You see, learning the Tarot is all about what the individual cards mean to you, not anyone else. Certainly, knowing what the artist had in mind when she designed the cards can bring you insight and clarity, but the most fundamental step to discovering the Tarot is what those images mean to you personally. The important thing to remember is that your interpretation is just as valid as anyone else's. Over time, your understanding of these images will deepen, but for now, your journey is highly personal and unique.

Now that you have your deck and have put the LWB away, begin a Tarot journal. Use a key coil notebook, a three ring binder or even your computer, but it's best to have something that is portable that you can access when you have an inspiration or insight. Your journal is your most effective and powerful tool (besides your own insight and intuition) to uncovering the Tarot.

To begin, shuffle your deck. When you feel finished, put the deck face down on the table and turn over the first card. Pick it up and look at it. In your journal, write down the name of the card and your immediate emotional response. How does this card make you feel? Is it joyful? Anxious? Inquisitive? Jot down just a few words on the initial impact this card has on you. Don't overanalyze it, at this point we are dealing in surface impressions only.

Next, describe the card as factually as you can. Avoid projecting emotion onto the scene. For example, if The Fool is smiling, say so, but resist value judgments such as "He is happy." Make note of colours, landscape, animals, weather, plants, objects, anything that catches your eye. Approach this part of the exercise as if you were being asked to fill out a police report: : "Just the facts, ma'am."

When you have noted as much detail as you can, describe the card again from a first person narrative. Step inside the card, assume the character of a figure or object depicted therein and talk about your experience. What is the Queen of Swords thinking? What is she doing? What else do you see, smell, hear once inside the card? Feel free to give your emotions free reign during this part of the exercise. Tell a short story, even. What would you ask The Empress if you found here there enthroned? What would she answer you? Explore the card on a personal and emotional level.

Take for instance, the image of a sheep. To some, sheep represent fertility and abundance. But to others, the sheep is a symbol of conformity and following the herd. Who is right? Can we honestly say that either interpretation is "wrong"? 

When you have completed your analysis with the entire deck, get out the LWB again (or another source you trust) and compare your notes with the "official" version. You will be surprised how often the two correspond. In the event that your interpretation of a card differs completely, do not despair or immediately conclude that you "got that one wrong." This is your deck and only your interpretation of the images matter. Learning to trust your intuition is the biggest and scariest step on the journey; it only gets easier from here! You may find that there are certain cards you always struggle to learn or interpret, and this happens even to experienced readers. Once you have the basic understanding of your deck down, explore other sources to glean their take on things. I keep a Tarot blog, called Tarot Teachings. Once a week, I analyze and interpret a card from one of my many decks. Perhaps one of them is the card that puzzles you!

And where do we go from here? Well, there are many different ways to read a Tarot deck. In this article, we haven't even touched on the significance of the Suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, Coins) or the Major and Minor Arcana. And what about those court cards, the Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages? Are colours important? What about animals? Is there any significance to the numbers? What is the Kaballah? Or Elemental Dignities? How about reversals? Where do you learn Tarot spreads?

These are all potential areas of study to the aspiring Tarot student, and offer greater opportunities for understanding. There are dozens of excellent books available for study should you wish to pursue this fascinating subject further, and classes are often available through Wiccan/Pagan shops, community colleges or continuing education programs. Be sure to check out my Suggested Reading List!

If you have found this article helpful and would like to know more, please email me with your questions! I would be pleased to answer them and am hoping also to develop a Q&A Page on this website!