Tarot Questions - Lesson 2

Lets start this lesson by answering some very important questions.

1. What is Tarot?

Tarot is the Divination system, a Western Occult System that helps us predict future events, if certain course of action is taken. Tarot is composed of 78 cards out of which 22 Major Arcana- archetypal symbols of woman or man’s journey through life, and 56 cards Minor Arcana (composed of 16 court cards and 40 pip or number cards).
The tarot activates the intuitive mind. Since 18th century the tarot cards have been used for “psychic” divination. However tarot is not only a means of divination, but also a tool for personal growth and transformation.

2. What is the purpose of the tarot cards?
The purpose of the tarot cards is to communicate with the Spirit world.

3. What do you want to learn from Tarot?
I want to learn how to use my instincts in reading the cards.
(here fill in with your own answer).

4. What are you hoping to gain from this class?
Gain more knowledge in using the cards and trusting your instincts.
(here again, fill in with your personal thought).
Hopefully your general goal is to develop awareness of your intuition.

Here are some ways to develop your intuition (according to Mary K Greer):

• Write down your impressions of the cards;

• Be free and open;

• If you write something you think is wrong put a single line through it, so you can still read it later;

• If you are right-handed try writing your impressions with your left hand and vice-versa;

• When stuck on what to write, keep writing the last word over and over until new thought comes to mind, and it will come to you;

• Reach the incredible, the unusual, be imaginative.

The Rider Waite Smith deck was published in 1910. The illustrations were made by Pamela Coleman Smith under supervision of occultist Arthur Edward Waite.

The cards 0- 7 of Major Arcana refer to the “Body” - power and potencies
The middle row cards 8-14 refer to the “Mind”- laws or agencies
And last row cards 15-21 refer to the Spirit- conditions or effects.
For example: Power of card 1 (the Magician) works through the agency of card 8 (the Strength) to modify the effects of card 15 (the Devil).

In the next lesson I will talk about how to choose a tarot deck.