Think over the ideas presented in lesson 1. Write down briefly what you do and do not believe at this time about the tarot. Assign a percentage to your beliefs where:

  • 0% = "I am totally skeptical about using the tarot for anything but fun."
  • 100% = "I am absolutely convinced that the tarot can give me specific, personal guidance."

Well, I guess I’ll put it as a 45% - I believe in it much more because of my first oracle reading with my personal deck. I kind of believe this: if you can see the faces of the cards while they’re being shuffled, your unconscious mind keeps track of where those cards are, even if you flip the deck over and whatnot. So, when subconsciously being pulled to certain cards, your subconscious is, perhaps, coming through to tell you a message. However, you need to know basic information about the cards in order to have any idea wat the subconscious is trying to say — or, perhaps, the brain percives the images and interprets them in its own personal manner. Regardless, I think I’m going to stick with my personal deck at least until I learn more about the meanings behind Tarot cards.

 

Exercise 1.2 - Getting to Know a Card

Shuffle your tarot deck and choose a card. Look at the image for a while. Ask yourself these questions:
  • What story do I see in the picture?
  • What emotions do I feel?
  • How do the details in the picture reinforce those ideas?
  • What is the overall mood?
  • What do I think this card might mean?

When you are through, go to the information page for that card and read through the actions. Compare these to your impressions. Do not be concerned if your ideas do not match mine. Your intuition is working and already giving you some unique insights! You can repeat this exercise with as many cards as you like.

Since I don’t have a deck, I’ll go find an image of The Empress, since that’s what a "What Tarot Card Are You?" quiz said I am emoticon… Luxury. Regarded above all others. Fought for. Loved. Admired. Protective. Nature-loving. A calmness. "the creation of life and its sustenance through loving care and attention" "The Empress represents the fertile, life-giving Mother who reigns over the bounty of nature and the rhythms of the Earth. From her comes all the pleasures and joys of the senses and the abundance of new life in all its forms. The Empress encourages you to strengthen your connections with the natural world which is the ground of our being. Too often false sophistications and pleasures take us far from our roots. Let the Empress remind you to keep your feet firmly planted in the Earth."