Understanding Your Deck
or... What to do before you try reading the cards!

Choosing a Tarot Deck

Perhaps the most difficult task when you begin is in finding a deck that "speaks" to you. There are many decks available; be prepared to go through several before you find "yours." Your deck should immediately feel familiar, and you should be able to intuitively understand the symbolism. Above all, you should feel comfortable using it.

After finding your deck, take the time to perform a cleansing and centering ritual with your cards. This ritual eliminates any negative energy the cards may have absorbed through the manufacturing, wrapping, handling, and merchandising processes. It will also bathe the cards in your energy, and attune them to your intentions.

Following is the ritual I have performed on my cards. Use it if you wish; modify it as it suits your purpose.

Cleansing and Centering Ritual

• Orris root (whole or crushed)
• The cloth that will protect your cards
• A quiet place where you will not be disturbed

• When you are in your quiet place, meditate on your purpose until you feel at one with it.
  
• Take each card, one at a time, and hold it and the orris root firmly between your palms.
  
• Gently rub the card with the orris root, saying, "All negative energy from this card is dispelled. This card is now attuned to me and will only be used for the good of all."
  
• After you have cleansed all 78 cards, wrap them in the cloth.

The Cloth

The color of the cloth you choose is not important. Pick a color that is attuned you or to your spiritual goals. Some examples are listed below.

Although I have listed the color black, I caution against using it. This color has its own drawing power, and you may find yourself drawn into unnecessary situations. It also tends to reinforce the misperceptions of non-pagans.

Other points to consider regarding the cloth and your cards include:

Ensure that is large enough for a full layout.

ALWAYS keep your cards wrapped. This prevents influence from surrounding vibrations.

ALWAYS do your reading on your cloth for protection against surrounding vibrations.

If possible, store your wrapped cards in a wooden box.

Never allow anyone to handle your cards except the person for whom you are doing a reading.

Structure of the Tarot

The Tarot consists of 78 cards, divided into two categories: the Major and Minor Arcanas.

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, know as Trumps. These are the spiritual cards of the deck, dealing with the inner persona. They represent the universal forces of Nature, and trace an individual's spiritual progression as depicted in the Qabbalah, i.e., the 22 steps of the path from the material world back to the spiritual kingdom of God.

Spiritual readings are done using only the Major Arcana. Although they give insight into hidden talents as well as to an individual's karma, be cautious when giving a spiritual reading. Many people will turn a blind eye when confronted with truth. This is when you need to stress the positive and explain the negative in terms of positive challenges. Realize that the self-fulfilling prophecy is a psychological fact. If an individual is told something often enough, he will incorporate it into his personality. Remember, your goal is to help people become more than they are, not to give them the assurance that it's OK to stagnate.

The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards representing the physical/material side of life. It is divided into four suits, with the numbers corresponding to a deck of regular playing cards. Each suit has four Court Cars: The Knight, the Queen, the Prince, and the Princess. The suits represent each of the attributes listed below.

One of the four elements: earth, air, fire, or water
A facet of daily life
The three signs of the zodiac ruled by the named element
One of the four letters of the Tetragrammaton

The Suits and the their respective attributes are listed in the table below.

Name	Element	Aspect of Daily Life	Astrological Correspondent	Tetragrammaton Letter
Wands	Fire	Business	Aries, Leo, Sagittarius	YOD
Cups	Water	Emotions	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces	HEH
Swords	Air	Mentality	Gemini, Libra, Aquarius	VAU
Pentacles	Earth	Money	Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn	HEH (Final)

Each set of Court Cards is also ruled by a particular element. The assignments are as follows.

All Princesses are assigned to the element of Earth.
All Princes are assigned to the element of Fire.
All Queens are assigned to the element of Water.
All Knights are assigned to the element of Air.

With reference to elemental values, we can assign "names" to each of these Court Cards. These names reflect each card's essence, its personality. Thus, the ruler of a particular Court set works through each of the Royal's elements. For example, The Princess of Wands would be Earth working through the Element of Fire (Earth rules the set of Princesses' and Fire rules the suit of Wands.). This would show some grounding (or smothering, dependent upon the surrounding cards) of a message or aspect relating to a business enterprise. Knowing these elemental attributes This is particularly helpful when choosing a Significator. Understanding the essence of each of the court cards will assist you when interpreting them in a spread. Through the court cards you will be able to judge how the individual is dealing with events, and whether the ensuing events will be negative or positive for the individual in question. The table below lists the "names" of each of the Royalty.

	WANDS	CUPS	SWORDS	PENTACLES
Princess	Earth of Fire	Earth of Water	Earth of Air	Earth of Earth
Prince	Air of Fire	Air of Water	Air of Air	Air of Earth
Queen	Water of Fire	Water of Water	Water of Air	Water of Earth
Knight	Fire of Fire	Fire of Water	Fire of Air	Fire of Earth

Numerical Values

In addition to the elemental values, each card is also assigned a Numerological correspondent and an individual numerical value. It is important to keep these two concepts separate in you mind.

Numerical values are derived from the face value of the card, with the notable exception of the Ace.

Major Arcana cards are number 0-21, using Roman numerals.

Minor Arcana cards 2-10 take the full face value of their card. Thus, the Two of Wands would hold a numerical value of 2.

Aces ALWAYS take the numerical value of 5.

Princesses ALWAYS take the numerical value of 7.

All other court cards (Queens, Princes, and Knights) ALWAYS take the numerical value of 4.

Numerological Correspondents

The Numerological Correspondent helps to clarify the essence of the card. Numerology deals mainly with the number 1-9; beyond 9, the numbers are written in unreduced/reduced format. Therefore, "10" would be written as 10/1 (the essence of the working through the God Power of 0). In this way, all 78 cards are represented by their own unique Numerological correspondent.

Although a working knowledge of Numerology is helpful, it is not necessary in order to interpret the cards. The Numerological attributes simply help to give a richer reading.

Astrological Correspondents

The last major set of attributes pertain to the Astrological values. Each card is represented by a specific Astrological correspondent. These include the sign of the Zodiac, planets, and elements. Again, knowledge of Astrology is not necessary, but helpful.

Perhaps a brief summary of all the general attributes would be helpful at this point.

Major Arcana cards, numbered 0-21 in Roman numerals, are spiritual in Nature.

Minor Arcana cards, numbered 2-10, are divided into four suits which encompass the aspects of mundane life, and take the face value of the card.

Each suit has an Elemental ruler.

Each set of Court cards is assigned an Elemental ruler which works through the suit of the particular Court card.

Each card is assigned a(n):

Astrological correspondent
Numerical value
Numerological correspondent
Hebrew letter

In addition to the attributes previously listed, the ACES also have attributes that are theirs alone. They denote both season and direction. They are the time cards of the Tarot.

In order to determine in which week of the season represented an event will occur, look to the first numbered (Minor Arcana) card preceding the Ace. For example, if the 5 of Pentacles immediately preceded the Ace of Wands, you could expect a change near the fifth week of Spring (April, May, June). Since the card preceding was the five of Pentacles, the change would be in the individual's financial, business, or career sector.

Some readers believe that the directions each Ace rules also represent the direction from which the change will appear. Following is a table denoting each Ace, the respective season, and the respective direction.

Card Placements: Dignified vs. Ill-Dignified

Although there is disagreement on this point, I believe that each card has two separate and distinct meanings. When a card is Upright it is said to be "Dignified" and showing positive aspects. When the card is in the Reverse position (upside-down) it is said to be "III-Dignified" and showing negative aspects. I further believe that the III-Dignified cards may also represent the inner, hidden self. This aspect consists of emotions, thoughts, and dreams that the individual has not been willing to acknowledge in reference to his question. With reference to an event, Ill-Dignified cards usually represent a time delay.

The following examples show a few of the differences in meaning that occur between Dignified and Ill-Dignified cards. Please understand that these are not set in stone, nor do they cover all possibilities. They are generalizations, at best.

As you study the definitions of the cards in the second half of this manual, you will be tempted to label different cards as either good or bad. Try to avoid this; there are no "good" or "bad" cards. Even cards such as the Devil, Death, and The Tower have positive effects. These cards test our strength, patience, and moral fiber. They are the cards of abrupt change, and often the rewards gained because of them are worth the hardships endured.

You should also be aware that there are alternatives to everything I've stated on this page. Some readers firmly believe that all cards should be read for upright meanings only, that reverse positions have absolutely no meaning. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs. Find which method is right for you, and if down the road it no longer feels correct, do not be afraid to change. The Tarot is a learning tool, as much for you as for the individual who is coming to you for assistance.