How to Use a Standard Deck of Cards for Tarot
Europe discovered playing cards, invented by the Chinese, at the end of the fourteenth century. Tarot started out as a card game, using the standard deck of playing cards with some additions, then evolved into cartomancy (divining the future through cards) in the late 18th century. You can do a Tarot reading with a regular playing deck that you can get at any drug store or department store.
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Things You'll Need
- Standard deck of playing cards
- Guide to divinatory meanings
- Table and chair for the reading
Instructions
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Choose your deck of cards. Each area of the world has a different "standard" deck of cards. Pick the one for your region or the deck of cards you are most familiar with for your Tarot reading.
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Pick your layout. You can use any Tarot layout with your standard deck of cards. An easy layout for beginners is a three card layout. The first card represents the immediate past, the second card stands for the present and the third card shows the future. You can also do a daily reading by drawing one card from the deck.
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Prepare for your reading. Choose a time when you will not be disturbed and a place with few distractions. Turn off the TV and stereo. Unplug your phone. Light a white candle and/or burn your favorite incense. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and consider the question that you would like to ask the cards. You can prepare for a tarot reading with playing cards the same way you would prepare for a reading with a deck of Tarot cards.
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Choose your cards. Shuffle the standard deck until you feel that the cards are sufficiently mixed. Spread your standard deck of cards out like a fan on your table. Form your layout by picking the number of cards necessary. Turn the cards over one at a time in the order required by your layout. Keep your question in your mind as you do these tasks.
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Interpret your cards. You don't have to memorize all the meanings of each card, you can use an online divination guide or find a book on the subject. Each suit of cards in a standard deck corresponds to a suit in a Tarot deck. Diamonds correspond to the Tarot suit of Pentacles. The suit of Clubs in a standard deck is represented by Wands in Tarot. Hearts appears as the suit of Cups in Tarot while Spades represents Swords. Find the meaning of each card and apply the meanings to the question you had in mind for the reading.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep a diary of your readings. A diary will allow you to go back and check your interpretations for accuracy as you learn more about cartomancy.
References
Resources
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