How to Read Tarot With Playing Cards

If you don't have a Tarot Deck, this article shows you how you can use a regular deck of playing cards. The use of playing cards for fortune telling has been around for centuries, most likely started by the Gypsies. Links are included below that includes different types of spreads that you can do depending on what kind of question you have.

Things You'll Need

• A deck of regular playing cards

Instructions

1. Meditate before you do any reading. This empties your mind of any other thoughts to make sure that your reading is accurate and clear. Spread the cards in the way you want then "read" them. Reading them means interpreting the meaning of the cards based on the placement of the card in the spread. This can be a bit tricky, especially if you are doing a reading for yourself and don't have an open mind to the meanings. The following steps explains the meaning of the cards. To learn different spreads, check out the link in the resources below.

2. This is just a simple list of what each card means in a general sense - regardless of suit. The face or court cards are used to represent the Questioner in some readings. Ace: New Beginnings 2:Opposition or Balance/Choice to be Made 3:Creativity, Communication 4:Foundation 5:Changes, Restlessness 6:Harmony, Adaptation 7:Surprises 8:Karma 9:Fortune 10:Completion Jack: Youth (Male or Female) Queen: Mature Female King: Mature Male Joker: Unexpected, Uncontrolled

3. Diamonds represent the material & physical realms and intellect & clear thinking. The are related to Pentacles in a regular Tarot deck. Ace: Increase in possessions. 2: Practical choices to be made. 3: Reward for job well done, applied creativity. 4: Home established. 5: Change of scenery, financial struggles. 6: Help given at opportune time. 7: Consistent effort eventually pays off. 8: Skill or craft becomes profitable. Lost inheritance. 9: Inheritance received. Material well-being achieved. 10: New or improved home, letter or document to come. Jack: Ambition without focus, sporty, lively youth. Queen: Organized, efficient woman, practical and ambitious. King: Businessman, authoritative type, good protector and provider.

4. Clubs represent the creative realms and initiative and practical endeavors. They are related to the Wands in a regular Tarot deck. Ace: New endeavor. 2: Intuition helps in decisions. 3: Helpful people and events. 4: Personal values set. 5: Petty arguments. 6: Successful outcome. 7: Competition,fending off one's adversaries. 8: Fortune is communicated (letter, fax, telephone, email). 9: Much is held in reserve, including strong will. Stubbornness. 10: Burdens from work take their toll. Setbacks and losses. Jack: Sporty, non-academic, lucky and charming. Queen: Ambitious, good head for business, self interests come first. King: Entrepreneur, good instincts, spiritual later in life.

5. Hearts represent the emotional realms and maturity, compassion, nurturing and comfort. They are related to the Cups in a regular Tarot deck. Ace: New love (could be romance or birth of a child). 2: Romance in the air. 3: Cause for celebration or festivities. 4: Love and support brings security. 5: Sorrow, relationship breakdown. 6: Holding on to the past memories. Renewing an old friendship. 7: Daydreaming, unrealistic expectations. 8: Love letter. 9: Wish may come true, especially about love. Could overindulge in food and drink. 10: Happiness achieved at home. Jack: Impractical, immature, kind, but unrealistic. Queen: Love and home oriented, supportive, not ambitious for self. King: "Don Juan," sincere, loving philosophical later in life.

6. Spades represent the wisdom of old age and obstacles in life or warnings. They are related to the Swords in a regular Tarot deck. Ace: Knowledge gained. Obstacles revealed. 2: Torn between two choices, stalemate. 3: Three's a crowd. Infidelities. 4: Rest and retreat. Decisions made in calm. 5: Change of opinion. Victory achieved at a cost. 6: Sorrows pass. Journey away from difficulties. 7: Stealth in dealings.Betrayal by someone you trust. Minor theft. 8: Fear of leaving a bad situation. Imprisonment, military life. 9: Losses and worries (money, health, sleep). 10: Weakened health, chronic illness (real and imagined). Jack: Immature, cold, bossy, delinquent or gang leader. Queen: Calculating, disciplined, logical, craves power. King: Authoritarian, cold, logical, stubborn, possibly ruthless.

7. The Joker corresponds to The Fool in a regular Tarot deck. His number is zero and he's considered a "wild card." When the Joker appears it means that something unexpected or uncontrolled can or has occured. You only need to use one Joker - there is no need to use both that normally come with a regular deck of cards.

8. Card combinations add detail to any reading that you do. I have used this information myself for many many years and I luckily was able to find a website that contained the same information. (It might even be the same site that I found when I first learned about this, but I can't be certain.) I provided the link for you below.

Tips & Warnings

• When looking at any of the spreads, pay attention to which suits are dominant. Dominant Hearts - concern is emotional; Dominant Diamonds - concern is material; Dominant Clubs - concern is for achievement and recognition; Dominant Spades - concern is antagonistic or for power without responsibility

• There is a link below that tells you how to read the cards the same way the Romany (or Gypsies) did using a 32 card deck.

• The future is not set in stone! If you see a future card that you don't like, you can always change it!

Resources

• Card Spreads
• Card Combinations
• The Romany Way