| If you would like to learn to read tarot | | | | cards or even how they feel in your hands, |
| cards, your first challenge is to choose a | | | | then that is probably the deck that you will |
| deck from the 8,000 or so published brands of | | | | relate to best. I also recommend a deck that |
| fortune telling cards on the market. What | | | | comes with a small book inside the package or |
| works for one person often doesn't for | | | | box so you will have something to quickly |
| another. Some people are comfortable reading | | | | reference if you should get lost while |
| several decks and others just identify with | | | | reading.A tip for beginners! When I first |
| one deck. In my experience you will find that | | | | began reading the Tarot, I typed myself up a |
| over time, you will grow in and out of | | | | one sheet that a resembled a chart so that |
| several decks. You may also find that the | | | | all the meanings of each card right side up |
| deck that you prefer to use to read yourself | | | | and upside down were apparent to me at a |
| is not the deck that you prefer to use read | | | | glance. Typing out the meanings like this |
| others.For instance, when I first began | | | | really does help you learn the cards |
| reading I started out with a deck that was | | | | quickly.Your next step would be to get |
| too heavy for me - The Crowley Deck. The | | | | acquainted with your cards. The best way to |
| ultimate result of that was that I ended up | | | | learn is to study the image on each card, one |
| selling them because I was spooked out the | | | | at a time, while memorizing the meaning. Be |
| images of the deck. I was simply too young to | | | | patient. There are usually 78 meanings to |
| handle the imagery on this dark deck and was | | | | learn so this is not always a fast process. |
| giving myself nightmares. I then switched to | | | | Some tarot teachers recommend that you put |
| the Rider Waite Deck for a few years, which | | | | the deck of cards under your pillow at night |
| is the ultimate easy, all -purpose deck. I | | | | so you can get better acquainted with them. |
| then fell in love with the Renaissance Deck | | | | The idea is that your subconscious will |
| which is much more elaborate in terms of it's | | | | absorb the information the same way that a |
| imagery and a bit more pointed in its | | | | sponge soaks up water. You can also meditate |
| meanings when it came to describing | | | | or dream upon the individual cards in the |
| relationships. Then I entered a period when I | | | | same way by placing them under your |
| was yearning for more simplicity, I switched | | | | pillow.Some people like to charge their cards |
| to the Palladini deck, which is very pure and | | | | after they first get them, either by praying |
| has a "lighter feeling." (Kind of like the | | | | or meditating over them, placing a crystal on |
| Pollyanna of Tarot Decks.) Now that I am | | | | them or passing them through the smoke of |
| older, I am back to the Crowley Deck and the | | | | incense or placing them in the light of the |
| Order of the Golden Stair decks, which are a | | | | full or new moon for a night.Finicky readers |
| little heavier in feel.There are also lots of | | | | believe the power of the cards is enhanced if |
| specialty or eclectic decks on the market | | | | they are placed inside a special box or |
| that might appeal to you more than the Rider | | | | wrapped in a silk pouch. I personally don't |
| Waite, but learning the Rider Waite is like | | | | think this makes much of a difference because |
| going to high school. Psychic Realm reader | | | | I KNOW I am accurate and my cards have so |
| Bacchus for instance, uses the Haindl deck | | | | much gunk and wear and tear on them it is |
| for his readings, which has a Nordic feel and | | | | laughable. Still they do say that pomp and |
| is a permutation of the classic Rider-Waite | | | | circumstance is supposed to add to the power |
| deck, but as wonderful as it is, I don't | | | | of all ritual and magic, so if storing your |
| think it is a beginner deck.Here are some | | | | cards in a special way or in a special place |
| good decks I can recommend for beginners that | | | | helps you read them better than by all means |
| are based on the Rider Waite System of | | | | do so.Also many readers protect their cards |
| meanings.The Rider Waite DeckThe Aquatic | | | | by not letting anyone touch them. There is a |
| Tarot - the same as the Rider Waite but | | | | belief that others can "infect" the cards |
| realized in watercolorsThe Pamela Colman | | | | with their beliefs, fears or anxieties. The |
| Tarot - the same imagery as the Rider Waite | | | | cards do act as a portal through to the other |
| but done in brighter more psychedelic | | | | side, so keeping them away from other people |
| colorsThe Golden Tarot - the same as Rider | | | | may be a good way of preventing people from |
| Waite but the imagery is more medievalThe | | | | accidentally "touching" you through the cards |
| Palladini Tarot - the same as Rider Waite but | | | | and passing along possibly toxic energy.Once |
| with very simple, cheerful drawingsThe | | | | you get your cards own, spend some time just |
| Renaissance Tarot - the same as Rider Waited | | | | looking at them, playing with them and |
| but enhanced with images from the Renaissance | | | | getting to know them. It is essential that |
| age.You can find a selection of Tarot Decks | | | | you feel good about your cards because in the |
| in the Psychic Realm store off the main page | | | | future, they will be your best allies when it |
| or browse the web and buy one that catches | | | | comes to telling the future.Stay Tuned for |
| your eye online. I recommend doing a little | | | | our Crash Course in Tarot #3: Card |
| online research first and finding places you | | | | Spreads.---Samantha Steven's articles have |
| can view different decks online because most | | | | been published in many high-standing |
| storeowners won't let you open and handle | | | | newspapers and she has published several |
| their deck because it means removing the | | | | books. If you wish to buy Samantha's books |
| plastic from their packaging. However, the | | | | about metaphysics click here |
| best way to be sure is to go to a store, pick | | | | |
| up the deck and see if you like the feel of | | | | |
| the cards once you have done some research on | | | | |
| the imagery in them. The feel, weight or look | | | | You can meet Samantha Stevens at where she |
| of the cards often "speaks" to you. If you a | | | | works as a professional psychic. |
| feel a connection with the images on the | | | | |