A Crash Course in Tarot for Newbies #2: All About Tarot Decks

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