Tarot is an ancient practice, built on even more ancient spiritual work. The first Tarot cards were printed in Italy in the 14th century, and quickly spread through Europe. They incorporated archetypal concepts, symbols from the natural world religions, like Wicca, and many from Christianity, like the Hierophant and Judgment.
There are 56 Minor Arcana cards, which are the ?tying your shoes, brushing your teeth? day to day issues, and 22 Major Arcana, which deal with more important issues in your life, your life lessons and themes.
A full reading is a picture of what The Universe thinks you need to know right now, and tells you what is going on in your life, and how it?s going to come out if you keep going that way. So the wonderful practical point about Tarot is that if you don?t like the way your next steps are going to turn out, you can figure out where you need to change, and what that change needs to be, to give you a different outcome. We are always in free will.
The layouts also come from many places, ideas and times. The one I use most often, which I loved the moment I saw it, before I knew what is was called, is the Celtic Cross. It is the layout the Druids used to divine / figure out situations, and was done over the centuries with sticks, stones, bones and runes.
Many books today give techniques for designing your own layouts for particular needs and situations. The easiest layout is to draw a card every day, asking The Universe / Spirit, what you need to keep in mind that day, or what is going to happen that day. Two other easy layouts are to ask about a particular situation, and then layout three cards. You can ask either about the past, present and future of the situation, or the current situation, what?s affecting it, and what the outcome will be.
Interested in viewing some of the cards? Click on any of the Tarot cards on this page to view some of Patricia’s favorite cards and decks.
Class Outline
WALKING WITH TAROT – A PATH TO THE FUTURE
Three 2 – hour sessions
Class I – Welcome!
Class Format and housekeeping – Questions Any Time…
- Class I What is Tarot? How Does It Work? Minor Arcana explained and with handout
- Class 2 Major Arcana explained and with handout
- Class 3 Layouts and Practice Readings with handout
Self Introductions, with discussion of everyone?s deck and book choices. Patricia has nearly 40 decks, which are passed around for all to see.
What is Tarot? How does it work?
- Practical Assistance what The Universe thinks you need to know right how, and how it?s going to turn out if you keep going this way – so you can change it if you?d like!
- A bit of history how / why I think it works: my lake theory, channel/ tunnel building
- Ideas / issues reversed cards, context, the story, usually not one meaning all the time
- Easy way to learn pick one card and ask ?what should I keep in mind today??
- Arcana the Tarot deck of 78 cards contains 22 Major Arcana and 78 Minor Arcana
- Minor Arcana the everyday issues, all the suit cards and court cards, this is the basis for the common deck of cards
- Major Arcana the important and universal issues are presented here, major life lessons, changes of direction
Homework draw one card every day, read about it in your book, pay attention to how it is reflected in the day
WALKING WITH TAROT ? LEARNING AND GROWING
Class II – Welcome!
Going around the room:
- What did you learn from drawing your card every day?
- Any patterns in terms of suits or numbers? Any repetition?
- How did you feel about the various cards?
Now let?s talk about the Major Arcana, going through them one by one, and passing them around the room.
Homework Drawing one card each day, just from the 22 Major Arcana
WALKING WITH TAROT – PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Class III – Welcome!
Questions from last week?s work with the Major Arcana? How did your homework with the Majors go? Which cards showed up most often?
Each suit becomes a path, the Major Arcana are another path, the Celtic Cross layout is yet another path. The Path itself teaches you as the connections appear from step to step. So we don?t have to worry about the next step, or what?s around the curve up ahead.
And let?s talk a bit about other kinds of cards – Medicine cards, and other non-Tarot decks which provide guidance and support.
Layouts and Readings meditatively
Your book will have many suggestions, some of them like these, some of them using the particular strengths of your deck. Do them as lightly as you can, without anxiety, for the best results.
Daily Card Drawing meditatively carrying it through the day….
What Should I Keep in Mind Today? Maybe what?s going to happen, maybe what my attitude should be… you?ll know at the end of the day!
3 Card Layouts
Laid out from left to right and read that way. Cards can be shuffled and picked from the top, or can be intuitively picked from any part of the deck.
You can also use these layouts while focused on a particular problem or situation, asking for a solution or suggestions.
Past, Present, Future
What?s the Issue? What Should I Do About It / or Keep in Mind? What?s the Outcome?
The Classic – The Celtic Cross
This is a really ancient layout for divination/readings, perhaps 100,000 years old, and was done with sticks and bones long before playing cards existed