How to give a tarot reading one card at a time.
So you’re starting to connect with your tarot cards but you’re still not sure exactly how to do a tarot reading.
Intuition’s ideal but not everyone is comfortable with doing a reading fully based off their intuition. Especially right of the batt.
If your still struggling with how to read tarot I suggest trying the SelfTarot Method.
Using the SelfTarot Method of reading tarot, each tarot card will be assigned associations. Upon viewing, each card will trigger these associations causing them to come to the front of your consciousness and present themselves to you in such a way as to tell you the “meaning” of each card without you even trying!
Imagine that!
Remember, just as there are no set meanings, there is no one size fits all way to learn tarot. It may take some trial and error but do whatever is most comfortable for you.
It’s time to take your first steps, albeit baby steps, toward giving a comprehensive Tarot reading by focusing on reading one card at a time. Let’s get those cards out and put them to work!
FIRST STEPS
The very first step in learning to read tarot is getting familiar with your cards.
The best way to do this is…using your cards!
If your not comfortable with or aren’t familiar with your tarot cards yet check out 6 Easy Ways To Connect With Your Tarot Cards
Even if you don’t feel comfortable doing a reading without relying on a book, by spending time with your cards you will soon become familiar with how each card feels.
For instance, the Tower and Devil cards may frighten you, stir up anxiety, or just plain make you uneasy.
It’s from these emotional responses we will begin to connect to the cards on a deeper level.
The more you use your cards the more opportunities you have to develop keywords, phrases, and associations.
These initial feelings are so valuable in learning how to read the cards without relying on a book. Even if it is just by reading one card at a time.
Once you start relying on a book for meanings you become dependent on it to make sure you are “right”.
This will only limit you as a tarot reader and keep you from actualizing your true potential!
DEFINING SINGLE CARDS IN A READING
The best way to learn, in my opinion at least, is by doing. So here I will provide an example of how reading a single card using THe SelfTarot Method would work.
We’ll start with The Devil.
Associations formed from The Devil card may look something like this:
- ADAM AND EVE
- SUFFERING
- TRAPPED
- DEFILED
- FORCED
- OPPRESSIVE
Using language to enhance our tarot readings would look something like this:
(Pro Tip: Make Your Tarot Readings Exceptional! Expand Your Tarot Vocabulary)
VERBS
- SUFFER
- DARK
- TRAP
- DEFILE
- FORCE
- OPPRESS
ADJECTIVES
- SUFFERING
- BLEAK
- STUCK
- CORRUPT
- FORCEFUL
- OPPRESSIVE
By expanding the vocabulary of our associations we can easily paint a pretty good picture of what The Devil card means to this querent.
*Be sure to connect with your intuition to see which keywords really fit! This will narrow down your list of keywords to the one or two that more accurately fit the situation.
For example if this were a love reading this querent saw that Adam and Eve (a couple) and as being trapped and oppressed by the devil(the relationship). The experience of this couple (qualities of the relationship) would be forceful, corrupt, and powerless.
To make an even stronger connection associate an event or memory from your own life. Recall a time when you felt the way the devil card is making you feel or is defined as causing feelings of. This way each card becomes even more relate-able!
For another example, we will use the Lovers card.
Associations formed from The Lovers card may look like this:
- ADAM AND EVE
- JOINED
- COMFORT
- UNDERSTANDING
- COMPASSION
- JOYOUS
- LOVE
An example of expanded vocabulary for The Lovers may be:
VERB
- JOIN
- COMFORT
- UNDERSTAND
- COMPASSION
- JOY
- LOVE
ADJECTIVE
- UNITED
- COMFORTING
- SYMPATHETIC
- UNDERSTANDING
- DELIGHTFUL
- LOVING
We can see that again a clear picture is painted in regard to the querents view of this card.
In a love reading, for example, this querent sees the lovers as Adam and Eve coupled together (a relationship) and that their union is filled with love, compassion, and joy (the qualities of the card).
It is in this manner you can quickly and easily see what the meaning of each card would be as an action or description of the subject/situation in a reading.
Conclusion
Even if it is just by reading one tarot card at a time you’re still doing a tarot reading!
Consider it 20 questions. Ask a simple question. Get a simple answer.
It is this way that you will build familiarity with your cards and get a jest of how each card feels. It is these feelings that will carry the reading and allow you to find deeper meaning within your tarot reading sessions.
Either by connecting to the querent more fully or just scaling the intensity of emotion to yourself this is invaluable experience that you will use time and time again.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Be sure to take account of your progress in your Tarot journal!
Not only will it provide you with your own personalized card meanings, but you will also see how much you grow as a Tarot Reader over time.
Learn more about Keeping A Tarot Journal. You’ll be glad you did!
TAROT SPREAD ARCHIVE
Why not try one of the dozens of FREE tarot spreads available in the SelfTarot Tarot Spread Archive?
READY FOR YOUR SELF-DISCOVERY JOURNEY?
Start a self-discovery journey like no other.
Let’s face it, it’s hard work doing all this soul searching and self-improvement on your own.
Let tarot be your guide!
Tarot will hold your hand, hold nothing back, and lead you on one hell of a journey. Now is your opportunity to take the road less traveled: A journey to discover your truest self – the highest, best version of you that you can be!
Check out the The SelfTarot Workshop today!
