The tarot is an exciting way to better Know Thyself. Through using the Tarot we can develop our intuition and tap into our inner wisdom, as well as provide helpful understanding about our health, relationships, finances and careers. As a mirror to our inner reality, it can uncover hidden aspects of our self and provide the awareness needed to change re-occurring patterns. A Tarot reading can lead us through our past, present and future.

In this article, I will give you basic key meanings for the cards so that you can begin to get the ideas associated with them. Notice the colors and imagery and notice how you feel when look at a particular card. Try to sense what you think this card is saying to you about your question. Between the given key words and your intuition, you will be able to determine what is happening inside you, around you, and why.

An ancient divination system, the Tarot uses symbols, visual pictures and images and contain 78 cards:
40 MINOR ARCANA
16 COURT CARDS
22 MAJOR ARCANA

The MINOR ARCANA represent life lessons and challenges represented by four Suits. Each suit is has ten cards: Ace through 10:
Swords (Mental consciousness)
Cups (Emotional consciousness)
Wands(Spiritual consciousness)
Pentacles (Physical consciousness)

Swords symbolize the air element and represent the mind and its dualistic nature of power and pain: Ace. Mental inventiveness. 2.Needing peace of mind. 3.Thoughts of sorrow. 4.Mental expansion. 5. Sorrow, fear of defeat. 6. Objective, slow progress.
7.Thoughts of futility. 8. Mental interference, over analyze. 9. Despair, putting oneself down. 10. Fear of relationship or financial ruin.

Cups symbolize the water element and represent emotional plane of the expression of love and creativity: Ace. New expression. 2. Love, deep love relationship, creativity
3. Abundance. 4. Balance between action and inaction. 5. Past or present disappointment 6.Pleasure, regeneration. 7. Debauch, 8. Emotional stagnation. 9. Happiness, emotional fulfillment. 10. Realization of desires

Wands symbolize fire element and represent spiritual plane of inspiration, growth and progress, career. Ace Inspiration, self discovery. 2. Balance leading to new creations.3. Exploring inner and outer 4.Growth and union. 5. Struggle, anxiety. 6.Victory. 7. Spiritual courage, bravery. 8. Manifestation. 9.Strength. 10.Perserverance
Pentacles symbolize earth element and the physical plane of health, finances and work Ace. Beginning prosperity. 2. Coping with two situations. 3. Material success. 4. Holding on to material assets. 5.Take time to review your life. 6. Prosperity consciousness. 7. Cycle of change. 8. Developing skills. 9. Flow of abundance 10. New beginnings in abundance.

COURT CARDS symbolize people, relationship and situations. They are represented by the four suits: Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages. Kings represent mature men and mastery. Queens represent a mature women and mastery. Knights represent young persons, creativity and new ideas. Pages represent boys or girls, and messages.

MAJOR ARCANA are Universal Laws, what we must learn as we go through the stages in our development.
0 Through 6 -- The Laws of Balance
7 through 12 -- The Path of Cause and Effect
13 through 18 -- The Path of Transformation
19 through 21-- The Path of Self Actualization.

To do a reading, first pick a Tarot deck that you like (there are many kinds), then shuffle the cards and ask for Divine guidance to help bring you the clarity and understanding needed. Next, ask your question and choose a card. Observe what immediately comes up for you as you look at the colors, symbols and images. Your intuitive abilities will grow as you begin to trust your inner feeling. Next, determine if your card is a MINOR ARCANA, COURT CARD OR MAJOR ARCANA. Now using your intuition and the key meanings I have given, try to put together your interpretation of the card.

Here are is an example reading using the Rider Waite Deck and a One Card Spread:

Question: Will I get the job I just applied for?
Card Chosen: Ace of Pentacles
Reading: Card shows one hand emerging from the cloud suggests help from above. White lilies suggest purity and truth below. A yellow path leading with (intelligence) to an arched gateway of roses suggest a new path ( yellow pathway) and passion( red roses). Remember the suit is Pentacles and refers to issues of health, finances and work and Ace of Pentacles means new beginnings.
Answer: Conditions are favorable for the questioner. Chances are he will be offered this new job as Ace of Pentacles result in new beginnings in the area of finances and work.

Sometimes you will need to choose another card for clarification.Here is an example:

Question: Should I leave my relationship?
Card chosen: 7 of wands
Reading: Man alone on a hill, 6 other wands rise up from below( the unconscious) This represents courage to face opposition every thing is not yet known to him swords below the picture. We must draw another card for clarity.
2nd Card Chosen: Death Card ( Major Arcana)
Reading: This card is a Major Arcana category is transformation. It does not mean actual death but indicates completions, endings and/or regeneration.
Answer: It appears that the questioner is strong and prepared to face all challenges ( 7 of Wands). The relationship is surely undergoing a completion so the relationship will have to totally regenerate or have to end. (Death card).

If you would like to know more about the Tarot, try this website: www.facade.com/tarot/. It will also tell you about the different Tarot decks you can purchase and show you many different spreads.