Introduction to Card Reading

Introduction to Card Reading

Welcome to the exciting world of cartomancy. If you’re wondering, that just means reading cards for divination. Although it is possible to use Tarot or other decks for self-improvement, most people use them for divination to at least some extent. You choose how to use your cards. There are no card reading police.

Regardless of your intentions, studying your deck and getting to know it is important to using Tarot or oracle cards. Therefore, it is suggested that you work with it on a regular basis. I also suggest a daily card pull for inspiration and guidance throughout the day.

You may also want to recap each week and reflect on your interpretations. As you become familiar with your deck, begin using simple spreads early in your “honeymoon phase.” The sooner you begin seeing how the cards work in a specific context the better. If you spend too much time just looking at one card at a time, you may find it difficult to learn how the cards fit together to tell a story or answer questions. So, it’s best to jump in and “do” as soon as possible.

Getting Started

If you’ve just gotten your deck, open it up and look at each card. Examine the images and make mental notes about how they make you feel. Think about the card titles (if there are titles) and any key words or phrases on your cards. Get acquainted.

If you have a guidebook, skim it before you really dive in. If there were any cards that gave you strong reactions, find out what the guidebook has to say about them. If you have a different impression of the card, don’t feel as if you must adhere to the creator’s viewpoint. These are your cards. However, you may still want to keep their intended meanings in mind. You never know when a different angle will be needed to interpret a reading.

Once you have had your “first date” with your cards, it’s time to begin drawing cards for inspiration or divination. But first, you’ll need to shuffle them. Shuffling simply mixes them up in a new order so that you can draw a random card for interpretation. There are many methods for shuffling and drawing cards. Try several. You may find that you like a combination of
methods and switch between them back and forth.

Riffle shuffling is a simple style of mixing your cards. Think of a poker shuffle. This is what riffle shuffling is. Another technique is an overhand shuffle. It is performed by holding the deck sideways in one hand and then pulling a section of cards from the front or back and moving them to the other side. These are the two most used shuffles. Search card shuffling
methods online for a more complete list and demonstrations. For photos, see below.

After randomizing (shuffling) your cards, you may want to cut them into small stacks and pick them up randomly. Traditionally, Tarot is cut into three stacks, and the reader or the querent (person having the reading) chooses which stack to pick up and use first. How you select your cards is a matter of preference as well. There is no right or wrong way. Use what you feel most comfortable with. Remember, the card reading police will not come knocking at your door.

Now, turn your first card. If you just want to consult one card, that’s a perfectly valid option, as mentioned above. See the section on spreads for diagrams and instructions/suggestions for the reading process.

Maintaining a Practice

Many cartomancy students create a journal to keep track of their readings and observations. Others are not hard-wired to faithfully record their experiences. If you are the latter student, don’t feel discouraged. Not everyone learns in the same way.

It is strongly suggested that you practice regularly. However, if you take a break or lose interest for a time, that’s okay too. Just pick it back up when you’re ready and move on. Just remember, the more you practice, the better you become at any skill you pursue.