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Personal Growth: Purpose
Acquiring and Using Your Tarot Cards
By Mary Lee LaBay, Ph.D.
The use of Tarot cards is an integral part of Awareness Engineering. Along with proper philosophical alignment, deep personal self-awareness, consciousness expansion, and behavior aligned with an individual’s highest standards and goals, Awareness Engineering promotes and instructs on the use and development of intuitive techniques, senses, and tools.
You may discover Tarot to be one of the most accessible tools, that can be learned by anyone and used in nearly any situation. In developing the skills of reading the Tarot cards, it will become clear that other extra-sensory sensitivities are also enhanced.
Perhaps you are ready to begin learning and using this exquisite, elegant, and universal tool.
Choosing a Deck
While many texts will suggest that Tarot decks have to be a gift, it is my opinion that the style and aesthetic quality of the cards are a highly personal choice.
When choosing a deck, look through the cards and find a set that has artwork that resonates with you. When you find the right deck, you will definitely know it by the energy and connection that is elicited within you.
When first learning to read cards, choose a deck that has pictures on each of the cards, including all the Minor Arcana cards. Many decks have only symbols of these suit cards, which makes it much more difficult to memorize their meanings. Using a deck that is based on the traditional Rider-Waite tarot may make the most sense until you are a confident and seasoned reader.
Then I encourage you to explore and play with many, many decks. I have had my favorites for different periods of time throughout the years, and the variety adds interest and intrigue.
Handling the Cards
Again, you may find sources that will direct you to not let anyone else touch your cards. And, again, I say hogwash. Over the years, I have had great success being the only handler, as when reading over the phone, and with allowing clients to have some tactile input. I have even loaned my decks to friends, and use them in my classes.
I did, however, learn that most people in the general public do not know how to handle the size of the cards, or do not know how to shuffle cards. Therefore, I do the majority of the shuffling while establishing rapport with the client, asking about their concerns, and formulating proper questions for the cards. When I am confident that the cards are sufficiently mixed and infused with the focused energy of the question, I then ask the client to cut the deck. That is the extent of their input.
Shuffling
I will discuss three ways of shuffling that I use intertwined for the most thorough method of mixing the cards.
You may shuffle in the traditional way of dividing the deck in half, and “zipping” the two stacks together. You may also hold the entire stack in one hand, while taking sections and moving them from the front to the back. Additionally, twisting portions of the deck allow the cards to be placed in both upright and reversed positions.
Upright refers to the card appearing in the reading facing in the normal, upright direction in relationship to the reader. While reversed indicated cards in the reading that are upside down in relation to the reader. We will learn to read the cards both ways.
Dividing
When the cards are properly shuffled, the client is offered the deck to be divided. If you are reading for yourself, or when the client is not present, then you will divide the deck.
Divide the cards by simply cutting the deck into three stacks. Some readers prefer only two stacks. When I divide into three stacks, I place the middle portion on top of the top portion, and stack both on top of the bottom third. In essence, I have taken a middle section out of the deck and placed in on top.
You may experiment with various ways of dividing the deck that work best for you.
For instruction on using your Tarot Cards, including the meanings of each of the cards, layouts, card combinations, and more, consider taking a one-day workshop, Learn To Read Tarot Cards, offered by Awareness Engineering. Please take a look at the schedule for the next offering.
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