my approach to tarot

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Before I start, I want to clarify that everything here are my personal beliefs and practices. I do not believe that my way is the "right" way and that others are "wrong." It is simply "my way" because it works with my beliefs, worldviews, and experience. Your practice may be different, and that's great. Let's learn from each other!

how i use the tarot

I use the tarot for self-reflection, rather than divination. I believe that the tarot describes universal themes about the human experience. Therefore, all tarot cards are relevant at all times. A tarot card simply highlights one aspect of that experience, and it's up to the reader to examine their circumstances, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings to find meaning in the card. Tarot cards can be a useful tool for drawing hidden thoughts out of your subconscious.

Therefore, I only read tarot for myself; I don't "peer" into others' lives. The cards are only a reflection of my inner self. Even if I were to do a reading about someone else, I'd just be reading into my own assumptions and beliefs about that person. I can certainly read for other people when asked, but I see myself more as a guide than a reader in those cases.

how i shuffle and draw

My hands are kinda small, so I have a hard time shuffling tarot cards. (Even though I think I'm pretty good at it with playing cards!) Here's the technique that works for me:

1. Deal out the first four cards facedown into four piles.
2. Deal out the remaining cards as randomly as possible into these four piles. The piles do not need to have the same amount of cards.
3. If you're reading with reversals, reverse one or more of the piles. (I go with my gut on which and how many.)
4. Reassemble and square the deck. The deck is now "reset."
5. Now, holding the your question and spread in mind, repeat steps 1 through 4. The deck is now "charged."
6. To draw cards, either:
   1. Fan out the deck on the table and intuitively choose cards for the spread, or
   2. Deal out cards one by one and intuitively set aside cards for the spread.

how i do a reading

I follow this formula for my tarot readings. This approach is largely inspired by the book 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary K. Greer.

1. Recall the keywords for the card, suit, and number.
2. Tell the story of the card. What's happening? Who's involved?
3. Identify the overall mood of the card. Is it positive or negative?
4. Of all the imagery on the card, where does your eye tend to focus? Or, in other words, what part of the image do you most identify with?

Using the answers, I formulate a reading within the context of my question and spread.