Your first 5 steps with Tarot Cards

So today is the day that you go on your journey with the Tarot. Maybe they were hand-me-downs from a dear relative, maybe they were a gift from a friend or maybe you just decided to buy them because you felt the time was finally right. For whatever reason, your journey to connect with them is about to start and it's a very important Journey.

So you may be asking yourself where do I begin?

How do I even develop a relationship with something that looks like just drawings on a cardboard card? 

Trust me all great tarot card readers have been where you're at right now.

That's what we all ask ourselves when we get our first deck. So don't worry you were not on your own. It is an adventure on discovering yourself and how to read the cards uniquely to you.

Here are a couple of ways that you can Bond and connect with whatever deck that you may have. Whether you're new at this or you're an old-timer and just want a refresher.

Here are some awesome steps to help you out!

1. Your First Deck aka The Rider Waite-Smith

Now I know that when you first start looking for a deck you're going to want to buy the pretty ones that are colorful with awesome themes. If you're an old-timer and this is not your first rodeo then by all means get the pretty theme deck. But if this is your first time your best bet is to get the Rider-Waite-Smith.

The reason for this is that it's basically where it all begins, all tarot decks are based on the Rider Waite Smith. So if you can learn this deck than any other Tarot deck will be a breeze to read.

  2. Don't run to the books

The magic of Tarot is that the imagery of the cards were created to spark ones intuition. To open the readers mind and eyes to different meanings, interpretations , and symbolism. 

Before you open the book. It's always a good idea to look through your cards before opening the book that way you can develop your own idea and meaning for each card. Which helps with developing your relationship with them.

For example, the three of cups is about hanging out with friends that you love and care for and having fun with them. But for some, the three of cups is about gossip. You know, that one friend or friends that always talks behind your back.

So even though it has to do with friendship it has a different meaning for some people because they develop their own understanding of the card.

 3. Bond with your deck.

One of the best ways for you to create that really deep understanding of each individual card is to have a Tarot Journal. The great thing about this is that you can be as creative or as simple as you'd like.

There's no wrong or right way on how to journal about your Tarot. But a simple way of doing it is to pick a card every morning and just Journal.

One simple way would be, to take your deck and shuffle when you feel ready take the top card and analyze it. How does it make you feel? What are the emotions or thoughts that come to mind? Then write about it in your Journal. At that point, you can also cross reference what the traditional meaning is and see how it compares to your interpretation.

Another way would be, in the morning shuffle your deck and think to yourself "how's your day going to go" take the first card from the top and remember which one it is, write it down in your Journal. Then go about your day, once your day is done come back and write down in your Journal how that card manifested itself into your day. 

1. Bless, Consecrate, or Charge

If I told you there was only one way to do this I'd be lying to you. There are over millions of ways that people bless, consecrate, and charge with their decks. Everybody eventually develops their own way of doing this.

So don't assume that any of the methods that I'm going to be writing to be gospel. You can definitely make it your own and improvise as you go along, there is no right or wrong way of doing it. Obviously before doing any of what I'm going to suggest remember to center yourself and put the intent that you wish to achieve into your actions.

Moonlight

This is if not one of the simplest ways of cleansing and charging your cards. It's as simple as putting your cards on your windowsill during the full moon. The light from the full moon will cleanse it of any negativity or leftover energy from anyone who's handled them but it'll also revitalize your cards.

Just take your cards out and lay them on the windowsill on the night of the full moon and let them sit there till morning or until you feel that they are ready to be removed and put back away. Just make sure that your cards are safe from the elements so wind and rain.

Smudge

This method could easily be used daily depending on if you use your cards often enough. But it is something as simple as taking any kind of cleansing herb that you can burn such as Sage, Sweetgrass, or Palo Santo.

Now, these three are the more traditional ones but you don't have to stick to them. Specifically, if you don't have them on hand. You can use whatever incense or herbs that you can burn that you know is used as a cleansing herb.

Don't forget to make sure that the herb is safe to burn and that you have a fireproof holder or container. Also, make sure that where you are doing this there is good ventilation. You don't want to be coughing because your room is covered in Smoke.

To smudge your cards simply take whatever you're using and pass your cards through the smoke. While visualizing any unwanted negativity being removed by the smoke as it goes through your cards and setting the intention for them to be cleansed and ready to be used by you. 

1. Interview Your Cards Spread

Not going to lie at first I thought this was a silly thing to do. But after a couple of times with brand new decks, I figured out it was actually pretty smart.

Mainly, you get to know what the deck is best for. Meaning what subject and/or are they testy or are they easy to use. You can also do this interview multiple times with the same deck just to see if it's changed or evolved as you use it.

Here's a simple spread that you can use to get to know the personality of your new deck.

1. Who are you as a deck?
2. What are your strongest subjects as a deck?
3. What are your limits as a deck?
4. What is your advice on how to learn the most from you?
5. What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?

I hope that these steps help you develop your relationship with your Tarot deck. But also to inspire you to develop your methods on how to connect with them. Remember there are no right or wrong ways and how to do any of these steps so be creative.

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