The Classic 78 Card Tarot Deck

The classic 78 card Tarot Deck:
The classic tarot deck has 78 cards. There are

many variations to decks in both number, card
and suit names, and design.
These facts will help you to understand your
deck more clearly and as you become more
experienced you may want to experiment with
other types of deck.
There are 2 main parts to a deck:
The Major Arcana which consists of 22 cards
The Minor Arcana which consists of 56 cards
The word Arcana is taken from Latin and
means secret. An individual card can be
referred to as an Arcanum.
The Minor Arcana:

The 56 Minor Arcana cards are divided into
four suits, much like traditional playing cards.
These are Wands, Cups, Swords and
Pentacles.
Some of the suits may have other names:

Wands are also known as Rods or Batons
Pentacles are also known as Coins or Discs
Each suit has numbered cards 1-10, and 4
court cards: Page, Knight, Queen and King
Astrological elements and signs associated
with each suit are:
Wands Fire Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Cups Water Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces
Swords Air Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Pentacles Earth Virgo, Capricorn and
Taurus
Wands are associated with career, work, and
creativity
Cups are associated with emotions and affairs
of the heart
Swords are associated with our thoughts and
intellect
Pentacles are associated with money and
material matters
We will cover the Minor Arcana cards in
lessons 4-9.
Homework:
Spend the next week studying this information

on the Major and Minor Arcana using your
cards. It will certainly give you a broad base of
understanding, as a foundation to build more
detailed knowledge of the Tarot deck in the
coming weeks.
Which court card is your astrological card?
Queen adult woman of any age
King men aged 35 or over
Knight men aged under 35
Page a male or female child or adolescent
The Fool
Element: Air.
Planet: Uranus.
Positive associations with this tarot

card:new beginnings, optimism, spontaneity,
fearlessness, excitement, visionary, joy,
inventiveness.
Negative associations with this tarot
card:navet, thoughtlessness, immaturity, lack
of responsibility, impulsiveness, lawlessness.
Expect the unexpected when The Fool turns up
in a reading, influences that could have a
dramatic affect on the decisions and choices
you make.
When The Fool appears it is a time for new
beginnings, a journey perhaps into the
unknown that will be exciting and fun. Any trials
along the way will make you a more
experienced and perhaps wiser person.
If The Fool falls in the first position of a reading
exercise caution - it could indicate fool
hardiness or perhaps the question you are
asking is the wrong one or you are asking it for
the wrong reasons.
The Fool can also represent a person in a

reading, if so be prepared to meet a real
maverick, an eccentric with lust for life.
The Fool represents the untapped potential in
all of us.
'Fools rush in where angels fear to
tread' however sometimes it can be wise
to'Look before you leap'.
The Magician
Planet: Mercury.
card:action, power, originality, confidence,
individuality, willpower, new beginnings,
potential.
card:trickery, deception, lack of selfconfidence, indecision, abuse of power.
The Magician is an excellent omen symbolizing
new opportunities, the importance of new
enterprise and that you will have the willpower
and initiative to succeed in whatever you do.
The mercurial nature of The Magician means
that you will be able to think on your feet and
bluff your way through any difficulties.
Negatively this card represents trickery or
deception and is a warning to be careful of
whom you place your trust in.
Another negative aspect of The Magician is
that it may suggest that you are lacking in selfconfidence and being indecisive.
The high priestesss

card:intuitiveness, understanding, wisdom,
mystery, psychic ability, the divine feminine.
card:lack of intuitiveness, emotional insecurity,
secretiveness, hidden obstacles or opponents.
The High Priestess is the guardian of secrets

so when she appears in a reading it can mean
a secret is to be revealed or there is a secret
you wish to be revealed.
Symbolizing our intuitiveness and the realms of
our unconscious, the High Priestess is our
guide to our inner self and potential.
When the High Priestess appears it suggests
you should trust your instincts, let your intuition
be your guide. she may even represent a
person who will provide wise counsel and
advice.
In a man's reading the High Priestess can
represent the most important woman in his life.
Negatively the High Priestess can represent
emotional insecurity and the danger of being
tempted to use emotional blackmail.
Another negative aspect is that a secret is
being kept from you, perhaps unknown
obstacles or opponents.
In a man's reading the negative aspect of this

card could represent a woman who is a bad
influence on him.

card:fertility, birth, motherhood, harmony,
nature, prosperity, joy, love, artistic ambition.

card:domestic upheaval, emotional blackmail,
over-protectiveness, poverty, infertility,

unwanted pregnancy, surpressed artistic
expression.
The Empress symbolizes love, reassurance,
prosperity and birth so when she appears in a
reading in a favourable position she is a very
welcome card.
She can represent pregnancy or actual birth of
a child however she can also represent the
creation or birth of a creative project or
involvement with nature.
Negatively The Empress can signal that you, or
a woman in your life, is being too protective for
comfort and may even resort to emotional
blackmail to get what she wants.
She may indicate money worries and a need to
handle your finances carefully.
Another negative aspect of The Empress is
that she can symbolize infertility or unwanted
pregnancy.
Astrological Sign: Aries.

card:achievement, authority, protection,
support, trustworthy, discipline, provider,

consolidation, reason, willpower.
card:weakness, immaturity, failed ambition,
status driven, tyrannical, untrustworthy.
The Emperor is a sign of achievement and

honour and in many cases can represent a
stong male influence such as a father,
husband/partner or man of significance in your
life, or person of authority such as a boss.
When he appears in a reading he can suggest
that a man of authority or significance as
outlined above will stand by you and support
you, in personal as well as business matters.
When The Emperor falls in position in a
reading that refers to you he suggests that you
will be able to influence people and have a
great sense of your own authority.
Negatively The Emperor can mean that either
you or a man of influence in your life is using
bullying tactics and being overbearing, an
abuse of power.
Another negative aspect of this card is failed
ambitions, a craving for status and insecurity
around a man of authority.
Astrological Sign: Taurus.

card:advice, wise counsel, spiritual
consolation, knowledge, identification, faith,

conformity, tradition.
card:misinformation, lack of faith, deviousness,
bad advice, confusion, disorderly conduct.
The Hierophant is a symbol of moral law, a

wise and capable advisor, a practical instructor
and spiritual guide.
He also represents the more conventional,
tried and tested traditional values, therefore
advising on more conventional thinking rather
than novel approaches.
The Hierophant may actually represent a
teacher, priest or advisor but is more likely to
symbolise moral lessons to be learned from
events.
This card can be an indicator of marriage or a
desire for marriage, as well as point to legal
resonsibilities and official documents.
Negatively The Hierophant can symbolize
feeling stifled by others wanting you to conform
to their expectations rather than being yourself,
and not wanting to take more traditional
options. however there is an upside to this
negative aspect of the card that can mean
making your own rules.
Another negative aspect of this card is that he

can represent confusion, a crisis of faith or self
belief that results in disorderly conduct.
Astrological Sign: Gemini.

card:desire, new lover, relationships, physical
attraction, love, sex, commitment.

Negative associations with this tarot card:lust,
moral lapse, temptation, indecision, seperation,

failed love affair, emotional loss.
The Lovers can symbolize that a new love is
going to enter your life even if you can't see
where from - you're in for a surprise .
This is a card that symbolizes an importance
choice that could affect the rest of your life.
The Lovers symbolizes a choice between duty
versus your heart's desire, take a risk and it
could lead to greater happiness and emotional
fulfillment, stay dutiful and life will remain the
same.
This card means that your heart rules your
head and a dramatic change of attitude will
lead to happier times.
Negatively the Lovers can represent an

unhappy love affair or relationship yet you are
unsure what decision or choice to make.
Another negative aspect of this card is that it
can represent intense temptation and warns of
being unfaithful to your own morals.
Astrological Sign: Cancer.

card:triumph, movement, change, self-belief,
assertiveness, good news.

Negative associations with this tarot card:rage,
tyranny, overinflated ego, selfishness,

arrogance, delays, frustration.
The Chariot symbolizes conflicts ending in
victory, so advises sustained efforts if in a
current struggle or facing one, as you will win
in the end.
This card also heralds unexpected good news
and represents self reliance and belief in your
own abilities.
Travel and change is indicated by The Chariot
as well as representing a vehicle - if in a
favourable position it could mean you'll get that
car you've been wanting!.
Negatively The Chariot can mean that either
you or someone of influence around you is
being a bully, arrogant and selfish.
Another negative aspect is that it can represent

frustrations and delays or travel plans that don't
go well.
Astrological Sign: Libra.

card:justice, truth, integrity, balance, arbitration,
responsibility, fairness.

card:prejudice, injustice, bad judgement, bias,
bad advice.
When The Justice card appears in a reading it
can represent justice, fairness and equilibrium
in all dealings with people, so it's a good omen
concerning partnerships, business deals and
legal issues.
This card can also signify the righting of a
wrong that has been done to you in the past, or
you seeking justice for another.
A karmic card that heralds good fortune and
reward for past efforts even if you are unsure
why you are being favoured.
Negatively The Justice card represents
injustice, business deals that flounder, legal
decions that won't go your way even if you are
morally right.
Another negative aspect is that it can
symbolize bad judgement and receiving bad
advice.
Astrological Sign: Virgo.

card:introspection, solitude, guidance, advice,
patience.
card:obstinacy, suspiciousness, fear,
impatience, folly, arrogance.
When The Hermit appears in a reading he

symbolizes a need for careful consideration of
issues and possibly a desire for peace and
quiet and solitude.
He warns against making hasty decisions and
recommends taking advice from someone you
trust before making any decisions.
Concerning health, The Hermit indicates a time
of convalescence and rest.
Negatively The Hermit can imply arrogance
and obstinacy, suspiciousness and a refusal to
accept advice when help would be beneficial.
Other negative aspects of this card are
impatience leading to bad decisions and
loneliness.
Planet: Jupiter.
card:destiny, movement, vision, good luck, new
cycle, synchronicity.

card:obstacles, temporary bad luck, unpleasant
surprises .
When The Wheel of Fortune appears it heralds
a new cycle in life, good luck and fortune. it is
fate that has brought this into your life rather
than your own doing.
This card heralds an end to current problems
and rewards for past efforts.
Negatively The Wheel of Fortune is obviously
turning in the opposite direction and heralds a
time of misfortune and unpleasant surprises,
however this is temporary - as the wheel turns
downwards, in time it will turn up.
Astrological Sign: Leo.

card:strength, willpower, compassion, patience,
courage, triumph, fortitude.

card:cowardice, fear, inertia, defeat, loss of
opportunity.
When the Strength card appears it represents
not just physical strength but the ability to cope
with extreme pressure and win through in the

end.
If ill health has been an issue this card
indicates rapid recovery, if considering giving
up an unhealthy habit such as smoking or
drinking this card indicates a good time to start.
The Strength card signifies triumph over most
things; challenges in your relationships or
career, even defending yourself against
jealousy, ignorance and oppression .
Negatively this card represents insecurity, fear
and giving up, perhaps being beaten by unfair
means.
The Strength card warns of missed
opportunities and not to give up when you
could be so close to the finish line
Element: Water.
Planet: Neptune.
card:transition, flexibility, rebirth, deliverance,
release.
card:materialism, inflated ego, lack of
willpower, easily influenced, martyrdom.
The Hanged Man symbolizes self-sacrifice,

whether that be material or emotional, an
ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
This card can represent a time of limbo or a
pause in life until something or perhaps
someone is given up for greater gain.
The Hanged Man can represent ill health,
stress and anxiety, this is a time for patience
and not worry.
This card represents a trial of passage and
hence the self-sacrifice aspect of this card has
spiritual overtones.
Negatively The Hanged Man symbolizes
selfishness, the use of emotional blackmail by
playing the martyr.
Another negative aspect of this card is that a
weakness of will may lead you in a wrong
direction, materially, emotionally and lead to
missed opportunities
Astrological Sign: Scorpio.

card:endings, transformation, clearance,
sweeping change.
card:stagnation, loss of opportunity, loss of
friendship, fear of change.

Without a doubt it is this card that causes most
fear in a reading and yet it rarely, if ever,
symbolizes actual death, more a time of

absolute endings and absolute beginnings.
Whilst The Death card can represent rather
shocking or unexpected events or changes,
they usually clear the way for a brand new start
and a greater value for life itself.
Out with the old and in with the new, a time of
transformation is another way of looking at this
card.
Negatively there isn't much difference, other
than you may have a greater sense of fear and
dread. when this card appears it's time to show
what you're made of.
Another negative aspect of The Death card is
stagnation, resisiting change when change is
essential which may lead to lost opportunities.
Astrological Sign: Sagittarius.

card:harmony, health, moderation,
compromise, peace, self-control.

card:impatience, lack of foresight, conflict,
quarrels, domestic strife.

When the Temperance card appears it
symbolizes self-control, the ability to handle
volatile factors and so bring about a positive
result.
This card heralds a time of harmonious

relationships, peace and harmony a time to be
enjoyed.
Moderation is the key and spirituality will bring
comfort. it can be said that this card represents
an angel or guardian spirit looking over you.
Negatively Temperance represents over
indulgence, lack of foresight, impatience,
conflict and quarrels causing domestic strife.
This card warns of making hasty decisions out
of impatience that will thwart your progress.
Astrological Sign: Capricorn.

card:permanance, commitment.
card:entrapment, lust, greed, ignorance, anger,
tyranny, obsession.
The Devil is not all bad, if marriage or
commitment to a relationship is under
consideration and this card falls in a favourable
position in a reading The Devil is a good omen.
Regarding most other issues this card is not a
very positive one. The Devil symbolizes lust of
the flesh, temptation and addiction which don't
tend to lead to favourable outcomes.
Concerning relationships this card can warn
against obsession or people that are no good
for us and prompts you to to examine the
situation carefully.
The Devil stands for a warning against the
destructive consequnces of your actions
motivated by greed, lust and power.
More positively, the Devil can be a sign that

you are gaining control, or at least awareness,
of your weaknesses or addictions.
Always consider your motives when The Devil
appears, it is a helfpul indicator for you to
change course whilst you still can.
Planet: Mars.
Positive associations with this tarot card:re-
evaluation, necessary change, a blessing in

disguise.

card:sudden change, downfall, disruption,
disaster.
After the Death card and the Devil, The Tower
is likely to be the card that causes most fear
and constenation. It's hard to find a positive
side to this card, however, it tells you that the
unexpected shock and upheaval of events will
create new opportunities and make you a
stronger and wiser person.
The Tower represents sudden and sometimes
shocking changes in events and can often
represent problems or delays relating to your
home or the purchasing of home.
Whether material or emotional upset, this card
encourages you to see that such upheavals
can force new directions that can be more
beneficial.
Negatively The Tower represents unecessary
suffering. You may be falsely accused of
something and suffer some form of
imprisonment or isolation, or you may be the
one causing the shock and change with a

rebellious attitude.
The main thing to remember with this rather
unpleasant card is that this phase will pass and
that a new direction or new opportunities can
be created from it.
Astrological Sign: Aquarius.
Positive associations with this tarot card:hope,
generosity, serenity, wishes coming true, good

health, spiritual awareness.
Negative associations with this tarot card:self-
doubt, lack of trust, cynicism, pessimism.

The Star is a welcome card bringing insight
into the future, optimism and hope, renewal of
faith and unexpected gifts!.
When considering a new relationship or
enterprise The Star is an excellent omen.
This card heralds good times for many things,
artistic or educational endeavours, travel,
health and spiritual awareness or development.
Negatively this card warns against the perils of
self-doubt and negativity that may lead to lost
oportunities.
However even with the negative aspect of this
card you will be surprised with good luck
despite your cynicism.
Astrological Sign: Pisces.

card:imagination, unexpected possibilities,
illumination.
Negative associations with this tarot card:fear,
confusion, highly charged emotions,

bewilderment, lies, deceit.
When The Moon appears you can be sure it
will be a time of highly charged emotions and
confusion .
Despite any fear you may have, the wan light

of The Moon will illuminate the way, and even if
the path you are on is tough, all will turn out
right in the end.
Upright and in a favourable position in a
reading this card is a good omen if you are
involved in a clandestine affair, otherwise it
may signify that your secret may be exposed.
The Moon can lead to artistic expression
through art, writing or music, which may lead to
unexpected opportunities.
Negatively this card stands for lack of progress
because of deep rooted fears and anxieties. It
tells of failure of nerve, it also warns of lies and
deceit - perhaps this is the cause of your
worries.
Planet: Sun.
Season: Summer.
card:happiness, greatness, enlightenment,
vitality, good health, love, fulfillment.

card:misjudgement, delays, potential failure,
inflated ego.
Simply one of the best, if not the best, cards in
the Tarot. The Sun is a most welcome card and
a signal of very happy, joyous times.
This card can represent holidays, good news

around children or perhaps news or the
conception or birth of a much wanted baby.
The Sun heralds a time of fun with friends and
family and agreeable companionships and
relationships.
Ultimately The Sun dispels negativity and
promises of a happy ending.
Negatively The Sun perhaps suggests delays
to your plans or achievements and does warn
against arrogance and misjudgement caused
by an inflated ego.
Element: Fire.
Planet: Pluto.
card:rebirth, rejoicing, absolution, new
potential, rewards for past efforts.

Negative associations with this tarot card:guilt,
loss, self-reproach, delays, fear, obstinacy.

The Judgement card heralds a time of
accomplishment and rewards for past efforts.
Taking stock of ones life and consideration of a

brand new phase in life.
If there has been ill health this card signals a
recovery with a new lease of life.
The Judgement card brings an opportunity
which, once given, must not be ignored, a new
project or decision could change your life.
This card generally speeds up events in your
life.
Negatively this card warns of obstinacy and a
refusal to move with change when change is
essential, which only causes delays.
you will experience fear of nearly everything,
fear of change, illness, perhaps even death.
Another negative aspect of the Judgement
card warns of self doubt and guilt over past
mistakes - this will only blur the way forward.
Planet: Saturn.
card:fulfillment, completion, satisfaction, joy,
wholeness, success.
card:stagnation, lack of will, impatience,
delays.
The World heralds the arrival of your heart's
desire, whatever that may be, a time of
achievement, recognition, success and
triumph.
This card signals a time of enjoyment, of

holidays and travel, time with loved ones, a
fulfilling relationship is on offer and spoiling
yourself with the material things you've been
wanting.
The World also marks the end of one cycle and
the beginning of another.
Negatively, The World points toward delays
and that you may still need to overcome some
challenges before you suceed, so don't give up
so close to the finish line.
Don't be lacking in vision or feel insecure,
success will soon be yours.
Ace of Wands
- Fire
- positive: creativity, originality, fertility, new
beginnings
- negative: frustration, greed, overconfidence
2 of Wands
- Dominion
- positive: earned success, partnership
- negative: futility, pride without humility,
worthless goals
3 of Wands
- Established Strength
- positive: new ventures, conviction,
partnerships
- negative: lack of nerve, frustration,
personality clashes
4 of Wands
- Perfected Work
- positive: satisfaction, completion, new home
- negative: decadence, snobbishness,
impatience
5 of Wands
- Strife
- positive: conflict, competitiveness, struggle
- negative: fraud, defeat through devious
means, acrimony
6 of Wands
- Victory
- positive: victory, fulfilment, great news
- negative: suspicion, delayed news, anxiety
7 of Wands
- Valour
- positive: challenges, courage, ultimate
success
- negative: indecisivenes, lost opportunities,
timidity
8 of Wands
- Swiftness
- positive: activity, travel, action
- negative: delays, impetuous action, poor
judgement
9 of wands
- Strength
- positive: inner stength, self-assurance
- negative: obstinacy, avoidable delays,
suspicion
10 of wands
- Oppression
- positive: pressure, over commitment
- negative: deceit, burdens, abuse of power
Ace of Cups
- Water
- positive: contentment, faithfulness, creativity
- negative: barreness, lost love, despair
2 of Cups
- Love
- positive: partnership, love, understanding
- negative: separation, divorce, betrayal
3 of Cups
- Abundance
- positive: fertility, happiness, creativity
- negative: sex without love, self obsession,
exploitation
4 of Cups
- Blended Pleasure
- positive: re-evaluation, familiarity
- negative: fatigue, overindulgence, depression
5 of Cups
- Loss in pleasure
- positive: reassessment
- negative: worry, futility, sense of loss, bad
luck
6 of Cups
- Pleasure
- positive: harmony, happy memories, the past
shaping the future
- negative: nostalgia and inability to face reality
7 of Cups
- Illusionary success
- positive: imagination, choice, aspirations
- negative: self-delusion, deception in matters
of love
8 of Cups
- Abandoned success
- positive: change, breaking of ties,
development
- negative: restlessness, dissatisfaction,
unrealistic goals
9 of Cups
- Material happiness
- positive: emotional stability, kindliness,
happiness
- negative: complacency, vanity, finding fault in
others
10 of Cups
- Perpetual success
- positive: commitment, peace, love
- negative: antisocial behaviour, disruption of
routine
Ace of Swords
- Air
- positive: victory, mental clarity, necessary
change
- negative: injustice, misuse of power,
destruction
2 of Swords
- Peace restored
- positive: friendship in adversity, peace of
mind, equilibrium
- negative: tension, deceit, disharmony
3 of Swords
- Sorrow
- positive: new beginnings
- negative: heartache, discord, acrimony
4 of Swords
- Rest from Strife

- positive: healing peace, withdrawal
- negative: exile, isolation, depression
5 of Swords
- Defeat
- positive: acceptance
- negative: treachery, spite, deceit
6 of Swords
- Earned Success
- positive: brighter future, respite, a journey
- negative: procrastination, failure to face up to
problems
7 of Swords
- Unstable effort
- positive: diligence
- negative: lack of nerve, indecision, confusion
8 of Swords
- Shortened Force
- positive: patience
- negative: depression, hard work with little
reward, restriction
9 of Swords
- Despair & anxiety
- positive: none
- negative: deception, disappointment, misery,
isolation
10 of Swords
- Ruin
- positive: none
- negative: desolation, ruin, continued suffering
Spend some time with these cards and think

about how you would convey negative
messages to someone without knocking their
confidence. How you can be truthful yet always

convey hope and encouragement.
Ace of Pentacles
- Earth
- positive: security, wealth, recognition
- negative: greed, self-obsession, superficiality
2 of Pentacles
- Harmonious Change
- positive: changing fortunes, journeys,
foresight
- negative: distractions, inconsistency,
impending trouble
3 of Pentacles
- Material works
- positive: recognition, teamwork, prosperity
- negative: delays, critisism, bitterness
4 of Pentacles
- Earthly power
- positive: contentment, emotional and material
security
- negative: greed, indecision, material
obsession
5 of Pentacles
- Material trouble
- positive: none
- negative: financial loss, unemployment, hard
times
6 of Pentacles
- Material success
- positive: charity, prosperity, balance
- negative: loss, careless money management
7 of Pentacles
- Success unfulfilled
- positive: perseverance, sustained effort,
eventual success
- negative: failed opportunities, despondency,
self induced money problems
8 of Pentacles
- Prudence
- positive: change in fortune, craft skills,
satisfaction
- negative: lack of direction, squandered
opportunities
9 of Pentacles
- Material gain
- positive: material success, achievement,
solitude
- negative: devious means, financial instability
10 of Pentacles
- Wealth
- positive: inheritance, wealth, family ties,
emotional security
- negative: financial problems, family
restrictions
Page of Wands
- Astrological signs associated with this card
are Leo, Aries and Sagittarius
- this card can represent a child - male or
female
- appearance - brown hair, blue or hazel eyes
- positive characteristics - loyal, enthusiastic,
hard working
- negative characteristics - spoilt, impatient,
hyperactive
possible event - lots of messages and
communications, careful consideration of your
next move as you may not have all the facts. A
possible reunion with an old friend or lover.
Knight of Wands
- this card can represent a young man less
than 35 years of age
- appearance - fair hair, grey or blue eyes
- positive characteristics - vigorous, athletic,
unpredictable
- negative characteristics - argumentative,
violent, jealous
possible event - dramatic changes in events; a
move of home, travel possibly overseas
Queen of Wands
- this card can represent a woman of any age
- appearance - red/fair hair, brown or blue eyes
- positive characteristics - warm, practical,
homely yet independent
- negative characteristics - overbearing,
matriarchal, vindictive
possible event - being over reliant on others,

where being introverted or shy is thwarting
your progress
King of Wands
- this card can represent a man aged 35 or
over
- appearance - red/fair hair, hazel or grey eyes
- positive characteristics - traditional, fair and
courageous
- negative characteristics - autocratic,
prejudiced, intolerant
possible event - a need to develop
psychological balance and gain wisdom. Ideals
and practicalities will merge, enabling you to
act with integrity
Page of Cups

are Scorpio, Cancer and Pisces
female
- appearance - fair/brown hair, brown or blue
eyes
- positive characteristics - loving, caring,
creative
- negative characteristics - selfish, scheming,
insecure
possible event - easy to fall head over heels in
love, but be careful of giving your heart so
readily. Take heed of a friends advice as the
object of your desire may not be all that they
seem. Can also mean a need to study for
exams.
Knight of Cups
- appearance - fair/brown hair, grey or blue

eyes
- positive characteristics - enthusiastic,
artistic/creative, passionate
- negative characteristics - devious, immoral,
faithless
possible event - sudden changes in your
emotional state, instant attractions and
amorous relationships are indicated. Negative
event - your feelings may be abused by a fickle
lover.
Queen of Cups
- appearance - brown/brunette hair, blue or
bown eyes
- positive characteristics - artistic, affectionate,
intuitive
- negative characteristics - disloyal, unfaithful,
vain
possible event - being over emotional allowing

your heart to rule your head, behaving
irrationaly. Wanting to make a gesture to show
your affection for someone.
King of Cups
over
- appearance - fair hair, blue eyes
- positive characteristics - charming, life and
soul of a party, good mediator
- negative characteristics - self centred,
treacherous, secretive
possible event - diplomacy may be required as
you may have to act as mediator between two
factions. Negative event - you won't be able to
persuade rivals to come to an understanding.
Practical Exercise for this week
Now it's time to practice the 3 card reading.

You need only remove the court cards of
Swords and Pentacles, as you should now be
getting to grips with the rest of the deck.
You can also try a reading with just the Wands
and Cups suits. This will be a reading focused
on love and relationships, and work and career,
but hey isn't that what most of us are interested
in?! Ok, Ok, some of us are also interested in
Money, but we aren't doing the Pentacle Court
cards till next week.
Page of Swords
are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
female
- appearance - fair hair, blue eyes
- positive characteristics - intelligent, loyal,
truthful
- negative characteristics - devious, sarcastic,

critical
possible event - changes and important
decisions will be made by you or others,
possible legal disputes, someone may have it
in for you and you may be the victim of slander
and malice
Knight of Swords
- appearance - dark hair, dark eyes
- positive characteristics - courageous,
intelligent, witty
- negative characteristics - reckless,
impetuous, headstrong
possible event - conflicts, whirlwind events that
leave you confused and feeling everything and
everyone seems to be unpredictable
Queen of Swords
- appearance - fair/brown hair, grey/green eyes
- positive characteristics - intelligent,
independent, perceptive
- negative characteristics - critical, devious,
insincere
possible event - you will need to concentrate
very hard on focusing on yor goals and
objectives to overcome obstacles, if negative
you'll try and resort to manipulation which will
back fire on you
King of Swords
over
- appearance - black/dark hair, dark eyes
- positive characteristics - rational,
authoratative, wise
- negative characteristics - bullying, calculating,
impersonal
possible event - you will find the ability to take
charge of your life, if negative you will feel
controlled by others
Page of Pentacles
are Virgo, Capricorn and Taurus
female
- appearance - brown hair, brown/dark eyes
- positive characteristics - conscientious,
honourable, loyal
- negative characteristics - lazy, greedy,
impatient
possible event - prudence, and careful money
management is required as finances are short.
Any news about money though will be good

news.
Knight of Pentacles
- appearance - brown hair, brown/dark eyes
- positive characteristics - practical,
hardworking, truthful
- negative characteristics - smug, complacent,
lazy
possible event - improvements in your financial
situation but patience is required, if negative
you will have some temporary set backs
financially
Queen of Pentacles

- positive characteristics - financially
responsible, down to earth,compassionate
- negative characteristics - materialistic,
suspicious, insecure
possible event - too much worry about financial
matters, being overly protective of others.
King of Pentacles
over
- positive characteristics - patient, trustworthy,
practical
- negative characteristics - materialistic,
insensitive, jealous
possible event - resolute action will lead to
financial gain, good fortune in money matters,
if negative you may have strong opponents

working against you.
Spreads Part I
It isn't always necessary to use all 78 cards
when you do a Tarot reading. There are many
ways to use the cards.
for example you could use ...
- the Major Arcana
- the Minor Arcana
- Aces and Major Arcana
- Aces and Minor Arcana
- Court cards and Minor Arcana
- Court cards and Major Arcana
If you do a little research by studying different

Tarot books and other web sites, you'll discover
hundreds, if not thousands of different spreads
and card combinations - you can even create
your own mix of cards and your own spreads!
In lesson 12, I'll be covering guidelines for

reading the Tarot in a little more detail, but for
now I'll simply outline a couple of basic pointers
to help you get started.
Card Positions and Orientation:
Some people read the cards differently,

depending on whether they are reversed (upside
down) or upright. This is a personal preference and
one you need to decide for yourself. Personally, I
choose to get a feel from the spread as a whole, to
guide me as to whether a card is indicating its
negative or positive interpretation, and I ignore
whether a card is reversed or not.
You can do the same, but if you find that

difficult, you can read upright cards as positive in
meaning and upside down (reversed) cards, as
negative in meaning.
Intepreting the relationship between cards in

their various positions is a little more difficult. Many
books do give some guidance on this, and I
recommend Jonathan Dee's excellent 'Tarot an
illustrated guide' for this reason.
For now, simply understanding what each

card indicates in a particular position in a spread
will enable you to give a reasonable reading
The Client:
When you read for someone, this person

can be referred to as 'The Querant' or 'The
Enquirer' and they should shuffle the cards.
When they have finished shuffling you can

spread the whole deck and ask them to pick the
appropriate number of cards, or you could split the
deck into 3 smaller packs and get them to pick a
pack they are most drawn to. I choose to do the
latter, but you can feel free to find your own way for
the querant to pick their cards.
Many people feel quite nervous when they

come for a reading, especially for the first time, or if
they are feeling distressed about something. Find
your own way to make them feel at ease.
I do this by explaining the process and what

I believe the tarot is all about. I explain each of the
spreads I use and often explain the meanings of
the cards. However, many Tarot readers feel it is
better not to do this, and only convey the message
they see in the cards. It's up to you to find your own
way of working with the tarot and with the people

you read for.
So, let's move on to some spreads.

You've been working with a classic 3 card
spread, so let's use this same reading to create
a new one ... by using it twice!
Spread 1. The Choice Reading - 6 cards

This is ideal when a querant has to choose
between 2 options, for example
Should I stay married or should I leave
my spouse?
Should I go out with Steve or Michael?
Should I become a lawyer or a hair
stylist?
You get the idea!
Simply ask the querant to shuffle the cards and
pick 6, and then spread the cards as below:
Card 1
Card 2
Card 3
Card 4
Card 5
this 1st row represents their first

choice
this 2nd row represent

second choice
You then read each row as you would the 3

card reading you've been practising:
1st card is - influences from the past
2nd card is - advice
3rd card is - outcome.
The idea of the spread is to help guide the
querant to the most positive or favorable
choice. Of course both options could lead to
seemingly equally negative or positive
outcomes, in which case you can do an
additional spread for clarification.
This could be ...
Spread 2. Guidance Reading - 4 cards
In this situation, you could use the guidance
reading to ask for more information on each
option.
Lets say that Option 1 was: 'Should I go out
with Steve?'
Lay the cards out like this:
Card 1
Card 2
Card 3
Read the cards like this:

1st card is - the current situation
2nd card is - what is going for you
3rd card is - what is going against you
4th card is - the outcome
After finishing this reading, shuffle the cards

again and do the same for Option 2: 'Should I
go out with Michael?'
If they still both have a similar outcome, then
you have more work to do, or perhaps your
querant will decide to go out with both of them!
The 4 card Guidance reading can be used to
ask any question, it doesn't need to relate to a
choice. You could use it to get a feel for what's
going on around the querant generally, or to
ask a specific questions such as:-
Ca
"will I have love in my life soon"

"will my finances improve"
"will I sell my house"
OK, so now you have 3 spreads to work with:Classic 3 card spread
6 card 'choice' spread
4 card 'guidance' spread
The cards should be laid out as illustrated

below:
card 5
card 3
card 6
car
ca
cards 1&2
card 4
Card 2 lays horizontally across the top of Card
1 (it should look that way in the diagram, but
some older browsers may mess around with
the layout!)
The card positions relate to the following:Card 1 - your current circumstances
Card 2 - what is blocking you or holding you
back
Card 3 - your conscious thoughts
Card 4 - your subconscious thoughts
Card 5 - influences from your immediate past
ca
ca
Card 6 - your immediate future (closely linked

with the outcome card)
Card 7 - how you see yourself
Card 8 - how others see you
Card 9 - your hopes and fears
Card - 10 outcome (closely linked with the
immediate future card)
The 4 Aces - 12 cards

This is a great spread. I really enjoy using it, as
it helps me understand what is most important
to the person I am reading for.
Extract the 4 aces and the Major Arcana from
your deck. Ask the querant to shuffle the 4
aces and give them back to you, then they
shuffle the Major Arcana and pick 8 cards and
give these to you.
You then lay the out the cards like this:
MA 1
Ace 1
MA 2
MA 3
Ace 2
MA 4
MA 5
Ace 3
MA 6
MA 7
Ace 4
MA 8
Place the 4 aces in order first - placing the

major arcana cards either side as shown.
This is a reading based on another traditonal 3
card reading: Past, Present and Future.
Ace of Wands represents work, career, effort
Ace of Cups represents emotions, love life
Ace of Swords represents troubles and
concerns
Ace of Pentacles represents money, material

issues
This tells you what issues are most important
to the querant, for example if Ace 1 was the
Ace of Cups followed by the Ace of Swords,
Ace of Pentacles and Ace of Wands, you would
see they are more concerned about their
emotional state, love life, and troubles than
about money and work.
OK, so now you have another couple of

spreads to work with, but feel free to do your
own research and find the spreads you feel
most comfortable with and most want to use.

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What are the main components of a tarot deck?

What are the main components of a tarot deck?

What are the four suits in the Minor Arcana and what do they represent?

What are the four suits in the Minor Arcana and what do they represent?

The classic 78 card Tarot Deck:

The classic tarot deck has 78 cards. There are

The Minor Arcana:

Some of the suits may have other names:

Spend the next week studying this information

Positive associations with this tarot

The Fool can also represent a person in a

The high priestesss

Positive associations with this tarot

The High Priestess is the guardian of secrets

In a man's reading the negative aspect of this

Positive associations with this tarot

nature, prosperity, joy, love, artistic ambition.

Negative associations with this tarot

over-protectiveness, poverty, infertility,

Astrological Sign: Aries.

support, trustworthy, discipline, provider,

status driven, tyrannical, untrustworthy.

The Emperor is a sign of achievement and

Astrological Sign: Taurus.

consolation, knowledge, identification, faith,

bad advice, confusion, disorderly conduct.

The Hierophant is a symbol of moral law, a

Another negative aspect of this card is that he

Astrological Sign: Gemini.

Positive associations with this tarot

attraction, love, sex, commitment.

moral lapse, temptation, indecision, seperation,

Negatively the Lovers can represent an

Astrological Sign: Cancer.

Positive associations with this tarot

assertiveness, good news.

tyranny, overinflated ego, selfishness,

Another negative aspect is that it can represent

Astrological Sign: Libra.

Negative associations with this tarot

Astrological Sign: Virgo.

impatience, folly, arrogance.

When The Hermit appears in a reading he

Negative associations with this tarot

Astrological Sign: Leo.

courage, triumph, fortitude.

with extreme pressure and win through in the

willpower, easily influenced, martyrdom.

The Hanged Man symbolizes self-sacrifice,

Astrological Sign: Scorpio.

friendship, fear of change.

symbolizes actual death, more a time of

Astrological Sign: Sagittarius.

compromise, peace, self-control.

quarrels, domestic strife.

This card heralds a time of harmonious

Astrological Sign: Capricorn.

More positively, the Devil can be a sign that

evaluation, necessary change, a blessing in