“I was impressed with how relevant my reading was and it offered a new perspective on the question I asked.” -Sally, Glasgow

Tarot readings can be effective at helping the querent look at a situation from a different perspective with an indication of likely outcomes, depending upon the decisions taken.

The History of Tarot

The origin of tarot has been much debated and hotly contested for centuries.

Earliest recorded use of tarot cards was in Italy somewhere between 1332 and 1480, depending on who you talk to. At that time, it wasn't used as a method of divination. Instead, it was used to play a game called Tarocchi (also known as Trionfi, Tarrock, Triumphs or Trumps) which is played similar to Bridge. Many of the records of this time show that importing of the cards was banned, although this appears to be due to economics (protecting the local card manufacturers) rather than for religious or moral reasons.

It was in the 18th century that tarot was first attributed to having Egyptian origins. A French linguist, named Antoine Court de Gébelin, was heavily involved in occultism. He saw a tarot deck at a dinner party and proceeded to examine it and connect the images he saw to Hermetic literature. Hermeticism, itself, was based upon philosophical writings of Greek scholars living in Egypt between 50 and 300 CE.

From there, various famous occultists added to the myths surrounding the tarot cards. They included Etteilla in 1770 (the first known to use tarot cards for divination), Eliphas Levi in 1852 (a failed Catholic Priest) and Aleister Crowley in 1888 (creator of the Thoth tarot and self-proclaimed “Great Beast”).

Now, there are over 900 tarot decks in publication and they range from the traditional to the specialised and almost everything imaginable in between. Many attribute the enduring appeal of the tarot to the accessibility and strong symbolism of the images.

The Tarot Deck

The deck that will most likely be used for your reading is the Robin Wood deck. As with most tarot decks, it has 78 cards and is divided into the major arcana with 22 picture cards and the minor arcana with 56 cards and 4 suits. The suits are Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles and each suit has a Page, Knight, Queen and King.

The Robin Wood deck is based on the standard Rider-Waite deck which is the one that most people will recognise. However, the images and symbols are more vivid and intuitive with strongly pagan overtones.

You can find more information about this deck from the following link: here

About Your Tarot Reading

Possibly the most important step when doing a reading is phrasing the question. There are no cards for “yes” or “no” and the future can always be changed by the decisions you make. Instead, think of a question that will give you the best tools for making your own choices.

If you can't think of a particular question, then a general reading should give you an idea on how your life is going and the major issues surrounding you.

Sample Reading

Here is an example of how a reading might go:

Robert isn't satisfied with his job, at the moment. He is wondering if he should leave to find something else.

I lay 3 cards out, in a row, after shuffling the deck and asking Robert to cut the deck for me. The first card will describe his current situation, the second describes the contributing factors to his discontent and the third suggests practical ways to improve his situation.

The first card is the King of Swords. It shows a picture of a militaristic man in a crossed-arm pose with a sword drawn. For Robert, it indicates that the main problem he has is his over-controlling boss. The man is stern and unyielding and seems to cause conflict wherever he goes.

The second card is the 8 of pentacles. On this card is a picture of a boy studiously making a series of wood-cuttings. In Robert's case, the card tells us that his work is boring, repetitive and lacks challenge and his hard work is going unrecognised.

The last card is the 10 of wands. The picture is of a man heavily laden with sticks, walking a path to a distant village. Here, the card indicates that Robert needs a role with a great deal more responsibility. The new role should be something where Robert can see the progress he makes and where people are relying on him to perform his work well.

At this point, I often encourage people to ask questions about the reading. I try to find out if there is any aspect of the reading that they would like clarification on or if there is anything that hasn't been covered.

Tarot FAQ

I have compiled a list of the most common questions I get asked as a professional Tarot reader.

• “How long have I been reading tarot?”
  I started reading Tarot cards in December of 2003 and it was 2 years later that I began working as a professional reader.
• “What else can you do?”
  I have some skill with healing by my training in Reiki and Shiatsu but if I have any ability at anything like Medium-ship, Palm Reading or Aura Reading then it hasn't revealed itself.
• “How does it work?”
  At this moment, no one knows why or how it works. Personally, I put it down to quantum probability theorem and the non-linearity of time and space (but then, I used to be an engineer). Some people connect it to psychology and Jungian Archetypes but no one knows for sure. As a Tarot reader, I find it an inescapable fact that it does work even if I don't know how or why.
• “How did you get into Tarot?”
  On a whim I bought myself a deck of Tarot cards. I'd had a few readings in the past which I had found very helpful and I was curious to see if I could make them work for myself. I was rather surprised to discover that I could get meaningful readings even though I was just starting.
• “What if you see something bad happening?”
  I firmly believe that if something negative appears in a reading then it is there for a reason. Perhaps someone needs a warning and the chance to prepare. The warning can allow the person getting the reading to make changes to avoid the outcome predicted by the cards.
• “Is someone going to die if I get the Death card?”
  The Death card indicates change where the old passes out of your life to make way for the new. I normally describe it as death in the same way as winter is the death of a year. The year is over but the cycle of life always moves on.
• “One of my close relatives/friends/pets has died. Can I get a reading about what's happening to them now?”
  Yes. While I am not a medium, tarot cards can still be used to transmit messages from loved ones.
• “What kind of things will you tell me?”
  If you have asked a specific question then I will give you a specific answer. Otherwise a general reading incorporates information on your current life and where you are heading. Negative issues do come up in readings. However, they only appear to warn or prepare you and further cards can be drawn to allow you to deal with the problem when it arrives.
• “What kind of things can I get a reading on?”
  Anything in the past, present or future. From emotional relationships to how your favourite football team is going to do. The most common readings I do relate to finances, career paths, relationships and family.
• “Can you tell me if God exists?”
  No. If God (assuming he/she/it exists) wanted it to be that easy then there wouldn't be all the wars over religion.
• “Do I have to tell you my question?”
  No. I find that the cards will answer your question anyway. However, telling me your question will help me do a card layout that will best suit the information you need.
• “How often should I get a reading?”
  There is no fixed time-scale involved. The best plan is generally to hold off getting another reading until your situation has changed or progressed since the last time.
• “Can you do a reading for more than one person at a time?”
  Yes, although only on a subject that closely concerns both parties.