Magic Forums

Exercises:

Pull out your cards. Go through each of the 12 cards discussed in this lesson, one at a time. Spend a few minutes really looking at it. Try to correlate the definition to the picture. But what else does the card say to you? What is your visceral reaction to the card? What feels and mood does the card invoke? What symbols are on it? Do you feel an association with the numerology or astrology of the card?

Spend about 15 minutes on each card. Some people meditate on each card, some do a journey in which they meet the character on the card, others write a story about the card. Do whatever works for you to try to really get inside this card. The more personal connection you make with the cards, the stronger your readings will be. This is where you will draw from when doing interpretive readings.

It is not advised that you do more than two cards a day. You really want to give your brain and subconscious time to absorb your discoveries. Writing your thoughts down in your Tarot journal will help cement them in your mind.

If you do these exercises, you will develop personal meanings for each card. They may differ from ?book definitions? and that is fine, because having highly personal interpretations is what tarot reading is about. Doing readings is all about "What does this card mean to me in this instance."

If you spend just a half hour a day with your cards during the next few weeks, by the time we hit the section on doing readings, you will be more than ready to interpret spreads without having to look up definitions or use reference material. It may seem like a tedious exercise but the payoff is worth it!