Let's Talk Tarot

Since I'm publishing a poetry collection centered around the tarot, it probably isn't surprising that I'm a reader. For me, reading has been more of a personal rather than professional endeavor: I read for myself and my friends, and the occasional stranger who sees me with my cards in public. I have never charged for a reading, though I'm not ruling it out in the future because I know I'm skilled enough in the practice.

As my own teacher taught me, the tarot is not something learned overnight. It's a complex symbol system. The classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck has seventy eight cards which all have a few different meanings, and those meanings can fluctuate in different spreads and among different cards. To put it simply, one must study the tarot to read it accurately. (Personally, I find I can't trust any "reader" who simply "vibes" with tarot, and has not actually studied it.)

I figured it's time for me to talk a bit about my history with tarot, my tarot routines, and why I read to begin with. If you're reading this and feeling unsure of what tarot even is or are even afraid of it, I highly recommend visiting the website Biddy Tarot first to get a general idea. It's a great resource for understanding this practice, especially for beginners.

My History

I decided to learn to read after one of my best friends gave me several readings during a difficult year in my life. I was shocked by the accuracy, and comforted by the advice the cards gave me. My friend was very supportive when I decided to start learning and he helped me get the hang of it, even letting me practice reading for him. Five years later, and I own a few decks that I read from a handful of times a month and I'm publishing The Poet's Tarot. Things certainly escalated.

Decks I Own

The first deck I ever bought was the Linestrider Tarot by Siolo Thompson. This beautiful watercolor deck is still the one I use most, because it's able to speak to me clearly regardless of my mental state. I don't read at all if I'm too anxious, but if I'm somewhat worried about something when I want a reading, I choose this deck. The next one I bought was the Shadowscapes deck by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, which is marked by highly-detailed fantasy illustrations, which I use second-most.

The only other deck I own is the dark and wonderful The Wild Unknown by Kim Krans, which is the deck my friend used to read for me. Even though this is the deck that made me interested in tarot, I cannot read with it often. It will sometimes ignore my question and instead show me what's worrying me deep down, which can be off-putting depending on my mental state. I can only ask this deck questions that have completed consumed my thoughts without causing anxiety.

I decide which decks to buy based on essentially these factors: The artwork must draw me in, and it must have an "atmosphere" (or feel) that I like. And despite not being able to draw or paint, I am picky. I know what I like and what I don't like.

My Process

When I get a deck, I read the guidebook. It doesn't matter that all my decks are based on the Rider-Waite-Smith system and are essentially the same: Different artists conceptualize the cards a bit differently, and I consider their thoughts in my readings. If I'm in a big hurry and want to quickly reference information on a specific card, I use the website Biddy Tarot - it's great!

During readings for myself, I record the date, deck used, cards pulled, and my interpretations in a journal. This allows me to reflect on the reading more and have a nice way to reference past readings. Doing this also allows me to see "patterns" in readings.

There are many accepted ways of cleansing tarot decks, but I keep it simple. I light a candle and swipe each card above the flame. (Do not set your cards on fire. I'm holding the card a few inches above the flame.) While I do this, I try to envision any of the energy I associate with each card fading away, so my cards feel nice and "fresh." Since I do alternate between three different decks and I don't read every single day, I do this about once a year or until I feel like it's needed.

Who Is it For?

Tarot is definitely associated with new age spirituality, but the cards themselves are not directly correlated to any one religion. I know of Buddhists who read; I know of atheists who read. I think a big part of the tarot's universality is anyone can enjoy it or see some sort of benefit, because even if you take any belief out of it, it's still a tool we can use to reflect on our lives. My teacher talked about how tarot readings are impacted by the energy we as readers bring to the table: If you draw a card and think "what advice can I draw from this symbolism today?" you are likely to be going forward with a good piece of advice or a caution against specific negative behaviors or thinking patterns. Your mindset impacts the way the message is interpreted. People see tarot as merely fortune-telling, but more than anything, it is a tool for present self-awareness. And self-awareness is something we all need as an anchor in this tumultuous world.