The Sceptic's Tarot

On X (Twitter) and Facebook, I share a set of tarot-reading tips every few months. Here are a few of those tips:

• When interpreting a tarot reading, look at the bigger picture beyond the individual cards. Study the entire spread and all of its parts. Now imagine how the cards interact with each other. Observe the body language of the people on all the cards. Envisage how their body language changes the way the cards interact with each other. Are the people facing each other or looking away from each other? Are they acknowledging each other, moving towards one another, or ignoring each other? The big picture reveals deeper insights!

• When you read tarot cards, note what comes to mind first when you look at a card. What is your intuitive reaction? Perhaps what pops into your mind is a personal symbol, a memory, or an emotion. Or you might think, "I know what this card means right now." It might not be the card's traditional meaning, but it could be highly significant for your interpretation of the card.

• Finding it difficult to interpret a card? Set aside the traditional interpretations of the card and look only at the image: what other stories could the card be telling? The two people in the boat on the Six of Swords may be refugees fleeing war, souls being ferried over the River Styx, or kidnapped. Do any of these alternative stories fit your interpretation? In my article, "What could this card mean?", you'll see twenty-four possible stories for the Six of Cups!

• No card in a spread stands completely alone: always consider how the cards in a reading influence each other. For example, the Sun card is such a positive card that all the cards in the spread receive some of its positive energy. The Moon card can suggest anything from happy daydreams to dark horror. Together with the Sun, the Moon takes on a happier perspective.

• The cards in a spread interact with each other. They might be pointing at, looking at, leaving, joining, or ignoring tarot characters in neighbouring cards. These actions can all be significant in a reading. The Hierophant might be blessing the card below. The Hermit could be shedding light on the card to its left. The Knight of Pentacles, as the last card, might suggest putting distance between you and the events. Maybe the Queen of Swords is turning her back on something in the spread.

• Look for themes in the spread. They can help tremendously with the depth of a tarot reading. To find the themes, consider what the cards have in common. Each card will demonstrate the theme from a different angle; and the themes will highlight certain aspects of a card. For example, the Devil, the Nine of Swords and the Eight of Swords suggest different ways of being trapped. How does feeling trapped play out in your life? The Magician and the Moon have mystery and wonder in common. How can this theme enhance your reading?

• If you have court cards in a tarot reading, note if there is progression or regression from young (Page or Knight) to old (King or Queen) or old to young, immature to mature and its reverse, or child to adult and vice versa. The progression or regression may hold significance for your interpretation of the spread.

• Watch for 'position incongruence,' where a card appears in an unexpected position. For example, a Swords card may pop up in an emotional context where you would expect a Cup, or a Cups card in a financial context where you would expect a Pentacles card. What could this mean? Perhaps you are allowing your head to dictate instead of following your heart? Or are you making financial decisions while being too emotional to think clearly? A card out of place might need more attention.

• Note how many cards fall in the various modes (majors, court cards, and pip cards) in your spread. For example, several major arcana cards in the spread can give the reading a spiritual slant; several court cards point to people or personalities influencing the interpretation; and, if you have mostly pip cards (Aces through 10), the emphasis could be on everyday matters.

• Are you overwhelmed with cards from a specific suit? Many Wands cards could indicate action or passion. Don't get burned! Several Cups cards may suggest the situation is overly emotional. If you have many Swords cards in your spread, the focus of the reading may be analysis and communication. Many Pentacles cards suggest that financial, health, or practical matters are important right now.

• Did you get a bunch of reversed cards in your reading? Reversed cards can shift the character of the reading. The spread or reading might feel hesitant, blocked, or challenging. Maybe you could consider whether the cards are hinting at hidden challenges or obstacles lurking underneath the surface. Even in a mainly positive reading, these cards draw attention to themselves.

There you go!

If you want more tips for reading tarot cards, you might like these articles:

What if a card doesn't make sense?

Be sense-ible

How to be wiser when you read for yourself

A card may have more than one message for you

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