HOW DOES TAROT WORK?
How Does the Tarot Work?
To answer this question, let’s start by saying what the Tarot is. Tarot is a form of divination where there are 78 cards with symbols on them that activate our subconscious and translate into meanings related to the question asked. There are 22 Major arcana cards representing archetypal forces presenting themselves in our lives. 16 Court cards (pages, knights, queens and kings) show us personalty traits within ourselves or people and events involved in the question being asked. There are 40 minor arcana cards indicating everyday issues (aces to tens). Biddy Tarot says, “...I believe that Tarot is a tool for unlocking the subconscious mind and bringing thoughts and feelings into conscious awareness by identifying with the symbols in the Tarot cards.”
Tarot works as a tool to see what your options are in a situation and what the possible outcomes might be if the advice from the reading is followed. Each card’s symbols have a layer of symbols which can be interpreted on its own, but work in a much more empowering way when combined with other cards in a spread. The answers come by interpreting how the cards are relating to each other. Each card is also numbered. The numbers in themselves are also symbols. They tell you what stage of the process of the question asked that you find yourself in.
As an example, explore the Fool card from the Rider Waite-based “Llewellyn’s Classic Tarot”. Since the Tarot is symbol-based, knowing what the symbols mean is part of how the Tarot works and it will give you clues about what the card means and the answer(s) to your question.
White rose-purity of intent
Red feather-desire
Bag-untapped collective knowledge, tools for his journey
Staff-relates to the wands suit
Dog-playful and would follow its master into near danger
Eyes closed-unaware or refusing to see what is ahead
Weather-sunny, clear sky with puffy clouds in the background, perfect for a journey
Actions-the dog is trying to warn the Fool of imminent danger as the Fool nearly steps off a cliff
Number 0-all or nothing
Colors-The Fool is clothed in green and purple represents a fresh start and high ideals
What is your interpretation? Google “meaning of the Fool card” and see if yours agrees with the search results or if your meaning is original to you. Biddy Tarot, “This card indicates that anything can happen and the opportunities are just waiting to be taken advantage of.” “The Fool asks you to take a ‘leap of faith’ and to trust in the Universe in that if you begin a new journey, you will find success.”
My personal interpretation:
Pure intent and desire for adventure take you on avenues you may not normally considered going on. You have a companion and all you need with you along your journey. Somewhere along the journey you may be required to take a leap of faith. Don’t forget that along the way, you have the knowledge and tools with you to be successful. This is just one interpretation of my own of how the tarot works. There are as many “ways” that the Tarot works as there are readers. Let the cards’ symbols speak to your intuition as you discover how the tarot works so that the Tarot gives us another perspective through which we can view our situation.
