First, if you haven’t checked out Understanding Tarot, please go ahead and take a look at it. Whether you already have a working knowledge of tarot or are completely new, it’ll give some important insights into how I read.
On this post I’ll give some information on using tarot to see surroundings, the future, within the mind (emotions too), and using tarot to communicate with spirits. I feel that the most discretion should be used when seeing into the future and communicating with spirits. Hope you learn something exciting and helpful! Remember to be clear about what type of reading you want before you start shuffling your deck. If you want to mix and match, just make or find a spread that fits your needs.
To keep in mind: If you only pull one card, expect it to be the most concise version of the tale available. If you pull multiple cards, they should all be taken into consideration as parts when you are interpreting surroundings, future, and mind. Major Arcana and Court Cards have more weight than other cards, Major stand in for a or the person in question and represent overarching, powerful energies at play. Court cards have a similar quality, but to a lesser degree and may also represent other people close to or in the question at hand.
To See Surroundings
The first use of tarot I’m going to discuss is using tarot to see a querent’s surroundings. Now, I don’t mean you’ll get an image of where they are like you would remote viewing; tarot and OBE are distinct from each other. However, what you will be able to see in this type of reading is what is happening or going on around the person (you, whoever asked for the reading, or another person the reading focuses on).
You have to define what type of surroundings you want to know, if it’s mindscape then this isn’t the right section, scroll down for that. If what you’re interested in is what a person is going though, then this is the right place to be. Whatever your reason, this reading will give insights on the person’s current life and how they are interacting with it. I know how a person interacts with their surroundings isn’t simply what is going on around them, but you can’t really take the person out of the reading so of course you’ll learn that too.
When reading for surroundings, whether you’ve seen the person recently or have not in years, set aside bias and hopes for what you want to see. These will only cloud the reading. Individual cards should be taken at face value. If there is a card about conflict, take it to mean the person has conflict in their immediate surroundings. Even if the most positive card in the deck is out too, take each card for what it shows before stringing them together to read the connections they present.
In this type of readings, as with others, the relationship between the cards is what is really of importance. In reading on a person’s surroundings, these connections can show the truth of where and how a person is doing. If there are cards about travel or movement and cards that represent sadness, it can be read that recent or nearby travels will bring sadness. That’s a very basic connection to make, but these connections are what create a full picture of the environment.
An example spread: The Chariot, 7 of Wands, 2 of Wands, 3 of Cups.
It can be read that the person in question has recently had a major change of pace in life, perhaps they moved location or perhaps there was another swift change in their life that progressed them forward on their path (The Chariot). This was likely won after difficult times (7 of Wands). After this feat, a door must be walked through, there is a path extending out and the person involved must make their choice and follow through, there might be slight confusion or a tug between strong emotions (2 of Wands). Finally, the surroundings are full of joy and friendships (3 of Cups). So, it can be understood that this person is going through life-changes, but they are accompanied by good relationships.
Seeing surroundings will get you a glimpse into what a person is experiencing, but be wary of your own biases, hopes, and fears. The cards are likely to paint you a great picture, listen and read calmly and you will see it. Even if you are reading across oceans and long stretches of land, the cards can show you big pictures and details alike, interpret correctly and you can know almost anything about what someone is going through. Readings on surroundings are almost always based on the present moment. But we all know the present comes at the tail of the past, so the first card might be giving background on current surroundings. Calmness will bring you the answers.
To See the Future
This type of reading is the type that I warn most strongly against until a reader has a certain amount of experience and trust (especially in the self). Readings of the future are readings that can change your life and change your entire relationship with magick and especially divination. Provided you have enough background in tarot, divination, and magick in general, and you are a level-minded person when it comes to reading, I have some thoughts to share on reading to see the future.
My favorite way to do these readings is with a touch of channeling. Sit calmly, be still and clear your mind. Anyone who says a mind can’t be clear shouldn’t be channeling among other things in my opinion. Clear your head, breathe, put on something loud (no words) if it helps you and shuffle your deck normally. Make your intention clear. Focus on the person whose future you want to see (if it’s not you, a photo and name are always great links) and that you intend to see their future.
A couple warnings before I discuss card interpretations. I said just a moment ago this type of divination changes a person. First, that is only the case if you are an amazing reader with talent and skill or whatever you like to call it. Second, that is only the case if you read accurately. Make sure you are the type of great reader who can read accurately before pulling cards about the future because it will be a nightmare reading for you otherwise. Here are my warnings and I’ll leave it there.
- Be careful what you ask for, that it may present itself.
- Divination such as this has an uncanny way of becoming true.
- What you see now as a blessing may come to be a curse and vice versa.
Future readings for yourself and others can be a great way to catch a peek at what’s around the corner. Specify a timeline, or otherwise use your intuition for this during the reading. My general rule is that after a person has gotten started on the first card, or completed what it brings is when the true timeframe begins. After time, consider what type of themes you want to see into. Are you reading on the future of a career, relationship, magick path, in general? Make this clear to yourself so that the cards will reflect it.
The cards you see might make you feel, that’s okay. As long as your personal feelings aren’t overpowering any messages you receive or instincts you have about the cards, let yourself feel what comes. These cards might not be step-by-step what’s waiting for the person, but they very well could be. Keep in mind that all people faces challenges in life and this reading will likely feature a challenge, especially if the subject of the reading is involved in magick because we magicians constantly face new struggles as part of the trade.
Don’t be panicked about darker cards like the 3 of Swords, the 9 of Swords, the 10 of Swords, Death, The Devil, The Tower, or Judgment. Likewise, do not think all positive cards are going to bring dreams to fruition although they certainly may. Most important is how the cards speak to you and with one another. Major Arcana cards are typically thought to bring stronger energy and be less avoidable than Minor Arcana, but Minor Arcana cards often show the way between these bigger events, they may be subtler energies. Court cards can be taken as energy or people, use intuition.
This boils down to being open about your reading and taking the cards without judging them. Trust in yourself and your reading. Sometimes, you are going to read things that terrify you and you can’t put that back in the box. There is no way to prepare for that. Sometimes, these will be beautiful and have lovely messages. Only ask questions you’re okay hearing the answer to.
An example spread: 5 of Swords, 4 of Wands, 10 of Cups, Death, 9 of Swords.
Conflict, probably interpersonal, is upsetting but ultimately yields fruit and overall comfortable stability (5 of Swords, 4 of Wands). Stability begets emotional fulfillment and peace, contentment and positive, healthy relationships (10 of Cups). Change is forced to happen, whether internal or external there is a challenging transition or transformation that needs to happen; maybe it’s because everything is great now or maybe it’s because something is coming that demands change (Death). The time period read about ends in headaches, haunted thoughts, feeling betrayed and run through (9 of Swords).
I noted this briefly in my last tarot post, Death is extremely unlikely to signal any real literal death. Just like the Tower is unlikely to make a person fall from a building and the Sun is unlikely to land someone on the Sun. Tarot cards represent things, they aren’t usually likened to their literal names or they’d be called Oracle cards.
To See within the Mind
This is one of my favorite ways to use tarot, it gives a glimpse into your mind or the mind of another person. You will be able to see what they are feeling and experiencing mentally, decisions that are being considered, the path that they are on, and other similar things. This type of reading is often used in love readings, it is also good for understanding your chances in achieving something another person is responsible for arbitrating, and it can be used to see what is going on within your own mind and heart. Of course, there are other reasons to use this method as well.
So, to read cards with this purpose, clear your mind and relax. Make your intention clear and make clear the person whose mind you are interested in better understanding. If you’re interested in the mind of another, full names, photos, and other fetish links are always useful but not usually required. With a clear mind and a clear intention, shuffle and pull your cards.
The way that cards are read in this type of reading is less action-based and more within the mindscape. While the 10 of Pentacles may represent in another context acquiring great wealth and strong relationships, in this reading it may mean that a person feels or thinks that they have all they need before them. Similarly, the 5 of Swords or Wands can be taken as mental strife and confusion more than they should be considered cards of outward conflict. While this may play a role, the cards here are highlighting the internal and not the external.
The way cards are connected in this type of reading is also slightly different than they would be in a future reading for example. The cards are not showing that one event leads to another which leads to another, instead they are giving a general backdrop of the mind in question.
An example spread: Knight of Swords, 3 of Wands, 10 of Wands
The person in question is considering a risk; it’s unknown whether they have weighed their options well or not, another card could be pulled for clarification (Knight of Swords). The reward is likely great, but the risk comparable to it. Things are becoming clearer, but they are not yet perfected or stable (3 of Wands). The person has stepped through the gate presented by the 2 of Wands and is on their path to success, they feel this; however, there is much struggle involved (3 of Wands and 10 of Wands). There are heavy mental and/or emotional burdens to carry on this path and the person is feeling weighed down by them (10 of Wands).
The cards can be read like this because it keeps everything above action and in the mental realm. The connections made are there, but they are not as heavy-handed as other types of readings. Connections could be more present, for example a reader could conclude that the burdens of the 10 of Wands are brought by a potential risk. But, be careful in connecting cards that are separated by space (a card or more) and don’t share common themes. A reader could also say that the mental burden is coming to an end because 10 represents completion. Neither of these are wrong, but a reader must always fine tune their interpretations, connections, and language to the energy of the person in question.
To Communicate with Spirit(s)
For a long time, I brought cards to every ritual I did, it was magnificent and I learned some amazing things. Especially when clairaudience (or channeling) is available to a person, reading with spirits is incredible. They give some amazing card interpretations. They also use the cards in a slightly different way than most readers would without the presence of a spirit.
Regardless, cards are also great for people who understand tarot, but can’t quite hear Spirit(s).
With these types of readings, there’s an important decision to make pre-ritual, pre-reading, pre-invocation, pre-whatever. This decision is between using intuitive and pre-determined spread. Most of my readings are intuitive anymore, but especially for holidays I usually find a (themed) tarot spread I like, or two, and bring that to ritual with me. Nothing kills ritual vibes faster than messing around with a phone looking for the right tarot spread. If you’re deciding between a couple, hold out a pendulum if you want and ask the spirit. Otherwise, choose and be quick once ritual begins.
Other than a spread, you will need to determine how you plan on pulling the cards. Personally, unless a spirit is present and requests a different method–as King Belial has–I shuffle until a card turns over or falls. Sometimes, I say they must hit the surface I’m reading on and other times jumping out and landing on my forearms is fine as well. If this is your method don’t accept all 20 cards that come out when you shuffle poorly, that’s not the spirit, it’s you.
Some people cut the deck three times and pick the top cards. That works great for some! Whatever you choose, be confident about it and don’t change it up for trivial reasons. You are asking a spirit to guide you in this case, the spirit is relying on you doing your part to the best of your ability so that they can also do theirs. If you hear “Stop” in the middle, stop and evaluate why you were asked to. Is the spirit asking you to pick the card? Are you about to drop half the deck? Is there a fire in the living room?
Listen to the spirits.
They are here because you have asked them to be. So be courteous and listen with all your ears (or your mind) at all times. The more you practice, the more you will begin to understand that they are often leading you down your path and not against it. The same goes in these readings, no matter what subject you have asked about, you have asked and they are giving an educated opinion/suggestion on the matter. You don’t have to follow what they say, but listen well. Because in a month, maybe you will look back and see what they said has become your reality, or you might see that if you had followed their suggestion you would not have encountered so many issues.
Reading as communication with spirits looks different each and every time unless you have a well-developed method you use across the board (which is actually not my recommendation). My best suggestion is to follow your intuition and to listen. Even if something you hear or feel seems unrelated to the cards or in opposition to them, write it down and seek to understand later.
For anyone who can’t “hear” spirits yet, don’t worry too much about it. You are doing your part bringing cards to the ritual and trying your best. Replace “hear” with “feel” and you are good to go. Intuition is the seed of all clairs and mastery in magick and spirit communication. If you need it, bring the little book that comes with your cards. Remember though to always prioritize your intuition.
