DragonOak has over 20 years of experience reading the tarot cards and study of the symbology behind the tarot cards. DragonOak has read the tarot cards for others and takes an interest on reading the tarot cards for himself as a general day to day guide.

DragonOak is of course the wood crafter of the fine pagan products on dragonoak.com, he also operated a metaphysical store for five years before starting his wood shop.

Consider the history of the tarot cards, for a little bit of background on reading the tarot cards. Tarot cards were first recorded in history at 1332 AD as being outlawed in Europe for political and religious reasons. The very playing cards used today are based upon the tarot cards of old, by making them into playing games the mediums of tarot cards circumvented the laws of the dark ages. And of course everyone is familiar with the legends and long use of the tarot cards by the Gypsy culture.

The reason the tarot was a popular medium for telling the future was because of the high illiteracy count during the dark ages. Visualization of symbols was a much better method of telling the message of reading the tarot cards, then attempting to memorize the literate symbols.

The study and methods of reading the tarot cards have been noted subject of studies by the psychologist Carl jung, Arthur Waite noted occultist, and Aleister Crowley noted occultist.

Tarot reading is classified as a method of divination (foretelling the future) as is Runes, Crystal Balls, Palm Reading, etc. But the phenomena of reading the tarot cards is more widely known thanks to Hollywood's portrayal of the Tarot in many movies.

There are many types of tarot decks and many different styles that still hold the same suits and names as the original. Of the many different tarot cards the Rider/Waite deck is known as the traditional deck. Yet remember find a deck that suits your needs and style, just use the symbolism of the Rider/Waite desk as a guide to learning more about the tarot.

III.   How does Tarot work?

A.  Psychological connection.

            1.  Our brain is able to recall more than we give it credit for.

            2.  Subconsciously we know where the cards lay.

B.  The symbolism of the Tarot

            1.  Pictures

            2.  Colors

            3.  Numbers

C.  Interaction with the Spirit Guides.

            1.  Ability to influence how the cards are picked.

            2.  Precautions should be taken.

D.  Practicing with the Cards.

E.  Adequate preparation is extremely important.

F.  A word on the mislead ideal of destiny.

IV.  Do I need to be psychic to use the Tarot?

A.  We all are psychic on one level or another.

B.  Proper preparation will lead to eventual and continual success.

C.  Practice makes perfect.

V.     How do I prepare for using the Tarot?

A.  Finding a regular session of quiet time.

            1.  Learn to meditate.

            2.  Finding your safe place on the astral plane.

            3.  Let go of your problems.

            4.  Allow a minimum of 15 minutes a day at the same time.

B.  Keep a journal!!!!!!

C.  Protect the cards.  (Finding a home for the cards when not being used).

            1.  A wooden box has become tradition.

            2.  Covering in a cloth bag or scarf.

                        a.  Silk is the traditional method.

                        b.  Blue, Black, or Purple is the colors to keep them wrapped in.

D.  For the next two weeks you should carry the cards with you at all times.

E.  Traditionally you should sleep with the cards under your pillow.  This will help you develop a psychological connection with the cards.

F.  Finding a proper setting for reading the cards.

            1.  Find a place you will not be disturbed.

            2.  Additional Aids from tradition.

a.  Incense – Lavender, Camphor, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Peppermint, and/or Rose.

b.  Oils can be substituted.

c.  Herbs (more traditional) - Mugwort, Bay, and Lavender.

d.  Teas – Oolong or Chamomile.

e.  Crystals and/or Shiva Lingam Stones.

f.  Gemstones – Moonstone, Rose Quartz, Tiger Eye, Amethyst.

            G.  Watch the Moon Cycles and keep a record.

1.  Reading is better during the waxing phase of the moon.

2.  Especially powerful during a full moon.

            H.  Do not let others touch your cards unless you are reading for them.

VI.  How do I develop a connection with the Tarot?

A.  Prepare by utilizing the steps above.

B.  Give yourself time to become aware of your connection.

VII.            How do spirit guides help with reading the Tarot?

A.  Your Guide may be an angel, another on the other side, a family member who is passed on the other side, God, etc.

B.  Guides will teach you to be attuned to the vibrations of the universe where all is known.

C.  Guides can allow us to see forward or back into the river of time.

VIII.         Practicing with the Tarot?

A.  Practice, Practice, Practice.

B.  Keep a journal.

            1.  Write down the event you are or another is asking about.

            2.  Write down the cards and the position drawn.

            3.  Write down your interpretations.

            4.  Write down the results after the event.

            5.  In the beginning I recommend a four-card spread.

a.  Four cards in a row represent Past, Present, Immediate Future, and Likely Outcome.

b.  It is permissible to draw a clarification card for each card the you do not understand.

c.  Keep it simple at this time, do not reverse the cards at this time.

IX.  What is Tarot Symbolism?

A.  Pictures

            1.  A picture is worth a thousand words.

            2.  Pictures tell a story in the scene.

3.  Take time over the next two weeks to review each card and write down what you see.

4.  Examples of Pictures in the Tarot.

            a.  Clouds – Lack of clarity

            b.  Mountains – Obstacles to overcome.

            c.  Rays of Light – Awareness and revelation.

            d.  Columns – Stability.

            e.  Animals – Instinct

            B.  Colors of the Tarot.

                        1.  Black – Negativity, endings, sin.

                        2.  Blue – Idealism, emotion, intuition.

                        3.  Gold – Success, radiance, enlightenment.

                        4.  Gray – Sadness, grief, obscurity, learning through experience.

                        5.  Green – New life, hope, abundance, health.

                        6.  Orange – Ambition, pride, vitality, action.

                        7.  Purple – Power, justice, the color of Royalty.

                        8.  Red – Life, force, sex, passion.

                        9.  Silver – Mystery, psychic abilities, intuition, emotion.

                        10.  White – Purity, illumination, truth, joy.

                        11.  Yellow – Intellect, caution, the will, illumination.

            C.  Numbers of the Tarot.

Each has a positive and negative meaning, for this experience we will focus on the positive.

                        1 – Creation, beginning, invention, independence.

                        2 – Waiting, balance, agreement, insight.

                        3 – Communication, feeling, playing, love.

                        4 – Working, building, planning.

                        5 – New thinking, new opportunity, attraction.

                        6 – Harmony, balance, responsibility.

                        7 – Knowledge, wisdom, faith.

                        8 – Success, recognition, accomplishment.

                        9 – Fulfillment, idealism, inspiration.

                        10 – Completion.

X.     Typical encounters when reading the Tarot.

A.  Types of people you will read for.

            1.  Skeptic.

            2. Suggestible.

            3.  Argumentative.

            4.  Open to new ideas.

5.  Reading for yourself is not so easy.  Recommend working with a partner.

B.  Is the read of the Tarot set in stone?

            1.  Destiny is an illusion.

            2.  We control our own futures.

C.  Reasons for misread.

            1.  You have not properly prepared.

            2.  You are not in tune.

            3.  The person you are reading for did not properly focus on the question.

            4.  You are to emotionally involved with the client or the question.

            5.  The question has struck a personal nerve.

            6.  There is discord between you and the client.

D.  Ethics of reading.

1.  The talent of reading is brought forth so that we may properly warn or prepare others.

2.  Danger in telling people what they want to hear.

E.  Can you charge for a reading?

1.  Gypsy tradition says that silver must cross the hands of the reader before they can read.

                        2.  Preference is to barter.

                        3. Keep greed in check, it will come to haunt you.

            F.  Can you ask the person leading questions?

                        1.  This will aid you in finding the proper interpretation of the card.

                        2.  Each card can have several meanings.

XI.  Review and assignment for next session.

A.  Find a quiet place.

B.  Learn to meditate.

C.  Take the time to review the pictures, colors, and numbers of each card.

D.  Utilize aids.

            1.  Scents.

            2.  Crystals,

            3.  Gemstones.

E.  Find a proper home for your cards.

F.  For the next two weeks, sleep with the cards under your pillow.

G.  Note the moon cycle during your reads.

H.  Allow no one to casually touch your cards, treat them with respect.

I.  Keep a journal.

J.  Limit your initial reads to four card spreads with all cards upright.

Major Arcana

I.         Since the last class, can anyone share any experiences from the preparation steps that were given?

A.  There are no right or wrong answers.

                B.  By sharing it will enable all of us to learn from one another.

II.       Class 2 Format?

A.  This, and the next two classes will be more on a discussion basis.

B.  Outline is a guide but we will see it has basic meanings.

C.  Input is requested from all participants that feel they have something to share.

D.  Others perceptions of the Major Arcana can help us in our quest to understand the Tarot.

III.     What is the Major Arcana?

A.  These cards correspond to major events.

B.  They can also correspond to influential people.

C.  The Major Arcana is set up in much the same manner as we experience our own adventure in life.  Beginning with the Fool in our own child like actions, to summing it up with the World in the process of our own enlightenment.

IV.     Step by step through the Major Arcana.

0 –10 Are cards that deal with a more physical existence.

Reversed meanings will be marked as opposite or lessor, lessor meaning often refer to delays, more difficulties than expected, or a lesson that needs to be worked on.

A.  0 The Fool

                                1.  Central Color:  Yellow = Caution

                2.  Other Important Colors:  White = Purity and Joy, Blue = Idealism

3.  Numerology: 0 Technically this card has a meaning of its own, it does correspond with Number 1 in numerology.  1 = Beginning and New Creation.

                4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Mountains = Obstacles, Youth = Naive ness

                5.  Potential People:  A child (or baby), fool, the eccentric.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  The beginning of a journey

                7.  Reversed = Lessor

B.  1 The Magician

                1.  Central Color:  Yellow = Intellect, The Will, Illumination.

2.  Other Important Colors: Red = Life, Orange = Ambition and Action, White = Truth

                3.  Numerology: 1 = Beginning, Invention

4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Crown = Mastery, Lily = Purity, Leaves = Vitality

                5.  Potential People: Son, brother, teacher, guide.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Mastery of special knowledge.

                7.  Reversed = Opposite

C.  2 The High Priestess

                1.  Central Color:  Blue = Intuition

2.  Other Important Colors:  Yellow = Illumination Black & White = Balance

                3.  Numerology: 2 = Insight

4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Scroll = Hidden Mysteries, Moon = Emotions, Intuition

                5.  Potential People:  Daughter, sister, single women, psychics.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Intuitive awareness.

                7.  Reversed = Opposite

D.  3 The Empress

                1.  Central Color:  Yellow = The Will

2.  Other Important Colors:  Red = Passion, Orange = Vitality, Green = Life Force.

                3.  Numerology: 3 = Love and/or Feeling

4.  Picture Symbolisms: Heart & Sign of Venus = Divine Love, Leaves = Vitality, Crown = Mastery, Bounty from the earth, Scepter = Authority

                5.  Potential People: Mother, wife, pregnant women.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Mother, abundance, healing.

                7.  Reversed = Opposite

E.  4 The Emperor

                1.  Central Color: Orange = Ambition

2.  Other Important Colors: Red = Passion, Gray = Learning through experience.

                3.  Numerology: 4 = Working and/or building.

4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Scepter = Authority, Crown = Mastery, Ram’s Heads = Action

                5.  Potential People:  Father, husband, employer, businessperson.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Order, control, power.

                7.  7.  Reversed = Opposite

F.  5 The Hierophant

                1.  Central Color:  Yellow = The Intellect

                2.  Other Important Colors:  Red = Passion, Gray = Obscurity.

                3.  Numerology: 5 = New thinking (in a conventional manner)

4.  Picture Symbolisms: Scepter = Authority, Crown = Mastery, Keys = Wisdom.

                5.  Potential People:  Clergy, Conservative educators, Spiritual leaders.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Tradition, conventional.

                7.  Reversed = Opposite

G.  6 The Lovers

                1.  Central Color:  Yellow = Illumination

                2.  Other Important Colors:  Red = passion and/or sex, Blue = emotion,

                3.  Numerology: 6 = Balance!!!!

4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge = the everlasting story of choices that we make.

                5.  Potential People:  Lovers, partners, good friends.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Choice.

                7.  Reversed = Oppoite

H.  7 The Chariot

                1.  Central Color:  Yellow = Illumination

2.  Other Important Colors:  Black and White = Balance of two opposing forces, Blue = Idealism, Grey = Obscurity.

                3.  Numerology:  7 = Wisdom and/or faith.

4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Crown = Mastery, Sphinx = Mystery of Life, Wings = Travel

                5.  Potential People:  Travelers, Military personnel.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Progress through balancing opposing forces.

                7.  Reversed = Opposite

I.  8 Strength

                1.  Central Color:  Yellow = Illumination

2.  Other Important Colors:  Orange = Pride, White = Purity, Green = New Life

                3.  Numerology:  8 = Accomplishment.

4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Feline = Intuition, Psychic Awareness, Crown = Mastery

                5.  Potential People:  Athletes, strong willed, Arbitrators.

6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Moral force

7.  Reversed = Opposite

J.  9 The Hermit     

1.  Central Color:  Blue = Intuition through introspection

2.  Other Important Colors:  Silver = Psychic awareness, Yellow = Illumination, White = Truth

                3.  Numerology: 9 = Inspiration

                4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Lantern = Guidance,

                5.  Potential People: Wise people, hermits, thinkers.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Searching within

                7.  Reversed = Opposite

K. 10 The Wheel of Fortune

                1.  Central Color:  Orange = Action

                2.  Other Important Colors:  Balance of colors is important here.

                3.  Numerology:  10 = Completion

4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Wings = Messages of good news, Snake = Wisdom, Anubis = represents the mind

                5.  Potential People:  Lucky People

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  A change for the better.

                7.  Reversed = Opposite

Cards 11-22 Are cards of higher thought.

L. 11  Justice

                1.  Central Color:  Red = Life (Justice)

                2.  Other Important Colors:  Yellow = Illumination, Blue = Idealism

                3.  Numerology: (1 + 1) 2 = Balance and agreement.

                4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Scales = Balanced awareness, Crown = Mastery

                5.  Potential People:  Lawyers, Judges, Legal authorities.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Being Judged, a fair outcome.

                7.  Reversed = Opposite

M. 12 The Hanged Man

                1.  Central Color:  Yellow = Illumination

                2.  Other Important Colors:  Blue = Idealism, Red = Life, Green = Hope

                3.  Numerology:  (1 +2) 3 =  Communication, new awareness.

                4.  Picture Symbolisms:  Bound = Self-imposed restriction

                5.  Potential People:  Those who dare to be different.

                6.  Potential Meaning Keywords:  Suspension, new awareness.

                7.  Reversed = Lessor