Tarot rading - what should be our aim?

Reading the Tarot is very exciting, especially in the beginning, but it's easy to get confused and discouraged if we're not sure how to read. When our goal is to be unbreakable, and we look for the sense of a card as well as the truth it shows, we make progress away from the beginning stage.

When is a Tarot reading not a Tarot reading?

Someone can ask a question and we give good, general advice in the reading. This is ok, but the Tarot can be very specific about what to do with a particular situation at a particular time. This is how it can be done.

Also, a simple technique to get started with a reading, that you can do with confidence, and that engages the questioner.

This is how you already can read cards; and the pitfalls of free-form reaadings

Even beginners can read the Tarot and I show you how you can make sense of a card, and use it to answer any question.

Next we consider free-form readings - picking a card and applying it to the questioner wihout knowing in advance what sort of information you want it to give. I think it's better and more reliable to know first what question the card will be answering. I demonstrate with an example from an Internet reading that I listened to.

Video - From now to the end of 2011

Someone asked for a video about what will happen to the world between now and the end of 2011.

The world is a big place, however, with different conditions and circumstances, but we're all people so the question asked was: What can and should we do to live better and more fully between now (the middle of August) and the end of 2011.

The answer is: the 6 of Coins; the King of Cups; and the Ace of Swords.

Video - The Other Two Most Important Things You Need To Know If You're Reading For Yourself Or For Others

Two more points for your consideration, that will make you better readers.

Podcast 014

This is Podcast 014, uuploaded on 5 July 2011.

• The title is It's not you; it's the spread. If you found it hard to do a reading, maybe it's the spread itself and not you that is to blame. I look at how and why this can be so - and what to do about it.




• The Celtic Cross book is coming along, and if you'd like to read some of it before it's finished and give your opinion, send an email to bllntr@yahoo.com.

Video - A common Tarot reading problem solved

This is a 20-minute video about a typical problem that you might encounter when reading for yourself - or for others. We often prefer a spread to show what we need, but on our own, it can be very easy to see what we want to see.

In the video, we discuss how what we want might be exactly what we need - and how philosophy gets us beyond the beginner stage; and this is a good thing.

The next podcast will be about spreads, and how if you find it hard to read a particular layout, it's not you - it's the spread.

A video - The two and a half most important things you need to know if you are going to do readings for yourself - or for others.

The two and a half most important things you need to know if you are going to do readings for yourself - or for others.

Comments or questions? Email bllntr@yahoo.com/

Podcast 013

Podcast 013 (38 minutes 19 seconds) looks at another ten or so questions derived this time from the 7th to 12th Houses in a horoscope.

We consider how they might be answered - in very different ways - by the 2 of Swords and the 6 of Cups.

If you have comments or questions, email bllntr@yahoo.com.

Podcast 12

Podcast 12 (35 minutes 30 seconds) shows a method for practicing readings on your own - so you can become more confident in your abilities and deal better with real people and their questions. You'll be able to think on your feet, so to speak, because you will have seen it before in your private study time.

The plan was to do the full demonstration in one podcast, but I stopped at the 35 minute mark and will finish the topic in Podcast 13.

Comments or questions? Email bllntr@yahoo.com/

Audio for Episode 31

Episode 31 continues with the Celtic Cross:

1. The Chariot, reversed
2. The King of Coins
3. Strength
4. The Devil, reversed
5. The Moon
6. 4 of Cups, reversed
7. 3 of Batons
8, The Fool
9. Temperance
10. 6 of Coins, reversed

http://www.the tarot.ca
coming soon: http://www.21stcenturytarot.com

Audio for Episode 30

Episode 30 is about:

The Secrets of the Court Cards Revealed.

Audio for Episode 29

Jpegs of the spreads we are examining may be viewed at
http://www.johnballantrae.com/cross/index.html

Episode 29 is about:

• how to make sense of the question through following the lead of the cards that come up

• how to deal sensibly and confidently with cards that show ruin, defeat, destruction, etc. without twisting things so you can give good news

• how with a problem in algebra, we know the answer already exists in the invisible world and we just have to apply some of the rules; so with a card, we use what we know to move step by step closer to revealing the answer

• how to identify and use the most important card in the spread

• and more

Audio for Episode 28

Episode 28 is about:

• Knights and Pages and how the reader doesn't have to know who they are
• the Secret about Court Cards
• the 2 of Swords and the 6 of Cups and communication styles and content; as the father or father figure; as children or Will I have children?

Audio for Episode 27

Episode 27 continued our exploration of the Celtic Cross with cards 9 and 10.

• 3 of Cups in the 9th position; 10 of Swords as the final outcome.
• Ace of Swords in the 9th position; Temperance as the final outcome.
• The Chariot - reversed and upright in the 1st position and how each should or could be handled for maximum results.
• Interspersed with a chat-room question about the Knight of Wands in a love-life question.

If you would like to participate in the full reading now that we have considered each card individually, you will find jpegs of the spreads at:
http://www.johnballantrae.com/cross/index.html

Audio for Episode 26

Episode 26 is about:

• panic attacks

• answering people's questions in language they can understand

• using the meaning of astrological Houses for questions to be answered with the same card

If you'd like to try the exercise on the Houses we didn't get to before next Monday's Episode 28, figure out the sense of the 2 of Swords and the 6 of Cups in these areas of life:

5th House = children; so this is a person, but someone younger than the native or the 1st House
- maybe: Will I have children and what will they be like?

6th House - service, or the services you are meant to perform in this lifetime

7th House - the marriage partner; what you can or should expect from marriage

8th House - death and regeneration; what sort of experiences will change you?

9th House - foreign travel; What should I expect if I visit other countries?
- also your philosophy of life

10th House - the mother; an older woman

11th House - friends; what they will be like and what you can expect from friendships
- also your hopes and aspirations

12th - karma; things you do that get you into trouble

Audio for Episode 25

A link to a very interesting blog post giving Some Perspective on the Japan Earthquake.
http://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/03/13/some-perspective-on-the-japan-earthquake/

Episode 25 is about:

• Whether or not to re-sort cards after a reading

In a Celtic Cross:

• 8 of Coins in the 7th position; the 3 of Batons in the 8th; the 5 of Swords in the 9th; the 5 of Batons reversed in the 10th place.

• the Page of Swords in the 7th position; the Ace of Batons in the 8th; the 4 of Batons in the 9th; Justice as the final outcome.

Audio for Episode 24

In Episode 24 we consider:

• what is really going on in a Tarot reading and why we ought to ponder on this question

• a brilliant idea that will enable us all to approach any reading with greater confidence

• psychic ability, its weaknesses, and what we can do to counteract them
  

Audio for Episode 23

Episode 23 is mainly about reading the Celtic Cross:

• The Chariot reversed as the first card
• An incredible question with The Hierophant as the first card
• 9 Swords as what may come; 8 Cups as what will come; 3 Batons as the present position; Page of Batons as the influence of other people
• The Lovers reversed as what may come; 10 of Coins as what will come; 2 of Batons as the present position; 8 of Swords as the influence of other people

Audio posted for Episode 22

This show discusses various aspects of reading cards for others:

• Good advice on its own isn't really enough; you have to give details.
  

• The Tarot ought to be more than just "good advice" - why this is so and how it can be done.

• About answering the question as the questioner asks it - even if you don't think it's very good or that it could be improved. The reader isn't the querent.

• Practice answering - but without knowing the question first. It's not easy, but it works wonders for your ability.

Audio for Episode 21

Episode 21 continued our examination of the Celtic Cross.

• The e-book about the Celtic Cross in all its glory is coming together nicely
• The advantages of laying cards face-down first
• Figuring out the most important card in the spread
• The Ace of Cups as the foundation; The Hierophant passing away; the reversed 5 of Coins as what may come; The World reversed as what will come
• The 2 of Coins as what may come; the 7 of Swords as what will come

Audio for Episode 20

Episode 20 deals with:

• karma, and being paid for readings

• playing with words and names - words = sword; Magician contains magic and magi and what you can do with this

• using the Tarot itself to describe and explain what it can do and how it is built

• considering trios of Major Trumps for a clearer understanding

Audio for Episode 19

Episode 19 continues our exploration of the Celtic Cross - the 3rd or Foundation card, and the 4th card that shows what is passing away.

1. Why The Fool in the first position doesn't have to indicate a great new start.

2. Debbie's 5 of Cups opposed by the 9 of Swords; the 6 of Batons below, and the Sun passing away.

3. Shelley's 2 of Cups opposed by The Hierophant; The Fool below and Death passing away.

4. A brief re-cap of Lana's Queen of Batons opposed by the 5 of Swords; new discussion of her High Priestess below, and the 2 of Batons passing away.

A fine time was had by all.

Audio for Episode 18

Episode 18 is about how the Tarot describes and helps us to understand life - and the real and underlying causes behind effects.

Then there is a point or two about the Tower and its relationship to the Hermit and the High Priestess and how we can produce a variety of interpretations with these three cards to cover different situations,

Along with an answer to someone who wants her 'ex' back.

Audio for Episode 17

Episode 17 is mainly about the Celtic Cross - a spread that can be sometimes difficult, but that is always informative, and that reveals more with each look.
In this Episode, we consider and examine how to make sense of the first two cards - the atmosphere surrounding the question, and the opposing force.
In Episode 19 ( 11-11.30 pm EST on February 24) we will look at the 3rd and 4th cards.

Audio for Episode 16

Episode 16 is:

• about bottlenecks, and how you have to see the whole process if you are to know how to solve the problem; relate this to any card to know its past, present and future

• about answering people's questions the way they ask them because that's what they want to know; not answering because you're afraid is no basis from which to operate

Episode 15 Audio

Below is the audio for Episode 15 that was:

• about how the Tarot is not ridiculous, but is an excellent method for getting to the heart of whatever the matter may be

• about poka-yoke ('mistake-proofing') and how keeping this in mind will make you a better reader of the Tarot and adviser to others

• about doing a Celtic Cross for yourself answering the question: What is my future with the Tarot? and beginning to understand the answer, one card at a time

Episode 14

Episode 14:

• about blogs and recognizing characteristics of their authors

• about symbols in the Rider deck and going further with them to illuminate the reading

• about The Tower as the fall of man, and how Eve was seduced because she confused the effect for the cause; and what to do about this so we don't suffer her fate
  

Audio for Episode 13

Audio for Episode 13.

Early on, I read a quote from Jean Giono:

Days begin and end in the dead of night.

They are not shaped long in the manner of things which lead to ends - arrow, road, man's life on earth.

They are shaped round, in the manner of things eternal and stable - sun, world, God.

You get some great ideas about the meaning of Swords and Batons, Cups and Coins.

Etc.

Audio for Episodes 11 and 12

Below you will find the audio recording for Episode 11. The quality is better than you get in the blogtalkradio archive.




Below here is the audio for Episode 12.

• About not copying someone else's method.
• About writing your own, your very own, Tarot book because the best way to learn something is to teach it.
• About the difference between the Major trumps and the Minors.