Okay, so I’ve been messing around with tarot cards lately, specifically the Smith-Waite deck. Thought I’d jot down my experiences and how I’m interpreting the meanings. It’s all pretty fresh, so bear with me.
First things first: The Deck Itself
I grabbed a pretty standard Smith-Waite deck off of Amazon. Nothing fancy. I spent a little time just shuffling the cards, getting a feel for them, you know? Some people say you gotta cleanse the deck, but I just kinda went straight in. Maybe I’ll regret that later, haha.
The Major Arcana – Big Life Lessons
Right, so the Major Arcana are the heavy hitters. I started by focusing on these.
- The Fool: Man, this card is EVERYWHERE in my readings. I’m taking it as a sign to be more open to new experiences, even if they seem a little crazy. I need to stop overthinking everything and just jump in.
- The Magician: I’m usually pretty good at making things happen, but this card reminded me I need to use all the resources I have available. Stop being lazy and put in the work.
- The High Priestess: This one’s tricky. I think it’s telling me to trust my intuition more. I tend to ignore that little voice in my head, and it’s usually right.
- The Empress: Nurturing, abundance, creativity. I’m trying to tap into that energy more. Focusing on creating things, not just consuming.
- The Emperor: Structure, authority, control. I need to be more disciplined in certain areas of my life. Less procrastination, more action!
- The Hierophant: Tradition, institutions, rules. This card felt like a gentle nudge to respect the boundaries while also thinking for myself.
- The Lovers: Choices, relationships, harmony. Not always romantic love, I’m interpreting it as needing to make a big decision that aligns with my values.
- The Chariot: Willpower, control, success. To me, it means focusing my energy on a specific goal and driving forward. No distractions!
- Strength: Inner strength, compassion, patience. Reminds me that true strength isn’t about brute force, but about gentle persistence.
- The Hermit: Solitude, introspection, guidance. I need to spend more time alone, reflecting on my life. Less scrolling, more thinking.
- Wheel of Fortune: Change, cycles, destiny. Life’s ups and downs, baby! It’s a reminder that things won’t stay the same forever.
- Justice: Fairness, truth, accountability. This one’s about taking responsibility for my actions and treating others fairly.
- The Hanged Man: Sacrifice, surrender, new perspective. It suggests letting go of something to gain a new understanding. I didn’t like this card, but it made me think.
- Death: Transformation, endings, beginnings. Not literal death! More like the end of one phase and the start of another. Scary, but necessary.
- Temperance: Balance, moderation, patience. This one reminds me to chill out and find a middle ground in everything.
- The Devil: Temptation, addiction, limitations. Recognizing what’s holding me back and breaking free from those chains.
- The Tower: Sudden change, upheaval, destruction. This card freaked me out at first, but it’s about clearing away the old to make way for the new.
- The Star: Hope, faith, renewal. A reminder that even after tough times, there’s always hope for a brighter future.
- The Moon: Illusion, fear, the subconscious. Confronting my fears and trusting my intuition, even when things seem unclear.
- The Sun: Joy, success, vitality. Bask in the good times! Enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
- Judgement: Awakening, rebirth, evaluation. Time to evaluate my life and make some changes for the better.
- The World: Completion, integration, travel. Achieving a major goal and feeling a sense of wholeness. This one makes me happy!
The Minor Arcana – Day-to-Day Stuff
Okay, the Minor Arcana are broken down into suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. I’m still learning these, but here’s my take so far:
- Wands (Fire): Action, passion, creativity. This suit usually represents my energy levels and drive.
- Cups (Water): Emotions, relationships, intuition. How I’m feeling and how I’m connecting with others.
- Swords (Air): Intellect, communication, conflict. My thoughts, words, and the challenges I’m facing.
- Pentacles (Earth): Material possessions, security, practicality. My finances, career, and physical well-being.
I’m not gonna go into detail on every single card in the Minor Arcana (yet!), but I’ve been using them to get a better understanding of my daily life and the challenges I’m facing. For example, if I pull a lot of Swords, I know I need to be mindful of my communication and avoid unnecessary conflict.
My Spreads & Techniques
I’ve been experimenting with different tarot spreads. So far, I like the classic three-card spread (past, present, future) and the Celtic Cross spread (a more in-depth look at a specific situation). I’m not a pro or anything, but I like the process of looking at cards and thinking about how they might relate to my life.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, I’m just scratching the surface of tarot. It’s a fun way to explore my subconscious and gain some new perspectives on my life. I don’t take it too seriously, but I do find it helpful for self-reflection.
I will keep documenting my progress as I learn more. Maybe I’ll even try doing readings for other people eventually! Who knows? Wish me luck!
