Introduction to the Tarot

By Crystal, OCS Clairvoyant Psychic

The traditional tarot deck is comprised of 78 illustrated cards. The
cards are of two orders, The Major Arcana and The Minor Arcana. The
Major Arcana, referred to as The Trump Cards are pictorial archetypes
such as The Sun, The Moon, The World, Death, The Emperor and the
Empress. These cards express grand themes. The Minor Arcana are similar
to the cards in a regular playing deck with four suits, Cups, Pentacles,
Wands, and Swords. They are numbered aces to ten in each suit with Kings,
Queens, Knights and Pages. The cards are shuffled and spread face down
in a fan shape so that the questioner (Querant) may choose their cards.

There are myriad layouts for card readings the simplest of which is the
single card spread. By picking a solitary card from the deck you can get
a very direct understanding of the situation though there will be no
other cards with which to show obstacles, past influences ect.

Common methods to answer direct questions are the Three and the Five Card
Spreads. A Three Card spread is laid out from left to right and read as
past, present and future respectively.

How to Do A Celtic Cross Spread
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A more complete layout is the Celtic Cross Spread. a ten card spread that
offers many points of information. After choosing ten cards from the faced
down fanned deck the first card is placed in the center (1) the second is
laid across this (2), the third, forth, fifth, and sixth cards are placed
around the center cross clock-wise starting under the first two cards
(3),(4),(5),(6) and form the outer cross, the remaining four cards are
laid one above the other along the side with the last card at the top.
(7),(8),(9),(10).

The First Card (1) Shows the current position of the client, the heart of
the matter upon which the reading is based.
The Second Card (2) Is that which crosses the client, something that is
impacting them directly at the time of the reading.
These two cards make up the Inner Cross and should be interpreted together.

The Third Card (3) Shows the root cause most pertinent to the reading, this
lies generally in the distant past.
The Fourth Card (4) Is the forces in the recent past that bear upon the
clients question.
The Fifth Card (5) Is the wisdom of the higher self and can offer insight
into what steps should be taken by the client to achieve the best results.
The Sixth Card (6) The card of the near future, that which can be expected
to happen soon in the clients life and has bearing upon the question at hand.
These four cards make up the Outer Cross and should be interpreted together.

The Seventh Card (7) Is a card of the Self, the qualities positive of
negative that the client possesses that contribute to the Outcome.
The Eight Card (8) Outside Influences, the forces of other people and things
seen and unseen that are working upon the Outcome
The Ninth Card (9) Either "Hopes and Dreams" or "Advice" this card adds
insight to that which is hidden but important none the less, to the Outcome.
The Tenth Card (10) The Outcome. This is the long term outcome that can be
expected in the clients life, if it is undesirable the client is instructed
by the other cards on how best to change it. The Most probable Outcome.