Tarot Readings - Asking The Right Questions

 

When clients approach me for a reading, they are often tempted to ask questions like

• When will I find new love?
• When will I get a new job?
• Does he still love me?
• What does the future have in store for me?
• Will my business be successful? etc...

Although I don't rephrase questions and aim to answer them as best as possible, I also include some additional insight clients may not have thought about, which are meant to provide opportunities for personal development and growth.

It is important to ask the right questions, which put you in control and empower you. Strive to "know thyself" with the help of Tarot.

Through self-exploration you will find the answers within you rather than hoping to find them elsewhere.

"An empowered life begins with serious personal questions about oneself. Those answers bare the seeds of success." - Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

Here are some personal questions you can explore with the Tarot, which you can also adapt to a specific issue:

• "Who am I?"
• "What do I need?"
• "How do I function best?"
• "How can I achieve my dreams?"
• "How can I fulfil my potential?"
• "What are my strengths and weaknesses?"
• "What is blocking me?"
• "What do I need to pay attention to at this moment in time?"
• "What do I have to give?"
• "How can I help and support others?"
• "What’s the next step I can take right now?"

Self-inquiries like these help you

• stay true to your values and principles
• pursue your dreams and desires
• take responsibility and make the most of what life throws at you
• recover from setbacks
• grow through challenges and adversity
• set and maintain healthy boundaries
• learn from your mistakes
• accept and embrace change with confidence and resilience
• add value to others and the world around you

"At the end of the day, the questions we ask of ourselves determine the type of people that we will become." - Leo Babauta

The right question should encourage you to take action rather than sitting back waiting for something to happen or surrendering to fate.

The right question should also discourage you from regarding yourself as a victim, and instead inspire you to step into your power in order to heal from any negative experiences.

For more information on asking the right questions, you can also check out relevant posts here and on my journal blog.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

The Meaning Of The Pages in the Tarot

The Pages in the Tarot are the children of the court card family.

They symbolise new beginnings, inexperience, youth (and the young at heart), enthusiasm, playfulness, naivety, curiosity, immaturity and potential.

They are similar to the Aces, but whereas the Aces represent the purest energy and root of their suit, which can turn into anything, the Pages are trying to get a handle on the energy of their particular suit.

For example, in the Pentacles suit, the Ace might symbolize an opportunity for money coming your way (without specifying how), while the Page would represent efforts to make more money, learn a new skill, or find a new job.

Unlike Aces, Pages also tend to indicate personality traits and more practical advice, which is reflected in their association with the element Earth.

Astrologically, just like the Aces, the Pages are also each assigned to a mix of zodiac signs indicating their individual traits and potential.

Pages can represent people, events (often appearing as messengers), energies surrounding a situation or personality traits.

For my Tarot deck, I have chosen flowers to represent the Pages to symbolise their link to the element Earth. Also I feel that flowers express the fragile nature and vulnerability of the Pages.

The Page of Wands is a red poppy. The red poppy is a bold, vibrant flower first appearing in Spring, which is the season linked to the suit of Wands based on the Golden Dawn tradition.

In magickal tradition, the red poppy symbolises creativity and imagination.

In the blandness of a wheat field, poppies stand out with their bright red colour, which represents the personality of the Page of Wands - confident, energetic, courageous, a bit noisy, seeking attention.

Esoteric Title: Princess of the Shining Flame; the Rose of the Palace of Fire; Princess and Empress of Salamanders

Astrological attribution: Cancer, Leo and Virgo

Elemental association: Fire of Earth

Characteristics and personality traits:

Energetic, eager, sociable, fun loving, restless, creative, courageous. Can be impulsive, reckless; sometimes finding it hard to concentrate and focus; short attention span; over-confident.

The quote chosen for the Page of Wands reflects her pioneering urge to explore new territory, get-up-and-go attitude and love for adventures.

The Page of Cups is a water lily. The water lily is an elegant and fragrant flower growing in still waters in temperate and tropical places around the world.

Water lilies flower in the Summer months here in the Northern Hemisphere, the season linked to the suit of Cups in the Golden Dawn tradition.

Water lilies are associated with spiritual enlightenment and symbolise purity, pleasure, peace, celebration and sexuality.

Esoteric Title: Princess of the Waters; the Lotus of the Palace of the Floods; Princess and Empress of Nymphs and Undines

Astrological attribution: Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius

Elemental association: Water of Earth

Characteristics and personality traits:

Sensitive, gentle, shy, quiet, artistic, dreamy, introvert, affectionate, loving, intuitive. Can be over-emotional at times, vulnerable, gullible and escapist.

The quote chosen for the Page of Cups reflects her urge to explore the emotional realm and trying to make sense of the vast array of mixed and confusing feelings and emotions.

The Page of Swords is a Dandelion. The yellow flower of the Dandelion transforms into a seed ball that blows into the air.

Dandelion grows from Spring right through to late Autumn, the season linked to the suit of Swords.

It is often regarded as a weed due to its profusion, but it is actually a very useful plant and entirely edible.

The yellow flower of the Dandelion symbolises communication, clarity and intelligence, whereas the white seed ball symbolises cleansing, space and new beginnings.

Esoteric Title: Princess of the Rushing Winds; Lotus of the Palace of Air; Princess and Empress of Sylphs and Sylphides

Astrological Attribution: Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces

Elemental association: Air of Earth

Characteristics and personality traits:

Alert, intelligent, rebellious, truth-seeking, independent thinker, innovative, detached, argumentative, cutting, rash, defensive

The quote chosen for the Page of Swords reflects her urge to explore and discover the truth, cutting through deception and being honest without fear of conflict.

The Page of Pentacles is a snowdrop. The snowdrop is the only bulbous flower amongst my Pages.

Ornamental bulbous plants like the snowdrop used to be prized possessions and therefore symbolise wealth and status.

The snowdrop flowers in winter, the season linked to the suit of Pentacles. It is a symbol of new growth, hope and resilience, because it thrives even in the coldest conditions.

Esoteric Title: Princess of the Echoing Hills, Rose of the Palace of Earth, Princess and Empress of the Gnomes

Astrological Attribution: Aries, Taurus and Gemini

Elemental association: Earth of Earth

Characteristics and personality traits:

Practical, dependable, nurturing, loves nature, eager to learn new skills and crafts, building and making things, getting hands dirty, sensual, hedonistic, stubborn, obsessive.

The quote chosen for the Page of Pentacles reflects her willingness to invest time and effort into work and learning new skills in order to create security and abundance.

I welcome your views and opinions on my cards. Please feel free to leave your comment below.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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The Meaning of The Fours in The Tarot

After initial completion and unity symbolised by the Threes, we are now experiencing a kind of pause, perhaps a well-earned rest, in the fours.

In numerology, the number four suggests grounding, focusing inward, stability, order and a necessary turning point acting as a catalyst for change and moving forward.

Numbered four in the Major Arcana, the Emperor also adds a visionary element to the fours - a need to take stock, regroup, find a new perspective and look towards the future.

The fours in the Tarot suggest lack of movement and progress, but underneath the surface something is stirring, and new developments are underway on a subconscious level.

Four of Wands – celebration, success, completion, harmony, optimism✨

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Perfected Work

Astrological attribution: Venus in Aries - labour of love, marriage, house move, building a home, wholeness (culmination of the masculine and feminine)

Interpretation: a time of fulfilment and enjoyment, celebrating achievements, creating/renovating a home, successful launch of a business, firm foundations, milestone,

Image symbolism:

Pergola - firm structure, foundation

Red, yellow and green colours – element fire (Aries) combined with element earth (Venus), enthusiasm, beauty, home, family, love, creativity, vision

Stars and light streaks - celebration, energy, fun, positive outlook

Green rose - symbol for Venus, harmonious relationship

Four of Cups - discontent, frustration, boredom, apathy✨

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Blended Pleasure

Astrological Attribution: Moon in Cancer - fluctuations, insecurities, restlessness, doubt; the need for personal growth overshadows stability and security

Interpretation: contemplation, turning inward, dissatisfaction, disappointment, ignoring the positive, growing tired of struggles, withdrawing from difficult situations, pleasure through escapism

Image symbolism:

Waxing moon - personal growth, new emerging feelings

Roses - gifts, opportunities

Clouds - unsettling thoughts and feelings

Four of Swords - rest, recuperation, healing, passivity✨

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Rest from Strife

Astrological Attribution: Jupiter in Libra - growth and expansion through rest and recovery; gaining equilibrium, balance, objectivity

Interpretation: recovering from a stressful situation or illness, meditation, prayer, inability or refusal to take action, temporary respite from a restless mind, clearing out mental clutter, calming down

Image symbolism:

Sleeping knight - stillness, rest, peace

Hands in prayer - focus on healing, gathering strength, meditation

Trees and mountains - natural healing process, retreating to a sanctuary, relaxation, recharging energy to overcome what lies ahead

Four of Pentacles - security, structure, safe guarding, limitations✨

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Earthly Power

Astrological Attribution: Sun in Capricorn - power based on material possessions, feeling safe and secure, fixed on security, content with achievements and status

Interpretation: financial stability, savings, safe investments, risk aversion, stagnation, stifling rules, clinginess, conservatism, hoarding, reluctance to share, being frugal despite wealth

Image symbolism:

Plants and flowers - abundance, possessions

Closed door - limitations, protection

wooden arbour - structure, stability, self-restriction, inflexibility, need for control

I welcome your views and opinions on my cards. Please feel free to leave your comments below.

You can view all images of my Tarot deck created so far in the Ko-fi Gallery.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane 🦄

Do You Need Tarot Qualifications?

There have been many discussions about "certification" in the tarot community.

Some readers feel that an official looking tarot qualification in form of a pretty certificate reflects their knowledge and skills and makes them look more professional.

Other readers don't see it necessary to pay a lot of money for a "qualification" that no client is particularly interested in.

Here are my thoughts on this:

1. A certificate doesn't tell anyone how good you are as a reader.

2. But it can be a great confidence booster giving you a sense of achievement.

3. You may have gained a lot of theoretical knowledge by having completed an expensive long-term tarot course, but applying it is a different matter.

4. It's practical experience that will help you grow and develop as a reader.

5. Reading the Tarot for clients isn't just about Tarot; you also need people skills.

Consider getting a qualification in counselling or coaching rather than trying to obtain an official looking tarot certificate. 

6. Some knowledge in psychology is also useful. Get an overview either by reading books, such as Understand Psychology, and again learn more by enrolling on courses, if this topic intrigues you.

7. It isn't necessary to have a tarot qualification as the industry isn't regulated in this way.

8. Instead, join a tarot organisation that offers training and professional development including guidelines on tarot ethics. This is also the place, where you can meet and network with fellow tarot enthusiasts for help and advice. Check out TABI.

9. When choosing a certified tarot course, make sure that content is focused on practice rather than an overload of theory and elaborate jargon.

10. It's not an official tarot certificate that endorses you; it's how you engage with people and also related work, interests and knowledge that add to your qualification as a reader.

Perhaps you have worked in a medical / helping profession or teaching capacity.

 You may have extensive knowledge on crystals, herbs, reiki, healing, angels and/or astrology, which you can combine with Tarot, adding to the value of your readings.

11. Ongoing training and study is also a vital part of your qualification, but an official certificate isn't always necessary. 

Consider participating in self-study groups or work with a mentor on a 1-2-1 basis, both of which will contribute to your true skills as a reader.

12. A certificate (or even a diploma!) doesn't mean you can handle calls on a psychic phone line. Any theory won't save you from having to learn the hard way. Instead, keep on practicing.

13. Still wanting to frame a pretty tarot certificate? No need to spend a fortune; TABI offers courses and endorsement in return for a small annual membership fee.

14. While official tarot qualifications may indicate a certain level of knowledge, they are no guarantee to draw in clients, if you want to make a living as a tarot reader.

Don't be tempted to choose a tarot course only because it offers certification. Contents and quality of its delivery is more important.

Last but not least, before you rush out to become a "qualified" tarot reader, remind yourself what first drew you to the Tarot. Was it

• the mystery, magic and wonder?
• the forbidden with that connection to witchcraft and the occult?
• the unknown and exploration of the unexplained?

How can you possibly package all that up into a sanitised tarot "certificate"? 

What next? Tarot readings that comply with Din ISO 9001 quality control? 

Will the title "Grandmaster of Tarot" not create unrealistic expectations?

What do clients, who come for readings, really want? That you can present a certificate, or perhaps they would prefer to think you have some kind of psychic gift?

What are your thoughts on tarot qualifications? I'd love to hear from you💚

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

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Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

Silence and the Art of Listening

 

Our world is noisy, and most people accept artificial noise as natural – TV, radio, music on the go, talking, busy public places, traffic, public transport, the phone…

The High Priestess loves silence. Without silence there is no ability to listen.

Listening to ourselves, to others and to spirit is neglected in the Age of Noise; it has become a lost art.

Talking is only one part of communication. Without listening, we cannot communicate and relate to each other.

Talk less, listen more.

We can learn to listen by embracing silence. Silence helps us to understand. Silence can heal.

Worries and pain can be healed when we listen.

“Spiritual medicine is ever-present in the soul. Whenever we need it, to whatever extent we need it, we can find it within.” - Brahma Kumaris

Be like the High Priestess – create a period of silence every day to get in touch with your soul. No artificial noise surrounding you. The length of this period depends on your lifestyle, but try and make it a minimum of 20 minutes.

Many people aren't used to silence. Noise can easily turn from a habit into a kind of addiction. You may need to overcome the initial discomfort of silence and persevere. It will get easier with regular practice, and you will reap benefits over time.

Introducing periods of silence into your life doesn’t mean you have to sit still with your eyes closed and meditate. You can simply get on with the tasks at hand such as cooking, reading, gardening, jogging, driving, writing, filing your paperwork etc.

You can even practice silence in the company of others, as long as you agree not to talk to each other during that time. You will find you discover new subtle ways to communicate and deepen your connection with the people you share silence with.

And while you get on with your activities, you can listen to the natural sounds surrounding you – the rustling of paper, the humming of the fridge, the clock ticking, your footsteps on the path, your breath…

You can listen to even more:

• Your hopes and fears and dreams
• Advice and solutions starting to emerge from the stillness of your soul
• Answers to why, how and what now

Silence heightens your awareness of your surroundings and deepens mindfulness of your actions, keeping you fully present in the moment.

Your mind doesn’t get clogged up with the tyranny of information overload and details of the screwed-up lives of others.

It’s just you and the present.

Silence is prayer.

Silence is golden.

Silence is better than bullsh*t.

Silence helps you learn to know thyself.

The High Priestess is your divine channel to self-knowledge. Nurture her with silence as part of your daily spiritual practice, and listen to all the new insights she will reveal to you in return.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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The Meaning Of The Chariot in the Tarot

Tarot of Quotes

The Chariot is all about moving forward into uncharted territory, leaving your comfort zone behind.

When this card comes up in a reading, is your personality or year card, the emphasis is on growth and self-development, so be prepared to make some decisions that can be seen as risky or perhaps uncomfortable.

It's never easy letting go of what you know in favour of the unknown and pursuit of distant dreams and goals.

But this card may be a sign that you simply have to get off your favourite armchair and out into the fresh air of possibilities and opportunities.

Whether it's turning a business idea into reality, sorting out your love life, moving home, improving your fitness, or tackling any other lifestyle issues—harness the energies of The Chariot for progress and positive change.

The Chariot in the Tarot suggests forward movement, momentum, travelling, action, change, conquest, control, determination, overcoming challenges and victory.

Victory and achievement are within your grasp, but the Chariot is also a reminder that it won't be easy, and you may well encounter struggle and tension along the way.

But it is exactly the hard parts of your journey that will help you grow and live the life you want to live.

You may need to 

• learn to balance opposing forces, just like the coachman has to lead two horses into the same direction. It's your time to lead
• develop resilience, self-discipline and determination to succeed. It's your time not to give up but persevere
• learn to assert yourself and take control of situations or aspects in your life, which need resolving

Astrologically, the Chariot is linked to the zodiac sign Cancer and the element water. 

There is a strong link to emotions, so you may have to learn to control negative emotions such as anger, jealousy or other aggressive impulses.

What to avoid: fear of change, apathy, impatience, recklessness

If you’d like to learn more about the Chariot and all the other cards in the Tarot, please check out my ebook The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

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Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

The Meaning of The Threes in The Tarot

Three is a magic number.

Apart from using it in mathematical calculations, we encounter it every day in religion, mythology, literature, music and sport as a mystical and spiritual symbol:

• three wishes

• three guesses

• three little pigs

• the Holy trinity of Father, son and Holy Spirit

• the three Graces

• the three Norns

• the unity of mind, body and spirit,

• the Triple Goddess...

• Shakespeare's three witches casting spells beginning with "thrice..."

• the three Musketeers

• the three stooges

• Film and book trilogies

• initial family unit of father, mother and child

• "bad news come in threes"

• three chords harmony in music

There are countless more examples, but what they all have in common is a sense of completion, unity and harmony, which is reflected in all the threes in the Tarot.

Numbered three, the Empress in the Major Arcana symbolises abundance, creativity and growth, which are also inherent qualities of the number Three.

Three of Wands- initial success, growth, achievement, harmony, foresight

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Established Strength

Astrological attribution: Sun in Aries - building and expanding on initial achievement, moving forward, progress, confidence, optimism, focus on goal, taking risks, power

Interpretation: new beginnings and opportunities to expand horizon through travel, study and new ventures; building on what has already been accomplished; focus and concentrating on the bigger picture; think big; be open-minded and go for what's on offer; become more aware of opportunities but also challenges around you; travel

Image symbolism:

Sun and light trail - showing the way, focus, energy, outlook, vision

Red, orange and yellow colours - element fire, creativity, ambition, vigour, drive, enthusiasm

Green grass - opportunity for growth and abundance

Three of Cups - celebration, community, friendships, bonding

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Abundance

Astrological attribution: Mercury in Cancer - emotional intelligence; joyful communication, fun discussions, wit, banter, cooking at home for friends, problems resolved

Interpretation: spending quality time with friends and family, helping others in a team, nurturing friendships, socialising, happy occasions enjoyed with loved ones, creative group activities (dancing, arts and crafts...)

Image symbolism:

Three naked ladies embracing - affection, bonding, mutual support and trust, innocence

Flowers - love, beauty of the moment, creative growth, passion (red flowers)

Turquoise, pink and indigo colours - element water, emotional maturity, trusting feelings, intuitive perception, compassion

Three of Swords - grief, distress, heartbreak, gloom

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Sorrow

Astrological attribution: Saturn in Libra - discord, self-limitation, lessons to learn from mistakes, loss of security, loneliness, melancholy

Interpretation: rejection, loss, setback, disillusionment, the need to confront pain or unblock emotions, pessimism, preparing for a difficult situation or event to minimise distress, a painful conclusion (e.g. of a relationship)

Image symbolism:

Cracked, bleeding heart - hurt, pain, separation, feeling torn

Transparency of the heart - vulnerability

Red and white rose - imbalance of emotions and reason

Rain - gloom, hopelessness, clouded vision

Lake - drowning in feelings and emotions

Mountains - a difficult path to healing

Grey colour - element air

Three of Pentacles - foundation, teamwork, development

Esoteric Title: The Lord of Material Works

Astrological attribution: Mars in Capricorn - ambition / energy to create; hard work, workaholic, labour of love (or obsession), expansion, decisiveness

Interpretation: initial completion of work, collaboration, unfinished business, long-term project, project management, building for the future, applying skills, learning on the job, maintenance and repairs

Image symbolism:

Cathedral - ambitious project, longevity

Scaffolding - work in progress

Hammer and sickle symbol - representing workers and farmers, the collective, union of a variety of skills and expertise, building something for the benefit of all, labour

Red and green colours - element earth, growth, prosperity, dedication, enthusiasm, stability

I welcome your views and opinions on my cards. Please feel free to leave your comment below.

⭐Check out the Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook and all images of my deck on Ko-fi⭐

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

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Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

Reading Reversed Cards

My retreat holiday has been such a wonderful experience, but it's also good to be back, and I'm diving straight into Tarot with a question my students keep asking me:

Do we need to pay attention to reversed cards in readings?

Some readers do, others don't, and to be honest it is down to personal preference.

Here's what I do:

In a reading, I usually make a mental note of any reversed cards and then turn them around. 

I cannot leave them upside down for visual reason; topsy-turvy images block my reading abilities.

It depends how many cards are reversed in a reading. I once had all ten cards in a Celtic Cross spread for a client reversed!

Immediately I thought there was a blockage somewhere in the client's life, perhaps an inability to move forward with something, which was confirmed when I mentioned my first impression at the beginning of the reading.

Needless to say I turned all the cards around and proceeded with the reading and took the message of the reversed cards into account.

I don't like the term "ill-dignified", which is also used to describe reversed cards. Not every reversed card has a negative meaning.

For example, the Hanged Man reversed could indicate movement after a time of stagnation, or the Ten of Wands shedding of a burden rather than carrying it. It also depends very much on surrounding cards in the reading.

I often feel that just one reversed card in a 5 - 10 card reading can be more significant than many reversed cards. Again, this also depends on surrounding cards and what your intuition is telling you.

Sometimes, a reversed card can stick out like a sore thumb, and it can carry a more meaningful message than if you ignore it.

When reading reversed cards, consider the following:

Do they -

• enhance the overall message of the reading?
• weaken or oppose their upright meanings?
• strengthen the meaning of other cards in the spread?
• indicate a blockage, restriction, suppressed energies or indeed out of control energies?

Here are some examples for reversed card meanings:

Five of Wands: getting over a dispute, an argument getting nasty, not playing by the rules, quick temper

Emperor: loosing control/authority, being over-bearing, dictatorial

Tower: a disaster avoided, or something is brewing underneath the surface

Sun: burn-out, restricted creative potential, over-indulgence, hedonism

Ten of Swords (image above): on the way to recovery, releasing fears/pain/ resentment/regrets; starting over, inability to see that something has ended

Four of Pentacles: spending beyond your means, risky investment, becoming more generous with money after a time of frugality

Queen of Cups: over-emotional, drama queen, moody, insensitive, highly strung, easily stressed

When reversed cards come up, ask an empowering question such as:

• What is the card asking you to avoid?
• Every cloud has a silver lining. What is the silver lining of the reversed card?

As mentioned before, it is not vital to read reversed cards; you can consider both positive and negative aspects of the cards in a reading regardless which way they come up.

But once you get the hang of reading reversals and paying attention to them, you may well get some additional, valuable insight you wouldn't have considered before.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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The Meaning of Strength in the Tarot

The lion on the image is guarding the entrance to a pub in a little village close to Hadrian's Wall.

His posture is composed, dignified, serious and dutiful.

In typical Leo fashion (Strength is linked to the zodiac sign Leo), his presence is making quite an impact in that position.

He's the first "thing" you notice when you approach the pub.

The lion symbolises the essence of Strength; despite his powerful physical strength, his self-discipline and control is taming the wild beast (desires) within. This lion isn't pouncing at you any time soon!

The flowers in the tub next to the lion symbolise feminine energies as a balancing influence:

• assertiveness (rather than aggression)

• gentle persuasion (rather than oppressive dogma)

• patience (rather than agitation)

• compassion (rather than cruelty)

In a reading, Strength can indicate the need to control impulses and desires - not by force but with conviction and determination.

It can also advise to draw upon your inner calm and persistence in difficult situations, facing fears and adversity with the courage and confidence to overcome them.

Other keywords: stamina, endurance, perseverance, kindness despite tension or conflict (with yourself and others), self-mastery, willpower

Negative meanings include: weakness, self-doubt, low self-esteem, over-emotional, lack of self-discipline

Astrologically, Leo is ruled by the sun, which symbolises the Self and the Ego.

Therefore, Strength may also ask you to explore how you can practice more self-care or, on the other hand, how you can become less selfish or self-absorbed.

If you’d like to learn more about Strength and all the other cards in the Tarot, please check out my ebook The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook.

I welcome your views and opinions on my cards. Please leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you💚

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

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Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

How to Create Your Own Tarot Deck

I first announced my intention to create a Tarot deck back in April 2012.

It was on a whim, although I had been playing with the idea to turn my own photography into Tarot images for years.

But this is what you do, when you have been working with the Tarot for a while: you look at your life and your environment with Tarot eyes!

First, you start to associate your everyday experiences with specific cards.

For example, last year was my Hanged Man year, I’ve been dealt some Tower moments in my life and made a momentous Lovers choice in the early 90s, which has led me to where I am today.

Then you start looking at your holiday snaps and think oh, that would make a great High Priestess or this is just the perfect Star for me, and so on…

My drawing talents are very limited, but with the advance of photo-editing software and online resources it has never been easier to turn regular photos into magickal images.

⭐If you are interested in creating your own tarot (or oracle) deck, but you cannot draw or paint, then consider using your own photography instead⭐

Here are some tips and resources to get you started:

1. Equipment

It’s perfectly fine to use the your smartphone camera. You can even use an easy-to-use photo app to edit and beautify your images.

However, I have found it easier to store and edit my photos on my laptop using the following web-based photo editing software:

https://www.befunky.com/

https://www.picmonkey.com/

https://pixlr.com/

These websites offer many free features, but you can also subscribe to premium membership to access even more.

2. Theme of your Deck

The deck I’m creating reflects my personal life – experiences, interests, philosophy and spirituality.

Think about the theme and framework of your deck, and choose your images accordingly.

For example, for a deck reflecting your personal life, you could include snapshots of family members as court cards (or the people cards of the Major Arcana), you could use a photo of your local church/mosque/temple/synagogue as the Hierophant card, etc.

Eva, Queen of Wands (c) 2013 Image used with permission

Next, you can add a specific atmosphere to the cards, such as a Gothic or whimsical feel by choosing the relevant location for your shot and/or adding effects with your photo-editor.

3. Getting Started

Set a realistic goal. Unless you are a prolific creator, focus on completing the Major Arcana first.

This makes your project seem less overwhelming, and it is very achievable.

Choose the image for each card carefully, but don’t spend too much time on each image either.

You can always adjust or change it later. That’s the beauty of digital work.

Make sure you save all your images (originals and edited) not only on your computer but also separately on a memory stick or in cloud storage!

4. Sizing and Printing Your Images

When you start creating your images, make sure you size them correctly from the start, otherwise you will have to resize your images later.

You can download Tarot card templates from Ivory Graphics, where you can also have your deck printed, once it’s finished.

 5. Designing Your Images

As you begin to use a photo-editor, you will learn to add effects and overlays to your images.

The first images I created were only cropped, resized and the titles and quotes added, but by the time I reached the World, I have learned to fuse various photos into one image.

It takes some experimenting, but you can do this too!

6. Copyright

If you are thinking of using images found on the internet as overlays for your own photo, then you need to be careful about copyright.

For example, avoid using celebrity photos for your deck, if you want to publish and sell it (this doesn’t apply, if you print your deck as a one-off for strictly personal use only).

Marilyn Monroe might be a great Queen of Cups, but her photos are still under copyright unless otherwise stated with individual images.

Use public domain images or stock images that you can buy or are offered free:

https://www.istockphoto.com/ (pay per image)

https://morguefile.com/ (free images)

Wikimedia Commons (public domain images)

https://pixabay.com/

7. Have Fun

Don’t put yourself under pressure by setting crazy deadlines. I don’t know when my deck will be complete, but my target of creating four cards a month is realistic for me. So, if all goes well, May 2014 is my big goal.

Enjoy the process of designing each card and find the right image. It has prompted me to visit new places just to capture a specific image. Creating my own Tarot deck has certainly made me go out there 😃

8. Turn Your Images into Posters and Art Prints

The completion of your deck might still be light years away, but that shouldn’t stop you from turning the ones already created into hard copies or even merchandise.

Check out places like Photobox, where you can turn your creations into all sorts of goodies – from simple prints and greeting cards to canvas wall art.

The process of creating my own Tarot deck has been so enjoyable.

I have gained confidence in creating artwork without the need to paint, and it has also been a kind of spiritual experience, because it has made me think about how the image of each card is reflected in my life.

With today’s technology, it has never been so easy to create your own Tarot deck. If you are inspired, go for it and make a start today.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

Substack - Live more Magic

Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

Zodiac Tarot Cards Journaling Sheets

The 12 signs of the zodiac are linked to 12 Major Arcana cards in the Tarot.

We all know our sun signs, but an astrological chart based on your date, place and time of birth also reveals your moon sign and ascendant (rising sign).

Once you have determined your zodiac signs' corresponding tarot cards, you can explore the dynamics of the different aspects of your personality by using the visual cues of your cards rather than just astrological glyphs.

If you are new to combining tarot with astrology, then my zodiac tarot cards journaling sheets will help you make a start with your self-exploration and learn to include astrology in your tarot work.

Even if you only know your sun sign at this stage, the handout will still prove useful to explore personality traits and work out your zodiac lessons.

Originally published on my Journal Blog last year, the zodiac card information is now collated in this handy document.

It also contains images of 12 cards of my Tarot of Quotes and extra space on each page, so you can add your own notes.

⭐You can access this 13-page PDF handout on my Ko-fi page for free⭐

And if you would like to delve deeper into Tarot astrology, then please check out my Starlight Tarot Astrology Course.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

Connect with me on:

Substack - Live more Magic

Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling

Five Effective One-Card Tarot Readings

What can you see in the Chariot image? Universal Tarot © 1990 US Games

If you're just starting to explore the Tarot, it's best to avoid the 10-card Celtic Cross spread and begin with simple yet effective one-card tarot readings.

Pulling just one card from your deck can reveal a lot about your surroundings. It can also provide insights into your personality, habits, strengths, and weaknesses.

Here are five ways to read one tarot card and get instant, meaningful messages:

1. Calculate your year card. It offers you some insight on the energies and overall theme that will be influencing you during the course of the year. 

Do the same for family and friends to get to know the cards and discover what might be in store for them over the year.

2. Calculate your personality card. This card will give you some ideas on your life lessons and purpose in this life; another great one-card reading to try on your family and friends.

3. Discover your persona card. Find out which court card is linked to your sun sign and explore your court card personality. 

This is a good way to acquaint yourself with the often tricky court cards, so make sure you also practice the persona card reading with plenty of people you know.

4. Do a daily one-card draw. You can either pull a card in the morning to see what may come up for you during the day, or you can pull one in the evening for the following day. 

Record them on a chart like this, and after a week analyse the cards drawn for more insight: 

• Which suit has come up most? 
• How many Major Arcana cards? 
• How many court cards and which ones? 
• How accurate have your interpretations been?

5. Do a weekly one-card draw. If you are too busy for a card-a-day, you can draw just one card for the week ahead to offer you some insight on the energies you can expect over the forthcoming days. 

Use this journal sheet to record your interpretation and predictions you come up with.

For your daily and weekly draws, check out my ebook, The Cosmic Faery Tarot Guidebook, for more easy tarot journaling spreads to help you gain confidence in your interpretations.

The more you practice, the more messages and insights you will receive from just one card.

Take your time when you look at the image, and let its symbolism speak to you: what kind of landscape do you see? What colours? Any people? Are they happy, sad, angry, alone?

Learn to notice the little details, and over time you will find it easier to interpret the cards without the help of a book.

For a beginner, larger spreads can be confusing, and a one-card draw is the ideal starting point for simple yet insightful tarot readings.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane 🦄

Connect with me on:

Substack - Live more Magic

Medium - Simplify your Life

Ko-Fi - Creative Tarot Journaling