Tarot Texas » minor arcana

The Little Black Book of Tarot

TarotTrumps — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:18:47 +0000

Explore the world of Tarot from its ancient and mystical roots to the meanings behind the cards and their many modern applications. Your future is in the cards! This Little Black Book of Tarot covers the history of Tarot, the cards, the process, major and minor arcana, and the uses of

Sale Price:$3.95

Tarot of the Spirit

TarotTrumps — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:27:20 +0000

llustrated with the Tarot of the Spirit deck painted by Joyce Eakins. Centered on the Qabbalistic Tree of Life, this symbolism clearly explores the Minor Arcana as a representation of the four components of life: spirit, emotion, intellect, andbody; while it reveals the Major Arcana to be the keys to our emotional response patterns to the symbolic universe in which we live. Includes seven monthly meditations, individual readings, and

Sale Price:$14.99

The Little Black Book of Tarot

TarotTrumps — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:27:46 +0000

Sale Price:$3.95

Two Kinds of Tarot Decks: Part 2, Reading Decks

TarotTrumps — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:04:12 +0000

As I wrote in the first part of this series, Two Kinds of Tarot Decks: Part 1, Art Decks, to me there are two main kinds of tarot decks: art decks and reading decks. This part covers tarot decks that are easy to use for actually reading tarot, rather than just being works of art.

Reading Decks

The queen of reading decks is the Rider-Waite deck. It is certainly not the only good deck for learning and reading tarot, but it is certainly the one to start with. Here’s why.

The imagery of the major arcana, the trumps, of the Rider-Waite deck was specified by the great 20th-century hermeticist and mystic, A.E. Waite, a major figure in the famous Golden Dawn magical lodge. That’s why the deck bears his name.

But what made the Rider-Waite deck revolutionary, and what made it a tarot standard, is the imagery on the minor arcana, the suit cards. The minor arcana are just as rich in imagery as the trump cards. That is why the deck is so easy to read. And that is why most modern decks are based on the Rider-Waite at least to some degree—even if their artists and publishers do not realize it.

More on the Rider-Waite in another article. The point, however, is that most decks that are good for reading have complex imagery on the minor arcana, the suit cards, not just on the trumps.

For good readings the imagery should be complex and relevant to the tarot. I’m not talking about just complicated designs. Each card should offer a wealth of evocative, psychologically active imagery that helps one’s subconscious mind convey ideas and feelings relevant to the traditional meaning tarot meaning of that card.

That is, someone might come up with a completely new deck with complex imagery on a different system that can be used to give fairly accurate readings, and it might still not be a tarot deck. There are such decks. But they are not tarot decks.

The very best way to find a good reading deck is to try out the deck. But opening a new deck and laying it out in the store is usually not allowed. If you can handle one that belongs to a friend, that will work. Otherwise, you just have to learn to get a feel for the deck just by seeing a few sample cards, even by just viewing the box.

If you know the Rider-Waite deck well, you can usually recognize good reading decks, but even then, you can make mistakes if you cannot see the whole deck. I like to read with several different decks at psychic fairs and parties.

For awhile I collected decks, and I was sometimes fooled by the box. I do not read from decks that have only coins, cups, and so on, on the minor arcana. I’m very visual, so the numerology alone is not enough.

I used to give away useless decks if they were not compelling enough to keep as art decks. But I hate giving people decks that I think they will have a hard time reading, even though they like them.

Decks based on the Rider-Waite deck, though they can be innovative, and beautiful enough to collect for the art alone, are usually a safer bet. Some can be quite eccentric and still work for reading if you know the Rider-Waite well.

For example, the Alice in Wonderland tarot I bought some years ago is simply brilliant. It should not work, but it does—partly because the Alice story itself consists of subconscious, dream energy.

Which decks people can read from accurately and easily will vary somewhat. The thing they will all have in common is complex, subconsciously true and complete imagery, a complete symbol system that provides a vocabulary for the reader’s subconscious mind to speak to speak to the conscious mind.

So while a good reading deck will work for most readers, some decks may work for only a few readers. It is up to each reader to become skilled and experienced enough on standard decks to be able to recognize unusual decks that will also work for them.

Art Decks

For a discussion of art decks, tarot decks that are beautiful but not good for giving readings, see the first article in this series, Two Kinds of Tarot Decks: Part 1, Art Decks.

Your Questions About Major Arcana Tarot Cards

TarotTrumps — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:10:37 +0000

David asks…

Devil card of the major arcana of tarot. Write what you know and have experienced in the essence of this.?

Simple descriptions of the card. Insight into the descriptions.

TarotTrumps answers:

The devil shows a man and woman in chains, but the collars are loose about the neck, meaning they could get free if they wanted to.

This card represents the grip of the ego. Delusions of grandeur, self importance, want appearing as need. I always tell the person that the matter of choice is what will be the determining factor in whatever matter the card presents in.

William asks…

Wiccans what card in the major arcana of the Tarot represents you at this time in your life?

TarotTrumps answers:

The queen of swords. The hardships, i’ve had, in finding myself, and happiness in who i am. Great question. I know some people are so out of it they can’t take you or me serious. Yahoo answers. I tell ya.

Mary asks…

This question is for people who REALLY know about Tarot cards…?

I’ve been reading about Tarot cards and trying to gain some insight lately…

Okay, so Tarot cards that have a Major Arcana and a Minor Arcana are used for occult purposes, right? Am I right about this?

Please provide me with a clear answer.

TarotTrumps answers:

Tarot was originally used for card games in the 1400s. Playing cards were also evolved from these games (take out the major arcana and combine the page and knight into a jack and you got the modern playing deck). Occult purposes came later and was first mentioned in 1781.

Your Questions About Minor Arcana

TarotTrumps — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:10:22 +0000

Richard asks…

Tarot people: 2 of swords, Ace of wands and 10 of coins/pentacles?

Can’t fully crack the meaning of this reading, since I am only just now getting fully acquainted with all the minor arcana. I asked whether this person was going to get married during the next 12 months, and got the 2 of Swords for an answer, and the Ace of wands and the 10 of coins, by this order, for further explaining into the future.

Help please! Tk you!
Wow now I actually got the 4 of wands itself.. I guess that is a capital yes, right!?
Man I still have a lot of training to do on this. The cards just never tell me, it’s like it either wont happen at all, or it’s still in secrecy. It could be related to the fact that I am not exactly all that into getting married anyway, and as for the work endeavour.. yes it has already started, I’m applying for a PhD overseas. I love this person like I never loved anyone before, but marriage is a bit way out of my comfort zone, for now at least. I’m 29 …still have a lot to do with my life, and only this one to do it! Settling down into a married woman’s life can wait until I’m done with a few projects first! Being with him again this next year would already be great, I’ll be busier than ever, but never too busy for what could be the love of my life, at least to date! lol We’ll see… Thank you so much for your answer, it was really helpful.. and may God provide indeed!

TarotTrumps answers:

I don’t see marriage in these cards.
You’ve 3 cards and 3 element here (air, fire and earth).
The element that is missing is water so nothing about relationships or feelings.

2 of Swords is a agreement, contract or binding.
Ace of wands can be new home or job.
10 of Pentacles is a good card for money but more so in the long term not immediate future.

I’d say you’ll be going overseas for the PhD and it should setup you up well in life.

Maria asks…

Tarot card help?

i have a set of tarot cards, and also a book that came along with it. The book tells me the major arcana upright and reversed, but for the minor, it only tells me the upright, does it have anything for the reversed? or does it mean it both ways. Befor it explaines the cards indivuadly, it says what the whole suit means, ands also upside down, but, is it the same for each card reversed?

TarotTrumps answers:

The study of the reversed cards is best left to those who fully grasp the meanings of the upright cards. When you include the reversed meanings, basically it means that you are studying a 156 card deck!

Plus, the positions of the cards in relation to each other make things even more complex.

That is just too much for a novice. The upright meanings alone can be confusing enough. I recommend learning the basics before adding the more complex, advanced interpretations.

Your Questions About Major Arcana

TarotTrumps — Mon, 30 May 2011 13:11:26 +0000

David asks…

what is the house of major arcana?

I’ve read about it in a book but I’ve found just about nothing other than that a Queen of France created it. And I know that Major Arcana is a Tarot card reading

TarotTrumps answers:

Well, no, the Queen of France didn’t invent it. There are a lot of stories about the origin of tarot cards but here’s the account given by the historians. Tarot was invented in mid 15th Italy for the Milanese court. It consists of two parts: a standard pack of Latin suited playing cards (that occultists call the Minor Arcana) and a fifth suit of picture cards (that occultists call the Major Arcana). These extra cards took as their theme a triumph procession, hence their early name of trionfi, meaning triumphs and from which we get our word trump! And this is what there were, a suit of fixed trump cards for use in a family of games that continues to be played throughout continental Europe today.

It was not until the end of the 18th century that a Parisian occultist published the claim that they came from Ancient Egypt and contained the secrets and wisdom of Egypt’s priests. He also published the first account of how to use the cards in divination. During the 19th century, a number of French occultists expanded these beliefs, claiming that the trumps corresponded to the paths of the Tree of Life. At the end of the 19th century, a group of British occultists introduced tarot to the English speaking world, integrating the cards into their magic system. This group was called the Order of the Golden Dawn and some of its members heavily redesigned the cards to create the type of occult packs that you will be familiar with today.

William asks…

Help me develop supernatural powers based on the Major Arcana for a story I’m making?

I want it to have the opposites as complements, like Sun/Moon one. I plan to include some string-like (not adhesive like spider man) qualities for the Hanged Man Tarot, but I’m out of ideas for the rest.

TarotTrumps answers:

The Hanged Man’s powers should be cancelling kinetic energies, since the Hanged Man card deals with stagnation and limbo.
I’d say use each card’s meaning to base the hero/heroine’s powers on. Some examples:
High Priestess – Secrets to be revealed – telepath/empath
Heirophant – False fronts – shapeshifter
Temperance – Patience/Mercy – disabled genius that created/maintains the
Tower – base of operations.

Good luck.

Mandy asks…

What are some things like the Major Arcana(22), Zodiac(12), Deadly Sins/Heavenly Virtues(7) ?

Is there a term for that type of ‘astrology/paranormal’ grouping? What else is like these things that are 5 or more for a theme for me to be used in an art concept?

TarotTrumps answers:

If I understand you you might want to check out the Seven Directions(North, South, East, West, Above,Below,Mystery Within/Without) or the Four Sacred Herbs (sage, cedar, sweet grass and tobacco) The Three Phase of time( Past, Present, Future) The Four Agreements ( look it up), The Three Fates( again look it up) The Nine Rings of Hell, The Seven Tiers of Heaven, The Three Rings of the Elf Lords, The Seven Rings of the Dwarves, the Nine Rings of Men, The One Ring to Rule Them All and A partridge in a pear tree. That’s all I can come up with right at the moment. hope it helps ya out

Your Questions About Minor Arcana

TarotTrumps — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:10:55 +0000

Steven asks…

Missing a tarot card; can I still give readings?

I’ve had a deck for 3 years that I do readings with off and on. One day when I took them out, though, they scattered all over the street on a windy day, a friend and I tried to gather them all up. When I sorted through them, I realized I was missing the Page of Cups.

Does this have any symbolic importance for my life; like perhaps a missed love interest or something?

More importantly, can I still give accurate Tarot readings with a missing card? It’s a minor arcana card, but still.

All suggestions would help.

TarotTrumps answers:

It is best to have all of your cards but it will still work fine without it. Since it is only one card you can still use them , a card with a similar meaning will just show through in the reading as a replacement.

Richard asks…

Where can I physically buy a tarot deck?

I’ve searched and searched, I want to buy a tarot deck, but I want to be able to walk into the shop pick it up and look at it.
I know of all the on-line stores around, but I don’t want to blindly buy a tarot deck, I may as well stick with the one I have now if I do that.

I hate the one I have now BTW, its not inspirational in anyway, and the minor arcana cards are boring.

Does anyone know of any shops in Eastern Sydney that sell tarot decks, I have checked the book stores and nothing…
Thank you to the first three, but we don’t have Barnes and Noble, or Borders here…
Ive checked Witchvox…that wasnt any help either…

Book of Life: I pray, I love God…but i have also taken the time to learn this art, and i am intrigued but its complexity…i dont believe in sitting back and waiting for God to dump things in front of me.
I also dont put a huge amount of faith in the cards…but i enjoy reading them, because the people i read for do put faith in the cards…

TarotTrumps answers:

There is a great website that shows hundreds of decks, including pictures of each card in the deck! Here’s the site: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/
Most stores don’t let you open the deck and look at all the cards, so that may not be helpful unless you go to a specifically metaphysical book store. The website I recommend is great because you can look through all the decks, choose the ones you like, and then order them online from the retailer of your choice.

I hope this helps!

-Melanie

Ruth asks…

My Jean Dodal deck of Tarot cards?

I recently bought this deck of Jean Dodal tarot cards which looks something like this

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Jean_Dodal_Tarot_trump_01.jpg/180px-Jean_Dodal_Tarot_trump_01.jpg

The problem is, the minor arcana‘s are hard to read. For example, when I pick out a card of nine swords, I can’t tell if it’s reversed or not reversed because it looks the same from both side round.

Can someone help me?

TarotTrumps answers:

The first thing to remember is if you are totally honest with yourself, the cards cannot tell you anything you don’t already know.

That said, consider the card whether reversed or not, the card is ALSO inclusive of the representation that includes both sides of the energy of the card’s meaning and read it that way. Then depending on the layout you are using, figure out the interpretation relative to the other cards. That’s also how to use the Thoth deck more accurately.

An interesting divination method you might look into is the Oracle of Fortuna by Ophiel.

Your Questions About Major Arcana 5

TarotTrumps — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:10:39 +0000

Linda asks…

I’m new to tarot, and i need help interpreting a reading?

I used the Celtic Cross spread, using Major & Minor Arcana

Card 1:Two of Wands
Card 2: Six of Swords
Card 3: The Emperor
Card 4: The Fool
Card 5: The Empress
Card 6: Seven of Pentacles
Card 7: Ace of Pentacles
Card 8: Nine of Pentacles
Card 9: Knight of Wands
Card 10: King of Wands

TarotTrumps answers:

It doesn’t matter what it means to someone else, it matters what it means to you. Ultimately tarot, like prayer or meditation, is a means of connecting with your unconscious, not with some spirit realm or some collective unconscious or some god.

Richard asks…

Will you help me with this tarot spread?

Can you help me with this Celtic Spread?
I did a Celtic Spread. Will you help me? I’m new to Tarot and will be posting other questions. This question is to Tarotist. If you are not a tarotist please do not answer and no sarcasm is necessary.

I’m aware that there are a lot of versions of Celtic Cross Spreads. The method I followed was based on the book Karmic Tarot in which -

Position 1 That which covers me or favors me – 6 of Swords

Position 2 That which opposes me or what is in conflict with me (although some say, it’s what can also influence me for the better, I dunno) – Temperance.

Position 3 That which is above me – Life purpose, intuition speaking from future – 3 of Cups

Position 4 That which is below me – Past speaking of lessons learned or unlearned, Self Asserting itself from the past – 6 of Wands

Position 5 – The immediate past – King of Pentacles

Position 6 – The immediate future – 6 of cups

Position 7 – Projection of my potential Physical Plane (state of body), including health, work and home – 10 of Swords

Position 8 – Projection of my Emotional Plane (state of heart) including relationships and creative endeavors – The Empress

Position 9 – Projection of my potential Mental Plane (state of mind) including philosophy, belief systems and basis for decision making and goals – Justice

Position 10 – Projection of the Spiritual Plane (state of soul) – the future information from all previous positions – 8 of Wands.

3 major arcana
2 Swords
2 Cups
2 Wands
1 Pentacle

TarotTrumps answers:

I really do not like the Celtic Cross for this reason, it can be ambiguous. The simple bottom line of the reading is to go with your emotions and intuition rather than trying to overthink and control everything, Don’t be so serious.

Steven asks…

Rate my Twilight Deck Yugioh?

Now, i know most known Twilight decks run DaD and JD. But now this one, i guess its either considered a chaos deck, but i prefer Twilight. it scares ppl

Monsters: 30
LADD x 1
Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys x 2
Spear Cretin x 3
Kaiser Sea Horse x 2
Peten the Dark clown x 3
Guardian Angel Joan x 1
Majestic Mech – Goryu x 1
Breaker the Magical Warrior x 1
Cyber Valley x 1
Sky Scourge Enrise x 1
Snipe hunter x 1
Prime material Dragon x 1
Arcana force VII – The Chariot x 2
Magician of Faith x 1 (banned i know)
Goka, The Pyre of Malice x 2
Caius the Shadow Monarch x 1
Marshmallon x 1
Dark horus x 1
Exiled force x 1
Jinzo x 1
old vindictive magician x 1
gorz the emissary of darkness x 1

Spells: 15
Allure of Darkness x 1
Enemy controller x 3
Star Blast x 3
Brain control x 1
Monster Reborn x 1
Shield Crush x 2
Monster Reincarnation x 2
book of moon x 1
tribute to the doomed x 1

Traps; 5
Divine Wrath x 1
Xing Zhen Hu x 2
Waboku x 1
Mirror force x 1

this deck is actaully extremely powerful and has a tier 1 deck possibility.
it has major field control and strong support

but i do wanna know what everyone else thinks.
what do you think can help this deck.

TarotTrumps answers:

GREAT JOBBBBB!!!! Only thing i would add would be a lightning vortex and a heavy storm to do big damage in one combo and have no surprises

Your Questions About Minor Arcana

TarotTrumps — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:10:11 +0000

George asks…

How do I read these three Tarot cards?

Okay. Since I didn’t have any Tarot cards I used a Tarot book and told my friend to give me certain numbers. For the Major Arcana I told her to pick a # from 1 to twenty something. Then for the Minor Arcana I told her to pick a number from 1 to 56.
She picked these following cards as I turned to the corresponding pages: The Devil, The Seven of Cups, and The Two of Swords.
What does this mean? I thought it would mean that my friend had to make a certain decision in her life now. She didn’t pick the bad or ugly decision but the decision she made was one that was based on her intuition but not her logic even though she wanted the logical one.
I’m sorry I’m friends with an Arrogant Atheist.

TarotTrumps answers:

I too recommend getting a deck and learning to lay different spreads. I think Crowley’s Thoth deck is particularly worthy as it is heavily laden with textured imagery deriving from multiple divination disciplines.

The bible is great for telling the future, if by future you mean past. It is a wonderful fairy tale loaded with errancy at odds with reason, common sense and science.

The tarot is at least as good at divining the future.

Charles asks…

Could someone break this down for me?

The various figures within the painting are presented in poses similar to the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana of the Etteilla occult tarot deck, including: The Devil; Judgement; The Lovers; The World; The Hanged Man; The Ace of Swords/Sword of Damocles; The Page of Swords; The Seven of Wands; and The Queen of Cups.
This is about Kanye Wests video POWER. I don’t really understand this or the painting. Or if he’s a devil worshiper or not. I hope not.

TarotTrumps answers:

*facepalm*

Helen asks…

Tarot Question: Pentacles suit dominates a tarot reading done about love.?

Hi everyone. I recently just did my own Tarot reading regaurding a failed relationship I had and the state of my love life and what the future holds for not only me and my ex but me and my future adventures in love.

I got almost all Minor Arcana cards except one. The Devil. In position 8 of the Celtic Cross. The rest where all Minor cards and almost all where Pentacle cards and then the rest where wands, and then one sword card.

I am new to the tarot and it seems that pentacles cards seemto only deal with wealth and materialism but i was trying to do a reading about love. And got no cups cards.

To shed light I am going to give you the cards that came out in my reading in the order i drew them corresponding to the areas of the Celtic Cross:

1 Two of Pentacles
2 Page of Wands
3 Page of Pentacles
4 Three of Swords
5 8 Of Wands
6 9 Of Pentacles
7 3 of Pentacles
8 The Devil
9 6 of Wands
10 5 of Pentacles

My overall öutcome”is pretty negative with the 5 of pentacles and yet my immediate future 8 of wands is very positive. So I am trying to get some meaning from this reading and wanted to see if any of you could help
Sean thanks for your input! Torbelina wow! You creeated quite a wonderful narrative and one that definitely makes sense in my situation. Though there have been no attempts to get back together yet.

And now Sam! Sam I used the 10 card celtic cross spread. I did not use a personal card as a significator but instead drew it.

Here is how i ordered my cards..whicih I read is the ïnncorrect”way. And then i rearanged the cards into the conventional way. So i’ll show you the layout for both.

My way:

1 Present situation
2 What crosses the path
3 Past influences
4 The future
5. What is influencing
6 What is the foundation.

7. how you see yourself
8 how others see you
9 hopes and fears
10 outcome.

This is what I read was the “correct” way to spread the cards. And how I believe Torbelina interpreted my cards.

1. present
2. crossing the present
3 Foundation of the issue
4 Past
5 the subconcious mind
6 the future

and the rest of the cards are the same. Would love your input sam.

TarotTrumps answers:

The Pentacles have to do with materialism, money and stability. To have numerous pentacle cards pop up in a romance reading indicates a relationship based on sexual, sensual desire. The relationship was likely heavily based on these characteristics, and had nothing else to offer. Or it was a relationship that one or both parties held on to for financial security.

1) Indicates the querent’s conflicting demands. This person may have wanted the relationship because of the material, or sexual benefits it offered, but on another hand seeks something more substancial.

2) In the begining the relationship may have seemed ment to be; full of vitality, fun, adventure and excitement.

3) But all that could be arrived at was a very sensual relationship, with material undertones.

4) Thus the reader took a step back and analyzed the situation with their head, instead of their heart. The conclusion was that the relationship was more painful than it was beneficial.

5) The querent has put behind them the zeal and enthusiasm once focused on the relationship.

6) And is now moving toward a new concept of relationships. One in which instead of a pronounced sensual element, the querent can attain the nurturing and care that they really desire from a relationship.

7) The querent has turned their interest toward attaining their own security and using their own talents to aid them in doing so. In relation to the matter, the querent seeks to come to an understanding about the relationship.
The querent is still very sensual, and may feel a pull back to the relationship due to desires. The Devil hints here that there may be denial, or that the querent may have issues with guilt. Or that they have not come to terms with parts of their personality that they don’t particularly like.

9) The querent hopes to find a relationship in which they can be praised and given the admiration they seek. Or they seek the self-confidence that being in a relationship may give them. They fear the expectations of others or that their expectations may be too high.

10) This indicates if the querent were to revive the relationship, the facets of their being that have not been developed or given attetion would not thrive. Perhaps the querent would rely to heavily on the partner for security, self-esteem and general well-being. It indicates that the querent is disempowering themselves with the relationship.