Tarot 101: How to interview your tarot deck
This article is part of an extensive Tarot 101 guide.
Each tarot deck has its own unique personality and tone of voice. The best way to explore this is to interview it.
Instructions:
Open up a new deck and smudge it.
Then, start to shuffle the deck very well. You may have to shuffle it multiple times to mix up the cards. (Pro-tip: place the cards on a clean, flat surface. Swirl your hands on the cards, moving them in circles until they have been thoroughly mixed with one another).
Once your cards have been thoroughly mixed, shuffle them once more into a single deck. While you shuffle, ask the deck (aloud or in your mind) to tell you more about itself. “I call in good light and protection as I do this first reading. Please tell me what this deck is meant to teach or show me.”
Then, once you feel like the deck is ready to speak, pause and pull out 3-5 cards to get started. If you are a more advanced reader, feel free to pull ~10 cards. Interpret the meaning of each card individually, and then see if you can ascertain a broader message between the cards.
You can also continue to interview the deck and ask more questions, such as “Tell me more about myself. Tell me more about what you are here to reveal to me, on behalf of the spirit world/my god of choice. Is there anything I need to know?” The point is to ask questions that 1) show you that the deck has connected to your spirit energy and 2) ground you in the kind of wisdom you can receive from that specific deck.
Over time, you will come to understand each deck as an individual personality. Some decks will feel like old souls, full of ancient wisdom and sorcery. Other decks will feel like new souls, full of excitement and curiosity. Other decks may feel a bit more sour and hostile, etc. The more you use your cards, the more you will know which one is needed to help you facilitate an appropriate reading. For instance, if I can tell that someone needs tough love, I may select a deck that has an old soul vibe, or a deck that has a more fierce and stern voice. If I can tell that someone needs a lot of healing, I may choose a deck that has a kinder and more gentle aura. I may also select a deck that has a darker, more powerful energy if I feel like I myself need to be protected in a reading (whether I am reading for others or myself).
Cultivate a deep relationship with each of your decks so that you can trust the deck—and so that it too can trust in you to be the interpreter of its images and meanings.
Side note: Some readers recommend sleeping with your cards next to your head or pillow so that your cards and travel with you into the spirit and dream world at night. This can be a way to bond with the cards, and to show them what your inner landscape is like. Be careful with this and only do it if you trust your cards (make sure to cleanse them first before doing this step).
1:1 Tarot Coaching or Group Coaching
You can always book a 1:1 tarot coaching call with me.
You can also write to me if you’d like to have me host a group tarot coaching session. I have taught workshops both virtually and in person.
Source: My work has been informed by Artis Moon and Daniela Fant