Discussion on Tarot

[Mao Cat]

Hi guys! My name is Mao Cat and I have been doing tarot for 5 years now and I have made some interesting observations through the practice so I wanted to create a discussion thread here for tarot enthusiast to share their thoughts and experiences with using this divination tool!

[Jad]

Hello Mao and thanks for opening this thread. I have always been fascinated with tarot cards. I have a few questions for you:
Does it matter which tarot deck is being used? How can we truly interpret the cards correctly? and finally would you be kind enough to share some of the interesting observations you achieved through your practice?

[ExomatrixTV]

• Welcome to Project Avalon Mao Cat, love the topic and your avatar!

Am seriously considering to make/design/make own drawings of a new style Tarot deck that is related to all the topics we discuss on this forum as I already mentioned here.

Have you done Tarot readings on camera for YouTube or other video platforms? If so, share it here too!

cheers,
John 🦜🦋🌳

[RunningDeer]

A belated welcome to Avalon, Mao Cat.

I look forward to your insights.

My father gave me my first Rider-Waite deck in 1966. I rarely use the tarot card now, though every once in a while I add a deck to my small collection and/or read.

In the early 70's, I gave a Celtic Cross reading to a boyfriend. Afterwards, he said it was all bunk. So I had him shuffle and pull out the cards. I can't remember the number, but it was something like 4 or 5 out of same 10 cards came up from the deck of 78. And one or two landed in the same place on the spread that I did.

A friend use to come over for a reading every time she had a fight with her boyfriend. A few of the same cards came up every time.

The main reason for not using the cards for so long was because I want to strengthen the natural gift(s) without the use of tools. I should add here, on occasion I use tools like kinesiology, tarot and pendulum when I need a confirmation.

[Lunesoleil]

What I'm sharing right now about the Tarot is in French but with a translator, you can translate it. I share a news every Wednesday

Personal interpretation of the 22 Tarot cards
I did this writing work on the 22 arcana of the tarot in 2005

I own several tarots, but I don't practice,

[Mike Gorman]

Tarot is fascinating to me, I have only used the Rider-Waite deck, so I cannot claim to be a full fledged Tarot magus, I recall on the 'Madmen' series Don Draper poo poos Tarot when his Draper wife (the wife of the original Don Draper from the Korea war) offers to provide a reading, the character of Don Draper operates as a rational symbol of modernity, science and the optimistic confidence in 'common sense', so it is expected he would not like Tarot, he calls it a Rorschach - like you see what you wish to interpret from the Tarot symbols... the fact that Tarot is an ancient practice, the cards and symbols can be traced back for thousands of years give this a certain authority, or credibility for me, I have never taken this to be an absolute measure, or guide, but there has to be something of value here. I do a Celtic Cross once every 5 years or so and I am always surprised by the findings. Good call on the thread, and a warm welcome to you, this is a unique community, I have been a member since 2010 and I have gained a lot of insight and comfort from Project Avalon, it is a very valuable and authentic community. Best wishes.

[Friggasdottir]

I have been reading tarot for years. I also use it when I am writing to help guide me out of sticky plot holes. I liken it to a tool that helps get the message from your higher self fornthose times when you might feel a bit disconnected. Being in a meditative, reflective state has proven to be the most effective for tarot reading. I also use it when I am having trouble with determining how I really feel about a situation. I know someone who gives me tarot reading and am crazy amount of her readings are very accurate. However I think she is a naturally gifted psychic amd the tarot is only the tool by which she manifests this. That's all it is - a tool. The real gift lies within you.

[shaberon]

Welcome,


My background is with the witches, around three decades ago. I'm familiar with this kind of thing. For example, I found one who designed her own deck. It was abstract art, like a bunch of Rorschach blots, of course with the intention "may the genius of this card guide my brush". I said oh really. She selected a card and I told her what it was.

...I can't actually remember which one it was, but, yes, it was a sense of being able to read the mental intentions behind the "random strokes".

I don't use decks for any type of practice or readings, although the last time I did was actually a simple issue related to this site. I'm going to leave this in suspense because if anyone is intuitive they will get a creepy feeling and figure it out like I did that time.

I am more interested in the numerology and symbolism that is the basis of the deck. I won't have anything to do with Golden Dawn and that sort of thing. My curiosity is more along the lines of, well, is it the Lost Books of Hermes Trismegistus? But I think it may be closer to the Four Living Creatures of Ezekiel that have come to represent, I believe, the "fixed cross" of astrology, which in essence is showing us the Age of Taurus.

And so if the tarot kind of re-creates a path in time, then, in the universal sense, when stars were looked at as permanent, but then one finds the Age of Aries coming in, you get a massive problem for the deities or laws of magic you determined were in this structured universe. From there, it seems mankind had tremendous difficulty re-explaining what happened to the invincible powers of nature, what happened to Taurus or the Four Creatures, etc., and while the stars slipped off their thrones, a "great civilization" took several serious beatings and decayed. Conveniently for our reference, science has absconded with the term "Bronze Age", and replaced it with Meghalayan Age, which is measurable as a series of droughts around 2,200 - 1,900 B. C. E..

So "transition to Aries" is literally marked by turning to dust, along with a massive upsurge in the "art of war" by the Akkadians. Of course, this is exactly where the Zodiac and hence the Tarot will be developed from.

Afterwards, civilization re-built itself from about 1,300 B. C. E. up to about the year 600. Harran persisted up to about 1,200 as the center of the Sabians.

I say this since the tarot is supposed to contain astrology and relate to mythological cultures. Because the way it works is similar to a pendulum, it is sensitive to every mental impression you put in the cards. The fact that it conveys Zero as an entity is something that could take some time to contemplate.

For me, personally, it is the ideas that structure the deck, like a blueprint, which are already a bit like reading a volume of Hermes.

[Ravenlocke]

A long time ago I took a tarot class which was not about divination of the cards, it was a course in the esoteric meaning of the tarot and how it is a means into getting to “know yourself”.

What I still recall now is when we studied the 22 major arcana cards and their ties to the Cabbala tree of life (comprised of the ten sephirots, the structure of the tree in groups of three from the top down, and those meanings are important in the study of the tarot), each card number has a corresponding hebrew letter and we studied each letter in connection to the tree of life.
For reference we looked at the book by Dion Fortune called The Mystical Qaballah. Everything in each picture has symbolic meaning from the colors to the objects and scenery in each picture. We also had as tools for learning, a set of the 22 major arcana uncolored cards and our weekly homework was to fill in the color of the card and reflect on the symbolics and meaning and write down our observations.
I also have the book, Wisdom of the Tarot by Elisabeth Haich, which also goes into detailed explanation of the twenty two major arcana cards and it is a nice easy read into understanding the esoteric meaning of each card as represented by the symbols, colors, and number aspect.

Another book we used in class was called The Tarot A key to the Wisdom of the ages by Paul Foster Case.

After the major arcana we also studied the rest of the cards, the minor arcana and their groupings into the four suits, the wands, swords, cups, pentacles, and of course the “people”, king, queen, knight, page.

For cross reference we used the book by Eileen Connolly, Tarot A New Handbook for the Apprentice. This book is very detailed and covers all 78 cards, (it is divided into two parts the Major Arcana and the Minor arcana, and it gives the astrological, elemental, and the Hebrew and Hindu reference associated with each card and potential meaning of each card whether it is read upright or reversed.)

I haven’t used the tarot in a long time, although I kept my Ryder Waite deck which I keep in a thick leather pouch to protect the cards. Once in a while I might use my rune bag if I need clarity on a question. I also kept my Aquarian deck which I keep in a small wooden box and that one came with a book, called The windows of the Tarot, by F.D. Graves. My preference these days is to rely on myself, and my inner guidance.

[lunaflare]

However I think she is a naturally gifted psychic and the tarot is only the tool by which she manifests this. That's all it is - a tool. The real gift lies within you.

well expressed, Friggasdottir.

I give readings for other people, but never for myself--I am simply not drawn to do so. I use, The Druid card deck. I love the feel and size of the cards (big like the hands of the people in them!). They are beautiful. It is a holy service to give a reading for someone. The cards provide a bridge for the incredible intimacy that quickly develops between reader and querent. There is no one "right" way to interpret a card. That is the incredible mystery and power of the nature of symbol...

[jaybee]

*

I haven't had my Tarot cards out for a long time... but I found myself turning to them this year because of an extremely difficult on going situation with a close family member - I've needed help and deeper insight into what was going on and I have been pleasantly surprised + satisfied with how accurate the cards have been....and they have (are) helping - I don't turn to them all the time just when I feel the need.. I'm keeping a record of it all in an A4 sized sketch pad....and it's interesting how certain cards repeat themselves.....

Years ago I might have done more complicated spreads but this time I'm doing my own thing - either 3 cards - past, present, future - usually immediate past, present, near future... or just one card for zooming in on a certain aspect -

I shuffle the cards and twizzle them around as well so some of the pack will be upright and some reversed.... then fan them (all of them) out, face down, in my hands....... touching them and spreading them out with my thumbs until one of them comes into stronger focus, feels right and i think ....THAT'S the one......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I see it as a communication + assistance from my Higher Self.... who could know me better than my Higher Self...?... no counsellor or therapist could and this way it's private and doesn't cost anything.... ... talking to a friend can help in difficult times but it can be very time consuming when the 'problem' goes on and on... and you want to move on from it as much as possible...


I stumbled on this link and these are the interpretations I use....sometimes going to other sites as well if I want to check a card out more....

https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-c...tLFQ7zD2Ce2D2Y

I think I might branch out a bit with the cards soon and use them to look deeper into other subjects / things - but at the moment they are purely for self-help.....

[Mao Cat]

Hi Jad! Sorry for the late reply been busy with life :3 I use tarot as a way to channel my intuition I find it helps me process information better. In terms of decks I do think finding a deck with a design I like helps me with processing information better because the designs are something I can relate to. I do think for the interpretation of the cards I do like to supplement my readings with oracle cards because it seems to help me get more keywords to provide me with more context on the situation. In terms of interesting observations I find in tarot I do think that tarot has cemented my belief in free will and how destiny isnt something that is predetermined and we can always change our fate. I remembered doing a reading for myself on world events and trying to gauge what happens months ahead and I observed that some of the events I predicted came through while others did not. I was confused and tried to find the reason why things didnt pan out the way I saw it in the cards and came to the conclusion that tarot is mostly a tool to use as guidance as celestial events like the supermoon and also free will are often factors that can drastically change future outcomes. I also find that tarot helped me a lot in terms of being able to better receive intuitive messages eg now when I think of someone for some reason for some reason I will have some form of contact with them days later. I also find that when doing readings for myself and asking too many questions after a while the message I get from the cards becomes unclear if I dont try to clear the energy properly and I can usually tell when that happens because all the cards in my tarot spread come out in reverse. I hope you can share more of your experiences in this thread too because this topic is something i am passionate about and would love to hear from like minded people as well!

[Bill Ryan]

Copying this post by Helvetic on his thread:

(But, see the last point below: AI readings...???)

~~~

Mary K. Greer | Understanding Tarot | July 4, 2025

Source: New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove youtube

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=HUvfe67zDIA

Description:

Mary K. Greer’s discussion highlights tarot’s evolution from a 15th-century card game to a cornerstone of Western esotericism, particularly through the Golden Dawn.

Its archetypal imagery, intuitive readings, and ritual applications offer tools for self-discovery and manifestation.

Greer’s approach blends respect, flexibility, and personal engagement, making tarot accessible for both spiritual and practical purposes. The interview reflects shared roots with Mishlove in the 1970s human potential movement, underscoring tarot’s enduring relevance.

Bio:
Mary K. Greer has been studying and teaching tarot for the last half century. She is author of eleven books on tarot and on magic. They include Tarot for Your Self: A Workbook for Personal Transformation; Women of the Golden Dawn: Rebels and Priestesses; The Essence of Magic: Tarot, Ritual, and Aromatherapy; and Mary K. Greer’s 21 Ways to Read a Tarot card. She has taught tarot for 11 years at the New College of California. She has a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Central Florida, where she first taught tarot in 1974.

Here she describes the history of tarot cards and the various ways they can be used both for personal growth and to help others. In particular, she focuses on the esoteric tarot system used by the Order of the Golden Dawn. Many examples are illustrated from her personal experience.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
04:29 The Order of the Golden Dawn
09:26 History of tarot
19:25 The French tarot tradition
22:31 The major and minor arcana
24:03 Tarot spreads
28:33 Archetypal symbols
31:47 Tarot as a conversation
37:17 Tarot in magical rituals
45:20 Conclusion

(Recorded on June 3, 2025)

Key Points:

• Background and Expertise:
  • Mary K. Greer, a leading U.S. tarot teacher, has a master’s in English literature and began teaching tarot in 1974. Her great-grandmother read cards near New Orleans, possibly Lenormand.
  • Author of books like Tarot for Yourself and Mary K. Greer’s 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card, with over five decades of passion for tarot.
• Tarot’s Historical Context:
  • Originated in northern Italy (1420–1440) as a card game with hand-painted decks used in courts for social interaction, often as wedding gifts or poetry-making games.
  • By the late 19th century, tarot became central to Western esotericism via the Order of the Golden Dawn (founded 1888 by Freemasons), linking tarot to Kabbalistic symbols, Hebrew letters, astrology, and the Tree of Life for initiatory rituals.
• Golden Dawn’s Influence:
  • The Golden Dawn restructured tarot, placing the Fool first (instead of last) and adjusting Strength and Justice numbering. This system underpins the Rider-Waite-Smith (1909) and Thoth (1945, by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris) decks.
  • Cards correspond to astrological signs, planets, and Kabbalistic concepts, forming an elaborate system of correspondences.
• French Tarot Tradition:
  • The French Marseilles deck, favored by Alejandro Jodorowsky, uses Major Arcana for spiritual insights and Minor Arcana for mundane matters. Some traditions restrict readings to specific days (e.g., Major Arcana on Sundays).
• Major and Minor Arcana:
  • Tarot decks have 22 Major Arcana (trump cards, major secrets) and 56 Minor Arcana (four suits, minor secrets). “Arcana” (secrets) is a Golden Dawn term, unlike the French “triumphs.”
• Tarot Spreads and Readings:
  • Readings range from single-card draws to spreads like the Celtic Cross (past, present, future, unconscious influences). Spreads address relationships, decisions, or growth.
  • Greer emphasizes intuition, with cards interrelating to form a narrative. She pioneered self-readings with Tarot for Yourself, encouraging dialogue with cards or others.
• Archetypal Symbols:
  • Tarot’s vivid imagery (e.g., Hanged Man, Tower, Devil) embodies Jungian archetypes, reflecting universal human experiences in myths, dreams, and stories, evoking deep insights.
• Tarot in Magical Rituals:
  • Used in rituals like “manifestation spreads” (handpicked cards for desired outcomes) or altars with cards representing elements (fire, earth, air, water) or spirit beings.
  • Greer warns of unintended consequences, citing Mishlove’s Justice card ritual and her own mixed results helping her daughter secure apartments.
• Intuition and Psychic Abilities:
  • Effective readings tap empathy, intuition, and psychic abilities (clairvoyance, telepathy, precognition). Greer sees these as a continuum, with intuition as a brain mechanism and psychic abilities as sensory experiences beyond environmental cues.
  • She advocates describing card imagery without preconceived meanings to spark intuitive insights, embodying the card’s perspective (e.g., “I am sitting on a horse, feeling…”).
• Philosophy and Approach:
  • Greer emphasizes respect for tarot, allowing flexibility (e.g., breaking rules like buying one’s first deck). She values lifelong learning and adapting tarot for personal growth.
  • While AI readings are available, human connection remains vital for empathetic, experienced insights.

[Michel Leclerc]

I studied the Crowley-Harris Tarot in the 90s using as guidance Hajo Banzhaf’s interpretation, in German. I would recommend it for those who are philosophically inclined and on a track of self-discovery. Banzhaf’s approach is multi-faceted but predominantly Jungian. He stays away from sensationalism and superstition – takes Crowley-Harris seriously – which they deserve.