True Nature of Tarot (eBook)

Hollywood movies, fear of the occult, and the actions of unethical practitioners have created a negative connotation connected to the tarot. Some critics are under the false impression that all tarot readers worship or represent the devil. Admittedly, it may be the case that some readers are practitioners of the black arts. For the most part, however, the opposite is generally the case.

Psychic awareness is close to impossible without a belief in Universal Energy. The term “Universal Energy” is used as a generic title to refer to God, All That Is, Source, Spirit, Universe, and any other name that you are comfortable with to represent this all-pervasive life force. Feel free to mentally substitute whichever name you are most comfortable with. It is not the information itself that is evil, for it comes from a higher spiritual power; rather it is the intent of the practitioner that stains the knowledge.

A tarot deck is a tool that can be used in a variety of ways, just as any tool, knowledge set, or talent can be used for good or evil. For example, an incredibly brilliant computer programmer can create useful applications that benefit the world or a computer virus that causes destruction and hardship for millions of people. Is computer programming evil? Hardly! It is the intention of the person applying the skill and knowledge that has the ability to bring about a positive or negative outcome.

In the same way, we can use tarot for the betterment of an individual, or to increase their stress and worry, all at the sole discretion of the reader and the seeker. The information itself is neutral, but subject to interpretation by the participants. The reader’s delivery of information is critical in this regard; it can bring a message forth shrouded in darkness and dire warning, or the reader can frame it in the bright light of hope and positive change.

Take care and use diplomacy when imparting sensitive information. The seeker’s reaction to the message is determined by the way in which the reader delivers the information and the emotional attachment to the subject matter.

If you have avoided getting a reading for fear of what it may reveal, remember that how the information is perceived is up to you. Many messages can have dual meanings, containing both positive and negative aspects. Information that contains elements perceived as unfavorable can also hold valuable lessons. You can also take messages containing detrimental components as a warning, helping you avoid or prevent a problem. There is an opportunity for growth within every circumstance.

Keep in mind that a tarot practitioner must connect to your energy field in order to read you. Open yourself to sense whether the reader is of the light or practicing in shadows. If the energy does not feel right, find another reader.

A tarot reading cuts through the drama of a situation and enables you to tune in to what’s important. Issues will surface regarding personal and spiritual development. Much of what comes through reveals the seeker’s fears, hopes, and ambitions. It can be startling to reveal underlying causes for what is being manifested in your life.

The information gained through a tarot reading is best used as a guide rather than a decision-maker. The tarot is a tool of enlightenment and understanding. You should base life decisions on what is appropriate to your growth, not on the prediction of a psychic/intuitive.

Let’s talk about how that information comes through...

Psychic Sensations

What It Means to Be Psychic

A psychic/intuitive/tarot practitioner is a person who has trained to tap into the Universal Energy and to open to the available information that lies within the energy field (also known as the aura or auric field) that surrounds all people and things. By perceiving this energy, the psychic picks up information about the seeker, as well as people and situations that have an impact on the person.

There are seven major energy points on the body, known as chakras, through which we can perceive information. When I read, the information flows in through the crown chakra at the top of the head, which is the center of Divine connection allowing me to maximize the flow of energy received from the Universal Energy. Some readers pull energy into their solar plexus chakra. It is important to be aware of where the energy enters and where it is released. When doing a reading, the energy is released through the mouth. During a Reiki session, the energy comes in through the crown chakra and is released through the palm chakras.

The ability to channel the energy during a reading is essential to its effect and accuracy. It is also a factor of endurance (how many consecutive hours you are able to read before experiencing fatigue). To allow the information to flow in through the crown chakra takes much less effort than pulling information from the solar plexus. However, creating a connection with the client through the solar plexus maximizes the connection between the two, which serves to heighten the experience for both1.

Opening to The Energy

All people are born with psychic ability; yet, it is a skill that needs development. Some may refer to the potential to display psychic ability as intuition, instinct, or a gut feeling. Most people have experienced knowing what someone will say next or that the phone will ring in a moment. It is up to the individual to open to the power available to all of us. Accessing this energy is possible when barriers and obstacles are removed, such as fear, jealousy, worry, and self-doubt. These characteristics limit the ability to tap into The Universal Energy. Learning to move energy requires the person to be open without feeling vulnerable, trusting in the Divine. Most people have too much fear harbored within them to allow such an opening.

Getting a gut feeling and trusting it enough to act on it or express it is the goal. Differentiating between an intuitive message and a regular thought takes practice. It actually feels different. It’s important to track the intuitive impressions you get. Generally, when that “little voice” comes through to provide guidance and you don’t follow it, things don’t go particularly well. I’m sure you’ve had this happen. On the other hand, if you follow the guidance, even if it’s against all logic, things tend to work out for the best.

Jot down the times when you get a psychic impression and the outcome—whether it’s for guidance or a premonition. In that way, you’ll begin to feel the difference between a regular thought and your intuition. An intuitive message feels like knowing; it already feels true. A thought may feel more “filmy” and not so certain. Pay attention to those thoughts that “take you by surprise,” so you can use the information right away and begin to trust the accuracy of the message.

Many people experience sudden glimmers of psychic awareness but cannot bring it forth at will. Using a tool such as tarot increases consistency in pulling accurate information and provides a way to readily tap into your abilities. With practice using a tool, over time you’ll be able to pull information at will, many times without using the tool itself.

How Information Comes Through

Psychic impressions come through in a variety of ways. Sometimes imagery occurs that is difficult to translate for the client. For example, I was reading a person who was asking about her potential for a serious romantic involvement. I saw a dog around the situation, but it didn’t feel like a flesh-and-blood type of dog. I wasn’t sure if the beau was a man who owned a pet shop, a veterinarian, had a dog, or just liked dogs, or what it could mean. A few weeks later, she met the man she ultimately married, while wearing her Scooby Doo™ T-shirt. It had been a cartoon dog I was picking up on. I could not wrap my mind around the exact nature of the dog and so was unsure of what it had to do with the subject’s question.

Many times, an image came through that was difficult to describe. This is what can happen when the psychic attempts to apply context to the impression. It has tainted some accurate readings in that the image was misinterpreted and incorrectly imparted to the client. Suspend personal framework and communicate the images you see without attempting to make sense of them. Many times, the client will know exactly what it is.

Personal feelings can really get in the way of providing an accurate, objective reading. An example of this occurred early in my practice when a client asked me if his son’s basketball team would win that evening. The five of cups came up, showing three spilled goblets of liquid and two goblets standing upright behind the person in the picture. I was not sure how to interpret this, and the subject was putting pressure on me to prove my abilities. I felt that the son’s team would lose and felt bad having to tell him that. I was also concerned that I would put negative energy around the situation by voicing that prediction, thereby reducing the team’s chances of winning. I was doubtful the team would win, yet optimistic that there could be a slight chance of winning in my response to the client. He took this as being unable to read the outcome. It turned out that the team lost by three points, hence the three spilled goblets. As a seasoned reader, I am more...