I want to go a little more in depth about this deck and what it includes. TheTarot Learning Cardsare essentially flash cards. Each card is double-sided with an icon on the face and information on the back. The icons are simple and have the card name below them. The simplicity of the style is intentional as these cards are meant to be a study tool to help a student learn the basics of Tarot reading and then apply that knowledge to any deck of their choice. The fundamental meaning of a card is the same in any Tarot deck, however the imagery and symbolism in different decks can emphasize a specific aspect of a card. TheTarot Learning Cardsgive students the general meaning of the cards that can then be applied to any Tarot deck.This brings me to the subject of memorizing Tarot meanings versus learning Tarot through an intuitive approach. Memorization is a part of the learning process, but it is not the ultimate goal of that process. When learning something new, a certain amount of memorization is essential. Memorizing a few keywords and associations can help a student build confidence and lays the foundation for this new area of exploration. Having that foundation built, a student of Tarot can go deeper and develop their own interpretations of the card meanings.To be an effective Tarot card reader, a person should know the system of Tarot and how it works,andthey should also develop their intuition and personal insight into the cards. TheTarot Learning Cardsdeck is a tool to assist in understanding the fundamental framework of Tarot. This is a starting place from which students can comfortably begin their journey into Tarot.The information found on theTarot Learning Cardsis compatible with teachings found in most popular Tarot books. This deck can be used along with any traditional style Tarot deck and is consistent with traditional and contemporary card interpretations.TheTarot Learning Cardsdeck consists of 84 cards: the 78 traditional Tarot cards and several informational cards. The informational cards are titled: About the Deck, How to use this Deck, Numerology, Suits and Elements, Recommended Reading, About Court Cards, About Reversals, and Terminology.The "About this Deck" and "How to use this Deck" cards discuss what the deck is about and how to get the most out of using it. TheTarot Learning Cardsdeck was created with the beginner in mind, but it is also a useful reference for more advanced students, and a tool for instructors and casual practitioners.There is enough information on these cards that it is students may find it helpful to break it down and study one piece at a time. The parts of the deck may be divided first into Major and Minor Arcana and then further separated by suit. One suit may be studied at a time or a section of each card, for example, the card's theme or numerology association. The reversed card meanings should be the last piece of information to be covered since a thorough understanding of the upright interpretation is a necessity for interpreting reversals.The "Numerology" card is an overview of numerology and how that system functions within Tarot. For the most part, numerology works with the numbers 1 through 9 and every larger number is reduced down to a single digit. For example: take the number 36, there is no specific meaning for the number 36 as it is. So we reduce it down to a single digit by adding the two numbers together (3+6) which equals 9. In numerology the number 9 is associated with experience and accumulation, and is the last number in the number cycle. The "Numerology" card includes keywords for numbers 1 through 10 (10 being the culmination of one cycle and the beginning of the next, ore, 1 again) for the Minor Arcana."Suits and Element" is the card that includes keywords for the elements and the suit they are connected with. Each of the four suits is associated with a particular element as follows:Wands – FireCups – WaterSwords – AirPentacles – EarthThe suits are influenced by the element that is associated with them. For example, Wands is associated with Fire. Fire stands for ego and energy, and is hot and consuming. Earth, which is connected with Pentacles is solid, practical, materialistic, and fertile. From this we can conclude that Wands is an energetic, fiery, and ambitious suit and the suit of Pentacles is grounded, material oriented, and abundant. Similar correspondences would apply to Cups and Swords with their respective attributes. Familiarity with the elements associated with each suit helps in understanding the interpretation of the Minor Arcana.The "Recommended Reading" is just that, a list of recommended books on Tarot. They are sorted by beginner books and more advanced books. Some of the titles can be found on the Living Magick Publishing website for purchase.The Court cards are the Page, Knight, Queen and King of each suit in the deck. The card titled "About the Court Cards" includes how to find yourself within the Court families, looking at the Court cards as people and situations; and how they can be interpreted in a reading.Reversals are an optional part of the Tarot, and many practitioners never bother with them. I believe that using reversals can add a lot more depth and diversity to a Tarot reading than only working with the upright cards. The "About Reversals" card covers some basics on how to interpret reversed cards in a spread.The last of the informational cards is "Terminology" which includes a little about the Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, Court cards, Suits, Rx (reversals), Numerology, and Elements.The Minor Arcana:The information on the back of each Minor Arcana card consists of the theme, suit, numerology, keywords, reversed theme, suit, and reversed keywords.Example: Two of Pentacles(upright)Theme: JugglingPentacles: Work, Money, EducationTwos: Choice, Duality, CooperationKeywords: Stamina, Monetary Exchange, Balancing Projects, Making Financial ChoicesTwo of Pentacles Rx(reversed)Theme: DisorderPentacles: Work, Money, EducationKeywords: Confusion, Instability, Financial Problems, Scattered Energy, Lack of OrganizationThe theme of the card is the overall feel of the card or the most important keyword. The next line is the suit and what that suit is associated with. In this case the suit is Pentacles which encompass the areas of Work, Money, and Education. In numerology Twos represent Choice, Duality, and Cooperation. Reading these three lines together is where the keywords are formed. The act of juggling requires stamina and juggling is a balancing act that, since we are dealing with work, money, and education, can be interpreted as the balancing of projects or finances. The numerology comes into play in making monetary decisions, and in the give and take of exchange.On the reversed side there is the main theme of the card: Disorder. We are still involved with Pentacles and the subjects of work, money and education but now the two is imbalanced and the negative side of Pentacle is shown. Where this card appears in a layout will give a reader insight into whether this card is a warning, or a situation the client is recovering from. The information card on interpreting reversals goes more in depth about this subject.The Court Cards:The Court cards also have the suit and keywords. The theme is the name of the card and the associated qualities. On the Court cards the element and astrological signs have been added.Queen of CupsQueen: Receptive, Mature Feminine(This is the theme of the card because now we are working with the archetype of the mature feminine energy.)Cups: Love, Happiness, SpiritualityWater: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces(The element associated with Cups is Water and the water signs of the zodiac are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.)Keywords: Intuitive Woman, Kind, Generous, Loving, Sensitive, Shy, Psychic, Moody, Gullible, Overly EmotionalQueen of Cups (Rx)Queen: Receptive, Mature FeminineCups: Love, Happiness, Spirituality(or lack thereof/difficulty with)Water: Cancer, Scorpio, PiscesKeywords: Seductress, Envious, Jealous, Needy, Unrealistic, Hides Emotions, Vengeful, DramaticThe reversal of the Court cards shows the negative personality traits of the person, while the upright represents the more positive traits.The Major Arcana:In the Major Arcana each card has the theme, astrological association, suit and correspondence; and keywords. With the Major Arcana cards the suit is simply the Major Arcana, which is associated with the spiritual journey, karma, and fate. The astrological associations on the Major Arcana are different than those on the Court cards. Only one zodiac sign or planet is assigned to each Major Arcana card.The LoversTheme: RelationshipsAstrology: GeminiMajor Arcana: Spiritual JourneyKeywords: Love Relationship, Partnership, Family, Duality, Cross Roads, Communication, Harmony, Cooperation, Interactions, ChoiceThe Lovers (Rx)Theme: DisharmonyMajor Arcana: Spiritual JourneyKeywords: Difficult Relationships, Miscommunication, Dominance, Imbalance, Indecision, Struggle, Seduction, LonelinessTheTarot Learning Cardsdeck comes in a sturdy, hard stock, lift off top box. The packaging is meant to store the cards when they are not being studied or used for readings. The cards themselves are printed on card stock paper with large, easy to read font. TheTarot Learning Cardscan be used to for study, as a quick reference, and for giving readings.The Tarot Learning Cards can be purchased here!Jadzia DeForest is a professional Tarot reader and instructor with over eight years of experience. She is the co-creator of the Tarot, Astrology, and Rune Learning Cards decks and co-owner of Living Magick Publishing. Her professional website iswww.TarotByJadzia.com.
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