Tarot’s Inner Workings: Intuition, Empathy and Spiritual Growth
Every living being is a spiritual being, and we all have magical abilities and gifts. We can step into the other realms with a simple prayer, and we can invoke light, love, and magic at every turn. We are as powerful and aware as we desire.
The idea behind Tarot and other divination tools is to provide clear reflections of our life, relationships, and patterns in the symbology and images on each card. Upon our glance, if we allow ourselves to see correctly, a card’s image and symbols will open subtle doors in our minds and hearts, ones that lead to the answers to our most pressing questions.
“Magical practice offers everyone the opportunity to reinvent themselves from the inside out. Why? Because you are a sorceress who has already created the world you inhabit, whether you realize it or not. Magical practice and tarot give you the tools and opportunities to cultivate, explore, and expand that world, and its boundaries are infinite. Just like you.”
― Sasha Graham
What is a Tarot Card Reading?
When it first arrived on the scene in the 1500s, Tarot became a favorite playing card game. By the mid-1800s, it developed into a profound divination tool that was used by seers, readers, Kings, Queens, leaders, and families throughout Europe. Today, 3×5” Tarot cards are a standard tool in every healer’s toolkit.
While there are many ways to use Tarot cards, a Tarot Card Reading is one of the most effective pathways to clarity. The process goes something like this:
- Pray over your Tarot deck. Bring your emotions, projections, and questions to the forefront of your mind and heart.
- Keeping these thoughts and feelings in mind, shuffle the cards.
- When you feel you have infused the cards with your vibration and intentions, select between one and seven cards and lay them out in front of you.
- When doing a Tarot card reading for yourself, examine each card and read its description (there’s usually a booklet). This will help you derive helpful hints about your life, patterns, paradigms, and dynamics.
- In Tarot, each card has a unique meaning and value. Try to see the card as a representation of something that you are projecting, embodying, feeling, emanating or desiring. Specific cards might also represent how other people are influencing your life.
- Do your best to evaluate the emotional, psychological and spiritual nature of each card so that you can glean the most value from it.
If an Intuitive Tarot Reader, Empath or Medium is reading for you, he or she will use the cards to open doorways into your spiritual and emotional pathologies. Each symbol in each image will represent a unique piece of information about you.
As the Intuitive Card Reader shares information, you’ll feel seen, heard, alive and awakened. As your anxiety is dissolved and debris is cleared, you’ll make more harmonious, clear and specific decisions which will lead to improving your conditions, realities, and relationships.
The best readers are also good at sensing, feeling and reading the energies of people, groups, locations, and events. Knowing the quality of an overall energy can be a little confronting, but it can help us improve our vibrations, which leads to improved experiences.
What Is An Intuitive Reading?
An Intuitive Reading is when an Intuitive, Empath, Medium, Psychic or Clairvoyant healer looks into the nature of your soul and compares each aspect of the deeper-you to the physical life that you are living. The best readers and Empaths tend to infuse light and love into every reading, hoping to help you shift negative thinking and patterns into positive ones.
Intuitive readings are AWESOME.
When I do intuitive readings for my clients, I see them as the embodiment of light and love. I desire to help them see that all of the fodder, challenges, emotions, and desires resting atop their souls are temporary. My sincere wish is to help my clients clear debris, change negating patterns and live abundantly in every area of their lives.
In trying to help you clear debris, I sense your feelings, often feeling exactly what you are feeling. This helps me see your patterns, choices, relationships, and potential, all at the same time. Doing so, I can offer advice on a variety of topics and guide you to a loving, proactive, empowered life.
Tarot cards can help Intuitive Readers, Mediums and Clairvoyant healers like me to step into your sphere and clear the energies so that you can experience rejuvenation and rebirth. Â
“Fear is dangerous, not the tarot. The Tarot represents the spectrum of the human condition, the good, the evil, the light, and the dark. Do not fear the darker aspects of the human condition. Understand them. The tarot is a storybook about life, about the greatness of human accomplishment, and also the ugliness we are each capable of.”
― Benebell Wen
The Imagery & Symbols of Tarot
The most helpful question we can ask about Tarot is not “what is this specific Tarot card’s meaning,” rather, it’s “What is this card saying about me and my life and how can it help me improve my ability to love myself, forgive others, and live in abundance?”
Every Tarot card image has obvious and hidden symbols embedded in the artwork. The art of Tarot can be deeply moving and inspiring. With one glance, we might shift a lifetime of emotions and negative patterning.
By meditating on specific symbols and their related attributes, we can improve our understanding of ourselves and free ourselves from habits, attachments, projections, and assumptions.
Tarot card symbols are unique to each deck. Every Tarot card deck is a unique system with exclusive images and symbols, yet there are similarities across many decks.
There are several ways to interpret every image and symbol. Always listen to your gut to determine the most helpful message for your growth and transformation.
Here is a sampling of the most potent symbols and personas found within a few of the Tarot decks available today:
- Fire: Dissolve the old Self, Release negativity, Cautiousness
- Light: Awareness, Potential, Healthy passion
- Sword/Hammer/Tool: Forthcoming changes or confrontations, Courage, Decision time, Completion
- Blood: Family, deception, unruly passion, untempered masculinity, bonds
- Chalice, Cup or Fountain: Ambition, Purpose, Drive, Desire, Love, Potential
- Pentacle: Earth, Money, Health, Land, Business, Ambition, Career
- Water/Moon/Ocean/Rain: Unexpressed feelings and emotions, Love and relationships, Creativity, Intimacy, Femininity, Reflection, Possibilities, Relaxed
- Ice: Separation, Closed heart, and mind, Completion of lessons, Solitude
- Tree: Rebirth, Healing, Expansion, Connectedness
- Knight: Courage, Loyalty, Maturation, Bold action, Relentless commitment
- King, Emperor, Empress: Sovereignty, Leadership, Decisiveness, Achievement, Success
- Queen: Love, Light, Compassion, Empathy, Active care of others
- Fool: Naive, Youthful, Trusting, Vulnerable
- Angels: Listening to the Divine, Be careful and critical, Meditate, Find your inspiration
Colors have an equally important influence on our lives. Here are a few colors with their corresponding spiritual significance:
- Black: Protection, Something is missing in the equation, Illness, Stay alert, Death of materialistic tendencies
- Red: Power, Groundedness, Passion, Anger, Security
- Pink: Love, Femininity, Forgiveness, Generosity, Compassion
- Green: Healing, Union, Harmony, Commitment, Empathy
- Orange: Self Esteem, Joyfulness, Optimism, Abundance, Creativity
- Gold: Spiritual Achievement, Spiritual Gifts, Protection, Mastery, Divine blessings
- Blue: Spoken and inner communication, Self-expressiveness, Trust, Sadness, Peacefulness, Lightness of being
- Purple: Psychic gifts, Passion, Intuition, Spiritual devotion, Reason, Spirituality
- White: Purity, Connection to the Higher Self, Rebirth, Divine aspirations, Death of the ego
The numbers in Tarot cards can point to something helpful or unique about us. Here is how you might interpret the numbers one to ten in your next Tarot card reading:
- One: Completion, Oneness, Togetherness, Relationship to Self, Non-duality
- Two: Partnership, Duality, Equanimity, Balance, Choices
- Three: Sacredness, Creativity, Expansiveness
- Four: Growth, Stability, Constructs, Structure, Longevity
- Five: Growth, Complexity, Time for patience
- Six: Humanity, Being grounded, Harmony, Physical pleasure
- Seven: Spiritual growth, Self-realization, Manifestation
- Eight: Fulfillment, Accomplishment, Subtle understandings
- Nine: Spiritual gifts, Rebirth, Rejuvenation, Humility
- Ten: Conclusion, Enlightenment, Temperance
It might be helpful to know that every large number boils down to a number between one and nine. Even 123,456 can be boiled down by adding the separate digits together like this: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 21 = 3.
Keep this in mind for birthdays, home addresses and phone numbers. Being aware of the vibration of specific digits can help us make more vibrationally evolved decisions.
In all things Tarot, make sure that your reading concludes with a positive set of ideas and actions. Ideally, each reading you experience, either from yourself or another, will provide you with something specific to consider. Whatever you choose to focus on from your reading, always select at least one image or concept that is vibrationally uplifting. When we meditate on the rose, we become the rose.
Personal Empowerment Through Tarot
The more we use Tarot to reveal our authenticity and secrets, the more we can create free-flowing, authentic and empowered lives. Even the subtlest assumption or secret can have an impact on our lives. Use Tarot to clear the negating abstractions and confusion in your life, relationships and business. Doing so, you can make room for more light.
“Here is one reason I think we always need new tarot decks being created. I think of tarot decks as similar to myths, and so I think this quote applies: “Myths are so intimately bound to culture, time, and place that unless the symbols, the metaphors, are kept alive by constant recreation through the arts, the life just slips away from them.” Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth”
― Barbara Moore
About the Author
100 Tarot Questions: What You Should and Shouldn’t Ask
The Tarot offers a window into our inner world and a guide to facing challenges and making decisions. The key to getting useful answers lies in asking open and reflective questions. In this article, we explore the importance of questions, how to formulate them, how many to ask, and which ones to avoid in a Tarot reading.
Table of Contents
- The Importance of Questions in a Tarot Reading
- 100 Examples of Tarot Questions
- 10 General Questions
- 10 Questions About Love
- 10 Questions About Work
- 10 Questions About Finances, Business, and Money
- 10 Questions About Health and Well-being
- 10 Questions About Important Decisions
- 10 Questions About Family and Children
- 10 Questions About Spirituality
- 10 Questions About Past Lives
- 10 Questions About Life Purpose
- Do Tarot Cards Reveal the Future?
- What to Do with the Information from a Tarot Reading?
The Importance of Questions in a Tarot Reading
The questions we ask in a Tarot reading are crucial for the type of answers we receive. Well-formulated questions can provide clarity, direction, and understanding about various areas of our lives. On the other hand, vague or poorly phrased questions can result in confusing or unhelpful answers.
It’s essential to focus on questions that encourage reflection and self-awareness. Open-ended questions allow us to explore different aspects of a situation, offering a more complete and detailed perspective. This not only facilitates a better interpretation of the cards but also promotes a deeper and more meaningful internal dialogue, helping to uncover the true causes and possible solutions to the challenges we face.
In the series Mystery Teachings of the Tarot, available on Gaia, Dr. Theresa Bullard emphasizes the importance of asking questions that help us connect with our intuition and gain a clearer understanding of our circumstances. This series is an excellent guide for those who wish to deepen their Tarot readings and learn how to formulate effective questions to obtain useful and revealing answers.
How Many Questions Can I Ask?
There is no fixed number of questions to ask in a Tarot reading; it depends on individual needs and circumstances. A good number might be between three and five well-formulated questions, but this can vary depending on the depth of the answers you seek and the time available.
Limiting the number of questions helps avoid information overload. By focusing on a few questions, you can reflect properly on the answers received and apply the lessons learned to your daily life effectively. This allows you to explore each question in depth and maximize the value of the reading.
What Questions Should I Avoid in Tarot?
To get the best answers from the Tarot, it’s advisable to avoid questions that seek to predict specific events or depend on factors outside your control. Instead of asking, “When will I meet my soulmate?”, it’s more useful to ask, “What can I do to prepare my heart and life for a meaningful relationship?” This approach allows you to actively work on your personal development and be better prepared for future opportunities.
It’s also important to avoid questions that seek “yes” or “no” answers, as these don’t encourage deep dialogue or provide enough information for reflection. For example, instead of asking, “Should I change jobs?”, ask, “What should I consider when thinking about a career change?” This type of question opens the door to a more complete exploration of your options and circumstances, allowing for more detailed and enriching answers.
100 Examples of Tarot Questions
Below, we present 100 examples of questions in various areas of life that can help you make the most of your Tarot reading.
10 General Questions
- What is my life purpose at this moment?
- What do I need to know about my current situation?
- How can I overcome the obstacles I’m facing?
- What should I learn from my current challenges?
- How can I improve my overall well-being?
- What talents should I develop to achieve my goals?
- What is preventing me from moving forward in my life?
- How can I improve my personal relationships?
- What actions should I take to find inner peace?
- What should I know to make better decisions?
10 Questions About Love
- What can I do to attract a healthy romantic relationship?
- How can I improve my current relationship?
- What should I learn from my past romantic experiences?
- What qualities should I look for in a partner?
- How can I heal from a breakup?
- What is preventing me from finding true love?
- What do I need to know about my future love life?
- How can I communicate better with my partner?
- What aspects of my behavior are affecting my romantic relationships?
- How can I rekindle the passion in my relationship?
10 Questions About Work
- How can I advance in my professional career?
- What can I do to find a job I’m passionate about?
- What skills do I need to develop to succeed in my work?
- How can I improve my relationship with my coworkers?
- What should I consider when thinking about a career change?
- How can I better manage work-related stress?
- What is preventing me from achieving my professional goals?
- How can I find a better balance between my work and personal life?
- What opportunities for professional growth are available to me?
- What should I know about my current work environment?
10 Questions About Finances, Business, and Money
- How can I improve my financial situation?
- What should I know before making a major investment?
- What steps should I take to achieve financial stability?
- How can I better manage my personal finances?
- What should I consider when starting a business?
- How can I increase my income?
- What financial habits should I change?
- What financial opportunities are available to me?
- How can I free myself from debt?
- What is preventing me from achieving my financial goals?
10 Questions About Health and Well-being
- What can I do to improve my physical health?
- How can I better manage stress and anxiety?
- What habits should I adopt for a healthier life?
- How can I better balance my body and mind?
- What should I know about my emotional well-being?
- How can I strengthen my immune system?
- What is preventing me from achieving optimal well-being?
- How can I improve my mental health?
- What steps should I take to heal a specific ailment?
- What should I keep in mind to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
10 Questions About Important Decisions
- What should I consider when making this decision?
- What is the best path to follow in this situation?
- What consequences can I expect from this choice?
- How can I make a decision aligned with my values?
- What is preventing me from making a clear decision?
- What should I know before deciding?
- How can I find the courage to make this decision?
- What information am I missing to make this decision?
- How can I overcome the fear of making important decisions?
- What benefits will I gain from making this decision?
10 Questions About Family and Children
- How can I improve my relationship with my children?
- What should I know to better support my family?
- How can I foster a harmonious family environment?
- What family challenges do I need to address?
- How can I be a better parent?
- What can I do to improve communication in my family?
- What family patterns should I change?
- How can I better support my partner in parenting?
- What should I consider for my family’s emotional stability?
- How can I reconcile family differences?
10 Questions About Spirituality
- How can I deepen my spiritual practice?
- What should I know about my spiritual path?
- How can I better connect with my inner self?
- What spiritual lessons should I learn now?
- How can I balance my spiritual energy?
- What spiritual obstacles should I overcome?
- How can I find peace and spiritual balance?
- What spiritual practices should I incorporate into my life?
- How can I better align with my spiritual purpose?
- What should I know about my spiritual guides?
10 Questions About Past Lives
- What lessons from past lives are influencing my current life?
- How can I heal traumas from past lives?
- What should I know about my karmic connections?
- How have my past lives affected my current relationships?
- What talents from past lives can I use now?
- What repetitive patterns come from past lives?
- What vows or promises from past lives should I release?
- How can I better integrate the lessons from my past lives?
- What should I know about my experiences in other incarnations?
- How can I use the knowledge of my past lives for my personal growth?
10 Questions About Life Purpose
- What is my mission in this life?
- How can I discover my true purpose?
- What steps should I take to align with my life purpose?
- What is preventing me from fulfilling my purpose?
- How can I use my talents to fulfill my life mission?
- What should I learn to move forward on my life path?
- How can I better contribute to the well-being of others?
- What important lessons should I learn in this life?
- How can I live a more meaningful and fulfilling life?
- What should I know to fulfill my destiny?
Do Tarot Cards Reveal the Future?
The Tarot should not be seen as a tool that predicts the future in a fixed and immutable way. The cards reflect current energies and trends, suggesting possible paths and scenarios that could develop based on the querent’s decisions and actions. It’s essential to interpret Tarot answers with an open and contemplative mind, understanding that they offer guidance based on the present, not an absolute prediction of the future.
Rather than fixing destiny, the Tarot provides insight into the influences and opportunities present in the querent’s life. The cards can reveal behavioral patterns, blockages, and potentials that help in making informed decisions. The purpose of the Tarot is to empower the querent, providing the tools needed to navigate their circumstances with greater clarity and wisdom.
Querents should use the information obtained from the Tarot as a guide to reflect and make decisions based on their own judgment and inner wisdom. By doing so, they can make the most of the lessons and advice the cards offer, adapting their actions to better align with their personal goals and values. When used consciously, the Tarot becomes a powerful ally for self-awareness and personal growth.
What to Do with the Information from a Tarot Reading?
Once you’ve obtained the information from a Tarot reading, it’s important to take the time to reflect and process the answers. It’s recommended to jot down the ideas and feelings that arose during the reading to review them later. This practice not only helps you remember important details but also allows for continuous reflection on how to apply the advice received in daily life.
Applying the information obtained is the next important step. This involves taking concrete actions based on the Tarot’s suggestions, whether by adjusting behaviors, exploring new opportunities, or facing challenges in a different way. Integrating these changes into your daily routine can lead to significant growth and transformation, better aligning your actions with your personal goals and values.
Finally, it’s helpful to regularly review past readings to see the progress and changes that have been made. This not only reinforces the understanding of the Tarot’s messages but also allows you to adjust your course of action as needed. The process of continuous review and adjustment is key to maintaining an effective connection with the guidance provided by the Tarot, ensuring it remains relevant and useful over time.
