Energy Enhancement the Tarot Princess of Swords And Advanced Techniques Of Meditation

Originally, the Tarot Cards came from Alchemical Sufi sources and the Sufi Alchemical Meditations based on the correct working of the energies of the Universe were encoded as symbols into every one of the Thoth Tarot cards.

Here is an explanation from the book of "The Princess of Swords" of the Thoth Tarot with the addition of how it refers to explanations of the advanced techniques of meditation...

"The inflow of spiritual energy or kundalini energy is well known in all spiritual circles as being expected in all genuine courses with teachers who have advanced experience with enlightened masters yet some people just cannot get their heads around it and they do not trust it as this concept destroys their idea of a "normal" world. They start to fear the unknown!!

The wind of kundalini blowing through you usually leaves smoke and ashes in its wake. Normally, when kundalini energy starts to flow through the interiorly held negativities it starts to destroy and release the pain and trauma within. Fear can be the result. The techniques of the advanced techniques of meditation show you how to totally clear yourself from moods and disturbing thoughts because it works at the level of energy which underlies all the problems.

Transmutation is symbolised by the Yin Yang in the card. These Practical, Ancient and Successful Meditations based on the Tarot teach how to remove the traumatic nature of all this energy release by using the new alchemical concept of "transmutation" - there remains non of the problems associated with negative emotions like anger or depression.. They do not work at the level of memory. You do not have to remember anything as they work at the level of energy which underlies all of the painful memories, yet the performance of the advanced techniques of meditation can easily and totally remove all the energy blockages, in a non-painful way!!

The Princess of Swords student of the advanced techniques of meditation knows how necessary is the transmutation of all the old energies on the path of evolution, progress and inner freedom. The student's "no" to all the past negative energy held inside springs from an unequivocal "yes" to themselves and to their life!

Princess of Swords necessity for positive and easy change is comparable to the drastic move by Jesus Christ when he drove the moneylenders out of the temple, and to the work of Hercules when he drove the river Styx through the Augean stables, thus easily cleaning out thousands of years of pain or horse shit in one day!

The Wand of the Princess of Discs stretches from heaven to earth and symbolizes the Antakarana, an ancient symbol of Kundalini yoga, which represents the tower, rainbow bridge of energy which flows through all your chakras from heaven to earth, when all energy blockages preventing that flow have been transmuted through the techniques of the advanced techniques of meditation.

The Princess of Swords says, by learning how to bring the spiritual energies of the center of the universe, the highest and purest form of light, into this earth which is the darkest and most negative of all elements, it becomes possible to raise the energy level of the advanced techniques of meditation student and the earth itself.

This advance into new territory has the ability to unify to integrate the mother, the father and all the internal children into one energetic, soul infused and peaceful being.

"there can only be one!!"

The Princess of Swords bringing together spirit and matter, the removal of energy blockages has created something new which can channel the light onto the earth and cosmic idea-impulses, thoughtforms, become visible to everyone and permeate everything with their divine quality. The true healing of you, and the earth itself!!"

The explanation of the Princess of Swords above comes from the Thoth Tarot which encodes Alchemical information in every one of its Tarot Cards!!

Alchemical techniques of meditation symbolized in the Tarot Cards of the Thoth pack show how to easily transmute all negative energy without going anywhere near the emotions and memory!! The buddhafield of energy, in which evolutionary progress can quickly be made, and kundalini energy are absolutely necessary to any course of meditation.

The Princess of Swords symbolizes the way of the energies of the Universe and shows ancient and hidden techniques preserved in Taoism and Hindu Kundalini Kriyas. It is the most gentle and effective tool for all those who want to increase their energy, their evolution, their genius.

Also Ancient Egyptian spiritual technology - The Alchemical Meditations of Hermes Trismegistus from the Emerald tablet, and of Alchemical VITRIOL, a Latin word meaning "Acid" which dissolves all negative emotions and "Anger" symbolising the removal of all trauma and negative emotion through, "Drain the Last Dregs of your Vitriol!."

The same energy circulation meditation... from the Alchemical Sufi Dun Nun, "the Egyptian", he who took, "The Path of Blame" symbolized by the Sufi Naqsbandi Fountain at the Alhambra at Granada in Spain.

The same meditations... The Five Elemental Paths of the Qi of Chinese Alchemical Taoism and the Microcosmic and Macrocosmic Orbits symbolized in the Yin Yang Symbol.

The same meditation,... "The point from which a Man cannot err." .. From the Freemasonic ritual creating the Master Mason and the "Entry into the Crypt" The center of the earth, of the Royal Arch. Arch or rainbow bridge symbolises the creation of the Antahkarana.

It is not enough to worship these words, the higher energies are only satisfied when we create these functions within ourselves. Only then do we become a "Made Man".

The same energy circulation meditation... "With This Technique, Your Evolution Will Increase With Every Energy Revolution To Create A Revolution In Your Evolution." - Paramahamsa Yogananda On The Kriyas Of Kundalini of India, of Kriya Yoga, of Babaji, the 2000 years old sage in the Himalayas, of Sri Yukteswar and Lahira Mahasaya.

These Practical, Ancient and Successful Meditations for the removal of all negative emotions like Anger, Fear, and Depression teach Gaining More Energy - Meditation, Shaktipat, Energy Circulation, The Kundalini Kriyas, The Five Elemental Paths Of The Chi Of Chinese Alchemical Taoism, The Grounding Of Negative Energies, V.I.T.R.I.O.L and The Art Card Of The Thoth Tarot, Access To Kundalini Energy, Strong Psychic Protection, The Merkaba, Pyramid Protection, Power Tower Protection, the Creation of The Antahkarana, Soul Fusion, Monadic Infusion, Logos Infusion for the Painless Removal Of Stress, Trauma And Negative Emotion.

Director Satchidanand, is one of the leading teachers of Meditation.

He helps people worldwide reach further than they EVER thought possible, FASTER!!! http://www.energyenhancement.org

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Which Tarot Deck Should I Use

I get asked this question all the time, which is not surprising since there are hundreds of versions of the Tarot in existence. My key criteria for choosing a Tarot deck is that it should form a complete working system of symbology.

Magically, when we use the Tarot, it represents a microcosm, a smaller version of the Universe. Therefore, everything in the Universe has to be able to be represented by the cards in the deck.

There are three major magical uses for the Tarot:

1. Straight divination

2. Spell work (these decks are especially designed for spell work)

3. Working the Tree of Life (for doing a great work)

Very few Tarot decks can fulfill all three of these requirements. There are only three modern Tarot decks that I know of: the Waite-Rider, Morgan-Greer and Thoth decks. The other decks are incomplete for these endeavors. For instance the Aquarian deck is a beautiful tool for divination if you are used to working with Zen or Hindu concepts, but it's virtually useless for spell work and has no relationship at all to the Tree of Life.

Who Created These Modern Tarot Decks?

All of above-mentioned Tarot decks were created by members of the Golden Dawn. Arthur Edward Waite created the Waite-Rider deck (Rider was the name of the publisher) and Pamela Smith, also of the Golden Dawn, did the artwork for the cards.

Lloyd Morgan and William Greer disagreed with Waite's approach, arguing that the Waite-Rider deck was too austere, too mental and too intellectual. They created the Morgan/Greer deck by adding fancy symbols, such as vines, to the top half of all the cards in the Waite-Rider deck.

Aleister Crowley created the third deck, the Thoth deck, which has some notable differences. For instance, there are no Kings in the Thoth deck because Crowley felt that men never reached maturity, but were always stuck at the level of the Prince, or adolescence.

Learn More About the Tarot

Although the teachings of the Tarot were originally given orally, in more modern times people have written down some guidelines as to the meaning of the cards. However, the true use of the Tarot is to allow the cards to represent something different and specific in each reading. There is a magical ritual to "key" your deck to your energies, so that the cards will do this.

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Alan Joel co-founded the Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic with the goal of the helping people create permanent, positive change in their lives through the study of magic and shamanism. Get free magical and shamanic tips and resources at http://www.shamanschool.com To learn how to key a Tarot deck and use it so it actually does act as a microcosm of the Universe, check out our Tarot Home Study Course or join our upcoming Basic Magic Class. Check out the upcoming Basic Magic class at http://tinyurl.com/basicmagic

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The History of Tarot Where Do Tarot Cards Come From

The history of Tarot cards goes back several hundred years. While the history of Tarot cards becomes difficult to follow earlier than the 1700's, they have been in documented use since the late 14th century. The earliest records regarding the history of Tarot cards shows that they were first introduced to European nobility somewhere in northern Italy. Later, the cards would take a turn towards the mystical, but the original history of tarot cards depicted them as decks used for gaming pleasure.

Some have asserted that the history began much earlier, and that the decks traveled into Italy from Egypt. These discussions of the Tarot are the origin of the decks being referred to as the Royal Road. This is based on assertions that the word Tarot derives from two Egyptian words; "tar" which translates to "royal", and "ot" is an Egyptian word for "road". In time, the deck became popularly recognized as the royal road to wisdom, or spiritual understanding. Most modern accounts disagree with this, but it is still an interesting facet of the cards' history.

Throughout the history of Tarot cards, many changes have been made. Additions have been made, and the depictions on the deck have morphed from staunchly Christian aspects into being associated with pagan symbols. Christian symbols from the earlier decks have been substituted with more mystical depictions, lending to the decks becoming associated more deeply with the occult. In turn, these changes have affected the symbolism used in interpreting readings, to maintain the authenticity and spiritual value of the readings.

What we do know about the history of Tarot cards is that most of the depictions are medieval in nature. This lends credence to the commonly accepted belief that they are European in origin. This is affirmed by noting that artwork found on early decks is essentially based within feudal Christendom, and such representations cannot be found in the art of other cultures.

One questionable facet of the history of Tarot cards is the legend, widely accepted by some, that they were introduced to European society by gypsies. Evidence suggests that they only became widely used by this subculture in the twentieth century. Prior to that, gypsies preferred palmistry and the use of regular playing decks for divination purposes.

Further complicating the history of Tarot cards was the introduction of the Thoth Tarot by Alleister Crowley in the twentieth century. Based on the traditions of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Crowley embellished and expanded the designs, then commissioned the artwork for his cards. These are widely used today, owing in part to their lavish design and occult overtones.

Katherine Heiden is a professional tarot card reader and clairvoyant. Her new guide Learn Tarot Cards is a great resource for beginners and experts alike, and includes many bonus guides showing you how to take your hobby of doing tarot card readings and turn it into a career.

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Tarot Through the Ages

Tarot cards, in the images we are most familiar with today, evolved from a kind of table game played in 15th century Italy, becoming popular throughout Europe over the next four centuries.

To fully explore the history of Tarot, you can read the expansive book by Michael Dummet, "The Game of Tarot: From Ferrara to Salt Lake City" (Duckworth, 1980). Dummet, a British philosopher of high regard, is the author of many books on the Tarot. His scholarship on Tarot is extensive, and provides much of the research available on the origins of the Tarot deck and its variations.

Tarot originally would have been a pastime of the leisure class, those with the time and money to spend on games. Certainly at that time the cards were handmade and illustrated by artists, and each set would vary with the individual artist's representation of the card's images. Especially from the 15th to the 18th centuries in Europe, variations of Tarot games were wildly popular, enjoyed by people of some wealth and intellect, very much like chess or bridge. Through the 1700's Tarot was an absolute craze across the entire continent.

There are several Tarot decks that have come to represent a familiar iconography, each with their own history, interpretation and devotees. The 15th Century Italian Visconti-Sforza deck is probably the earliest surviving deck of this era, with original cards in the collections of several museums around the world. These beautiful, artistic images are reproduced frequently.

A 19th century version from the south of France, known as the Tarot de Marseille, is a very popular deck in Europe.

In the United States, the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck is the most commonly used today. It was conceived by the well-known Tarot authority A. E. Waite, and published in 1902 by the Ryder Co. The simplified graphic style of this deck retains the historic symbolism of earlier decks, but seems fresh and accessible to modern sensibilities.

Other Tarot scholars are convinced that Tarot has its roots in an even earlier time. They see relationships to the Kabbalah, or to Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Cards, for games or prophesy, were used in China centuries before they found their way to Europe in the 14th Century, and may have been the original incarnation of the Tarot.

It may be more likely that the Tarot was brought to Europe through card games that were popular in the old world Arabia. In 18th Century France, Antoine Court de Gebelin, promoted the concept that the Tarot was derived from mystic practices in Ancient Egypt, which he described in his multi-volumed work, Le Monde Primitif. Another Frenchman, Etteillla, is considered to be the first to recreate the Tarot as a "fortune-telling" device. He is essentially the first Tarot reader. Reproductions of his Book of Thoth Tarot and other publications by Etteilla are still available today.

Tarot reading emerged as a new construct during the Victorian Age's embrace of spiritualism and the occult, setting the foundation for what would become the New Age school of thought on Tarot that we know today.

There is extensive scholarship and research available on the history of the Tarot, whether from on-line sources or in libraries, for anyone who is interested in exploring the subject. For most of us, though, the history is not as compelling as the question of how the Tarot is meaningful in our lives now.

Rhyanna Regan is the author and director of "Your Psychic World", the source of Free Online Psychic Readings.

She has written articles on Psychic subjects including Tarot Cards, Love and Relationships, Dream Interpretation, Astrology, and Palm Reading.

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Understanding Different Types of Tarot Aeclectic Tarot

There are many types of tarot decks available and it may confuse the novice. Understanding the different types of tarot decks helps to get a clearer picture when the reader connects to the subconscious through the cards. The largest variety of tarot card decks is available online at the website of tarot Aeclectic from Australia maintained by the webmaster Solandia. The reason why tarot card decks come in many forms of artistry is because the conscious and the subconscious readily relate only to images. In their role as the connection between the conscious and the subconscious each tarot reader sees different meanings and finds greater clarity in the images on the tarot deck. In short while one set of imagery may appeal to one reader the image may not give a clear reading to another.

The website of tarot Aeclectic gives a clear explanation about the imagery on the tarot deck and makes understanding the different types of tarot deck easy for the purchaser. They have a wide range of cards from ancient Egyptian styles to modern cards by modern artists reflecting modern themes such as gay tarot decks. Art is always based on appeal and art that one admires may not be to the taste of another beholder. This to some degree is true of the imagery on tarot cards. One reader will find clear meaning in one set of deck images while others will find the same pictures clouded in doubt.

Tarot Aeclectic features cards with art from different civilizations and the vast array of cards available on the site gives ample choice for the serious reader. There are cards with designs from ancient Egypt. There are two types of cards available, plain tarot cards and oracle cards. Cards that feature artwork of magical periods in history like the runes, the Arthurian period of England with its half pagan and half Christian imagery called the Glastonbury deck and Celtic imagery are available. Different civilizations are reflected in the art on tarot card decks. You can find Babylonian tarot cards and the ancient Chinese Feng Shui tarot cards. The difference between these tarot cards are that the suites come with different names. In the Feng Shui Tarot deck, the suites are the white tiger, green dragon, red phoenix and the black tortoise. There are also fairy and fantasy based tarot card decks and decks reflecting old religions like that of the nature based Wiccans. Cards which are country and region specific like Basque card decks are also available.

Tarot Aeclectic also features standard decks like the Marseilles deck, the Rider-Waite deck and the Aleister Crowley Thoth deck for those who practice divination and are able to interpret meanings through the imagery on the standard decks easily.

The variety of tarot cards available at the tarot Aeclectic website will give a serious professional a better understanding of the imagery that his or her subconscious relates to for a clear picture. It is only when the bridge between the conscious and the subconscious is clear without being foggy or with obstacles that an accurate tarot reading can be conducted.

Craig Malone is a writer for SpiritNow.com. Visit SpiritNow.com, the online home of America's Top Psychic, Sylvia Browne. Get a psychic reading for free at SpiritNow.com.

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Traditional Tarot

The tradition of tarot is estimated to be over five hundred years old with archetypal roots that can be traced back to almost two thousand years. The traditional tarot has given way to the modern methods of divination, but it still remains a reservoir of ancient wisdom. The traditional tarot decks are the source of origin of the modern playing cards.

The history and origin of tarot is not very clear, though there are numerous theories supporting beliefs of its origin from various places such as China, India or Egypt. However, the oldest Tarot cards that are found date back to the fifteenth century and were found in Spain, Italy and France. According to historical evidence, traditionally, tarot cards were used as playing cards with pictures depicting conditions of life, liberal arts and virtues such as temperance and prudence. It is widely believed that initially tarot was not used as a means of divination.

The traditional tarot was adapted to contemporary styles and Rider-Waite Tarot, Aquarian Tarot, Crowley Thoth Tarot and Cagliostro Tarot are now considered the most elementary and traditional tarot card decks. These cards are designed on the basis of the historical cards and considered as ideal choices fro beginners. Rider-Waite Tarot was designed in 1909 by artist Pamela Coleman Smith, according to the specifications provided by Arthur Edward Waite. This deck contains seventy-eight cards with 56 minor arcana cards and 22 major arcana cards. However, this deck revolutionized the traditional decks by assigning pictures to the minor arcana cards. This deck is the world's most popular Tarot deck, which is preferred by beginners as well as advanced students of Tarot.

However, most of the Tarot historians consider all the tarot decks that were in practice used before the nineteenth century as historical decks. Traditional tarot decks are considered to be closely based on the decks that were prevalent in the Golden Dawn era. The A. E. Waite and Pamela Coleman Smith's deck is a fine example of traditional tarot decks. These tarot decks further gave rise to the more popular Rider-Waite deck and Thoth deck.

Tarot provides detailed information on Tarot, Free Tarot Readings, Tarot Reading, Tarot Cards and more. Tarot is affiliated with Reading Tarot Cards.

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The Long and Colorful History of Tarot Cards

The tale of Tarot cards' history is both long and eventful, stretching across numerous lands and oceans and backwards thousands of years in time. While the precise origin of the cards is lost in the sands of time, scholars have been able to trace a story both compelling and intricate of how they arrived in their current incarnation today.

The Origin of Playing Cards There was a time long ago when playing cards did not even exist at all! This dark age was the time before the Renaissance. It wasn't until the fourteenth century that cards made it Europe's shores at all. In fifteenth century Milan records show evidence of the first ancestors of Tarot cards, which were called 'triumph' cards at the time. However, these were used merely for entertainment and not for divination at all.

The Introduction of the Occult Back in the middle ages, the occult was heavily looked down upon. Legends of witch burnings have been etched into popular culture to this very day and age. It was not until the late eighteenth century that the occult entered the popular mindset as a positive thing. We owe this fortunate occurrence to Marie-Anne Le Normand, who brought divination to the French court by telling the fortune of Empress Josephine, the wife of Napoleon.

The Influence of Eliphas Levi A little later, the modern notion of Tarot cards were introduced by Eliphas Levi as the Tarot de Marseille. This deck was used primarily as a divination tool and was composed of the major and minor arcana we know and love today. Levi was able to integrate the prophetic power of the Qabalah with alchemical philosophies and ancient symbolism to create this powerful deck which is still used in Europe today.

Tarot in the Twentieth Century The twentieth century saw the biggest steps taken forwards for the modern notion of Tarot cards. This is largely the work of two visionaries. The first is Edward Waite. He was a scholar and a mystic, and with the help of a talented illustrator was able to place the significant symbolism of each arcana on the cards themselves. The new deck was called the Rider-Waite deck since it was published by the Rider company. It is still used today in the Americas, and has led to many different interpretations.

The second visionary was Aleister Crowley, who wrote the Book of Thoth and developed the Thoth Tarot card deck. Crowley integrated ancient Egyptian and Greek symbolism alongside that of ancient Chinese and far-Eastern traditions to fashion a Tarot deck both deep and broad in its mystic tradition.

The Modern Spin Today it is common to see Tarot cards practically anywhere you look for them. Modern spins have been placed on this ancient tradition, and it is not uncommon to see popular culture references or illustrations on recently published decks. Whether these new incarnations will be anything more than a passing fad will only be told in time, as the story of Tarot cards continues into the future.

Edward Dietfried is an armchair academic who loves the occult, especially Tarot cards. He is a contributing author at Tarot Card Meanings Revealed, where he writes articles about Tarot card [http://tarotcardmeaningsrevealed.com] history and lore.

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Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot, by Lon Milo DuQuette A Review

The Thoth tarot, by Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris, is a beautiful but inscrutable occult tarot deck. Lon Milo DuQuette sweeps away much of this inscrutability in Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot. Thelemites, dilettantes, students and scholars will all find much of interest within its pages.

DuQuette quotes liberally from Crowley's Book of Thoth, as well as letters between Crowley and Harris. These fascinating documents add humanity to the book and the deck. The author also compares Crowley's original designs with Harris's final drawings. Sure, he slips up here and there, putting in "too much DuQuette," but his engaging writing makes these lapses very forgivable.

The book's first part gives background information about the Thoth deck, its history and the "little bits of things you should know" before studying it, from the symbols of the Rosy Cross to the basics of the Kabbalah. The book's second part interprets all seventy eight cards in the Thoth tarot deck, explains their symbolism, and offers Kabbalistic, esoteric, astrological and mythological correspondences for every card.

The Thoth tarot, like the Rider-Waite-Smith deck before it, is based on the teachings of the Golden Dawn. As influential as it was short-lived, the Golden Dawn was a magical order whose members swore to "divulge nothing...concerning this Order to the outside world." A.E. Waite, Pamela Smith and Aleister Crowley were all members, and all received the same teachings on the tarot.

If occult tarot theory confuses you, this book is right for you, even if the Thoth deck isn't. DuQuette makes everything as simple as possible--though no simpler--and clarifies the underlying ideas with avuncular good cheer. If you can apply the lessons learned in this book to your tarot deck of choice, you will be pleasantly surprised by your new and improved insights.

This book lacks an index, even though it's over 300 pages long. Without one, it's hard to find some passages, especially DuQuette's entertaining tangents. This said, there is a nice glossary, a bibliography and oodles of endnotes at the book's back.

Understanding... is a companion text for the Crowley/Harris tarot. It will deepen one's knowledge of the deck's meaning and symbolism. Those without the deck will still enjoy reading it, provided they have an interest in tarot, occultism, Aleister Crowley, the Golden Dawn or all of the above. If you are thinking of getting the Thoth tarot, but are still on the fence about it, read this book first. Be warned, though: after reading, you'll probably want to buy it!

This review originally appeared on Know Your Tarot (knowyourtarot.com).

Elizabeth Benefiel is the webmistress of Know Your Tarot, a website about the history and meaning of tarot cards.

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Reading Reversals in the Aleister Crowley Tarot

Reading tarot reversals in general is subject to much debate. Many people use them, others do not, and you will find passionate reasons as to why they should or should not be used from practitioners on both sides of the argument. As with anything, it comes down to what makes sense to you and how you want to do your readings. I however, do not read reversed cards any differently than I would if they were placed normally.

Since I have dedicated my study to the Aleister Crowley tarot system, it should be noted that there is no precedent in any of Aleister Crowley's writing on the tarot to indicate that the cards' symbolism or meaning is altered by being placed upside down in the spread. Also, the tarot system most closely related to Thoth-the tarot of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn-has no precedent for reading reversed cards any differently. This is the primary reason for my aversion to reading reversals with the Thoth tarot deck.

Advocates for reading reversals suggest that interpreting the cards in reverse allows you to get more information out of the cards. They say that if we do not consider the cards' orientation, we may be only getting half the story. To me, this argument stems from a lack of understanding of the cards. Each individual tarot card can be interpreted differently depending on its relationship with other cards in the spread, as well as its specific position within the spread. This makes the different interpretations of the 80 cards in conjunction with their possible permutations within a given spread endless. The fact that the cards were intended to be interpreted this way is most likely the reason why authoritative books on the Thoth tarot do not provide a concise summary of the meaning for each card-like you would find in your average book on tarot.

From my perspective there is no need to complicate things by trying to attribute different meanings to each individual card simply based on its orientation in the spread. Learning the complex symbolism within the Thoth tarot deck is a scholarly endeavor in and of itself. Once you become more familiar with the Thelemic system of correspondence, there will never be an ambiguous reading. I would suggest concentrating your efforts on becoming more familiar with the cards and how the various symbols would affect the overall interpretation of the reading, when combined or set at odds with one another. Only use simple descriptions of the tarot cards' meaning as a quick start guide or reference point to begin your divination practice. In the end, if you feel using reversals will help your reading abilities; by all means do what thou wilt, but for your own benefit, do not let it be a substitute for learning the in-depth symbolism of the cards.

The Aleister Crowley tarot system is the Rosetta Stone for understanding the Occult. Join us for more information on the Thoth tarot deck, tarot card meaning, and tarot card spreads.

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Using a Tarot Mat

Certain Tarot decks such as the Rider-Waite deck, the Thoth deck, the Golden Dawn deck and the Tarot of the Spirit deck are all based on the Kabbalistic glyph called the Tree of Life. The twenty-two Major Arcana correspond to particular paths on the Tree, and those paths influence our understanding of the cards. For example, The Fool corresponds to the first path on the Tree, from Keter to Chokmah. Because this is the first path on the Tree, we associate such meanings as new beginnings, will, impulse and impetus to this card. Without the associations that come from the Tree, we might not understand the implication of the cliff, which indicates a "fall" from a higher state to a lower state. We might not recognize that the bag The Fool carries is his karma or his assignment in this incarnation. Similarly, The High Priestess is assigned to the path from Keter to Tifaret. This card symbolizes the subconscious, which carries information from the highest levels of creation to the spiritual center of man.

The Minor Arcana are assigned to particular sephirot: the Aces are assigned to Keter, the Twos to Chokmah, the Threes to Binah, the Fours to Chesed, the Fives to Gevurah, the Sixes to Tifaret, the Sevens to Netzach, the Eights to Hod, the Nines to Yesod and the Tens to Malkuth. The court cards are assigned to the sixteen "invisible" paths, which are the paths not assigned to the Major Arcana.

The meaning of the cards is often dependent on the assigned paths of the Tree. For example, drawing The Sun (Hod to Yesod), Temperance (Tifaret to Yesod) and any of the Nine cards suggests paying particular attention to an aspect of Yesod, the sephirah which is common to those three cards. If the cards drawn include The High Priestess (Keter to Tifaret), Temperance (Tifaret to Yesod) and The World (Yesod to Malkuth), we see that the entire Middle Pillar is being highlighted, suggesting that we pay particular attention to balance between opposing forces.

Using a Tarot Mat, a paper or vinyl mat on which the Tarot cards may be placed on their assigned Kabbalistic paths, helps the reader recognize if a particular aspect of the Tree are being highlighted in the reading. This can lead the Tarotist to discover hitherto unseen aspects of the cards. Tarot Mats are available from some of the private mystery schools (mine came from the Desert Mystery School) and may be purchased online.

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The Best Tarot Decks

A question I get asked a lot is "What are the best Tarot card decks?" Well, "best" is a relative term. I don't really think there is any such thing as "best" but I do agree that there are some decks that are more popular than others and maybe a little easier to understand. In this article, I'm going to briefly review the most popular and probably the most easy to learn Tarot card decks in the world today. Hopefully, after reading this, you'll have a pretty good idea of what Tarot card deck you will ultimately end up with.

Without a doubt, the most popular and easiest to learn Tarot card deck is the Rider Waite Tarot Deck. This deck was named after the very famous occult scholar, Dr. Arthur Edward Waite. The deck was first created in 1910. He had the designs drawn by a very talented lady by the name of Pamela Coleman Smith. Pamela was a member of the occult society group called the Order of the Golden Dawn.

The deck itself is very pleasing to look at. The symbolism is very easy to understand. But the best thing about using this deck is that there are so many books written on the use of these particular cards that learning to use the Rider Waite deck is going to be easier than just about any other deck in existence. For this reason, most occultists recommend that beginners start off with the Rider Waite Deck.

Another very popular Tarot Card deck, though nowhere near as easy to learn, is the Llewellyn Tarot. The illustrations in this deck are based off of the legends and the mythology of Wales. The artwork is created ina a very beautiful watercolor style.

The Llewellyn deck isn't as easy to read as the Rider Waite and there aren't as many books on it either. However, you can find some decent ones in your more established occult stores, whereas you can find a Rider Wait book in just about any book store.

Of course, probably one of the most popular Tarot Card decks of all time is the Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot, which was created by another Order of the Golden Dawn member, Aleister Crowley. Reading this deck is extremely difficult and requires some pretty serious prior knowledge of Tarot Cards. One of the most unusual things about this deck is that it contains three versions of the Magus card. If you're going to use this deck for your divination, some serious study of the Tarot beforehand will be required.

There are of course many other Tarot Card decks, but these three should be more than enough to get you started. I suggest starting with the Rider Waite, then moving on to the Llewellyn Tarot, and then finally tackling the Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot, when you begin to feel more adventurous.

To YOUR Divination Success.

Steven Wagenheim

Please visit my Squidoo Lens on the World Of The Occult located at http://www.squidoo.com/the-world-of-the-occult/ where you can learn a little bit about me and pick up some tips on just about every form of divination that there is.

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Tarot Basics A Guide to Understanding the Basics of Tarot

When you first begin to read tarot cards, the only way to start understanding the meaning, is by looking at a book, on a website or learning from someone. This is a great way to learn about tarot cards, and begin reading the cards; however it is not the best way. For those who are starting to learn more about reading tarot cards it is often recommended to use a Waite-Rider deck because it is the easiest one to read and work with. There are other two decks of cards which can also be used toward peace three main purposes, these are called Morgan-Greer and Thoth decks.

The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits: Cups, Swords, Pentacles, and Wands These four suits correspond to the four elements:

Cups for Water Swords for Air Pentacles for Earth Wands for Fire

Tarot readings, in line with psychic readings could help people understand their traits better and become aware of what can motivate them to carry out their true potential. They could also convey the message of coming dangers and troubles. There are sites nowadays that offer online tarot readings and you can arrange a call with any of those who are gifted in psychic readings, clairvoyance, paranormal investigation, card readings and other crafts. Sites that offer free tarot readings will allow you to ask limited questions at a time. This is often a very useful aspect of online readings as it allows you to try out your connection with a psychic before getting more deeply involved.

Find out how you too can use psychic readings to find love, improve finances, answer your questions and get romance for free at my blog Psychic Tarot Readings

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The Different Varieties of Tarot Card Decks

Specific Tarot readings will be affected by the Tarot card deck you have chosen. Because of this fundamental reason, it is important to know and understand the differences inherent in different decks. While some decks may be popular and others obscure, all hold power and insight. Knowledge is always important, and knowing the fundamentals about the Tarot decks which are out there will help you interpret your reading.

The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is one of the most popular decks in the Americas. This deck was initially published in 1909 by the Rider company. The visionary behind the cards was Arthur Edward Waite. He took the popularized Tarot de Marseille from France and, with the help of the talented illustrator Pamela Colman Smith, enhanced their symbolism and meaning through colorful illustrations. This deck is comprised of 78 cards with four suits of minor arcana as well as the classic major arcana, and is the foundation from which many recent variations have been modeled. The Rider-Waite deck is iconic and has led to many interpretations including Eden Gray's story of the Fool's Journey.

The Thoth Tarot Deck The other major Tarot deck in the Americas is the Thoth deck, which was the product of Aleister Crowley's efforts in the middle of the twentieth century. This deck differs from the Rider-Waite in a variety of ways. For one, the names of many of the cards have been changed. This includes the court cards of the minor arcana as well as many major arcana. In addition to the traditional Latin symbolism of the Rider-Waite deck, Crowley introduced ancient Egyptian and Chinese symbolism in the Thoth. This broadens the mystical tradition which the cards draw upon, and enable more people to connect with them personally. The Thoth deck also has an authoritative text by Crowley which explains the meanings of the cards - the Book of Thoth.

Hermetic Tarot Decks The Hermetic tradition differs from the previous two in that it seeks to use the Tarot cards to explore hidden truths buried within the subconscious and the imagination. The Hermetic deck uses the archetypes within each Tarot to draw upon ancient and modern knowledge to do so.

Oracle Tarot Decks These are more modern Tarot incarnations which draw upon other sources of mysticism for their symbolism and occult power. This includes use of power animals, angels, Greek gods and goddesses, etc.

Pop Culture Decks The latest version of Tarot cards is merely a spin on one of the more established traditions. These decks simply replace the illustrations of Rider-Waite or Thoth cards with images from pop culture like comic book heroes or heroines. This may appeal to a broader audience, but removes much of the thought and symbolism which mystics like Waite and Crowley put into their work.

Edward Dietfried is an armchair intellectual who writes articles about Tarot card [http://tarotcardmeaningsrevealed.com] history and lore. His studies into the occult and the field of divination have extended for many years and have led in many unexpected directions.

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History of Facade Tarot Readings

The history of Facade Tarot reading goes back to the middle of the fifteenth century. Originally, tarot cards were used to play games and it was not until the late eighteenth century that they were used as divinatory tools by spiritualists and occult authorities. In fact, even today, tarot cards are still used primarily for games in some European countries.

Early appearance (1400s)

Tarot first was known by the name "Tarocco" in Milan, Italy, and the first known deck was believed to be created for the Vicsconzi-Sforza family. The cards in this particular deck are believed to represent figures from a local annual parade. Further experts theorize that early figures from the Major Arcana were designed to symbolize colorful characters that Italian nobles would recognize. There are very few surviving decks from this time period, though references do exist to Tarocco.

Transition (1700s)

The practice of tarot card reading for divination purposes is believed to begin in the late eighteenth century. Count de Gebelen, a prominent occultist, saw meaning and symbolism in a Marseilles Deck relating to Egyptian arcane knowledge, a subject that he had studied extensively. His work, "Le Monde Primitiv," was one of the earliest known studies in Tarot. His heavy emphasis on arcane Egyptian matters can be attributed to Europe's obsession with Egyptian history at that time.

Rise to prominence (1800s)

In the nineteenth century, Eliphas Levi (also known as Alphonse Louis Constant), a disenchanted priest-in-training, began to study occult and mystic forces. He began to research Tarot cards exclusively, and theorized that Tarot was connected to Kabalah (the Hebrew mystic order of life) and was a key towards finding heaven.

Further research into Tarot was conducted by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a late nineteenth century alchemy and occult organization, whose members included two future Tarot deck creators: Aleister Crowley and Arthur Edward Waite. Crowley's Thoth Tarot deck was heavily symbolic, textured, and rooted in mysticism. Waite's Rider-Waite Tarot deck, on the other hand, is based on storytelling, and relies on the interpretation of symbols for its divinations. It is the Tarot deck most commonly used today for Facade Tarot Readings.

Ultimately, Facade Tarot reading has overcome its humble beginnings to become a tool of divination associated with great foresight and wisdom. From kings and queens of Europe in the past to spiritualists across the world today, students of tarot know that its history tells the story of a great power for good.

For more information, please visit http://www.facadetarotreadings.com.

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Tarot and Astrology

For the last six months I've been producing illuminated manuscripts of the different astrological signs and have become fascinated by the links between tarot and astrology. The connections between the two systems are more tenuous than I originally thought, although there are some direct correlations between the symbols of the tarot and the ruling planets of the different signs - the most obvious being Saturn and The Hermit, and the Magician and Mercury.

Astrological study stretches back thousands of years - to ancient Egypt and Babylonia at least, while early mankind would almost certainly have created their own star-lore. At that stage in our evolution, we probably used the right brain to a far greater extent than we do today, and those early people would have automatically assigned images to the patterns of stars. [In fact, the mythology of some indigenous populations shows an extraordinary, intuitive knowledge of the heavens - for example, the Dogon, who, according to a recent article on the Museum of Unnatural Mystery, knew about the invisible companion to Sirius.

The ancient astrologers identified the planets, attempted to explain heavenly events such as eclipses and comets, and assigned images and psychological characteristics to constellations which they identified by name based on local myths, and to the different planets.

This use of figurative imagery - together with an underlying animistic concept of the universe - continued for thousands of years, through the collapse of the Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilisations. In medieval times, symbology was employed for religious and philosophical ends - the alchemists, for example, used figurative symbolism to describe the alchemic process. The tarot, appearing around 1415, used the same language. Like astrology and alchemy, the tarot referred to images that all understood - which Carl Jung called archetypes: the fool or jester, Emperors, Popes, Justice, Death, The Star, The Sun. (The Minchiate deck incorporated all the astrological signs, plus the elements and virtues - and was one of the first medieval packs to change the pages to 'maid' cards.)

Many recent decks place astrological symbols on each card, assuming a correlation which may or may not be useful. Crowley's Thoth deck was one of the first to attempt a synthesis of all the magical systems - kabbalah, astrology, tarot and a few more besides. You can, of course, read tarot quite adequately without knowing any other system, but, as always, the more you understand the symbolism used in the Tarot, the more it will enrich your interpretations.

My name is Cilla Conway and I like to think of myself as a visionary artist who has been working with and taking inspiration from The Tarot for more years than I care to think about. In 1981, I completed my own pack, which I called The Intuitive Tarot. It really matters to me. You can see examples at http://www.theintuitivetarot.com. More recently I started a blog called http://www.tarotcardmeaningsonline.com/tarot-and-astrology, which is my attempt to give back for everything The Tarot has given me over the years.

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Review of the New Modern Tarot Deck Individuum

This deck is a new and innovative interpretation of the basic Rider Waite Smith deck, developed in Spain but with an international feel to it. It's focus is on the human condition with the suits being allocated new names from parts of the body. Wands become teeth, cups become noses, swords become brains, and disks become hands. I can see these associations clearly enough, however on first handling of the deck I found the images of all but the hands somewhat off putting. I felt a kind of squeamish reaction to the separated body parts. However with use this personal issue disappeared very quickly and I found these cards to produce really to the point readings on various situations and issues.

Sticking with initial impressions, the cards themselves are small and easy to handle, the box they are presented in is rather nice with a clear strong transparent cover with the fingerprint from the first card of the majors printed on it in silver. You can slide this cover on or off the open, dark navy box, a plain navy card is included to allow the box to look uniform in colour - though you could also allow the top card to be seen through the cover if you wished. The cards themselves seem a little flimsy to me and I am not sure how they would stand up to a large amount of use.

The imagery on the cards is very simple, and also in many cases quite different to what you expect from a deck that is based on RWS. However this is part of the beauty of the deck I feel. Each image, even with its simplicity, contains a lot of emotional information. On the minor arcana cards, a person or two are depicted - their exaggerated facial expressions and body positions clearly portray the energy of the card. The Aces are considered the 'time of...' And this does give the feeling of that energy permeating all actions and events, the potential for all of the suits energy to be available as it is that suit's 'time'.

The courts have been changed quite dramatically with there being a Man (king) woman(queen) and then a crisis of the suit (knight) and finally a path of the suit (page). I particularly like this imagery as often pages (or princesses in the Thoth) are associated with new beginnings and the start of a pathway. Here it is the key image. The Knights also have much to learn and we learn through struggle and crisis - both the opportunity and the danger, again I like the reference to this association being presented so directly here.

Then the majors, these are call the 'perceptions' in this deck and are mapped onto qualities of human experience rather than the traditional titles. The Fool is called the Individual, The High Priestess, The Subconscious. The Tower is The Mistake.

The full list is below:-

0 The Fool - The Individual

I The Magus/Magician - The Consciousness

II The High Priestess - The Subconscious

III The Empress - The Intellect

IV The Emperor - The Authority

V The Hierophant - The Idea

VI The Lovers - The Love

VII The Chariot - The Will

VIII Strength/Lust - The Durability

IX The Hermit - The Search

X Fortune - The Time

XI Justice - The Responsibility

XII The Hanged Man - The Swap

XIII Death - The End

XIV Temperance/Art - The Health

XV The Devil - The Ignorance

XVI The Tower - The Mistake

XVII The Star - The Sexuality

XVIII The Moon - The Imagination

XIX The Sun - The Instinct

XX Judgment/Aeon - The Decision

XXI World/Universe - The Wish

I particularly like the Tower becoming 'the mistake' and having an image of a flat world with water falling off of it - I get a feeling of the waters of the world cleansing our mistakes. There seems throughout the deck references to the planets need for healing, and the ideas of nurturing our connection to nature. I also love the image on 'the end' card. Completely black with a perfect circle of white light with a bead of light on this circle. So simple, yet powerful in its connection with cycles the end being also the beginning and the every flowing energy of life out of the darkness of the womb. Durability is also a card I am drawn to, with the simple image of a swimmer embarking on a long distance sea swim, swimming the channel perhaps. The strength in the swimmer's stroke and muscles comes across clearly, along side the image of calm and peaceful waters. A great symbol for how something can take effort and yet also be a peaceful experience if you have the strength for the task at hand. Images are here http://www.individuum.es

Each of the images on the major cards are clear and simple, but in the same way as Durability, they have a depth of meaning contained within the simplicity. When I first looked at the cards I felt they possibly would not give the same richness of understanding as other decks I am familiar with - yet I feel the reverse, as I have come to use them, their images are very carefully chosen and have implicit depth which becomes more apparent the more you study them.

This deck also have two extra cards, the secrecy cards. One is secrecy male and the other secrecy female. On them is depicted all the suits and also a set of chromosomes - two x's for the secrecy female and xy for the secrecy male. There is nothing more than this mentioned in the little white book (lwb) about how to interpret these - however, in using the deck, I have found them fascinating. They have come up on several readings and seem to have indicated simply someone withholding information. Though also I can see they could represent that information is not yet available through the reading on a subject, rather than a person is holding the information back. I would like to have seen just a little more about these cards in the lwb as they are totally new, however in some ways, the lack of information on them is in keeping with their very nature. I like the sense of having unknowns coming through into a reading in this clear way, particularly when the majors are all very personal experience orientated. These seem to add the dimension of 'outside the self, or querant', and external influence that can not be known yet.

This brings me to the Little White Book, as would be expected just a few key words for each card, it is useful to look through to see the emphasis many of the cards have. This deck does have a very different approach to it, though you can see the connections to the traditional. There is a strong emphasis on the psychological throughout - yet also, when I have read with it, the meanings seem very down to earth and often very practical answers to questions can be gained intuitively. I have found this a very refreshing deck to work with. At the back of the lwb there is a recommended 16 card spread, which looks at general past, present, future, approaching influences, receding influences and karma through 4 cards for each including the diagonals. This spread does seem to work well with this deck. An overview of a situation can be seen easily as well as depth to it. The little white book is currently not in English but a downloadable one is available on the website. There are places to buy this deck though it hasn't been released over here officially as yet, I would expect that the lwb would be in English for this release.

So in summary, I have found this deck to be an interesting, modern deck to use, with surprisingly down to earth readings resulting from it. The changes that have been made feel solid and appropriate, the extra cards intriguing. Once I had overcome the feeling associated with body parts on all the cards, I found working intuitively with it was powerful, as well as using more intended meanings, though possibly it is not a deck for complete beginners.

I have been reading the tarot for 20 years focusing mainly on the Thoth deck and its wonderous images. My background as a counsellor and counselling trainer has informed my use of this deck and I find it very powerful to work with. I offer online training now with the Thoth tarot deck exploring its use from psychological and intuitive perspectives. I also work with people helping them develop their intuition. I offer MP3 visualisations, tarot readings, telephone and face to face. I live in North Wales with my husband and son. http://www.tarot-guidance.co.uk - http://www.tarot-training.co.uk

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Dreams And Tarot Two Threads From The Same Cloth

For some, it is acceptable to work with dreams but not with the Tarot. With the Tarot comes some unfortunate baggage. It is quite possible, in fact, to utilize the Tarot to facilitate self-growth and understanding. No divination required.

With the Tarot, as with a dream, comes many and varied images - and images do pique the unconscious in the most delightful way.

In this article, we'll discuss how dreams and the Tarot may be cut from the same beautiful cloth, yet are distinct threads.

First, the Tarot and dreams both are ripe with symbols.

Tarot decks like the Rider Waite Smith and the Thoth Tarot have a finite symbol set, as the originators aren't alive to produce more cards. (There are many who have taken it upon themselves to create decks with their own symbol vocabulary, but it is not those decks I'm referring to right now.)

With dreams, on the other hand, the symbol set is constantly being added to by the dreamer, even multiple times per night!

Second, both dreams and the Tarot yield insight from way more than just the symbols.

With the Tarot, many factors contribute to the meaning of a reading: the question asked, the layout of the cards, the position in which a card lies, the meaning of a given card, the pattern across and connection between cards (e.g., "elemental dignities" which way characters in the cards are facing, etc.)

The richness of dreams certainly doesn't come from just the symbols (contrary to a "dream dictionary" approach). The meaning of dreams comes from the gestalt of the dream, the sequence of events in the dream, and the emotions within the dream, to name a few elements off the top of my head. You can even ask a question before you go to sleep, called "incubating a dream," and stimulate a dream that relates to your question (no guarantee that it will make sense on a surface level).

With dreams, also, symbols are both uniquely the dreamer's but also carry an element of universality (how many people do you know that have dreamt of their childhood home? why not take a poll right now and send along your results!)

Both Tarot and dreams can be consulted in the service of set-breaking insight.

Both modalities tap into looser, more associative ways of thinking rather than logical a->b thinking, with swirls of images and evoked emotions. This may represent something spiritual to you (a Highest and Best Self or Higher Wisdom), or it may be simply a source of creativity or innovation.

A big difference between Tarot and dreams?

The Tarot is helpfully external. You don't have to go to sleep or go into a reverie to produce the symbols in a Tarot deck and you don't have to put effort into remembering them or recording them in the dead of night - they already exist in the world to project onto, on easily shufflable card stock.

Dreams are internal. They have to be brought out from within. They are, as the Talmud is reputed to say, a letter that needs to be opened. However, dreams may benefit the dreamer without being communicated. Seriously! According to some theories, simply experiencing the dream may be enough sometimes.

Happily, I've noticed a complimentary relationship between Tarot and dreams, that is, working in one modality stimulates the other. When I work with Tarot cards, my dream source "perks up". It's funny, though, Tarot images don't find their way into my dreams. Working with dreams, on the other hand, has improved my ability to read tarot cards in a more holistic, less "keywordy" way.

Suzanne Carter Ph.D. is a social psychologist by training, a senior research analyst by trade, and a dreamer for life. http://www.Dreamcurrent.com was founded to share Suzanne's expertise and her unique and open way of working in the service of the dreamer and the dream. Her goal for the coming year is to personally enable coaches and practitioners of the therapeutic arts to facilitate the personal and spiritual growth of their clients (as well as to enjoy the insights and growth inherent in dreams themselves).

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