Category: Tarot Cards

REVEAL YOUR INNER SELF THROUGH TAROT CARDS

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Charles Levin - Self-Care, Tarot and Oracle Cards, Tarot Cards, Tarot History, Tarot Readings, Tarot Spreads

This is a guest post from the wonderful Jane Sandwood.

A tarot card reading can really help us to understand who we truly are inside. 79% of people found that this level of self-exploration gave them a sense of wellbeing, and in turn improved their mental health. Tarot can reveal so much about the decisions we make in life, pushing us on the path towards a successful future.

Having this insight into our inner self means that we can be completely true to our feelings. It helps us to connect to the world around us on a spiritual level, and be happy and contented. So what can tarot cards teach us about ourselves?

THE PAST

Using a classic, three card reading, the first card is representative of the past. The past is something that we can learn from, and in turn, it helps us to grow and mature. Even painful experiences shape the perspective and outlook that we have. When you turn over a card that represents your past, you should use it as an opportunity to address any unresolved feelings that you have. Memory is a powerful thing, it can be unhealthy to repress memories. Learning to move forward from your past is better for your mental health.

THE PRESENT

With the busy lives that we lead, sometimes it can be difficult to see the wood from the trees. Perhaps you might be unhappy about your job, but find it tricky to pinpoint why you should make a change. Or perhaps you want to move your relationship to the next level. The tarot card that represents the present can help you to pinpoint the current issues in your life, and work out what to do. Making pertinent changes to the present will help you to have a better future.

THE FUTURE

The tarot card that represents the future is all about your dreams and aspirations. It can teach you about what you really want in life, and how you can achieve it. You should be asking yourself where you want to be in six months, a year, or even ten years time. How can you make these dreams a reality? It is only by understanding ourselves that we can learn what we want. This means both spiritually, and in terms of financial or personal goals.

Tarot cards can teach us so much about the type of person we are, and who we want to become. We can use this knowledge to move forward and be true to ourselves.

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READING THE SIGNS IN THE CARDS: TIPS TO AVOID TAROT READER SCAMS

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Charles Levin - How To, Tarot and Oracle Cards, Tarot Cards, Tarot History, Tarot Readings, Tarot Spreads

This is a guest post from the wonderful Jane Sandwood.

The practice of reading tarot cards can be traced back to 1377. These tiny sheets of paper have served many different purposes for many different people over the years. One major use is to give spiritual advice to people questioning their life path.

Known as tarot readings, this method arose in the late 18th century and has become one of the most popular tools of divination in the world. Its growing popularity hasn’t always been used for good, though. Some people have taken advantage of the art to make a quick buck.

It’s important that you and your wallet stay safe, so here are some unique tips on how to avoid being scammed by a tarot reader.

YOUR TAROT READER IS CONSTANTLY FISHING FOR INFORMATION

Your reader should not be asking more questions than you. Remember, the purpose of a tarot reading is to gain insight into your future. You can’t do this if the reader is asking two hundred questions, while you’re only asking five.

If they seems to be fishing for information about your life, then you are probably not getting a real tarot reading.

THE READER TELLS YOU THAT YOU NEED TO ACT NOW

There is no time limit for when your reading is “valid.” Marketing methods like time sensitive readings are simply gimmicks. They’re an attempt to get the most people to waste the most amount of money.

A reader should never tell you when you need a reading. You should be the one that determines when you need to go.

YOU ARE CURSED

One of the oldest psychic scams in the book is when a tarot reader tells you that you have been cursed by a dark presence. They will then tell you that you need to visit as soon as possible to defeat the evil spirit. Remember the time sensitive scam from above? This is simply one variation of it.

No one can put a curse on you, so don’t fall for this hack. You’ll end up wasting your time, money, and emotional security. That is the exact opposite of what tarot readings are all about.

THE READER GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS TO MAKE YOU KEEP YOUR READING A SECRET

Tarot readers are not part of a secret organization and should never ask you to keep your reading private. This means that the reader is clearly up to no good.

Be sure to do your research when selecting a tarot card reader. You can check review sites to make sure your reader is legitimate and see how others fared during their reading. Before agreeing to the reading, talk to the reader and have a conversation about what they’ll perform for you. You can also talk to them about their knowledge of tarot cards and judge for yourself if they seem like the real deal.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE SCAMMED

If you find yourself the victim of a scam, be sure that you take these steps to not only get your money back, but to warn others as well.

Ask the scammer for a refund
If they won’t give you a refund, reach out to your bank to try and stop the transaction
Report the scammer to the police
Post a review on Yelp and other business rating sites to warn others of the scammer
Call the scammer out on social media

If you take the right steps, you may get your money back and help others to avoid the same scam.

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INVENTIVE WAYS TO USE TAROT CARDS

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Charles Levin - Art, Card Designers, Card Innovation, Card Magic, Card Trick, Custom Design, Design, Literature, Magician, Playing Cards, Tarot Cards

In this day and age, tarot cards are used for two types of readings: question readings and open readings. Variations of tarot cards have been used for centuries for everything from entertainment to knowledge of the paranormal and divination to many, many other things.

There is absolutely no reason to restrict yourself to any one way to use tarot cards! In fact, you can use them for everything from playing games to attempting to see into the murky waters of the future. There are an unlimited number of inventive ways to use tarot cards.

Below are a few ways tarot cards can be used for personal and communal entertainment, showmanship, and to promote creativity.

WHAT ARE TAROT CARDS?

To the layperson, tarot cards are bound up in mysticism and magic. The name tarot probably brings to mind visions of fortune tellers divining the past, present, and future. This is one inventive way to use tarot cards, but there are many more.

The intricate artwork found on these cards often goes unmentioned. The design of the cards is meant to represent aspects of the real and spiritual world. In this way, the cards tell a story with each and every spread.

The user shuffles the cards and picks one at random to tell a story about their life. Who knows, you might even be able to see an important event in your future!

GAMBLING

Users can come up with various gambling games to play with tarot cards. Now this doesn’t mean you should use the cards to take your friends money, but rather it’s just one more unique and inventive way to use tarot cards.

After shuffling the deck, players can guess what card will be pulled. Other players can bet against certain cards being pulled from the deck. Still other players can bet on a set of cards being pulled from the deck at lower odds but with a higher gain.

However you use tarot cards for gambling, it’s sure to be a fun time. Remember, though, it’s better to bet pennies than dollars!

MAGIC

Magicians have long used tarot deck in their acts. In fact, many magic tricks rely on the use of these cards. Plain playing cards can get the job done, but a tarot deck adds a touch of elegance and mysticism all magicians, and their spectators, will notice.

WRITING

Another inventive way to use tarot cards is as an aid against writer’s block. This might sound silly, but don’t knock it until you try! A writer can shuffle the deck, pick several cards at random, and use the spread of the cards to write a story. This is a great way to build new narrative elements into an otherwise stale story.

ART

Artists, such as painters and sculptors, can look to the artwork on tarot cards for inspiration. The colorful mystical quality of the card design can get the artist’s mind to start turning in new, imaginative ways. The result? Unique works of art.

Now that you know the almost unlimited number of inventive ways to use tarot cards, it’s time to get your custom set! Choose your own images, designs, card size, number of cards, instructions, booklets, and even include custom accessories and packaging! Click below to get started today.

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THE HISTORY BEHIND TAROT CARDS AND HOW THEY’RE USED TODAY

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Charles Levin - History, Tarot Cards

Tarot | noun | tar·ot : any of a set of usually 78 playing cards including 22 pictorial cards used for fortune-telling

For centuries, tarot cards have been used in many variations for a number of purposes, including entertainment, knowledge of the paranormal, divination and more. Here are some insider facts about the origins of tarot cards and how they’ve evolved over the years:

TAROT CARD ORIGINS

It’s believed that in the 14th century, Mamluk game cards were brought from Turkey to Western Europe, originating the use of cards designed for playful divination purposes. Later during the 1500s, Italians played a game called “tarocchi appropriati” that involved dealing out cards with thematic associations used to predict stories about each other (similar to the childhood game of “MASH”). In Italy, wealthy families hired artists to design their own unique and expensive tarot card decks, which were then called “carte da trionfi”, or “cards of triumph”.

Similar concepts of tarot cards existed in the Christian Church’s priest memo cards, gypsy cards and even old Egyptian tablets, designed with signature images from the artists on them. In many of these different packs, the images were designed to represent aspects of the real world and with each spread laid out, a new and unique story was told.

Some of the earliest decks were designed for a game like modern-day Bridge─a classic card game of strategy that requires two teams of two players. It wasn’t until the late 1700s when the very first guide to tarot reading was published by Jean-Baptise Alliette and widespread divination use began. Modern-day tarot practice came about in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, originally called “ìRota,î” which means “wheel”, relating the “wheel of life” experience provided by the deck. The best beginner deck was created in 1909 by William Rider and A.E. Waite, known as the still popular Rider-Waite deck. This deck is recommended for beginner readers because it includes a printed reading guide and specific meanings of each card.

HOW TAROT CARDS ARE USED TODAY

Today, tarot cards are used similarly, however in different variations. There are two types of readings, which include question readings and open readings. Additionally, there are many different types of tarot decks designed around themes like nature, fantasy, animals, etc. And while there isn’t a standard number of cards across all decks, all deck suits and their meanings are very similar.

The Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana are the two categories of cards in a standard tarot deck. Major Arcana are the trump cards you typically see depicted as tarot cards and each have a unique meaning. Minor Arcana are four suits of numbered cards 1–10 combined with four suits: wands, swords, cups and circles/pentacles; and four face cards: page, knight, queen and king.

The deck is shuffled and the person being read is dealt spread of cards in specific places, each card in a specific place representing an influence surrounding their life. The reader then discusses each card, how they relate to each other and the different aspects of their life. There are various spread options and ways to personalize the experience for the person being read, such as targeting certain questions about their life with a question reading or addressing monumental life moments with an open reading.

Tarot readers honor their deck as a magical tool and personalize them for their own use, a process known as keying. In a keyed deck, the elements shown on the cards are tied to the real elements in the Universe, creating the magic. With unkeyed cards, you can still lay out spreads, but they will be less accurate than with keyed cards.

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● Official Shuffled Ink website: ShuffledInk

● Make Your Own Custom Tarot Cards at: ShuffledInk