The Best Tarot Decks – 2018

best tarot deck

Let’s be honest. Tarot decks are subjective, how can you have a ‘best?’ one? Popularity, quality of illustration and style are all things to take into account when choosing a new deck. This article exists to inform the reader of other decks which might take their fancy, from a selection of high quality decks.

Rider Waite Deck

Probably the most well known, though not the original, tarot deck in use. The Rider Waite deck is a brilliant starter set, as well as being perfect for advanced use. Every tarot reader should own a set of the Rider Waite tarot cards.

The Hermetic Tarot

The Hermetic tarot draws from hermetic and alchemical symbology. A beautiful deck, the Hermetic tarot deck can give you a different, more esoteric perspective on the questions you’re seeking answers for.

The Cosmic Tarot

The Cosmic Tarot is intended to make tarot more approachable, and helps by making the symbology of the cards easier to interpret. A fresh design and highly reviewed, one to check out if you haven’t had a look yet.

The Wildwood Tarot

The Wild Wood tarot is as well known alternate deck, using neo-pagan symbology to tell the story of the cards. Beautifully detailed, it’s one to check out, especially if you are this way inclined.

The Druid craft Tarot

Created by practising druids, notably those of OBOD fame (Carr-Gomm), the Druid craft tarot is similar in some respects to the Wild Wood deck, but focuses on Druidism over other neo-pagan practices. Featuring fresh illustrations, it’s one to take a look at if the designs appeal.

 

How to perform Tarot readings online

tarot sign

I’ve recently started offering tarot readings on fiverr. The experience has been uplifting, and I’ve been able to help a number of people so far. It’s very different from offering readings in person, and there are certain pros and cons of distance reading. You’re unable to discuss the reading as it’s taking place, and can only offer the final product. I quite enjoy this aspect, you can stay focused on the initial query and there is no distraction from further questions. You also perform a purer reading, untainted by unconscious hints and body language the querent offers. You can have a look at the fiverr page here.

How I perform an online tarot reading

Getting an order

As soon as somebody orders though the gig page on fiverr, I get an email. I reply as soon as possible  to say that I have received the request, and to give a rough timeframe. Fiverr allows extras, so if the querent has selected 1-day Delivery, I will make that reading my priority. Once this reply is set, I try to find a good period of time in the day I can dedicate to the reading.

Performing the reading

Finding time to fit readings in can be tough, but so far I have managed every reading on time. It is so much more than shuffling, dealing cards, laying them out, then typing up the reading. I like to get into a good receptive mental state before performing the reading, and I always perform readings when I am alone. Usually, the readings are simple, one or two cards, as described on the gig page. I perform my readings while sitting on the floor, though this is mainly because I do not have a table! Once the cards are dealt, I simply look at them. Intuition and knowledge of tarot cards plays it’s part here. Once the cards are dealt, an image will start to form. At this stage, I’ll start typing up the report.

Clearing and editing and presenting

Once the report is typed up, I’ll leave it for an hour or so, and then come back to it. The reading is still in my mind, even after it has been performed, and sometimes taking a step back to observe the situation can help you see things from a new angle. At this stage, I’ll edit the report and review it, as an editor would review a book. The reports I type follow a set pattern, shown below in a censored, but actual report.

tarot card report

First I greet the querent, and then get started with the reading. I like to jump straight in. I make it clean I know their question, and then type how each card I draw relates to it. One thing I like to add, are missing cards or suits (if many cards are drawn). At the end, I summarise the reading into actionable steps for the querent. I like to give a sense of closure to the question.

Delivering the report and followups

I send the typed up and formatted report as an image or PDF file. It’s as simple as that. For once, the technological part of something is the easiest! I like to be open to communication afetrwards and I’m always happy to discuss the reading afterwards.

Should you perform online tarot readings?

It’s really up to you. If you have a tight schedule like I do, then it’s a very good idea. You can still practice tarotology for real people, on your own time. I’ve found it to be just as good as a face to face reading, and my feedback so far has been very positive!

 

 

 

Queen of Swords and an update!

The Queen of Swords Commision piece

 

The Queen of Swords Commission piece

Check out tumblr! There are a lot of brilliant alternative blogs on tumblr, so it’s a great way to find like-minded people. within the first hour, I was liking and following many different blogs. This particular piece really struck me, it’s a commission from http://spring-forth-from-my-mind.tumblr.com. I hope you all like it! Be sure to follow us too. If you send us a message, we’ll be sure to follow you back!

(Permission was gained from the artist to share her work)

 

2018 Zodiac Reading

Tarot card - The Six of Wands

This spread shows a tarot card which represents each of the zodiacal star signs for the coming year, January 2018 to December 2018. One card per star sign, they should give you the general theme of how the year is going to progress and end. To use this Zodiacal reading, scroll to your Star sign, and read what is in store. Click the card for more information. If you would like a more in-depth personal reading, or you’d like to expand on this, considering a reading from Tarot-Explained.

Aries – 21 March to 20 April

Tarot card - The Six of Wands

The Six of Wands. This will be a good year. Expect goals to be completed. Go out of your way to make good memories this year.

Taurus – 21 April to 21 May

Eight of Cups Tarot card

Eight of Cups. You might give up on a long held belief this year, but remember it is for the best. Something might go wrong this year to change you, but you will recover and grow.

Gemini – 22 May to 21 June

Tarot card - The Fool

The Fool. New beginnings and new starts. Come into this year with a fresh perspective; New Year, New you. You’re only at the start of your journey.

Cancer – 22 June to 22 July

Tarot card - The Nine of Pentacles

Nine of Pentacles. It’s likely that things are coming to a happy ending. All that which you’ve worked for is going to pay off in the coming year. Be sure to congratulate yourself as you ascend to a better state of being.

Leo – 23 July to 22 August

Tarot card - The Ace of Swords

Ace of Swords. If you’re willing to put the effort in, this will be your best year yet. Be strong and decisive. There’s no need to rush, you’re only at the start of it.

Virgo – 23 August to 23 September

Tarot card - The World

The World. You’ll accomplish much this year. If you believe you have a life goal, then 2018 is going to be either completing it, or getting very close. If you have set new years resolutions, then you’re sure to complete them in 2018.

Libra – 24 September to 23 October

Tarot card - The Emperor

The Emperor. You will take charge of your life this year. If you are feeling stifled and constrained, then 2018 is the year when you will break free.

Scorpio – 24 October to 22 November

Tarot card - The Devil

The Devil. Be sure to look out for traps and pitfalls this year. There will be many choices presented to you which are not the right thing to do. Try not to give into past weakness,

Sagittarius – 23 November to 21 December

Tarot card - The Moon

The Moon.You might be feeling lost and directionless right now, but 2018 is the year when things pick up if you make them. Stop worrying about the little things.

Capricorn – 22 December to 20 January

Tarot card - The Magician

The Magician. Don’t lose sight of your goals. You have a lot of ambition and there are many ways to apply your skills, don’t get overwhelmed, just focus.

Aquarius – 21 January to 19 February

Tarot card - The Ten of Pentacles

Ten of Pentacles. Money might be tough this year, but you will end the year in a good state. You’re going to mature and grow a lot this year in an area you weren’t aware of.

Pisces – 20 February to 20 March

Tarot card - The Five of Swords

Five of Swords. This will be a tough year for you. Expect adversity. Be prepared for it, what are people going to challenge you over this year?

January 2018

tarot fool icon

tarot fool icon

I hope you’ve all been having a good year so far, a number of cool new things have happened on Tarot-Explained this year, most notably our readings! We’er offering readings, both Free and premium readings through Fiverr, and we’ve got loads of cool website features planned for 2018, read on for more info.

Tarot Readings

We’re now offering tarot readings and they’re proving to be exceptionally popular. Find out more at the tarot reading page here. For no obligation, you can request a free reading, this includes on card and an email response. A premium reading can answer three questions and will be delivered promptly. They have proven to be much more popular than I’d imagined so there are only limited slots open for each. I really want to add value for premium readings so first of all, they are very low cost.

Newsletter

The newsletter is now live. You can sign up with the widget on the sidebar. Simply enter your email address and you’ll be subscribed. In future, there will be a tarot card of the week, as well as special newsletter only offers. You’ll hear about things first on the newsletter!

Website features

The site is complete, but that doesn’t mean more bonus features can be added! We’ve been requested a number of times to add inverted card meanings to each page. These will be added as soon as they have been thoroughly researched. Symbology for each card will be finished this year too!

Stickers and phone cases

Finally, designs for each card will be added to the redbubble store. You can view the store here. These stickers have been so so popular. It’s quite a bit of work to touch up each card and get it ready for print. Redbubble frequently have savings so these stickers and phone cases, so be sure to check back frequently.

 

That’s all for now, expect an update mid-February. As always, thank you for visiting Tarot-Explained!

 

 

 

Happy new year, Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Tarot-Explained.com!

Tarot card - The Empress

 

Tarot card - The Empress

I hope you’ve all had a merry festive season, and are all looking forward to the new year. January 2nd 2018 marks the third birthday for Tarot-Explained.com. It doesn’t feel like our second birthday was too long ago, how time flies! The site has come a long way and I love seeing it grow. The road map for the new year involves video descriptions, in depth symbology of the Rider-Waite deck, card keywords, and much much more.

Thanks so much for sticking around, and see you in 2018!

Hallowe’en updates!

tarot scene

It’s Halloween again, arguably the best time of the year. Last year, we introduced a Halloween spread for you all to try out. If you weren’t here for it, give it a go this Halloween! Tarot-Explained.com has seen a number of updates recently, so we’ll summarise them in this post.

Sometimes a written definition isn’t enough for a tarot card description. Maybe it doesn’t seem relevant enough or fit just right. We’ve started adding keywords to each card description, starting with all of the Major Arcana. You can find them on the card description pages, near the bottom. Sometimes a keyword can help more than a given description, it gives you a different perspective and a more open starting place to draw connections from. Soon, all of the cards will have keywords attached.

We’ve also drawn up a road map of new features to add to each card; symbology, astrological ties and card connections to name a few. It’s exciting to work on and I’ve loved seeing this site grow. In January, Tarot-Explained will be three years old! Thanks for sticking around, and thanks for the nice comments I’m receiving through email.

All the best.

Tarot in popular culture : A really brief introduction to Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ‘The Holy Mountain’

Happy Autumn, and now that the autumn equinox has passed, it’s all downhill from here! I’m only joking. Autumn is a time to calm down and start finishing the things you started earlier in the year. In this case, I wanted to write about tarot in popular culture months ago, and I’ve only really just gotten around to it.  To start with, we’ll briefly discuss the tarot symbolism of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ‘The Holy Mountain’.

If you are one for spotting hidden symbolism and meanings, the Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ‘The Holy Mountain’ is a brilliant film to watch. Tarot plays a prominent role in the film both as an element of the story as well as clearly inspiring the designs of the characters. To try and actually describe The Holy Mountain is difficult; as a surrealist film the narrative is rather disjointed and sometimes difficult to watch, but it’s sprinkled with extremely memorable scenes which you’ll think about for days.

In the above scene, The Alchemist character uses the tarot deck as an allegorical tool of transformation for the story of the fool figure, whom eventually grows into a Christ-like figure, following the journey of the fool. The meaning of the Magician card and Hermetic concepts are described effortlessly in one line, with the bull and the vulture. This is one of the earlier scenes in the film, and forms a basis for the following story, introducing ten characters that are all essentially aspects of the whole main character.

Alejandro Jodorowsky still studies the tarot; he wrote a book on it and saw it differently to how it is usually portrayed. Not happy with the tarots use as a divination tool, he treated it more as a psychological aid. Interestingly, he combine cards in order to better understand them. Jodorowsky considers only one deck to be pure, the Tarot de Marseille, and all others to be derivative, each new tarot deck release losing the original meaning of the cards, until you end up with something like a tarot deck based off a TV show. It’s true that this opinion is shared by many, but as with many aspects of tarot, there is no objective truth.

In future we’ll be looking at more tarot inspired films, music and books!  Have you read a book or seen a good film that features Tarot symbology? Comment below!

 

Should I consult the Tarot for finance?

Tarot card - The Ace of Pentacles

I recently read an article on the telegraph about the financial situation in Italy, and how many are now consulting the tarot to get a glimpse of their potential financial future. In this case, the situation has gotten so bad that people are turning to Tarot and other divinationary methods to try and find hope in what looks like a bleak future. It seems around a quarter of Italians re now using the services of Tarot readers and other similar practitioners. For any country, that’s quite a lot! Is this a good idea though?

When should you use Tarot to predict your finances?

You should treat the Tarot as a message form something greater than you; the Universe. You don’t necessarily have to bend to the will of the messages presented, they are just given as a potential outcome if you continue what you are doing. If you draw a good card in relation to finances, say, The Ace of Pentacles, you should always analyse it yourself rather than take it at face value. You may very likely have to put some action in place to make this eventuality come around. Have you been losing money hand over fist recently? Don’t expect this to change if you don’t change.

The important part here is the free will you possess. Even though it might feel like it, life isn’t a roller-coaster than you are strapped into. You are driving, and you can choose to go the wrong direction that your sat-nav takes you. Take the advice of the tarot cards and use them if they feel they will help you, and this applies to any aspect of your life.

If you are having trouble with your finances; Money is mundane, so a more mundane approach is likely going to be more useful than a spiritual one. Divide your expenses into wants and needs and then analyse it. Are your needs actually needs, or are they just disguised wants? You’ll be surprised how easy it is to save money and fix financial problems if you can see the benefit and overall positive impact that comes from sacrifice.

For some further information on using tarot for finances, check out Ten tips for Interpreting the Tarot and the ‘Life Aspects‘ spread :)

Stichomancy – Enhance your tarot reading

Stichomancy divination method

Stichomancy

Tarot is a great divinatory tool as we all know. What you may not know is that it can be combined with so many other magical and divination methods and techniques.  Stichomancy is the art of divination through interpreting seemingly randomly chosen words.

Can I perform Stichomancy?

Yes, anyone can do it, and it makes a great addition to any tarot reading! You simply think of a question, open a book at random , close your eyes and put your finger down on the page. The sentence you put your finger on should answer your question! Let’s look into how to perform a Stichomancy reading in depth.

 

How do I perform a Stichomancy reading?

  1. Find a book which you believe to contain truth. Traditionally religious texts were used but you can choose a book that you feel drawn to or have a connection with
  2. Clear your mind and think of a question you wish to ask, focus on the question
  3. Close your eyes and hold the book by it’s spine
  4. Allow the book to fall open on any page
  5. With your eyes still closed, place your finger on the page
  6. Open your eyes and read the sentence that your finger has fallen on
  7. Understand the sentence and interpret it in relation to your question

Stichomancy is a lesser known divination technique but has actually been in use for over 3000 years. Sometimes it is called Bibliomancy. There are many methods of performing a reading but the steps above are a good place to start from. You can use it in a reading in many ways. For yourself, Stichomancy can give you another valuable insight into your initial question in a wider way than a single card or spread of cards can. For others, Stichomancy is a fun and easy to understand technique. It almost turns divination into a fun game!

Give Stichomancy a try in your next reading and let us know how you got on. Comment below or visit out Facebook page to discuss Stichomancy along with Tarot!