Lesson One ~ Majors Part One

I was stuck as to how to begin because there is so much information about tarot. A lot of it is useful but a lot of it isn't.

The Major Arcana are special so we will start there. Their meanings go very far back in time and I think it is difficult to bring them into the present. This goes for the courts too but let's not put the cart before the horse.

I've debated going card by card but I think that will go too slowly. So, I'm dividing the majors into sections and we will go that way.

Essentially, the majors tell the story of the Fool's Journey. This story is easily compared to the Hero's Journey.

But you may already know this, or you may care not to know.

So, let's see what you come up with on your own, shall we? Let your imaginations run wild.

I'm dividing the majors into 3s. So we are beginning with the first 7. So grab your deck and pull out the following cards: The Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, and Chariot.

I'm not counting the Fool as a card since he's 0. Am I taking it for granted that we all know what the Fool represents?

Let's begin there. Look at your Fool card and make some observations. Write or type what you see in that card. Everything that you see, even mention the color. What do those things mean to you? What type of emotions or thoughts do you have while looking at that card? What does it all mean to you? If you are not sure about an symbol feel free to look it up if you feel you need to. Then come to your own conclusions.

It isn't important that you do the full exercise for each card. If you'd rather pick another card than the fool, that's fine. But let's stay with the first 7 for now because they are more based in a practical plane.

These cards represent archetypes and while they are for the most part universal, they also mean certain things to certain people. Remember that there is no wrong way to read a card. We aren't yet reading, just observing. And you're more observing yourself than the card anyway.

So, after you've done this with the fool card, I want you to put yourself in the Fool's place and just look at the next 7 cards. How does he see these people? What does he notice? What do they offer him? Do they say or do anything? Every little detail is important. You can write it down if you want or not. I don't care. We are working on your powers of observation here. If your intuition starts to kick in, it may feel like your imagination or stray thoughts, write that down! Pay attention to that.

You may find that your thoughts go to things you don't actually "see" in the card. They could be images in your mind's eye, emotions, memories, anything really.

You can also do this for each card. How does the Magician interact with the other cards? Do as much or as little as you want to right now. We will get to it all eventually so go at your own pace.

The most important thing is to have fun! And feel free to ask questions.

Here is my exercise with the Fool.