Reading Tarot Cards
Interpreting the story of your life
The future is not set in stone: ever-changing challenges, possibilities and opportunities are around every corner, shaped by our choices and intentions.
The tarot is a visual tool for reflection, insight and clarity; a way to gain a better understanding of events and situations affecting our path in life. While the cards don’t possess any power to determine your future; a reading might give insight and encourage you to use free will to change, grow and make positive choices in life.
Tarot cards can be used and read in many different ways: Pick one card to reflect on for the day… Seek deeper insight at turning points in life with more complex readings. Let the images in the cards take you on a journey, where the significance of the stories they tell become relevant to you…
Nine Lives Tarot is the result of my visual interpretation of the tarot as a visual tool for insight and reflection… and I wish you joy on your journey with these cards.
A tarot reading can be as simple or in-depth as you want it to be. Below, you will find some reading examples to help you get started:
Shuffling the Cards
You have a deck of tarot cards in your hand, now what?
Handling and shuffling your cards is a nice way to centre yourself and pause before a reading. A new deck may take a little while to ‘break in’, so spending time with your cards is the best way to work out how you like to shuffle.
As Tarot cards tend to be larger than playing cards (and may not lend to riffle or faro shuffling), many prefer to ‘step’ shuffle, or simply spread and mix the cards (face-down) on a flat surface.
Asking the Question…
Focussing on What and How can provide more clarity in a reading:
- What do I need to see more clearly?
- What can I do to help…?
- What do I need to focus on right now?
- What are my true feelings about…?
- How can I improve on my chances of…?
- How How does X relate to (or influence) Y?
Three Card Spread
A three-card reading is a simple ‘snapshot’ reading, which can be a really good way of getting to know your cards:
After shuffling the cards, select 3 cards in order from the top of the deck (or spread the cards up-side-down in front of you and select 3 cards that ‘speak’ to you).
[1]Past, [2]Present, [3]Future…
A common reading method, is to interpret the cards in a linear (time-based) way, though variations looking at for instance choices, or mind vs body vs spirit, can offer fascinating insights.
Five Card Readings
Including more cards in a tarot reading can be useful for connecting the dots and to seek clarity on a particular situation.
Experiment with different spreads and see what works best for you, you may even like to explore further and come up with your own spread.
Celtic Cross Spread
The classic Celtic Cross spread offers more in-depth insight, where ten cards are used to tell the story. In essence, the six first cards provide insight on the heart of the matter (the Situation) , both on an inner level (cards 1 & 2) and outer level (cards 3 – 6). The last four cards provide clarity on how influences & environment impact on what is happening. (cards 7 & 8) can provide insight on ‘How I see myself’ versus ‘How others see me’, as those around us tend to see qualities we might not always be aware of in ourselves. The final card in the spread (card 10) provides a possible outcome/direction or advice, a reflection on the other nine cards in the spread.
The layout shown here, is the one I use. There are plenty of variants on the Celtic Cross, where you might know or come across one that you like better. The main thing is that the reading works, or feels right for you.
If you want to delve deeper, you can find numerous guides and resources on reading tarot cards (online and in books). Once you become familiar with your cards you will discover what works for you and likely develop your own ways of reading the cards.
Symbolism in Tarot
The name Nine Lives is inspired by the nine lives of cats; drawing a connection to the cyclic life phases depicted throughout the tarot. No card provides predictions set in stone, nor does any card in the deck represent finality and physical death, instead the cards work together to weave a picture of the here and now with an open road to interpretation and an invitation to self reflection.
- Cat – representing the wise guide, offering clarity and truth along the way.
- Raven – symbolising intuition and clarity of mind; the raven acts as a messenger.
- Water – represents the emotional realm and offers insight on how we form connections and relationships with others.
- Fire – burns with a passion and represents the sparks of inspiration and action.
- Clouds – symbolise free thought and an open mind.
- Mountains – represent challenges and obstacles we meet along the way.
- Books – hold the key to learning about and understanding the world we live in.
- Yellow – symbolises intelligence & creativity – associated with the suit of Rods.
- Red – the colour of blood, linked to the heart & associated with the suit of Cups.
- Green – symbolises earth and growth – associated with the suit of Pentacles.
- Indigo – the midnight sky, linked to the mind & associated with the suit of Swords.
