Tarot

Major Arcana cards that carry an astrological sign can be used as a guide for timing in a reading, (we'll cover this later in the lessons about spreads), so it's very useful to familiarize yourself with these cards.

Essentially the dates of each astrological sign can be associated with the corresponding Major Arcana card in a reading. 

For example if The Emperor came up in a spread, it may be signifying a date between 21st March and 20th April. Here's a table to help you learn the dates.

Number  -  Card Title  -  Astro Sign  -  Dates

4 - The Emperor - Aries - 21st March - 20th April

5 - The Hierophant - Taurus - 21st April - 21st May

6 - The Lovers - Gemini - 22nd May - 21st June

7 - The Chariot - Cancer - 22nd June - 23rd July

11 - Strength - Leo - 24th July - 23rd August

9 - The Hermit - Virgo - 24th August - 23rd September

8 - Justice - Libra - 24th September - 23rd October

13 - Death - Scorpio - 24th October - 22nd November

14 - Temperance - Sagittarius - 23rd November - 21st December

15 - The Devil - Capricorn - 22nd December - 20th January

17 - The Star - Aquarius - 21st January - 19th February

18 - The Moon - Pisces - 20th February - 20th March

We also touched on the fact that the Major Arcana represents a journey from earliest awareness (The Fool numbered 0) to fulfillment (The World numbered 21), and that the cards represent the qualities and experiences we must incorporate in our lives before we can realize our
full potential, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Also that the Major Arcana naturally falls into two groups with the Wheel of Fortune significantly at mid point, this
turning point between one half of life's experiences and
the other is very important.

Try to keep these factors in mind as you learn the Major
Arcana cards, however, we will be referring to this in more
detail in the lessons covering spreads.

What I would like you to do now is extract the cards
numbered 0 (The Fool) to 10 (The Wheel of Fortune) and keep
the remaining cards of your deck wrapped in your black
cloth.

Have these 11 cards in order, with The Fool as the first
card and the other 10 cards neatly behind it, so you are
just looking at The Fool on its own.

Each card in the Tarot deck, both Major and Minor Arcana,
have a positive meaning and a reversed or negative meaning.
The following definitions for each of the 11 cards include
key words associated with that card and the positive and
reversed (negative) meanings.

Read the definition for The Fool and practice trying to
remember as much as you can about the card before moving on
to the next one. In your notebook take notes of any words,
images or descriptions that come to your mind when studying
each card.

Remember you do not have to do this whole lesson in one go.
Take your time. You may take a week or more to concentrate
on a lesson before starting on the next. Work at your own
pace.

The Fool
number : 0
element: air
planet: Uranus

positive associations with this card: new beginnings,
optimism, spontaneity, fearlessness, excitement, visionary,
joy, inventiveness

negative associations with this card: naïveté,
thoughtlessness, immaturity, lack of responsibility,
impulsiveness, lawlessness

expect the unexpected when The Fool turns up in a reading,
and influences that could have a dramatic affect on the
decisions and choices you make

when The Fool appears it is a time for new beginnings, a
journey perhaps into the unknown that will be exciting and
fun. Any trials along the way will make you a more
experienced and perhaps wiser person

if The Fool falls in the first position of a reading
exercise caution - it could indicate fool hardiness or
perhaps the question you are asking is the wrong one or you
are asking it for the wrong reasons

The Fool can also represent a person in a reading, if so be
prepared to meet a real maverick, an eccentric with lust
for life

The Fool represents the untapped potential in all of us

The Magician
number : 1
planet: Mercury

positive associations with this card: action, power,
originality, confidence, individuality, willpower, new
beginnings, potential

negative associations with this card: trickery, deception,
lack of self-confidence, indecision, abuse of power

The Magician is an excellent omen symbolizing new
opportunities, the importance of new enterprise and that
you will have the willpower and initiative to succeed in
whatever you do

the mercurial nature of The Magician means that you will be
able to think on your feet and bluff your way through any
difficulties

negatively this card represents trickery or deception and
is a warning to be careful of whom you place your trust in

another negative aspect of The Magician is that it may
suggest that you are lacking in self-confidence and being
indecisive

The High Priestess
number : 2
Planet: Moon

positive associations with this card: intuitiveness,
understanding, wisdom, mystery, psychic ability, the divine
feminine

negative associations with this card: lack of
intuitiveness, emotional insecurity, secretiveness, hidden
obstacles or opponents

the High Priestess is the guardian of secrets so when she
appears in a reading it can mean a secret is to be revealed
or there is a secret you wish to be revealed

symbolizing our intuitiveness and the realms of our
unconscious, the High Priestess is our guide to our inner
self and potential

when the High Priestess appears it suggests you should
trust your instincts, let your intuition be your guide. she
may even represent a person who will provide wise counsel
and advice

in a man's reading the High Priestess can represent the
most important woman in his life

negatively the High Priestess can represent emotional
insecurity and the danger of being tempted to use emotional
blackmail

another negative aspect is that a secret is being kept from
you, perhaps unknown obstacles or opponents

in a man's reading the negative aspect of this card could
represent a woman who is a bad influence on him

The Empress
number: 3
planet: Venus
season: spring

positive associations with this card: fertility, birth,
motherhood, harmony, nature, prosperity, joy, love,
artistic ambition

negative associations with this card: domestic upheaval,
emotional blackmail, over-protectiveness, poverty,
infertility, unwanted pregnancy, suppressed artistic
expression

The Empress symbolizes love, reassurance, prosperity and
birth so when she appears in a reading in a favourable
position she is a very welcome card

she can represent pregnancy or actual birth of a child
however she can also represent the creation or birth of a
creative project or involvement with nature

negatively The Empress can signal that you, or a woman in
your life, is being too protective for comfort and may even
resort to emotional blackmail to get what she wants

she may indicate money worries and a need to handle your
finances carefully

another negative aspect of The Empress is that she can
symbolize infertility or unwanted pregnancy

The Emperor
no: 4
astrological sign: Aries

positive associations with this card: achievement,
authority, protection, support, trustworthy, discipline,
provider, consolidation, reason, willpower

negative associations with this card: weakness, immaturity,
failed ambition, status driven, tyrannical, untrustworthy

the Emperor is a sign of achievement and honour and in many
cases can represent a strong male influence such as a
father, husband/partner or man of significance in your
life, or person of authority such as a boss

when he appears in a reading he can suggest that a man of
authority or significance as outlined above will stand by
you and support you, in personal as well as business matters

when The Emperor falls in position in a reading that refers
to you he suggests that you will be able to influence
people and have a great sense of your own authority

negatively The Emperor can mean that either you or a man of
influence in your life is using bullying tactics and being
overbearing, an abuse of power

another negative aspect of this card is failed ambitions, a
craving for status and insecurity around a man of authority

The Hierophant
number: 5
astrological sign: Taurus

positive associations with this card: advice, wise counsel,
spiritual consolation, knowledge, identification, faith,
conformity, tradition

negative associations with this card: misinformation, lack
of faith, deviousness, bad advice, confusion, disorderly
conduct

The Hierophant is a symbol of moral law, a wise and capable
advisor, a practical instructor and spiritual guide

he also represents the more conventional, tried and tested
traditional values, therefore advising on more conventional
thinking rather than novel approaches

The Hierophant may actually represent a teacher, priest or
advisor but is more likely to symbolise moral lessons to be
learned from events

this card can be an indicator of marriage or a desire for
marriage, as well as point to legal responsibilities and
official documents

negatively The Hierophant can symbolize feeling stifled by
others wanting you to conform to their expectations rather
than being yourself, and not wanting to take more
traditional options. however there is an upside to this
negative aspect of the card that can mean making your own
rules

another negative aspect of this card is that he can
represent confusion, a crisis of faith or self belief that
results in disorderly conduct

The Lovers
number: 6
astrological sign: Gemini

positive associations with this card: desire, new lover,
relationships, physical attraction, love, sex, commitment

negative associations with this card: lust, moral lapse,
temptation, indecision, separation, failed love affair,
emotional loss

The Lovers can symbolize that a new love is going to enter
your life even if you can't see where from - you're in for
a surprise

this is a card that symbolizes an importance choice that
could affect the rest of your life

The Lovers symbolizes a choice between duty versus your
heart's desire, take a risk and it could lead to greater
happiness and emotional fulfilment, stay dutiful and life
will remain the same

this card means that your heart rules your head and a
dramatic change of attitude will lead to happier times

negatively the Lovers can represent an unhappy love affair
or relationship yet you are unsure what decision or choice
to make

another negative aspect of this card is that it can
represent intense temptation and warns of being unfaithful
to your own morals

The Chariot
number: 7
astrological sign: cancer

positive associations with this card: triumph, movement,
change, self-belief, assertiveness, good news

negative associations with this card: rage, tyranny, over
inflated ego, selfishness, arrogance, delays, frustration

The Chariot symbolizes conflicts ending in victory, so
advises sustained efforts if in a current struggle or
facing one, as you will win in the end

this card also heralds unexpected good news and represents
self reliance and belief in your own abilities

travel and change is indicated by The Chariot as well as
representing a vehicle - if in a favourable position it
could mean you'll get that car you've been wanting!

negatively The Chariot can mean that either you or someone
of influence around you is being a bully, arrogant and
selfish

another negative aspect is that it can represent
frustrations and delays or travel plans that don't go well

Justice
number: 8
astrological sign: Libra

positive associations with this card: justice, truth,
integrity, balance, arbitration, responsibility, fairness

negative associations with this card: prejudice, injustice,
bad judgement, bias, bad advice

when The Justice card appears in a reading it can represent
justice, fairness and equilibrium in all dealings with
people, so it's a good omen concerning partnerships,
business deals and legal issues

this card can also signify the righting of a wrong that has
been done to you in the past, or you seeking justice for
another

a karmic card that heralds good fortune and reward for past
efforts even if you are unsure why you are being favoured

negatively The Justice card represents injustice, business
deals that flounder, legal decisions that won't go your way
even if you are morally right

another negative aspect is that it can symbolize bad
judgement and receiving bad advice

The Hermit
number: 9
astrological sign: Virgo

positive associations with this card: introspection,
solitude, guidance, advice, patience

negative associations with this card: obstinacy,
suspiciousness, fear, impatience, folly, arrogance

when The Hermit appears in a reading he symbolizes a need
for careful consideration of issues and possibly a desire
for peace and quiet and solitude

he warns against making hasty decisions and recommends
taking advice from someone you trust before making any
decisions

concerning health, The Hermit indicates a time of
convalescence and rest

negatively The Hermit can imply arrogance and obstinacy,
suspiciousness and a refusal to accept advice when help
would be beneficial

other negative aspects of this card are impatience leading
to bad decisions and loneliness

The Wheel of Fortune
number: 10
planet: Jupiter

positive associations with this card: destiny, movement,
vision, good luck, new cycle, synchronicity

negative associations with this card: obstacles, temporary
bad luck, unpleasant surprises

when The Wheel of Fortune appears it heralds a new cycle in
life, good luck and fortune. it is fate that has brought
this into your life rather than your own doing

this card heralds an end to current problems and rewards
for past efforts

negatively The Wheel of Fortune is obviously turning in the
opposite direction and heralds a time of misfortune and
unpleasant surprises, however this is temporary - as the
wheel turns downwards, in time it will turn up

A Quick Note Before We Start
>

How are you getting on?

If you are finding the lessons easy to follow, and your
retention of the information I am providing is improving,
great!! Well done!!

If not, and you are struggling, don't just rush into the
next lesson.  Don't worry, you will be sent each lesson
every week until you have all 12, but learn at your own
pace. If you need to spend a few weeks on each lesson
that's fine, there's no rush.

In fact if you just try and 'skim' through the lessons you
are taking the wrong approach.  Your relationship with your
cards needs nurturing and this requires focused attention.

Your inner guide/intuition needs stillness and peace to
communicate with you, and you will need to continually
practice your skills if you want to recognise the symbols
and messages you receive when studying your cards.

Here's lesson 3 - the second part of the Major Arcana. To
keep things consistent, I've writen this lesson in the same
format as lesson 2.

I hope you *are* using your note book and doing all the
practical exercises!! Ooh, I sound like an old school
teacher!! 

The energy you get from your cards is very important, so
try to develop your awareness of that. Be aware of all your
senses.

I often see colours, feel emotions and on odd occassions
even experience smells and tastes! On one occasion, for
example, when I picked up the cards a client had chosen for
her reading, I coughed and tasted tobacco smoke! As her
reading progressed it became obvious she was suffering from
respitory problems caused by smoking!

I've learned to pay attention to all my senses, they often
give me important clues.

OK, on to the lesson!!

Best wishes,
Alison

LESSON BEGINS HERE
>>>>>>>>

The Major Arcana from Strength (11) to The World (21)
>

You will notice that from the mid-point, The Wheel of
Fortune (10), the 'journey' reflected in the Major Arcana
cards becomes quite different, and reflects the challenges
we may experience on our path to fulfillment and
understanding.

Some of the cards in this section of the Major Arcana can
cause real alarm with people, so there is an art and subtle
skill in comunicating their messages gently and with
compassion.  We'll cover this in the last few lessons of
the course.

What I would like you to do now is extract the cards
numbered 11 (Strength) to 21 (The World) and keep the
remaining cards of your deck wrapped in your black cloth.

Have these 11 cards in order, with Strength as the first
card and the other 10 cards neatly behind it, so you are
just looking at Strength on its own.

Each card in the Tarot deck, both Major and Minor Arcana,
have a positive meaning and a reversed or negative meaning.
The following definitions for each of the 11 cards include
key words associated with that card, and the positive and
reversed (negative) meanings.

Read the definition for Strength and practice trying to
remember as much as you can about the card before moving on
to the next one. Again in your notebook take notes of any
words, images or descriptions that come to your mind when
studying each card.

Remember you do not have to do this whole lesson in one go.
Take your time. You may take a week or more to concentrate
on a lesson before starting on the next. Work at your own
pace.

Strength
========

number: 11

astrological sign: leo

positive associations with this card: strength, willpower,
compassion, patience, courage, triumph, fortitude

negative associations with this card: cowardice, fear,
inertia, defeat, loss of opportunity

when the Strength card appears it represents not just
physical strength but the ability to cope with extreme
pressure and win through in the end

if ill health has been an issue this card indicates rapid
recovery, if considering giving up an unhealthy habit such
as smoking or drinking this card indicates a good time to
start

the Strength card signifies triumph over most things;
challenges in your relationships or career, even defending
yourself against jealousy, ignorance and oppression

negatively this card represents insecurity, fear and giving
up, perhaps being beaten by unfair means

the Strength card warns of missed opportunities and not to
give up when you could be so close to the finish line

The Hanged Man
==============

number: 12

element: water

planet: Neptune

positive associations with this card: transition,
flexibility, rebirth, deliverance, release

negative associations with this card: materialism, inflated
ego, lack of willpower, easily influenced, martyrdom

The Hanged Man symbolizes self-sacrifice, whether that be
material or emotional, an ability to adapt to changing
circumstances

this card can represent a time of limbo or a pause in life
until something or perhaps someone is given up for greater
gain

The Hanged Man can represent ill health, stress and
anxiety, this is a time for patience and not worry

this card represents a trial of passage and hence the self-
sacrifice aspect of this card has spiritual overtones

negatively The Hanged Man symbolizes selfishness, the use
of emotional blackmail by playing the martyr

another negative aspect of this card is that a weakness of
will may lead you in a wrong direction, materially,
emotionally and lead to missed opportunities

Death
=====

number: 13

astrological sign: scorpio

positive associations with this card: endings,
transformation, clearance, sweeping change

negative associations with this card: stagnation, loss of
opportunity, loss of friendship, fear of change

without a doubt it is this card that causes most fear in a
reading and yet it rarely, if ever, symbolizes actual
death, more a time of absolute endings and absolute
beginnings

whilst The Death card can represent rather shocking or
unexpected events or changes, they usually clear the way
for a brand new start and a greater value for life itself

out with the old and in with the new, a time of
transformation is another way of looking at this card

negatively there isn't much difference, other than you may
have a greater sense of fear and dread. when this card
appears it's time to show what you're made of

another negative aspect of The Death card is stagnation,
resisiting change when change is essential which may lead
to lost opportunities

Temperance
==========

number: 14

astrological sign: sagittarius

positive associations with this card: harmony, health,
moderation, compromise, peace, self-control

negative associations with this card: impatience, lack of
foresight, conflict, quarrels, domestic strife

when the Temperance card appears it symbolizes self-
control, the ability to handle volatile factors and so
bring about a positive result

this card heralds a time of harmonious relationships, peace
and harmony a time to be enjoyed

moderation is the key and spirituality will bring comfort.
it can be said that this card represents an angel or
guardianspirit looking over you

negatively Temperance represents over indulgence, lack of
foresight, impatience, conflict and quarrels causing
domestic strife

this card warns of making hasty decisions out of impatience
that will thwart your progress

The Devil
=========

number: 15

astrological sign: capricorn

positive associations with this card: permanance, commitment

negative associations with this card: entrapment, lust,
greed, ignorance, anger, tyranny, obsession

The Devil is not all bad, if marriage or commitment to a
relationship is under consideration and this card falls in
a favourable position in a reading The Devil is a good omen

regarding most other issues this card is not a very
positive one. The Devil symbolizes lust of the flesh,
temptation and addiction which don't tend to lead to
favourable outcomes

concerning relationships this card can warn against
obsession or people that are no good for us and prompts you
to to examine the situation carefully

The Devil stands for a warning against the destructive
consequnces of your actions motivated by greed, lust and
power

more positively, the Devil can be a sign that you are
gaining control, or at least awareness, of your weaknesses
or addictions

always consider your motives when The Devil appears, it is
a helfpul indicator for you to change course whilst you
still can

The Tower
=========

number : 16

planet: Mars

positive associations with this card: re-evaluation,
necessary change, a blessing in disguise

negative associations with this card: sudden change,
downfall, disruption, disaster

after the Death card and the Devil, The Tower is likely to
be the card that causes most fear and constenation. It's
hard to find a positive side to this card, however, it
tells you that the unexpected shock and upheaval of events
will create new opportunities and make you a stronger and
wiser person

The Tower represents sudden and sometimes shocking changes
in events and can often represent problems or delays
relating to your home or the purchasing of home

whether material or emotional upset, this card encourages
you to see that such upheavals can force new directions
that can be more beneficial

negatively The Tower represents unecessary suffering. You
may be falsely accused of something and suffer some form of
imprisonment or isolation, or you may be the one causing
the shock and change with a rebellious attitude

the main thing to remember with this rather unpleasant card
is that this phase will pass and that a new direction or
new opportunities can be created from it

The Star
========

number: 17

astrological sign: aquarius

positive associations with this card: hope, generosity,
serenity, wishes coming true, good health, spiritual
awareness

negative associations with this card: self-doubt, lack of
trust, cynicism, pessimism

The Star is a welcome card bringing insight into the
future, optimism and hope, renewal of faith and unexpected
gifts!

when considering a new relationship or enterprise The Star
is an excellent omen

this card heralds good times for many things, artistic or
educational endeavours, travel, health and spiritual
awareness or development

negatively this card warns against the perils of self-doubt
and negativity that may lead to lost oportunities

however even with the negative aspect of this card you will
be surprised with good luck despite your cynicism

The Moon
========

number: 18

astrological sign: pisces

positive associations with this card: imagination,
unexpected possibilities, illumination

negative associations with this card: fear, confusion,
highly charged emotions, bewilderment, lies, deceit

when The Moon appears you can be sure it will be a time of
highly charged emotions and confusion

despite any fear you may have, the wan light of The Moon
will illuminate the way, and even if the path you are on is
tough, all will turn out right in the end

Upright and in a favourable position in a reading this card
is a good omen if you are involved in a clandestine affair,
otherwise it may signify that your secret may be exposed

The Moon can lead to artistic expression through art,
writing or music, which may lead to unexpected opportunities

negatively this card stands for lack of progress because of
deep rooted fears and anxieties. It tells of failure of
nerve, it also warns of lies and deceit - perhaps this is
the cause of your worries

The Sun
=======

number: 19

planet: Sun

season: summer

positive associations with this card: happiness, greatness,
enlightenment, vitality, good health, love, fulfillment

negative associations with this card: misjudgement, delays,
potential failure, inflated ego

simply one of the best, if not the best, cards in the
Tarot. The Sun is a most welcome card and a signal of very
happy, joyous times

this card can represent holidays, good news around children
or perhaps news or the conception or birth of a much wanted
baby

The Sun heralds a time of fun with friends and family and
agreeable companionships and relationshipsultimately The
Sun dispels negativity and promises of a happy ending

negatively The Sun perhaps suggests delays to your plans or
achievements and does warn against arrogance and
misjudgement caused by an inflated ego

Judgement
=========

number: 20

element: fire

planet: Pluto

positive associations with this card: rebirth, rejoicing,
absolution, new potential, rewards for past efforts

negative associations with this card: guilt, loss, self-
reproach, delays, fear, obstinacy

the Judgement card heralds a time of accomplishment and
rewards for past efforts. Taking stock of ones life and
consideration of a brand new phase in life

if there has been ill health this card signals a recovery
with a new lease of life

the Judgement card brings an opportunity which, once given,
must not be ignored, a new project or decision could change
your life

this card generally speeds up events in your life

negatively this card warns of obstinacy and a refusal to
move with change when change is essential, which only
causes delays

you will experience fear of nearly everything, fear of
change, illness, perhaps even death

another negative aspect of the Judgement card warns of self
doubt and guilt over past mistakes - this will only blur
the way forward

The World
=========

number: 21

planet: Saturn

positive asociations with this card: fulfillment,
completion, satisfaction, joy, wholeness, success

negative associations with this card: stagnation, lack of
will, impatience, delays

The World heralds the arrival of your heart's desire,
whatever that may be, a time of achievement, recognition,
success and triumph

this card signals a time of enjoyment, of holidays and
travel, time with loved ones, a fulfilling relationship is
on offer and spoiling yourself with the material things
you've been wanting

the World also marks the end of one cycle and the beginning
of another

negatively, The World points toward delays and that you may
still need to overcome some challenges before you suceed,
so don't give up so close to the finish line

don't be lacking in vision or feel insecure, success will
soon be yours

The numbered cards 1-10 of the Suit of Wands
>

Lesson 4 now takes you on to the Minor Arcana cards which
generally refer to practical issues and the more everyday
or mundane events in our lives.

The 56 Minor Arcana cards can be used separately for a
reading or within the full Tarot deck.

Wands
-----

The first suit of the Minor Arcana is the Wands or Rods or
Batons as they are sometimes called.

This suit is associated with the element Fire, a creative
force that can illuminate and warm, or if uncontrolled will
burn and destroy.

Wands represent the creative urge and imagination, and the
will to bring one's dreams into reality. In a reading they
refer to career, work, enterprise and ambition.

Positive attitudes associated with this suit are
enthusiasm, determination and passion.

Negative attitudes associated with Wands are reckless
behaviour and subsequent disappointment.

As you are no doubt starting to realise there is a lot of
information to take in about the 78 cards!! So during this
introductory course I'm not going to cover the positive and
negative aspects of the Minor Arcana in detail, but rather
focus on the key words and values associated with each of
the numbered cards.

Take out from your deck the numbered cards 1-10 of Wands
and keep the remaining cards wrapped in your cloth.

Like you have done in previous lessons focus on the first
card, the Ace of Wands, and try and memorise some of the
key words associated with the card. Make notes of any words
or symbols you get from the card before moving onto the
next one. Do this until you have done all 10.

Depending on the deck you are using, you may be able to see
the key concepts of the card in the picture. If it isn't
obvious, try to find some aspect of the imagery of the card
that will remind you of the keywords.  The human brain
remembers pictures and symbols far better than words and
numbers, so this will help you a lot. Try to get the image
of the card to 'talk to you', rather than just trying to
remember that ace is such and such and 2 is such and such. 
This will become very important when you are giving full
readings using more complex spreads.

Ace of Wands

- Fire
- positive: creativity, originality, fertility, new beginnings
- negative: frustration, greed, overconfidence

2 of Wands

- Dominion
- positive: earned success, partnership
- negative: futility, pride without humility, worthless goals

3 of Wands

- Established Strength
- positive: new ventures, conviction, partnerships
- negative: lack of nerve, frustration, personality clashes

4 of Wands

- Perfected Work
- positive: satisfaction, completion, new home
- negative: decadence, snobbishness, impatience

5 of Wands

- Strife
- positive: conflict, competitiveness, struggle
- negative: fraud, defeat through devious means, acrimony

6 of Wands

- Victory
- positive: victory, fulfilment, great news
- negative: suspicion, delayed news, anxiety

7 of Wands

- Valour
- positive: challenges, courage, ultimate success
- negative: indecisivenes, lost opportunities, timidity

8 of Wands

- Swiftness
- positive: activity, travel, action
- negative: delays, impetuous action, poor judgement

9 of wands

- Strength
- positive: inner stength, self-assurance
- negative: obstinacy, avoidable delays, suspicion

10 of wands

- Oppression
- positive: pressure, over commitment
- negative: deceit, burdens, abuse of power

The numbered cards 1-10 of the Suit of Cups
>

Just to remind you, the Minor Arcana cards generally refer
to practical issues and the more everyday or mundane events
in our lives.

The 56 Minor Arcana cards can be used separately for a
reading or within the full Tarot deck.

Cups
>

The second suit of the Minor Arcana is the Cups.

This suit is associated with the element Water, the cup
represents our ability to contain and manage our emotions
and feelings. The cup can be empty or full and its contents
can be an elixir or a poison.

Cups represent the emotional elements and spiritual
experience in our lives, affairs of the heart, love and
relationships.

Positive attitudes associated with this suit are
creativity, contentment, love, compassion, understanding
and happiness.

Negative attitudes associated with Cups are lust, jealousy,
hate and sadness.

For all of the Minor Arcana suits I will simply be focusing
on the key words and values associated with each of the
numbered cards.

Take out from your deck the numbered cards 1-10 of Cups and
keep the remaining cards wrapped in your cloth.

Like you have done in previous lessons, focus on the first
card, the Ace of Cups, and try to memorise some of the key
words associated with the card. Make notes of any words or
symbols you get from the card before moving onto the next
one. Do this until you have completed all 10 cards.

Ace of Cups

- Water
- positive: contentment, faithfulness, creativity
- negative: barreness, lost love, despair

2 of Cups

- Love
- positive: partnership, love, understanding
- negative: separation, divorce, betrayal

3 of Cups

- Abundance
- positive: fertility, happiness, creativity
- negative: sex without love, self obsession, exploitation

4 of Cups

- Blended Pleasure
- positive: re-evaluation, familiarity
- negative: fatigue, overindulgence, depression

5 of Cups

- Loss in pleasure
- positive: reassessment
- negative: worry, futility, sense of loss, bad luck

6 of Cups

- Pleasure
- positive: harmony, happy memories, the past shaping the future
- negative: nostalgia and inability to face reality

7 of Cups

- Illusionary success
- positive: imagination, choice, aspirations
- negative: self-delusion, deception in matters of love

8 of Cups

- Abandoned success
- positive: change, breaking of ties, development
- negative: restlessness, dissatisfaction, unrealistic goals

9 of Cups

- Material happiness
- positive: emotional stability, kindliness, happiness
- negative: complacency, vanity, finding fault in others

10 of Cups

- Perpetual success
- positive: commitment, peace, love
- negative: antisocial behaviour, disruption of routine

Practical Exercise for this week
>

Now extract the Major Arcana from your deck and then add
the 10 cards of the Wands suit and the 10 cards of the Cups
suit, shuffle well and pick 3 cards, and yes you've guessed
it!! Practice the 3 card reading with these extra cards,
and again write your reading in your notebook.

Until next week,
Alison

Forum
>

The numbered cards 1-10 of the Suit of Swords
>

The third suit of the Minor Arcana is the Swords.

This suit is associated with the element Air, representing
light, intellect, and clear, rational thought.

Positive attitudes associated with this suit are justice,
truth, ethical priciples and decisiveness.

Negative attitudes associated with Swords are disharmony,
conflict, animosity, unhappiness and sometimes illness.

Take out from your deck the numbered cards 1-10 of Swords
and keep the remaining cards wrapped in your cloth.

Like you did in previous lessons, focus on the first card,
the Ace of Swords, and try to memorise some of the key
words associated with the card. Make notes of any words or
symbols you get from the card before moving onto the next
one. Do this until you have done all 10.

Ace of Swords

- Air
- positive: victory, mental clarity, necessary change
- negative: injustice, misuse of power, destruction

2 of Swords

- Peace restored
- positive: friendship in adversity, peace of mind, equilibrium
- negative: tension, deceit, disharmony

3 of Swords

- Sorrow
- positive: new beginnings
- negative: heartache, discord, acrimony

4 of Swords

- Rest from Strife
- positive: healing peace, withdrawal
- negative: exile, isolation, depression

5 of Swords

- Defeat
- positive: acceptance
- negative: treachery, spite, deceit

6 of Swords

- Earned Success
- positive: brighter future, respite, a journey
- negative: procrastination, failure to face up to problems

7 of Swords

- Unstable effort
- positive: diligence
- negative: lack of nerve, indecision, confusion

8 of Swords

- Shortened Force
- positive: patience
- negative: depression, hard work with little reward, restriction

9 of Swords

- Despair & anxiety
- positive: none
- negative: deception, disappointment, misery, isolation

10 of Swords

- Ruin
- positive: none
- negative: desolation, ruin, continued suffering

Spend some time with these cards and think about how you
would convey negative messages to someone without knocking
their confidence.  How you can be truthful yet always
convey hope and encouragement.

Practical Exercise for this week
>

Hopefully you are now getting a real feel for your Tarot
cards. You should also be improving your ability to
communicate more detail in your 3 card readings.

Now we will cover the numbered cards of the fourth suit,
the Pentacles.  This suit tells us of our financial
situation and future possibilities.

I am sure you've been doing your practicing so lets move
swiftly on.

Enjoy,
Alison

LESSON BEGINS HERE
>>>>>>>>

The numbered cards 1-10 of the Suit of Pentacles
>

The fourth suit of the Minor Arcana is the Pentacles.

This suit is associated with the element Earth,
representing practicality, security and material wealth.

Positive attitudes associated with this suit are self-
worth, success, financial prudence, stability.

Negative attitudes associated with Pentacles are greed,
financial loss, material obsession.

Take out from your deck the numbered cards 1-10 of
Pentacles and keep the remaining cards wrapped in your
cloth.

Just like you did in previous lessons, focus on the first
card, the Ace of Pentacles, and try and memorise some of
the key words associated with the card. Make notes of any
words or symbols you get from the card before moving onto
the next one. Do this until you have done all 10.

Ace of Pentacles

- Earth
- positive: security, wealth, recognition
- negative: greed, self-obsession, superficiality

2 of Pentacles

- Harmonious Change
- positive: changing fortunes, journeys, foresight
- negative: distractions, inconsistency, impending trouble

3 of Pentacles

- Material works
- positive: recognition, teamwork, prosperity
- negative: delays, critisism, bitterness

4 of Pentacles

- Earthly power
- positive: contentment, emotional and material security
- negative: greed, indecision, material obsession

5 of Pentacles

- Material trouble
- positive: none
- negative: financial loss, unemployment, hard times

6 of Pentacles

- Material success
- positive: charity, prosperity, balance
- negative: loss, careless money management

7 of Pentacles

- Success unfulfilled
- positive: perseverance, sustained effort, eventual success
- negative: failed opportunities, despondency, self induced money problems

8 of Pentacles

- Prudence
- positive: change in fortune, craft skills, satisfaction
- negative: lack of direction, squandered opportunities

9 of Pentacles

- Material gain
- positive: material success, achievement, solitude
- negative: devious means, financial instability

10 of Pentacles

- Wealth
- positive: inheritance, wealth, family ties, emotional security
- negative: financial problems, family restrictions

Practical Exercise for this week
>

You can now practice the 3 card reading with the entire
deck, minus the court cards.  Remember to keep making notes
in your notebook as you practice.

NOW ONTO THE COURSE:

A Quick Note Before We Start
>

I hope you are having fun with the course so far, many of
you have been kind enough to give me your feedback and
that's great!! Please keep it up!!

The number of cards you should be working with will now be
62!! The Major Arcana (22) and the numbered cards of the 4
suits (40).

This should be developing a much more detailed picture in
your 3 card reading and giving you a much better feel for
how our thoughts, feelings, passions and aspirations are
reflected in the cards.

These cards very much reflect events, feelings or thoughts.
The Major Arcana, or Trump cards as they are also known,
represent key events or situations of more importance in
our lives, the Minor Arcana represent the more day to day
or mundane aspects of our lives.

The cards we will move onto now are the court cards and
these are a little more challenging to learn!!

The court cards, (the Page, Knight, Queen and King), can
represent people, events, or aspects of a person's
personality. Confused already!! You will be!!

I, like many other Tarot readers, find interpreting the
meanings of court cards in a reading quite challenging, and
it takes a lot of practice and experience to build up your
confidence with them.

Again, I have focused on simply giving you the key words
and basic meanings for each card, it will be enough for
this basic course anyway.

In this lesson, we'll be focusing on the court cards for
the suit of Wands and Cups.

Enjoy,
Alison

LESSON BEGINS HERE
>>>>>>>>

The court cards of Wands and Cups
>

Just to remind you, Wands represent work and career and the
element Fire, and the Cups represent love and emotion and
the element Water.

There are 4 court cards for each suit - Page, Knight, Queen
and King. In this lesson we will be focusing on the court
cards of the suit of Wands and Cups.

Therefore there are only 8 cards to study in this lesson
but because of the multiple meanings a court card can have,
it's enough!!

Take out from your deck the court cards for the suit of
Wands and Cups and keep the remaining cards wrapped in your
cloth.

We will start with the Page of Wands and end with the King
of Cups. Just like previous lessons, focus on the first
card, the Page of Wands, and try and memorise some of the
key words associated with the card. Make notes of any words
or symbols you get from the card before moving onto the
next one. Do this until you have done all 8.

Page of Wands

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Leo,
  Aries and Sagittarius
- this card can represent a child - male or female
- appearance - brown hair, blue or hazel eyes
- positive characteristics - loyal, enthusiastic, hard
  working
- negative characteristics - spoilt, impatient, hyperactive
- possible event - lots of messages and communications,
  careful consideration of your next move as you may not 
  have all the facts.  A possible reunion with an old
  friend or lover.

Knight of Wands

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Leo,
  Aries and Sagittarius
- this card can represent a young man less than 35 years of
  age
- appearance - fair hair, grey or blue eyes
- positive characteristics - vigorous, athletic,
  unpredictable
- negative characteristics - argumentative, violent, jealous
- possible event - dramatic changes in events; a move of
  home, travel possibly overseas

Queen of Wands

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Leo,
  Aries and Sagittarius
- this card can represent a woman of any age
- appearance - red/fair hair, brown or blue eyes
- positive characteristics - warm, practical, homely yet
  independent
- negative characteristics - overbearing, matriarchal,
  vindictive
- possible event - being over reliant on others, where
  being introverted or shy is thwarting your progress

King of Wands

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Leo,
  Aries and Sagittarius
- this card can represent a man aged 35 or over
- appearance - red/fair hair, hazel or grey eyes
- positive characteristics - traditional, fair and
  courageous
- negative characteristics - autocratic, prejudiced,
  intolerant
- possible event - a need to develop psychological balance
  and gain wisdom.  Ideals and practicalities will merge,
  enabling you to act with integrity.

Page of Cups

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Scorpio,
  Cancer and Pisces
- this card can represent a child - male or female
- appearance - fair/brown hair, brown or blue eyes
- positive characteristics - loving, caring, creative
- negative characteristics - selfish, scheming, insecure
- possible event - easy to fall head over heels in love,
  but be careful of giving your heart so readily. Take heed
  of a friends advice as the object of your desire may not
  be all that they seem.  Can also mean a need to study for
  exams.

Knight of Cups

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Scorpio,
  Cancer and Pisces
- this card can represent a young man less than 35 years of
  age
- appearance - fair/brown hair, grey or blue eyes
- positive characteristics - enthusiastic,
  artistic/creative, passionate
- negative characteristics - devious, immoral, faithless
- possible event - sudden changes in your emotional state,
  instant attractions and amorous relationships are
  indicated. Negative event - your feelings may be abused
  by a fickle lover.

Queen of Cups

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Scorpio,
  Cancer and Pisces
- this card can represent a woman of any age
- appearance - brown/brunette hair, blue or bown eyes
- positive characteristics - artistic, affectionate,
  intuitive
- negative characteristics - disloyal, unfaithful, vain
- possible event - being over emotional allowing your heart
  to rule your head, behaving irrationaly.  Wanting to make
  a gesture to show your affection for someone.

King of Cups

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Scorpio,
  Cancer and Pisces
- this card can represent a man aged 35 or over
- appearance - fair hair, blue eyes
- positive characteristics - charming, life and soul of a
  party, good mediator
- negative characteristics - self centred, treacherous,
  secretive
- possible event - diplomacy may be required as you may
  have to act as mediator between two factions. Negative
  event - you won't be able to persuade rivals to come to
  an understanding.

Practical Exercise for this week
>

Now it's time to practice the 3 card reading. You need only
remove the court cards of Swords and Pentacles, as you
should now be getting to grips with the rest of the deck.

A Quick Note Before We Start
>

Well here we are, the last 8 cards in the deck. Soon your
78 card Tarot deck will be complete!!

How did you find working with the court cards? OK? Or a bit
confusing trying to figure out whether you should be
considering them as people, events or aspects of a
personality?  Reading court cards for yourself is even more
challenging, so make sure you practice lots on other people
first!

Hopefully throughout the course you've been doing the
exercises and practising your 3 card reading with friends.
Now that you will have the complete deck to work with, you
should start to see the magic of Tarot come alive.

The 3 card reading may be short, but it forms the basis of
many other spreads, some of which we'll look at in the
final few lessons.

For now though, it's time to focus on the court cards for
the suits of Swords and Pentacles.
 
Enjoy
Alison

LESSON BEGINS HERE
>>>>>>>>

The court cards of Swords and Pentacles
>

Just to remind you, Swords represent thought and perception
and the element Air, and the Pentacles represent money and
the material world and the element Earth.

This lesson will be almost identical to the last, just the
interpretations for the cards will be different.

Take out from your deck the court cards for the suits of
Swords and Pentacles and keep the remaining cards wrapped
in your cloth.

We will start with the Page of Swords and end with the King
of Pentacles. Just like previous lessons, focus on the
first card, the Page of Swords, and try to memorise some of
the key words associated with the card. Make notes of any
words or symbols you get from the card before moving onto
the next one. Do this until you have done all 8.

Page of Swords

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Gemini,
  Libra and Aquarius
- this card can represent a child - male or female
- appearance - fair hair, blue eyes
- positive characteristics - intelligent, loyal, truthful
- negative characteristics - devious, sarcastic, critical

possible event - changes and important decisions will be
made by you or others, possible legal disputes, someone may
have it in for you and you may be the victim of slander and
malice

Knight of Swords

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Gemini,
  Libra and Aquarius
- this card can represent a young man less than 35 years of
  age
- appearance - dark hair, dark eyes
- positive characteristics - courageous, intelligent, witty
- negative characteristics - reckless, impetuous, headstrong

possible event - conflicts, whirlwind events that leave you
confused and feeling everything and everyone seems to be
unpredictable

Queen of Swords

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Gemini,
  Libra and Aquarius
- this card can represent a woman of any age
- appearance - fair/brown hair, grey/green eyes
- positive characteristics - intelligent, independent,
  perceptive
- negative characteristics - critical, devious, insincere

possible event - you will need to concentrate very hard on
focusing on yor goals and objectives to overcome obstacles,
if negative you'll try and resort to manipulation which
will back fire on you

King of Swords

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Gemini,
  Libra and Aquarius
- this card can represent a man aged 35 or over
- appearance - black/dark hair, dark eyes
- positive characteristics - rational, authoratative, wise
- negative characteristics - bullying, calculating,
  impersonal

possible event - you will find the ability to take charge
of your life, if negative you will feel controlled by others

Page of Pentacles

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Virgo, 
  Capricorn and Taurus
- this card can represent a child - male or female
- appearance - brown hair, brown/dark eyes
- positive characteristics - conscientious, honourable,
  loyal
- negative characteristics - lazy, greedy, impatient

possible event - prudence, and careful money management is
required as finances are short. Any news about money though
will be good news.

Knight of Pentacles

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Virgo,
  Capricorn and Taurus
- this card can represent a young man less than 35 years of
  age
- appearance - brown hair, brown/dark eyes
- positive characteristics - practical, hardworking,
  truthful
- negative characteristics - smug, complacent, lazy

possible event - improvements in your financial situation
but patience is required, if negative you will have some
temporary set backs financially

Queen of Pentacles

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Virgo,
  Capricorn and Taurus
- this card can represent a woman of any age
- appearance - black/dark hair, dark eyes
- positive characteristics - financially responsible, down
  to earth,compassionate
- negative characteristics - materialistic, suspicious,
  insecure

possible event - too much worry about financial matters,
being overly protective of others.

King of Pentacles

- Astrological signs associated with this card are Virgo,
  Capricorn and Taurus
- this card can represent a man aged 35 or over
- appearance - black/dark hair, dark eyes
- positive characteristics - patient, trustworthy,
  practical
- negative characteristics - materialistic, insensitive,
  jealous

possible event - resolute action will lead to financial
gain, good fortune in money matters, if negative you may
have strong opponents working against you.

Practical Exercise for this week
>

Now it's time to practice the 3 card reading with the
entire deck!!

It isn't always necessary to use all 78 cards when you do a
Tarot reading. There are many ways to use the cards.

for example you could use ...

- the Major Arcana
- the Minor Arcana
- Aces and Major Arcana
- Aces and Minor Arcana
- court cards and Minor Arcana
- court cards and Major Arcana

If you do a little research by studying different Tarot
books and other web sites, you'll discover hundreds, if not
thousands of different spreads and card combinations - you
can even create your own mix and your own spreads!!

In lesson 12 I'll be covering guidelines for Tarot reading
in a little more detail, but for now I'll simply outline a
couple of basic pointers to help you get started.

1) Some people read the cards differently, depending on
whether they are reversed (upside down) or upright. This is
a personal preference and one you need to decide for
yourself. Personally, I choose to get a feel from the
spread as a whole, to guide me as to whether a card is
indicating its ne