The Art of Reading Tarot Cards with a Deck of Playing Cards

If you’ve ever been interested in tarot reading but you don’t have a set of tarot cards on hand, did you know that you can simply use a deck of playing cards instead? Tarot cards were actually derived from playing cards, so it’s definitely possible to use regular cards for divination purposes. In this post, we’ll be exploring the basics of using a deck of playing cards as a tarot deck.

The History of Tarot and Playing Cards

Tarot cards have been used for divination since the 15th century, while playing cards actually originated in China before making their way to Europe in the 14th century. The first tarot decks were designed by adding 22 trump cards to a typical playing card deck, creating 78 cards in total. These trump cards are also known as Major Arcana and typically feature images of iconic figures or characters, representing different aspects of life.

How to Read Tarot Cards with Playing Cards

To use a deck of playing cards as tarot cards, you need to familiarize yourself with each card’s meaning. Here’s a quick guide to the basic interpretations:

– Hearts: Connected to emotions, love, and relationships
– Diamonds: Linked to money, finances, and material possessions
– Clubs: Associated with work, career, and action
– Spades: Symbolic of challenges, obstacles, and difficulties

In addition to the suits, each card in a playing card deck has its own significance too. Here’s what each card represents:

– Ace: A new beginning
– 2-10: Represents different stages or states of the suit
– Jack: Represents a young person or messenger
– Queen: Represents a mature woman
– King: Represents a mature man

Sample Reading

Now that you know the basics of interpreting playing cards as tarot cards, here’s a sample reading to give you an idea of how this works:

Imagine you’re conducting a reading using the Ten of Diamonds as your focus card. This card can represent financial stability, abundance, or a windfall of money. If the next card you draw is the Ace of Spades, it could signify the end of a challenge or a significant change that may feel like a loss initially but offers growth in the long run. If the third card is the Jack of Hearts, it could represent a message about a new emotional relationship or the deepening of an existing one, all connected to the initial abundance or financial gain seen in the Ten of Diamonds.

The Art of Reading Tarot Cards with a Deck of Playing Cards: FAQs

Tarot card reading is an ancient art, using a pack of 78 cards to explore the past, present, and future. A typical tarot deck consists of 22 major arcana cards and 56 minor arcana cards, divided into four suits: cups, wands, swords, and pentacles. However, not everyone has access to a traditional tarot deck, but most of us do have a deck of playing cards. The good news is that you can use playing cards for divination and prediction, with a little bit of knowledge and practice. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the art of reading tarot cards with a deck of playing cards.

1. Can I really use playing cards instead of tarot cards?

Yes, you can use playing cards instead of tarot cards for divination and prediction. In fact, playing cards have a long history of being used for fortune-telling, especially in Europe and Asia. The playing card deck has four suits that correspond to the four elements and four seasons, just like the tarot deck. The major arcana cards of the tarot deck can also be traced back to the playing cards, as they share similar themes and symbols.

2. Do I need to have a special deck of playing cards for tarot reading?

No, you can use any standard deck of playing cards for tarot reading. However, it is recommended to have a deck with traditional designs and colors, as they are easier to associate with the tarot symbolism. The most important thing is to understand the correspondences and meanings of the playing cards, and to develop your own intuition and interpretation skills.

3. How do I assign meanings to the playing cards?

There are several ways to assign meanings to the playing cards, depending on your personal preference and tradition. Here are some common methods:

• Numerology: Each card has a number from 1 to 10, which can be interpreted according to numerology principles.
• Suit correspondences: Each suit has a specific element, season, and area of life that it represents. Hearts represent emotions and love, diamonds represent material wealth and business, clubs represent creativity and communication, and spades represent challenges and transformation.
• Playing card divination systems: There are many books and websites that provide specific meanings and spreads for playing card divination, such as Lenormand, Kipper, Gypsy, and Petit Etteilla.

4. How do I shuffle and draw the playing cards?

You can shuffle the playing cards in any way that feels comfortable to you, such as overhand shuffle, riffle shuffle, or Hindu shuffle. It is important to focus your intention and ask a clear question before shuffling. Then, you can draw the cards one by one, either face-up or face-down, and lay them in a spread that corresponds to your question or situation. There are many spreads that you can use, such as three-card spread, five-card spread, seven-card spread, Celtic cross, and horseshoe.

5. How do I interpret the playing cards?

Interpreting the playing cards requires a combination of knowledge, intuition, and context. You can start by looking at the individual cards and their meanings, as well as the patterns and combinations between them. You can also use your intuition to sense the energy and message of the cards, and to connect them to your own experience and feelings. Finally, you need to consider the context of the question or situation, and to apply the cards’ meanings to the past, present, and future aspects of it.

6. Can I do tarot readings for others with playing cards?

Yes, you can do tarot readings for others with playing cards, as long as you have their permission and respect their privacy. It is important to establish a clear and ethical framework for the reading, such as explaining the purpose, limitations, and confidentiality of the session. You also need to be aware of your own biases and limitations, and to avoid giving medical, legal, or financial advice unless you are qualified to do so.

7. How do I improve my playing card reading skills?

Improving your playing card reading skills takes time, practice, and curiosity. Here are some tips and resources that can help you:

• Read books and websites: There are many books and websites that provide in-depth explanations, exercises, and examples of playing card reading.
• Join communities and forums: There are many online and offline communities of playing card readers that can offer support, feedback, and inspiration.
• Use spreads and prompts: Using different spreads and prompts can help you explore different aspects of the question or situation, and to challenge your assumptions and patterns.
• Practice regularly: Practicing regularly, with yourself or with others, can help you refine your skills, gain confidence, and discover new insights.

In conclusion, reading tarot cards with a deck of playing cards is a fascinating and rewarding skill that anyone can learn. By understanding the correspondences and meanings of the playing cards, and by developing your own intuition and interpretation skills, you can gain valuable insights into yourself and others, and navigate the challenges and opportunities of life with more clarity and creativity.

The Art of Reading Tarot Cards with a Deck of Playing Cards

Tarot reading is a centuries-old practice that uses a deck of 78 cards to gain insight into the past, present, and future of a person or situation. However, what if you don’t have a tarot deck but have a standard deck of playing cards instead? Don’t worry; you can still do a tarot reading with a deck of playing cards. In this post, we will explore the art of reading tarot cards with a deck of playing cards.

The History of Tarot Cards

Before we dive into reading tarot cards with a deck of playing cards, let’s learn about the history of tarot cards. Tarot cards were initially created as a game in northern Italy during the 15th century. It wasn’t until the late 18th century that tarot cards became associated with divination and spiritual practices.

The tarot deck consists of 78 cards, which are divided into two parts. The first part, the Major Arcana, contains 22 cards that represent significant life events, archetypes, and spiritual lessons. The second part, the Minor Arcana, includes 56 cards divided into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit has ten numbered cards and four court cards, which represent a king, queen, knight, and page.

How to Use a Deck of Playing Cards as Tarot Cards

To use a deck of playing cards as tarot cards, you first need to assign meanings to each card. Most tarot experts agree on the following meanings for playing cards:

• Hearts represent emotions, love, and relationships.
• Diamonds represent money, material possessions, and stability.
• Clubs represent creativity, ideas, and communication.
• Spades represent challenges, conflict, and transformation.

Once you have assigned meanings to each suit, you can use the following table to assign meanings to each of the numbered cards and court cards:

Using these assigned meanings, you can read a deck of playing cards as you would with a traditional tarot deck.

Reading Tarot Cards with a Deck of Playing Cards

To read tarot cards with a deck of playing cards, you can use any card spread that you would typically use with a tarot deck. Here are a few spreads to get you started:

The Three-Card Spread:

This spread is perfect for a quick question or a daily tarot reading. Shuffle the deck and draw three cards, one at a time.

• The first card represents the past.
• The second card represents the present.
• The third card represents the future.

Interpreting the cards in the context of the question or situation can give insight into what has happened, what is happening now, and what may occur in the future.

The Past, Present, Future Spread:

This spread provides a more in-depth look at a situation or question.

• The first card represents the past.
• The second card represents the present.
• The third card represents the future.

• The fourth card represents the internal factors that are affecting the situation.
• The fifth card represents the external factors that are affecting the situation.
• The sixth card represents the potential outcome.

Use your assigned meanings to interpret the cards in the context of the question or situation. The first three cards can provide insight into how the past has led to the current situation, and what may happen in the future. The last three cards can give guidance on how to navigate the situation and achieve the desired outcome.

In Conclusion

Reading tarot cards with a deck of playing cards is an excellent alternative for those who desire a tarot reading but don’t have a tarot deck. By assigning meanings to the suits and cards, you can take any tarot spread and read it with a deck of playing cards. Remember, the tarot is a tool to gain insight and guidance, not to predict the future. Use your intuition and interpret the cards’ meanings in the context of the situation to gain the most value from your reading.