TarotSeek™

Read Tarot Cards For Yourself

Volume 1

(Introducing the TarotSeek system)

By Abella Arthur and Ryan Arthur

Higher Mind Publications
www.highermindbooks.com

Amazon Edition v2

Copyright 2011 Abella Jucy Arthur and Ryan Arthur

TarotSeek™ is so much fun. This method is simple, and can be used for “spur of moment” readings. So many people will benefit and learn to begin to trust their innate connection to universal wisdom. — Ken Lusk

TarotSeek is a really easy method for reading tarot cards. Many people are overwhelmed with learning the meanings of all 78 cards, and if you read reversals that number automatically doubles. However, with TarotSeek you don’t need to know the meanings of the cards at all. In fact, I used this method with a brand new deck I just acquired, The Steele Wizard Tarot, and I hadn’t read the artist’s book about her deck and only looked through a few of the cards before using the deck for a reading. I employed the TarotSeek method, which focuses on the image on the cards, then I examined the cards I had received in my reading, used this method and wow, I had a very clear and insightful reading with a brand new deck of cards I had never used before. I’m a professional reader with over 30 years of experience and TarotSeek even taught me a couple of new tricks that are now making my readings for clients flow faster and smoother, plus it cuts down on my work, as well. I highly recommend TarotSeek & only wish I had it when I used to teach tarot classes out of my home. My students would have really benefited from this method. — Dr. Mary E. Gutierrez

As with the mantic arts of astrology, numerology, and the like, Tarot presents itself as a marvelous divination tool that is deceptively simple to the curious. So much so, at times, that one wonders how could someone have access to such mystery. Surely it must be easier than studying old bones or reading planetary charts?

TarotSeek dispels with preconceived mysteries and opens up the user’s personal mythology and symbolism. The application of instructions in regard to preparation and follow-through actually do create a sense of magic. Repeated use builds upon one’s use of symbolism and promises to empower the seeker with knowledge and confidence to read for [yourself]. TarotSeek requires a minimum of material, and a good deal of time for meditation. This product is ideal for both established and beginners of Tarot. — Dan Herman

The TarotSeek method delivers it’s promise to be a unique, new way of reading the cards for yourself. I’m looking forward to playing around with this technique and seeing how it can expand my style and knowledge of both myself and the cards. — Jaymi

Upon the first reading of the book you may find TarotSeek method to be too simple. But “Genius is in simplicity” they say. Along with the authors, I encourage you to try TarotSeeking for at least a week prior to making up your mind about it. As for me, from the very first TarotSeek session I enjoyed this new variation of getting a deep and intuitive insight and added it to the top drawer of my collection of the most often used Tarot techniques. — Victoria Evangelina Belyavskaya

Guide Benefits

By learning how to use this practical, concise, simple and simply explained self-tarot reading method, you will gain many of the following benefits:

*  Objective & unbiased self-tarot readings
*  No memorization of cards or layouts
*  Read the cards immediately and accurately
*  Step-by-step straightforward and useful instructions
*  Learn the simple and bare essentials of tarot
*  Master a special topic in tarot
*  Improve your connection to any tarot deck
*  Experience new tarot tricks or reinforce old ones
*  Inspired thought, unrelated to the guide
*  On-line support, coaching, and feedback

This TarotSeek™ guide is meant to be practiced with a set of 78 tarot cards.

Copyright

Copyright 2011 Abella Jucy Arthur and Ryan Arthur

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, subject heading “Attention: TarotSeek Permissions.”

Higher Mind Publications www.highermindbooks.com

ISBN  978-0-9869636-0-5

Amazon License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people.  If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient or encourage your friends to purchase a copy. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

Trademark

TarotSeek™ is a trademark of Abella and Ryan Arthur. Written use of the trademark name should include the trademark symbol ™ in any copyright, credit, and title.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this ebook is based on the experience and research of the authors.  It is not intended as a substitute for consulting with licensed professionals.  Any attempt to diagnose and treat an issue should be done under the direction of a licensed professional.  The publisher and authors are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions, ideas, or steps discussed in this ebook.

Credits

Editor:  A guardian angel

Book Design Cover:  Abella Jucy Arthur

Tarot Cards (Book design and interior): Pamela Colman Smith, Artist (1910)

Dedication

This guide is dedicated to anyone who has ever wanted an accurate, objective, and unbiased self tarot reading. This guide is also dedicated to anyone who has wanted to learn how to read tarot or to improve their tarot reading skills yet found traditional tarot books inaccessible.

Table of Contents

Section One: Introduction · The Problem · The Solution · Book Organization and Mission · Form Your Own Tarot Opinions and Impressions

Section Two: About Tarot · Tarot Card Reading Considerations

Section Three: The TarotSeek Story · Why Does TarotSeek Work? · Reasons to TarotSeek · When Is It Useful to TarotSeek?

Section Four: TarotSeek Essentials · Required and Helpful Equipment · Choosing a Deck · How to Shuffle the Cards · Selecting Cards · Storing and Protecting Your Deck

Section Five: Emotional Reactions and Considerations

Section Six: How to TarotSeek · Getting Ready to TarotSeek · Developing Self-Interview Questions · Key Words to Use When Asking Questions · Sample Questions · TarotSeek Prompts for Answering Questions · Self-Interview Set Up

Section Seven: Interpretation, Analysis and Insights · Self-Interview Clarification · Making Sense of It All · After the Reading

Getting More Out of a TarotSeek Session

Appendix A: Asking Questions Table

Appendix B: Minor Arcana Card Properties

Appendix C: Roman Numerals Conversion Table

Appendix D: Sample Session Tarot Cards

Appendix E: Sample TarotSeek Sessions

Acknowledgements

About the Authors / Arthurs

Works Cited

Recommended Tarot Decks

TarotSeek Resources and Opportunities

Connect With Us

Section One

Introduction

TarotSeek™ is the first published objective and unbiased tarot reading system of its kind. It's a simple, straight forward, innovative, and successful approach to tarot reading -- whether you are a novice or a professional. It can be done anytime, anywhere.  No knowledge of the tarot is needed or encouraged.  Everyone can do it. Anyone can learn it.

It has taken us over three years to extensively develop and test, and we are excited to finally share this empowering and uplifting experience with a wider audience. TarotSeek introduces you to a physically new way of reading for the 21st century.

There are three TarotSeek guides / methods that complete the whole system.  In this guide, TarotSeek™: Read Tarot Cards For Yourself - Volume 1, we focus on the specialty topic of gaining objective and unbiased self-tarot readings.  Our way of self-tarot reading enhances on-going tarot education rather than replacing it; however, it can be used successfully without learning traditional tarot techniques.

The Problem

It's been said it's virtually impossible to read one's cards accurately with traditional tarot methods, as we can never be too sure if we are reading into the cards.  Even professional and experienced readers have a hard time reading for themselves, usually due to emotional attachments or being too close to an issue. And the standard tarot reading method of checking the book for answers on what a tarot card means or memorizing keywords, descriptions, and card positioning, is overwhelming and challenging for novices.  With so many options, it can be hard to choose what to use and whether any of it specifically applies to your personal situation.

The Solution

Our self-tarot reading solution is easier than studying traditional tarot reading methods and we have created straight forward step-by-step instructions that are clear and easy-to-follow, that even a 10 year old can do it.  Yet within this simple and concise guide, a powerful tarot tool emerges.

With TarotSeek, that's no longer a problem. Professionals can use their well honed reading skills on themselves, and novices can kick-start their ability to become professionals with this complete self-tarot reading method.

Embark on the serendipitous discovery that you too can do self-tarot card readings without bias.

Who This Guide Is For

This guide is for anyone who doesn't have the time or desire to spend days, months, and years learning how to read tarot cards for themselves. This guide won't be a long-winded book about what the cards mean, keywords, descriptions, layouts, history, mythos, or the magic of tarot and tarot cards.  It's meant to be short, simple, and concise rather than a complete and complex how-to tarot book. There are plenty of those wonderful books already on the market.  Who needs another one?

Getting Into TarotSeek

TarotSeek will help you successfully give yourself tarot readings between professional sessions, until you find someone you trust to read your cards, or as a complete replacement. We have set up http://www.TarotSeek.com to help support your TarotSeek efforts as well as other resources.

Readers, of this guide, who go beyond just reading about TarotSeek will not be disappointed with the power of this method, no matter how basic the technique appears. Begin using the step-by-step instructions as soon as you feel comfortable and work with it often (at least daily within a two week period), ensuring you are asking new and different questions in each and every session. If you get stuck with creating questions, don't worry -- this guide will help you craft a whole bunch of questions.

To gain full benefit from this guide, a set of 78 tarot cards are required. Deck recommendations are provided in the guide; however, you can use whichever deck most enjoyed as long as detailed images are contained on all the tarot cards. Further explanation on tarot deck selection is provided in the guide.

Book Organization and Mission

This guide will teach you exactly how to give yourself objective self-tarot readings in a short and powerful period of time.

Because the trademarked term and methods of TarotSeek™ are original and have never been published before, it is mentioned many times throughout this guide.  This guide is an introduction to the system and emphasizes that the techniques are different from standard tarot reading methods.

Getting Into The Guide

We encourage everyone to get straight into reading the cards; however, basic background information on tarot and TarotSeek are provided for those that have interest.  With our system, there's no need to know anything about traditional tarot reading methods that can take years to learn. And for tarot readers already working with tarot, our method improves confidence, enhances intuition, and can re-capture the innocence of working with tarot for the very first time.

There are seven main sections in the book with additional information at the end. Depending on your level of tarot experience, you may choose to read from start to finish or skip to the sections that interest you most.

Section One introduces the TarotSeek system and self-tarot reading method, what problem this guide aims to solve, who this book is for, and how this book is set up.  You are here!

Section Two is for readers not familiar with tarot.  We briefly review the history of tarot, the properties of a tarot deck, why tarot can be hard to learn and do, and what makes a good tarot reader. If you already have a firm understanding of tarot, you may want to go straight to learning about TarotSeek.

Section Three recounts the TarotSeek story, how TarotSeek is different from standard tarot reading methods, why TarotSeek for self-tarot reading works, the various reasons to TarotSeek, and why TarotSeek makes a fabulous alternate option compared to traditional self-tarot reading approaches.

Section Four details what supplies are needed to do a successful TarotSeek session, and some standard tarot deck information and recommendations. If you are a seasoned reader and happy with your tarot deck, you may want to skip this part and begin reading Section Five (Emotional Reactions and Considerations) or Section Six (How to TarotSeek).

Section Five discusses how to cope with and be aware of emotionally powerful results that you're likely to get in your TarotSeek sessions.

Section Six gives step-by-step instructions on How to Read Tarot Cards for Yourself, the TarotSeek way! We'll help you get ready, give advice on developing questions, provide examples of generic questions, self-interviewing prompts, and setting you up for your self-interview.

Section Seven explores how to make sense of your recorded impressions.  We'll give you some pointers and ask you to consider taking action on your TarotSeek session results, as needed.

Extras! Congratulations, you are now a TarotSeek Reader! In this final section, if you haven't already done so, check out the appendices for more detail about the cards and conducting a TarotSeek session. We have included a couple of sample readings to illustrate how a session might work as well as information on where to join one of our community groups to get more out of your TarotSeek sessions.  Ever heard of us before?  If not, learn a little more about us and our tarot history.

Finally, whenever you see Back to top it will return you to the Table of Contents.

Form Your Own Tarot Opinions and Impressions

My early views about tarot were formed by what I read, heard, and saw. And because it’s hard to unlearn bad tarot reading habits, this is another reason why I’m careful with introducing and teaching tarot.  I don’t want my views to taint someone else’s experience; therefore, we have steered clear from superstitious, spiritual, or rigid dogma in this guide.  As well, the TarotSeek system encourages self-empowerment and going within.

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Section Two

About Tarot

Many of us want to know what the weather is going to be like over the weekend, which sports team will win, and what stocks will go up or down.  And most of us are curious about our personal future.

With a tarot reading we can know the future, and many of us would like to have access to that information whenever and wherever we want at little to no on-going cost.

However, learning to read tarot is often considered difficult, as one of the popular methods include memorizing countless keywords and descriptions for at least 78 tarot cards.

And finding a tarot reader you can trust and who is available to you when you want can also be a challenge.

Giving yourself a great reading can be compared to other activities such as grooming your nails, meditation, specialized exercise like weight lifting, self-massage, or cooking delicious meals (all examples of self-care).  And in between taking care of ourselves, we can still benefit from professional pampering at the spa, floating in a sensory deprivation tank, consulting with a personal trainer, visiting a massage therapist, or being served at a restaurant.

History of Tarot

There’s uncertainty as to where the tarot originated and how old it is, yet the speculation surrounding tarot’s history adds to the mystique.

The earliest known mention of playing cards (and the prohibition of them) was in the 1300’s, and the oldest known surviving tarot deck is from the 1400’s originating from Italy. However, many tarot readers suspect the tarot is older.  It is also said that the tarot cards originated from France, China, Egypt, or India.

Tarot cards are also known by the Italian card gaming name Trionfi, Tarok, and later Tarocchi, and are still used in games of chance.  To learn more about the history of tarot and playing cards, we recommend the website:  Trionfi (Tarot and its History) which has extensive information and card pictures.

Tarot Card Reading and Tarot Cards

Over time, tarot readers have come to understand that the tarot contains a set of experiences, archetypes, milestones, feelings, and thoughts that all human beings face in a lifetime in one way or another.  A good tarot reading tells a true story and unfolds the drama of each of our lives.

A traditional tarot set (used in TarotSeek) includes a collection of 22 major life event or milestone cards called the Major Arcana or Big Secrets and/or Big Mysteries, and 56 minor daily event or activity cards containing 4 suits or human themes such as emotions (Cups), materials (Pentacles), activity (Wands), and thought (Swords) called the Minor Arcana or Little Secrets and/or Little Mysteries.

Each tarot card has a numerical and an astrological association that enhances the understanding of its meaning.  Having said that, this extra information is not necessary to know for an accurate and successful tarot reading.

There are hundreds upon hundreds of tarot decks in existence and while we suggest you use whichever deck resonates with you the most, see Choosing a Deck and Recommended Tarot Decks for learning TarotSeek.

Tarot Uses

Tarot’s primary use has been to read people, places, events, and situations; however, it can also be used for many other purposes, not just divination.  Some examples include:  to engage in self-discovery, to brainstorm, to learn an esoteric system, to heighten creativity, to develop strategies, to promote self-improvement, and to meditate.  Most importantly, it allows one to actively reflect and gain deeper insights into one’s inner self.

Standard Tarot Methods

Traditional tarot reading study involves memorization of the keywords and descriptions of all the tarot cards as well as various layouts.  Layouts indicate where the cards are to be placed and the meaning of each card as per their position.

Even if memory recall is strong, it may take a long time to feel confident and comfortable enough to give a good reading through popular tarot methods.

The person who receives a tarot reading is called a seeker or Querent (one who searches, seeks, or inquires), and the person who interprets the meaning of each tarot card is called a tarot card reader or tarot reader.

A successful tarot reader opens themselves to:

Creativity ~ Understanding ~ Empathy ~ Realism ~ Imagination ~ Synchronicity ~ Pictures ~ Communication ~ Confidence ~ Language ~ Symbolism ~ Intuition ~ Analysis ~ Idealism ~ Skepticism ~ Metaphors ~ Analogy ~ Dreams ~ Magic ~ Believing ~ Objectivity ~ Signs ~ Story-telling ~ Acceptance ~ Curiosity ~ Interpretation ~ Spirituality ~ Humility

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Tarot Card Reading Considerations

Tarot is a language of symbols, pictures, and scenes that can be translated into an insightful, meaningful and accurate story.  As a language, Tarot is most similar to Chinese with characters that hold a story, allegory, meaning, or idea that can be read but is intended to be memorized.

David Moser, from the University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies, says Chinese is “Beautiful, complex, mysterious”. (Moser, 1991)  The same can be said of Tarot.

Just as it can be quite difficult to learn Chinese because of its extensive and intricate system, tarot can be equally difficult, mysterious and beautiful.  Gazing upon lovely tarot art is soul enhancing yet there’s a big investment of time, commitment, and dedication in learning traditional tarot reading.  And that means a lot of novice readers often stop learning because they cannot grasp it quickly.

It is necessary to be calm and in a relaxed state so that symbolism is not missed or misrepresented.  Accepting what you see, being confident and believing in the true story, is essential for accurate readings.

Approaching the tarot with a positive and open mind will make the experience positive.  Everything that happens is for your highest good, even if it does not feel that way at the time.  Life is full of twists and turns, and what is true today may not be true tomorrow.  View answers similar to weather predictions: they may not be 100% accurate and can suddenly change.

Not knowing what to expect can cause anxiety and a good tarot reading can bring relief.  However, reading the same question over and over again can produce confusion and more anxiety, and then the cards make less sense.

When readings involve time based questions, we recommend not reading again until the day of or after the date to see whether the predicted response comes to pass.  We also suggest focusing most of your sessions on non-events: in other words seek to learn what you can do about a situation or how you can improve an approach.  These types of discovery-oriented questions do not require re-reading.  Decide what course of action to take, and then allow some time to pass to see the results.  For non-prediction uses, refer to Reasons to TarotSeek.

Some tarot card imagery such as The Devil, The Tower, and Death can evoke strong responses.  Each card has a light, a neutral, and a dark side, reflecting the complexity of human nature.  Getting the Death card does not necessarily indicate physical death.  Consider metaphors and other meanings.  For example, Death might represent a deeply important and necessary yet long delayed change that holds us back from life.  Sometimes, only after quiet contemplation and assessment can we know what we need to put to rest.  So Death can represent getting rid of old things, things that are broken and no longer enjoyed and have outlived their usefulness.

Remember that everyone has the ability to design their own present and future as well as re-designing their past.

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Section Three

The TarotSeek™ Story

My husband Ryan was having trouble figuring some things out. And having been a tarot reader for many years, I learned that tarot can give solid and deep answers to complex problems. So I took out my trusty tarot cards and suggested he do a quick reading.

Ryan said, “I'm afraid I'll read into the cards and not get an honest answer.”

His response is typical of many tarot readers, whether they are a professional or a hobbyist.  It can be hard to separate yourself from the issue and it is easy to read into the cards your fears or wishes.  And being too analytical also doesn't allow for intuition to flow.

Then it dawned on me that as long as Ryan didn't know what the question was and just described the card, he could read his own cards accurately: And that's when a moment of eureka happened and TarotSeek was born. This self-reading system ensures insights received are pure and unaffected by logical, rational or conscious emotional impressions.

Once the idea came on our radar or as Ryan (the Piscean) puts it 'sonar', we began wrapping our heads around it and fleshing out a solution.

When we began using TarotSeek, we noticed our professional tarot readings improving and felt relieved and excited by the amazingly accurate results we were getting from our sessions. And that's when we realized many readers could benefit from it too, because it solves a historically challenging obstacle and dilemma of obtaining unbiased results.

If you end up saying to yourself, “That's such a simple idea, why didn't I think of that?” we said that to ourselves too!  It's been said that the simplest solutions are the hardest to arrive at or deliver (at first) yet the most elegant and powerful.

We discussed the solution at length and tried different approaches until we figured something out that could be replicated by other tarot readers.  Then we had the task of translating that system to others.

More About TarotSeek

Our system expands upon intuitive tarot reading which discourages memorization of the cards.  The seeker is guided by their own intuition, wisdom, and understanding of what is seen and felt and layouts are not required.  However, intuitive tarot reading alone does not help the self-reader achieve objectivity or detachment.

With TarotSeek™:  Read Tarot Cards For Yourself - Volume 1, one person acts as both interviewer and seeker and self-interviews.  The TarotSeek reader asks questions, gets their own answers and can read accurately, in part because they subconsciously glean insight without the question being visible.  After the self-reading session, the responses and questions are revealed and the reader has an opportunity to consciously analyze the results for further revelations.

This new way of reading the tarot, helps sleuth out accurate insights and is best used for empowering self-analysis, gaining strategies and insights into how people feel and think, identifying people, places, and things, and decision-making.

Magically, intuition and reading ability are increased by using TarotSeek making it a valuable resource for professional or seasoned readers wanting to become re-inspired with their passion for tarot.  Using this method exercises your intuitive mind while deepening your connection to your personal emotions and feelings. TarotSeek readers can overcome self-reading obstacles by connecting to accurate and incredible insights to burning questions via a self-interviewing process.

We look forward to you being inspired by this guide and experiencing your own eureka moments too!

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Why Does TarotSeek™ Work?

We all have life experience and possess our own wisdom and our own connection to the collective conscious, universal truths, and archetypes.  TarotSeek will help you tap into this reservoir of knowledge and unlock the answers within to uncover what you already know to be true.

When living in a world of distractions and experiencing an emotionally charged situation, it’s easy not to see or think clearly.  TarotSeek then becomes a meditative practice with the tarot cards being a vehicle to project our thoughts, feelings, natural intuition, impressions, and emotions onto the pictures; however, when we do not know the question we are answering - the interpretations are profoundly accurate and honest.

TarotSeek works because the question that is being answered is unknown.  Guesses can or will be made about what question is being answered and you may be right, but you won’t know for sure until the end of the session.

The best route to inspired readings is to give in to the process and focus on evaluating the card’s meaning and what it says to you rather than the question you are answering.

If you are completely new to tarot, we suggest using the TarotSeek system before studying other tarot instruction books to avoid tainting or overwhelming your mind with keywords and descriptions.  Working with TarotSeek first will make it easier to absorb the material from a traditional tarot book.

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Reasons To TarotSeek™

Self-development ~ Predictions ~ Meditation ~ Mediation & Arbitration ~ Character analysis ~ Magic ~ Spirituality ~ Weighing alternative choices ~ Healing ~ Brainstorming & Idea generation ~ Past lives ~ Dream manifestation ~ Dream analysis ~ Connecting with passed over loved ones ~ Project management ~ Planning ~ Psychic / Intuitive development ~ Strategizing ~ New Year resolution focus ~ Solving problems ~ Decision-making ~ Love & Relationship diagnosis ~ Career & Work counseling ~ Emotional therapy ~ Expanding experience ~ Understanding people, society, self, and situations ~ Increasing tarot reading ability ~ Inexpensive and on-the-spot readings

When Is It Useful To TarotSeek™?

TarotSeek is especially useful in these circumstances:

•  You are trying to gain deeper insights into your or your client’s subconscious mind.

•  You are helping yourself solve a long-standing issue.

•  You want privacy or are a private person.

•  You are independent, self-reliant or introspective about your life.

•  You would like to have an answer to a problem at anytime.

•  You are seeking another opinion or to confirm your own gut feelings and thoughts.

•  You wish to save money by "doing it yourself".

•  You are in a hurry.

Outside of learning how to TarotSeek for self-reading, use this method in moderation and to get a second or third opinion.  If you are already feeling obsessed or anxious (in a psychologically harmful sense) it is recommended that you do not rely upon a TarotSeek session alone as it will likely cause additional emotional pain.  Do not base decisions on the tarot alone.  It’s here to be used as an additional tool to sleuth out insights and glean more information on a pressing matter.

Do not live by the cards.  Having said that, TarotSeek practice heightens intuition to the point where tarot may no longer be needed for consultation because confidence in natural insights, without using any tools, has improved.

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Section Four

TarotSeek™ Essentials

Required and Helpful Equipment

A set of Tarot cards, opaque paper, and pen or pencil are essential.  You can also use an audio recorder with paper (as will be described later).  A scratch pad for working out questions to be asked is also of benefit.

We recommend using an Arthur Edward Waite / Pamela Colman Smith original or inspired deck which has 78 picture cards.  Please see the section: Recommended Tarot Decks.

A standard tarot deck contains 22 major cards and 56 minor cards consisting of the following suits displaying these (or similar) symbols:  Cups, Swords, Wands, and Coins.

It doesn’t matter what the suit symbol is named or what it looks like as long it has a similar meaning.  For example, Cups can become Hearts, Swords can become Knives, Wands can become Sticks, and Pentacles can become Coins. Please see the appendix titled: Minor Arcana Card Properties.

Items needed to TarotSeek:

•  Set of tarot cards (preferably a recommended deck)
•  Electronic audio recorder and/or blank opaque paper
•  Scratch pad to work out questions, if needed
•  Pen or pencil

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Choosing a Deck

Since TarotSeek focuses on the seeker (who is also the reader), a personal connection to a set of tarot cards is helpful; however, it’s also important that ALL cards contain scenes, a story, or allegory, and are readable.

For example, the Minor Arcana in the Marseilles and Thoth decks only shows pips (a suit symbol, such as a cup, to indicate the number on the card) and a decorative or symbolic element.  Other decks, such as the Phantasmagoric Theater Tarot Deck and Transparent Tarot are quite off-beat or have minimal symbolism on an individual card.  These types of decks are not recommended for a TarotSeek session because readability is diminished.

The deck chosen can affect your reading due to being inaccessible or obscure.  A basic Arthur Edward Waite / Pamela Colman Smith original or inspired tarot deck is recommended because it’s highly readable.

Consider choosing a deck in which images speak to you, evoke a full emotional response, or open you to focus on the imagery depicted on the cards.

A personal connection to a set of tarot cards means the imagery, scenes, myths, archetypes, and symbols are immediately recognizable, and you have a good vibration, perception, and agreeable viewpoint about the cards.

If there is too much familiarity with a deck, you may find yourself going back to the same meanings you have always relied upon for the card.  You may also gravitate to the same symbols or zones of a card. If this happens, try another deck.

Recommended decks for your reading toolkit:

•  Universal Waite(R) Tarot Deck (pocket or large size)
•  Original Rider-Waite(R) Tarot
•  Radiant Rider-Waite(R) Tarot Deck
•  Golden Rider Tarot Deck
•  Giant Rider-Waite® Tarot Deck

Any one of these decks are accessible for self-tarot reading.  And all these Arthur Edward Waite also known as A.E. Waite and Pamela Colman Smith decks either contain inspired or original imagery.

Tarot decks can be purchased at any occult bookstore, many book retailers, or through our website: http://www.TarotSeek.com

Shuffling, Cutting the Deck, Selecting Cards, and Storage

We’re firm believers that it doesn’t matter how the cards are shuffled, cut, which cards are selected or how your deck is stored; however, mix up the cards well.

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How to Shuffle the Cards

In most cases, shuffle at least three times to help mix up the cards. Also consider cutting the deck into three piles, and then collecting them all up into one pile again or shuffle cards in another way.

There are many ways to shuffle the cards, these are just a few:

1.  Slice - While holding the deck, take out a few or several cards at a time from different sections of the deck and slice them inside, behind, and in front of the deck.
2.  Riffle - (Poker or playing card style) Separate the deck into approximately two equal piles of cards. Then with a pile of cards in each hand, arch the cards into each other.
3.  Wash - Spread out the cards on a flat surface and mix them around. When picking them back up, gather random clumps into one pile.

Selecting Cards

There are many ways to select the cards, here are some:

1.  Pile - Create three piles of cards of any size, and then stack them back on to each other to create a single pile. Take the card from the top when ready to TarotSeek.

2.  Fan - Fan out your cards before selecting one.

3.  Pick - Run your thumb or fingers over the deck and when ready, pick and remove a card from any spot.

4.  Random- (Synchronicity) When finished or while shuffling, select any card that pops, drops, sticks, flips, falls or jumps out.

Storing and protecting your deck

There are many traditional or ritualistic ways to store and protect a tarot deck.

To bring more magic into your life consider wrapping your cards in silk or velvet and storing them in a wooden case or ornate tarot bag.  Alternatively, wrap your cards in a meaningful or delightful fabric that can also double as a reading cloth to protect your deck from dirty surfaces.  A reading cloth is also helpful to define your card reading area.

We are teaching a self-reading method that does not require the influence of another person reading your cards.  Consider not letting others imprint their energy onto your deck and especially those who do not respect what you own or what you are doing.

In the end, however you want to store and protect your deck is the right way to go.

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Section Five

Emotional Reactions & Considerations

Keep questions to a minimum.  Analyzing insights is a part of TarotSeek.  Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep impressions down to 2-10 minutes per question.  When learning TarotSeek, schedule at least 45 minutes to an hour and a half for each session and avoid answering more than 3 or 4 questions at a time.  Please also note that reading with the TarotSeek system can be stimulating and too much of a good thing is often unwise.

Responses and revelations can be quite unsettling and cause an emotional release.  It’s important to TarotSeek when you are feeling strong enough to hear powerful, difficult insights or answers.  Do not ask questions when you are not ready to have them answered.

If you find yourself becoming uncomfortable while recording your response or feel confused after analyzing it, you may be denying or not ready for the answer to your question.  Feelings that tend to subvert knowledge can indicate progress.  If you allow the reading process to unfold, your TarotSeek session will deepen with rewarding results.

Value what is seen and said when responding to questions in a TarotSeek session.  If you are apprehensive, you are probably very close to an uncomfortable truth. If you feel comfortable enough, do the best to continue unraveling the mystery.  If the session does not seem to be working, take time to mull over the response, ask again another day, or ask another question to help clarify, give advice, or just accept the unwanted response (for now).

Conscious and logical conclusions are often the most inaccurate in tarot while subconscious and illogical conclusions are often the most accurate.

We often look for complex logical answers; however, the simplest and most illogical answer can be the truest.  This is especially the case when asking about emotionally charged issues when there is a lack of information.  In fact, in this case it’s more than likely that you will find the answer to be correct when it does not make sense.

It takes time to find solid answers.  Have faith that your responses are perfectly suited to the question even if it’s difficult to make sense of them initially or they seem impossible or improbable.  Everything you read and have said about the card has meaning.

Predictions may or may not come true because wishful or pessimistic thinking, freedom of your own will (freewill), and having unrealistic expectations can lead to a false reading.  However, all insights are valuable in your session.  Investigate various possibilities before drawing an immediate and fixed conclusion, especially if your conclusion is negative.

Logical and left brain thinking are necessary during the preparation and analysis of a TarotSeek session, but intuitive and right brain thinking are essential for the success and accuracy of your reading.  After setting everything up, just let go.

In a TarotSeek session, avoid thinking about what question you are answering.  If the left side of your brain keeps turning on (wondering about what question is being answered) and continuously interferes with your responses, put the questions away, come back later on or another day.

If at any time you want assistance with the TarotSeek system, visit us and other TarotSeek readers.

A successful TarotSeek session

1.  begins with clear, specific, and direct questions.

2.  is not tied to a specific outcome and has flexible expectations.

3.  unfolds in layers.

4.  is cathartic, and/or uplifting and brings a sense of peace or renewed enthusiasm.

5.  provides necessary knowledge and insights that are helpful, meaningful, and productive.

6.  provides a sense of peace, and calm.

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Section Six

How to TarotSeek™

Getting Ready to TarotSeek™

To get ready to TarotSeek have the following items ready:

•  A tarot deck (see the appendix titled: Recommended Tarot Decks).

•  A folder, box, or binder for storing your session folded papers or digital recordings for future reference.

•  A pen or pencil.

•  A scratch pad for developing TarotSeek questions.

•  One sheet of opaque and blank 8.5”x11” paper such as printer paper.  Over time, you will discover which type and size of paper works best for you.

•  A recording device (optional), such as a tape or digital recorder, is helpful when you do not wish to be encumbered with writing out your initial impressions.

Developing Self-Interview Questions

Formulating questions is one of the most important elements of tarot reading.  Take some time to write clearly worded, specific, focused, and impactful questions that are going to adequately answer what you want to know.

Get your scratch pad out. . .

•  Craft a variety of different questions and not just different ways of saying the same thing.

•  Theme a session around one topic, person, or idea.

•  Avoid leading or assuming questions that require fore-knowledge.  Example: When will Jack ask me to marry him?  This is an assumption or pre-judgment unless you know for sure that Jack will ask you.

•  Focus on discovery questions.  Examples:  What are Jack’s feelings about marrying me? What kind of qualities does Jack want in a partner?

•  Use discovery oriented statements, even if a period ends the sentence.  Examples:  Tell me about a time. . .  Describe . . .

•  Ask questions that will elicit an open-ended response.  Example:  How will I feel about work today?  Instead of:  Will I be happy about work today?

•  Avoid close-ended questions unless the whole session is based on yes or no answers.  Some close ended questions start with Is . . . ? Will . . . ? Do . . . ? Would . . . ?

•  Keep the number of words in a question between four and fifteen.  Keep each question to one sentence only.  Do not write more than one question on a piece of paper.  No compound questions.

•  Be as specific as possible with your questions.  A general question yields a general response.

•  If you want general information, state that in your question. More questions can be asked once a topic has been identified.  Example:  In general, do people like me?  In general, how will I do on the job interview?

•  Keep complicated questions to a minimum per session.  It’s best to only answer one or two major issues in a session.  Example:  Should I change careers?  If I get a divorce, what will happen?  What will my health be like in three months?

If you now feel ready to begin go to Self-Interview Set-Up and write your questions.

To learn more about crafting good questions read on.

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Key Words to Use When Asking Questions

Open Ended Questions receive longer in-depth responses;  allow for self-reflection;  solicit opinions about feelings, thoughts, and impressions;  and provide more detail.

Start your open ended questions with Who, What, Where, Why, How, Describe, or Tell me about.

Guidelines:

•  Who - Find out about personality, appearance, and what a person does.  Start a question with “who” to find out about someone.

•  What - Useful for obtaining advice on what to do, to clarify issues or explore outcomes.  Start a question with “what” to uncover layers to a resolution.

•  Where - Find out where an event is taking/has taken place.  Start a question with “where” to find out about an event or place.

•  Why - Find out why the situation or response is occurring, or occurred.  Start a question with “why” to analyze.

•  How - Learn how to do something.  Start a question with “how” to know what actions to take or to learn how to turn your dreams into reality.

•  Describe - A description adds details and elicits a more open response about an event or situation.  Start a question with “describe” to get detailed information.

•  Tell me about - Find out more about something that is uncertain and vague.  Start a question with “tell me about” to get concrete information.

Close Ended Questions usually receive very short and superficial responses, give specific facts and quick answers.  They also have a fortune telling vibe to them as if your destiny is pre-ordained and unchangeable.

Start your close ended questions with Is, Have, Will, Should, Do, Did, When, or Which.

Guidelines:

•  Is or Have (yes, no, maybe)

•  Will or Should (yes, no, maybe)

•  Do or Did (yes, no, maybe)

•  When or Which (time and option)

If you now feel ready to begin go to Self-Interview Set-Up and write your questions.

Or check out some sample questions below.

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Sample Questions

Below are samples of open ended and close ended questions.  If working with close ended questions, it’s often best to revolve all questions around one theme and for all questions to be close ended.  These are just sample questions; remember to personalize questions to reflect your own situation.

Love & Relationships

1.  How does Jill feel about me?

2.  What is the best way to approach the problem I’m having with my partner?

3.  When will my boyfriend and I get married?

4.  How do I find my soul mate?

5.  When will I meet someone new?

6.  How does Jack feel about his mate?

7.  How old will my future mate be?

8.  What does Jill think about me romantically?

9.  How can my girlfriend and I grow as a couple?

10.  Is Jack cheating on me?

11.  What’s wrong with my family dynamics, in general?

12.  What do I need to do become loveable?

13.  When will I get married?

14.  If Jill won’t get back with me, why?

15.  When will he get in touch with me again?

16.  How will I know when I have met “the one”?

17.  Is the person I’m supposed to marry in my life right now?

Work/Career

1.  Who will be my new boss?

2.  Which job should I apply for?

3.  Why is it taking so long for me to get promoted?

4.  Am I doing the wrong thing?

5.  How can I become famous or well-known in my field?

6.  Do I need to speak to my co-worker about Jack and Jill?

7.  What kind of work is good for me to do?

8.  Will I get a promotion?

9.  What does my boss think about my work?

10.  Describe my work problems.

11.  What type of success can I expect at my new job?

12.  What will happen if I buy this business?

13.  What can I do to get a permanent contract?

Education

1.  Do I need to go back to school to achieve my goals?

2.  Will I pass the exam?

3.  What school is best for me?

4.  What grade will I get?

5.  What program is best for me to take?

6.  Tell me about my success as a student.

7.  Which university will accept me?

Health

1.  Will I get better?

2.  What can I do to become healthier?

3.  What health challenges will I have in the next 3 months?

4.  When will my mother get better?

5.  In the next month, will I lose weight?

6.  How can I improve my fitness level?

Money

1.  Why is it a struggle to make money?

2.  Should I start investing my money?

3.  Will I be financially secure at retirement?

4.  Will I win the lottery?

5.  How can I make more money?

6.  Will I receive an inheritance?

Real Estate

1.  Tell me about the house I want to buy.

2.  How best can I market my house for sale?

3.  Will the price of the house I want to buy go down?

4.  How long will it take to sell my property?

5.  Will I get my asking price?

6.  What will my new place look like?

7.  Describe the area that is best for me to live.

Self-Development

1.  Why is everyone against me?

2.  What is my purpose in life?

3.  How do I find more joy in my life?

4.  What is the lesson to be learned from what happened with Jack?

5.  How can I be more successful?

6.  How am I responsible for the conflict that happened with Jill?

7.  What will help me with the challenges I face in my personality?

8.  In general, what causes people to misunderstand me?

General

1.  What can I do to help my parents out?

2.  Where is the best place to move?

3.  How will my holiday go?

4.  Did I pay too much?

5.  What is the best way to approach this situation?

6.  Where will I be in 12 months?

If you now feel ready to begin go to Self-Interview Set-Up and write your questions.

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TarotSeek™ Prompts for Answering Questions

In tarot, there are no right or wrong answers.  If you allow yourself to write down or record your impressions without worrying about whether you are right or not you will find your impressions to be bang-on.

It’s important to believe that everything said is Accurate, Right, and True.

Checklist for Answering Questions:

•  View the card: What first pops out?  What comes to mind when the object first appears.  Describe what you see.  “I see . . .”

•  In every picture card, there is a story or an allegory. What is the story telling you?

•  Describe what you see in the card, the feelings, thoughts, impressions that arise, etc.  Probe further by asking the question  “Why?” or “Because” over and over again.

•  Who are the people in the card?

•  Be as specific as possible.  If you see a person in the card, who does that person represent?  If you see an object – what does that object represent?  If you see a place or location - where or what is that place or location?

•  Ask yourself:  Why is that object there?  What does that object mean?  Where is the scene taking place?  When is it happening?

•  Are you getting a yes, no, or maybe vibe?  Positive, neutral, or negative feeling?

•  Remember to ask yourself: Who, What, Why, Where, and How?

•  Use word, color, or object association to sleuth out more insights.

•  What facial expression do you see on a character’s face?  What does their body language tell you?  How is their body positioned?  Which way do specific body parts face?  Draw conclusions.

•  Become the character of the card.  Act out what you see using voice (first or third person) and movement in a narrative.

•  Write down impressions with the purpose of telling yourself something.  Start with your first name, and then tell yourself what the card is saying to you.

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Self-Interview Set Up

We’re so excited to now share the secret of objective and unbiased self-tarot reading that you are about to experience. Practice and openness are essential to getting used to this new method of reading the cards.  Attempt to use the TarotSeek system daily for at least two weeks.

Choose a recording style:  Will you use paper or an audio recording device and paper? We recommend using just paper until you are comfortable working with TarotSeek.

If you are interested in working with audio recordings, skip to the section titled Recording Style: Audio Recording and Paper.

If at any time you want assistance with the TarotSeek system, find us here.

Recording Style: Paper

Step One:

If the tarot cards are not already out of their container, take them out and give them a good shuffle. Place the cards to the side until you are ready to use them.

Step Two:

Fold an 8.5”x11” sheet in half and then fold it in half again. Then unfold the whole paper and you should see four creased rectangles. Tear the paper along the folds to obtain four separate pieces of paper, and then set them aside. These papers will be used for the questions.

Step Three:

Refer to your questions or the Developing Self-Interview Questions section. At the top, write down one question per rectangular sheet of paper while leaving enough space below the question. Fold each sheet over once or twice with the question not visible.

Step Four:

Shuffle all the folded sheets of paper with your eyes closed while meditating on everything you want to know.

Step Five:

Select a folded sheet and put the other sheets aside. Shuffle the tarot deck, pick a tarot card, and then place it on top of the folded sheet face down. Repeat this step until all folded sheets have a tarot card covering them.

Step Six:

With all questions matched up to a tarot card, proceed to turn over a tarot card. If the card appears reversed, turn it right side up so it can be read.

On the outside of the folded sheet, write down the date and name of the tarot card on the top left hand corner on the blank side of the folded paper and begin your self-interview.

Step Seven:

Work with one or more TarotSeek prompts and write your impressions on the folded sheet.  When done with your impressions, set the card aside with the answered folded sheet on top of the tarot card.  Here are some tips on giving impressions about the card’s meaning:

• What do you see?  Describe the scene in the card.

• Ask:  Who, What, Why, When, and How. . . ?

• Ask yourself:  Why is that there?  Begin your response with  “I see . . .”

• “Tell me about . . .”,  “What do I need to know about . . . ?”,  “I see a person who is . . .”

When done with your impressions, set the card aside.  Repeat steps six and seven until all cards have been turned over and impressions written on each corresponding folded sheet.

Step Eight:

When all folded sheets have an answer, select a folded sheet to reveal the question. Read the impressions written and reread the question again.

Below the question, write a mini-analysis of what your response suggests. See the section titled:  Interpretation, Analysis & Insights for ideas on how to interpret your response.

Note: If you’re having trouble forgetting which sheets have which questions on them, leave the session for awhile and come back later. At that time, shuffle the folded sheets again.

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Recording Style: Audio Recording and Paper

When using this recording style, be prepared to hear spooky and uncanny responses. This is our favorite way to TarotSeek because the results are mind-blowing; however it can be more time consuming than using just paper.

If at any time you want assistance with the TarotSeek system, find us here.

Step One:

If the tarot cards are not already out of their container, take them out and give them a good shuffle. Place the cards to the side until you are ready to use them.

Step Two:

Fold an 8.5”x11” sheet in half and then fold it in half again. Then unfold the whole paper and you should see four creased rectangles. Tear the paper along the folds to obtain four separate pieces of paper, and then set them aside. These papers will be used for the questions.

Step Three:

Refer to your questions or to the Developing Self-interviewing Questions section.  At the top, write down one question per rectangular sheet of paper while leaving enough space below the question.  Fold each sheet over once or twice with the question not visible. Refer to your questions.

Shuffle the folded sheets with your eyes closed.  Then on the side, without the question showing, number your folded sheets from 1 to 4 on the upper left hand.  Leave enough space next to and below the number to record your impressions and analyses upon playback.

Step Four:

Shuffle all the folded sheets of paper with your eyes closed while meditating on everything you want to know.

Step Five:

At the start of your session record the date and your name.  This only needs to be done once.

Shuffle the tarot deck, and then select a folded sheet.  Turn on the recording device.  Select a tarot card and turn it over.  If the card appears reversed, turn it right side up so it can be read.

Step Six:

Read out the question number selected and the name of the tarot card.

Record your impressions.  No notes need to be taken at this time.  Nothing needs to be written on the paper.  Note: If you’re having trouble forgetting which sheets have which questions on them, leave the session for awhile and come back later.  At that time, shuffle the folded sheets again.

Work with one or more TarotSeek prompts .  Here are some tips on giving impressions about the card’s meaning:

•  What do you see?  Describe the scene in the card.

•  Ask:  Who, What, Why, When, and How?

•  Ask yourself:  Why is that there?  Begin your response with  “I see . . .”

•  “Tell me about . . .”,  “What do I need to know about . . . ?”,  “I see a person who is . . .”

When done with your impressions, set the tarot card aside.  Repeat steps five and six until all cards have been turned over and impressions written on each corresponding folded sheet.

Step Seven:

When all pieces of paper have a response, stop the recording.

Playback the recording.  Unfold the question being answered.  Write down the name of the tarot card.  Write a mini-analysis of what your response suggests.  See Interpretation, Analysis & Insights for ideas on how to interpret your response.

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Section Seven

Interpretation, Analysis & Insights

Self-Interview Clarification

After reading or listening to a response, more insights may be necessary.  We strongly suggest taking some time to explore further.  This is a good reason to keep the number of questions answered in a session to four or less. As with a traditional tarot reading, a series of sessions could be required to fully flesh out each question.  And you can always write new questions and save them for another TarotSeek session at another time.

The following are five ideas to expand on insights in the same or a new session:

1.  Ask more questions about what you see in the cards.

2.  Ask yourself to explore word association.  Example:  What does that mean when I say X?

3.  Pull more cards.  Whatever tarot cards have already been selected set them aside.  If this is not done and the card is picked again, read the card with a fresh perspective (not based on what was said previously) or pick a new one.

4.  After recording your own insights, you can enrich your readings by drawing on any knowledge you have of tarot cards and the significance of keywords, descriptions and traditional tarot card meanings.  Use a traditional tarot book as you would a dictionary or thesaurus.  View traditional tarot reading sources as reference material or tools to deepen your own wisdom and intuition as you work with TarotSeek.

5.  It takes time to build confidence and awareness; keep practicing to delve deeper into your impressions.

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Making Sense of It All

Search for the meaning in the message.  Explore the general, abstract, and metaphoric meanings of words.  Search for uncommon meanings of common words and objects.

Working with the example question:  How will my day go tomorrow?

1.  Read your response even if it appears confusing, choppy, and jumbled up with no clear sentence structure to be read.  Example responses:

a.  People standing around a circle chatting about something . . .

b.  Red ball that reminds me of childhood . . .

c.  I see a puffy white cloud with a person lying down.

2.  Attempt to gain insight into what your response might mean.  Try the next step if things are still hazy or if you desire deeper understanding.

3.  Rephrase your question as a statement.  The same beginning or a different one can be used.  Examples:

a.  My day will have . . .

b.  My day tomorrow will be like . . .

c.  Tomorrow, I will . . .

4.  Responses can be read literally or figuratively.  Words can be rearranged to make better sense or kept as-is.

Literal analysis examples:

a.  My day will have people standing around in a circle chatting.

b.  My day tomorrow will be like a red ball that reminds me of childhood.

c.  Tomorrow, I will see a puffy white cloud with a person lying down.

Figurative analysis examples:

a.  My day will include talking to various people about a variety of things.

b.  My day tomorrow will give me a sense of playfulness.

c.  Tomorrow, I will take some time off to daydream.

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After the Reading

Often we get a reading and don't do anything with it.  After analysis, it’s useful to give yourself some advice. Will you take action? What will it be? What suggestions do you have? Remember, you are not alone. If you are not sure what to do with the analysis you came up with, find us here to get some ideas and suggestions from other TarotSeek readers.

Getting More Out of a TarotSeek™ Session

We hope you have successful, enlightening, and exciting TarotSeek sessions that will enhance your confidence, accuracy, and improve your intuition when reading tarot cards.

Take a moment to tell your friends, family, associates, and readers about TarotSeek and where to obtain their own copy so they can enjoy the benefits of self-tarot reading too.

Below are some ideas to get more out of a TarotSeek session:

•  Multi-card layout: The basic one card session instructions are employed; however, more cards are used to represent different aspects and/or time periods.  For example, three cards representing the past, present, and future can be used for one question.

•  Yes or no and timing questions.  These questions can often lack substance. It is best if yes or no and timing questions are done as a themed TarotSeek session as it is important to know how to respond to the question.

•  Participation. Various TarotSeek pages, groups, forums, and websites have been set up to support your TarotSeek sessions.  We encourage you to let us  and other TarotSeek Readers know what you are doing to get the most out of TarotSeek.

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Appendix A: Asking Questions Table

Be open to believing that freewill and destiny exist together.

Seek an empowering and discovery oriented approach.  Tarot reading is more than future or fortune telling.

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Appendix B: Minor Arcana Card Properties

The following are a sampling of keywords to describe the above symbols:

Pentacles: material goods, the body, money, resources, buildings, stuff, possessions, safe, earth

Swords: thoughts, the mind, communication, education, psychological mental health, strategy, air

Cups: emotions, love, close relationships, intimacy, care-taking, home, comfort, spirituality, water

Wands: passion, work, career, tasks, activity, action, sports, competition, leadership, vitality, fire

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Appendix C: Roman Numerals Conversion Table

Many tarot decks have Roman numerals written on each card.

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Appendix D: Sample Session Tarot Cards

First Row: 8 of Pentacles, Ace of Cups, 8 of Wands
Second Row: 10 of Swords, 8 of Cups, King of Wands

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Appendix E: Sample TarotSeek™ Sessions

The following are two examples of Paper Note sessions with personalized and specific questions and responses using the TarotSeek system to get you started. To get more examples of other sessions or to gain further insights of your own, please visit our website: http://www.TarotSeek.com

Session One: Seeker wants to know about a romance with a specific person.

This type of session is what we consider a theme.  The theme is about one person since all questions revolve around that one person.

Questions

1.  Why does my lover like me?

2.  What can I do to bring more fun into my relationship?

3.  How can I be more appealing to my lover?

Self-Interview Responses

The responses below were copied verbatim from a TarotSeek session using the three questions above.

1.  May 11, 2011 – 8 of Coins

Question:  Why does my lover like me?

Response:  Working on something.  He’s slowly correcting a mistake.  I see a person who is introspective and relaxed yet hard at work.  Working the way up to the top. One foot is flat and one foot points upwards.  This shows to me being comfortable where one is but also reaching out to be the star that they are.

Analysis:  My lover enjoys what I enjoy about myself – seeing me for who I am, and how I see myself. Connecting this to the card’s picture, this means being hard at work and of service to others.  I want to reach to the top and I keep striving and he loves my carefulness, dedication, and ambition.

Advice, Action, or Suggestion:  Remind myself that I’m appreciated and loved.

2. May 11, 2011 – Ace of Cups

Question:  What can I do to bring more fun into my relationship?

Response:  I’m being given a cup of overflowing peace and contentment.  I get the feeling of refreshment and being cleansed.  “Here, here - I have for you a golden opportunity to share the beauty that life has to offer”.

Analysis:  I can get refreshed and cleansed through a spa like experience so that I feel relaxed enough to have fun in my relationship which opens me up to everything life has to offer.

Advice, Action, or Suggestion:  Book a spa day once a month and self-pamper weekly.

3. May 11, 2011 – 8 of Wands

Question:  How can I be more appealing to my lover?

Response:  A whole bunch of sticks are flying towards the ground.  I need to know that I have to respond to something quickly before it makes a mess.

Analysis:  I need to be more organized and take care of a variety of tasks before they get out of hand.

Advice, Action, or Suggestion:  Don’t get hyper focused on only one thing.  Time-box.

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Session Two:  Professional tarot reader wants to gain advance insights before a tarot reading with a client.  In this situation the client provides the questions to you in advance of their standard tarot reading session.

This sample session was conducted by Ryan Arthur, Professional Tarot Reader.

Questions

1.  What does my partner want from me?

2.  Where is a good place to go for a vacation?

3.  What do I need to do to get all my bills paid by end of month?

Self-Interview Responses

The responses below were copied verbatim from a TarotSeek session using the questions above.

1.  May 25, 2011 – 10 of Swords

Question: What does my partner want from me?

Response:  Don’t defend. Let it happen. Be at peace and be relaxed. The man is resting and not concerned judgment. Dreaming.

Analysis:  Take the high road. Don’t try to defend. Take responsibility. Communicate.

Advice, Action, or Suggestion:  Tell client to pick their battles.  Don’t let the small things get to them.  Communicate what’s going on with you.

2. May 25, 2011 – 8 of Cups

Question:  Where is a good place to go for a vacation?

Response:  Man looking off in the distance.  Drinking wine cups.  Walking in the night. Bright moon, calm and peaceful.  Romantic.

Analysis:  Somewhere where there is wine and romance.  Perhaps Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Advice, Action, or Suggestion:  Find places that have wine tours with a bed & breakfast, maybe rural (outside of the city).

3. May 25, 2011 – King of Wands

Question:  What do I need to do to get all my bills paid by end of month?

Response:  Floating above the forest.  Confident. Courage.  Open to commanding. Persuading. Looking for new ways for doing work or an activity.

Analysis:  Look for new opportunities and seize them.

Advice, Action, or Suggestion:  Add new services. Highlight services already offered. Don’t worry about what you’re doing.

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Acknowledgements

Our family, friends, and associates have helped to shape who we are and what we have become.

We thank our water sign mothers because if it was not for them, we would not be the nurtured, creative, and intuitive souls that we are and we thank our fathers, who demonstrated ambition and confidence in worldly matters.

Our siblings, other family, and friends supported our ventures and gave us ideas on how to get where we wanted to go.

Thank you to the many clients, readers, friends, and family who tested TarotSeek, contributed design ideas, read over and worked with the initial guide, and / or helped to edit the final manuscript. Your questions, practice with the system, and suggestions contributed to the expansion and clarity of this guide.

We also thank other self-publishers and ebook creators who have gone before us for inspiring us to do it on our own too.

Truly, this has been a rite of passage and we are proud to have had this experience.

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About the Authors / Arthurs

Ryan and Abella Arthur are a husband and wife team, and are both psychic tarot readers. They spend their days immersing themselves in all things divine by running a psychic event entertainment company, private consulting practice, and a psychic arts school. Together, they developed TarotSeek, an online random tarot fortune page, and a tarot card meaning blog. They enjoy reading, learning, music, movies, art, travel, good food, chocolate, and wine – truly a Venusian, Neptunian, and Mercurial lifestyle.

Abella Jucy Arthur

People call me psychic and with my reading name Psychic Jucy, it’s no wonder. But I never considered myself a psychic. I call myself an Intuitive.

I have always been highly intuitive. I care about people and want to understand, help, heal old wounds, and jumpstart the star that YOU are!

Intuition is a combination of historical (empirical) data, deep and heightened observation, and an ability to cut through the thickness of surface reality. Intuition is like a slow motion machine that captures data instantaneously and hits you like a ton of bricks. Intuition is a knowing, a sensing that is beyond the conscious understanding -- a gut feeling. Intuition is not pseudo-science.

So why do I use the term psychic? Very few people would be able to find me on the Internet or understand what I do if I didn’t call myself a psychic, and I AM psychic even though that's not my naturally preferred term for my talent.

I fell into becoming a professional "paid" psychic.  This is a career that "chose" me. It was a calling and dear reader, was I ever called to do it.

My Tarot Introduction and Exploration

The main reason I took up tarot was to overcome shyness at parties as a good ice breaker.  It was clear to me that people loved talking about themselves and I thought, “If I could do something to open them up to talk, then I could be less self-conscious”.  So you could say it was a “party trick” for me.

While visiting my sister and mother in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1996, I visited a metaphysical bookstore.  The clerk suggested getting The Tarot & You by Lindel Barker Revell and illustrated by Penny Lovelock, which became my first tarot deck. This tarot deck has 22 very large and beautifully illustrated Major Arcana cards along with a stunning book.

After purchasing this set and mentioning it to them, I re-discovered (as I had forgotten or put it out of my skeptical mind) that my mother and sister had been tarot reading for quite some time. And later I found out my grandmother was a tea leaf reader.  So I’m, at minimum, a third generation psychic.

I took my tarot book and cards with me everywhere I went, work and play, and I got over my shyness as my inner confidence grew. Often, I was called to read for my supervisors and colleagues. A lot of people would try to pay me and as I said before, my response was, “It’s a spiritual thing and I can’t accept money for it.” Irregardless, I found money stuffed into my pocket after I had given a reading.

Over time, I was told I had a talent for helping people with their concerns and overcoming challenges. And I really loved the glow and bright spirit that grew as I read the cards for both cherished and new friends and family.

Every few months, I held an anticipated tarot party for friends and colleagues. We lit candles, incense, played Loreena McKennitt and Enya and we took turns picking a tarot card and reading from the book in candle light.

It was magical and pleasurable.

Tarot guests would ask if their friends could join the group and it was all quite initiatory and then one day only a friend showed up to the party and I stopped holding them after that.

My Career Background and Introduction to Professional Reading

I left a lucrative corporate "analytical and logic" focused position because I had something "else" to offer the world.  My soul was tired of being sucked dry of heart and I felt like I was dying inside.  Sure, it was fun to use my brain but I felt like a head that didn’t have a heart. So I went to study Web design because it allowed me to use both artistic and logic skills.

Many moons later, while working as a web designer, I decided to post a few ads in the local laundry shop to do private tarot readings. There was some interest but mostly crack-pots replied telling me I was doing the work of the devil. At that point, I decided pursuing tarot readings wasn’t worth the negative reactions. Yet again, it wasn’t my time or place.

But over time that didn’t work out and I wanted to do something that would allow me to use my intuitive nature to help people, so I checked out my library of "interests" and discovered all this "metaphysical" stuff that had for a long time been just a hobby that I pursued for fun and to help friends and family with their problems.

In fact, I really had a hard time with the idea of taking money from people and I had to get over the "it's a spiritual" thing that many readers encounter.  When you got bills piling up and you do something naturally well, you put a lot of quality effort into it, and people feel great afterwards, I finally gave in.  I said: It’s a talent, a talent that will help people – a lot of people.  Everyone needs to make a living and if I'm slinging burgers, I don’t have any free time to help people and I’d be exhausted from that work anyway.

That's when I began doing private tarot readings and I realized I was probably supposed to do this for a living a long time ago because it wasn't hard attracting people who wanted to be read and opportunities kept coming up.  Then again I believe everything has its time and place and is meant to happen when it does.

As soon as I decided that's what I was going to do, I became healthily "obsessed" with all things metaphysical.

In 2001, at the start of my tarot reading career, I was invited (by a friend) to do my first paid tarot party at a company Halloween event. People took pictures of me and had nice words to say and I ate with them during lunch. I worked the event for 5 hours and got called back by my friend’s colleague to do an event in her department. This was getting serious and I never called her back because I wasn’t ready to accept professional fees for a tarot reading service and I felt uneasy about it.

Becoming a Professional Tarot Reader and Teacher

In early 2005, the web design career hadn’t taken off and I still wasn’t satisfied with what I was doing. As I wondered about my career opportunities, it was looking dismal. I decided to do what I told associates to do when they wondered what their life purpose or career should be, “Go to your library of books, audio, and magazines: What stands out? What did someone want to pay you for?  What do you love?”

Feeling an ominous presence guiding me, I gravitated to my small metaphysical section; I noticed that I had 10 books and three tarot decks.  I had a smattering of palm, astrology, and witchcraft books as well. Most of my books were on tarot as I had the greatest passion for them, it’s what I started with, and nothing else quite caught on like the tarot. It was just a hobby but one that I was passionate about for almost a decade and people fought to pay me. Was I in enough pain to finally be happy doing my life’s mission?

Yes, I was and three times is a charm!

Finally my time came and I was ready.

I set out to become a paid professional tarot reader. A business plan was created and I started out offering tarot card reading services. I once again posted ads. This time in grocery marts and on-line and had some success. Then in the summer of 2005, I ramped up my involvement and joined a local group of readers doing monthly readings. At the same time, I decided to offer tarot event reading services.

Things picked up like wildfire and by 2006 I received certification as a Certified Professional Tarot Reader CPTR and due to demand I could no longer work with the cherished group of readers as much as I loved the atmosphere and camaraderie.

Where I am Today

Today, I have over 400 tarot books and 200 tarot decks and because of the large number of decks owned it’s hard to choose a favorite; however, I’m drawn to the original or versions of the Arthur Edward Waite / Pamela Colman Smith and Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Decks. Both deck types are rich in symbolism and meaning; however, the former is more accessible to the beginner reader.

Tarot is like an extended family member that will always be a part of my DNA. I will continue to deepen and innovate tarot for the benefit of humankind.  And I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my passion for tarot with a number of cherished clients, psychic arts students, party organizers, and now you.

Ryan Arthur

Tarot and the metaphysical world have always held a strong fascination and curiosity throughout my life.  Working as a computer programmer and analytical problem solver has exposed me to a wide-array of cultures and people that I have learned from.  My motto is:  Fix. Find. And Create.  I enjoy challenges, even those deemed impossible by others, and strive to succeed in my ventures.

I have visited England, France, coast-to-coast in the United States and Canada, and briefly enjoyed Cozumel during my honeymoon with Abella.  I endeavor to see other highlights around the world: breathtaking vistas, majestic mountains, and experience different cultures.

I first delved into the tarot at an early age after receiving a Rider-Waite® Tarot Deck as a present.  At the time, I was too young to grasp the symbolism of the tarot language.  I could memorize the keywords in the book included with the deck, but felt that something was amiss.

My next meeting with the tarot wasn’t until I met Abella when she discovered my tarot deck.  This re-ignited my interest in tarot and led me to read intuitively as opposed to spouting off keywords and stock phrases for the cards.

By developing my intuition and empathic abilities I have enjoyed giving readings that I’ve been told are:  “eerily accurate”, “how did you know that?”, and “you’ve been talking to my friends, right?”.  I believe that tarot is a conduit that helps bridge the unknown with the known and through which dreams can manifest as reality.

When Abella founded an event entertainment company, my involvement slowly grew from being an extra reader to helping run the business.

Within a year we grew to a handful of professional readers across the Greater Toronto Area, and my metaphysical world had expanded:  I could now read and understand palms, having completed a course on Vedic Palmistry.

With technology expanding at a rapid rate, we decided to use digital technology to distribute and self-publish our first book which has proven to be a good chunk of effort.

Right now, it’s truly a fascinating generation to be living in.  An entirely new and radically different way of reading the tarot is here.  We look forward to hearing about your fascinating adventures with TarotSeek.  Remember, everything happens for a reason.

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Works Cited

Moser, D. (1991, August) Schriftfestschrift: Essays on Writing and Language in Honor of John DeFrancis on His Eightieth Birthday). Why Chinese Is So Damn Hard. Retrieved May 11, 2011, from
Pinyin.info: http://www.pinyin.info/readings/texts/moser.html

Tarot and its History. (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 2011, from Trionfi: http://www.trionfi.com

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Recommended Tarot Decks

Smith, P. C., & Hanson-Roberts, M. (2004). Universal Waite Pocket Edition . United States Games Systems.

Smith, P. C., & Waite, A. E. (1995). Giant Rider-Waite Tarot Deck: Complete 78-Card Deck . United States Games Systems.

Tapernoux, F. (1996). The Golden Rider . U.S. Games Systems Inc.

Us Games Systems. (2003). Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot . United States Games Systems.

Waite, A. E. (1993). The Original Rider Waite Tarot Pack . United States Games Systems.

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