Every initiate should draw and paint (or at least commission such from a good artist) their own Tarot pack, using the guidelines given later in this chapter.

To read the cards for an individual, the individual cards are seen and interpreted in relation to the others around them. This is done because the cards are symbols of how certain energies have, are and maybe influencing the person for whom the reading is being done - and these energies are never static, or in isolation.

The essence of initiated readings is empathy: an awareness of the energies within, around and external to the individual, and the cards are used to 'focus" these energies in consciousness. To aid this, the setting of the reading should be imbued with magickal anticipation. This is easily achieved - for example by using one candle - having no other persons present than the individual foe whom the reading is being done, laying the cards out on a black cloth kept for this purpose, burning one particular incense whenever you do a reading (and never using that incense for any other purpose). Ideally, the room/area where the reading is undertaken should be quiet and calm.

Two types of card layout may be used. These follow you shuffling the cards in a mindful, calm way after which the client cuts the pack three times, laying each cut beside the other. Choose which cut you feel is appropriate and use the cards in that pile, starting with the top card.

The first layout is the 'Celtic', the second the 'Septenary'.

 

Celtic

In this, the second card is placed across the first.

1. Represents the client.
2. The predominant influence which is acting against them, 'crossing' etc.
3. Is what is in the distant past (which may be an unconscious influence over the present).
4. The recent past (and also the subconscious energies).
5. The present.
6. The immediate future.

7, 8, and 9 the future at intervals, and 10 the outcome.

There are also other influences which must be considered. 4, 6, 9 and 10 are how positive energies flow (via 2) - 3, 6, 8, and 7 the negative ones. 3-2-10 are how the unconscious influences can be made conscious (i.e. controlled or circumstances altered) in a positive way. 5-2-7 is how the present will evolve to enable 10 to arise - or conversely, how to prevent 10 arising.

In undertaking a reading two important principles should be understood. First, the interpretation of each card is not rigid - the meanings suggested by each card should arise in your mind naturally, that is, they should be intuitive and spontaneous. For this reason, 'book' interpretations and of particular cards must be avoided. This intuitive approach enables the cards to be used correctly - as mediums to awaken he psychic faculties.

The second principle, is to have all the cards upwards: there is no meaning in 'reversed' cards - because what is 'reversed' is covered by the 'unconscious' patterns/flow considered in each reading.

7

5            6

4

2            3

1

Septenary 

Here the cards are related to the planetary/sphere aspects - e.g. 5 is the sphere associated with Mars. These relations (in terms of energies) should be consider as well as the following:

1 Are unconscious factors,
2 and 3 the past (and the unconscious becoming more conscious);

4. The present,

5 and 6 the immediate future and beyond, and 7 the outcome.

In addition, 1 - 2 - 5 are negative elements/energies; 1 - 3 - 6 positive. 1 - 4 - 7 what needs to be done to bring 7 (or, again, prevent it from arising).

In both this and the Celtic pattern all combinations should be seen as how energies flow and change, or become altered through the other influences present. Intuition should enable the practical manifestation of these energies to be understood - e.g. a particular influence might represent an actual person or event in the client's life.
 
 
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