Tarot is a book of life disguised as a deck of seventy-eight cards, which are properly called arcanas or
paths. Rather than cards to play and gamble they are the pages of a book, which was preserved in this way from being
destroyed by the Inquisition. Its origins are unknown but there is consent, among the keepers of this tradition, on
believing that it was first developed in Egypt, as a compilation of hermetic wisdom, which later the gypsies spread
through the world.
The best use of the Tarot is as aide for self-knowledge and personal growing. More than a divinatory tool it is a book
of wisdom, which supports therapy. A Tarot reading offers an image like a movie or a mirror of our present moment,
indicating what we have done to arrive here and where we will end up if we continue our present direction. After this, it
is possible to take a deeper look at our reality and decide if we want to make changes.
A Tarot Reading is best done in person but also can be done at distance, using Skype, email or the phone. The
consultant mixes the arcanas and picks a given number, usually six or ten, and the reader ‘translates” their language.
There are several traditional ways to organize a spread and also the consultant can create a personal one but, without
doubt, the most popular and effective is the Celtic cross. Ten arcanas are spread in a cross like figure, showing the
past, present and future in a spiral rather than linear relation, allowing for a glimpse of the life of the consultant as if it
were a movie.
One may ask questions to the Tarot and receive accurate answers. The greatest benefit comes from asking about the
present rather than the future, as what it is to come is always changing, depending on our actions.
Possible questions for the Tarot are “What is the best for me right now?”, “How can I improve my current life in all
aspects?”, or “Where should I focus to make the best possible out of my present and future?” And if we know what we
want, we may ask what we need to do to achieve our goals.