Celtic Engagement Rings

Celtic Wisdom Tarot

Celtic Wisdom Tarot

A Beginner's Guide to Tarot Card Readings

INTRODUCING THE TAROT -
Tarot is a means of divination - that is, the art of 'reading' the future or uncovering the unknown. The tarot consists of a set of playing cards which are dealt into a particular layout according to what your question is. When dealing the cards you should focus on a particular problem you may be experiencing or think about an aspect of your life about which you'd like more clarity. Traditionally the tarot has been interpreted by a 'tarot-reader' - either professional or amateur. More recently, however, computers have been used more often to give readings online or on CD Roms etc.

HISTORY -
There is much mystery surrounding the history of the tarot and myths about its origins abound. Some cynics say that this mystery has been perpetuated as a marketing tool for tarot card salesmen! However, by just looking at the evidence available we can estimate that the earliest surviving full deck was painted in 1422 by Italian artist Bonifacio Bembo. This is known as the Visconti deck, named after the Duke of Milan, who commissioned them. Although accounts of Ancient Egyptian, Celtic, Indian and earlier Italian links have been suggested, there is no evidence to support claims of earlier decks than the Visconti. It is possible that these more exotic links were drawn as a result of the Moorish and other cultural influences on Italian society at the time.

The cards were originally used for a game called Tarocchi or 'Game of Triumphs' which was similar to Bridge. The game was played mainly by the Upper Classes and has continued in some circles (mainly in Italy and France) to be played to this day.

The tarot's use by the Upper Classes probably saved the game from being banned by the Church (though some accounts state that tarot was considered heretical and outlawed by the Church). Indeed in the latter half of the fifteenth century some church sermons labelled tarot as the work of the Devil. But in fact the Church concerned itself more with the use of ordinary playing cards, which were considered gambling. Some cards from the tarot deck - such as the Devil, the Tower and the Death card - were on occasions omitted from the pack, as they were feared by many people, but little harm was actually done to the use of the cards until centuries later.

EVOLUTION -
The tarot has undergone many permutations in its use, design and interpretation over the centuries. There is early evidence, for instance, to suggest that one of the first permutations was in using the cards as inspiration for poetry - possibly the first use in describing aspects of the human psyche and personality traits. The cards have since evolved according to the prevailing culture of the times and attitudes within them.

The first evidence of tarot being used as a divinatory tool came in the early eighteenth century in Bologna. In 1781 a clergyman, Antoine Court de Gebelin, revitalised and raised awareness of the tarot in his book, which drew links between the imagery in the Major Arcana and the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. This was later picked up by occult practitioners (occult means "hidden") such as Alistair Crowley and Waite of the Rider-Waite deck. The imagery on this deck is the one with which we are most familiar today as this was the deck introduced into America in the twentieth century and the only one readily available to generations of Americans. We therefore tend to associate the tarot with more esoteric connections, rather than the lighter use which defined its origins in fifteenth century Italy, over 500 years before.

THE TAROT CARDS -
There are 78 cards in a tarot deck. These cards are made up of a Major Arcana (Trumps) and Minor Arcana. Arcana means mystery, which reflects the secret wisdom contained in each card.

The Major Arcana
Major Arcana or 'Great Mysteries' consists of 22 cards and represents our journey through life.

The Minor Arcana (Lesser Mysteries)
consists of 56 cards and represents day-to-day living.
The Minor Arcana can be divided into four suits. These are Wands, Cups, Swords and Coins.

The Suits
The Wands represent doing
Key words: Action, change, beginning, resolution, fire element.

The Cups represent being
Key words: Feeling, emotions, spiritual, love, water element.

The Swords represent thinking
Key words: Ideas, understanding, reason, conflict, air element.

The Coins represent having
Key words: Money, property, abundance, earth element.

Each suit consists of numbered cards from Ace to Ten
plus four Court Cards - the Page, Knight, Queen and King.

Court cards
The Court Cards traditionally represent a person in your life or an aspect of yourself. For instance, turning up the Knight of Wands suggests you or someone in your life may be acting irresponsibly and therefore behaving like this Knight. This site has been written so that all the interpretations can be found in the text. You do not need to do any extra work in adding the Court Card interpretations into your readings.

Card numbering
These definitions are not intended to give comprehensive definitions (nor do they fit each card precisely). Rather, they provide general patterns and a rough path through the suits:

Ace: Represents the essence of its suit
Two: First steps into the area of the suit
Three: Further steps
Four: Inner blocks to be overcome along the way
Five: Hardship, strife, struggle, conflict
Six: Journeys and learning new lessons
Seven: Learning further, more challenging lessons in order to break into the new
Eight: Having to persist through difficulties
Nine: Final lessons
Ten: The end result of learning all the lessons of the suit
Page: The apprentice who learns and plays with the essence of the suit
Knight: The rebellious or 'darker' side to the suit
Queen: The feminine manifestation of the suit - its 'inner aspect'
King: The masculine manifestation of the suit - its 'outer,' worldly aspect.

To learn more about Tarot and get a free reading visit http://www.tarot-cards-reading.com

About the Author

Fred Street is the creator of http://www.tarot-cards-reading.com a free Tarot reading site which offers a wide range of readings online and by email. Ideal for anyone learning Tarot

The Celtic Dragon Tarot $47.47 Dig into ancient Celtic lore as your magic and divinations bask in the fiery breath of The Celtic Dragon Tarot by D. J. Conway and Lisa Hunt. Using her knowledge of the ancient Celts and working with the ancient dragon energies, Conway has designed one of the most vivid and powerful Tarot decks ever. Renowned fantasy artist Lisa Hunt created the art for this deck. Her brilliant and surprisingly intense watercolor amplifies the meanings of the cards. Her different types of dragons are filled with passion and life that will bring chills to your spine as you look at each card of the tarot deck. The Celtic Dragon Tarot is a set that combines a full-color, 78-card deck and a 240-page book, A Guide to the Celtic Dragon Tarot. Together, they can empower your readings, your magic, and your heart. No words can really express the beauty of this tarot deck. The amazing detail to attention on each card, from delicate scrollwork on clothes to the intensity of the expressions on the people and many different dragons will astound you. The included 216-page book explains the symbolism and meanings of each card. Included are four Tarot spreads to help make The Celtic Dragon Tarot a part of your daily life. Also featured are instructions on how to meditate with this deck, including three guided meditations. Numerous spells are given that use this deck and candles for healing, luck, protection, love, and more. You’ll even learn how to develop your psychic abilities. 7Complete explanations of the symbolism on each card 7Divinatory meanings for each card 7Four Tarot spreads that you can use to do readings for yourself and others 7Spells using candles and this deck for healing, luck, protection, love, and more 7How to meditate with this deck, including three guided meditations 7Understand past-life influences on the present 7Develop psychic a

Power Tarot $20.97 A tarot guide that includes more than 100 spreads that go beyond the traditional Celtic Cross and Star.

Tarot Diva $18.95 You are meant to live with grace, style, wisdom, and boundless joy. With this unique book, you can set free your inner diva and let your fabulousity shine through every day! Putting a fun and fresh spin on the art of card reading, professional tarot reader Sasha Graham unveils the magic and mystery of a tarot deck. She shows that the tarot is much more than a deck of cards--it's a fantastic tool for embracing your beauty, unleashing your power, and enriching your life.

Rachel Pollack`s Tarot Wisdom (Paperback) $33.21 Beloved by nearly half a million Tarot enthusiasts, Rachel Pollack’s Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom forever transformed the study of Tarot. This much-anticipated follow-up to Pollack’s classic guidebook will inspire Tarot aficionados and inform a new generation of Tarot students. Enhanced by the author’s personal stories and insights gained over the past three decades, this book on tarot invites you on a fascinating and fun adventure. Offering an abundant array of new ideas mixed in with enlightening discussions about Tarot’s checkered past, this tarot guidebook features innovative ways to interpret and use Tarot, and a wealth of original spreads to try for yourself—including spreads for predictive, psychological, magical, and spiritual readings. All seventy-eight cards are explored from fresh angles: history, art, psychology, and a variety of spiritual and occult traditions, using cards from seven diverse decks so you can easily contrast and compare. No matter where your starting point on the path of personal discovery, this tarot book will prove a trusted companion for your journey.   

The Everything Celtic Wisdom Book $15.95 People of many denominations find spiritual meaning and inspiration in the wisdom of the Celtic tribes. The Celtic path of wisdom incorporates Druidism, early Christianity, and ancient Celtic myth and lore. This guide includes discussion of the following topics: The Divine Male and Female; Shamanism; Druidism; Celtic Christianity; Fairies and other creatures of nature; Celtic folklore; and more. This thoughtful look at Celtic spirituality includes Irish, Scottish, and Welsh traditions both familiar and mysterious. With this invaluable guide, readers will walk the path to the Celtic Otherworld through traditional poetry, ritual, and prayer--on a never-ending journey of the soul.

Easy Tarot $27.91 Created especially for beginners, the Easy Tarot kit is the easiest way to learn to read Tarot cards. In the Easy Tarot Handbook, author Josephine Ellershaw shares tips, shortcuts, and time-saving techniques gained from more than thirty years of experience reading Tarot cards. Using the beautiful Gilded Tarot deck, you`ll learn how the seventy-eight cards link to one another and provide insight as their unique energies merge in the Cross of Truth, the Celtic Cross, and other spreads. There is even a list of card combinations that commonly indicate specific events-such as pregnancy, a wedding, a new job, and more. Also included in the Easy Tarot Handbook: • A quick guide to card meanings • Sample readings, safeguards, and ethical guidelines • Tips on keeping a Tarot diary • Troubleshooting advice that addresses questions such as, "What if the cards don`t seem to connect?"

Tarot Tips (Paperback) $30.34 Learning to read the Tarot is a continuous process of change and growth. Even experienced Tarot readers often find surprising insights in a reading or notice a detail in a Tarot card that had never seemed significant before. Sometimes it may even seem that Tarot cards raise more questions than they answer. Tarot Tips is a compendium of sage advice and practical Tarot wisdom from two respected teachers with decades of Tarot experience. Divided into six sections, the seventy-eight “tips” cover common questions of interest to beginning and advanced students alike, including choosing and cleansing a new deck, different interpretation systems and card combinations, clarifying the question, Tarot reading ethics, and designing your own custom Tarot spreads.

The Book of Celtic Wisdom $9.99 The Book of Celtic Wisdom is a collection of the poems, proverbs, and aphorisms of the Celtic people that have been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. These are the proverbs and blessings that bring the wisdom of the ancient Celts to life. Their thoughts on charity ("Stretch out your hand in giving, and you will never stretch it out in need"), aging ("The older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune"), and work ("The lazy young man and the poor old man; two sides of the same coin") are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. A thoughtful and reflective compilation, this book is bound to inspire, enlighten, and entertain readers every-where.

Tarot Plain and Simple $16.95 The tarot is an excellent method for turning experience into wisdom. At its essence the Tarot deals with archetypal symbols of the human situation. By studying the Tarot, we connect ourselves with the mythical underpinnings of our lives; we contact the gods within. As a tool, the Tarot helps to awaken our intuitive self. This book presents a thoroughly tested, reliable and user-friendly self-study program for those who want to do readings for themselves and others.

Tarot Kit For Beginners $19.95 Boxed set of cards with book. Packed with wisdom and knowledge acquired by accomplished Tarot practitioner Janet Berres, the enclosed guidebook also explains the basics, such as choosing decks, deciphering card meanings, and working with spreads. Readers will learn the history of Tarot, the traditional structure of the deck, and the truth behind common Tarot myths. This kit also includes Lo Scarabeo's Universal Tarot, an ideal deck for beginners.

Tarot shadowscapes / Shadowscapes Tarot (Paperback) $40.58 Weaving together Asian, Celtic, and fantasy styles, this new Rider-Waite-Smith-based tarot deck by artist Stephanie Pui-Mun Law is infused with universal symbols found in fairy tales, myths, and folklore from cultures around the world. A guidebook presents the artist`s evocative interpretations of each card. It also features an introduction by expert Barbara Moore.

The New Tarot Handbook (Paperback) $21.87 Renowned tarot author Rachel Pollack presents a new book that shares tarot`s vast and wonderful storehouse of wisdom and secrets in a direct, accessible way. Not only will readers learn what each card signifies, but more importantly, they will discover how to look at a tarot card and find their own truth. Using this guide, even complete beginners can immediately begin to do tarot readings?yet the book`s richness and depth will invite them back again and again to discover even greater levels of wisdom within its pages.

Beyond the Celtic Cross: Secret Techniques for Taking Tarot to an Exciting New Level $14.96 Have you ever wondered how you can bring greater depth and clarity to your Tarot readings? Have you struggled to understand just what exactly is going on in your card readings, and how the cards relate to the object of the reading?For the first time, this book shows how the professionals use secret techniques that take Tarot readings to new and exciting levels. It goes beyond the surface levels of the Tarot spread and explores the hidden depths. It explains how to decode those parts of a Tarot spread that seem to make no sense and how to break out of readings that seem to have become "stuck". Using the power of the elemental symbolism of the cards, combined with numerological techniques, this book cracks the "celtic cross" spread wide open to reveal exciting new levels of insight.Paul Hughes-Barlow is a master Tarot reader and occultist. He has previously published The Tarot and the Magus. Catherine Chapman is a Tarot reader, author, student, business woman and mother.

Tarot of the Celtic Fairies $17.56 No Synopsis Available

Shadowscapes Tarot Kit $28.95 Weaving together Asian, Celtic, and fantasy styles of artwork, this breathtaking new Rider-Waite-Smith-based tarot deck by renowned artist Stephanie Pui-Mun Law is infused with universal symbols found in fairy tales, myths, and folklore from cultures around the world. A companion guidebook presents the artist's evocative interpretations of each card's significance. It also features an introduction by award-winning tarot expert Barbara Moore that includes tarot basics, instructions for giving insightful readings, and practical card spreads.

Celtic Labyrinth Tarot Cloth (Hardcover) $46.2 Explore the many uses of this beautiful velvet cloth-featuring a handsome embroidered Celtic labyrinth. Nicely sized at over 2 1/2 feet square, this richly-colored cloth is ideal for divination practice, altars, meditation, ritual, and home decoration.

Celtic Wisdom: Treasures from Ireland $12.95 "A bevy of classic Celtic wisdom that reveals the authentic core of Celtic spirituality is gathered in this inspirational anthology. A background on the history of Ireland as well as St. Patrick, Brigid, and the Twelve Apostles of Erin is provided along with sayings, stories, prayers, and proverbs that reveal the traditions and customs of Celtic prayer and learning. Beautifully illustrated with evocative images of Ireland, this is an intimate guide to putting the ancient wisdom of the Celts into practice."

Legend the Arthurian Tarot $34.74 Llewellyn first issued this popular tarot deck in the boxed set Legend: The Arthurian Tarot (complete with Tarot deck, Celtic Cross layout sheet and the book A Keeper of Words). Now we are proud to present the same exquisitely painted deck as a separate item, sold with its own instructional booklet. At an all-new low price, this deck promises to be a hot seller. Created by 1996 Canadian Artist of the Year Anna-Marie Ferguson the Legend Tarot combines the power of two mythic and richly symbolic sources: the 1,500-year-old Arthurian legend and the ancient divinatory system of the tarot. Each of the 78 watercolor paintings represent the Arthurian counterpart to the tarot's traditional figures. This rich mythology will help you to open new doorways into your psyche and awaken the visionary in you.

The Mythic Tarot Workbook $9.99 Delve deeper into the wisdom of the Tarot with this one-of-a-kind, hands-on guide The perfect companion to any Tarot deck, The Mythic Tarot Workbook offers a variety of card spreads and creative exercises to help readers learn more about the imagery and symbolism of each card in the deck. Understanding the nature of each card brings a deeper sense of knowledge and insight to every Tarot reading, and with this workbook as a guide, every Tarot enthusiast -- whether beginning or advanced -- can become a more proficient reader. Here You Will Find: Guided imagery exercises and meditations to help you concentrate Suggestions for coloring and drawing so you can become more familiar with the card images Seven different card spreads offering you new ways to conduct and interpret readings Blank lines and pages interspersed throughout, so you can note your reactions to the cards and record the insights revealed in readings

Wheel of the Year Tarot (Cards) $42.49 Be inspired by the ever-turning cycle of life in this mesmerizing and vivid tarot. The Wheel of the Year Tarot ushers us through the four seasons—a passage of time marked by hope, abundance, reflection, and rebirth—and reminds us of our indelible connection to the earth. Vibrant watercolor imagery, rich in detail and symbolism, transport us to a timeless realm steeped in the beauty and wisdom of nature. Pagans and anyone seeking guidance on love and relationships, finance and career, aging, health, and spiritual matters will find it in this stunning Rider-Waite-based tarot.  

Faery Wisdom Tarot and Book Set $34.95 Your bridge to the elemental world! Created by the famous mother-daughter team of Amy and Nancy Brown, this 64-card deck-each card depicting a different sprite-interprets past, present, and future, explained in the accompanying, 136-page hardcover instruction book. Sumptuously packaged in a book-shaped presentation case.

The Wildwood Tarot; Wherein Wisdom Resides $14.89 No Synopsis Available

Osho Zen Tarot $50.68 Traditionally, tarot cards are used as a method of answering questions about life, a way to satisfy a longing to know about one's past and future. Osho Zen Tarot focuses on gaining an understanding of the here and now, through the ancient wisdom of Zen. It enables us to turn our attention from outside events to discover the clarity of understanding our innermost wishes.

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