Many people who are new to reading tarot cards are hesitant, put off, or even offended when they first receive The Fool card. The term “fool” is associated with ignorance, oblivion, and of course, foolishness. However, those dedicated to learning tarot will soon come to understand that the Fool card is actually a sign of optimism, unexpected surprises, and a welcome new beginning.

This is because the Fool is set to embark upon a new journey. And that journey is represented by the major arcana. The 22 cards of the major arcana are often referred to as “The Fool’s Journey,” with each card being a stage of the long and winding path to spiritual fulfillment.

As card zero, the Fool represents all of us at the beginning of our spiritual paths, with a sense of wonderment and uncertainty for what’s ahead. We are all the Fool, and throughout our lives we will always have more to learn and experience.

When first learning how to read tarot cards, it’s important to remember that The Fool is a reminder to us that we are each on a divine path towards enlightenment, and will never reach a set destination of being ultimately “enlightened.” At any point on our spiritual journeys, we will be put in situations where we are beginners again. In these situations, we must surrender our need to control or know what is next, and simply trust that we are being divinely guided.

Following the Fool, each archetype of the major arcana represents a person, experience, or phase of awakening that the Fool encounters as he searches for meaning. As you learn tarot magick, it will be helpful for you to consider adopting the characteristics of the major arcana cards in order to advance your journey as the Fool.

As you learn each card of the major arcana, think of them as a chapter of your spiritual growth, which you may be asked to revisit at any time. Ask yourself why the Fool needs to experience the energy of this card. What wisdom does this chapter teach the Fool?

If you are brand new to reading tarot cards for yourself, consider applying the “Fool’s Journey” to this New Beginning’s Tarot Spread…

Learning to walk the “Fool’s Journey” is the first step for learning how to read tarot cards.

Walking With The Fool When First Learning How To Read Tarot Cards

Knowing the meaning of each major arcana card makes each stage of the Fool’s Journey more understandable. Below is an explanation of each stage of the Fool’s Journey as it relates to the Rider-Waite tarot, the most common deck, and it’s also a good starting place when learning tarot reading.

Note: The Rider-Waite tarot largely reflects a medieval Christian mindset, and it’s a great place to start learning how to read tarot cards. While many find this progression to be quite applicable across cultures, and tarot practitioners are not inherently limited to a particular religion, those who do not resonate with this telling of the Fool’s journey may wish to choose a tarot deck that carries different meanings of the major arcana. There are endless tarot decks to choose from, some with less biblical influence.

The Fool: The Fool is in a state of wonder, ignorance, and optimism. In this card, the Fool is often depicted on the edge of a cliff. This represents the moment before we are plunged deep into the unknown world of mysticism. This is a stage in which we develop our first inkling of spiritual awareness, or the understanding that we can choose to embark on a journey towards finding our purpose. Although he may not know why he is where he is or what he will do next, he develops full faith that the universe will reveal it to him at the perfect time. Thus, his journey begins!

The Magician: The Magician is the first person the Fool meets on his journey. When learning how to read tarot cards, it’s important to understand that The Magician teaches the Fool about manifestation, and manifests each of the four suits (cups, wands, swords and pentacles) into the Fool’s sack. In this stage, the Fool learns that he has the power to use each of the four elements to his advantage, must manage his resources wisely, and that he can manifest abundance as the Magician has.

The High Priestess: The High Priestess is the next person the Fool meets on his journey. The High Priestess reveals to the Fool the power of intuition. The Fool is in awe of her secret knowledge and is confronted with her mysterious allure. In this stage, the Fool is shown the characteristics of tact and taught to trust his intuition when faced with the unknown.

The Empress: The Fool next encounters the Empress, who embodies the feminine aspects of creation. She is often depicted as pregnant in a garden or field of wheat, representing the growth of ideas and planted seeds. From her, the Fool learns compassion, creativity, patience, and the abundance that comes from nurturing one’s ideas.

The Emperor: The Fool then meets the Emperor, who takes care of the practical elements of his abundance with the Empress. Organized and efficient, his Empire runs like a well-oiled machine. The Fool learns from him the importance of efficiency, practicality, delegation, and balancing creative passion with action in the physical realms.

The Hierophant: The Hierophant is the next person to aid the Fool. He is a spiritual leader and a master of religious routine, knowledge, tradition, and history. In this stage, the Fool witnesses the power that comes with spiritual discipline and clear conviction.

The Lovers: As the Fool encounters a romantic interest, he also encounters a fork in the road in the Lovers card. Will he choose to integrate another into his path, or will he continue on his own? Aligning with another means allowing his values, routines, and goals to be influenced, and it is difficult to discern if this will be for better or worse. In this stage the Fool learns about reevaluation, consequence, integration, and values.

Learning Tarot Reading: The Fool Card

The Chariot: The Fool next encounters the Chariot, which is driven by the Magician who has now worked his way up to becoming a prince. The Magician’s manifestation has gained him fortune and stature in the material realms, and the horses pulling his chariot are racing rapidly toward further success. He is a welcomed reminder that success is possible, hard work pays off with determination, and that obstacles can be overcome. Here, the Fool learns dedication, commitment, confidence, and faith in his talents.

Strength: In the Strength card, the Fool encounters a woman being approached by a wild lion. As he thinks to save her, she simply places her hands on the lion’s jaw and closes it gently. The lion is tamed by her quiet power, and entranced by her calm nature. In this experience, the Fool learns that there is a time for brute force and a time to allow one’s inner strength to speak for itself. In this stage, the Fool learns that strength and confidence emanate from within.

The Hermit: Next on his journey, the Fool encounters the Hermit, dressed humbly in a worn robe. While he does not think much of the Hermit at first, the Hermit reveals immense wisdom and deeper understanding of the universe, acquired by a long period of soul-searching. Here, the Fool learns a valuable lesson in seeing each person he encounters as a teacher. He is also inspired to look deeper within himself, and finds the value of looking within to find true meaning as opposed to only seeking material wealth, public accolades, or external relationships that do not align with his core values.

The Wheel of Fortune: As he is shown by the Hermit how little he truly knows, the Fool is now re-evaluating his priorities, and once again feels that he is at the beginning of his journey. The Wheel of Fortune represents a period of time in which the Fool feels subjected to the whims of the universe and learns that while he does have free will, he does not have control as he once thought. This stage represents the cyclical nature of spiritual growth, a humbling period, and a need to surrender to change. It also represents a need to integrate this change knowing that it is for his highest good, and that the universe is working with him as opposed to against him.

Discover The Meaning Of Tarot Cards

Justice: Following this humbling, the Fool is now forced to see the truth of his whole being, acknowledging his potential, his ignorance, his capabilities, his faults, and his ambitions. Seeing this whole picture, he is now asked to accept the consequences of his past mistakes to move forward with clarity, balance, and accountability by facing a judge in the Justice card. While some truths may be harsh, the Fool learns what he needs to in order to move forward with realism.

The Hanged Man: In the Hanged Man, we see the Fool depicted hanging upside down, representing his changed perspective. His ability to look at things from a new angle leads him to spend time reflecting before taking his next action. In this stage the Fool integrates the lessons he learned from Justice and allows a pause in action in order to fully grasp the situation at hand.

Death: Counterintuitively, the Death card does not represent the Fool’s physical death. After the reflection he has done, the Fool is ready to shed his old habits and transform into a more realized and aware version of himself. He is able to put to death old ideas, roles, and identities which won’t serve him on the next leg of his journey. In this stage, the Fool learns about transformation, rebirth, pressure, adaptation, loss, and flexibility.

Temperance: The next stop on your journey for learning how to read tarot cards, is temperance.  Following this transformation, the Fool is clear-minded about the purpose of the lessons he has learned and can continue his journey with faith in the divine support he’s receiving. Although this rebirth was difficult, enduring transformation for his highest good has renewed both his faith and his discipline in the material realms. In this card, we often see an angel (often regarded as archangel Michael) mixing two liquids together. This represents the Fool’s newfound power of blending spirituality and practicality, sacrifice with abundance, and faith during hardship. In this stage, the Fool also realizes that he can call on angelic support to help him cleanse his ego and stay committed to his new values.

The Devil: Though renewed and empowered once more, the Fool encounters the Devil next – outside influences that attempt to disempower him. This stage is a reminder that there will always be temptation for the ego, and that bad habits may cause him to regress if uncontrolled. This card often depicts a devil who has enslaved two people, but if you look closely, you will notice that their chains are loose enough to be removed at will. This symbolizes the Fool’s need to love himself over his temptations.

The Tower: In addition to the temptation of self betrayal, the Tower card brings upon the Fool a series of tragic misfortunes. In this stage, the Fool feels as though his foundations are being uprooted, and all his stability is compromised. This card depicts a giant tower, representing the Fool’s ideas of security, being struck down by lightning. The Fool suffers from spiritual desolation as he experiences loss and turmoil, and cannot see a way forward. This period, which some mystics and Catholics refer to as a “dark night of the soul” tests the Fool’s faith in every way.

The Star: As the dust of the Tower’s destruction clears, the North Star emerges, instilling within the Fool a glimmer of hope. As he looks up at the stars, he is reminded that he is connected to something greater than his perceived experiences. He enters a period of calm and serenity in which he is able to heal from the pains he has experienced. Although some hits have been taken, the Fool’s faith is fortified and he will continue his journey with acceptance that he is divinely guided. From this point on, he will always be able to find resolution in his spirituality when life is difficult.

The Moon: As he processes all he has learned and experienced, the Fool spends a period of time meditating and reflecting. This brings to the surface many of the doubts and worries he has been carrying, and he is able to process them by releasing fear. As he learns more about himself through this introspection, he becomes aware of what his intuition feels like. His psychic abilities are awakened, and he learns to let go of the fear of the unknown.

The Fool Meets The Moon On The Fool’s Journey

The Sun: As this card often depicts a small child on a horse, the Fool feels childlike joy and momentum once more. The Sun uplifts and re-energizes the Fool, allowing him to feel optimistic and take action towards his new ideas. With his psychic abilities, strength, and faith enhanced, he is ready to go after his manifestations with newfound determination. In this stage, the Fool experiences gratitude, happiness, playfulness, celebration, and excitement.

Judgment: In the Judgment card, Spirit asks the Fool to consider his journey thus far, as he will be tested to see if his desires are in alignment with his soul’s needs. During this phase, the Fool asks himself where he really wants to spend his energy. He is aware that he has an opportunity to defy his past circumstances and is asked by his angels to consider carefully the direction in which he wants to grow.

The World: Having taken his angel’s advice with discernment, the Fool feels a sense of co-creation with the divine. He feels a sense of alignment, and he is sure that he is on a path that is fulfilling and worthwhile. In this phase, the Fool experiences completion, wholeness, oneness, and connection to pure love. He also becomes aware of the cyclical nature of the human experience and sees the bigger picture of the divine order of things.

Overall, understanding the story of the Fool’s Journey can help us remember the lessons of the tarot and see how the meaning of each tarot card relates to our experiences as we travel along our own spiritual paths.

As you create your own path by learning how to read tarot cards, you may wish to meditate on the major arcana. Pathworking, a form of meditation in which you visualize stepping into a particular setting such as one of the major arcana and explore the world within the card. In this video, I explain the concept of pathworking, how it can aid your spiritual journey, and how it is practiced.

Pathworking is a skill that relies heavily on visualization and imagination, so if you need some help with that before attempting pathworking, you can check out my visualization hack video here…

Closing The Circle On This Lesson For Learning Tarot Card Reading

Remember that the Fool’s Journey isn’t linear. No matter how much we learn, there is always value and new insight to be gained by revisiting a phase of our spiritual path, either through reflection on the tarot, direct experience in the physical realms, or through pathworking meditation. Regardless of one’s experiences, we are all the Fool in one way or another, and relating the major arcana to your personal experiences can help you learn how to read tarot cards and gain an enriched understanding of the meaning of the cards and how they apply to your personal journey.

I’m wishing you all the best in your spiritual endeavors. May you use tarot magick to learn more about yourself, the tarot, and the divine!

With Love and Gratitude,

Galena Stormrider

The post How To Read Tarot Cards: The Fool’s Journey appeared first on Simple Mystic Miracles Magickal Spell Casting Blog.

How To Choose The Right Divination Tools For You

To help you identify your strongest sense, and the best divination tools for you, read through the different learning styles and identify which one resonates most strongly with you.

Crystal ball divinations are just one of many types.

Visual Learning Style

If you have a visual learning style, or have intuitive ideas in response to vivid imagery, choose a divination method that triggers visions within your mind’s eye. You are likely to experience clairvoyance (psychic sight), in which you experience visions. Engaging in visual forms of divination may also lead you to experiencing other forms of psychic ability. Witches with this learning style are most likely to learn and remember information best by seeing someone demonstrate or perform an action. You probably love learning from other witches through videos!

You are naturally gifted at interpreting divine messages through pictures. In this case, tarot and oracle cards would likely appeal strongly to your visual senses, as they are a creative and colorful tool, rich with pictorial symbolism.

You may also be talented at automatic drawing, a method of divination that involves channeling divine messages while drawing or interpreting art created by the subconscious.

As a visual witch you may also have a knack for scrying or fortune telling, with crystal balls, mirrors, tea leaves, or incense smoke. The interpretation of tea leaves is called Tasseomancy, and you may look into buying special cups with charts on them that are made specially for interpretation. This may appeal to visual types because you have vivid imaginations, and with practice will see many images when looking into these tools.

Incense smoke can be interpreted for divination purposes.

Auditory Learning Style

If you have an auditory learning style, you are sensitive to sound. You process events in your life through music, or remember important information more clearly if it is told to you, as opposed to reading it. Witches with this learning style are likely to experience clairaudience, or psychic hearing.

Shufflemancy, a form of divination in which one interprets a song chosen from a playlist on shuffle mode, may appeal to your auditory senses. When using this method, it can be helpful to choose a number with spiritual significance to you or the person you are channeling for, and press the skip button that number of times. When performing shufflemancy, you can interpret the lyrics within the context of the situation you’re assessing.

You may also experience ringing in the ears or a sensitivity to certain tones and frequencies. Meditating to binaural beats or sound baths may provide you with many psychic messages. Playing songs while performing other divination forms can add bonus clarification to your channeling. Try using tools such as bells or sound bowls to trigger your psychic skills.

Divination by sound in general is known as alveromancy. Tap into your intuition and ask what a particular sound is making you feel or think. Alveromancy may trigger other psychic experiences outside of the auditory. As a rule of thumb, trust your first thought!

Kinesthetic Learning Style

If you learn by action or movement, you likely have a kinesthetic learning style. Witches with this learning style often learn by “doing” as opposed to watching. Kinesthetic learners are likely to experience clairsentience, or psychic feeling.

While channeling, you may physically embody outside knowledge. For example, your body may take on the feelings and experiences of those you’re divining about. These learning types must be careful to protect themselves from experiencing physical ailments or negative emotions of others, especially if they are particularly empathic!

As a kinesthetic witch you will likely favor divination tools that allow you to connect with divine messages through action. Rolling dice, also known as astragalomancy, may be particularly satisfying to you. It can be helpful to buy dice with special symbols or astrological signs on them, as well as mats made to roll on top of as pictured here.

Dice can also be used in more intricated witchcraft divinations.

You may also receive many psychic messages through meditative yoga or exercise. Some mediums channel messages on the treadmill, because movement can occupy the conscious mind and allow divine knowledge to flow!

Writing and Reading Learning Style

If you learn best by reading text or taking notes, you probably have a reading and writing learning style! As you may have guessed, witches who benefit from this learning style are often talented with automatic writing. Writing, doodling, and scribbling may help you receive divine messages through clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, or claircognizance (psychic knowing). The product of your writings may reveal psychic messages as well, literally or figuratively.

Witches with this learning style may also enjoy bibliomancy. Bibliomancy is a form of divination in which you flip to a “random” page or passage of a book. That passage is then interpreted as the answer to your question, or as extra insight and clarification into the situation you’re assessing.

When interpreting any sort of writing, look to keywords and phrases that “stick out” intuitively, as well as symbolism occurring in the writing. You may be called to consider the larger context of the entire book or chapter, but it is not always necessary. Your first understanding is usually the correct one in matters of divination!

How To Choose Divination Tools

Regardless of your learning style or sensory strengths, it’s important to choose the divination tools you are most drawn to intuitively. Some other methods are interpreting the numbers of dice, studying the directions of a pendulum’s swing, or throwing bones or cinnamon sticks and interpreting the placement of their landing positions. “Bones” may include literal bones or refer to lots of random charms collected over time.

Experiment with different tools until you find the ones that work best for you. Sometimes, we purchase a tool with high hopes, but do not end up really connecting with it. This is a natural part of the process as you figure out what works with you practically, spiritually, and emotionally. Be patient, give each method time before giving up, and remember that there are an endless amount of divination forms to try on! One of my favorite, affordable tools for divination is a reflective surface of any sort. In this video, I explain the concept of scrying and how you can do this with a bowl of water!

How To Create A Powerful Divination Space (A Divination Altar)

In order to prepare your mind for divination, it can be helpful to create a special place to practice your art. Having a divination altar can boost your psychic abilities!

There are many different options for divination altars and you can make it work for the space you have and your lifestyle. You can use a section of your main working altar, or create a separate altar specifically for divination. You can also set up a temporary space that can be packed away when not in use, on a desk or kitchen table for example. It is totally up to you to decide what makes you feel ready to practice divinatory magick and use your divination tools.

At your divination altar, you might like to include all five of the elements (earth, air, fire, water and spirit) to aid in your practice. Think about what will help you set the mood in order to divine effectively and bring you into a clear, receptive mindspace. Think about the lighting, candles, essential oils, crystals, or talismans that help you feel powerful.

You can bring your magickal tools to your divination altar in order to further empower it too. A simple crystal grid for psychic receptivity is a fine addition to your space, boosting your skills and giving your divination tools extra power. Consider crystals such as Amethyst, Azurite, Angelite, or Nuummite to enhance your psychic abilities. Remember to charge the crystals with each full moon, as this will allow them to carry the intuitive influence of the moon to amplify your divination station.

Your altar may also include items that help you connect to your ancestors, familiars, or spirit guides, such as family heirlooms. Divination tools that are gifted or inherited from ancestors or loved ones are considered to be extra powerful.

You may choose to bless this sacred space through a dedication or consecration ritual, where you declare what the space is intended for, and thank it for serving that purpose. Asking your guides to bless the space and leaving them an offering, such as a glass of water, can ensure your divination is supported by the spiritual realms.

In order to keep this space prime for divination, keep it clean physically as well as energetically. Use things like, cleansing incenses, or Florida water. This will be especially important to do routinely, as divination brings forth many different spirits, energies, and entities that need to be removed for accurate and uninhibited channeling.

In order to protect this space from negative energies, keep a piece of amber or burn frankincense to create a psychic force field from lower entities.

Use a bit of amber to protect your divination altar during your reading.

Now Practice, Practice, Practice!

In order to become a pro at divination, you must also practice, practice, practice! The best way to do this is to build a habit of divination into your spiritual routine. For example, some practitioners pull a tarot card for themselves each morning, or at the start of each week or month. You can replace the tarot card with any other form of divination.

Many witches choose to journal about the message they receive, and then continue to reflect on it intuitively for deeper understanding. Adding this practice to your routine can enhance your abilities and help you remember messages you’ve interpreted before.

It may benefit you to perform an annual “year ahead” divination, to intuit what you may experience in the upcoming year. In this video, I explain how to perform a year-ahead divination using tarot cards, oracles, or other forms of divination.

Top Divination Magick Tips

Find communities that share your passion either online or in your local area. When you spend time around people who are better than you at what you do, you will get better faster!
Get your hands on resources. There are lots of books, courses and workshops you can join online. Each source and every teacher will have something different to offer… fresh “nuggets” of wisdom.

Some of our favorite books to begin studying with are “Divination: Sacred Tools for Reading the Mind of God” by Paul O’Brien, “The Ultimate Guide to Divination: The Beginners Guide to Using Cards, Crystals, Runes, Palmistry, and More for Insight and Predicting the Future” by Liz Dean, and “The Modern Witchcraft Book of Tarot: Your Complete Guide to Understanding the Tarot” by Skye Alexander.

“Medium” is a card-game meant to strengthen your intuition with friends. Made by Greater Than Games publishing, this fun game allows you to test your psychic abilities and connect with others. It can be found at Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon!

There will be loads more information on the topic of divination available through the SMM blog and other social media platforms both this month and in future. Make sure to check back often for exposure to more tips, tricks, and topics!

Closing The Divination Witchcraft Circle

Remember that becoming a seasoned diviner is a journey, not a race! Be consistent, open-minded, and patient, and divination will become more natural to you over time. Lastly, remember that everyone is capable of divination. Even if some people are more naturally in touch with their gifts, we can all become skilled with practice! I’m wishing you all the best in your journeys to higher wisdom.

~ Galena Stormrider

The post How To Become A Master Of Divination Witchcraft appeared first on Simple Mystic Miracles Magickal Spell Casting Blog.