Ah, the Nine of Cups what a sight for sore eyes!

I absolutely love this card. I’ve shown the Rider Waite version because it’s more widely recognised but  it’s the image in the Mythic Tarot deck that I fell in love with so I’ve added that too.
Astrological Reference: Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio
Element: Water

The Mythic Tarot deck sums up the Nine of Cups with a very fitting story. The scene shows the reunion on Psyche and Eros seen entwining and raising  their cups to one another as if toasting a special and tender moment.

Eros and Psyche’s love has endured many trials and tribulations as they’ve journeyed through the mythological stories depicted in the Mythic Tarot deck. They have faced adversity and disapproval but have somehow managed to overcome many challenges and now see each other in true light.

Having seen the best and the worst of each other they have formed a union based on honesty and respect. The strength of their love has even proven powerful enough to win over those who disapproved. The presence of Aphrodite standing beside them and toasting shows that Psyche and Eros now have her blessing.

also, the neatly stacked cups in the foreground almost seem to represent the rewards for their efforts, trophies for their achievements and the foundations upon which this new found contentment is based.

I feel as though the Nine of Cups is offering emotional fulfillment and pleasure. To me this card is a wish card and the  scene is one of joy.

The same essence of contentment and satisfaction are clearly illustrated in the Rider Waite deck too. Here we see what looks to be a health, possibly wealthy and smiling man sitting proudly amongst his ‘trophies’. No cup’s upturned, instead they are orderly and well placed.

The symbolism in Tarot decks is universal and with the Nine of Cups the key point that resonates throughout many decks is fulfillment whether it be within a relationship or any other area in life.

The Nine of Cups is there to remind us, that dreams CAN come true!

I was going to randomly choose a card to study but decided at the last minute that there was no place better to start than the beginning… And so we have the Fool.

Card Number: 0

Astrological Reference: Air

Numerical Value: 3

The image that depicts The Fool card is that of a young man carrying a stick and pouch walking precariously and almost blindly near the edge of a cliff holding a rose with a small dog following beside him.

The first thing that springs to mind is the risky nature of the card, the fact that the man is so close to danger and yet seemingly oblivious to the fact could at first glance appear to offer a warning of some sort. All the Major Arcana cards contain both positive and negative aspect so it’s possible that this could be the case. In a reading if surrounding cards also suggest this and/or it’s negatively aspected (reversed) then The Fool may well suggest the need for precaution.

When I look at the Fool himself I want to shout to him to open his eyes and look where he is going. I recall times in my own life when I may have taken risks without making myself aware of all the facts. Rushing into things with blind enthusiasm seemed like fun at the time but in retrospect, a little caution could have saved later regrets.

Yet when I explore the card more and I notice the sun shining in the sky, and the fact that he’s  carrying a stick and pouch  provokes a sense of adventure and optimism. Past enthusiasm may have been marred by blindness, lack of research or taking unnecessary risks but it’s that very same enthusiasm that creates change and and invites opportunity. Therefore, when I see The Fool in a reading I feel that it is encouraging the seeker to embrace an almost childlike spirit, take a chance and jump into the unknown.

To me, the rose the Fool is carrying symbolises the room for growth and potential, whereas the dog reminds me that we’re not alone.

Bearing in mind that The Fool is the first card of the deck (card number 0), this would suggest beginnings, the point where it all starts. On the whole the Fool offers promise of new growth and positive change which can only come about if a leap of faith is taken. Unless surrounding cards suggest otherwise, The Fool is a great card to see when contemplating big changes, decisions and offers.

And so the journey begins…

Once you’ve become more familiar with your chosen deck you’ll probably be eager to start doing your own readings. From now on it’s going to be a case of practice makes perfect; the more readings you do the easier it will become.

Start with an easy spread, the Celtic Cross is a great beginners spread and is still used by many seasoned Tarot readers – the Celtic Cross is a classic. Shuffle and and deal yourself a spread daily, refer to your card reference for each card you lay.

As the days and weeks pass; you’ll probably notice that you see some cards more than others. You may even find it a little spooky how often the same cards come back, and in exactly the same position and combination too. These cards are probably very relevant to a particular situation that you find yourself in now or reflect a future outcome based on the path you’re currently following.

Identifying with a card on a personal level like that, really helps to understand the essence of the card. After all, reading Tarot cards is not just about memorising the meanings; the idea is allow the card to trigger your intuition.

As you get more experienced and familiar with the spread you might want to practice on a few patient friends. Eventually you’ll find yourself saying things that you didn’t read in reference guide. Instead you’ll be elaborating on situations that you know nothing about. The words will just tumble out.

Although the fundamental meanings to the cards will always remain the same; the translation to a client can vary dramatically from reader to reader and also from client to client.

On my own personal learning journey, I found that one day it all just clicked , I suddenly stopped thinking about the cards and the translations and started to ‘feel’ the cards instead. I also read as much about Tarot as  I could find, talking to other more experienced readers was also invaluable learning.

You could even book yourself in with a professional and study the cards laid out,  try to understand why the reader is interpreting them the way she is. You can gain more insight if you experience another take on things.

As your confidence grows you may even want to to design your own spread, that way you can determine your own meanings for the positions in the spread.

To become a fluent and confident Tarot reader you have to learn to relate many sources of information and deliver an interpretation that makes sense to the client.  The main factors to consider are the symbolism and meaning of the card, it’s position in the spread and the combination and relation to other cards in the spread. I’ll be discussing Tarot card combinations in a future post.

One of the most important things to remember is to trust your Tarot cards, if you doubt what they say then others will doubt you. Read with conviction and confidence, even if what you see doesn’t make any logical sense – these things can often make perfect sense in the near future much to everyone’s surprise.

Enjoy your journey!

I have been the proud owner of The Transparent Tarot Deck for a few months now and they still fascinate me. Bravo to Emily Carding for taking such an innovative approach to something so steeped in tradition. These cards are not a novelty, they are revolutionary.

Since it’s often the interplay of two or more cards that tell the story in a spread, the opportunity to merge 2, 3 or even 4 cards together into a visual story, brings a whole new dimension to reading Tarot.

These card do not rely on gimmicky images to stand out from the norm, in fact the subtle imagery of The Transparent Tarot cards does stay true to the familiar symbolism found in more traditional decks. These cards are simple and stylish with a quirk.

Emily Carding’s interpretations of the cards are written with thought and care, it’s obvious that these Tarot cards were developed with insight, creativity and intelligence.

The Transparent Tarot is a joy to get to know, I would recommend this deck to any reader at any level. In my opinion they are perfect, exactly what I’ve spent the last decade looking for.

Tarot card meanings may vary from deck to deck but the basic symbolism and element stays the same. It’s the symbolism, and mood of the card that needs to be interpreted, not by simply regurgitating what it says in the book, but by letting your intuition decide how the message needs to be interpreted.

Of course you should refer to some sort of reference to learn the symbolism and the keywords but I’ve heard many Tarot readers say that once they’d learnt the basics they simply threw the book away (not literally).

As you’re learning the Tarot card meanings; you will relate to the story behind the picture. This may evoke feelings and bring back good and bad memories from your past experiences. It’s much better to feel the card than simply memorise the book.

Tarot cards are your tool; it’s really your intuition and psychic ability that does the work. See the card as a trigger and then let your third eye guide you. It won’t let you down.

You should decide if you want to read reversed cards too, Tarot card meaning can change when ill-dignified. It’s a personal choice and you should do what feels right for you, some Tarot card readers do read reversed cards and some don’t.