by Silver RavenWolf
I understand you love working with your tarot deck, but you want to know if there is something more you can do with it? Of course there is!
Tell a story. Choose a card you are having difficulty with and make up a story. It can be any kind you pick. When you are finished, put the story and the card under your pillow before you go to sleep or put it on your altar. Not only will you understand the card better in the future, you may even hit upon a great tale to be told to friends later!
Pick a card, any card. This is great for family reunions, birthday parties, or New Year’s Eve bashes. Fan the tarot deck and ask the first person to pick a card. This card will stand for the energies he or she will most need to stay in touch with during the year.
Use your tarot cards as props in spellcasting and ritual work. For example, if you are looking for abundance in your life, choose the Ace of Pentacles, Ten of Pentacles, and the Empress. Put them in the center of your altar, or on a table where they will not be disturbed. In a magic circle, burn a gold candle and meditate on bringing abundance toward yourself and your family.
Spend an evening developing your own tarot spreads. Not everyone accesses the astral in the same way, nor do they draw conclusions in the same manner. Design spreads that are specifically for your use. Perhaps there will be one you will use quite often. It may become your trademark!
Are your readings sometimes muddled? Have a divinatory tool nearby that is not the tarot. I suggest something like the Cartouche or rune cards so that the querent (the person you are reading for) can see the cards, too. If an area is cloudy, put down the other type of card on top of the tarot card to give you more insight.
Ever get one of those people who likes to play “Test the Card Reader?” You can stop this by asking their birthday before they come to see you. Utilize astrology or numerology to prepare for any querent. You don’t have to be a crack astrologer to glean good information.
Hone your skills by working with numerous decks. Every deck has something new to share, a different way of perceiving an issue. Keep careful notes for yourself.
Use a double deck when reading. I read with a double deck for an entire summer. The results were most interesting. Double cards showed areas that needed to be stressed for the querent. To make things really interesting, mix two decks (they will have to be the same brand). Without looking, choose 72 cards. Do a few readings with them. Watch the interesting things that pop up.
Design your own deck of tarot cards. Blank decks can be purchased at New Age or metaphysical bookstores. Begin collecting pictures of what the various cards mean to you. You will be delighted with the outcome and it is a treasure to keep. In fact, you may find it such an enjoyable pastime that you design decks for friends using pictures they give you, plus things you find.
Make a game out of your cards. Design a board game or write a computer program. This is a great way to teach your children the meanings of cards. It can be as simple or as difficult as you wish.