Appendix 1:
A 78-Day Tarot Tale

If you would like to try a final exercise in your seventy-eight-day course, why not shuffle your entire deck and see if you can read a tale by using every single card in the deck? Removing the Fool to start, take one card at a time. Create a narrative using all the skills you have learnt during these last few months, testing and consolidating your learning.

We have provided an example which we created in about ten minutes with a shuffled deck.

The 78-Day Tarot Tale

1. Fool (0): We set off on our journey with no expectations and an open mind

2. Page of Wands: And we find an open road full of possibilities ahead of us

3. Tower (XVI): Although we are going to have to shake old habits and behaviour

4. Hierophant (V): And learn many things in a traditional manner

5. Seven of Cups: Until it seems like our imagination will run riot

6. Two of Swords: And we can’t seem to decide which of many meanings to choose

7. King of Pentacles: So we will have to get to grips with what we know

8. Seven of Wands: Even if other people don’t think it is important to learn tarot

9. Five of Pentacles: And we feel somewhat excluded from the everyday world

10. Page of Cups: However who knows what surprises we have in store for us

11. Sun (XIX): As we set off with an open heart to the light of new learning

12. Two of Pentacles: And juggle what we are being taught in small pieces

13. King of Wands: Feeling strong in our resolve to accomplish our ambition

14. Seven of Pentacles: Whilst realising that some skills will take time to develop

15. Strength (VIII): And others will need practice and perfecting

16. Ace of Swords: Although we may surprise ourselves with sudden insights

17. Queen of Swords: And be able to gain keen insight into the workings of the world

18. Knight of Pentacles: That will actually have a practical application

19. Three of Wands: Taking us forwards into new areas of life previously unexplored

20. Judgement (XX): Waking us up to new possibilities

21. Ten of Cups: Which in turn bring about a deep sense of understanding and contentment

22. Ace of Cups: Opening up to others this new wisdom

23. Ten of Swords: Whilst laying old ideas to rest

24. Eight of Cups: We continue on with our journey into a whole new way of life

25. Six of Cups: Exploring cherished memories and visions from childhood excitement

26. Four of Swords: And gaining a new alignment to the very deepest parts of ourselves

27. Nine of Cups: And whilst others may be content in their circumstances

28. Queen of Wands: We know that we will continue to strive towards our values

29. Eight of Pentacles: Working hard at perfecting our craft as a tarot reader

30. Eight of Wands: And communicating with others as we make progress

31. Magician (I): Leading to new skills and demonstrations of our art

32. Ace of Pentacles: And even financial rewards from clients

33. Ten of Wands: When we make clear to them how they are carrying too much

34. Four of Cups: Missing new emotional opportunities

35. Two of Wands: Or where we clarify their ambitious plans for the future

36. Page of Pentacles: Giving them a good basis for future growth

37. The Star (XVII): And offering a new vision of life’s hopes and dreams

38. Knight of Cups: Where we are true to our own depths

39. Five of Swords: Putting away the hurts and injustice of the past

40. Temperance: (XIV): In order to create a new alchemy of tarot

41. Three of Pentacles: Which begins to build together in community

42. The Chariot (VII): Pulling everyone together in a shared goal

43. Seven of Swords: So that my learning prepares for whatever comes in life

44. Eight of Swords: And I see that I am not trapped in my thinking

45. Queen of Cups: And can access my own emotional depths

46. Five of Wands: Working though the confused values of those around me

47. Six of Wands: Holding my head high so I can lead others too

48. High Priestess (II): By revealing the deeper currents of life

49. Emperor (IV): And not abusing my knowledge and position

50. Six of Pentacles: Because I will share it in charity and fairness

51. King of Cups: Tapping into my own experience and offering my growing wisdom

52. Six of Swords: So that I can take people to new ways of thinking

53. The Moon (XVIII): And guide them in the darkest times of their circumstances

54. Four of Wands: Towards the most beneficial outcome we can imagine

55. Justice (XI): In accord with universal laws and balances

56. Three of Cups: And joyfully respecting and celebrating with others

57. King of Swords: I can learn clearly and sharply as I gain experience

58. Ten of Pentacles: Whilst practising and seeing how tarot works in society

59. The Hermit (IX): With my role as a way-shower and light to other seekers

60. Death (XIII): Now transforming myself through tarot experience

61. Four of Pentacles: No longer holding on to the constraints of the past

62. Two of Cups: Generating from my cards whole new relationships to the world

63. Wheel of Fortune (X): Seeing how luck, fate, fortune, and destiny work

64. Three of Swords: Cutting myself off from powerlessness

65. Knight of Swords: Taking my own life in my hands

66. Ace of Wands: Accepting all responsibilities as my own choices

67. The Hanged Man (XII): And in tarot now understanding the world in a totally different way

68. The Devil (XV): Free of the fear and ignorance I may have experienced in the beginning

69. Nine of Wands: Able to stand my own ground in my learning

70. Page of Swords: And having a clear idea of the way ahead in my studies

71. Knight of Wands: Which I will take with enthusiasm

72. The Empress (III): For there is so much more to reap from this work

73. The Lovers (VI): And new blessings every day

74. Queen of Pentacles: Which will create abundance and pleasure in every way

75. Five of Cups: So that I recognise what is possible for me to overcome

76. The World (XXI): And a whole world of possibilities opens up to me

77. Nine of Swords: Wondering why I had not come this way sooner

78. Nine of Pentacles: To find myself in myself, content.

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