Clear a space on your table to do a reading

or at least on the floor.  Sometimes floor readings can be fun to do too, but usually, you want to do the reading on a table.  It's more civil or something like that.  So clear a space on your table and maybe even light some candles or burn some incense.  I'm not saying you have to get  a black cat or anything, but I do and she brings me great joy.  Set up the table nice and the ambiance will be great for your reading.

The Celtic Cross: The 10 card spread.

The Celtic cross is the most traditional and is personally my favorite spread to do.  It takes up a little space on a table, but you should make sure that the table is clear anyway.  I'm going to do my best to show you how to do the Celtic Cross.  Here goes.

The first card you want in the center of the spread and the second you want draped over it sideways and to the right.  Draped not so low that you cannot see the words on the card, but not so high that you can see the picture on the first card.  It should make a little cross, honestly.  The third card, there is some varience.  Now the way I learned was to put the 3rd card on top meaning destiny.  The fourth card in front on the right.  The 5th card below the 1st and 2nd cards as the root of this person's actions.  The 6th card is behind the 1st and second on the left.  These four cards should make a cross themselves proceeding in every direction from the cross of the first and second.  The seventh card should be to right of the cross and low on the table, towards you.  The 8th, 9th, and 10th proceed outward in a straight line from the 7th card across the table.  It should look something like this:

                                       3                                                10

                                                                                           9

      6                             1 and 2                           4 

                                                                                          8

                                         5                                               7

Now to tell you what they all mean.  The first card is the present influence and the second card is the immediate influence, meaning just as the future is breaking.  The 3rd card is the destiny card, or sometimes it can just be hopes and fears for the future too.  The 4th card is the distant future, like 2 years or something like that.  The 5th card is the root of this person's actions.  The 6th card is that person's distant past.  Between 5 years and 6 months of their past.  The seventh card is who this person really is in the world.  This card can hurt sometimes so be gentle with people when you break the news to them, or skip telling them about it alltoghether.  The 8th card is the emotional influence on the person for which is being read.  The 9th card is the spiritual influence.  The 10th card is the final outcome for the whole reading and usually interelates with the cards previous in a lot of ways.

Remeber you are their counselor.

If they come to you with problems, be accepting and generous spirited toward them.  You want to show that you care, whatever the outcome of the reading.  Sometimes the outcome of the reading is not good.  But the reading itself must always be a fun time, peering into the future, for the individual concerned.  No matter how many tarot readings you do, you must never lose this spirit.

Read the insert in your tarot deck.

These are prepared special for each deck.  There is no standard insert.  They are all different and should be read carefully.  It's like a little book with all the answers in it for a reading.  You want to be able to flip through it very quickly as you do a reading and eventually you won't need it for some cards.  Each card is represented in the booklet and if you ever need help in the middle of a tarot reading, you should not be afraid to use the little insert in the deck.  It is not unprofessional at all to consult the insert.  You should not be afraid to do it.

Usually the insert contains a list of words that you can string together in a few sentences.  Tell them to beware of the bad things in the cards, but to cherish the good things.  You want to be a good counselor in addition to being an accurate reader.

Your first spread: a 4-card spread.

In this spread, you lay the cards next to each other 1  2  3  4.  The first card means the querant's recent past. 2 means the querant's present influence.  And 3 means the querant's immediate future. 4 is the total outcome of the reading.

It's a simple way to read, but it's a first card spread and can be very effective if you are in a hurry with a reading.  Also if you've already done

quite a few readings and you just want to be brief.  Or if you are doing this for cash, you can do a 4 card reading for 5 dollars.  A nice low price for a simple reading.

What kinds of cards should you get?

There are many kinds of Tarot decks out there.  You want to find the right deck for yourself.  The most traditional of all the Tarot decks is the Rider-Waite tarot deck.  I, myself, am not as traditional as some people and I use the Sacred Art Tarot Deck and the Thoth Deck.  The Thoth deck is easier to read than some other decks, it's true.  But the Sacred Art Tarot is such beautiful imagery.  You want beautiful imagery in your Tarot deck.  That is of primary importance.  All decks are not created equal and you need to find the right one for you more than you have to be traditional, or be like me.  Be an individual, get an individual deck.