Tarot cards changed my life.

I was standing on a Colorado mountain faced with my first life or death situation and all I could hear was my inner voice YELLING to “GET OFF THE DAMN MOUNTAIN!”

It was in that moment, I could finally HEAR the inner voice that was guiding me step-by-step so clearly. I mean, I’ve always beat to my own drum, but this was the first time I was actually aware of that inner voice that was guiding me from a place of trust + knowing and not from a place of fear.

I couldn’t shake that feeling of “hearing” some other inner voice (that wasn’t my crazy inner mean girl). It was so loud and clear for the first time and struck a curious chord in me to keep digging.

I kept repeating aloud “There must be a lesson to be learned here.” It was that relentless curiosity that led me to find the book Trust your Vibes by Sonia Choquette which taught me to LISTEN + TRUST those intuitive vibes and then later led me to meet my first psychic.

During my visit with the psychic, she mentions that I had “the gift” and I needed to grab myself a set of tarot cards and begin learning.

 

I honestly had no clue what she was talking about, but somewhere deep within me – I knew.

I had always listened to my “gut feelings” and would “know” what someone was about to tell me even before they opened their mouth, but I didn’t quite understand it.

It took a few months before I had the courage to bust out the tarot deck I picked up for myself. Especially after the psychic mentioned, “Don’t sleep with the Tower and the Devil together under your pillow at the same time.”

Totally freaked me out.

Psychics. Tarot. Crystals. Intuition. Spirit Guides. It was all new to me, but my curiosity kept pulling me in the woo-woo direction.

Fast forward almost a decade later, I haven’t skipped a personal daily tarot reading yet and now I’m communicating with past loved ones (including my biological father). We can dive into that another time.

Because tarot is such a taboo topic, I thought diving deep into the questions I get asked ALLLL the time would help to debunk some of the funk we hold around the tool of tarot.

I always like to point out tarot is just another tool of divination helping us connect to the unseen world of energy and vibration. The cards reflect back to us the matching vibration of what we’re feeling so we can see more objectively and clearly into our inner world.

No matter what religious background you come from, this tool will help you to make that deeper, Divine connection you crave with yourself.

The cards help us to look deeper within and uncover our Truth.

Let’s dive into the most frequent questions I get asked about the tool of tarot…

Where do I start?

When you’re first learning to start reading oracle cards or tarot the first questions is where to buy them? You can pick up your deck at a local crystal shop, bookstore, or even order on Amazon.

You do NOT have to be gifted a deck to get started. When you receive your deck, unwrap the deck and light some dried sage or incense to clear away the energy. This helps you to claim the deck as your own. 

After cleansing the deck, you can begin to sleep with one card a night under your pillow to begin creating a connection with your intuition.

What tarot deck do you recommend for beginners?

I get asked this almost every day. I recommend something you will USE! Find a deck that makes your heart flutter. Let your soul/intuition guide you to the deck that suits your spirit. Oracle decks are a great way to get started using cards.

What’s the difference between tarot vs oracle cards?

Oracle cards offer a “pull and play” experience. You don’t need to be a crystal ball reading psychic (like me!) to connect with your cards. Each deck is designed to highlight a certain area such as Goddess, Life Changes, and even Self-Love like my Shine From the Inside Oracle™ deck.

 

Oracle cards are great for beginners who don’t know where to start but want to develop a deeper connection to their soul.

They are also great for someone who doesn’t want to put in the discipline of learning the whole tarot card system. What I love about oracle cards is that once you pull a card, you already intuitively know the meaning. 

Tarot cards have a traditional system of numbers, suits, and symbols that always remain the same. Each card represents a soul experience we go through as humans. Sadness, Grief, Loss, Celebration, Love, Creativity, New ideas, etc. 

Carl Jung describes tarot as an “intuitive method that has the purpose of understanding the flow of life, possibly even predicting future events, at all events lending itself to the reading of the conditions of the present moment.”

The tarot deck has been used as a divination tool for thousands of years. This structured system shows you how to understand the meanings of the cards so you can clearly connect with your soul and learn to understand the cycles of life.

I like to think of tarot as a “magic mirror” that shows you exactly what you’re thinking, feeling, or experiencing emotionally at the moment in time by law of attraction.

Watch this video to learn more about the difference between Tarot vs Oracle.

What is your favorite deck?

Naturally, I recommend my Shine From the Inside Oracle™ deck for self-love empowerment, but my current personal tarot deck faves are the my original Morgan-Greer tarot deck, the Work Your Light oracle by Rebecca Campbell, and the Crystal Unicorn Tarot by my friend Pamela Chen. 

How do I shuffle?

Some cards are much larger than other decks, so you can shuffle in whatever way feels right for you. You can slice the deck, spread the cards faced down across the floor and choose, or the traditional Vegas-style shuffle. Any will work. Just mix ‘em up!

 

Where did tarot originate from?

Sometime around the 14th century, the tarot likely originated with Mamluk game cards brought to Western Europe from Turkey. By the 1500s, the Italian aristocracy was enjoying a game known as “tarocchi appropriati,” in which players were dealt random cards and used thematic associations with these cards to write poetic verses about one another—somewhat like the popular childhood game “MASH.”

Even the earliest known tarot decks weren’t designed with mysticism in mind; they were actually meant for playing a game similar to modern-day bridge. Wealthy families in Italy commissioned expensive, artist-made decks known as “carte da trionfi” or “cards of triumph.”

These cards were marked with suits of cups, swords, coins, and polo sticks (eventually changed to staves or wands), and courts consisting of a king and two male underlings.

Tarot cards later incorporated queens, trumps (the wild cards unique to tarot), and the Fool to this system, for a complete deck that usually totaled 78 cards. Today, the suit cards are commonly called the Minor Arcana, while trump cards are known as the Major Arcana.

“Divination is the quest to understand more about the past, present, and future. In other words, Tarot readings are an attempt to understand ourselves better and discover how we might live better in the future.”  ― Theresa Cheung

How can a person be objective to the reading if they are not “trained” to be objective?

Just like learning any skill, you must practice. Sleeping with the cards under your pillow to receive intuitive guidance will help you to receive clear messages from the cards. This allows your subconscious to show you symbols that represent the energy behind each card. 

Journaling the meanings of each card and sticking to the traditional meaning will also help you to stay objective until you build confidence on trusting your intuition of what each card represents for you.

 

How do you learn to interpret the cards besides the booklet that it comes with?

I always get cracked up when I say “Sleep with your cards” because it sounds like you’re in an intimate relationship, but it’s SOO true! Sleep with one card under your pillow each night to allow your subconscious mind to create symbols and meanings for the cards. 

Your tarot cards are like personal love notes from your soul and will help to guide you along your spiritual path of awakening. You MUST begin to trust your soul’s intuitive guidance that comes through when reading the card. Let’s say you pulled the Magician card – instead of reaching for the booklet to find the answers, look over the card. 

Visualize it in your imagination. Allow the words, feelings, and visions you have about this card to arise from within. Trust your first feeling. Over time you will develop confidence in being able to trust your inner knowing.

When doing a tarot reading – do you do it alone or with someone?

You can read for yourself or another person. You can also read for an entire group of people. The most important thing when reading is to set the intention of who is receiving the message before beginning.

 

How do you do a reading for yourself?

When doing a reading for yourself, you want to make sure you’re in a safe, sacred place where you feel comfortable opening up your heart space to receive guidance. 

There are MANY different tarot spreads you can choose from depending on what guidance you’re seeking. My favorite personal reading is simply pulling one card while asking your guides/Higher Self “What is my Divine daily message today?”

How do you do a reading for someone else?

When doing a reading for someone else, you want to make sure you two are both in agreement on what question is being asked from the readee. The reader will then set an intention to receive guidance through the cards and their own intuition to be delivered on behalf of the readee.

Is there evidence to support spiritual practice?

After spending time with your cards, your analytical brain won’t need PROOF that these cards can be used in your spiritual practice because you will intuitively KNOW the messages coming through are always aligned with your best in mind. 

The cards are traced by some occult writers to ancient Egypt or the Kabbalah but there is no documented evidence of such origins or of the usage of tarot for divination before the 18th century.

What is the main purpose/intention of using tarot?

Tarot acts as a tool that helps reflect your current energy and provides intuitive guidance for the clarity you’re seeking. You can use the tool to connect to your Higher Self/spirit guides.

 

Does negative energy affect your reading? 

I wouldn’t recommend reading when your emotions are running wild. You want to come from a place of peacefulness when conducting your reading. Wait until the initial emotional surge passes before doing a reading on that particular subject.

When is the best time to do a personal reading?

The best time to do a personal reading is when you’re feeling like you need a hug from the Universe or if you’re confused about what steps to take. The best time to conduct your reading is when you’re feeling calm. 

I’ve drawn one daily card for myself each morning for over 8 years and have written down EVERY single card and meaning along the way. It’s always fun to look back at the last 6 months to see how aligned your readings are with what is happening in your life.

The best time to do a personal reading is when you’re feeling like you need a hug from the Universe or if you’re confused about what steps to take.

 

How do you care for your decks?

Just like crystals, you want to cleanse and protect the energy of your cards. 

Saging the cards as soon as you receive them is important to clear away any other energy that has been left with the cards. 

Occasional saging is good if you feel like your connection to the cards is weak. I also recommend NOT letting others touch your cards as they will leave their energy behind.

How do you keep positive energy around your cards?

Do not let others handle your tarot/oracle cards because they can leave traces of their energy on the cards. Try burning dried sage and letting the smoke clear away the energy of the cards if you feel they’ve picked up some funk.

Do you start by asking your guides to show you the cards?

I always say a little prayer before I begin asking my Higher Self to come forward to share the divine guidance I most need in that moment.

What happens if I draw the same card multiple times in a row?

Pay attention! The Universe is sending a CLEAR message by showing you again.

Should you use the reverse meanings of cards?

If you’re feeling completely blocked and the card comes out upside down, my advice is to trust your gut if you feel the reverse meaning has a message for you. Sometimes I pull a card that’s upside down and the reverse meaning doesn’t apply, then I just go with the actual meaning of the card.

I’m not a big fan of looking up the reverse meanings and I always have my cards oriented in the upright position so I typically don’t draw cards that are reversed. If they do come out reversed, I tune into the opposite energy of the card to see if there is anything out of balance on that issue.

I honestly don’t believe there are any “bad” cards in tarot.

 

What to do if you get a scary or “bad” reading for yourself or someone else?

Accept it. The cards are reflecting your energy so if something “bad” comes up – see how it applies to your life. Don’t hide from the truth and don’t over analyze the card. I find that sometimes we project our own illusions and fears on to the meaning of the cards which can create confusion when reading for yourself or someone else. 

I honestly don’t believe there are any “bad” cards in tarot. The “death” card gets such a bad wrap, but the meanings aren’t always literal. It could represent a metaphorical death such as the end of a cycle, job, relationship, or chapter in your life’s story, but not an actual death.

Let’s go a little deeper…

I hope by uncovering some of the untold truths about tarot that you’re able to let go of any hangups you have and make a deep and lasting connection with your spirit and guides. If you have any specific questions you’d like me to demystify, be sure to leave them in the comments below and I’ll be happy to tackle them for ya.

I’m sharing ALL my tarot secrets!

If you’d like to learn all my tarot secrets, I invite you to join my Tarot 101 training where you’ll learn how to get started intuitively reading tarot for yourself and others.

 

“From spiritual goose bumps to a much-needed release through tears, I had multiple ah-ha moments on our 1:1 call. Brittney has an incredible way of communicating the message from spirit andtapping into exactly what needs to be said in the moment to create momentum. Momentum in both my personal life, my career and my future casting. Her high-vibe tips are brilliant (no more cell phone next to the bed!) and I would highly recommend anyone and everyone investing in themselves for a breakthrough call with Brittney! You’ll leave with a new sense of clarity and mega confidence!” Love & Light, Seana | The Bohemian Blonde

Book an empowering private 1:1 tarot reading with me. 😉

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