Whether you are well versed with the use of Tarot cards, or whether you are just starting out with them, many of us (yours truly included) start out with the intention of being able to read for themselves. And then we find ourselves in a weird position: reading the Tarot for other people suddenly looks very easy compared to reading for oneself!
It was during such a time of utter weirdness that I discovered the book Tarot For Yourself written by Mary K. Greer.
This book helped me along my journey in a very unique way, and of course, helped me find the balance and detachment that is required to read Tarot cards for myself.
Tarot For Your Self By Mary K. Greer
In the world of Tarot, Mary K. Greer is quite a well-known personality. She has authored several books on Tarot, each of which provides a deeper insight and understanding into the cards. She also writes a very wonderful and knowledgeable blog, and you can check it out at http://marygreer.wordpress.com/.
In this book, Mary goes on to talk about several different techniques that you can use to create the kind of capability and perspective required to read the Tarot cards for yourself.
Tarot For Your Self: Contents
The book Tarot For Your Self is also described as ‘A Workbook for Personal Transformation’ – and a workbook it is. Each of the chapters and units contains exercises and meditations that will help you look at the cards from an interesting angle, while deepening your connection with the cards on a personal level.
Apart from the different chapters, the book contains a variety of different spreads, charts, exercises, mandalas, visualizations, rituals and interpretations.
Tarot For Your Self: Chapters
The Tarot For Your Self book is divided into 12 Chapters, each of which deals with a different aspect of learning and understanding the cards – helping one personalize one’s connection with the cards. Briefly, the chapters talk you through the process of getting to know them, journaling and learning, reading the cards, the Celtic Cross spread, Court Cards, Relationship related issues, planning and prosperity, conscious creation, healing, crystals and creativity and design with the Tarot cards.
Tarot For Your Self: Appendices
The book Tarot For Your Self also has 3 Appendices, which talk about card interpretations, history of Tarot and the different correspondences of the cards (like astrology, colors, gems etc.).
Tarot For Your Self: Spreads
The Celtic Cross is perhaps the most renowned spread that is used by several Tarot readers across the world. The book Tarot For Yourself discusses this spread in a very great detail, looking at it from several points of view. The book also discusses several other spreads including a Horoscope spread, a relationship spread, a Yes-No spread, an Either-Or spread and a Chakra spread to name a few.
Tarot For Your Self: Extras
As I mentioned before, the book is more of a workbook. Naturally, it features a lot more stuff than just spreads and interpretations. The main core of the book is in its various exercises and visualization meditations. For example, the exercises include those that walk you through Finding Your Tarot Profile, Finding Your Court Card, Designing Your Own Spread, and Planning with the Tarot cards. The visualizations include meditations that will take you through the process of Entering a Card, and Contacting your Inner Teacher Court Card.
Tarot For Your Self: My Thoughts
I simply love this book! That said, I have had some very interesting experiences while working through the exercises in this book.
When I first started out, the Court Cards were always a bit of a puzzle for me – but the Court Card Party exercise simply helped open them up for me in a way that I had never experienced before!
Another exercise that really made me look at the Major Arcana in a very different light was the ‘Entering a Card’ visualization exercise. I have had some very enlightening experiences with The Star, The Fool, The Magician and The High Priestess cards. Each of them has made me see things so much clearly – not just in readings but also in my personal life! For example, I was never a risk taker before (seriously, you won’t believe that one now!), until I jumped down the cliff with The Fool. Never again have I been afraid of just taking a chance based on an intuitive leap of faith – and each time, I have found myself rewarded by the experience!
The exercise where I constructed my Tarot Profile was also quite enlightening for me. For example, I discovered that my Personality and Soul Cards (based on the addition of the digits in my date of birth) is The Lovers. Now, here’s the interesting part: I had once asked the cards what the purpose of my life was, and the card I drew was: The Lovers. Interesting huh!
And no, this doesn’t mean that I have to find a whole lot of lovers in my life! It just means that my life is governed by the choices that I make, and the options that I create in my life. Its strange how the cards just tell you where what’s at, isn’t it?
Your Turn
Have you read this book? If yes, what are the parts of it that you liked? If not, would you like to? Lets talk about it in the comments section below.
