The Tarot is an exercise in logic.  Each card has a specific meaning, though relative to where it is in a layout, what cards surround it and the actual situation under examination.  Each position in the layout prescribes a certain attribute of the situation, which generally follow a time continuum (past to future) with surrounding aspects (personal attitude, environmental influences, etc.).  Put all of this “data” into a processing vehicle (conversation between reader and client), and you’ve got Informed, Unbiased Perspective.

Now, the Informed and Unbiased components of a reading are of course subject to:

a)     the amount of information the Client is willing to share

b)      how much the Reader is willing to divulge

c)      how closely both Reader and Client are truly listening to each other

d)     degree of connection with Spirit, or Guides, or whatever divine Higher Power may be called upon to guide the reading.

By the way, I do not ever predict or allude to “bad” things happening in a reading.  It just doesn’t come up with this approach.

Celtic Cross Layout:

One of the best descriptions I found online for what each position represents can be found here.

The layout looks like this:

S     The Significator    -  The person the reading is for, 
                                       aka the Seeker.  Usually a Court member.

1.    That Covers          -  General descriptor of the situation.

2.    What Crosses        -  Beneficial or maleficent factors influencing 
                                        the situation.

3.    What is Beneath   -  More distant past or circumstances on which
                                       the present situation “rests”

4.    What is Behind     -  Recent event(s) affecting situation.

5.    What Crowns        -  Possible outcome if certain course of action
                                        is pursued.

6.    What is Before      -  Future being created.

7.    Frame of Mind      -  Person’s own attitude or perspective on the
                                       situation.

8.    Environment         -  Environment surrounding the situation;
                                        influential factor(s).

9.    Hopes or Fears      -  Seeker’s hopes and/or fears; can sometimes
                                        be the same thing!

10. What Will Come     -  Overall outcome of the situation.

Notes:

A Little History and Notes on Working With Tarot Yourself:

Most sources attribute the earliest record of the Tarot card deck to the middle of the 15th century in Europe.  Esoteric meanings were not attached to the cards until the 18th century, when French mystics, freemasons and alchemists (but I repeat myself, non?) linked them to Freemasonry, Pythagorean alpha-numeric mysticism, astrology, Hermetic teachings and the Kabbalah.  Artwork on the decks was revised and specific layouts defined.  The Rider-Waite deck, which is the most used in the English speaking world today was first published in 1909 by the occultist A. E. Waite and artist Pamela Colman Smith.  This was the first deck that I personally used and I think it’s a great one to start with.  I highly recommend learning the esoteric underpinnings of the cards as aids to interpretation, along with the development of one’s intuitive skills to produce very rewarding insights!

There are MANY decks available today and I certainly encourage using those to which you are personally drawn.  Note that not all of the decks currently available follow the Major/Minor Arcana, suits, numbers and face cards found in a “traditional” deck, so be mindful of what you’re looking at when shopping.

I’ve been asked a number of times about what I would call the urban legend which states that you have to be given a Tarot deck in order for it to “work” for/with you.  I can only respond that I personally purchased all of my own decks, the first of which opened an entire universe of information to me.  They have all provided insightful guidance to me, friends and clients.  So I would say, if you’re waiting for someone to give you a deck – don’t.  J  Just go and make a small, but very important investment in your LIFE!