For the sake of my brother, I yearned for the Page of Wands to flip. I would even settle for the Page of Cups; then at least I would know he is safe and happy, but of course, Justice had to prevail.
Initially, I thought learning how to read a tarot deck would be easy; after all, it’s just cards with some pictures, right? However, after I first opened the box, that belief died. The complexity of each card quickly humbled me. One card could represent one of the 22 Major Arcana cards, like The Fool or The Sun. The card could also be one of the fifty-six Minor Arcana cards, divided into the four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, or Pentacles—just like the four suits in a regular deck of playing cards.
Take the Nine of Wands for example. At first glance, the scene may appear to show a muscular man standing in a dense forest. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the “trees” are actually nine wooden wands. Nestled between them is a black wolf, its gaze intense and focused. Confronting the wolf is a large man, his straight black hair framing a determined face. He wears a flowing red robe that billows around him like a wave. His yellow boots shimmer, glowing with an almost ethereal light. With clenched fists and a posture of readiness, he stands as if prepared to strike.
The first time I saw the Nine of Wands, I interpreted it as a battle upon the horizon; the person the card appeared for would soon face an argument or dispute. However, the card’s real meaning is different. The Guide to Tarot Reading says the Nine of Wands symbolizes “Persistence, resilience, determination, resourcefulness. Don’t give up; your plans are almost realized.” While my initial interpretation and the book’s definition are somewhat similar, they aren’t closely enough related to predict a querent’s life accurately.
That’s just one card, though, and reading even a single card like the Nine of Wands can be a challenge. In every reading, I have to decode three cards.
The traditional tarot reading I learned uses a three-card spread: one card for the past, one for the present, and one for the future.
The Past, Present, and Future spread is commonly used to explore one’s life path. I had to test my skills to see if the cards reflect the past, present, and future.
I decided to experiment on my little brother, Collin. He and I sat down in a dimly lit room to experience true fortune-telling. I shuffled the cards, alternating between riffle and overhand shuffling to mix them well. I then slid the deck across the floor to Collin and let him cut it. Surprisingly, he cut it roughly down the middle, not what I’d expect from a seventh-grader.
I took the bottom half of the deck and placed it on top. I drew the first card and laid it down on the left. The Seven of Swords appeared to symbolize Collin’s past. It suggested he searched for truth and clarity in his life and let his conscience guide him to where he is today.
Next, I revealed the Knight of Cups, which represented the present. The outcome shocked me. According to the card, Collin might be in love. The Knight of Cups is known for being “in love with being in love and deeply in touch with his emotions,” according to the Tarot Book. While I can’t say for sure, since he’s only in seventh grade, I don’t believe he is in love yet.
Finally, Justice appeared to predict Collin’s future. Justice may sound intimidating, but the card shows a man on a throne with a white dove, a scale in his hand, and a sword at his feet. It represents balance and fairness. I told Collin, “Your actions will have long-term effects.” He should focus on making sure future events are fair.
In a traditional 78-card tarot deck, there are 456,504 possible outcomes in a Past, Present, and Future spread. With such a vast number of combinations, most people will likely receive a unique reading tailored to their specific situation. The sheer variety of possible outcomes also means that I will likely never do the same reading twice, which presents a final challenge to my skills as a tarot practitioner.
With Christmas just around the corner, I may need to charge for some tarot readings to help fund presents.
