Mary K. Greer's 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card

1. Tarot as a Mirror: Reflecting Personal Wisdom and Unconscious Knowledge

"I believe people seek readings to alleviate anxieties, to help achieve desires, and to find meaning."

Tarot as self-reflection tool. Tarot cards serve as a mirror, reflecting our inner wisdom and unconscious knowledge. By engaging with the imagery and symbolism of the cards, we can access deeper layers of understanding about ourselves and our situations.

Personal meaning is key. The most powerful insights come not from memorized card meanings, but from the personal significance we attribute to the images. This process allows us to tap into our intuition and uncover hidden aspects of our psyche.

Benefits of tarot self-reflection:

• Alleviates anxiety by providing clarity
• Helps identify and achieve desires
• Finds meaning in life experiences
• Accesses unconscious wisdom

2. The Power of Interactive, Transformational, and Empowering (R.I.T.E.) Readings

"R.I.T.E.: Reading Interactively for Transformation and Empowerment"

Interactive engagement. R.I.T.E. readings involve active participation from both the reader and the querent. This collaborative approach allows for a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights, leading to more meaningful and personalized interpretations.

Transformative potential. By focusing on empowerment and personal growth, R.I.T.E. readings can catalyze profound changes in perspective and behavior. The process encourages querents to take ownership of their insights and apply them to their lives.

Key elements of R.I.T.E. readings:

• Active listening and empathy
• Open-ended questions
• Exploration of multiple perspectives
• Focus on personal empowerment
• Emphasis on practical application of insights

3. Metaphor and Symbolism: The Language of Tarot

"Metaphors occur spontaneously when working with a card as you've probably already found in doing the previous steps. And a good metaphor can make an excellent keyphrase for a card, as it will stir dozens of images in the imagination."

Power of metaphor. Tarot cards communicate through rich metaphors and symbols, allowing for multilayered interpretations. By exploring these metaphors, we can uncover deeper meanings and connections to our lives.

Personal symbolism. While traditional symbolism provides a foundation, personal associations with symbols are often more powerful and relevant. Encouraging querents to explore their own symbolic language enhances the reading's impact.

Techniques for working with metaphor and symbolism:

• Identify key symbols in each card
• Explore personal associations with these symbols
• Use metaphorical language to describe card meanings
• Connect card symbolism to real-life situations
• Create personalized metaphors for key cards or spreads

4. Embodiment and Imagination: Bringing Cards to Life

"When reading a card it helps to experience that card with your body. The task is to join what we know inside—in our bodies—with what we know outside—in our conscious thoughts and words."

Embodied wisdom. By physically embodying the postures and gestures depicted in tarot cards, we can access deeper layers of understanding and insight. This somatic approach taps into our body's innate wisdom.

Imaginative engagement. Using guided visualization and active imagination techniques allows us to enter the world of the cards, interacting with their characters and landscapes. This process can reveal unexpected insights and perspectives.

Embodiment and imagination exercises:

• Mimic the posture and gestures of figures in the cards
• Engage in dialog with card characters through imagination
• Visualize yourself entering the card's scene
• Use movement and dance to express card energies
• Create artwork or write stories inspired by the cards

5. The Art of Asking Questions and Active Listening

"Asking questions is the quickest and surest way to determine what a reading is really about—how to excavate the riches buried within."

Powerful questioning. Skillful questioning is at the heart of effective tarot reading. Open-ended, thought-provoking questions can unlock deeper insights and guide the querent towards meaningful self-discovery.

Active listening. By truly listening to the querent's responses and paying attention to non-verbal cues, readers can pick up on subtle nuances and guide the reading towards the most relevant and impactful areas.

Effective questioning and listening techniques:

• Use open-ended questions (How, What, Why)
• Avoid yes/no questions
• Listen for emotional content and energy shifts
• Pay attention to body language and tone of voice
• Follow up on significant statements or reactions
• Encourage the querent to elaborate on their responses

6. Integrating Multiple Perspectives: Combining Traditional and Intuitive Approaches

"You'll find you can gain the best of both worlds by moving back and forth between the two extremes. The first approach provides a verifiable or agreed-upon structure. The second provides an authentic, personal voice and individualized interpretation."

Balanced approach. Effective tarot reading integrates traditional card meanings with intuitive insights. This balanced approach provides a solid foundation while allowing for personal and contextual interpretation.

Flexibility in practice. By developing fluency in multiple reading styles, tarot readers can adapt their approach to best serve each unique querent and situation.

Strategies for integrating multiple perspectives:

• Study traditional card meanings and systems
• Develop personal associations with each card
• Practice both structured and intuitive reading styles
• Compare interpretations from different decks and traditions
• Encourage querents to share their own impressions of the cards

7. Archetypes and the Hero's Journey in Tarot

"Archetypal images are, psychologically speaking, charged with emotion, and that emotion gives the image its perceived value."

Universal patterns. Tarot cards often depict archetypal figures and situations that resonate with universal human experiences. Understanding these archetypes can deepen our interpretation of the cards and their relevance to our lives.

Hero's journey. The structure of the Major Arcana can be seen as a representation of the hero's journey, a pattern of personal growth and transformation found in myths and stories across cultures.

Key archetypes and journey stages in tarot:

• The Fool: Innocence and new beginnings
• The Magician: Personal power and manifestation
• The High Priestess: Inner wisdom and intuition
• Death: Transformation and letting go
• The Star: Hope and inspiration
• The World: Completion and integration

8. Empowerment Through Affirmations and Ritual

"Every card, even when difficult, contains something of value. The valuable aspects point out how a person can express his or her possible self."

Positive focus. By identifying and emphasizing the positive potential in each card, readers can help querents shift their perspective and tap into their own strengths and resources.

Ritual integration. Creating simple rituals or tasks based on the reading's insights helps querents integrate the wisdom gained into their daily lives, promoting lasting change and growth.

Steps for creating empowering affirmations and rituals:

1. Identify positive qualities and potential in the cards drawn
2. Craft affirmations based on these qualities
3. Guide the querent in personalizing the affirmations
4. Suggest simple, actionable tasks or rituals aligned with the reading's insights
5. Encourage regular practice and reflection on the affirmations and rituals

Last updated: October 2, 2024