What Are Tarot Cards And How Do They Work?

When we inform people that we read and teach Tarot cards for a living, one of the first questions they have is,

“What exactly are Tarot cards, and how do they function?”

The answer will differ based on who you question and how they engage with the Tarot cards. That's because the Tarot is only a tool, and how you use it, like any other tool, is entirely up to you.

However, because you've arrived at Medium Sources, we'd like to explain our view of how the Tarot works and how you can utilize it to gain quick access to your intuition and inner source of power and wisdom.

What Exactly Are Tarot Cards?

The Tarot deck is made up of 78 cards, each having its own artwork, meaning, and story. The 22 Major Arcana cards represent life's karmic and spiritual lessons, while the 56 Minor Arcana cards represent our daily trials and tribulations.

The Minor Arcana contains 16 Tarot Court Cards that represent 16 different personality traits that we may choose to express at any one time. The Minor Arcana also consists of 40 numbered cards organized into four suits of ten cards each, each illustrating a different scenario that we experience on a daily basis.

What Are the Properties of Tarot Cards?

Some may argue that Tarot cards are simply inked on paper. However, after reading Tarot cards on a regular basis for over two decades, we have noticed the following:

Tarot is the story of our lives, a mirror to our spirit, and the key to our inner wisdom.

Every spiritual lesson we meet in our lives is represented by the 78 Tarot cards. And by consulting the Tarot, we will be taught the exact things we need to learn and master in order to live an inspired life. It's akin to looking in the mirror to gain access to your subconscious mind. Tarot cards assist us in accessing the wisdom and answers that we all hold.

What Are the Benefits of Using Tarot Cards?

Tarot is excellent for self-development, decision-making, goal manifestation, coaching others, business planning, writing a book, meditation, and everything else.

So, how do Tarot Cards function?

While many people believe that Tarot cards can predict the future, this is not their intended purpose.

Fortune-telling is out in the Tarot, and intuition is in, especially if you want to create your ideal future and fulfill your goals.

The best way to understand the Tarot is to use it to access your intuition and inner knowledge. The imagery in the cards allows you to immediately connect with your subconscious mind and intuition. And it is from this place of inner strength and wisdom that you may learn how to make excellent adjustments today to achieve your future objectives and ambitions.

As an illustration…

Assume you want to begin a new romantic relationship. Instead of picking a card to see if Prince Charming is nearby and being either blissfully joyful or tragically disappointed, you consult the cards to learn how to attract (and keep) love. When you pull the Ten of Cups, the cheerful family dancing beneath the rainbow in the card reminds you that in order to attract love, you must first have a clear idea of what it is you want to attract.

This simple act of visualizing your perfect relationship has a little but significant impact on your ability to find new love, and instead of waiting for someone to find you, you are empowered to go out and find them.

Developing a Relationship

It's as though the Tarot cards instantly connect to our subconscious brains, granting us access to our Higher Self's inner wisdom. We can then bring it into our conscious consciousness and act on it. Isn't it great?

And here's the thing: you might already be aware of the message or insight you receive from a Tarot reading, in which case the reading could serve as a soothing confirmation of what you already know. Alternatively, you may be completely unaware of the message until you see it reflected in the cards, at which point you are empowered to act on your newfound knowledge.

How Do Tarot Cards Work When Reading for Others?

You are most likely aware that a Tarot is an excellent tool for self-discovery and manifestation. It doesn't, however, describe what happens when you're reading for someone else and find out they're seeing someone twenty years their junior and haven't told anyone (true story!). What exactly is going on there?

Our Inner As Well As Universal Wisdom

This is where things can get a little “out there” and incredible. We are all connected to both universal wisdom and our own inner wisdom. And we can access this global wisdom by reading Tarot cards and connecting with our intuition. It's like connecting with the collective mind rather than just the individual mind.

Inquiring About Other People

When you ask the Tarot cards a question on behalf of someone else, you tap into this collective wisdom (who has granted permission for the reading and whose energy is invested in the reading). You are receiving intuitive messages from the Tarot decks and your connection to collective wisdom. And those insights are frequently effectively transmitted to the person you're reading for through you.

So, consider what you – and the people for whom you read – could achieve with this limitless, timeless information at your disposal!