Like my DARK SHADOWS cards, Captivating Tarot has not been available since I was printing them myself and selling them on regretsy. It's not only available again, but you might pick up reasonable instructions and symbolism cards as well as notebooks. They are not included with the deck as I tried to keep the price down. I attempted to print them out on the cards, but the print was too small to read. I'm going to include them here.
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Tarot Notebook
My Aunt taught me to read cards. I always keep the original intention of playing cards in mind when dealing with the Tarot, seeing them as a kind of spiritual solitaire. I am not at all certain of what kind of force is behind the cards; I just know that they are accurate and true. I have learned to trust the cards as I have come to trust my own intuition. Perhaps that is the power of the cards; I believe they are born of the subconscious and the Jungian notion of the collective unconscious of the world.
I have always read all of the cards, shuffling like a gambler and cutting the deck three times while formulating my curiosities in mind. I tap on the top card three times before laying out the spread.
Keep in mind while dealing with the Tarot that the cards reveal the big picture; that is to say, that you may think something is very important at the time that does not even register with the cards, as they are attempting to reveal something far more critical to you. Most of our human issues are pretty petty in the light of the world, God, life, and death.
I can tell at first glance if the spread is accurate or not. The cards will be rendered inaccurate if you attempt to do several readings for different people, one after the other. Perhaps the reader’s energy is sapped, I believe, or perhaps confusion takes over.
I have color coded this deck. The Major Arcana, being the most powerful cards, have a black background, enveloping everything, reminiscent of the womb, the cave.
The cards are also elemental. Swords/Spades have a red background representing violence, destruction, hatred, war fare, the power of air, the atmosphere, metal, forged by man, the mind and blood of man. Blue, gray, the colors of air, also prevail throughout the suit, as are black and gold, the tangible colors of man. Generally speaking, Swords usually represent people of a militant nature. They usually have dark hair, light skin and eyes, the wintry sort. But, remember, with the Tarot, the physical as well as spiritual nature of the person is represented.
You may think the person to be of one suit, while the cards will deem them otherwise. You must wait and see what the cards say about the person. When doing a reading, the person’s court significator will reveal itself. They may even be represented as a card from the Major Arcana. Their significator may change over the course of time.
That being said, the Wands/Clubs, have a green background, representing the creative force of nature, the power of fire, and wood. It is not a fire of destruction, but the creative, metaphysical fire of passion, magic, and ambition. Wands are doers. While Swords represent the air signs of the zodiac, Aquarius, Gemini, and Libra, the thinkers, and talkers, Wands represent the fire signs, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, people of a more childish, physical nature, artists, writers, teachers…The active colors of fire, gold and orange, are also spread throughout the suit. Wands usually have brown or auburn hair and light skin and eyes.
Cups/Hearts are represented with a blue background, the element of water, the realm of dreams. They are from the deep, the merpeople, and are often misunderstood, for their world is not the tangible world of man, but the watery depths of the heart. The golden color of the chalice is also dominate throughout the suite; however, unlike Pentacles, not the gold of man, but the golden lined clouds of dreams, captured eternally in the depths of the chalice. Cups are the dreamers, deep water signs, Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio. They are visionaries. Usually they are fair haired and lovely. Addiction is the ill fated quality of the Cups.
Pentacles/Diamonds have a golden background, representing the earth element, the power of gold, money, and man. They are the earth signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. They represent the power of wealth, family, real estate, the land, and worldly things. Like the Earth, they are slow, but steadfast. They are the best with practical matters and live in the real world with feet rooted to the ground. They are usually dark complected, with dark, curling hair, and deep, rich eyes.
Generalities with the suits concerning race…Not the rule, as with life, so with the Tarot…There are exceptions to every general rule.
Swords: Celtic, Saxon, Asian
Wands: American, Irish, Australian, New Zealand
Cups: Nordic, Anglo, Eastern European
Pentacles: African, Mediterranean, Jewish, Middle Eastern, Indian
Certain races such as the English, Irish, German…etc…are extremely difficult to categorize into one specific suit. For instance, how can all Asians be Swords? That is why it is difficult to determine suites according to physical attributes such as race or even birthdays. Personality and psychology have more to do with the Tarot, where intuition and imagination replace realities such as time or place.
The Royal House
Kings are mature, decisive men of great power. They rule the suits with great calm and authority.
Queens are women of a subtle sort of power. Theirs’ is more power of the manipulative sort. All the Royals are capable of great power of their own making, both good and evil.
Knights are the young, life’s blood of The Royal House, the activists, chivalric, or arrogant, noble, or incredibly stupid, they all portray valor of action as their element. Knights, as in chess, are always depicted on horseback, suggesting their harness on nature. They are men with great power of suggestion. Jacks, in playing cards, are more a combination of Knights and Pages.
Pages are youths, studious, or disruptive and unruly, they often symbolize and personify other elements in a reading. They are both boys and girls.
***
Please Note: If more than half the cards in a reading are reversed, this does not necessarily mean that they are all ill dignified. Some of the cards, most, I believe, only have one true meaning, which is why I have not included upright and reversed meanings for all of the cards. I have tried to simplify matters without losing the true meaning and integrity of the cards.
The Twenty-two Major Arcana
The Fool dances madly and blindly amongst rose colored clouds. Joy, childishness, stupidity. The Fool is a wise creature that disregards all reasonable, sensible solutions. Carefree and gullible, The Fool follows the heart, is rash, and rushes into whims and folly.
The Mage waits patiently with his blackbirds under cloak of invisibility. He is the keeper of ancient secrets and creative white magic. His realm is the land of dreams. His gifts are knowingness and prophesy.
The High Priestess is an oracle. She lives in a temple atop a hidden spring. Robed in peacock, she has the third eye, the power to see. Dark magic, occult wisdom, feminine power.
The Empress rules. She is a matriarch, a mother or grandmother. She is nurturing and creative. She is nature, the animals, fertile crescents, and caves.
The Emperor A ruler. Animal energy, the animus. The Emperor is thoughtful but still a force to be reckoned with.
The Hierophant Wise man, Magi, holy man. The power of God. God’s will.
The Lovers Love of both a physical and spiritual nature. Overwhelming love, sexual force.
The Chariot Domination, conquest, competition, leadership.
Justice is delicate and blind. She sees into the heart of the matter. She balances the scales and rules with a fist of iron. She is timeless, without race or creed; she works alone.
The Hermit is a spirit guide, a protective being. Wandering alone by candlelight, The Hermit is a wise creature, avoiding contact of the physical realm. An artist or teacher. The Hermit is not lonely.
Wheel of Fortune Fortune, destiny, karma, fate. If ill dignified, fate is against you, but life is a turning wheel, like the tides, it’s cyclical.
Strength Physical and emotional strength. Grace under pressure. Everything is not what it appears to be. Comfort and solace from unexpected sources. Health, immunity, endurance, compassion. A courageous heart.
The Hanged Man is hanging for his treachery, his noble treachery. He has some valuable information, and his pocket watch has stopped. Funny thing is, he could escape if he wanted, but hangs, suspended, seeing the world from another perspective. The rope is the line between life and death. This card also depicts suicide.
Death The Mothman is an omen of death and disaster. All death, red, yellow, and white are dispelled, or perhaps it is ash, or a warning in SONAR. He also symbolizes change, metamorphosis.
Temperance An angel mixing elements into art, she is virtuous, patient, and kind.
The Devil Under cover of night, The Devil is a charming man, staring in fascination with his latest kill. Surrounded with flame, devil’s ivy, and devil’s tongue, he is dangerous and beguiling. He symbolizes pride, greed, and lust. He is sadistic and controlling.
The Tower Cataclysmic events, war, storms. The end of a way of life. Rebuilding out of the ashes. Destruction. May signify worldly events or happenings based upon your own decisions.
The Star We are all made of star dust. The Star is the guardian angel of hope when all seems dark. A glimmer of childlike bliss. The Star is timeless peace. The water from her urn is rejuvenating to the spirit and inner child. Make a wish and trust in the power of the lone little star.
The Moon Intuition, lunacy, strange prophetic dreams. Feminine wiles and dark forces of nature, the cycle of life. If ill dignified, addiction, uncanny events in the night, seduction, mistrust.
The Sun Nurturing force, white light, happiness, well being, abundance. If ill dignified it is a warning of fire, big fires, far away, and watch for small house fires.
Judgment A reckoning. Karmic wake-up call from God. Bliss or the fires of hell.
The World Fate in action. Travel, success. Things are working in your favor. Worldly events.
The Fifty-six Minor Arcana
King of Wands The King is an enterprising figure, subtle pride. He has an adventurous nature and an active imagination. He is kind and generous. He is cunning and analytical. If ill dignified he is boastful and cruel.
Queen of Wands The fiery spirit of The Queen is a creative force. Childlike, she is a graceful dancer and endowed with musical or other creative gifts. She rules the realm of imagination and fruition. Quick witted. If ill dignified she is spiteful and vengeful with a sharp tongue.
Knight of Wands The Knight is imagination on a mission, full force. He is the personification of creative power and force. Chivalrous, charming, and diplomatic, he is an eloquent speaker. Noble heart. Timing is his weakness. Ill dignified he is manic and aimless, arrogant, critical, vengeful, and childish.
Page of Wands Sweet natured, creative youth. A letter. Correspondence. If ill dignified, news is withheld.
Ten of Wands Oppression, backed into a corner, against the wall. Forced surrender. Put down. No escape. Servitude.
Nine of Wands Strength of an almost Godly, magical sort. Strength in opposition, strength of character.
Eight of Wands A flight. A fateful journey. Running away on a whim. Swift action, not well planned.
Seven of Wands Valor, courage against the odds. Weary, but at the vantage point, the higher ground.
Six of Wands Victorious, celebration, the top, champion
Five of Wands Trapped. Pinned atop a precipice, inescapable position. Forceful submission. Outnumbered. Chaos, everything coming at you at once, confusion, witch hunt. The world is cruel and life is not fair. The querent has put themselves in this position to be determined by the rest of the reading.
Four of Wands A dangerous seduction. Inspiration and musings. Completing a cycle or project. If ill dignified beware of a con.
Three of Wands Virtue, kindness, innocence, lady luck, angelic influence. Clarity, simplicity.
Two of Wands The will. Domination. Power. Calling the shots. Standing ground and refusal of conventional standards. Telepathy.
Ace of Wands Creative force of unstoppable energy. It is the fire in the temple of God. It is the power of nature, life, and art, the alchemy of the bees.
Swords
King of Swords Mastermind. Militant. Mathematical gifts. Dominion. If ill dignified, controlling, close minded, and sadistic.
Queen of Swords A sad woman, a widow. Coldness, aloof. If ill dignified, destructive and dangerous.
Knight of Swords Brave, youthful warrior, ceases control, power of air harnessed. If ill dignified, violence.
Page of Swords Espionage, a stalker, persistence, secrecy.
Ten of Swords Ruin. Death. Murder. Knife in the back, whether figurative or literal.
Nine of Swords “There are daggers in mens’ smiles” Shakespeare. Cruelty. Sabotage. Illness, the daggers of the mind. Bad sleep and dreams.
Eight of Swords Imprisonment, either literal or razor sharp daggers of the mind. Still, the will remains defiant.
Seven of Swords An exercise in futility, forever defiant, overpowered, outnumbered, odds are against you, however right you may be…
Six of Swords A swift journey over water. Seeking something better and new. The lady leaves her charred homeland for new horizons.
Five of Swords Selfishness, theft, wicked arrogance, insatiable hunger.
Four of Swords A truce is called, wariness, sentinel. The hound is foreboding. The woman, watching from the thorn, has uncanny dreams that seem to blow in the wind.
Three of Swords Sadness, sorrow, broken hearted, pain
Two of Swords This prisoner, bound and blinded, is not vanquished. The suit becomes proceedingly more violent, so this is probably the best of them, for it signifies a draw, a tie, a stalemate, and peace.
Ace of Swords The sword of power. Excalibur. Conquest over thine enemy.
Pentacles
King of Pentacles Wealth, paternity, land holdings. A dark man of power
Queen of Pentacles Materialistic woman of the world. Reality. Concern for the family. A benefactress. If ill dignified, gossip, manipulation, and mind games.
Knight of Pentacles He rides a slow horse. He is late, probably due to laziness. However handsome and charming, he can be something of a dud.
Page of Pentacles A gifted youth, a student, sweet natured, and intelligent. Studies, school. If ill dignified, may be a brat.
Ten of Pentacles Generally speaking, the higher the number of Pentacles, the more money. The finest of everything. Wealth, posh surroundings and lifestyle. Strictly speaking of the material world.
Nine of Pentacles Satisfaction, contentment, gain. The cat is purring. Monetary gain.
Eight of Pentacles Discovering sacred, ancient knowledge. Magic books, the artful philosopher. Visionary. Studious curiosities. Careful with money, prudence, frugal.
Seven of Pentacles Hard work has only provided a meager harvest, but it is enough to get by on. Thankful
Six of Pentacles Giving to the needy. Generosity. Successful philanthropist.
Five of Pentacles Anxiety over money. Worry. Loss
Four of Pentacles Great power of wealth. Establishment. Fortress.
Three of Pentacles Craftsmanship, loving the work that you do. This card pertains to all of the arts. Accomplishment. If ill dignified, or reversed, work is mediocre at best.
Two of Pentacles Money troubles. Unbalanced accounts, bad checks. Debt. Financial doubt and stupidity.
Ace of Pentacles Wealth, abundance, material well being of a solid fateful nature, as if the powers of the hidden Earth, Eldorado, are in your grasp.
Cups
King of Cups Loyal and intelligent, The King rules the deep gulf of the subconscious with a brimming cup. He is handsome and responsible. A loyal friend. If ill dignified he is careless and oblivious.
Queen of Cups Lovely and dreamy, The Queen scrys into the cup. She is the essence of water and imaginings of dreams. She is gentle and healing. If ill dignified, she is agitated and moody. She can be lazy and seemingly thoughtless.
Knight of Cups Beautiful and true, The Knight possesses a tempting loving cup, a proposal. He is Galahad or Percival of legend. If ill dignified he is illusory and deceptive.
Page of Cups A heartfelt message. Dreams of an emotional nature. Romantic visions. An invitation. A child
Ten of Cups Happiness, wishes and dreams fulfilled
Nine Of Cups Joy and the pleasure of being a winner, intoxicated state of bliss. Contentment.
Eight of Cups Insecurity, fright, shyness
Seven of Cups A wicked mind, corruption, obscenities, debacle
Six of Cups Rhapsody in blue. Nostalgia. Reminiscing happier times. Sentimental and evergreen thoughts. May lead to deep melancholy and depression.
Five of Cups Disappointment. The fisherman’s basket is empty, and he is too preoccupied with his seemingly bad luck to see the mermaid behind the rock. Dreams, hopes, and plans seem unfulfilled or lacking.
Four of Cups Boredom, luxury, longing for the unattainable
Three of Cups Abundant harvest, yet, like faerie gold, it is not lasting. There is an element of mistrust here, like the movie star who has it all and is still unhappy. Approach business deals with caution.
Two of Cups Perfect love, marriage
Ace of Cups The Holy Grail. The cup Christ drank from, it turns water into wine, heals all wounds, a loving cup, the ultimate trophy. Wishes are fulfilled, dreams come true. Trust in the hand of God. Miracles. The Sacred Heart, it is never empty.
Readings
1.) Sometimes I like to pick just one card from the deck and meditate on it. I also find this provokes dreams, which can lead to deeper understanding of myself.
2.) I find the alchemist’s runic reading of only three cards, representing the past, present, and future to be useful at times. In this case, the past, may be distant past, and the future is to be within a year or two.
3.) I usually read the cross spread:
11
Outcome
6
Best possible outcome
1& 2 Significator
Querent
Present
3
Crosses you
5
Past
4
Foundation
Basis
7
Future
8
Querent
Answer
9
Enviroment
Others
10
Hopes
Fears
2) This card is laid directly over the querent’s card and represents the present and now.
3) This card is crossing the querent and reflects what is opposing, obstacles in the way, whether good or bad.
4) This card is the foundation or basis of the reading and reflects both the past and present environment.
5) This card reflects the querent’s past, perhaps distant, but usually not. It is usually a reflection of how the past affects the future.
6) This card is the best possible outcome of the situation. That does not mean it is the definitive future, but rather, depends upon the actions of the querent. This is, perhaps, the trickiest card of the reading.
7) The card of the future. Could be six months, might be a couple of years
Now lay out the last four cards.
8) This card either represents the querent, is their significator card, or somehow answers or describes them.
9) This card reflects the querent’s environment or home life. Other important people in the querent’s life may appear here.
10) Hopes and fears of the questioner appear here. This card can be a little cloudy as well, because people tend to hide from their fear in one form or another.
11) This card is the final outcome, the most important card of the reading. If you feel that the reading was faulty, you may take this card, use it as the significator card, and start over.
