TarotTools.com

Is Tarot Certification for You?

At first, the idea of certifying Tarot readers sounds like a good idea. In theory:

- certification should help clients distinguish professional practitioners from gifted amateurs, dedicated hobbyists, and scam artists.

- certified Tarot readers should possess a level of knowledge, experience, or skill unmatched by the uncertified masses.

- certification should offer Tarot readers a degree of professional legitimacy at least equal to that possessed by massage therapists or clinical hypnotists.

Are any of the Tarot certification programs now accepting fees and awarding titles worth your consideration? With this article in hand, you can decide for yourself whether Tarot certification is right for you -- by asking the Top Ten Questions you should ask before pursuing Tarot certification.

How to Meditate with Tarot Cards

Everyone talks about using Tarot as a meditative aid. But what, exactly, do you do? And how -- or when, or for how long -- should you do it?

In this article, I offer a clear, concise ten-step process for meditating with Tarot cards. If you're interested in using the cards as tools for expanding awareness and focusing attention ... read on!

A Daily Draw can help Get Things Done

Most mornings, I draw a single Tarot card. As I meditate on meanings and applications, I invariably see familiar cards in new and exciting ways. Today's draw was no different, as I made an unexpected connection between the Tarot of Dream's Two of Coins and David Allen's popular productivity book, Getting Things Done. For insights you can apply today ... read on!

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Tarot - First Reviews

The first reviews of the Absolute Beginner's Guide to Tarot are coming in! Especially if you haven't yet had the opportunity to pick up your own copy, please take a moment to see what some of the metaphysical community's most trusted reviewers have to say about the book so far:

"[T]he author’s refreshing approach encourages individuals to engage the cards on their own terms ... The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Tarot is unlike any book on the market ... from now on, I'll make sure I steer querents to this book first!"

-- Janet Boyer, www.JanetBoyer.com - [Read the full review]

"An absolute must ... McElroy is one of the most creative and versatile of contemporary writers on the Tarot ... For beginners the headings, subheads, illustrations and sidebars ... are easy to follow and guide you step-by-step. If you are somewhere beyond being a beginner, you likely will want to own this book as a reference or a reminder."

-- Sandra Thompson, President, American Tarot Association - [Amazon.com review].

Who's Interested in Tarot?

Google Trends, a new service, makes it easy to find out:

a) how the level of interest in a particular topic is changing over time, and

b) the cities and countries where interest in a particular topic is highest.

You know me. I just had to do a Google Trends search on "tarot!"

What i discovered may surprise you.

The Proper Role of Traditions and Keywords

Recently, on one of the Tarot-themed internet bulletin boards, a concerned Tarot student asked about the correctness of ignoring keywords associated with cards from the Gilded Tarot. "The keyword is choice, but the people on the card just look like they're having fun. Is it possible to ignore the idea of choice, and just go with the ideas the card inspires?"

Several folks weighed in with opinions, and a surprising number of people expressed concerns over abandoning "traditional meanings" and ignoring "original intentions" associated with the meaning of a card.

Should you ignore keywords, traditional meanings, and the opinions of others when interpreting cards? My answer may surprise you ... so read on!

Review: 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card

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

In this book, the author many consider the mother of modern Tarot shares 21 methods for drawing meaning from the cards. It's packed with exercises and examples. Some of these will be familiar to anyone who reads cards; many, though, will teach new twists on familiar techniques.

Is 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card the new Tarot for Yourself, destined to be a classic work? Does it deserve a spot on your Tarot bookshelf? For answers to these questions -- and to hear about my own experience with the book -- read on!