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 CONTENTS
Introduction: The Universe Is Talking to You . . . Are You Listening?..................................................... 1

Chapter One: Igniting Your Intuition.......................................................................................................2

Me, Intuitive?
The Five Modes of Intuition
Knowing Your “Clair”
Tuning In to Signs and Messages
Trusting the Voice from Within
Special Feature: Exercise to Ignite Your Intuitive Abilities

Chapter Two: Choosing a Deck and Caring for Your Cards.................................................................. 8

The Many Kinds of Card Decks
Special Feature: Oracle vs. Tarot Cards: What’s the Difference?
I Just Bought a Deck—Now What?
Storing Your Cards

Chapter Three: Preparing for a Reading................................................................................................ 12

Grounding Yourself
Clearing Your Space
Attuning Your Cards
Letting Go of Expectation
Special Feature: Forming Powerful Questions

Chapter Four: Essential Card Spreads ..................................................................................................18

The Basics of Shuffling
Card Spreads 101
What Card Layout Should I Choose?
When One Card Might Be All You Need
Three-Card Layout: Strength, Heart, Challenge Spread
Five-Card Layout: The Life Purpose Spread
Six-Card Layout: The Over and Under Spread
Using Seven Cards and Beyond
A Word on Multiple-Deck Readings
Special Feature: What to Do If You’re Stumped

Chapter Five: Interpreting Your Card Layouts..................................................................................... 26

Tips for Interpreting Cards
Symbols Are Personal to YOU
Look for the Story
Special Feature: 10 Common Card Symbols

Conclusion: Keeping the Process Going ..............................................................................................30

 INTRODUCTION

The Universe Is Talking to You . . .

Are You Listening?

The Universe is sending you messages all the time. Have you ever turned on your car radio, and the lyrics
that blared out in that exact moment were precisely what you needed to hear? Or have you ever encountered
a white feather in an unusual spot, as if it had been left there just for you?
These are all messages from the Universe.
Yet for many of us, in our hurried, busy lives, we miss these signs. We forget about our connection to the
Divine. Sometimes, we even wonder if there’s anyone on the other end of the spiritual communication line at all.
But if we learn to tune in to the messages of the Universe, we realize—we remember—that the Divine is
talking to us in every moment. It’s just a matter of us inviting it in and learning to hear its language.
That’s where card reading comes in.
Oracle and tarot cards have been used for millennia to communicate directly with the Divine (i.e., Source,
God, the Universe, Infinite Intelligence . . .). As world-renowned oracle and tarot expert Colette Baron-Reid
explains, “The cards are an intermediary between you and the Divine.” They’re a method of divination that
speaks in metaphors and imagery—bypassing the logical, analyzing part of your brain and activating your deeper
wisdom. They allow you to sidestep your rational mind and tap directly into the Universe’s wisdom.
In any given moment, whether you want clarity about your life, a higher vantage point, or a way to see
what’s going on beneath the surface, the cards can give you the in-depth information you need. They can show
you where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you’re headed, so that you can better understand the
map of your life, redirect your course if necessary—and wisely move forward.
If you’ve been intrigued by card reading and want to learn how to do it for yourself, this guidebook will show
you how, step by step. Because the truth is anyone can learn how to read cards. You don’t need special training;
you don’t need to be “gifted”; you don’t even need to be particularly intuitive. An ability to communicate with
the Divine is built into each and every one of us.

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 CHAPTER ONE

Igniting Your Intuition

ME, INTUITIVE?

No doubt, at least once in your life, you’ve heard some version of the following:

m “You have quite an overactive imagination!”

m “Be sensible.”

m “That’s not true—it’s make-believe.”

m “That can’t be proven by science.”

From childhood to adulthood, we’re surrounded by messages from our parents, peers, teachers, and society
at large that intuition and psychic abilities either do not exist, or that they’re reserved for only “gifted” people. We
learn in school to prize science and to develop our rational brains. We choose careers that reward logic and strategic
thinking. All the while, we close ourselves off to the innate intuitive abilities that we are, in fact, born with.
As renowned intuitive and card reader Radleigh Valentine says, “Everyone has intuition and a connection
to the divine. It cannot be severed—but you can be talked out of it. Our society has a tendency to do that. We
also talk ourselves out of it.”
We all have the capacity to create a direct connection with the Divine, however you choose to define it. The
infinite intelligence that surrounds us, that created us, is also a part of us. But by us not cultivating this connec-
tion, it gets buried. Our logical brain takes over and runs the show.
Our intuitive abilities never leave us, though; they just become covered up. And you can get them back
through practice.
Card reading is an incredible way to not only reconnect to your inborn intuitive gifts but also to communi-
cate with the Universe in ways you never thought possible—and get real answers to the questions of your life.
As angel expert Kyle Gray emphasizes, “We can speak to angels, the Universe, that incredible energy of love . . .
and the practice of card reading is something that supports us in connecting with the Divine.”

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 Over the past couple of decades, different methods of divination (i.e., communicating with the Divine)
have experienced a resurgence in popularity. And oracle and tarot cards have been some of the most fascinating
tools of all. They allow us to receive detailed information about our lives, and they enchant us with a wide range
of striking themes, symbols, and images. Cards are a wonderful way for you to grow and nurture your intuitive
abilities while keeping your “rational” mind out of the way.

THE FIVE MODES OF INTUITION

The Universe talks to us in many different ways. Sometimes you’ll see a sign or visual cue; other times you’ll
feel an emotion or gut instinct; still other times you might hear a word or phrase. Learning the different modes
or channels of intuition will open you up to all the ways the Divine is communicating with you.
As energy and intuition teacher Sandra Anne Taylor says, “Some people think that all you have to do in card
reading is turn over the card and interpret the symbol, but your intuition plays a huge part in the process.” In
fact, card reading is an interplay between your intuition and the cards.
Sometimes, for instance, you’ll turn a card and be instantly drawn to an image on it; other times, you’ll feel
a certain energy when looking at a card. It’s important to be open to all the ways that you’re receiving messages
during a card reading.

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 Many people think of intuition as a “sixth sense,” but we actually have five intuitive senses—that is, five
modes of intuition:

m Clairvoyance: the experience of “seeing” an image or scene in your mind’s eye

m Clairsentience: the experience of “knowing,” feeling, or sensing something

m Clairaudience: the experience of “hearing” a sound, word, or phrase in your mind

m Clairgustance: the experience of “tasting” a certain energy or substance in your mouth

m Clairolfaction: the experience of “smelling” a certain energy or substance in your nose

While some people are familiar with the concepts of clairvoyance or clairsentience, the other three modes of
intuition—clairaudience, clairgustance, and clairolfaction—might be surprising to learn about. But they’re equally
as powerful.
In fact, Sandra Anne Taylor describes an intense experience of clairaudience and clairolfaction that oc-
curred during a card reading. During this particular session with a client, she pulled the “Journey” card from her
oracle deck. In that moment, Sandra clearly heard the words “Don’t go” and smelled cigar smoke. She relayed
this information to her client, who was stunned. He told her that he had a family vacation planned in a few days
where he would be driving his wife and children up to his grandfather’s cabin in the mountains. His grandfather
had passed away years ago, and had been an avid cigar smoker. The client immediately knew that this was a mes-
sage from his grandfather telling him not to go, so he rescheduled his trip. Lo and behold, on the day his original
trip was planned, a devastating blizzard hit the cabin and surrounding towns. The roads froze over, and many cars
were stranded. The client felt that his grandfather had been watching over him and his family—potentially saving
them from a dangerous situation.

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KNOWING YOUR “CLAIR”

You have the ability to tune in to your intuition using your intuitive senses—the “clairs” noted above—even
if you think you’ve never experienced them. While some people can tap into all five of these subtle senses, most
people have one or two that communicate more strongly than the others. Knowing how the Universe speaks to
you will help you receive its messages even more clearly.
So how do you know which clair is predominant for you? One of the easiest ways is to think about how you
interact with the world and how you experience your regular senses.
Do you love to draw? Are you inspired by powerful imagery? Are you a visual learner? If you answered yes
to this, you might be clairvoyant.
Would you rather listen to a book than read it? Are you naturally musical? When you’re going on a walk, do
you notice the sounds around you? If these tendencies ring true for you, clairaudience might be your prominent
intuitive sense.
Are you especially empathic? Do you find that the energy of your surroundings—the busyness, noise, clut-
ter, and so on—affects your mood? When you meet someone for the first time, do you know immediately if
you’re going to get along? If you answered yes to these questions, you might be clairsentient.
When you explain why you chose not to do something, do you find yourself saying, “It just left a bad taste
in my mouth?” Do you love tapas because you can try all kinds of new foods? Can you tell when someone swaps
out an ingredient that most people wouldn’t notice? If this sounds like you, you may be able to communicate
with the Universe through clairgustance.
Do you find that the smells of foods deeply influence whether you like or dislike them? Do you love being
surrounded by candles and potpourri? Are you especially affected by people’s perfumes? If yes, clairolfaction
might be your super sense.
Start to pay careful attention to how you interact with the world—and see how you get intuitive infor-
mation. By consciously tuning in to your daily intuitive hits, you’ll deepen your connection with your intuitive
senses, strengthening your ability to receive information from the Universe.

TUNING IN TO SIGNS AND MESSAGES

In addition to the intuitive hits you get via your five senses, the Universe also communicates to you via signs.
Cards themselves are a sign (sometimes overtly!), but there are also many signs that surround you all the time in
your physical environment. As spiritual teacher and healer Denise Linn notes, “In every moment, the Universe
is whispering to you.”
In native and indigenous traditions around the world, people watch and listen for signs constantly: the
movement of the animals, the direction of the wind, and the formation of the clouds all contain profound mes-
sages that people base their lives upon.
For people who have a livelihood that depends on nature—such as farming or ranching—being able to inter-
pret signs from the environment, such as temperature and humidity fluctuations and weather patterns, is often
key to a successful season.

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 For those of you who live in cities, there are just as many signs as we find in the natural world, for Spirit com-
municates in everything. Perhaps, for instance, you’re driving your usual route and encounter a surprise stop
sign at an intersection that was never there before. A moment later, you turn on the radio and hear a blaring
advertisement “Stop by our store! Be sure to stop by our store!” Then, you look up and see a license plate with
the formation of letters and numbers: ST0P. What might this be telling you?
By attuning yourself to the signs and messages around you, not only will you get information about your
current situation but you’ll also begin to create a personal “catalog” of symbols and their related meanings,
which will deepen your intuitive abilities and enhance your card reading.

TRUSTING THE VOICE FROM WITHIN

Trust is the most crucial aspect of reconnecting with your innate intuition. All too often, it’s easy to second-
guess yourself or undermine your own perceptions. This is the logical mind at work. But remember: Intuition
doesn’t come through the logical mind. The logical mind is, in fact, what’s kept your intuition at bay. Through
practice—through simple openness, awareness, and trust—you can foster these natural abilities.
If you have difficulty getting past your logical mind, follow oracle expert Colette Baron-Reid’s advice and
trust your body. “If something is true,” she states, “it will feel like the truth.” She suggests experimenting with
this: Feel the difference in your body when you say something truthful to someone, versus speaking a lie. When
you say the truth, you’ll have an entirely different bodily sensation: You’ll feel grounded and connected.
Likewise, Colette says, “Intuition is a truth moment.” Become familiar with that sensation. Learn what it
feels like. Even if something doesn’t make “intellectual sense” to you, what does your body say? What does that
quiet voice from within want you to know?
Learning to trust your intuition is not just helpful in everyday life; it is essential for reading oracle and tarot
cards. As Denise Linn says, “The road to becoming a phenomenal, incredible, amazing card reader is the path of
trust. Trusting your intuition. Trusting what you hear and feel and see—even if your mind disagrees.”
As you learn to read and interpret the cards, this will be your most powerful measure of wisdom.

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 Exercise to Ignite Your Intuitive Abilities

Try not to think of your intuition so much as a “talent” or “special gift” but instead consider it similar to a
muscle in your body. With exercise and practice, it can be developed and strengthened. Everybody has the ability
to ignite their intuition—and below is an exercise to help you do just that, from renowned intuitive Rev. Sharon
Anne Klinger.
Rev. Sharon teaches that our intuition occurs in the right side of our brain, which is also the “imaging” side of
the brain. For this reason, she says, it will feel like your imagination. She tells her students not to invalidate or analyze
when they get a vision or symbol in their mind, but instead to trust their experience—this is the imaging language
from Spirit giving them the guidance that they seek.
This exercise is called “Yes/No,” and it will help you strengthen your intuitive muscle. Practice it daily, or as
much as you can, especially when you have a decision at hand.

Think of a situation that you might like to pursue, but about which you’re unsure. Create a simple Yes/No
question, and close your eyes. Immediately imagine a traffic light in front of you, and see which color you get. If you
don’t see a light, MAKE yourself get yellow, green, or red—even if it’s only one of those words. Green means go for it,
yellow means proceed with caution or go slowly, and red means stop and wait for a better time. (You can ask about it
again later.) If the colors change, that means there is ambivalence and, like yellow, all the data isn’t available to make
a decision now.

If you love what you’re learning in this guidebook,

and you want to go deeper, join us for our free online event
THE ART OF CARD READING!
The first lesson goes live on June 9, 2020, at 3:00 PM PT / 6:00 PM ET!

Join us for our free online event The Art of Card Reading!

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 CHAPTER TWO

Choosing a Deck and Caring for Your Cards

THE MANY KINDS OF CARD DECKS

Walk into any metaphysical store or bookstore, and you’ll likely encounter dozens of spiritual card decks with
themes ranging from angels to power animals to crystals to ascended masters. Some are designated as “tarot
decks,” and others as “oracle decks.” Some follow a traditional structured system, while others are modern and
freeform.
The number of cards, too, in a card deck can vary widely: there are decks with 44 cards (a symbolic angel
number), decks with 52 or 53 cards (similar to playing cards), and decks with 78 cards (the number of cards in
the traditional tarot). But you’ll see all different numbers of cards.
So how do you choose the deck that’s right for you?
The first thing to recognize is that every card deck offers a different, unique viewpoint. As Colette Baron-
Reid says, “It’s like having different friends, giving you different perspectives, on the same subjects.” A fairy
deck, for instance, will likely give you a very different perspective than an angel or ascended masters deck. A
cosmic deck will likely offer you a different viewpoint than a power animal deck.

The best way to choose a card deck to work with is to visit a metaphysical store or bookstore that carries
them and experience the decks in person. Many such stores have open-box samples to look through and handle.

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 While you’re browsing through the decks, ask these questions:

1. How do you feel when you pick up the deck? Touch each card deck or box, and let yourself feel
whatever sensations come over you. Does it make you happy? Bring you a sense of peace? Convey a
feeling of power or strength?

2. Do you like the artwork? See if (and how much) you resonate with the images and artwork on the cards.
Sometimes just the cover of a card deck will draw you to it—or it might have the opposite effect.

3. Does the guidebook resonate with you? Read a few of the deck creator’s write-ups about the cards.
Do the card descriptions match your experience of the cards? Do they have suggestions that you find
empowering?

If you’re unable to visit a physical store, look online and follow the same process. See how you feel about the art-
work, the themes, the words and phrases on each card, and anything else you notice. Let this be an exciting process.
Chances are you’ll find a number of card decks that appeal to you—and some that do not. This is great! This
is not a judgment on the cards but rather your intuition at work, leading you to the best card deck for you. Then,
of all the decks that appeal to you, ask yourself which one you resonate with most. There’s always one deck that
stands out or speaks to your heart.

Oracle vs. Tarot Cards: What’s the Difference?

One of the decisions that you’ll make is whether to purchase an oracle card deck or a tarot card deck. Now,
many card readers work with both—and you can too. But it’s valuable to understand the difference before diving in.
The biggest distinction between tarot and oracle cards is that tarot cards have a fixed structure based upon a
traditional system, while oracle cards do not.
A traditional tarot deck contains 78 cards, divided into what’s called the major arcana and the minor arcana.
The cards of the major arcana, numbered 0 through 22, depict specific major life themes. The cards of the minor
arcana are divided into four suits, just like playing cards, and speak to day-to-day events. Each card of the tarot
holds an assigned meaning. While the themes and images of a tarot deck can vary deck to deck, its structure will
generally not change.
Oracle cards, on the other hand, do not have a set structure. They can be any number of cards, with any
meaning, as designated by the creator of the deck.
Tarot and oracle card decks often share similar themes. For instance, there are angel tarot decks and angel
oracle decks, and similar symbols might run through both. However, the angel tarot deck will adhere to a fixed
structure, while the oracle deck will not.
Oracle cards are also often viewed as lighter, gentler, and more uplifting, while tarot cards are sometimes
regarded as deeper and more heavy hitting. While this can occasionally be true, it’s not a hard-and-fast rule—and
sometimes the opposite is the case! As more and more card decks are created and published, you’ll find a wide
variety of card decks representing all kinds of energies. The most important thing is to find a deck that resonates
with you.

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I JUST BOUGHT A DECK—NOW WHAT?

Once you’ve chosen a card deck, you will want to clear your cards and make them your own. The reason to
do this is because the deck has already been through many sets of hands—from the person who helped man-
ufacture it to the people involved in shipping it to the clerk at the store who set up the display. With each new
person, your deck picked up new energy. The process of clearing the deck will both get rid of other people’s
energy and charge the cards with your own energy, which will increase the accuracy of your readings.
Every card reader has their own special process for clearing and charging their cards. Some readers recom-
mend laying your cards out in the moonlight, or rapping on them with your knuckles, or surrounding them with
the smoke of sage or incense. All of these techniques work, so the best way to choose a clearing method is to
find one that’s meaningful to you.
Oracle and energy teacher Sandra Anne Taylor has a specific process she does with every new deck to make
it her own: She places her intention in the cards. This is an easy method that you can use as well. To do this, first
take the plastic wrap off your card deck if the cards are sold that way, because, as Sandra says, plastic can block
energy. Then follow this simple process:

1. Either hold the cards in both hands near your heart center or put the cards on a table or desk, placing
your hands over them.

2. Release all concerns, drop your consciousness into your heart center, and say the following:

May these cards unite my mind and energy with the unending flow of information from Spirit.
May they bring wisdom, courage, and empowerment to all whose messages they carry.
I align my energy with the messages on these cards and use them for the good of all concerned.

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 Once you’ve cleared the cards and infused your own energy into them, you’ll want to spend some time
getting to know them. This can be as simple as selecting one card each day, in order, to bond with. Gaze at the
images on the card, and see what comes up for you; then, read the guidebook entry to ascertain the card’s pre-
scribed meaning. You might even want to prop the card up on your nightstand and see what dreams you have
that night. Dreams often offer a deeper perspective on the card’s meaning.
Of course, you may want to use your cards right after you clear them—and that’s okay! Just by doing card
readings, you’ll get to know your cards. Keep in mind, however, that the better you know your cards, the more
in-depth and accurate your readings will be. So if you’re reading right away with a new deck, your readings might
not be as insightful as they could be.

STORING YOUR CARDS

Once you’ve charged and cleared your cards, you’ll want to be sure to store them in a respectful way. Some
card readers choose to store their cards in the box they came in; once the box is cleared along with the cards, it’s
a perfectly suitable place. This also helps card readers keep their decks organized, if they own several.
However, you may prefer to use a special drawstring pouch for your cards, or to wrap them in a piece of cloth—
perhaps a particular color or fabric that you like. Or maybe you have a little crystal jewelry box or small wooden
chest that you favor. What’s most important is that you store the cards in a reverent way, and not haphazardly.
Once you’ve decided how to encase your card deck, you’ll want to select a spot in your home to keep it. This
is also a very personal choice. You might prefer to house your cards on your bedroom bureau, or in a bookcase in
your study, or on your fireplace mantle. Many card readers like to build small “altars” in their homes, decorated
with meaningful objects (gemstones, candles, statues, and the like) and keep their cards there. Whatever loca-
tion you choose, be sure to keep the area clean and uncluttered.

Now that you know the process of selecting, clearing, and storing your cards, let’s move on to preparing for
the actual card reading. That’s next.

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 CHAPTER THREE

Preparing for a Reading

Doing an insightful, clear, and accurate reading is about so much more than simply knowing and using cards.
You also have to consider the energy surrounding the reading—your energy, the energy of the space in which
you’re reading, and the energy of the cards you’re using. All of these energies affect how well you’ll be able to
connect with the Divine. So to do a successful reading, there are three energetic preparation practices you’ll
want to do before you read: grounding yourself, clearing your card-reading space, and attuning your cards. Do-
ing all three helps get rid of any unhelpful energies that might interfere with your reading.
As you learned in the previous chapter, there are various methods for choosing and handling your cards—
and the same is true for the energetic practices in this chapter. And the same rule applies when it comes to
choosing which ones to use: Choose the ones that feel best for you. There is no right or wrong. Tap into your
intuition to feel which one will help you the most.
As Sandra Anne Taylor says, “There are as many ways to prep for a reading as there are readers, so if you
do something differently than somebody suggests, don’t think you’re doing something wrong. You are doing
something that you are guided to do by your Spirit and your Higher Self. So allow yourself to prep in the way
that honors you and inspires you.”

GROUNDING YOURSELF

Grounding yourself before a reading is essential to providing clear and accurate information. The reason for
this is because grounding helps you get into a more relaxed and receptive head space, which connects you more
deeply to the Divine. It enables you to become a better channel of information, and it more easily allows insights
to flow through you. Grounding also helps you clear your own energy so that any feelings or emotions you’re
carrying don’t interfere with the reading.
This last point is especially important. If you go into a reading agitated or upset, you’ll impede your ability
to be a clear channel. You’ll likely get information that feels somewhat murky or unclear, or that reflects more
about your current emotional state than the question you’ve inquired about.
All this is to say: Never perform a card reading when you’re experiencing, or overwhelmed by, a negative
emotion, as it could interfere with your results and color your perception of the information you do get. It’s of

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utmost importance to wait until your feelings calm, and then ground yourself so that you can go into the reading
with a clear mind and light heart.
There are various ways to ground yourself, but one of the easiest is to find a place where you can sit com-
fortably, making sure your feet are on the ground. Close your eyes, and imagine roots going through your feet
and into the earth. Feel the chair underneath you. Take several deep breaths as you experience the sensation of
any unserving energy leaving your body and going into the earth.

Another simple grounding technique that fairy communicator and oracle card expert Karen Kay recom-
mends is to jump up and down three times. As she says, “It not only grounds you, but also gets your energy
moving to prepare you for your card readings.”
You can also use the purifying energy of water to ground yourself and clear your energy. You can do this in
addition to the above, if you feel inspired, or on its own. Sandra Anne Taylor recommends putting a few drops
of water on your fingertips and then blessing your top four chakras—crown, third eye, throat, and heart—by
touching them in order and saying a little invocation, starting with the crown chakra:

Bless my mind with wisdom.

Bless my vision with insight and inspiration.
Bless my words with compassion.
Bless my heart with love.

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 For an extra boost, or if you’re feeling particularly ungrounded, Colette Baron-Reid recommends placing
Himalayan salt blocks under your bare feet. The salt will help clean your energy field and connect you to the
earth. This can be particularly valuable if you’re reading for other people, as it will help clear any energies that
they walk into the reading with.

CLEARING YOUR SPACE

Although card readings can be done anywhere, from your kitchen table to your bedroom floor to even on
the bus, to do your best reading, you’ll want to choose a special room or nook in your home in which to station
yourself. Having a dedicated space for card reading will allow you to enrich that space with good energy—and
keep it that way.
Denise Linn, an expert in space clearing, emphasizes three main steps to creating a space that has been
optimized for reading:

1. Clutter clearing. Clutter impedes the energy of any space, so get rid of it. To help you identify what
actually counts as clutter, Denise give this handy rule: “If you don’t love it and don’t use it, it’s clutter.”

2. Cleaning. From the windows to the curtains to the rugs, you’ll want to make sure your card-reading
space is sparkling clean, and that any physical residue like dust or grime is wiped from the area.

3. Space clearing. This final step brings purity and harmony to a space and cleanses it energetically.

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 Space clearing is one of the most overlooked aspects of cleansing our physical space. In ancient traditions, it
was considered an essential aspect of communing with the Divine, as it enlivens the energy and purity of the home.
People used drums, bells, feathers, burning herbs, and even physical movements to shift the energy of a space.
Using space-clearing techniques in your card-reading room turns that room into a sanctuary devoted to
your practice, and it keeps the energy pure, crisp, and free of foreign energies that could impede your readings.
As Denise says, “Your reading will be magnified—the intent and the power of it will be magnified—if you take
the time to clear that space.”
One of the easiest ways to space clear is by simply using your hands. Stand in the doorway of the room that
you intend to clear, and hold a vision of the kind of energy you’d like in that space. Then, begin to walk around
the room clockwise, clapping your hands as you go. If there’s any place that the clapping sounds muffled or dull,
keep clapping until it is crisp and clear. Be sure to pay particular attention to the corners of a room, as this is
where energy often gets stagnant. When you get back to the entrance door, use your arms to create a figure-8
motion to seal the energy.
For a nominal investment, you can also purchase a bell for space clearing. You’d use the bell in a similar way
as described above, ringing it as you circle the room. If there are any areas that sound dull or muffled, keep ring-
ing until the sound becomes clear. Once the process is complete, seal the room with a figure-8 motion.
Once the room is clear, you can feel free to recite a little invocation into the room, calling in Spirit to bless
the room and all that occurs there.
If you’d like more information on how to do space clearing, do a search online for more information from
Denise Linn, who is one of the preeminent experts in this field. She’s also the person who coined the term
space clearing.

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ATTUNING YOUR CARDS

In the previous chapter, you learned how to clear your brand-new cards and infuse them with energy and
intention. But you’ll also want to attune your cards before each and every reading. This is especially important if
you do card readings for other people, or if anyone besides you handles the card deck. Attuning your card deck
helps you neutralize any residual energies that your cards might have picked up and also links the energy of the
deck back to your heart and your intention.
One way to attune your cards prior to a reading is to simply take the cards in your hands and hold them to
your heart. Imagine linking your heart energy to the cards, and visualize that flow of energy. Take several deep
breaths as you do so. Another way to attune your cards is to place the deck on the table in front of you. Rub your
hands together and hover them over the cards. Imagine a gold light radiating from your hands and enveloping
the cards, purifying their energy.

Any number of small acts can attune your card deck, so experiment with ways that feel intuitively right to
you. Some people find that simply moving their card deck in a figure-8 pattern over a candle flame is perfect for
them. Others incorporate a bell or chime that they ring above the deck, letting the sound wash over the cards.
As you’ve come to learn, many aspects of card-reading preparation, card selection, and even (as you’ll discover
in the next chapter) card layouts operate via your intuition.

LETTING GO OF EXPECTATION

As you know, holding an intention is an extremely important part of card reading. That’s why you infuse
your cards with your intention when you first get them and why you reconnect with that intention before each
reading. You want your card reading to be helpful, empowering, compassionate, and accurate—and you intend
for the cards to carry that energy. Yet there is an important distinction between holding an intention versus
having an expectation.

16
 Going into a card reading with expectations can interfere with the reading outcome, because expectations
sometimes hold personal biases. For instance, you might “expect” the cards to give you a certain happy answer
because you want it to be that way. This could skew the cards in a certain direction, or it could prevent you from
seeing the truth of what the cards are revealing because you’re set on interpreting them in a particular way.
For example, say you’re three months into a new relationship. All is going really well, and you decide to do
a card reading to see if your new partner is “the one.” Deep inside, you sincerely want this to be the case; so,
after you set the cards down in their layout, you begin to look for evidence that supports that this person is your
perfect match. You start to read the cards in that particular way because you’re willing it to be that way—but
in doing so, you miss other important information coming through. Perhaps you pulled a card signaling “Over­
indulgence” and another for “Lust.” These cards might be advanced warnings about commitment issues that
could crop up down the line in your relationship. But you might not be able to see what’s in plain sight.
Letting go of your expectations is key to an empowering and accurate reading—and doing the three steps in
this chapter will help you work from intention rather than expectation. But it’s also helpful to check in with yourself
before a reading and notice if you are bringing any expectations to the table that might skew the outcome. Simply
by dropping your energy from your head into your heart space and uttering a little prayer to Spirit that the cards
you pull will be in service to your highest good, you can release your expectations and enter a space of trust.

Forming Powerful Questions

Preparing for a successful card reading also involves preparing the questions to ask. When you’re forming a
question (or questions) for your reading, there are certain things to keep in mind in order to ensure you get the most
accurate and empowering answers. (If you’re reading for someone else, help them formulate good questions too!)

m First, avoid yes/no questions when using the cards. Psychic yes/no questions are great (as in the
exercise noted in Chapter 1), but when using cards, yes/no questions can be extremely limiting and
don’t allow for a full spectrum of information to come through. For example, asking, “Should I stay in
my job?” might result in a YES from the cards but won’t reveal why, for what reasons, or even for how
long. (That is, maybe you should stay in your job this month, but not for six months!) Instead, phrase
questions open-endedly to get a broader sense of the outcome. For example, asking, “What will be the
dominant outlook if I stay in my job this year?” will reveal a lot more detail about your work life in the
coming months, so that you can make an informed decision.

m Second, be as specific as possible. As Radleigh Valentine says, “Ask a vague question, get a vague an-
swer.” For instance, if you pose the question “Should I move to a different state?” you might pull cards
that are unclear, inexplicit, or contradictory. Instead, be more detailed in your question. For instance,
maybe the answer is YES to moving to Florida to take a different job, but NO to moving to Califor-
nia to pursue a new course of study. Or maybe it’s a YES to both, but for different reasons. Focus on
asking what the general outcome will be for each situation rather than a simple “Should I . . .?”

m Third, rephrase “When” questions. Timing is very tricky to predict, even for the most experienced
card readers. The future is not fixed, and choices that you make today can influence or alter timings
altogether. Instead, rephrase any “When” questions to specify a certain period of time. For example,
instead of asking, “When will I meet my soul mate?” a better phrasing would be “What does the com-
ing year look like in regard to my romantic relationships?”

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 CHAPTER FOUR

Essential Card Spreads

You’ve chosen your card deck, you’ve prepared your space, you’ve grounded your energy, and you’ve at-
tuned your cards. Now it’s time to do a reading! In this chapter you’ll learn all about card spreads and how to do
them. But first . . . you’ll get some essential information on shuffling, the first step before you lay out any cards.

THE BASICS OF SHUFFLING

Shuffling can be as easy as mixing your cards on a table. But for many beginning card readers, it’s a question
that often comes up: “How should I shuffle my cards?”
First and foremost: More important than the method of shuffling is the intention you hold when you shuffle
your card deck. For instance, if you have a particular question that you need the cards’ advice on, hold that
question in mind as you mix them up. This will influence the process in a meaningful way.
Beyond that, there are a few different methods of shuffling that you can experiment with. As always,
choose the method that works best for you—and for the deck that you’re working with. For instance, if you
have small hands and large, 78-card deck, it might make more sense to mix up the cards on a table rather than
attempt an elaborate Las Vegas–type shuffle. Use your best judgment.
Here are a few popular methods of shuffling used by card readers:

m Scramble shuffle: Exactly like it sounds, the scramble shuffle involves spreading the cards out face-down
on a table and mixing them up with your hands; then collect them all and form them back into a stack.

m One-hand shuffle: Loosely holding the deck in your nondominant hand, use your dominant hand
to grab a section of cards from the top and bottom, lift, and softly drop back into the splayed deck.
Continue to do this until the cards feel well mixed.

m Poker shuffle: Divide the cards into two piles, and then, using your thumbs on the short edges of the
card piles, rifle the cards together as the piles touch.

m Shuffling by section: Split the cards into four piles and shuffle each
section individually; then shuffle the individual piles together.

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 Now it’s time to get to the most exciting part of this whole process—the thing you’ve been prepping for:
reading cards!

CARD SPREADS 101

A card layout, or spread, is the particular way the cards are laid out in a reading. Card spreads can range from
one card to any number of cards, though some of today’s most popular spreads involve just two or three cards.
Generally, the more cards that are in a spread, the more detail you’ll gain in the reading. But more isn’t always
better—many times, just one, two, or three cards are all you need for an excellent, on-point reading.
When cards are laid out in a spread, they form a pattern or structure. This pattern might be a simple side-
by-side horizontal arrangement, a pyramid, a cross, an arch, or any number of shapes. The pattern is often
determined by the spread that you choose.
There are a few important things to note about card spreads:

1. The first card you pick is the first card you place; the last card you pick is the last card you place.
Every card in the reading should be placed in the order that you choose it. This will ensure that you
read the cards in order.

2. Each card position within a spread has a particular meaning associated with it. For instance, in a
“Past, Present, Future” three-card spread, the first card would represent the past, the middle card
the present, and the third card the future.

3. Your intention is everything. Before you select your cards for a spread, be clear on which spread
you’ve chosen to do and the question you’ve decided to ask. Hold this intention in your mind as you
shuffle the cards and choose them out.

WHAT CARD LAYOUT SHOULD I CHOOSE?

As you learn and practice various card spreads, you’ll become familiar with their unique strengths and pur-
poses. Over time, you’ll just “know” which card layout to choose for a reading. Perhaps you’ll find that a certain
five-card layout is perfect for questions about relationships, or a specific seven-card layout is the go-to for any
questions regarding one’s life purpose. These intuitive hunches will assuredly come with practice and in time.
In the meantime, however, as you’re just starting out, you might find it helpful to learn and master one
layout at a time. Also, use your intuition. If you feel like you need a lot of insight on a certain question, you’ll
probably want to do a spread with at least five cards for a more in-depth, multifaceted reading. If you need a
quick insight about something, a one-card layout might be just perfect. Just know, in choosing a card layout, you
can’t get it wrong. The messages that you need to hear will come through either way.

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 WHEN ONE CARD MIGHT BE ALL YOU NEED
King of Earth
Generous, Professional,
One card can be immensely valuable in relaying information or spurring an Responsible, Practical

insight. Many card readers like to pull a card at the start of each morning in
order to see what they most need to know about the day ahead. You might ask
the Universe, or your angels, or your spirit guides, “What do I most need to know
today?” while holding your card deck, and then pull a card with that question in
mind.
For example, say you ask that question and then pull the card “King of Earth”
from Radleigh Valentine’s Angel Tarot Cards. The card reads: “A successful time.
A successful time. Confidently accept
Confidently accept opportunities you’re offered. The Midas touch.” This might opportunities you’re offered. The Midas touch.

be a helpful sign to you to be alert to opportunities that present themselves for

that day—and not to hesitate when they arrive. You might even see something
Angel Tarot Card Deck.indd 78 2/29/12 9:43 AM

in the image on the card that you interpret as personally relevant to you. (More on that in the next chapter!)
Pulling one card can also be extraordinarily helpful when you have a particular challenge or decision in front
of you and need quick and targeted insight about what to do. For example, say that you are feeling anxious and
can’t pinpoint why; so you ask the question, “What is the underlying cause
Two of Air of my anxiety right now?” and pull the card “Two of Air” from Radleigh Val-
entine’s Angel Tarot Cards. The card depicts two unicorns butting heads and
reads: “Being unable or unwilling to make a decision. A stalemate. Pretend-
ing there is no problem.” This might help you recognize that your unsettled
feelings have to do with your relationship. Perhaps you’ve been pushing down
your dissatisfaction and trying to ignore your unhappiness in the relationship.
The fact that you’ve pulled this card is an immediate insight as to what’s try-
ing to surface.
As you see, one-card spreads are excellent for both general questions
Being unable or unwilling to make a decision. and quick insights. For more in-depth information, however, you’ll want to
A stalemate. Pretending there is no problem.
incorporate additional cards into your readings.
Angel Tarot Card Deck.indd 52 2/29/12 9:42 AM

THREE-CARD LAYOUT: STRENGTH, HEART, CHALLENGE

Three-card layouts are some of today’s most popular spreads. Not only do they offer a balance of depth and
simplicity but they’re also extremely versatile. For example, you might use three cards to inquire about the past,
present, and future; the body, mind, and spirit; a current blockage, best course of action, and outcome. The list
is really limitless.
Renowned angel card reader Kyle Gray’s “Strength, Heart, Challenge” spread is his favorite go-to for a
three-card layout. In Kyle’s words, “‘Strength, Heart, Challenge’ is the way I read cards. I never really look at
‘Past, Present, Future’ because I think there’s no place more powerful than this moment. And although our past
can help us understand who we’ve become, I think our past always shows up in the present—and so I like to read
in the present moment.”

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 In this spread, the card in the first position (Strength) represents your strengths, talents, or gifts; the card
in the second, or middle, position (Heart) represents a deeper aspect of who you are, including what is occurring
within you at this very moment; the third and final card (Challenge) is what you need to do or work on in order
to grow and step into your strengths and heart space even more.

Strength, Heart, Challenge

Card 1 Card 2 Card 3

Strength Heart Challenge

For example, say you’re working with Kyle’s Angel Prayers Oracle Cards and you pull “Speak Your Truth” for
Card 1, “Spiritual Gifts” for Card 2, and “Leap of Faith” for Card 3. The Strength card reveals that your strength
is speaking your truth—speaking with integrity, speaking up, and not mincing your words. The Heart card reveals
that deep within you, you have extraordinary spiritual gifts and talents that you are being guided to channel
and bring forth. And the Challenge card reveals that your biggest obstacle is taking that leap of faith in moving
forward with both these gifts.

SPEAK YOUR TRUTH SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Archangel Gabriel Archangel Raziel LEAP OF FAITH

Thank you Gabriel for helping Thank you Raziel for helping me I’m ready to take a leap Angels.
me to speak with integrity. channel my gifts and talents. Thank you for doing it with me!

In this example, these cards might be telling you that it’s time to move in a new direction or into a more
vocal career that you’ve been considering as a speaker or writer; the cards are acknowledging that you’ve been
hesitant to take this leap, perhaps due to some practical concerns or self-doubt. The message of this spread
might be interpreted to trust and to take that next step in faith, in order to share your gifts with the world.
Remember, there are many themes and variations that you can use for three-card spreads. You can also
change up the card decks you use for even more variety, depth, and meaning in your layouts.

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FIVE-CARD LAYOUT: LIFE PURPOSE SPREAD

Five-card spreads offer even more depth and insight than three-card spreads, and they are extremely ver-
satile as well. The addition of two more cards takes your readings to the next level. Five-card layouts are excel-
lent to use when you’re looking for more detail, direction, and precise advice.
The “Life Purpose Spread” below is from oracle teacher Denise Linn. This powerful spread will gently lead
you to discover your life’s purpose.
Life Purpose Spread

Card 3
Card 2 Card 4

Card 1 Card 5
Your Next Step

Your Current How You Can

Learnings Help Others

Your Past Learnings Your Life Purpose

For example, say you’re working with Denise’s Sacred Traveler Oracle Cards and you pull the following:
“Grounding” for Card 1, “Embracing Enthusiasm” for Card 2, “Desert Passage” for Card 3, “Staying Focused”
for Card 4, and “Cleansing Waters” for Card 5. You can see these cards laid out on the next page.
Take a look at the cards. In addition to reading the words and phrases on these cards, you’ll also want to be
sure to take in the images. What stands out to you or has special meaning to you? Take some time to interpret
this layout before continuing to read the below.
In this example, the “Grounding” card might be telling you that you’ve learned how to center and ground
yourself in the past, an important aspect of your spiritual growth. You might understand the “Embracing En-
thusiasm” card to reflect how you’re currently learning to express your emotions and share your happiness. The
message on the bottom of “Desert Passage”—“Trust that there’s a divine plan”—might signify to you that your
next step is to trust and allow, and not try to force anything to happen. The “Staying Focused” card reassures
you that to best help others, you need to continue to stay grounded and be singularly focused. And the final
card, “Cleansing Waters,” might have special significance to you because of the water imagery. You might even
notice that Card 1 also had water imagery, but in Card 5 the woman is submerged in it instead of sitting beside
it. What might that mean? (Card symbolism and patterns of imagery will be covered more in the next chapter.)
There are many other wonderful variations of five-card spreads. They can be used for everything from re-
lationship guidance to messages from your spiritual helpers to even an entire monthly overview, week by week.

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 DESERT PASSAGE

EMBRACING ENTHUSIASM STAYING FOCUSED

GROUNDING CLEANSING WATERS

“Trust there’s a divine plan.”

Card final.indd 8 6/8/17 5:10 PM

“Shout to the heavens
“Hold the course.”
with happiness.”

Card final.indd 11 6/8/17 5:10 PM Card final.indd 37 6/8/17 5:12 PM

“Purification activates
“Go deep; explore your roots.”
vibrant life force.”

Card final.indd 20 6/8/17 5:11 PM Card final.indd 6 6/8/17 5:10 PM

SIX-CARD LAYOUT: THE OVER AND UNDER SPREAD

The final spread you’ll be learning is the “Over and Under Spread” (also called the “Above and Below
Spread”). Tarot teacher and clairvoyant Rev. Sharon Anne Klingler teaches this spread as a way to dig deeper
beneath the surface—and uncover the hidden influences that might be shaping a situation. In her words, “It
takes the simple three-card spread to greater discovery.”
First, start with a specific question in mind that you’d like to know more about. (Alternatively, you can also
approach this layout with a general inquiry, such as “What do I most need to understand about my life right
now?”) Then, imagine a horizon line (as shown below), and put three cards above it from left to right. As in the
simple three-card spread, the card on the left shows the immediate past; the center card shows the present; and
the card on the right shows what’s soon to come. After you place these three cards, lay down three more cards
directly below the imagined horizon line. Each of these shows something hidden about the card above it—the
undercurrent of energy, people, and events that are the unseen influences impacting the situation.

The Over and Under Spread

Immediate Present Soon-to-Come

Past Future

Card 1 Card 2 Card 3

Hidden Influences of Each

Card 4 Card 5 Card 6

Try doing this layout now with your own card deck. With a specific or general question in mind, choose six
cards and lay them out, in order, in the pattern above. Then, taking in the words, images, and general “feeling”
of each card, see what emerges for you. In the next chapter, you’ll learn much more about card interpretation
and symbolism, but know that your intuition is the most important part of this process.

24
USING SEVEN CARDS AND BEYOND

There are a wide variety of card spreads that use seven or more cards. These more advanced spreads offer
even greater detail, background, and a more layered “story” within the cards. The well-known Celtic Cross
Spread, for example, uses 10 cards in a precise formation. Many practiced card readers use even 21- or 24-card
layouts to gain in-depth information about a situation, or even about the entire year ahead.
As a beginning card reader, it is advisable that you first get comfortable with doing one-, two-, and three-
card readings. That will not only help build your confidence in your reading abilities but also allow you to familiarize
yourself with the card deck (or decks) you’ve chosen to work with. From there, you can start to work with more
cards, such as the five- or six-card layouts detailed in the prior pages. Indeed, just mastering these few spreads can
be enough for a lifetime! But, if you’re like most card readers, the endless variety of spreads and layouts will fasci-
nate you—and you’ll discover more advanced spreads that you’ll love to use.

A WORD ON MULTIPLE-DECK READINGS

A common question that beginner card readers also have is “Can I use two decks in the same reading?” The
short answer is: Yes!
It’s not uncommon for card readers to use two (or more) card decks in a single layout, particularly if they’re
undertaking a long spread or lengthy investigation that involves several questions. There are even spreads that
require the use of two decks because so many cards are involved.
However, you don’t need to wait to learn advanced spreads to use multiple decks. You can use two different
decks in simple spreads if you simply want to blend the energies of the cards—which can often lead to more
insightful and nuanced readings.

25
 For example, perhaps you’d like to work with an angel deck and a power animal deck. A reading using both
these decks can get quite specific, as perhaps the angels have a message for you regarding a certain aspect of
your life, and your animal spirit wants you to know something about another. Using two decks allows multiple
voices to come through from the divine, and it can be amazingly insightful.

What to Do If You’re Stumped

There will likely be times when you’ve asked your question, laid out your cards . . . and are stumped by what
you see. Not to worry. This happens to even the most experienced card readers, and there are ways to work
through it.
First, you can always pull additional “clarifier cards” if you don’t understand what your card layout is convey-
ing to you. If you ever feel confused by a card spread, don’t hesitate to select one (or more) cards from your deck
to help clarify the meaning. Use your intuition to determine the number of clarifier cards you pull from the deck.
Many times, one additional card can be enough—but if you feel the need to pull a second or third, do so until your
intuition tells you to stop.
Second, it is also well worth knowing that sometimes you’ll have what appear to be “contradictory” cards in
your layouts. (Say, for instance, you pull one card that indicates a change to a new work situation, followed by
another card that indicates stagnation in the same situation.) Of course, you can pull a clarifier card in this case
for more information. However, as Rev. Sharon Anne Klingler strongly advises, it is better to “read the confusion.”
She emphasizes, “Contradictory cards do not indicate ambiguity in your reading ability; they indicate contradic-
tion in one’s life!” A card spread with so-called contradictory cards is actually conveying an important message;
it can be a sign of overwhelming ambivalence or false starts. So instead of taking the contradiction at face value,
read the story between the lines.

If you love what you’re learning in this guidebook,

and you want to go deeper, join us for our free online event
THE ART OF CARD READING!
The first lesson goes live on June 9, 2020, at 3:00 PM PT / 6:00 PM ET!

Join us for our free online event The Art of Card Reading!

26
 CHAPTER FIVE

Interpreting Your Card Layouts

TIPS FOR INTERPRETING CARDS

As a new card reader, it might be tempting to go to your card deck guidebook to interpret every card you
pull. This is a fantastic starting point—but it is only a starting point.
The guidebook lays out the author’s intent in creating the deck, as well as the meaning of each card. It
helps you understand each card’s message from the deck creator’s perspective. While it’s always valuable to
thoroughly read the guidebook before using your cards—as it helps align your understanding with the author’s
intentions—it’s extremely important to follow your own intuitive hunches and nudges as you look at each card.
For example, maybe you pull the “Ten of Michael” from Radleigh Valen-
TEN of MICHAEL
tine’s Archangel Power Tarot Cards, which, per the guidebook, indicates a situa-
tion ending and a brand-new dawn. You might, however, be immediately drawn
to the image of the ballerina taking a bow on stage, and find it to be relevant
to you in an entirely different way—maybe even a literal way. (We’ll talk more
about that in the next section.)
Once you read the guidebook, set it aside and start getting to know the
cards on your own. As Radleigh emphasizes, “The more you work with a deck
and explore it, the more it talks to you.” It’s ultimately this ongoing conversation
between you and your cards that will help you decipher them at a deep level. A situation has ended, and you are finally

And remember: If your intuition is telling you something different than

free. New opportunities for happiness
will now follow. Put the past behind you.

the guidebook, go with your intuition. It will never lead you astray.
Here are some other tips for learning to interpret cards:

1. Notice your first impression: What jumps out at you as soon as you turn over the card? Do you no-
tice a certain aspect within the image? Does a word or phrase on the card call out to you? Do you feel
a certain sensation in your body? Pay attention to all these things.

2. Look for key symbols: Sometimes a card wants to be pulled just to convey a symbol that will have a
special meaning to you (or to the person you’re reading for).

3. Relax your vision: Let your eyes go unfocused as you look into the card, and clear your mind. Then,
notice where your attention is directed. Perhaps a certain aspect or word in the card comes into
focus, or perhaps you get an intuitive hit during these moments.

27
SYMBOLS ARE PERSONAL TO YOU

Oracle and tarot cards are rich with symbolism. From red roses to white lilies, to the sun and the moon, to
birds and animals, divination cards throughout history have depicted classic symbols. If you pull a card with red
roses, for instance, you might immediately think of passion or romance. Look at the cards below from Colette
Baron-Reid’s Wisdom of the Oracle deck. Each of these features a common symbol. Seeing the moon on the
“Imagine” card might immediately make you think of sleep, the subconscious, or going within. The dove on the
“Peace” card might bring peace, purity, or calm to mind. These common interpretations are a wonderful place
to begin when starting to interpret cards.

23

20

IMAGINE PEACE

Wisdom of the Oracle Div. cards FRONT_revised_06-11-19.indd 20 7/22/19 12:56 PM

Wisdom of the Oracle Div. cards FRONT_revised_06-11-19.indd 23 7/22/19 12:56 PM

However, your intuition will also begin to drive what the symbols mean—that is, they’ll become personal to
you. For example, perhaps you notice that whenever you pull a card with an image of a lightning bolt, it intui-
tively represents to you an unexpected surprise. So going forward, whenever you pull this card, you understand
that this is what Spirit is telling you, regardless of what any “traditional” interpretations say. In this way, you’ll
start to build a mental “catalog” of sorts of your own interpretations of various symbols.
You’ll also find that certain card images mean different things to you at different times. For instance, using
the example of the ballerina again, perhaps on a certain day, pulling this card intuitively indicates something
very literal to you—an upcoming dance tryout, or your keepsake music box with a dancing figurine. Other days,
pulling this card might just mean what the guidebook intended: the ending of a certain situation, and a release.
Symbols are an essential part of oracle and tarot cards because they resonate with a part of our mind that
operates below our conscious awareness: the quiet space of intuition, which often uses symbols and metaphors
to speak to us. Symbols are an artistic effort to explain something beyond words; they speak to our knowingness.
And as Radleigh says, “Symbols expand opportunity for messages; they add depth and additional meaning.”
Determining what symbols mean—and whether they’re literal or metaphoric (or both!)—is an entirely intu-
itive process that you’ll develop the more you work with your cards. As you move forward, you might even want
to keep a journal, or simply just a list, of any symbols that you notice recurring in cards that you pull. Note their
attributed meaning per the guidebook, and then jot down your personal interpretation, if it differs. This will help
you start to build your own catalog of symbols, which will be a valuable card-reading tool!

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LOOK FOR THE STORY

The other thing to consider as you’re doing a reading is that every card layout tells a story. When it’s a
three-card spread or one made of numerous cards, there’s more than just a single message in the cards—there’s
an entire narrative of someone’s life or present situation. As a card reader, your role is not just to interpret each
card individually, but to recognize the overarching story they are sharing.

This will happen naturally as you become more practiced in reading cards. You’ll begin to read the cards in
context of one another. You’ll make connections between them. You’ll see patterns within them.
Take, for example, Rebecca Campbell’s Work Your Light oracle deck. Suppose you’re doing a three-card
“Past, Present, Future” spread, and you pull these cards:

Now, there’s a lot that can be said for each card individually, but take a moment here to look at them as a
whole. Can you identify any patterns? Do you see a bigger story? Take a moment now to do this before reading on.

29
 Now, here’s an example of how an experienced card reader might see this spread.
The first card, “Break the Chain” depicts a small figure in a dry desert landscape; she’s looking over her
shoulder into a black cave. A tiny sliver of light can be seen at the other end of the cave, but it is barely visible.
The middle card, “The Initiation,” is mostly a dark, ominous gray except for a glowing cave-like portal; on the
other side of the portal, we can see vivid blue water. And the third card, “Fill Up Your Well,” shows a figure
standing in a valley filled with pools of shimmering turquoise water.
There is certainly a story within these cards. For one, they move from parched desert, to portal, to quenched
landscape. This might indicate that a time of sparse resources will soon be transformed into a life of plenty. It
might be showing us that the shift, or portal, to getting to that point has been somewhat dark or challenging.
Also, the figure of the woman in the first card has her head turned to the left, looking backward at past
ancestors, while the woman in the third card is facing the right, releasing flower petals into the wind. This might
indicate that a focus on the past has been released, and forward movement is inevitable. Notice, too, that the
middle card is clearly absent of a figure. In fact, the only living creature in the image is a translucent coiled snake.
This might suggest a time of shedding one’s skin, and leaving behind the old self, to step into a vibrant future.
What else do you notice? Take a look at the sky throughout each card. Look more closely at the landscapes.
Are there any recurring symbols?
Above all, have fun with this. The best insights come when you’re relaxed and enjoying the process.

10 Common Card Symbols

Below are some of the most common symbols that you’ll come across in tarot and oracle cards. They’re
shared by famed card reader and tarot expert Radleigh Valentine. As the creator of numerous cards decks him-
self, Radleigh is not only familiar with the symbols of various decks throughout history but also has infused many
of these symbols in his own decks. Radleigh also reminds us that, regarding symbols, “Nothing is universal—but a
lot is common.” As always, let your best judgment be your guide as to how you interpret these symbols, and know
that there will be cases where the below definitions do not apply.

1. Boats or ships: travel; the journey of life; being prepared; are you headed where you want to go?

2. Books or scrolls: knowledge, usually mystical; pure intellectual learning; hidden knowledge (closed
books or scrolls); knowledge revealed (open books or scrolls)

3. Castles: safety; protection; success; accomplishment

4. Gold coins or jewels: abundance; prosperity; sometimes greed or hoarding

5. The moon: emotions; mysteries; the unconscious or unknown; the light within us

6. Rainbows: the promise of better times; the time of challenge is over

7. Roses: personal desire or passion (if red roses); purity of intention or rebirth (if white roses)

8. The sun: knowledge; the conscious; the known

9. Water: emotions; inner searching; inner wisdom

10. White lilies: purity of motivation

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 CONCLUSION

Keeping the Process Going

Congratulations! You’ve learned the basics of card

reading, plus a lot more to help you confidently get
underway in reading tarot and oracle cards. Whether
you want to read cards for yourself or read for friends
and family, you now have all the tools to begin.
As you move forward, you’ll want to be sure to
keep cultivating and developing your intuition so
that you can more clearly receive signs, messages,
and wisdom from the Universe. This can be done by
simply pulling one card each day for insight and con-
templation. Or you might put various oracle or tarot
cards throughout your home to infuse their energy
in different spaces, and remind you of your Divine
connection. Or you might want to commit to doing a
few card spreads each week, either for yourself or for people close to you. Any of these things will activate your
intuition and keep strengthening it.
As oracle and tarot cards continue to grow in popularity, there are endless opportunities to expand your
reach, and even create your own card-reading practice, if that calls to you. There are many resources to assist
you with this, from books to workshops to online courses. The world needs your wisdom, and if you’re inspired to
pursue the spiritual art of card reading, your angels and spiritual guides will support you with love.
Above all, remember this: You have an unbreakable Divine connection. You are divine. No matter what, the
Universe is on your side. Using cards in your daily life will not only remind you of that but also bring you the
guidance, inspiration, and encouragement to pursue the path of your highest purpose. Enjoy the process!

Don’t forget to join The Art of Card Reading online event!

The first webinar goes live on June 9, 2020, at 3:00 PM PT / 6:00 PM ET.

Mark your calendar­—and join us here to learn more about card reading!

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