Recognising Patterns in Tarot Readings
Once you have learned the divinatory meanings of each card, you can begin looking at groups of cards that are similar. The skill to be developed is Recognising Patterns in Tarot Readings. The good thing is though, pattern recognition is a skill that comes in handy in all areas of life.
As you are learning, certain groups of cards have a particular divinatory meaning which you can use in your interpretations. Recognising patterns will help you get a ‘feel’ for the overall picture the reading represents.
The two pattern recognition methods are:
a) Interpreting similar cards
b) Elemental Balance (majority of cards)
The list below gives typical meanings for these combinations, which can be expanded upon with experience.
Three or Four of a Kind
4 Aces
Great power and force
3 Aces
Riches and success
2 Aces
Change in work, property move
4 Knights
Swiftness, speed
3 Knights
Unexpected meetings, news
4 Queens
Authority and influence
3 Queens
Powerful and influential friends
4 Princes
Meetings with the great
3 Princes
Honour, rank
4 Princesses
New ideas and plans
3 Princesses
Young society
4 Tens
Anxiety and responsibility
3 Tens
Buying, selling, commerce
4 Nines
Added responsibility
3 Nines
Much correspondence
4 Eights
News
3 Eights
Travel
4 Sevens
Disappointments
3 Sevens
Treaties, contracts
4 Sixes
Pleasure
3 Sixes
Gain and success
4 Fives
Order, regularity
3 Fives
Quarrels, fights
4 Fours
Rest and peace
3 Fours
Industry
4 Threes
Resolution and determination
3 Threes
Deceit
4 Twos
Conference and conversations
3 Twos
Re-organisation and recommencement
Elemental Groups
By now you should know the elemental associations of the Minor and Court cards:
a) Wands – Fire
b) Cups – Water
c) Swords – Air
d) Disks/Pentacles – Earth
The Major cards are slightly more complicated, as the elemental associations are based upon the astrological attributions:
- Fool – Air
- Magician – Air
- High Priestess – Water
- Empress – Earth
- Emperor – Fire
- Hierophant – Earth
- Lovers – Air
- Chariot – Water
- Strength/Lust – Fire
- Hermit – Earth
- Wheel of Fortune – Fire
- Justice – Air
- Hanged Man – Water
- Death – Water
- Art/Temperance – Fire
- Devil – Earth
- Tower – Fire
- Star – Air
- Moon – Water
- Sun – Fire
- Aeon/Judgement – Fire
- Universe/World – Earth
Majority of Cards: Elements
Fire
Energy, quarrelling, opposition, active
Water
Pleasure, enjoyment, passive
Air
Problems, illness, sorrow, worry, active
Earth
Practical, solid, down to earth, passive
Majority of Cards: Card Types
Trumps (Major Arcana)
Powers beyond the Querent’s control
Court
Many people, undue influence from other people
Minor
Events in the control of the Querent
There is a ratio between the Trumps (Major Arcana), Court and Minor cards: 22 – 16 – 40, which can be simplified into an easy rule. Half the cards in a spread should be Minor, while the other half should be roughly divided between the Trumps and Minor cards. An equal number of Court cards to Trumps suggests influence from the court cards.
Exercises
These exercises will develop your ability to spot and interpret patterns in tarot readings. For all these exercises, ignore the divinatory meaning of individual cards.
Exercise 1
Deal out around 10-15 cards face up at random on the table in front of you (it does not matter if some are upside down). Ignore divinatory meanings as you quickly assess the ratio between the Major, Minor, and Court cards. You may have to count up the cards to start with, but soon you will be able to judge by eye. If the ratio follows the 22-16-40 rule, you have a balanced spread. Try to state the excess or otherwise of each type of card. Vary the number of cards you deal out, and notice the difference in how you look at the ratios. See if you can get a feel for what the ‘spread’ may be saying based purely on the Major/Minor/Court ratio.
Exercise 2
Repeat the above exercise, dealing out the cards at random. This time, quickly count up the elemental balance, ignoring whether they are Major, Minor or Court cards. State the elemental balance, making a note of excess or missing elements. Vary the number of cards dealt out. With practice you should be able to judge the elemental balance by eye. See how the ‘feel’ of the cards changes as the elemental balance changes.
Exercise 3
Once you are comfortable with seeing patterns using the Major/Minor/Court and elemental ratios, combine the two previous exercises. See if you can assess the balance of the two ratios, and a get feel of what this could mean in a reading, again ignoring the divinatory meanings.
Exercise 4
By now you should be thoroughly familar with the elements and type balance. The next stage is to deal the cards out at random as before. This time, look to see if there are any three or four of a kind. You may have to use a larger sample of cards to do this. See if you can remember the divinatory meanings of the groups of cards – you may find that the type balance and elemental ratio will help you.
By doing these exercises you will be comfortable with looking at the patterns within a reading, and be able to get a feel of what the cards are trying to ‘say’. You will know if there is an excess or absence of an element, and what this will mean. Congratulations! Even without knowing the details of the divinatory cards, or having a formal spread, you will be able to analyse the reading and be able to say something of what is going on. Now that you have the ‘big picture’, you can start to look more closely at the cards.
Extra Exercises
If you want the extra challenge of doing readings, you can repeat the exercises with a partner. One person will deal out the cards at random on the table, and the other person will interpret the cards laid out just by looking at the patterns. The reading will be a summary of the cards laid out – missing, or excess elements etc. With practice, you should be able to summarise the cards in less than 30 seconds. See if the other person agrees with your assessment.
Speed Readings
You can turn this into a game, seeing how fast you can deal out the cards and make an instant assessment. As soon as you have pronounced your judgement, the other person has a bit extra time to check your accuracy. This could also be a competition.
Summary
You may be surprised at the accuracy of the insights you gain. You will now have the flexibility to look at any spread of cards and say something about they represent. These exercises will also challenge your notions of what is required for reading the Tarot.
Thanks for reading,
Psychic Madeline Rose
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