Exercises - Lesson 11

Interpreting a Single Card

Exercise 11.1 - Your Personal Reactions to a Card

Choose any card from the tarot deck. Look at it carefully and then write down your response. It doesn't matter if you are already familiar with this card and know its meanings. Consider whatever comes to mind to be your personal reaction. Some elements to think about are:

What feeling do I sense in the card scene?
What feeling do I sense in myself when I see this card?
These two feelings may be the same or different.
Am I attracted, repelled or neutral about this card?
What aspect of my life comes to mind when I see this card?
Does this card remind me of someone?
What details seem important in this card, and why?

You may not feel any reaction to the card, or perhaps just a mild one. Try to notice any quick thought, feeling or image that comes to mind, no matter how slight.

Exercise 11.2 - Combining Sources of Meaning

In this exercise, you will practice blending card and position meanings. Choose a card from the deck, and read over its keywords and actions. Try to get a feel for the card's essential meaning.

Imagine that your card has appeared in Position 1. How do the position meanings refine the meanings of your card? How do they work together to create a composite?

Write one sentence that sums up your interpretation. Don't try to figure out the right answer because there isn't one. Select a possibility that appeals to you and makes sense. Your sentence doesn't have to relate to your own life in any way as this exercise is simply for practice.

For example, the Emperor stands for

fathering
structure
authority
regulation

Position 1 stands for

the heart of the matter
the outer environment
the inner environment
the primary factor

Some interpretations for this card in Position 1 might be:

The heart of the matter (Position 1) is that there is too much structure (Emperor) in my life.
My outer environment (Position 1) is very regulated and controlled (Emperor).
Right now becoming a father (Emperor) is the primary factor (Position 1) in my life.

These sentences are all different, but each one blends the meanings of the Emperor and Position 1. In an actual reading, the most appropriate interpretation for you would become clear as you considered other factors.

Now, write a sentence for one of the other positions using the same card. If you want extra practice, write more than one sentence for each position, or choose a different card and repeat the exercise.

Exercise 11.3 - Interpreting Single Cards in Your Readings

Use your ongoing readings as an opportunity to practice combining the four sources of meaning:

personal reaction
card meanings
position meanings
question or situation

Be systematic at first about considering each of these areas so they become second nature to you. Try writing a sentence for each card as described in Exercise 11.2. Of course, you will not have to write these sentences forever. Later you can be more relaxed and simply respond without having to think about where your reaction comes from.