Stefanie Caponi - Guided Tarot

Copyright 2020 by Penguin Random House LLC

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Zeitgeist, an imprint of Zeitgeist, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

penguinrandomhouse.com

Zeitgeist is a trademark of Penguin Random House LLC

ISBN9780593196991
Ebook ISBN9780593196984

Original illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith with guidance from Arthur Edward Waite, first published by William Rider & Son, London, in 1909.

rhid_prh_5.6.0_c0_r0

Table of Contents

To my incredibly supportive partner, Sean.

INTRODUCTION

I was just a teen when I got my first tarot deck, a copy of the Rider Waite Smith. It was the only deck offered in the small metaphysical section of my local bookstore. While I didnt know anyone who was a tarot reader, I found myself drawn to the cards. I had had my eye on them for a while, and after I saved up enough babysitting money, I was able to buy the deck and call it mine. But as it was the pre-internet era, I did not know who to ask about these mysterious cards, so I spent hours with the cards spread out on my bedroom floor, admiring the artwork and poring over the cryptic little book that came with them.

Fast-forward 20 years: I found myself in the wrong career, wrong marriage, and feeling blocked emotionally and creatively. So many questions swirled in my head. How could I have been so out of alignment with what I wanted for such a long time? How could I learn to trust my intuition and guide myself back onto the right path? It was at this crucial time that I returned to and rebuilt my relationship with the tarot. In the days after I ended my marriage, I pulled a three-card spread, and those cards nearly flew out of the deck at meDeath, the Nine of Swords, and, to my surprise, the Magician. The Magician became my inspiration as I developed my intuitive inner guide and let it lead me on an incredible journey of self-discovery. More than 20 years after Id first picked up a deck, tarot taught me how to honor my higher self and celebrate my own unique gifts. It became central to my life. I started as a student, then evolved into a teacher and created my own tarot deck, The Moon Void Tarot , along with its accompanying guidebook. It was a way to help others who were experiencing similar life-altering journeys to communicate with the divine and create new aligned realities.

I believe that each of us holds gifts deep within, from a higher sourceand we have the power to unlock those gifts. Tarot is a tool that can help us make those transformative discoveries. The relationship you form with your tarot practice will allow you to connect to your higher self and higher sourcewhether you call it the divine, god, universe, or something else is entirely up to you. Tarot is spiritual, not religious, and offers its help to anyone and everyone who seeks it out.

With this book, my intention is to assist you in becoming comfortable reading tarot seamlessly and with ease. I would have loved to have a book like this at the beginning of my own tarot journey! I know that it felt daunting when I was first learning the cardsall 78 of them. What makes this book different from other beginning tarot guides is that it includes exercises that are designed to help nurture and grow your intuition and relationship to tarot. Like exercising your muscles at the gym, you will develop and strengthen your intuition as you continually engage in your tarot practice.

This book draws examples from the widely popular Rider Waite Smith deckthe same deck that started my own tarot journeybut you can use any deck of your choosing. We will focus on the universal meanings of each card as well as using your intuition to channel your own meanings rather than memorizing what each card means. I also recommend that you have a journal to record your exercises and intuitive messages as you work with this book. Reading tarot is a custom blend of knowing the cards, listening to your heart, and trusting your own intuition for guidance. This combination allows the cards to communicate ideas and insights that are uniquely and exclusively for you.

Im honored to share my tarot knowledge and provide this book as a guide to support you along your tarot journey. I encourage you to take your time reading through the pages and pausing to complete exercises, as well as looking at and holding the cards in your hands. As you progress through the book, you might be surprised by how quickly you begin to understand the cards while also learning more about yourself in the process. Soon enough, youll be confident in doing readings for yourself and even your friends. So grab your deck, and lets begin!

CHAPTER

Understanding Tarot

GETTING STARTED WITH tarot is exciting! It can feel like learning a new language that connects you with the entire universe. But before you start shuffling your deck and pulling cards, lets go over the basics, including a brief history of tarot, the structure of the deck, and how to cleanse and attune to your deck. Well also cover important questions like how to work responsibly with the tarot, and why tarot is meaningful in your own life.

HOW THE TAROT WORKS

Tarot is more than just an illustrated deck of playing cards to be used for entertainment; when used intentionally, it becomes a conduit. The deck itself takes on a deeply personal meaning when infused with the energy of the individual working with it. It can be an important tool for self-discovery and for deepening your spiritual knowledge. Think of it as a communication device that connects you to the divineand you can connect anytime! For me, tarot has been a safe support system thats allowed me to look into my past while simultaneously helping me manifest the life of my dreams. Its also helped me become more aware of my internal and external needs. By cultivating a strong connection to myself, Im able to attract more meaningful relationships and opportunities.

One thing tarot does not do is predict, or tell, the future. Rather, tarot offers confirmation of your intuition, which then empowers you to move forward in life in a way that speaks to your truth and aligns with your purpose. Building a responsible tarot practice means learning to ask productive questions during your readings, then using your intuition to interpret the messages you receive and maintaining awareness of the energy surrounding your situation, so you are able to assist yourself and others in making informed decisions that lead to aligned actions. Sometimes you may not get the answer you wanted to hear, as tarot often points to the areas that need attention in order to reach a desirable outcome. Try to remain flexible and open. The answers to many of lifes questions arent black and white, so dont expect your deck to offer a yes or no response. Instead, trust your intuition; it will be your best asset for interpreting the cards. Notice how you feel and what comes to mind when you see the cards imagery, and allow that reaction to determine if youre on the right track or if you need to do some readjusting.