Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 1

12Prompts toKickstart Your Tarot Skills

Hey! I’m glad you’re here.....

Whether you are new to tarot or an old hat, it is important to continue to grow your skills.  Believe it or not, even old skool readers like myself need a tarot tune up on occasion.  It prevents the brain from getting stagnant.

But what if I have never picked up a tarot deck?

No biggie. Everyone has to start somewhere. The first thing I want to say is this:  the more you practice, the better you will get. That simple.  The act of working with your tarot on a daily basis is the ONLY way to get a good grasp on it.  No one takes a deck out of the box and becomes an instant expert.  It is only through years of dedicated study and consistent practice that a tarot reader is born.  And hear this truth:  you never stop learning. 

Time to shareAre you ready to kick your tarot skillz into high gear?

Anxious to shake things up and get your tarot brain reinvigorated?

Been at tarot a long time and starting to feel ho-hum and stuck on rote meanings?

It’s time for me to share some creative drills to get your tarot mojo hum-ming along.....let’s go!

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 2

No one takes a deck out of the box and becomes an instant

expert.

Tarot Prompt #1: Card for the Day

Familiarity is the best way to get tarot anchored into your brain.

Card for the Day:This simple practice is the basis for all of the tarot classes I have ever taught over the years.

What to do: grab your tarot deck each morning and shuffle those bad boys up. If you’d like you can silently ask your cards: “what do I need to know about today?”

Now, randomly pull one card. Take a moment to reflect on what this could mean. Write down your interpretation and then go about your business.

In the evening, contemplate on how the card showed up in your day. Easy....yet effective.

(PS I have been reading tarot for over 30 years now and I STILL do a card for the day. It’s great practice!)

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 3

Tarot Prompt #2: Journal

Writing it down anchors the meaning in your skull.

Journal:A tarot journal is a fantastic way to build your reading skills. The practice of writ-ing down your interpretations will help you to build a solid base of insights that you can refer back to again and again.

What to do: get a journal that is specifically for your tarot readings (I like the ones by Ari Stone).

Anytime you are doing readings for yourself (ex: card of the day), write down the cards you pulled as well as your thoughts on what it might mean. Be sure to in-clude the date you did the reading. Later, look back and add additional insights.

You can get super creative with your journal - add pictures, interpretations from books, etc. The more meanings you tack on, the more your “tarot vocabulary” will grow.

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 4

Tarot Prompt #3: The Tarot Lens

See the world through tarot - see tarot through the world.

The Tarot Lens:As a tarot reader, I tend to look at everything through a tarot lens. I may see an event on the news and immediately, I will relate it to a tarot card. Doing so helps to merge your tarot card with real life - creating a living experience.

What to do: any time you can, start attaching events (on television or your own life) to a tarot card. For example, a three alarm blaze on the news: The Tower. A romantic night with your sweetheart: 2 of Cups. A retreat in the mountains: 8 of Cups.

Soon, you’ll be able to relate any thing to a tarot card!

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 5

Tarot Prompt #4: Photo Play

A picture tells a thousand words.

Photo Play:What to do: This is a simple and fun way to imprint tarot on your consciousness. Grab your photo albums. Now find different pictures with a variety of scenes and people. (Travel photos are ideal.)

Can you relate a tarot card to each picture? (Ex: a wedding dance could be the 3 of Cups. A picture of grandma gardening could be the Queen of Pentacles.)

Put the picture next to the tarot card of choice. Take a photo - and put it in your tarot journal.

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 6

Tarot Prompt #5: Meditate On It

When the mind is quiet, the mind sees.

Meditate on it:Meditating on your tarot card helps to impress the image and meanings on your mind.

What to do: pick a card. Now sit quietly with the card (please make sure you are not going to be disturbed by anyone during this time). Soften your eyes and gen-tly gaze at the image. Close your eyes and begin to notice any words or symbols that arise in your mind.

After a few minutes, open your eyes and record your impressions.

Another tip - if you draw a blank when you are reading tarot, use the same method: gently gaze at the card - what part of the image jumps out at you? Focus in closer. Use that as a jumping place to kick start your intuition.

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 7

Tarot Prompt #6: Flash Card

One word is all that you need.

Flash CardDrilling down your tarot card to one word is a fantastic way to develop speed reading skills.

What to do: you’ll need a buddy for this. Have your partner shuffle the cards. They will then hold up one card at a time and you’ll say one word to describe the card. Go as quickly as possible until you get through the whole deck.

Example: they pull the Empress, you say “feminine”. Two of Wands: waiting.

Whatever comes to mind. Don’t stop to think - just the first thing that pops into your mind.

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 8

Tarot Prompt #7: Poetry Slam

You’re a poet and you may not know it.

Poetry Slam:The images on a tarot card are evocative. Not only do they instigate the sixth sense, they tend to stir something deep inside the psyche. A way to tap into that energy is through poetry.

What to do: pick a tarot card from your deck. Focus on the image for a few min-utes. Write a poem about the card.

Alternately, try a haiku. Or if you are like me, do a rap song!

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 9

Tarot Prompt #8: People, Please!

Court cards don’t have to be hard cards.

People, Please!The Court cards tend to give my students the most trouble of all. My method to get over this: relate the card to someone you know or a famous figure.

Example: The Queen of Pentacles is a warm and trusted dark haired woman who is prosperous. Who: Oprah Winfrey.

The King of Cups is a loving mature man who enjoys having his family around him. Who: my younger brother.

This is a great way to give a “face” to your Court Cards.

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 10

Tarot Prompt #9: New Thang

Stuck in a rut? Change it up.

New Thang:When my tarot brain is bored or stale, I get my hands on a brand new deck that I am not familiar with at all. This will always give me the cosmic kick that I need to find new insights and fresh ideas. Chances are, I’ll come back to my old deck (usually the Rider Waite) with a new set of eyes.

What to do: go buy yourself a new deck. Now.

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 11

Tarot Prompt #10: Quick Draw

Drawing the image helps you to notice so much more.

Quick Draw:Imagine the energy a deck creator lovingly puts into each card. What must they be thinking? What inspires them? Pen to paper is like pure magic. And it’s a smart way for you to get more acquainted with your tarot. Don’t worry - I’m not asking you to be an artist!

What to do: Get a sketchpad (any size will do). Now, grab your tarot deck and pull a card. Start drawing the image in your own way (even a stick figure is fine). As you are drawing, notice any insights that come to mind. Write them down. In fact, go ahead and write them right on the same page. What did you channel from this prompt? You may be surprised.

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 12

Tarot Prompt #11: Collage Try

A vision board for your tarot.

Collage Try:Vision boards are a great way to manifest something in your life - but have you ever considered creating a board for a tarot card? This genius method will give you a whole new appreciation for a card and perhaps excellent ideas for interpre-tations.

What to do: get a stack of magazines, a sheet of construction paper, scissors and glue. Pick a tarot card from your deck. Using that as your inspiration, start searching through your magazines to find images that may remind you of the card. For example, if you were using the Eight of Wands, perhaps travel pictures or anything that represented speed. Cut the pictures out and glue them to your construction paper. Create a collage for each tarot card that you’d like to explore further.

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 13

Tarot Prompt #12: Story Book

Every card has a story.

Story Book:Through the ages, stories and fables have always been a way to impart knowl-edge, culture, moral lessons and history. Story telling was often the only method people had to share wisdom as many people were not able to read. (It has been rumored that tarot cards were originally created for those who could not read!) Telling a story with your tarot will help you to grow as a reader.

What to do: shuffle your cards and then randomly, pick seven from the deck. Lay them out in the order you chose and begin to tell a story using the images. I prefer to do this method with a partner or group. It’s even more magical when you do it with children as they are often receptive to the story and they enjoy cre-ating their own.

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 14

Bonus Prompt:

Join A Group

Don’t go it alone

The best way to learn:A monthly Meet Up group will provide a comfortable and consistent prac-tice. Go to MeetUp.com and search for “tarot groups” in your area.

Can’t find one? Start one! The more you work with other people, the more confident and accurate you will become.

Seek classes:If you are fortunate enough to have a seasoned tarot reader in your neigh-borhood, see if they offer classes or private lessons. None? Check out on-line classes such as the ones offered by The Tarot School.

And don’t forget to check out tarot conferences for the full immersion ex-perience. Soak it up!

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 15

About Me

Theresa Reed

Ready to transform? Get the tools.

If this wee-book stoked your Tarot fire, you might enjoy a 1-on-1 reading with me — in-person, over the phone, or via email.

My intuitive readings are designed to swiftly illuminate your current circum-stances, explore possible choices & outcomes, and unfurl the ideal roadmap to the future you want to create. My style is frank, forthright and practical — no astro-babble or arcane lingo. It’s all about clarity & empowerment — not gloomy omens or impending doom (as you'll soon discover, most types of doom are de-lightfully avoidable). And for aspiring Tarot professionals, I offer personalized business mentoring & training, with an emphasis on social media strategies and client attraction techniques.

Here's to the cards, and here's to your choices...

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 16

Let’s connectAnd book your reading today http://www.thetarotlady.comhttp://www.facebook.com/thetarotladyhttp://www.twitter.com/thetarotlady

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this series of tarot prompts. These are methods I have used myself - or in my tarot classroom. I’d love to hear your thoughts, experi-ences and ideas.

Send me an email at theresa@thetarotlady.com and share your story with me.

Keep on tarotin’......

Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady © 2013 page number 17