The Order of the Cards
One of the things I love about tarot is that it is the perfect combination of right brain and left brain functions. The structure of the deck lets my left brain feel comfortable, safe, and secure so that it relaxes enough to let my right brain kick in and fly. The images on the cards inspire my right brain. See, I’m left brain dominant, so I need to make it feel okay before it releases its grip on things (it is a control freak). Once it is comfortable, then I find that my intuition loosens up and it becomes easier to tap into my psychic self. You may be like that, too. Or you may be the other way around. Perhaps your intuitive and psychic abilities are strong and you like to bring in a little structure so that you can better communicate the information your right brain receives so readily.
Today let’s talk about the structure of a tarot deck. It is truly a beautiful thing, being quite flexible and encouraging instead of rigid and confining.
One way to study the cards is to go in order. There are different ways to go “in order,” though. There are two that I find useful and interesting, no matter what deck I use.
Focusing on the Minor Arcana, I like to look at the cards by suit. I separate the cards into wands, cups, swords, and pentacles. Then I put them in numerical order. I find that there is a flow or story that unfolds in a linear fashion. To add more interest, lay out the Ace through 10 of any one suit and then lay the corresponding Major card (Magician through Wheel) above those cards. What parallels and insights can you draw by comparing the two stories?
Next, I like to look at the Aces together, the twos together, etc. It is fascinating to study the similarities as well as the differences in the cards. And, as usual, brining in the Majors only adds to the mix, considering the Magician with Aces, the High Priestess with the twos, etc.
Try this with your favorite deck or with a new deck and let me know if you discover anything interesting, curious, or just fun.
