Tarot Tutor

13 Dec, 2024

My first tarot was the one my aunt gave me when I was in middle school. She wasn’t a reader, just a manhwa enthusiast and she had a deck by her favourite aritst just lying around. She gave it to me without much thought. It only had major aracanas and was one of those ‘pretty decks,’ decks made by artists without much symbolism and esotericism. But it was enough to ignite my love for tarot. From there I got the RWS, tried the famous Light Seer’s, went back to study RWS and finally found Thoth which became my ‘forever’ deck.

The reason why I switched from RWS to Thoth was the pip cards. I didn’t like the scenic pip cards of RWS because they limited my interpretation. Despite the cards' rich symbolism by the talented Pamella Colman Smith, when my brain saw a man pierced by 10 swords, that was the only thing I could read out of that card. On the other hand, with Thoth I saw the mind fully manifested; it could mean an extreme ruin caused by killing the Son / Sun, or it could be a mad man with mind ruling over him, or the trickling of self into the next plane. The only problem of Thoth was the names given to each cards. When I flipped the card, my eyes went straight to the name before even looking at the picture drawn by Lady Frieda Harris. In the end I trimmed all the borders.

On tarot forums, there’s always a debate on whether to read the tarot by the book or by intuition. Though most would agree that you’ll have to know the foundational knowledge, the proportion of the two varies from readers to readers. As an I/ENTJ, I always leaned towards knowledge. I had to read many resources, make notes and familiarise myself with all the cards multiple times before I felt confident to read. I think Thoth, a tarot so rich in symbols, being my tarot of choice also contributed to this tendency.

My usage of tarot is pretty secular. I use it as a flashcard to think meditate on my belief, a message from my angel, a journal prompt for introspection and reflection and a tool for solo RPG. I rarely used it for divination and certainly never read for anyone but myself. The biggest reason is that I don’t believe in predestined future and even if I did what difference would cards make if something is destined to happen? In addition, believing in quantum mechanics, I always thought picking negative cards only caused anxiety that will lead to more probability of negative outcome.

The consistent problem I had was distrust of my own intuition. I tried to develop it by removing scenes from pips and words from cards. But I just don’t have confidence in myself. Though it didn’t really matter sticking to The Book of Thoth, Qabalah and Astrology, I longed for my own flavour in tarot interpretation.

Then I found Tarot Tutor by itspolkatime while browsing ‘Bookmark games.’ It’s hardly a game. More of an exercise. Nevertheless I thought it’d be a good way to massage my intuition and it was. I wish I knew this game when I first started tarot -before my knowledge on cards set in stones. It felt like making my own little white booklet filled with personal meanings. I tried to stray away from the original meanings and words as much as possible and stick to my gut feelings I felt when I faced the cards. I hope I succeeded in incorporating my own meanings to the original ones.

I think this game will be an excellent exercise for tarot beginners or even for those who are already familiar with tarot to freshen up their reading. Or perhaps to those who just acquired a new deck and want to connect to it as soon as possible. It's really a fast paced blind date with all 78 cards.

One modifications I made: I skipped the ‘Something Conflicting’ prompt. Mainly because I just knew the cards’ names and I found myself constantly referring back to them. Though it did interfere other three prompts as well, with this one it was particularly annoying to just repeating the names of the card.

Major Arcana

0. The Fool

• A green man bursting out of nowhere
• "BOOOYA!”
• If you are hesitant to jump in, why so? If you aren’t, what are you waiting for?

1. The Magus

• Despite walking on tight rope, this guy can do lots of stuff with ease
• “You have all the tools, now go work for it1”
• Think about talents you have and where you are using or want to use them.

2. The Priestess

• A goddess blocking the way out and holds a net with goods
• “I challenge you to look beyond the veil.”
• What is it that you don’t see in the matter? What will you do to know it?

3. The Empress

• The ultimate fluid feminine
• Curvy, circular, understanding, caring
• Who do you care for? Call them today.

4. The Emperor

• The ultimate fiery masculine
• Linear, square, stability, solidity
• Are you stable right now? If not, why not?

5. The Hierophant

• A chill unorthodox priest.
• “Lemme teach you about God. It’s a bit complicated than what the bible says.”
• How do you feel about superiors and organisations?

6. The Lovers

• Harmonious collaboration of two kingdom and two ideas.
• “Let the two, once separated, merge.”
• “Is your choice based on your belief and morale? Or is something else swaying you?”

7. The Chariot

• A Knight brings the chalice back home and allows everyone to see its glory
• “I embark on a journey that allows everyone to see the glory of the chalice.”
• Where are you journeying to? Who is leading you -you or someone else? How do you feel about it?

8. Adjustment

• A perfect balance within lines and curves
• “Don’t wait for balance but actively work for it.”
• Are you balanced? What do you have in excess and in deficit? What adjustments should you make?

9. The Hermit

• The one who leads and shine the way for its descendant
• “Quiet. Listen to yourself.”
• Meditate. Have a conversation with HGA.

10. The Fortune

• Three gunas hanging out around the Wheel.
• “Electric feel now”
• Are you going up or down? If up, what downs should you be prepared for? If down, what ups do you wish for?

11. Lust

• A powerful woman on a beast
• “Accept everything, refuse nothing.”
• What is stopping you from full embracement of the matter?

12. The Hanged Man

• a man bound upside down
• “Surrender”
• What must you surrender and yield?

13. Death

• A skeleton jives with excitement
• “Come dance with me. Don’t be afraid.”
• What needs to die for a fresh start?

14. The Art

• The Lovers have combined and are combining their qualities
• Mama Art is cooking some delicious soup.
• Visit the interior of yourself. Is there something to rectify? How will you do it?

15. The Devil

• Goat in front of of penis. Ppl (homonculus) in testes
• Above ants of people working their a* off there is the sinister looking CEO
• What secular and mundane dream do you have? Is it your will? If so, why and if not, why do you cling onto it?

16. The Tower

• The moment the eye opens the world ends.
• “As you wake up (enlighten) your world will crumble down.”
• Is there something you wish you didn’t know? If so, what is it and how did that change you? If not, what might be a potential one and how will you deal with it?

17. The Star

• A melodious space nymph
• “Do not lose hope. You have stars lighting your path.”
• What do you hope for? Have hope this is your hope card.

18. The Moon

• Two gods gatekeepng the way.
• “If you. Are walking in darkness, don’t try to make the sun rise by self-sacrifice, but wait in confidence for the dawn, and enjoy the pleasures of the night meanwhile.”
• What are you afraid of? Why? What will you do about it?

19. The Sun

• Two children dancing below the Sun
• Reunion Island, paradise
• Where is your paradise? How will you get there?

20. The Aeon

• Below Nuit and above Hadit stands Ra-Hoor-Khuit
• “You are the redeemer, your own saviour. The formula of Initiation will no longer be that of the man through death. It will a natural growth of the child.”
• Which area do you need to grow and which area do you need to act?

21. The Universe

• a girl takes control of a snake to destroy the eye opened in The Tower
• The final blow that will close the eye for the next hundred years.
• What project have you completed and what will be your next one?

Ace of Wands

• Thunders struck a tree and the tree is now in flames
• The flaming bush Moses saw
• What is your passion project?

2 of Wands

• 2 thick wands ready to be held by 2 hands
• “You have a strong tool. Think wisely where to use this; you can use it to play a drum or club someone. Strength coms with choices and thoughts.”
• If you have all the power, how will you use it?

3 of Wands

• 3 equal wands spread equally
• Rules, trinity, serious
• What are the rules you want to live by? Are you doing so?

4 of Wands

• 4 wands as spokes of a flaming wheel
• The wheel is now made and is ready to turn.
• Do you feel completed? If so, what’s next? If not, why don’t you think so?

5 of Swords

• 1 dictating wand shutting off 4 bickering wands
• “Guys stop focusing on trivial matters and concentrate on what actually matters.”
• What are you arguing for right now? Does it worth belittling other options?

6 of Wands

• 6 wands carefully stood up against each other to hold the holy flames.
• Flames quietly burning
• Think about those around you. How do they help you for the better? Show gratitude to them.

7 of Wands

• One fiery wand burning over 6 wands.
• “I stand and burn for what I believe.”
• What belief are you fighting for?

8 of Wands

• 8 electric rays and a rainbow _u
• Brisk electricity generated the rainbow in a whip, flashing lights.
• What should you do to make the matter swift and easy?

9 of Wands

• 8 well juxtaposed arrows is shooting down from the sun to the moon
• “Here we go from the Sun to the Moon.”
• What last step do you need to take to achieve what you want?

10 of Wands

• a couple taking reports from 8 wands
• “Ok I know we’re under a lot of pressure but let’s get this sorted nice and easy step by step, one thing at a time.”
• Are you carrying the loads alone? If so, who can you ask for help?

Knight of Wands

• A courageous Knight takes the lead of the army and advances first
• “ATTACK!!”
• What are you waiting for?

Queen of Wands

• Powerful queen looking down from a high throne with her pet leopard.
• “Go for it but be tactful and strategic.”
• What decision are you hesitant to make?

Prince of Wands

• A confident General of triumph on a chariot lead by a fearsome lion
• “Vendi Vidi Vici”
• What did you conquer? How did your mind help or hampered you?

Princess of Wands

• A powerful yet jolly young lady hunted a tiger
• “Weeeeee look what I hunted!”
• What did you achieve within your passion project? Celebrate it.

Ace of Cups

• A chalice spewing out energy
• “Don’t worry there’s plenty to go around to everyone. So share.”
• What is your relationship project?

2 of Cups

• A beautiful fountain
• Blissfully beautiful love
• Are you in love? Why or why not?

3 of Cups

• Lotus flowers showering onto 3 delicious looking pomegranate cups
• “Come drink and eat. There’s plenty!”
• What are you grateful for?

4 of Cups

• A waterfall from lotus flower
• Festive, glamourous, luscious yet unsteady foundation
• Are you enjoying luxuries of life? If so, what are they? If not, why not?

5 of Cups

• 5 empty cups on a barren land.
• Party of the world is over. Now it’s extinction.
• At which area do you feel empty? If you want to, how would you fill it?

6 of Cups

• 6 happily singing cups
• “Oh how life is so beautiful and golden, let us enjoy while it lasts.”
• How can you make today more special? Do it.

7 of Cups

• 7 slimy, gooey cups dripping rotten water into a swamp
• “You should move on before water becomes stagnant.”
• Are you being complacent? If so, what will you do? If not, how will you prevent it?

8 of Cups

• 8 empty cups all over the stormy sea
• The flowers are wilted, water is stagnant. Laziness brought this gloom.
• What are you delaying? Why are you not facing it?

9 of Cups

• 9 lotus flowers gushing golden water into cups
• Happiness, glorious, festive
• Are you happy? If so, why and how will you celebrate it? If not, why not and how will you make yourself feel better?

10 of Cups

• 10 golden cups in tree of life
• Banquet, feast which makes you bloated.
• “What are you bloated of? How can you fix and prevent that?”

Knight of Cups

• Prince charming
• “I confess my love to you. Take this token of love.”
• Reflect on your past relationships. What should you learn from your past?

Queen of Cups

• Galadriel in the cave.
• “My water reflects yourself. Be like my water. Reflect what you are shown and given.
• Be a good listener for the day.

Prince of Cups

• The Prince is startled by a snake jumping out from a cup
• “Sometimes you have to let go of your mind and look after the flower orelse you’ll lose what is important to you.”
• Are you wrapped up too much in your thoughts and forgot what’s truly important? If so, how can you fix that?

Princess of Cups

• Joyfully singing girl
• “Sing a joyfully wonderful song with me.”
• What did you achieve within your relationship project? Celebrate with those related.

Ace of Swords

• A mighty sword piercing through the crown
• “The mind can either help you reach the crown or destroy your crown.”
• What is your intellectual proeject?

2 of Swords

• 2 swords bound by fragile promise
• “Lay them down as they are carefully.”
• Are you in peace? If so, how did you do it? If not, what will you do?

3 of Swords

• 3 swords brutally picking the flower apart
• Ringing sadness
• Are you sad? If so, why and if not, check if you haven't make someone else sad.

4 of Swords

• 4 swords just finished sharing pies and have come to a satisfying conclusion
• “Are we all satisfied? Can we agree to not fight anymore?” -Yes.
• What area do you need to come to truce? How will you do it?

5 of Swords

• 5 crooked swords forcing themselves on one another to dominate the centre -only to end up being bent.
• “UUUhg I want this. GO AWAY.” “NO You move out.”
• What are you forcing against yours or other’s will? Is it neccessary?

6 of Swords

• 6 swords collaborating to procreate
• “Let’s put our mind together and try to do something practical.”
• Think of ways to practically utilise your mind.

7 of Swords

• 6 little swords fighting against a bigger one
• “You folks may chip me but will never defeat me.”
• Check if you are undermining the matter.

8 of Swords

• 2 straight swords interfered by noisy and crooked 6 swords
• “We’re trying to get through and these gamins are getting on our way.”
• What is getting on your way? Is it something internal or external? What will you do with it?

9 of Swords

• 9 rusted swords bleeding
• “Your mind is your greatest enemy”
• Over what are you torturing your mind? Is it necessary? Why or why not?

10 of Swords

• 9 swords breaking the sword in the middle
• “You’ll ruin it if you don’t put your minds down. Either do it for good to move on or STOP.”
• What situation has ended in (or is about to) ruins and there is no way to fix it? Why are you holding onto it? How will you move on?

Knight of Swords

• The Knight dashes to assassinate
• “Die. Now.”
• What decision needs to be made ASAP? Are you sure it’s not rash?

Queen of Swords

• The Queen just chopped off a mansplaining dude's head
• “F you. I make my own decision with my own intelligence.”
• What idea are you fighting against? Why so?

Prince of Swords

• A Prince whipping his 3 slaves to pull his chariot
• Cruel, inhumane
• Are you being cruel to anyone? If so, apologise and amend the relationship. Or is someone cruel to you? If so, what will you do?

Princess of Swords

• A Princess flying out of a crumbling castle
• Her fast judgement allowed her to promptly escape the demolition
• What did you achieve within your intellectual project. Celebrate it.

Ace of Disks

• A coin within maple seeds
• “Plant me and see whmat I can grow into.”
• What is your health or financial project?

2 of Disks

• Uroborus snake coiling around 2 disks
• The snake constantly turns and so do the disks
• What is changing at this moment? How do you feel about it?

3 of Disks

• The force generated by 3 wheels of the pyramid makes stand dunes.
• Ceaselessly turning wheels, cold strong wind coming from them.
• What needs a dedicated work right now? Are you doing it? If not, why not?

4 of Disks

• A robust fort
• “Nothing can penetrate this strong and stable fort.”
• Check your boundaries. Who crossed over it and what did you do about it? What will you do next time if similar thing happen?

5 of Disks

• 5 wheels / gears are not synchronised
• With these strings attached the gears won’t turn.
• What is worrying you right now? Is it harming your productivity?

6 of Disks

• 6 gears untangled, radiating in all directions, hexagonal yet circular
• “See if we all work together with equal efforts, we can do this!”
• What is success to you? How can you achieve your definition of success?

7 of Disks

• 7 disks in the dark gloomy bushes
• Coins lost in the void
• What did you lose? How do you feel? What will you do?

8 of Disks

• 8 poplar flowers blossomed on well grown tree that stands on a luscious land.
• “You’ve worked hard. You deserve this.”
• If you are, why are you holding doubts on what you deserve?

9 of Disks

• 9 disks symmetrically laid with three circles in the middle.
• Richness, shining, bright
• What do you wish to gain and why?

10 of Disks

• 10 golden coins in tree of life
• “These coins are special, above all mundane coins.”
• What do you want with wealth? Why?

Knight of Disks

• Maximus came back home by the time of harvest
• My mother in the garden
• What did you harvest so far? If nothing, what are you waiting to harvest?

Queen of Disks

• Stable and relaxed Queen
• “See the ups and downs I’ve been through? The key is to reflect when stuck.”
• Looking back at your journey, what served you and what didn’t? How did you overcome obstacles?

Prince of Disks

• A Prince on a chariot led by a dedicated bull
• Calculative and advancing
• What are your plans to get s* done?

Princess of Disks

• The Princess is waking up the earth after winter.
• “Wake up Loves.”
• What did you achieve within your health or financial project. Celebrate it.