The big book of angel tarot.
the essential guide to symbols, spreads, and accurate readings.
Doreen Virtue & Radleigh Valentine.
To our beloved Certified Angel Card Reader family.
INTRODUCTION.
Why We Created the Angel Tarot Cards.
For decades, we have been fascinated with tarot. Long before we even knew one another, we"d been using this ancient divinatory tool to get accurate and reliable answers for our clients. Independently of one another, we were both blending our communication with angels and the wisdom of tarot to provide healing and insight to others. And while we both loved this amazing oracle, we were also uncomfortable with the traditional imagery. We were frustrated when our dear clients became worried by what they saw on the cards.
Radleigh: I was on a never-ending quest for a set of cards that would match my vision of tarot as a compa.s.sionate and gentle way to communicate with Heaven. Sadly, this search only wound up filling boxes in my office with dozens of unused tarot decks. Many had varying positive aspects, but they also seemed to have distressing properties that made me set the decks aside. I found myself in readings with clients trying to minimize their ability to see the most challenging cards by keeping them turned toward me or by rushing on to the next card in a spread.
Doreen: On the other hand, I had a different viewpoint on tarot. I knew that at some point I would collaborate with someone to create a deck infused with the energy of the angels! I used tarot cards during my client readings, but I threw away the disturbing cards and only worked with the cards I found to be gentle and life-affirming. Then, my grandmother, Pearl, came to me in a dream, telling me to study Pythagoras, an ancient Greek philosopher, mystic, and mathematician. During my subsequent studies, I realized that creating oracle cards was a very important part of my life purpose. By following this guidance, I envisioned many different types of oracle decks, yet I still longed to create a 100 percent positive tarot deck.
Eventually, we (Doreen and Radleigh) met, and as time went by, we realized that we had the same dream of a gentle, loving version of tarot. So work began on the Angel Tarot Cards!
It was very important to us that the cards not be some watered-down version of tarot. There"s great depth and breadth in the human experience, and we wanted this concept to be fully represented in the deck. So symbolism was very carefully reviewed. When something distressing was removed from an image, we were diligent about replacing it with something peaceful that signified the same thing. Card names were changed when necessary to more accurately convey the loving message embedded in even the most challenging cards.
Historically, tarot has been veiled in an air of mystery, but we couldn"t understand what purpose there could possibly be in making messages from Heaven difficult to understand. So we decided that one of our goals would be making the Angel Tarot Cards easy to use.
Radleigh: When I was initially learning the tarot as a young man, I"d taken a black marker and written the meaning on each card.
Doreen: I loved this idea as a way to make the cards fully accessible, and also as a way to demystify them.
So we made the decision to place phrases and guidewords on each card so that they could be used immediately out of the box without the need for study or research.
We believe that G.o.d and the angels are always trying to guide us toward joy. Since tarot is merely a language for speaking to Heaven, every card in tarot is a message of love and is leading us to happiness.
No matter what card we draw, it will always be love. It can"t be anything other than love, because the Divine only wants us to be happy, and tarot is the Divine speaking to us.
Our desire in creating the Angel Tarot Cards was to help you feel the love, compa.s.sion, and hope that tarot can bring into your life. We wanted to bring this centuries-old magical art out of the shadows and into the full view of Divine light!
Finally, it is our greatest desire that these cards will bring you immense blessings as you move along your spiritual path. We hope that you can now see tarot as it has always appeared to us: an angelic map leading the way to a joyous life.
Love,
Doreen and Radleigh.
CHAPTER ONE.
BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL GUIDANCE.
Tarot is a language of the Divine. It is one of the countless ways in which Heaven lovingly speaks to us in order to guide us on the path to joy. However, for centuries, this beautiful divination tool has been shrouded in secrecy and fear. By creating the Angel Tarot Cards (and writing this book), it has been our intention to remove any anxiety by fully revealing this beautiful oracle and putting any concerns to rest.
Even tarot"s beginnings seem mysterious. People have been led to believe for hundreds of years that tarot originated in ancient civilizations and was purposely encoded with secrets that only a chosen few were meant to understand. This concept has often created distress for sensitive people-not to mention the lack of confidence so many experience when even approaching a tarot deck.
Well, it"s time to breathe a sigh of relief, because tarot was created for all of us! Its origins aren"t in a dark chamber of an ancient secret society. No, it began as a creation of happiness, laughter, and togetherness-actually, as a game meant for families to play!
Now that may come as a surprise, but consider the energy that was placed into these cards from the very beginning: it was joy, creativity, and fun. And just like tarot, our lives are meant to be playful-a happy game that can bring us enlightenment and inspiration.
As time went by, tarot was appreciated by millions of people who enjoyed the game that it was created to be, but who were also seeking insight and guidance. They began to see something in the cards-a story that mirrored their lives. So tarot started to evolve. People shared their cards and their divinatory qualities with their friends and handed down the knowledge to their children and grandchildren.
Somewhere down the line, though, a.s.sociations formed around tarot and other mystical arts that were perhaps created by well-meaning people. However, these individuals were most likely secretive types who enjoyed knowing things that others didn"t. Sadly, their actions and possessive att.i.tudes toward tarot made it seem intimidating, shadowy, and somewhat frightening. It was like taking a big blanket and throwing it over a very bright lantern.
Well, guess what? We"re now in the 21st century, and we in the angel community don"t like secret knowledge, exclusive societies, or intimidation. So the blanket has been lifted, and the lantern is shining brighter than ever!
Some ask what makes tarot work. Well, the answer to that question is simpler than one might think. Imagine people walking through an untamed forest. These explorers tell of their positive experiences to friends, who then want to see for themselves. Eventually the path through the forest gets worn down.
These are the trailblazers-much like the people who first saw epiphanies hidden in a card game. And since that time, millions have followed that path. Through the power of their combined belief and faith in tarot, they created a direct form of communication with Heaven. That"s what tarot is!
What makes tarot work is all of us collectively seeking answers through a beautiful, loving divinatory tool. Most people use tarot to help others receive Divine guidance-and we believe that these individuals are Earth Angels in service to humankind.
So as you can see, tarot is still doing exactly what it was originally created to do-make people happy!
CHAPTER TWO.
The BEGINNINGS of ANGEL TAROT.
The history of tarot is fairly complex, with many twists and turns, according to historians. However, if we maintain a high-level overview, it can be explained rather easily.
The Origins of Tarot.
The earliest evidence of tarot cards that we can find takes us to the early 15th century in northern Italy. Ordinary playing cards preexist tarot, but the adding in of the "fifth suit" of cards is traced back to the year 1420 or so. These cards are the predecessors of what we call the Major Arcana today. They were intended to be a set of trump cards to be played with a regular deck of 56 playing cards in a game called Tarrochi, which is still played today and is very much like Bridge.
Northern Italy was a manufacturing mecca for the creation of these types of cards. However, the number of trump cards varied by manufacturer, as did the order of the cards. They were often unnumbered and unnamed, so our understanding of the order that some decks were created in is often vague. Incidentally, The Fool card was often treated not so much as a trump card but as a sort of wild card in these decks.
We"re blessed to have some very famous examples of these ancient decks because the very wealthy would commission artists to hand-paint the cards for them. These decks were considered works of art that were cared for and pa.s.sed down through generations. Decks that were created via the printing press have rarely survived, and there are few examples of those cards.
Italians loved their tarot cards, and the business of creating them was robust! Tarot then spread to France when that country seized control of Milan in 1499. Within 20 years, Ma.r.s.eilles had become the center of tarot manufacturing in France. Slowly, not only did the cards get their numbering and naming conventions, but the order of the cards and the construction of the Major Arcana had largely become consistent. So, too, had most of the symbolism in the cards.
Tarot as a Divinatory Tool.
There"s evidence that ordinary playing cards were used for divinatory purposes earlier than the existence of tarot. This leads us to believe that tarot could have been used as a divination tool from its beginnings, in addition to being a playing-card game.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, alternative forms of spirituality became all the rage in France. Stories of tarot originating in ancient Egypt and then being brought to Europe by gypsies were spread in the streets, even though there"s no evidence that this is true. Men who claimed to be able to read ancient Egyptian identified and attributed secret messages to the tarot, which were later found to be completely false by those who could decipher the language.
It"s also important to note that there was no paper in ancient Egypt. When this was pointed out to those who were spreading the stories, they then claimed that the images were printed in Egypt on gold or other precious surfaces. Again, no evidence of this has ever been found. Still, these stories captured the public"s imagination and led to the sense of secrecy and mystery surrounding tarot.
In the late 19th century, some secret societies claimed tarot as part of their teachings, using them in initiation ceremonies and in the training of their members. This further compounded the sense of fear and suspicion around tarot. It wasn"t the cards themselves creating this fear; it was the people who were using them! Astrology, numerology, and other mystical arts were linked to individual cards in the tarot by these groups.
Two members of a secret society worked together to create a famous deck called the Rider-Waite Tarot. Arthur Edward Waite partnered with artist Pamela Coleman Smith to create this groundbreaking deck. (The word Rider referred to the publishing company of the deck at that time.) Overflowing with symbolism and hidden meanings, this deck came out in 1909 and was heavily influenced by the Ma.r.s.eilles decks of France. The images were often tragic, if not outright frightening, and also difficult to understand.
It was at this time that Waite did the unconventional and flipped the positions of the Justice card and the Strength card in his deck, a departure from the way they"d been for centuries. He did this to line up the cards astrologically in a manner that he preferred. Incidentally, many tarotists today refer to this deck as the Waite-Smith deck in order to give credit to the artist for her part in its creation.
Alternative spirituality was also on the wane at this time, so tarot wasn"t moving around in the circles of greater society. When people did see the cards, it was at a county fair being displayed at the booth of a fortune teller. The mystery and fear surrounding tarot was further compounded by the development of the movie industry. Tarot cards were never seen being used by average people seeking enlightenment, but rather were featured as tools of unscrupulous mediums who frightened those seeking advice by revealing fear-provoking images.
Time for a Change.
As the decades marched on, many new interpretations of tarot were created. However, most of these decks followed the Rider-Waite deck very closely; the imagery and wording rarely changed. These new decks largely provided a new artist"s interpretation, or were novelty decks reflecting a theme such as the Victorian Age or perhaps the time of King Arthur. By the year 2000, the options were endless. And yet, many of these decks were even more frightening and distressing than the centuries-old ones!
Many sensitive people were fascinated by tarot and wished to take advantage of this amazing tool, but their searches through the shelves of metaphysical bookstores left them feeling that there was just too much fear displayed on the cards.
Doreen: I"d been using tarot cards for my readings with clients before Hay House published my first deck of Healing with the Angels Oracle Cards. When I used tarot cards, I threw away the Minor Arcana cards and the frightening Major Arcana cards. By connecting with the angels and the remaining nine or ten tarot cards that I used, I was able to give very detailed and accurate readings.
Still, I dreamed of creating an angel-based tarot deck. I envisioned tarot cards based upon the original system of 78 cards. Yet, in my vision, there would be no scary symbols, images, or words in this gentle deck of angel tarot cards. Yet I knew that I couldn"t create this deck alone. I needed to work with a tarot expert who also had a strong connection with the angels. Enter my friend Radleigh Valentine.
I first met Radleigh when he took my Angel Therapy Pract.i.tioner course in Laguna Beach, California. We became instant friends, and he soon joined my staff, where he helped with Angel Therapy Pract.i.tioner courses for many years. Radleigh was well known in that circle for his work with tarot and astrology. He even taught the graduates of the Angel Therapy Pract.i.tioner program all-day cla.s.ses about tarot. He was also a CPA, although he eventually gave up accounting work in favor of giving angel readings.
One day, I had a clear vision of Radleigh co-authoring a gentle deck of Angel Tarot Cards with me. I was scheduled to sign books in Denver, Colorado, where Radleigh lives, so when I approached him with the project in 2011, he was elated because his vision was to demystify tarot and make it accessible to everyone.
Working with artist Steve A. Roberts, the two of us removed frightening words and images and replaced them with vocabulary and artwork that retained the depth and accuracy of tarot. After all, the cards are truth-tellers, but always in a kind and loving way. They were never meant to be frightening!
After centuries of secrecy and darkness, tarot has been brought back out into the light where anyone can use the cards to get answers and guidance from Heaven and the angels.
CHAPTER THREE.
The LANGUAGE of ANGEL TAROT.
Let"s define some of the terms commonly used in the world of tarot. Understanding this vocabulary will make learning how to provide accurate readings easier and more comfortable.
Arcana.
Arcana means "mysteries," referring not to secrets, but to the miraculously mysterious way that the Universe weaves itself through our lives. Tarot is broken into two primary sections called the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana doc.u.ments big, dramatic life events; while the Minor Arcana focuses on day-to-day life. So, loosely translated, you can think of them as the big mysteries and the little mysteries of life. (The plural of arcanum is arcana.) Court Cards The court cards refer to the Page, Knight, Queen, and King found in each of the suits of the Minor Arcana. They can represent people or situations in our lives (see Chapter 5).
The Dreamer"s Journey This is a story line that follows the 22 cards of the Major Arcana (see Chapter 4). The Dreamer is you and your dreams, or whoever is receiving the reading.
Duality Cards Duality cards are those that can be interpreted as one extreme of a concept or the other, depending on the reading. For example, the Unity card may mean the need to take the traditional route when making a decision, or it can mean thinking outside the box. The Four of Earth may be cautioning people that they"re spending too much money, or it may reflect a desire to lighten up and spend more (after all, you can"t take it with you!). The message of a duality card depends on the other cards in the reading or an individual"s particular situation.
Jumping Cards Cards that seem to jump from the deck during shuffling or removal from the box are called "jumping cards." They"re considered part of the reading and should be laid aside for reference once the other cards have been reviewed (see Chapter 8).
Pip Cards This term refers to the cards numbered Ace to Ten in the suits of the Minor Arcana. The term means "a countable item," and refers back to a time when there were no pretty pictures on the Minor Arcana cards; there were only numbers and symbols (see Chapter 5).
Querent This is a very common term in the tarot community that refers to the person who"s getting the reading. When you do a reading for yourself, you are the querent. If you"re providing insight through the cards for someone else, that person is the querent. We tend to refer to the querent in this book as "the client."
Reversed Cards Cards that come out of the deck upside down are called "reversed cards." Many tarot decks have different meanings for these cards. However in the Angel Tarot Cards, no additional meaning has been attributed. All you have to do is simply turn the card right-side up and proceed with the reading.
Significator When a card reminds us of someone we know, this card is called a "significator." For example, someone might decide that the Queen of Wands has many of the traits of a sister, or that the image on the Knight of Air bears a striking resemblance to a nephew. This card may then come to represent those people in readings in the future, but only if it makes sense for those individuals to be showing up during that reading. It"s not necessary to try to force these a.s.sociations into readings even if a significator has been established.
Spreads.
Spreads are guidelines for laying out cards for certain types of readings. Usually they have a specific pattern and meaning a.s.sociated with each card, and are designed for particular topics such as romance, health, or life purpose. (See Chapters 9 and 10.)
CHAPTER FOUR.
The DREAMER"S JOURNEY.
The Major Arcana comprises the first 22 cards of tarot, numbered 0 to 21. These cards often symbolize major life events or other significant situations we"re experiencing. For those who read cards for themselves or regular clients on a frequent basis, the impact of a Major Arcana card in a reading may be diminished (we can"t have big life situations every day!). However, when the reading is for a stranger or an infrequent client, the Major Arcana signals important life events.
The Major Arcana can also reflect different times throughout our lives, including periods of births, marriages, careers, and spiritual growth. We call this "The Dreamer"s Journey," and it can be very helpful as a way of understanding where clients are in their lives. Keep in mind that this can be literal or metaphorical. For example, The Empress card is about creativity and can therefore indicate pregnancy. Someone who draws this card in a reading may be about to have a baby, or may be concerned about "giving birth" to a cherished dream.
In The Dreamer"s Journey, The Dreamer is the person receiving the reading. So if you"re giving a reading to yourself, you are The Dreamer. If you"re giving a reading to someone else, that person is The Dreamer. As we go through each card in the journey, we"ll be referring to The Dreamer as you.
The term Dreamer has many meanings, so let"s define it. In the Angel Tarot Cards, The Dreamer refers to a person who has dreams and intentions-someone who"s experiencing life as if in a sleeping dream. But being a Dreamer does not imply that you"re merely dreaming about your goals. It"s a positive term, meaning that you are important, and so too are your dreams. The Angel Tarot Cards will give you guidance on how to make your dreams come true.
It"s also very important to keep in mind that while the youth on The Dreamer card is depicted as male, the story applies equally to both male and female personal journeys.
To help you understand this aspect of the tarot-and your own Dreamer"s Journey-we"re now going to take you on a magical journey through the Major Arcana!
The Dreamer"s Journey.
0 The Dreamer: This is the beginning. As The Dreamer, you have made the decision to take a leap of faith and embark on a new experience. Think of this card metaphorically-like being a newborn soul on Earth. You have arrived with optimism, excitement, and total faith that this adventure will be a grand success. You walk in complete faith.