Tarot Meanings

Tarot card meanings are not straight forward. Each card has its own individual meaning but this will change depending on a whole number of factors. The card will change its meaning depending on how it is put down on the table and also depending on how it relates to other cards on the table.
Tarot card decks usually come with a booklet that goes through all the individual meanings of the cards. These instructions will often give and explanation of how to use them for a quick or more in depth reading. Most people who use them consider that they are a way of connecting with the spirit world. Because of this each user will find their own favored method of using them to make the connection with the spirit world. Having said this each card does have its own basic meaning which most people agree on.
When reading the individual tarot card you need to look at the design on the cards. Cards are said to be in a positive position or reversed position. If the card is placed upside in a reversed orientation it speaks of conflict or negativity. A reversed card is often thought to have a weakened influence on the other cards in a spread. A good way of beginning to learn the tarot card meanings is to choose one each day and consider how its meaning plays out for you during the day. This will help you interpret readings for other people if you start to do that. During a reading the actual meanings of the cards ebb and flow depending on what other cards are drawn alongside them.
For example if the death card is drawn this does not mean that the reading is going to be negative overall. First of all the death card may be reversed, therefore making it more positive and reducing the negative influence it would otherwise have. Secondly the card may be influenced by more positive cards around it and really be there just as a tempering influence or a warning sign.
Tarot card meanings are also highly influenced by the context of the reading. Once a question has been asked of the cards and a spread layout decided upon the cards are shuffled. When the cards are drawn it is only then that their true meaning can become clear in the context of that particular reading. With the aid of their spirit connection the reader will use the cards to work towards an answer to the question using all the information that has presented itself. This is why many readers like to use spreads with lots of cards so that there is plenty of information on the table to work with.