My Journey with the Tarot
I started reading and studying the Tarot thirty years ago. Over those years, I’ve done it all; private readings, psychic fairs, lectures, demonstrations and ultimately teaching the Tarot to others. I love the cards and their ancient wisdom that resonates deeply with everything I believe. I have used several decks and collected others but always returned to the classic Waite deck because it seemed to express the concepts best. One of the things that became apparent to me though is that this deck is very dated. After all, the world was very different in 1910 when it was published. Some of the images frighten people because they have become associated with negative outcomes, such as the “Devil” card or “Death”. And many of my students complained that it was too tough to learn what the unfamiliar symbols on the cards represented. Oftentimes those that stuck with it ended up memorizing book meanings or my interpretations of the cards rather than actually interpreting for themselves, which limits the Tarot’s contribution to a reading. Just like any tool, it expresses the skill and knowledge of the one using it and having someone else tell you the meaning of a thing is quite different from learning on your own. I have often said through the years that there should be a deck that was easy to read and understand and yet still retained the symbolism of ancient archetypes to convey the esoteric meaning of each card to those who were using them. I also wondered why there were so many decks out there with a myriad of themes but nothing that addressed these truths in simple and direct language. I believe that truth doesn’t have to be hidden behind obscure symbolism. It should be available to all. It is only hidden when we make it hidden.
So when the opportunity came to be part of a group of friends who were designing a new Tarot deck I was thrilled to see if a modern deck depicting everyday life could offer everything an esoteric deck could. I think Today’s Journey Tarot does just that. When I show the cards to people who have never read before, they can instantly describe what is going on and what it may mean. Someone jumping off a cliff in a hand glider is probably a risk taker, someone who is independent and maybe a bit reckless. A girl sitting with her back to the pole of her mailbox, staring off down the road is waiting and must be patient until what she’s waiting for arrives. A woman in a fur coat admiring herself in a mirror could be somewhat self-absorbed or attached to material things. We can identify with the images and apply them to our own lives. Are we being too reckless in a situation? Should we wait a while and not act right now? Are we too worried about status quo and missing out on the simple joys of life? I believe this deck is an answer for all of the people who have been drawn to the Tarot cards and not been able to read them. This deck does not require memorization of 78 different cards and hundreds of symbols before you can begin using them. You don’t have to be trained in esoteric wisdom or learn the glyphs for ancient concepts. You just sit down and read – for yourself or for others and the common sense and beauty of the Tarot pours forth.
Teresa Sue McAdams, co-creator of “Today’s Journey Tarot”, co-author of “Today’s Journey Tarot, a Traveler’s Guide”, author of “Lessons, the Wisdom Within Each Moment”
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