Tarot Cards

So many types of Tarot cards are available today that it can be confusing for the potential buyer. The first thing to do is relax. The Tarot, like so many esoteric objects, should be bought primarily because it appeals to you. If you are attracted to a more 'new age' deck such as the 'Tarot of Love' then that is a good set for you. Conversely, the more traditional types of cards such as the Rider Waite deck are always good.

Many Tarot cards come with a booklet that gives some background on the history of the Tarot and various possible meanings to each card, also methods of laying them out. All this information can be useful, but remember to take it with a grain of salt! Don‚t be totally bound by anyone‚s system of using the Tarot. Each person, including you, has a unique personality and way of viewing life, and your own ideas and perception are just as valid as anyone else‚s. Yes, you can learn from others, but it should be combined with your own ideas. Perhaps you will come up with a definition for a particular card, which is so useful that it will pass into the general knowledge available to everyone.

To give you some of the background history of the Tarot, here are a few interesting facts:
The Tarot is thought to have originated in Egypt. No absolute proof exists of this, but it is the general modern consensus. Previously it was thought to have come from India, perhaps because Gypsies, who came themselves from India, were identified with fortune telling.
The earliest deck known to still exist is from C14th Italy. This of course does not mean that the Tarot started from that date. Decks are almost always made of rather fragile material such as paper and would not ordinarily survive long.

The Tarot is based on the Wheel of Life. It both begins and ends with 'the Fool' who is usually numbered 0, or in older decks has no numerical designation at all. He is new life, a fool in the sense of inexperience. He gradually becomes experienced, and ends up child-like again with the innocence of one who has passed through experience into a new youthfulness. Each card stands for a part of life, and various possible states and experiences within it. Even the so-called negative cards are necessary. We need a card such as 'the Tower' to stand for when everything seems to be falling apart, for example.

This Wheel of Life works at not only the ordinary level of existence, such as our love life, our jobs or lack of them, our health, and every aspect of a person‚s journey. The Wheel of Life also stands for a higher, more philosophical level of existence, the Cosmic plan. This Cosmic plan includes our gradual evolution towards enlightenment, or wisdom.
If all this whets your appetite for more, buy yourself a deck that appeals to you and try it out. You can also have a professional reading if you wish. The Wilde Ones shop in London offers readings every day. It is even possible to take lessons in the basics of Tarot for those who would like personalised instruction. Just call us for more details.

Meanwhile, browse to your hearts content among the various decks, both old and new and see what appeals to your heart.

Linda Westbrook Anders

Shop for Tarot

Tarot Readers at Wilde Ones' shop

We have three different Tarot readers with each having a unique gift.

Diana who has been with us the longest combines Tarot with a Palm Reading which is very unusual as most readers will give either one or the other and never combining the two, her readings are wonderful and holistic.
Cost: is £30 per half hour £60 per full hour. Cash Only.
She is in the shop on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday , from 11:00 a.m. till 5:30 p.m.

Andie is another reader we have who has many celebrity clients and reads on Sky TV's Psychic Channel.
She does not use the Tarot cards, instead she uses Crystals and the pendulum and her Clairvoyance to do the readings.
Cost is £40 per half hour or £80 per hour. Cash Only.
She is in the shop on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Our third reader is Estelle who uses the traditional Tarot Cards and does a very nice reading only on Sundays from 12:00 a.m. till 5:30 p.m.Cost is £30 per half hour or £80 per hour. Cash Only.

If you would like to book a reading with any of our Tarot readers please call the shop and make an appointment.

020 7351-7851