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The Vardo

Tarot de Marseille readings · for the reader's eyes only

Reversed cards Sound Animations

How to read any card

Upright or reversed: Upright, the card’s meaning flows freely. Reversed, it is blocked, delayed, turned inward, or too much of a good thing. If unsure, read the upright meaning but weaker.
Named cards (Major Arcana): Cards with a name and Roman numeral, like Le Soleil, are the big forces in life. Several of them in one reading means this is an important moment. The rest deal with everyday matters.
The four suits: Deniers (coins): money, work, home and the body. Coupes (cups): love, feelings and friendship. Épées (swords): conflict, thought, truth and sorrow. Bâtons (wands): ambition, energy and passion.
Court cards: The Valet, Cavalier, Reine and Roi often stand for a real person. Ask: “Does someone like this come to mind?”
When you are stuck: Describe the picture out loud: who is on it, what they hold, which way they face. Then ask: “What does this bring to mind for you?” People often find the meaning themselves.
Handy phrases: “The cards suggest…” · “What I see here is…” · “This tells me…” · “Does that mean something to you?” · “The cards show which way things lean, nothing more.”

The card book

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Card images: Tarot de Marseille, Lequart edition (Paris, c. 1890), public domain via Wikimedia Commons.