21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card - Step 12 - Modification

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card
Mary K. Greer

In step twelve of our journey, we explore how various factors interact to modify the cards meanings.

Main Factors: Elements within the card itself, question or issue, spread position, and the individual circumstances.

Two Additional Factors: Stance (upright or reversed) and interaction among cards.

The author goes on to explore and give examples of the different factors and possible spread positions.

Artwork © Jennifer Galasso, 2011  

Activity 12:1 - Using the 8 of Wands, give the possible responses to the following positions -  (1-3). How would you modify its meaning in response to the questions and positions - (4-5)?

1. Recent past - You have been in a hurry to achieve something, to move forward.
2. An obstacle - You are going too fast, the task needs more thought, more preparation.
3. Your strength - Once you get your sights on something, you go full force toward obtaining or achieving it.
4. Question: What is my purpose in life? Position: The best that can be achieved. - You are quick on your feet and will accomplish plenty as long as you keep going forward, making progress.
5. Question: What do I need to know about buying this house? Position: My fears. - Your fear is that you may be moving too fast toward the purchase.

Artwork © Jennifer Galasso, 2011  

Activity 12:2 - Using your chosen card in answer to your the original question, "What do I most need to look at in my life right now?" turn the response into a question. Pick three spread positions and interpret your chosen card from these new perspectives.

What do I need to do to allow myself to make a choice and move forward?

• Fears - You fear what may happen if you make a move toward change.
• Strengths - You are patient and able to stand still in a difficult situation.
• Advice - Stand still, remain calm, and take your time with making a decision.

Activity 12:3 - Using your chosen card in the position of Issue or Situation, create two additional positions to help clarify the question. Select two more cards and interpret. How do the new cards offer insight to the chosen card?

Question: What do I most need to look at in my life right now?
Positions: Issue/situation, Source, Advice

• Issue/situation - Two of Swords - You are avoiding a situation, choosing to make no choice at this time.
• Source - 5 Emperor - The source of your position comes from your need to be in control and to have order. You'd rather not rock the boat or be a rebel in the situation, better to just continue as is.
• Advice - 10 of Wands - This situation is more of a burden than you may realize, perhaps more than you can bear. It's time to ask for help, let someone else shoulder some of your responsibilities.

Artwork © Jennifer Galasso, 2011 

Need some extra help on using reverse cards? Mary K. Greer goes into detail in this step, in The Way of the Adept section.

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If you haven’t already, grab a copy of the book for a deeper understanding of 21 Ways to Read the Tarot. Available in Print and Kindle.

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card - Step 11 - Range

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card
Mary K. Greer

In step eleven of our journey, we explore the range of a card's meanings. Imagine a meter, similar to a gas gauge, with Benefit on the left side and Liability on the right. Imagine different levels of the cards meaning running through the gauge.

"A range, when seen as a spectrum, emphasizes the energy of the card."

We will explore the extent, where you are, where you want to be, how to move between levels, and how to move freely within the spectrum of the meanings of the card.

For example: The Sun: Benefit - Success, Liability - Egotism or Three of Swords: Benefit - Emotional release, Liability - Sorrow.

Activity 11:1 - Name some benefits and liabilities for the following cards.

• Nine of Pentacles: Benefit - Self-sufficient, Liability - Alone
• Page of Swords: Benefit - Reaching for the stars, Liability - Daydreamer
• The Chariot: Benefit - making progress, choosing direction, Liability - stalled by indecision

Activity 11:2 - Working with your chosen card:

• Decide upon your range. Hold your arm in front of you, bent at the elbow, like the indicator on the meter. Swing from left to right, saying aloud your range.
• Continue this process until you 'feel' where you are at this moment in the arc. Now imagine all possible meanings. Where are you?
• Move your arm to where you want to be on the spectrum of possibilities. What could move you there? What aspect of the card do you need to align with? Is there an image in the card that could help you? How?

Artwork © Jennifer Galasso, 2011   

Two of Wands: Benefit - Taking a moment of pause can give better insight (problem solving), Liability - Avoiding the situation does not solve the issue (unsolved issue.)        

Where are you? I fall near the quarter of a tank mark. :) So empty is the benefit, problem solving. I've moved away from the unsolved issue, moved pass the moment of avoidance (3/4 of a tank), moved passed not understanding the issue (1/2 tank), and have entered the decision making stage (1/4 of a tank), which should lead to the problem solved.

Where do I want to be? Problem solved. What could move me there? Let down the swords and allow the sun to illuminate the issue further. 

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If you haven’t already, grab a copy of the book for a deeper understanding of 21 Ways to Read the Tarot. Available in Print and Kindle.

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card - Step 10 - Meanings

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card
Mary K. Greer

In step ten of our journey, we take a look at meanings found in books. Some may find it a method of cheating to fall back on interpretations supplied by others. But, Mary suggests this is very useful, and I have to agree with her. On more than one occasion, I've used the process in this step to complete a reading.


As you read over a meaning in a book, it's important to pay attention to your reactions to each suggestion. Your body and mind will give clues to the interpretations best fitting for the reading. It will feel right, it will have you saying 'yes, that's it,' and/or the phrase will seem to leap out at you.

Artwork © Jennifer Galasso, 2011  

Activity 10:1

1. Gather together a couple of books with varying length interpretations, including the booklet supplied with your deck. (You will use these to look up the meanings of your chosen card.) 
2. Refresh your mind on the question used in the beginning of the steps. 
3. Make a list of the meanings that grab your attention and summarize their message in a couple of sentences. How do these compare with your earlier interpretations?
4. If you like, note where the meanings used in previous steps and the book meanings are the same or different. Write one-sentence summaries of these similarities and differences.
5. Sometime later, revisit this reading and see which meanings were most accurate and which gave the greatest insight.

The question I began with was, "What do I need to most look at in my life right now?"

Here are a few meanings which jumped out at me.

• She is refusing to see the problem at hand, therefore avoiding making a decision.
• Feeling uncertain about which way to go.
• Unable to make a move.
• You don't know rather to follow your head or your heart. 
• A tense situation.

I'd say for the most part these are similar to the descriptions and meanings thus far explored by the steps, although the wording may be slightly different. For instance: following your head or your heart can lead back to finding balance, and a tense situation is likely if you cannot decide what to do.

Activity 10:2

You may also find it useful to turn the book interpretations into questions to answer. Use some of what you chose, turn them into questions, and then answer them.

Some questions:

• What is the problem at hand? 
• How do you feel about the available directions?
• What can you do to make the move a little easier?

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If you haven’t already, grab a copy of the book for a deeper understanding of 21 Ways to Read the Tarot. Available in Print and Kindle.