How to learn the Tarot of Marseille?

Number 1 among tarot decks since its arrival in the middle of the 16^th century, the deck of cards of the Tarot of Marseille is therefore the indispensable accessory for any good tarot reader. It draws its origins from the Italian card games known as tarocci, from which it is derived, and not from ancient Egypt, as is often wrongly claimed.

If it immediately enchanted the crowds and, at the same time, the intellectuals of the period who flirted with esotericism and occultism, it is first of all for the graphic beauty of the illustrations printed on its 78 cards.

Indeed, one notices, especially on its 22 major arcana, that the cards all represent a character or an object relating to a very specific characteristic of human nature. And that if one places all these cards end to end, one obtains a genuine initiatory journey, symbolising the destiny of a life.

From the very appearance of the Tarot of Marseille, people possessing gifts of vision and extrasensory perception began to interpret the various cards composing it. And so it became the essential accessory of what is called the divinatory art, far surpassing the crystal balls and other pendulums of the time.

If, today, the fortune tellers no longer have the charm and theatrical side of yesteryear, the practice of tarot reading with the Tarot of Marseille has nonetheless become far more pragmatic and rational.

To learn the divinatory tarot, there is nothing like training that will allow for suitable personal development. This training can be done very easily online, through tutorial videos explaining all the steps to take before being able to give yourself a first divinatory reading.

To learn how to interpret the Tarot of Marseille, the first thing to do is to familiarise yourself with all the cards. You must look at them, feel them, but also understand them in everything they have to show, learning to identify and interpret them one by one.

In short, you must steep yourself in them until you know them by heart. You will also have to learn to handle them with tact and professionalism. Knowing how to cut the deck, then fold it all back together, without being distracted by the gaze of someone who might be watching you.

Once the interpretation of each of the cards holds no more secrets for you and you have the right touch to hold them gracefully in your hands, then you will have crossed the very first initiatory step and you will be able to move on to the second, which will focus on the practice of reading the cards.

There are many websites on the net where you can find videos to learn the Tarot of Marseille. Posted by renowned tarot readers such as Florent Parisse or Vincent Beckers, they are very explicit to familiarise you with the world of the cards of the Tarot of Marseille.

There you will discover the game of tarot from every angle and you will be able to initiate yourself into its many symbolisms. By immersing yourself in it, you will understand the interpretations and the implications of each of the 78 cards making up the Tarot of Marseille deck.

Those of the 22 major arcana, also called trumps, but also of the 56 minor arcana, which complete it with their 4 suits named the Wands, the Pentacles, the Cups and the Swords.

These training courses, free or paid depending on the site, are therefore practical methods to train in tarot reading via the Tarot of Marseille. They are modern through their interactivity, but are just as fun as the lessons given by a tarot reader in a practice.

There are also numerous books concerning the practice of tarot reading. So many have even been published in recent years that it may not be so easy to choose a book to learn the Tarot of Marseille.

For this, it is important to seek advice from a shop specialising in esotericism, where you can be guided before your purchase. The quality of such a book depends so much on your personality and on what you expect from it that it is necessary to get advice so as not to be disappointed.

Among these numerous works, we can nonetheless mention a few without taking too many risks, so much are their contents of excellent quality.

First of all, we find « Le livre d’or du tarot de Marseille », published by Elaleph, which is very certainly the reference book on the subject. Even though it is rather costly, it is an essential work for anyone wishing to delve into the secret universe of tarot reading. It should also be noted that it suits all audiences, thanks to the very pedagogical tone used by the authors.

Then comes the book « Le tarot de Marseille », published by Leduc, which, with its attractive price and its fun side, seems perfect for getting started in the subject.

Finally, « 24 leçons pour apprendre seul le tarot de Marseille », published by Trajectoire, is also an exemplary work for anyone wishing to get started in practice with the numerous spreads of the divinatory Tarot of Marseille.

It has been said and repeated, feeling very comfortable with your deck of cards is the most essential thing in tarot reading. So much so that your hand must become one with your deck of cards and your gestures must be supple while being very mobile.

It is therefore very important to choose the deck of cards most suited to the size of your hands. This is to be as comfortable as possible when you carry out a reading in front of a person. The numerous illustrations printed on each of the cards can of course also vary from one deck to another, even if, in general, they almost all represent the same characters, objects or symbolisms.

But then, which Tarot of Marseille to choose when you are starting out and find yourself facing several decks of cards? Not so simple, all the more so if you make your purchase online, because you will not be able in any way to unfold, look at and touch with the tips of your fingers the famous 78 cards contained in the deck.

Once again, it will be better to go to a shop specialising in esotericism to find the deck most suited to your personality and finger size. Thanks to the advice of a specialist, you will then be more sure not to regret your purchase and will be able to start initiating yourself into the interpretation of the different cards of your Tarot of Marseille deck.

There is nonetheless a very good deck manufactured and distributed by Philibert, which is the original reproduction of the one kept at the National Library of Paris.

At a fair price, of a pleasant size, and endowed with very fine illustrations, this Tarot of Marseille deck can be recommended without any worries to a beginner wishing to initiate themselves into the interpretation of the 78 cards contained in its deck.

It is indeed not necessary to pay top price when starting out. Time will tell whether you need a more professional and necessarily more expensive deck.