Tarot cards are not your average deck of cards. Its an ancient spiritual practice that developed over centuries and many of the modern Tarot decks are merely modern interpretations of exactly the same cards. One of the most commonly used decks is now knows as the Raider-Waite deck and is a great one to start off with since the pictures are very clear and many guide books are available to help you with these readings and interpretations.

Every card in the deck is unique. Every single one has multiple meanings and depending on the combination of cards, it can tell you different things about virtually anything in your life. The study of Tarot and interpreting it is a lifetime study and very few students ever master it. Here are 3 cards that have great meaning for me and ones well worth reading more about.

1. The 5 of Cups:

The illustration is that of a person looking down at 3 spilled cups on the ground. The first and obvious meaning is that of loss and the fact that the person looks "down" means that the loss is probably responsible for feeling down and even sad. The meaning of this card is not all bad however, because there are 2 cups behind the person which he cannot see. This is an indication of hope and this card is simply trying to tell you that not everything is bad and that there are some good fortune that you just cannot see.

2. The Devil:

Often times people go cold when they see this card as the picture of the devil is traditionally associated with evil. On closer inspection, the image is actually one of a couple that is chained to the devil and the meaning of the card has to do with relationships. Are you still bound by an old relationship? Are you struggling to move on from a bad relationship? This cards compels you to cut the chains and move on with your life.

3. The Ace Of Swords:

This card is an illustration of a hand holding a sword. Its not any old sword, but a double edged sword and the meaning of the card is directly related to that. A double edged sword implies that a certain situation can have both good and bad consequences - both good and bad outcomes and it compels you to rethink the situation. If you can only see the good, then maybe you need to be cautious and see the bad side as well and vice versa.