When you go to a psychic fair, the majority of readers will have Tarot cards with them. Tarot is the most well-known of the divination systems in use today, and it's a fair bet that most people have at least seen a deck, even if they have not used it to read for themselves. As a result, there are thousands of volumes, courses, and instructors who can give you the ins and outs of how to use those familiar 78 keys to wisdom.

However, with the burgeoning New Age and Spirituality movements, there are many new decks that have nothing to do with the standard Tarot archetypes. Faeries, angels, dragons, Zen Buddhists all have cards dedicated to their realms of thought, in no way derivative of Tarot. And because there is no 'tradition' associated with them, there's no standard way to read with a deck like these.

So the question is: without someone telling you 'this is how you do it,' how do you dance with your new deck? And how do you choose from the dozens of new decks out there?

LISTEN FOR WHO'S ASKING YOU TO DANCE. Take some time before you go shopping. Close your eyes, and imagine the types of images you want in your deck. How does it feel? Are the colors saturated or pastel? Is the 'feel' light or dark? How is the deck designed - traditional artwork, photographs, collages? Does it have 'major' and 'minor' groupings, or are all the cards stand-alone?

Once you've chosen your deck and brought it home. . .

DON'T READ THE BOOK FIRST. MAKE YOUR INTRODUCTIONS. It makes sense to first understand the traditional meanings of a traditional deck - years, decades, even centuries of thought and conjecture underlie all the symbols and pictures. But when it's a new deck, without a 'history,' try talking to the cards without the benefit of other people's ideas. Which ones draw you? What groupings do you see? Do the cards suggest reading them in order, as the deck was designed, or do you see new ways of categorizing them? Your particular insights are what will make the deck truly 'yours.'

WHO LIVES THERE? Traditional Tarot has court cards and suits. Does your deck have an alternative? What personalities do the various players have? Do your best to avoid simply overlaying the personalities given in a Tarot deck; dive in and find out what is important to your deck's denizens.

FIND A SPECIFIC TEACHER CARD FOR YOURSELF. Actively engage the beings in the deck. The more 'energy' we give an idea, we bring it into being as a thought-form. Whereas a traditional Tarot deck usually assigns Significator court cards by gender, age, and hair/eye color, there need be no such boundaries in your non-traditional deck. (Heck, there may not even be people in it!) If there is one image, one being that reaches out to you, sit down with he/she/it/they and see what they have to say.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING TO LEARN? Readings can be divided into two different styles:

• DETERMINISTIC (sometimes called PREDICTIVE), which are spreads that imply fixed outcomes that cannot be changed; such answers are more definite and predictive than others.
  
• FACILITATIVE, which are readings that assist clients in understanding their lives, providing information without making decisions for them, helping them to explore alternatives thereby leaving choice and free will, at the last, to them. (Definitions courtesy of Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads by Teresa Michelsen; highly recommended!)

There are three main 'paths' that a deck can illuminate: everyday (physical/ mental) options and choices, emotional wisdom, or spiritual direction. Depending on how you intend to use the deck, the meanings and groupings you see may shift and change as your questions flow from one category to another.

PEOPLE GO TO THEME PARKS FOR A REASON. WHAT'S IT LIKE IN YOURS?

If your deck has a particular theme, play with it! Let it expand the possibilities. Examples:

• If the deck primarily depicts flowers, form a plant with the layout. What are you 'planting'? What do you need to 'fertilize' your future? What 'bugs' - problems, stumbling blocks, challenges - might be eating away at your time, your resources?
  
• For a medieval-based deck: three classic forms for layouts might be a church, a castle, or a jousting field. In the church layout, ask questions about what 'penance' might clear a challenging situation, or what 'blessing' might be bestowed by an action. For the castle layout: what 'moat' do people have to cross to get close to you? How do you let down a 'drawbridge' to cross from one part of your life to another? What meaning can you give to each of the rooms? And for the jousting field, what two solutions or situations are battling it out for your attention?
  
• Even a NASCAR deck could work: what do you need to do to 'tune up' your life? Where does the 'oil' need changing, in terms of what makes life easiest for you to deal with? Where do you always get a 'flat tire' or 'run out of gas'?

The possibilities are endless!

NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THEY LIVE, INTRODUCE THEM TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. It's valuable to take time to introduce your deck to modern life: the internet, modern media, the tasks that are important to us today. In the 21st century, 'multitasking' is vital for most of us; in the 19th it wouldn't have been thought of. Ditto modern methods of commerce, consumerism, communication and employment. Which cards in your deck will signify these new ideas and modalities? Making the 'stretch' to work with these ideas in your deck can do wonders to deepen a reading.

I'd love to have readers out there who use non-Tarot decks share their ideas. Please tell us what kind of deck you use; why you chose it; and what kind of readings help it really "shine" for your clients. We'll share them in a future column! Send your comments to Corbie@firethroughspirit.com and make the subject line SHARING THE DECK-A-DANCE.