Tarot astrology is the system through which a reading of the cards in a tarot deck help you through troubled times by offering a reflection on your past, present and future. Tarot is closely associated with astrology as each card relates to a planet, element, or astrological sign.

Tarot cards are used for divination, often known as fortune telling. But, many psychologists have used them as well, feeling that the cards often make patients delve in to how they feel about themselves. This is done through the subconscious. For example, let's say you know work is not going well, but you do not allow yourself to think about it. Getting a tarot card reading that shows you need to change occupations is not really telling your future so much as it is making you face what is really going on in your life.

A tarot card deck consists of 78 cards that fall into two distinctive parts. The first part is called the Major Arcana. This part of the deck has 22 cards, 21 suitless cards referred to as trumps and one card called The Fool. It is believed that these cards represent different stages of life that we go through. Many are recognizable such as the Magician (associated with the planet Mercury), the Lovers (associated with the astrological sign Gemini), and the Death card (associated with Scorpio).

The other 56 cards are in the Minor Arcana. Arcana is taken from the Latin word "akanum," meaning secret. The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits, just like regular playing cards. The four suits are the Cups, the Wands, the Swords, and the Pentacles. Each of these cards represents a certain element of the Earth and is associated with certain astrological signs. The Cups represent water and are associated most closely with Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. The Cups stand for emotions, spirituality, and the unconsciousness. The Wands represent fire and are associated with Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. The Wands stand for action, creativeness, and personal growth. The Swords represent air and are associated with Libra, Gemini, and Aquarius. The Swords stand for the mind, intelligence, and knowledge. The final suit, the Pentacles, represents earth itself and is associated with Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. The Pentacles stand for the physique, bodily experiences, and practicality. In addition to the four suits, there are also Court cards including the King, Queen, Prince, and Princess for each suit.

The Minor Arcana cards provide more details to the Major Arcana cards. The Major Arcana gives an individual direction and information about their personal life and emotional and mental state. The Minor Arcana cards offer additional guidance in areas such as relationships, activities, failures, and successes. The Major Arcana cards are seen as more spiritual while the Minor Arcana cards are seen as material.

Over the years, the interpretation of the cards has evolved. Modern decks of tarot cards are much more expressive that then earlier version, due in part to the pictures being more closely associated with their meaning. Tarot readers prize their cards and often will not let others touch them as they are viewed as sacred tools of their trade. Many card sets are often viewed as works of art because of the detailed pictures on each one.

Finding a psychic for a tarot reading is easy. If you are looking to visit a psychic in person, check in your local Yellow Pages under Psychic. If you live in a remote area or are leery of visiting a psychic in person, you can also get tarot card readings online. If you use your favorite Internet search engine to search on "free tarot reading," you will find many sites appear. If you are leery that free readings might not be as accurate as paid reading, you can also find online psychics who will charge to do a reading. Some psychics will base their charges on how many questions you wish to ask about the reading while some will just charge a flat fee for so many minutes.

Whether you get a tarot card reading online or in person, there are several things you should keep in mind. The tarot card reading should not scare you, but rather give you a better understanding of yourself. They will help you with not only what your future holds, but also what is presently going on in your life. You should leave the reading with a positive attitude and feeling enlightened.

Author: Michelle Andersen
Michelle Andersen is an astrologer providing valuable tips and advice on understanding Chinese astrology, pet horoscopes, and zodiac compatibility. Choose from any one of three free readings - psychic love, tarot cards, or numerology reading.

Gems have been used from times immemorial for luck and as good omens.Kings and queens are reported to be craving for the possession and pursuit of beautiful gems and stones. Our fore-fathers have used them to ward off evil spirits, to bring luck and favor as well as to prolong their longevity. Some astrologers prescribe wearing of appropriate gemstones or birthstones as they are commonly called as remedial measures for mitigating the malefic effects of some planets. This is akin to a doctor prescribing medicines to a patient.

The venerated Indian astrologer Varahamihira, in his magnum opus "Brihat amhita" (chapters 80 to 83 ), refers to gems and their examination. Gems are said to be born of the bones of the demon Bala while some opine they were born of sage Dadheechi and have characteristic qualities of the earth. The list given by him includes diamond, sapphire, emerald, agate, ruby, bloodstone, beryl, amethyst, vimalaka, quartz, pearl, sughandika, opal, conch, azure, topaz, brahma gem, jyoteerasa, sasyaka, coral, moonstone etc. Diamonds that show scratches like crow-feet (kaakapadam), bees or hair , are mixed with colored minerals substances or gravel, have double facets, are burnt, discolored, lusterless or perforated, are inauspicious. So are those that are covered with bubbles, split at the points, flattened, or oblong. Diamonds that are triangular, trigonal and like the coriander seed or the buttocks are productive of good results to ladies desiring male offspring. Best pearls are those that are got from pearl-oysters.

Everyone who went to school is aware of the word SPECTRUM. When white light passes through a prism, the emergent beam is composed of seven (7) different colors, commonly known as the acronym VIBGYOR i.e., Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet in the reverse order. The same effect is observed in a rainbow. It is believed that our body contains these seven colors in different proportions. If the colors are balanced, the owner is lucky - healthy and wealthy. Any deficiency or excess of one or more rays causes mental or physical (or a combination) problems. The principal gems represent or signify planets and luminaries (sun and moon). The astrologer examines the horoscope and determines which planet (or planets) is antagonistic to the native and prescribes the birthstone to be worn with details of what to wear, when to wear and how to wear.

Ruby, Pearl, Coral, Emerald, Topaz, Sapphire, Diamond, Agate, and Cat's eye respectively refer to Sun,Moon,Mars,Mercury, Jupiter,Saturn,Venus,Caput (Rahu),and Cauda (Ketu). AGATE is said to be good for the heart, Amethyst cures sterility, Beryl enhances love and affection, Coral protects from epidemics, metorrhagia etc., Diamond cures plague, insomnia, charms, ensures safe delivery , Emerald is said to be good for the brain, increases memory power, ensures chastity, cures dropsy, epilepsy, hysteria, dysentery , Pearl is recommended for chastity, Ruby protects one from poison, plague, banishes melancholy, Sapphire assures good fortune, peace, comfort while Topaz denotes sympathy, re-possession of lost things.

Proper selection of a gemstone is done after a minute consideration of :

• Sun sign

• Ruling ascendant

• Lord of the ruling ascendant

• Debilitated or afflicted planets

The fundamental principle followed is the determination of the ray or rays causing abnormalities. The celestial bodies are known to emit different colors in the spectrographic analyses. One of the important uses to which this knowledge can be applied is medical science. The curative powers of gemstones have been studied by some who have opined that a proper and restrictive use of some gems can bring upon significant changes in the health of patients and even cure them altogether. Thus, the twelve houses of the native's horoscope are said to signify different parts of the body. The first house denotes the head and the brain while the fifth house points towards the stomach and the intestines. Similarly, the zodiacal signs refer to the various human organs. The fingers are significators of various ailments and body parts. The birth star and the Drik ( 6th, 8th and 12th ) houses are also to be taken into account while recommending a birthstone for healthy living. The birth star is the constellation in which the moon resides at the moment of one's birth. There are 27 (twenty-seven) constellations in Indian astrology each sub-divided into four parts or "padas". At times, Abhijit is also considered as a constellation occurring in Capricorn. In electional astrology, Abhijit muhurta is said to alleviate any affliction and hence if no appropriate or auspicious moment is possible immediately, recourse is taken to this.

Not only do birthstones help in health problems, they are worn to increase one's wealth as well. Thus, Emerald denoting Mercury is beneficial for one dealing with liquid cash, shares and stocks, Jupiter for those dealing with properties, buildings and jewellery etc. The moon in the male horoscope and the sun in the female horoscope are important for prognosticating wealth matters. Jupiter is considered for success and Venus for pleasures in one's life. Jupiter's placement in eastern side i.e., aries to virgo assures early success in life. The 2nd house denotes movable assets, 4th fixed assets, 9th general prosperity, fate and the 11th recurring income.

At times, people know only the date of birth and the preparation of an accurate horoscope becomes difficult, if not impossible. They can be told to wear the birthstone pertinent to the date of birth. Thus, those born on the 1st, 10th ,19th or the 28th of any month can wear ruby or red coral to begin with. By trial and error and after consultations the correct gemstone can be worn. Some people are found wearing a "nava ratna" i.e., a ring with all the nine main stones embedded on the ring. While this may do wonders for some, it is not recommended as a general solution to appease all the planets at a time! The factors to be considered when wearing a birthstone are :

1. The correct gem

2. Weight of the gem

3. Metal of the ring

4. Day and time of first wearing

5. Pre-treatment of the stone before wearing.

Pre-treatment refers to the purification or the sanctification process of the embedded ring. The big question remains which school of opinion to follow - sympathy or antipathy? Whether one should appease the afflicted planet or counter-act it?

Author:  Mohan Potukuchi
The author is a professional chemical engineer having expertise in neutral spirits distillation. He is a free-lance web developer and has a flair for writing articles on a diverse range of subjects including the occult.http://www.geocities.com/ugh_club/astrology