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ATA Tarot Courses


In a fruitful garden, a fine lady trains her falcon. Many connect the Nine of Pentacles (and the patient, painstaking snail in its lower left corner) with the practical work of being trained or training others.

The Nine of Pentacles, from the Universal Waite Tarot, copyright U.S. Games. Used by permission.


Just for Fun:
The Tarot KeyWord
Self-Test!

Whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned Tarot scholar, you'll enjoy this simple Tarot key-word self-test!

To see it, you'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, or the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.

To save a copy of the self-test to your computer, right-click this link and choose Save Target As...

 

Learn to Read Tarot!
Available exclusively through the ATA!

Our comprehensive educational material will benefit:

  • Novices just beginning their tarot journey
  • Serious students looking to sharpen their skills
  • Tarot readers working toward certification
  • ATA members in the mentoring program
  • Advanced students looking for deeper levels of meaning in the cards
  • Anyone who is fascinated by tarot and wants to use it for personal guidance

  • The ATA offers three types of educational material:
    The ATA Correspondence Courses
    Special Topics in Tarot
    ATA Courseware


    The ATA Correspondence Courses

    This comprehensive series of courses can be used for independent study or in conjunction with the ATA’s mentoring program. Students working toward certification will benefit from the progressive structure of the lessons and the written exercises. In addition to learning to read Tarot, you will receive tips on teaching, building a business and writing articles.
    Available as printed booklets or downloadable PDF files. Older versions of the course are available on CD or audio tape. The Correspondence Courses are available only to ATA members.

    [Table of Content & Excerpt]

    How To Order

    Click here to become a member today and order your Correspondence Courses.

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    Special Topics in Tarot

    Three courses for the advanced student using an esoteric approach to understanding Tarot based on the Golden Dawn’s teachings. Special Topics are available only to ATA members.
    [Table of Content & Excerpt]

    How To Order

    Click here to become a member today and order your Special Topics.

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    ATA Courseware

    This comprehensive introduction for the beginning student teaches everything you need to know to begin reading Tarot for yourself and others. Each section contains exercises so you can practice what you learn right away. Available on downloadable PDF files. [Table of Content & Excerpt]

    How To Order

    Click here to purchase at the $25.00 non-member price via Paypal.
    ATA Members may use this members-only order form, to order the package for the discounted price of just $20.00.

     

    ATA Members. ATA Members may use this members-only order form, where you may order the package for the discounted price of just $20.00.

    Members click here to purchase at discounted member rates.

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    Introduction to Tarot

    Preface – Mentoring Tarot
    Tarot 100 – Introduction: Advice for beginners
    Tarot 101 – The Pip Cards: Assigning meanings using astrology, elements, numerology
    Tarot 102 – The Court Cards: Assigning meanings using rank, astrology, numerology
    Tarot 103 – The Major Arcana: Keywords and astrological correspondences
    Tarot 104 – Beginning Tarot Spreads: one-, two- & three-card spreads

    Intermediate Tarot

    Tarot 200 – Introduction
    Tarot 201 – Reversals and Dignities: Reversed cards, elemental, numerological & astrological dignities, Tree of Life correspondences
    Tarot 202 – How to Write a Code of Ethics
    Tarot 203 – Intermediate Tarot Spreads: Five- to ten-card spreads
    Tarot 204 – Building a Tarot Business

    Advanced Tarot

    Tarot 300 – Introduction:
    Tarot 301 – Writing Techniques: How to write tarot articles & meditations, book & deck reviews, create your own spreads
    Tarot 302 – Advanced Tarot Techniques: Golden Dawn correspondences with Tree of Life, astrology, other metaphysical systems
    Tarot 303 – Consulting Techniques: Being a good listener, making referrals
    Tarot 304 – Teaching Techniques

    Excerpt from: Tarot 104 - Beginning Tarot Spreads One Card Esoteric Spreads

    The esoteric approach to tarot spreads is to use the Seven Rays of Discernment, which in modern terminology are the seven basic questions of journalism. These seven rays are:
    Who
    What
    When
    Where
    Which
    Why
    How
    Ask yourself a question, any question. Make certain the question is about you and not some other person. If your question starts with one of these seven key words, then go through your normal rituals, state the question out loud, write it down in your journal and draw one card.

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    Special Topics
    Table of Contents

    A Mystical System for Reading Tarot

    Part Zero     Introduction
    Part One     The Elements
    Part Two     The Beginning
    Part Three     Childhood
    Part Four     Adolescence
    Part Five     Adulthood
    Part Six     Our Spiritual Journey
    Part Seven     Mystical Tarot Spreads

    Excerpt from Part Seven – Mystical Tarot Spreads

    Any of the tarot spreads you already know and use can be used for doing mystical tarot readings. Just keep in mind the reading may take on a spiritual emphasis. For this reason alone you may find it better to use a certain deck for your mystical readings and meditations. This becomes your private spiritual path deck so to speak. Use it whenever your client raises a spiritual issue or when your intuition tells you this is going to be a spiritual reading.
    In general, spreads using fewer cards can be used for spiritual readings. The cards will come straight to the point quickly and identify the things your client needs to address. This allows you more time to be a consultant or counselor, to help the client resolve his or her spiritual issues and get on with his or her life.

    An Astrological System for Reading Tarot

    Part Zero    Introduction
    Part One   The Signs of the Zodiac
    Part Two   The Planets
    Part Three   The Signs and the Planets
    Part Four   The Planets and the Tarot Cards
    Part Five   The Signs of the Zodiac and the Tarot Cards
    Part Six   The Court Cards
    Part Seven    Astrological Spreads

    Excerpt from Part Five

    Anytime you draw one of the major arcana cards associated with one of the signs, you apply your knowledge of both the sign and it's ruler to the reading. For example, say you drew The Hierophant, The Lovers and The Sun. For the first card you would consider both Taurus and it's ruler Venus which is represented by the Empress. For the second card you'd consider both Gemini and Mercury which is the Magician. And for the third card you'd consider both the Sun and Leo which is represented by the Strength card.
    Now you have assigned the planets and the signs to each of the forty pip cards and to each of the twenty-two major arcana cards. All that's left is to define the court cards and look at some ideas for tarot spreads.

    A Numerological System for Reading Tarot

    Part Zero   Introduction
    Part One    The Elements
    Part Two    The Elements and the Tarot Cards
    Part Three   The Numbers
    Part Four    The Numbers and the Elements
    Part Five    The Numbers and the Tarot Cards
    Part Six    Elemental Spreads
    Part Seven   Numerological Spreads

    Excerpt from Part Three – The Numbers

    Anytime you draw one of the major arcana cards associated with one of the signs, you apply your knowledge of both the sign and it's ruler to the reading. For example, say you drew The Hierophant, The Lovers and The Sun. For the first card you would consider both Taurus and it's ruler Venus which is represented by the Empress. For the second card you'd consider both Gemini and Mercury which is the Magician. And for the third card you'd consider both the Sun and Leo which is represented by the Strength card.

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    ATA Courseware
    Table of Contents

    ATA 100 - Introduction to Tarot

    ATA 101 - Intuitive Tarot Reading

    ATA 102 - Sorting Things Out Part I: Major Arcana

    • 102a - Journeys through the Major Arcana
    • 102b - Using the Major Arcana in Readings

    ATA 103 - Sorting Things Out Part II: The Pips

    • 103a - Suit Correspondences and Elemental Associations
    • 103b - Numerological Correspondences

    ATA 104 - Sorting Things Out Part III: Court Cards

    • 104a - Developing Personality Profiles
    • 104b - Elemental and Astrological Associations
    • 104c - Using Court Cards in Readings

    ATA 105 - Beginning to Read

    • 105a - Reading for Yourself
    • 105b - Using a Tarot Journal
    • 105c - Overcoming Reader's Block
    • 105e - Ethics for Beginning Tarot Readers

    Excerpt from: Course 102b. Using the Major Arcana in Readings

    This chapter covers important things you need to know when working with trumps in a reading, including what it means to get a trump in a reading, and where they fall within the numerological and elemental cycles we have already learned. Astrological uses of the trumps are also covered, for those with an interest in and knowledge of astrology.
    What Does it Mean to Receive a Trump in a Reading?
    Trumps are special and important cards, and they deserve a prominent place in our readings. One of the first things we should do when scanning a reading of any size is to notice whether there are any trumps, what reading positions they fall into, and what proportion of the cards received are trumps. Here are some ideas about what it means to receive one or more trumps in a reading:

    Excerpt from Course 104c. Using Court Cards in Readings

    In this lesson, we will practice a variety of ways of using court cards in readings, including as significators, as persons influencing the situation, as aspects of the mind or personality, and as activities or approaches. In addition, we will discuss how to handle reversed court cards and deal with gender issues in readings.
    Court Cards as Significators
    A significator is a card that is used to represent the querant in a reading. It can be added to any reading, but is never required. A significator can be used to tell you something about the client’s personality or lifestyle, making it easier to interpret the reading. It may also tell you how the client feels or sees herself in the situation being asked about. A significator provides a sense that the client is an integral part of the reading, and can even provide a physical presence for the client when the reading is done over the phone or by e-mail. Significators are typically placed as the first card in the reading, either in the center of the layout or above and off to one side, as if observing. Alternatively, a significator can be chosen and then shuffled into the deck, to see if it turns up in the reading.

     

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