How to do a Past Life Reading

Past Lives Tarot Reading

The goal with a past life reading is to get a glimpse of who you might have been in a previous incarnation in order to understand how past energies are affecting your present life.

How your past life/lives can affect your present life:

Fears and Phobias: how we died in a past life can shed light on our fears and phobias in this life. For example, all my life I've had recurring dreams of finding myself in open water with a current pulling me toward the edge of a waterfall (incidentally, my mother also had this recurring dream while pregnant with me!) I've always had, and still have, an intense fear of waterfalls. My past life reading showed drowning was a possible cause of death! (Ironically, I became a competitive swimmer, swim instructor, and lifeguard.)

Sleeping Dreams: past lives can seep into our night dreams. Unfamiliar faces, places, and names that show up in our dreams may be our soul recalling details from a past life.

Day Dreams: our fantasies and desires can come from a previous incarnation.

Passions: when we find ourselves inexplicably drawn to certain cultures or eras, this may reflect when and where we lived in a past life.

Exceptional talents: people born with an exceptional gift/talent may have carried through experience and knowledge from a previous incarnation.

STEPS

Dive your tarot deck into 4 sections:

1. Major Arcana (soul purpose, death)

2. Kings & Queens (gender and parents)

3. Pages (childhood)

4. Knights(young adulthood)

5. Minor Arcana Ace-10 (career/s)

GENDER

Shuffle KINGS & QUEENS, select 1

King: male

Queen: female

PARENTS

Separate the KINGS and QUEENS and shuffle each pile.

Father: select 1 from the KINGS

King of Swords: educated, organized, fair, tidy.

Negative Tendencies: cold, tyrannical, too strict

King of Cups: very loving, nurturing, fair.

Negative Tendencies: unfaithful, addictive personality, inconsistent, too free-spirited

King of Wands: motivated, spiritual, employed in jobs they loved.

Negative Tendencies: too religious and/or started and stopped projects often

King of Pentacles: loving, kind, good with money, provided well.

Negative Tendencies: too tight with money, workaholic

Mother: select 1 from the QUEENS

Queen of Swords: strong intellect, independent, objective, fair.

Negative Tendencies: emotionally detached, bitter, or resentful. 

Queen of Cups: compassionate, emotional intelligence, empathy, intuition.

Negative Tendencies: too giving, loved too easily, and lacked boundaries. 

Queen of Wands: confident, courageous, good leader, passionate, creative, fiery energy and self-assured.

Negative Tendencies: stubborn, sure she's always right, and impulsive.

Queen of Pentacles: practical, secure, and generous.

Negative Tendencies: careless with money and materialistic

CHILDHOOD (0-20 yrs)

Shuffle the PAGES and select 1

Page of Swords: intelligent, curious, alert, protective, mentally agile, articulate, talker, planner, loves to learn, high standards and morals, negotiator, analytical,

Negative tendencies:  defensive, argumentative, needs to be right, stubborn, guarded, suspicious, indecisive, ungrounded, cynical, sceptical

Page of Cups: sensitive, kind, happy, dreamy, loving, gentle, soft nature, peaceful, innocent, intuitive, vulnerable, friendly, trusting, creative, artistic, poetic

Negative tendencies: sad, naive, gullible, unhappy, broken hearted, overly sensitive, highly strung, tantrums, whining, fantasy world, obsessive

Page of Wands: fun-loving, carefree, playful, curious, active, open-minded, optimistic, idealistic, ambitious, confident, sunny desire to travel, adventurous, spontaneous, original, inventive

Negative tendencies: fiery, hasty, impatient, gullible, hyperactive, delinquent, lack of confidence, pessimistic, tantrums, aggressive

Page of Pentacles: organized, intelligent, dedicated, loyal, steadfast, ambitious, goal-setter, hard-worker, high-achiever, results oriented, cautious, committed, reliable, practical, down to earth, animal lover, productive, likes to save money, future oriented, long-term, traditional, conventional, homebody

Negative tendencies:  obsessed with order, lacks spontaneity, too cautious, afraid to spend money, super type A personality, OCD

YOUNG ADULTHOOD (20-35 yrs)

Shuffle the KNIGHTS and select 1

Knight of Swords: honest, direct, fearless, fast, brave, intelligent, assertive, articulate, debater, educated, knowledgeable, analytical, strategist, logical, facts, sharp, authoritative, single-minded, ambitious, trouble-shooter, witty, well-read,

Negative tendencies: bossy, argumentative, controlling, sarcastic, critical, tyrant, dictator, dishonest, manipulative

Knight of Cups: romantic, charmer, chivalrous, gallant, dreamer, imaginative, poetic, peace loving, harmonious, good dresser, caring, sensitive, refined, diplomatic.

Negative tendencies: seducer, lustful, one-night stands, no commitment, user, too idealistic, moody, artful, deceptive, cheater, flighty

Knight of Wands: personal freedom, ambitious, fearless, warrior, hero, courageous, brave, trailblazer, independent, active, traveller

Negative tendencies: impatient, hasty, dramatic, fiery, intense, forthright, direct,  reckless, foolhardy, rebellious, hasty 

Knight of Pentacles: committed, organized, excellent with money, hard-worker, professional, highly skilled, high standards, impeccable, successful, down-to-earth, loyal, tenacious, long-term plans, conservative, conventional, traditional, responsible, methodical, thorough,

Negative tendencies: Must have things done their way, inflexible mindset, cheap/refuse to spend, not generous with money, too methodical, extreme Type A, OCD, dogmatic, too traditional

CAREERS

Shuffle the MINOR ARCANA and select 2 cards

CARD#1: 1^st or main career    CARD#2: 2nd career or side hustle

NUMEROLOGY SIGNIFICANCE

Aces: novice, just starting out, intern, apprentice

2s: worked well in a team or partnership,

3s: collaborated well, possibly a team leader, creative problem solver, moving up the ladder

4s: stable in their career, respected, leader or manager, organized

5s: instigator of change in their field, beat to their own drum, possibly resented for going against the grain, professional in their field, innovative, rocked the boat.

6s: watched over others, protected colleagues, able to mentor and train lower level employees, set a good example, well developed in area of expertise

7s: professional and experienced in their field, likely became a professor, business owner

8s: high ranking in their field, overcame obstacles others couldn't, similar to 5s: 8s break down barriers possibly sacrificing a lot in the process (possibly died trying)

9s: career advancement, they progressed a lot in their field, valued progress, brought about progress, leader in their field

10s: masters in their field, likely achieved awards, highly accomplished. Possibly experts in more than one area. Well-known and respected in their field.

SUITS SIGNIFICANCE 

WANDS

Creative fields: writers, artists, musicians, designers, creative pursuits

Leadership roles: entrepreneurs, managers, political leaders

Spiritual leaders: pastors, priests, rabbis, ministers

CUPS

Caring professions: counselors, therapists, nurses, social workers

Hospitality and service: chefs, waiters, event planners, hoteliers, caterers

Creative and artistic jobs: musicians, actors, performers, writers, dancers, architect

SWORDS

Analytical and legal fields: lawyers, judges, researchers

Communication and media: journalists, editors, broadcasters, reporters, camera

Military and law enforcement: soldiers, police officers, legal assistants, court jobs

PENTACLES

Financial and business careers: accountants, bankers, investors, managing money

Trades: construction workers, farmers, electricians, plumbers, etc.

Real Estate: agents, developers, property managers

Environment work: environmental conservationist, urban planners, archeologists, land landscapers

DHARMA, PERSONALITY/CHARACTER

& POSSIBLE CAUSES OF DEATH

Shuffle the MAJOR ARCANA and select 1

THE FOOL: adventurer, romantic hero, creative writer/playwright, actor, performer, eccentric, musician, dancer, spontaneous, lived in the moment, optimist, unafraid, bold, brave, took risks

Negative Tendencies: drifter, irresponsible, aimless, easily influenced, indecisive, changed jobs a lot, moved a lot, uncompleted goals, failed to see long term consequences, adrenalin junkie

Possible Causes of Death: young, accident, careless act, soldier, war, adventure-seeking,

MAGICIAN: alchemist, inventor, chemist, scientist, healer, doctor, psychic, magician

Negative tendencies: trickster, con, opioid addict, overly dreamy, manipulative

Possible Causes of Death: sudden illness, poison, overdose, mental illness-related

HIGH PRIESTESS: spiritual leader (nun/monk, priest, witch), visionary, psychic, healer, seer between worlds/medium, philosopher

Negative tendencies: psychic skills used for black magic, mentally unstable, too secretive

Possible Causes of Death: old age, illness, mysterious causes, went missing

EMPRESS: creator, artist, homemaker, designer, chef, gardener, horticulturist, herbalist, florist, healer, mother, homemaker, caregiver, childcare worker, altruistic, giver

Negative tendencies: gave too much and neglected self, lacked boundaries, codependent, promiscuous, seductress, narcissist, self-indulgent, gluttonous

Possible Causes of Death: childbirth (giving birth), illness, killed out of jealousy, poisonous plant, old age, suicide, martyr: died for a cause

EMPEROR: leader, warrior, political figure, king or queen, army sergeant, protector, fighter

Negative tendencies: tyrant, abused power, controlling, arrogant, conceited, dictator, workaholic

Possible Causes of Death: died in battle, heart attack, stroke, overworked, neglected health

HIEROPHANT: spiritual authority, teacher/professor, therapist, healer, mentor, academic, pope, pastor, guru, preacher, rabbi, saint

Negative tendencies: abuse of power, dogmatic, sanctimonious, self-righteous, anarchist

Possible Causes of Death: old age, martyr: died for a cause, natural causes

LOVERS:  romantic, poet, peacekeeper, worked well with others, mediator, marriage counsellor, human rights activist, therapist, tantric guide, mediator, couple’s therapist,

Negative tendencies: promiscuous, unfaithful to partner, secrets, poor choice in partners, co-dependency, fear of intimacy, unable to hold a job

Possible Causes of Death: broken heart, cardiovascular issues, suicide, natural causes

CHARIOT: competitor, athlete, fighter, soldier, died young, trail blazer, missionary, worked with horses, overcame huge obstacles, extroverted personality, magnetic personality, job involving travel, driver

Negative tendencies: stuck, unable to move past trauma, careless driver, neglected animals, stuck in a situation or mindset, ran from problems

Possible Causes of Death: died in battle, casualty of war, car accident, fall from horse

STRENGTH: warrior, soldier, animal trainer, ninja, spy, leader, zoologist, cat lover, lion tamer, incredible stamina and endurance, person of authority, bounty hunter

Negative tendencies: anger issues, bad temper, inconsistent, critical of self and others, misuse of strength and power

Possible Causes of Death: animal attack, killed, overdose, heart attack, old age

HERMIT: wise elder, shaman, seer, lived a very long life, seer, psychic, loner, mystic, guru, non-materialistic, old soul, counsellor, philosopher, mountain climber

Negative tendencies: anti-social, too introverted, overly shy, too much naval gazing, prone to depression, lacked motivation

Possible Causes of Death:  hypothermia, old age, natural causes, suicide

WHEEL OF FORTUNE: entrepreneur, opportunist, inventor, performer, stock trader, lucky, optimistic, seized opportunities, creates opportunities, tarot reader, astrologist, self-made, attracted good luck

Negative tendencies: gambler, took advantage of people, fake fortune teller, addictive personality, jealous

Possible Causes of Death:  natural causes, drowned, boat accident, killed, gang-related

JUSTICE: judge, lawyer, mediator, public servant, advocate of justice, union leader, activist, knight, sword fighter

Negative tendencies: obsessive about rights, manipulated the law/system, unfair, con

Possible Causes of Death: exposed to chemicals, dangers in work force, killed, heart attack, accident

HANGED MAN: mystic, writer, journalist, therapist, acrobat, martyr, philosopher, thinker, highly intelligent, poet, thinker

Negative tendencies: too much of a martyr/martyr mentality, withdrawn, unmotivated, give up easily, victim mentality, trouble with the law, self-destructive

Possible Causes of Death:  natural causes, overdose, hung, suicide, mental illness

DEATH: transformer, executor of change, public figure, doctor, mortician, medium, cemetery worker, spirit worker, re-invented self a few times

Negative tendencies: executioner, murderer, lacked morals, profitted from the death of others, addicted to change, self-sabotaged

Possible Causes of Death: murder, caught in the crossfire, fire, suicide, natural disaster

TEMPERANCE: diplomat, philosopher, philanthropist, role model, herbalist, healer, earth angel, activist of justice, lived a balanced life, Buddhist mindset

Negative tendencies:  poor timing, mentally imbalanced, lack of self-moderation, addiction

Possible Causes of Death: natural causes, chronic illness/condition, plague, mental illness, addiction

DEVIL: slave owner, controller, con, professional criminal, corrupt CEO, exploiter, gang leader, pimp, occult/black magic, misuse power, narcissist, psychopathic tendencies, dominant, addict

Other side: enslaved, controlled, conned, exploited, prostitute, co-dependent, in and out of rehab, unable to break bad habits    (Note* this is a difficult karmic cycle to break)

Possible Causes of Death: overdose, car accident, carelessness, fall, fire, murder

TOWER: rebel, radical, instigator of change, job with a lot of travel, fire fighter, pilot, meteorologist, storm chaser, resilient, able to rebuild after calamity, survivor of natural disaster

Negative tendencies:  restlessness, fear of heights, hit by lightning, fear of change,

Possible Causes of Death: fire, fall/jump from height, struck by lightning, natural disaster, murder, airplane accident, mental illness, causality of war

STAR: spiritual guide, astrologist, astronomer, light worker, saint, star/celebrity, dreamer, witch

Negative tendencies: obsessed with fame, dreamer but didn’t make dreams come true, superstitious, stuck in the past, head in the clouds

Possible Causes of Death: natural disaster, old age, addiction/overdose, exposure

MOON: faith was tested, pushed boundaries, night job, P.I., followed dreams, very intuitive, psychic, healer, strong feminine energy, mystical, mysterious, vivid dreamer

Negative tendencies: insomnia, bad dreams, possibly wrongly institutionalized due to hormonal imbalance/post-partum etc., restless spirit, paranoia

Possible Causes Death: exposure to the elements, drowning, old age, suicide, mental illness

SUN: protector of children, nurse, caregiver, role model, altruistic, giver, healer, happy-go-lucky, actor, singer, clown, comedian, optimist, had many children

Negative tendencies: cared for others more than self, unrealistic dreams, Polyana/blindly optimistic, naïve, unable to foresee or recognize problems, childhood illness, lost a child

Possible Causes of Death: chronic illness, fire, natural disaster, accident, old age

JUDGEMENT:  moralist, preacher, leader, court judge,  lawyer, instigator of change, humanitarian, volunteer, found life calling, was able to access past life memories, learned from mistakes, was able to transform life

Negative tendencies: judgemental toward others and self, gossip, unable to learn from mistakes, stuck, possible issues with the law, incarcerated

Possible Causes of Death: died for a cause, killed, died in battle, natural causes

WORLD: survivor of war and battle, writer, wore many hats, famous, successful, overcame many obstacles, highly evolved soul

Negative tendencies: overwhelmed by fame, doubting self despite success, body image issues, never felt totally satisfied, infidelity, inflated ego

Possible Causes of Death: natural disaster, old age, Alzheimer’s, chronic illness, airplane accident