The Tarot de Marseille offers a bare bones approach to tarot. After getting used to the Rider Waite Smith deck, which I consider more of an oracle deck than traditional tarot, I found the Marseille's minimalist design challenging at first. But once I learned to read it, I became a convert. The Marseille is direct and to the point, with no gentle padding or extra symbolism. It tells it like it is, offering blunt insights. Unlike other decks that focus on personal development or softer guidance, the Marseille is all about fortune telling, straightforward, precise, and focused on giving you clear direction for the future.

Here’s a quick overview of how to work with the pips in the Tarot de Marseille. Remember, context is key!

Learn the suits:
• Cups = emotions, relationships.
• Coins = money, value.
• Wands = work, effort.
• Swords = conflict, challenges.

Cups and Coins (red suits) are generally positive, while Wands and Swords (black suits) are typically negative.

• Find direct relationships:
Look at how cards relate to each other. For instance, if a King of Coins is looking at a 4 of Coins, he’s probably considering trading his coin for something better—he wants more.

• Check for increases or decreases:
In a financial reading, a progression like 2 of Coins, 4 of Coins, 10 of Coins shows growth. A decrease like 9 of Coins, 8 of Coins, 7 of Coins indicates a slow decline—but not catastrophic.

Easy yes/no answers:
• Three red cards = yes.
• Two reds, one black = probably yes.
• Two blacks, one red = probably no.
• Three blacks = no.

This is just a quick look into the deck. If you're curious, below I've listed some resources to help with your pip learning journey!

• Jean Noblet Tarot Deck by Artisan Tarot
• Jean Dodal Tarot Deck by Artisan Tarot
• Smith-Waite Centennial in a Tin
• Golden Botticelli Tarot
• Tarot of Marseilles Heritage Decks
• Rinascimento Italian Style Art
• Il Meneghello Collection
• Tarot de Marseille Resurrections

• TarotMaps.com PDFs
• CBDTarot.com Free Downloads
• The Marseille Tarot Revealed by Yoav Ben-Dov
• The Way of Tarot by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa
• Assorted Collection of Decks and Playing Cards
• Tarot of Marseilles Piatnik Guidebook PDF
• Labyrinthos - Numerology In Pip Cards In Tarot de Marseille
• Sibillia Oracle Card Definitions
• Kipper Oracle Card Definitions
• Free Lenormand Ebooks

What is True Sidereal Astrology?

True Sidereal astrology matches zodiac signs to the actual constellations in the night sky, based on where the stars really are, not the seasons. In contrast, Western Tropical astrology uses a fixed zodiac that stays the same every year, based on the changing seasons rather than the stars. True Sidereal adjusts the signs to reflect the current positions of the planets within the real constellations and includes 13 signs instead of 12. This system is more closely connected to astronomy and is often favored by astrologers who want their charts to show the sky as it truly appears.

• True Sky - Free True Sidereal Chart Software
• Mastering The Zodiac
• Planets in Transit by Robert Hand Ebook
• The 13th Sign: Ophiuchus and The Astrology They Don't Want You to See by Dr. Dani Inman