A Beginner's Guide to Reading Tarot Cards (2024)

FAQs

How should a beginner read tarot cards? ›

“If you are starting out, just working by yourself, a lot of people do a daily card pull where they pull one card from the deck and just think about the meaning of the card. If you do it in the morning, you can keep it in mind as you go through your day. That's a nice way to get to know the cards on a deeper level.”

Your Question Is About Someone Else

If your entire line of questioning is about another person and their thoughts and behaviors (like what your ex is up to), then a tarot reading is not the answer. Tarot is supposed to give you insight about *yourself*, not other people.

The most ubiquitous collection is the Rider-Waite deck, drawn by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909. Since the cards' meanings are highly recognizable and generally intuitive, many people recommend the Rider-Waite deck for beginners.

Some people may be able to gain a basic understanding of Tarot card meanings and techniques within a few weeks or months of study and practice, while others may take several years to become proficient. It is important to note that Tarot reading is a skill that requires ongoing practice and study.

While you can certainly visit a tarot practitioner for a reading, you can also learn to read your own tarot cards. That way, you can define your relationship with them and determine how they can fit into your life. Becoming acquainted with all 78 cards can be daunting and challenging, especially in the beginning.

Drop the cards facedown on the floor and smoosh them around, almost like you're massaging them in a circular motion. Think of it like scrambling the cards. Some cards might spin out to the edge or outside the general pile. You should pick those cards up and read them—they're trying to get your attention!

Don't look up Tarot card 'meanings'

I cannot stress enough, but please do not look up the 'meanings' of the cards. I know this can be the most difficult rule to abide by, yet it's the most important. Referring to a list of meanings shows that you do not trust your intuition, and Tarot is about honing our instincts.

Tarot cards are commonly associated with New Age religion. This literature review will provide an overview of New Age religion and discuss how Tarot provides insight into the study of the New Age movement in the twenty-first century. Tarot cards and the ways in which practitioners use them can be defined as religious.

As the first card of the Major Arcana, The Fool is often deemed the most influential, positive, and powerful. Numbered zero, it symbolizes infinite possibilities and limitless freedom, depicted as a young man about to step off a cliff, with a dog, a bag, and a white rose.

What is the most valuable Tarot card? ›

In almost all tarot games, the Fool is one of the most valuable cards.

Look for a Beginner-Friendly Deck

As a beginner, it's a good idea to choose a tarot card deck designed with novices in mind. Look for decks that come with a guidebook or companion booklet that explains the meanings and interpretations of each card.

The more cards are drawn, the more complex insight will be received. As a rule of thumb, I suggest a three or five-card spread to offer clarity without confusion.

If you're new to tarot, beginning each day with a tarot pull can help you get familiar with the different cards and their meanings; and buying your own deck helps you choose one that resonates with you, not to mention financially supports the deck's creators.

Once you find a card that radiates with energy or power, take it out of the deck. You can pull one or three cards at a time. I prefer to pull three to tell a whole story. Being that we all have different relationships with each card, the connection you feel with it will best explain the information being shown to you.

My personal rule of thumb is that at least a month should pass between readings. This is for even the most eager of clients, because I truly want the cards to change for them upon their next reading, showing the growth and progress they have made since their initial reading.

However, some people might find that the energy from tarot decks can be distracting for sleep. If you feel pulled to sleep with a card nearby, go for it. If you're stirring throughout the night, then remove it and try to fall asleep again.

"Tarot is incredibly welcoming for a novice. If I could learn it, really anybody can," she says. "It's just about becoming comfortable with the imagery, learning them by heart and understanding how the cards talk to each other so that when you pull a series of cards, you understand how they flow into a type of story."