beginner's guide
Welcome to your tarot journey. This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to start reading tarot with confidence.
What is Tarot?
Tarot is a powerful tool for self-reflection, insight, and spiritual growth. A tarot deck consists of 78 cards divided into two main sections:
Major Arcana (22 cards)
The big life themes and spiritual lessons. These cards represent major life events and deep karmic lessons.
Examples: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, Death, The World
Minor Arcana (56 cards)
Day-to-day experiences and situations. Divided into four suits similar to playing cards.
Suits: Wands (Fire/Action), Cups (Water/Emotions), Swords (Air/Thoughts), Pentacles (Earth/Material)
Getting Started
Choose Your Deck
Pick a deck that resonates with you visually and intuitively. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck is perfect for beginners due to its clear imagery.
Get Familiar
Spend time with your cards. Look at each one, notice the symbols, colors, and how they make you feel.
Daily Card Practice
Draw one card each morning. Reflect on its meaning and notice how it shows up in your day.
Learn the Basics
Start with the Major Arcana, then move to the suits. Don't try to memorize everything at once.
Practice Spreads
Begin with simple spreads like the Three Card Spread. Build your confidence before attempting complex layouts.
Trust Your Intuition
The guidebook meanings are starting points. Trust what the cards tell you personally.
Understanding the Suits
🔥 Wands (Fire)
Element: Fire
Energy: Action, passion, creativity, ambition
Keywords: Inspiration, energy, growth, enterprise
Questions: What inspires you? What are you passionate about?
💧 Cups (Water)
Element: Water
Energy: Emotions, relationships, intuition, love
Keywords: Feelings, connections, creativity, spirituality
Questions: How do you feel? What do you love?
⚔️ Swords (Air)
Element: Air
Energy: Thoughts, communication, truth, conflict
Keywords: Logic, decisions, challenges, clarity
Questions: What are you thinking? What truth needs speaking?
⭐ Pentacles (Earth)
Element: Earth
Energy: Material world, money, work, health
Keywords: Resources, career, practical matters, security
Questions: What do you value? What are you building?
How to Read Tarot
1. Prepare Your Space
Find a quiet place. You might light a candle, play soft music, or burn incense. Create an atmosphere that helps you focus.
2. Ground Yourself
Take a few deep breaths. Center your energy. Clear your mind of distractions.
3. Formulate Your Question
Be specific. Instead of "Will I find love?" try "What do I need to know about my approach to relationships?"
4. Shuffle with Intention
Hold your question in your mind while shuffling. Some readers shuffle until a card jumps out, others shuffle a specific number of times.
5. Lay Out Your Spread
Draw cards for your chosen spread. Place them face down first, then reveal them one by one.
6. Read the Cards
Look at each card. Notice your first impression. Consider the traditional meaning, the imagery, and how it relates to your question.
7. Look for Patterns
Notice if certain suits, numbers, or themes repeat. Look at how cards interact with each other.
8. Trust Your Intuition
If a card speaks to you in a certain way, honor that. Your intuition is your best guide.
9. Record Your Reading
Keep a tarot journal. Write down the cards, your interpretation, and later, what actually happened.
Common Beginner Mistakes
❌ Trying to Memorize Everything
✅ Instead: Learn gradually. Focus on connecting with the imagery and your intuition.
❌ Being Too Literal
✅ Instead: The Death card doesn't mean physical death. Tarot is symbolic and metaphorical.
❌ Ignoring Reversed Cards
✅ Instead: Reversed cards add depth. They might indicate blocked energy, internalization, or a different aspect of the card's meaning.
❌ Doing Too Many Readings
✅ Instead: Don't keep asking the same question. Trust your first reading and give it time to unfold.
❌ Fear of "Bad" Cards
✅ Instead: There are no bad cards. Every card offers wisdom and guidance, even challenging ones.
❌ Reading Only from Books
✅ Instead: Use guidebooks as references, but develop your personal relationship with the cards.