Main image courtesy of iFate.
There are a lot of folks who are interested in tarot readings these days. Although it’s been around for quite some time, since the 15th century to be exact, it’s gotten a new resurgence in the modern era of instructional videos, online classes, and social media. And while everyone kind of has an inkling of the basics of tarot, only a few are actually called to put in the work to learn how to read it for themselves or others. If you’ve been on the fence regarding learning how to do a tarot reading, we think you should definitely trust your intuition, which may be telling you to follow through and learn something new.
It can be a little intimidating when you’re first starting out, after all, there are 78 separate cards in the deck, each with their own meanings and energy. Not to mention learning how they interact with each other in a spread. But we’re here to say don’t be overwhelmed if you’re just beginning your tarot journey, you’ve come to the right place because our expert tarot writers have laid out all you need to know, including:
🔮Choosing your deck
🔮Finding teachers/resources that work for you
🔮How to do spreads and learn as you go
You can’t very well learn tarot reading without having a proper deck! Thankfully there are all kinds of cool decks out there, both from major tarot publishing companies and small indie presses. This makes it easier than ever to find a deck that has artwork that speaks to you. Because this is an essential part of being a tarot reader, you have to have a deck that you want to work with and that aligns with your energy.
A lot of beginners choose to start with the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, as that is the deck that many other decks are based on. The RWS has amazing artwork that you may already be familiar with, as it is what a lot of readers choose to use. But you don’t have to limit yourself to this deck. No matter what deck you choose, it will likely come with a booklet that will help you get familiar with that particular deck’s images and meanings. There are some decks that are very minimal, choosing instead to focus on designs such as color, one image, or words. Then you’ll find decks that are very involved and depict a lot going on in each card’s scene.
You’ll find animal centric decks, witchy decks, modern decks, and diverse decks that feature BIPOC, LGTBQ+, and disability inclusive images and artwork.
Pro tip: In this age of AI images, make sure you’re purchasing a deck that is from a real artist and creator, and not from an AI program that has potentially stolen others’ art to create a deck.
Tarot reader and creator Ethony explains why this is so harmful for actual human tarot artists and creators here:
One of the most important parts of learning how to do a tarot reading is getting yourself familiar with the meanings of the cards. Unfortunately, this is what a lot of people find the most difficult or overwhelming, since it’s a challenge to learn exactly what 78 cards have to say. However, there are multiple ways you can go about this, and no, you don’t have to sit down and memorize each and every card before you start doing readings!
There are all kinds of great resources out there including books, teachers, podcasts, videos, and online courses to make your journey learning the cards as fun as you want to make it. One of the best ways is to take one card at a time and really observe what’s going on in it. You can read what your tarot deck’s booklet associates with it, you can google it to see what other sources say, or check out a tarot guide to get information as well. Then, write down your interpretations and feelings that pop up when you see this card. Record them in your journal. Making this a daily habit is a great way to recognize basic information the cards are trying to convey.
Your interpretation is the key to really learning the messages behind the cards, as that is what your intuition is telling you, not what someone else says. Going to books and online teachers is great for diving deeper into the meanings, and there are a lot of gifted authors and creators out there that can help you start to see patterns in your readings, and learn to trust your gut.
If you’re looking for a place to start, here are some essential tarot books:
And try these social media savvy tarot readers:
Of course there are many, many more online resources for you to check out. See what teachers or sites resonate with you the most and try out some of their strategies for beginners. Staying consistent is what is going to help you start to develop your relationship with your deck, and will help you learn to start trusting your inner voice.
After you’ve familiarized yourself at least a little with the majority of the cards, it’s time to start playing! We call it playing because this should be fun for you—not only are you learning a new skill, but you’re getting to know a way you can start to listen more closely to your own intuitive nature. And most importantly, to trust it. We all are innately intuitive, we just need to make sure we’re actively listening to it and learning to trust it. Tarot spreads can help you do just that, but first, you’ll need to shuffle the deck. There’s no right way to do this, just do what feels right for you. Some readers like to shuffle the deck a certain way, or a specific number of times. You can even use this time to call in guides, ancestors, or other light beings to help you raise your vibration. You can also use your shuffling time to set an intention or a statement reiterating how you’re open to receiving and connecting with divine love and that the cards you pull are the ones you’re meant to see.
When you first start out it’s helpful to work with three or four card spreads. Although these may look simple, they will still help you learn how to read the story that the cards are laying out. After you’re more familiar with the cards and doing these types of readings, you can try longer readings, or even invent your own!
They say that practicing anything is the only way to improve (no one is going for perfect here!) and the same is true with tarot readings. A lot of folks who have been reading for a while say that learning tarot is a lot like speaking a language. While books will get you far, at some point you’ve just got to start speaking it and listening to it in order to get better. Tarot is the same way. So try and create a daily (or at least consistent) practice of reading for yourself. If you want to read for others that’s great too, but it’s not necessary to advance in your study of tarot.
If you want to see what it’s like to read for others but you’re not ready to do it for a loved one, read for your cat, dog, or stuffed animal! These are all fantastic ways to practice being objective for someone else and giving your “querent” a well rounded reading.
If you’re ready to make the jump from just looking at tarot cards and following a few folks on social media to actually reading the cards for yourself, that’s great news! You’re about to embark on a personal journey that can help you find answers deep within yourself and allow your intuition and wisdom to grow.
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