How to Start Reading Tarot: A 5 Minute Beginner Guide
Tarot can look mysterious, but at its heart it is a tool for sorting out your own thoughts with the help of pictures. This five minute guide gets you started today.
What tarot is, and what it is not
Tarot is a deck of illustrated cards you draw to reflect on your situation and feelings. It is not a fortune teller that locks in your future. Think of the cards as a mirror that says, 'Here is a pattern, and here is a way to think about it.' A hard card is no reason to panic, and a lovely card is no reason to stop trying.
Deck structure: 78 = 22 + 56
A full tarot deck has 78 cards. Twenty-two of them are the Major Arcana, from 0 The Fool to 21 The World, and they carry life's big events and lessons. The other 56 are the Minor Arcana, split into four suits of 14: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. A handy rule is that Majors are the big themes and Minors are the everyday scenes.
Your first practice: one card a day
The easiest way in is to draw a single card each morning. Look at the name and picture first, and write one line about how it feels. Then check the meaning and ask, 'What might this be hinting at for me today?' In the evening, compare it with your day, and you will get comfortable with the cards fast.
Read the picture before you memorize
If you try to memorize 78 meanings at once, you will burn out quickly. Start by putting the clues in the image into words: faces, colors, direction, and background. Then compare your reading with the keywords in a dictionary. Meanings you worked out yourself stick much longer.
How to use this site
Start your daily habit with the daily one card reading. For love, hidden feelings, reunion, and career, try the three card readings to see the flow. When you just need a quick nudge, the yes-no tarot is handy. Look up any card in the 78 card dictionary, and check the card combinations page when two cards seem to talk to each other. Ten minutes after work is plenty for a little self check-in.
FAQ
Do I need to believe in tarot for it to work?
Belief matters less than the habit of reflecting as you look at the cards. Use it as a light tool for fun and self-reflection.
How many cards should I draw a day?
One card a day is enough when you are starting out. Drawing again and again on the same question only blurs the message.