Understanding Tarot Cards: A Beginner’s Guide

When you first open a Tarot deck and look at all 78 cards, it can feel a little overwhelming.

You may find yourself wondering how you’re ever going to remember what they all mean.

I understand that.

When people begin learning Tarot, they sometimes think they need to memorise every meaning before they can start using the cards properly.

You don’t.

For me, learning Tarot is much more about gradually building a relationship with the cards.

Yes, traditional meanings matter.

Symbolism matters.

Understanding the structure of the deck matters.

But so does learning to look at a card, notice what draws your attention and begin developing confidence in your own interpretation.

That’s what I want to help you understand in this guide.

We’re going to look at how a Tarot deck is structured, what the Major and Minor Arcana represent, how the four suits work and how you can begin learning the cards without putting pressure on yourself to remember everything at once.

If you’re more interested in how the cards are actually brought together during a reading, start with my guide to Understanding Tarot Card Readings.

Here, we’re going to concentrate on the cards themselves.

What Are Tarot Cards?

A traditional Tarot deck contains 78 cards.

Those cards are divided into two main groups:

The Major Arcana — 22 cards

and

The Minor Arcana — 56 cards

Each card contains imagery, symbols and traditional associations that can be interpreted within a reading.

Some cards may appear very positive at first glance.

Others can look intimidating.

But one of the first things I teach students is:

Don’t judge a Tarot card purely by its picture or its name.

A card that looks frightening isn’t automatically predicting something terrible.

Likewise, a beautiful card doesn’t necessarily mean everything is going to be perfect.

Context matters.

The question matters.

The surrounding cards matter.

And the way the cards interact with one another matters.

That’s why learning Tarot is so much more interesting than simply memorising a list of keywords.

Understanding the Major Arcana

The Major Arcana contains 22 cards, beginning with The Fool and ending with The World.

These cards are commonly associated with significant themes, experiences, lessons and stages of personal development.

They include:

0 – The Fool
I – The Magician
II – The High Priestess
III – The Empress
IV – The Emperor
V – The Hierophant
VI – The Lovers
VII – The Chariot
VIII – Strength
IX – The Hermit
X – Wheel of Fortune
XI – Justice
XII – The Hanged Man
XIII – Death
XIV – Temperance
XV – The Devil
XVI – The Tower
XVII – The Star
XVIII – The Moon
XIX – The Sun
XX – Judgement
XXI – The World

Depending upon the Tarot tradition or deck you’re using, you may occasionally find slight differences in naming or numbering.

Why Is the Major Arcana Important?

When a Major Arcana card appears in a reading, readers often interpret it as highlighting a particularly significant theme.

For example, The Fool can represent beginnings, stepping into something new or taking a leap into the unknown.

The Hermit may encourage reflection, introspection or temporarily stepping back.

The Lovers isn’t simply a romance card. Depending upon the reading, it can also relate to relationships, values, choices and alignment.

And The World is commonly associated with completion, achievement or the ending of one cycle before another begins.

But these aren’t rigid definitions.

A card can have different shades of meaning depending upon the question and the cards surrounding it.

That’s why I encourage students to learn the foundations without becoming trapped by them.

Don’t Be Frightened by the Death Card

We need to talk about this one because it’s probably the card beginners fear most.

Death.

Someone sees it and immediately thinks:

“Oh no. Who’s going to die?”

That’s not how I teach this card.

Within Tarot, the Death card is commonly associated with endings, transformation, transition and letting go.

Something may have reached the end of its natural cycle.

Perhaps an old way of thinking no longer works.

A situation may be changing.

One chapter could be closing so that another can begin.

Of course, the exact interpretation depends upon the reading.

But seeing Death in a spread doesn’t mean you should immediately assume literal physical death.

Tarot should never be used to frighten people.

The Tower Isn’t Automatically a Disaster Either

The Tower is another card that can make people nervous.

Its imagery is dramatic.

However, I wouldn’t automatically interpret it as catastrophe.

The Tower may represent sudden change, disruption, something being revealed or a structure that can no longer continue in its existing form.

Sometimes change is uncomfortable.

But sometimes the thing falling away was preventing us from moving forward.

Again, context matters.

One card shouldn’t be interpreted in isolation from the whole reading.

Understanding the Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana contains 56 cards.

These are divided into four suits:

Cups
Pentacles
Swords
Wands

Each suit contains numbered cards from Ace through Ten, followed by four Court Cards.

The Minor Arcana is generally associated with the more everyday aspects of life.

Relationships.

Thoughts.

Emotions.

Work.

Money.

Creativity.

Challenges.

Actions.

Choices.

While the Major Arcana often highlights larger themes, the Minor Arcana can help us explore what’s happening within everyday situations.

What Do the Four Tarot Suits Mean?

Understanding the four suits gives you an excellent foundation for learning Tarot.

Cups — Emotions and Relationships

Cups are traditionally associated with the element of Water.

They commonly relate to:

emotions, relationships, love, feelings, connection, intuition and emotional wellbeing.

When several Cups appear within a reading, there may be a strong emotional or relationship theme.

But again, don’t assume Cups always mean romance.

They can relate to family.

Friendships.

Your relationship with yourself.

Or simply how you’re feeling about a situation.

Pentacles — The Practical and Material World

Pentacles are traditionally associated with Earth.

They commonly relate to:

work, money, home, security, resources, health and practical matters.

If Pentacles dominate a spread, the reading may be drawing attention towards something tangible or practical.

However, Pentacles aren’t simply “money cards.”

They can also relate to stability, effort, patience and building something over time.

Swords — Thoughts and Communication

Swords are traditionally associated with Air.

They often relate to:

thoughts, communication, decisions, conflict, truth and mental activity.

Some of the Sword cards can look quite challenging.

But that doesn’t make the whole suit negative.

Sometimes a Sword simply asks us to think clearly.

To communicate.

To recognise a difficult truth.

Or to make a decision we’ve been avoiding.

Wands — Action, Passion and Creativity

Wands are traditionally associated with Fire.

They commonly relate to:

action, motivation, passion, creativity, ambition, inspiration and personal drive.

Wands can bring a very active energy into a reading.

They may suggest movement, ideas, enthusiasm or the desire to make something happen.

However, too much Fire can also become impatience or acting before thinking.

Every suit contains both supportive and challenging aspects.

Understanding the Numbers in Tarot

Learning basic numerology can make the Minor Arcana much easier to understand.

You don’t have to become an expert in numerology.

Just begin recognising themes.

For example:

Aces often suggest beginnings or potential.

Twos may involve choices, balance or partnership.

Threes can relate to growth, development or interaction.

Fours often introduce themes of stability or structure.

Fives can indicate challenge, disruption or change.

Sixes may involve adjustment, harmony or movement.

Sevens often bring assessment, reflection or challenge.

Eights may relate to movement, progress or development.

Nines can suggest culmination or approaching completion.

Tens often represent the completion of a cycle.

These aren’t rules carved in stone.

Think of them as another layer of understanding.

Once you combine the number + suit + imagery, the card begins telling a much richer story.

Understanding the Court Cards

The Court Cards are:

Page
Knight
Queen
King

Beginners sometimes find these cards difficult because they can be interpreted in several ways.

A Court Card may represent:

a person, a personality, a way of behaving, an energy you’re expressing or an aspect of yourself that needs attention.

For example, the Queen of Cups may sometimes represent a compassionate or emotionally intuitive person.

But in another reading, she may encourage you to become more compassionate towards yourself.

This is why context is so important.

Don’t immediately decide that every Court Card must represent another person.

Ask what makes sense within the reading.

Do Tarot Cards Have One Fixed Meaning?

No — and this is where Tarot becomes really interesting.

Traditional meanings provide the foundation.

However, a card’s meaning can shift depending upon:

the question, its position within the spread, surrounding cards, the imagery in the particular deck and the reader’s interpretation.

Imagine drawing The Hermit.

In one reading, it might suggest taking time alone to reflect.

In another, it could represent seeking wisdom.

Elsewhere, it might describe withdrawing too much and needing to reconnect with people.

The card hasn’t changed.

The context has.

That’s why memorising one sentence for each card will only take you so far.

How Tarot Symbolism Helps You Read the Cards

Tarot cards contain enormous amounts of symbolism.

You may notice:

colours, numbers, animals, plants, landscapes, clothing, facial expressions, directions, celestial symbols and objects.

Don’t try to analyse everything at once.

Instead, ask:

What caught my attention first?

That can be incredibly useful.

Perhaps you’ve looked at the same card twenty times, but today one small symbol suddenly stands out.

Why?

What does it mean within the question you’re exploring?

This is where traditional learning and intuitive awareness can begin working together.

Do You Need Psychic Ability to Understand Tarot Cards?

No.

You can learn Tarot without identifying as psychic.

Learn the cards.

Study the symbolism.

Practise interpretation.

Become familiar with different spreads.

Then see how your intuition develops naturally alongside that knowledge.

Some Tarot readers describe themselves as psychic.

Others don’t.

If you’re interested in exploring that distinction, my article Are Psychics Real? looks more closely at intuition, psychic experience, evidence and healthy scepticism.

I don’t believe you need to force yourself into a label before you’re allowed to enjoy Tarot.

What About Reversed Tarot Cards?

Some readers interpret a card differently when it appears upside down.

This is known as a reversal.

A reversed card may sometimes be interpreted as:

blocked energy, an internal experience, a delay, an imbalance or a different expression of the card’s usual theme.

However, not every Tarot reader uses reversals.

And that’s okay.

You can give incredibly detailed readings without them.

If you’re a beginner, I would actually suggest learning the upright cards first.

Once you’re comfortable with those meanings, you can decide whether reversed cards add something useful to your own reading style.

Don’t make learning more complicated than it needs to be.

How Do You Start Learning Tarot Card Meanings?

Start slowly.

Please don’t sit down with all 78 cards and convince yourself you need to memorise them by Friday.

You don’t.

Begin with the Major Arcana and take one card at a time. Before reading the guidebook, spend a few moments simply looking at the image.

Ask yourself what you notice first and what emotion the card creates. Then consider what story might be taking place and whether any particular colours, characters or symbols stand out to you.

Afterwards, read the traditional interpretation and compare it with your first impressions. Over time, this can help you understand the card more naturally rather than simply memorising somebody else’s description.

Try the One-Card-a-Day Exercise

This is one of the simplest exercises for beginners.

Each morning, shuffle your deck and choose one card.

Don’t immediately look up the meaning.

Spend a few minutes studying it.

Write down what you notice.

Then check the traditional interpretation.

At the end of the day, return to the card.

Did its theme appear anywhere?

Did you understand it differently after living through the day?

You don’t have to turn every ordinary event into evidence that the card “predicted” something.

The exercise is simply helping you become familiar with Tarot symbolism through everyday experience.

Keep a Tarot Journal

I strongly recommend keeping notes while you’re learning.

Write down:

the card, your initial impression, traditional meanings, symbols you noticed, how you interpreted it and anything you learned afterwards.

Over time, you’ll begin recognising patterns in the way you connect with particular cards.

Your journal becomes your own learning resource.

And because you’ve written it yourself, you’ll often remember those interpretations far more easily than something you’ve simply copied from a book.

Choosing Your First Tarot Deck

There are thousands of beautiful Tarot decks available.

That can make choosing one surprisingly difficult.

For beginners, I often recommend looking at decks based on the Rider–Waite–Smith system, simply because there are so many learning resources available for its symbolism.

But the most important thing is that you can connect with the imagery.

Look through the cards if you can.

Do they make you curious?

Can you see yourself wanting to study them?

Do the images help you tell a story?

Choose a deck you actually want to use.

And no — you don’t have to wait for somebody else to give you your first Tarot deck.

You are perfectly capable of buying your own. 💜

How Do Tarot Cards Work Together in a Reading?

Once you become familiar with individual cards, the next stage is learning how they interact.

This is where Tarot becomes much more than 78 separate meanings.

Imagine drawing:

The Fool + The Lovers + The World

You could interpret each individually.

But together, they may begin creating a story around a new beginning, an important choice or relationship, and eventual completion.

Would that always be the interpretation?

No.

The question and context would still matter.

This is why learning Tarot is partly about learning to see relationships between cards.

If you’d like to understand this process in much greater detail, my guide to Understanding Tarot Card Readings explores spreads, intuitive reading, the Celtic Cross, ethics and how cards are brought together within a full reading.

Tarot Doesn’t Decide Your Future

This is something I want students to understand from the beginning.

Tarot should not take your choices away.

A card may encourage you to consider something.

A spread may highlight a pattern.

Perhaps a reading makes you look at a situation differently.

But you still choose what happens next.

Other people have free will too.

Circumstances change.

Life changes.

That’s why I don’t teach students to treat Tarot as an infallible prediction of a fixed future.

I would much rather you leave a reading thinking:

“That’s given me something useful to consider.”

than:

“The cards said this will happen, so I have no choice.”

You always have choices.

Learning Tarot Should Build Confidence, Not Dependency

There’s a temptation when you first discover Tarot to ask the cards about everything.

Should I do this?

Should I message them?

What does this person think?

Should I go there?

What happens if I choose this?

Eventually, Tarot can stop being a tool and start replacing your own judgement.

That’s not what I want for my students.

Use the cards to explore.

Reflect.

Learn.

Develop your intuition.

But then put the deck down and live your life.

Your own voice matters too.

Learning Tarot with Age of Awakening

If you’d like more structure while you’re learning, you can explore my Tarot and spiritual development courses.

My approach is not about getting you to memorise a book and repeat definitions.

I want you to understand the foundations.

Learn the symbolism.

Develop your intuition.

Practise.

Make mistakes.

Ask questions.

And gradually build your own confidence with the cards.

Your reading style doesn’t have to look exactly like mine.

The goal is to help you develop a style that feels natural and authentic to you.

Final Thoughts on Understanding Tarot Cards

Learning to understand Tarot cards doesn’t happen overnight.

There are 78 cards, layers of symbolism, four suits, numbers, Court Cards, Major Arcana and countless ways the cards can interact.

That may sound like a lot.

But you don’t need to learn everything at once.

Start with one card.

Become curious about it.

Then learn another.

Over time, those individual pieces begin connecting.

The cards stop feeling like 78 separate definitions and begin becoming a language you understand.

Learn the traditional foundations.

Allow your intuition to develop alongside them.

Stay curious.

Keep practising.

And above all, remember:

Tarot is a tool.

The cards can encourage reflection, raise questions and offer another perspective.

But they don’t own your future.

You do. 💜

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Continue Learning About Tarot

If you’d like to go further, I recommend these next:

Understanding Tarot Card Readings — how Tarot cards are combined within spreads and interpreted during a full reading.

Are Psychics Real? — exploring intuition, psychic ability, evidence and healthy scepticism.

Age of Awakening Courses — structured learning in Tarot, psychic development, mediumship, Reiki and other areas of spiritual development.

Age of Awakening Ltd, Company No. 16072576

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