Understanding Tarot Card Readings

A Complete Guide to Tarot for Beginners

Tarot has fascinated people for generations, but if you’ve never had a Tarot card reading before, you may understandably wonder how it actually works.

Do the cards predict the future?

Do you need to be psychic to read Tarot?

How can a deck of cards possibly tell you anything about your life?

And perhaps most importantly, should you make decisions based upon what the cards tell you?

For me, Tarot has never been about handing your power over to a deck of cards.

I see Tarot as a tool for guidance, reflection and greater awareness. The cards can encourage us to pause, look at a situation from another perspective and consider possibilities we may not have thought about before.

Tarot can also work beautifully alongside intuition. However, I don’t believe the cards should dictate your life or tell you that your future is set in stone.

You still have free will.

Your choices matter.

Other people’s choices matter.

And circumstances can change.

That’s one of the first things I teach students when they begin exploring Tarot.

What Is a Tarot Card Reading?

A Tarot reading uses a deck of traditionally illustrated cards containing symbols, characters, numbers, colours and archetypal themes.

During a reading, cards are selected and interpreted individually and in relation to one another.

The reader may consider the traditional meaning of each card, its position within the spread, the question being explored and the overall story developing across the cards.

Some readers also incorporate intuition into this process.

A Tarot reading might explore areas such as relationships, career, personal development, choices or spiritual growth.

However, I prefer to think of Tarot as opening up a conversation rather than providing an absolute answer.

Instead of asking:

“Tell me exactly what’s going to happen.”

You might ask:

“What do I need to understand about this situation?”

Or:

“What might I need to consider before making this decision?”

That creates a very different relationship with the cards.

How Do Tarot Cards Work?

Different Tarot readers will give you different answers to this question.

Some believe the cards work primarily through intuition or spiritual guidance.

Others approach Tarot psychologically, using the imagery and symbolism as prompts for self-reflection.

Some combine both approaches.

For me, Tarot is a combination of knowledge, symbolism and intuition.

You first need to understand the cards.

Then, as you gain experience, you begin recognising how the cards interact with one another and what catches your attention during a reading.

A particular symbol may suddenly stand out.

One card may completely change the way you understand another.

Perhaps a pattern appears across several cards.

That’s why Tarot is about much more than memorising 78 definitions from a book.

Understanding the 78 Tarot Cards

A traditional Tarot deck contains 78 cards, divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana.

The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana contains 22 cards.

These include well-known cards such as The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Lovers, The Hermit, Death, The Tower, The Star, The Moon and The World.

These cards are often interpreted as representing significant themes, lessons, transitions or stages of development.

And some of their names can sound far more frightening than their meanings actually are.

Take the Death card, for example.

People sometimes panic when they see it.

However, it doesn’t automatically mean somebody is going to die.

Within Tarot, Death is commonly associated with endings, transformation and moving from one stage into another.

Context matters enormously.

The Minor Arcana

The remaining 56 cards form the Minor Arcana.

They are divided into four suits:

Wands
Cups
Swords
Pentacles

Different traditions may associate these suits with slightly different themes, but broadly they are often connected with areas such as action, emotion, thought and practical or material life.

The Minor Arcana can help explore the everyday situations and experiences surrounding us.

Do You Need to Be Psychic to Read Tarot?

No.

This is something beginners often worry about.

You do not need to identify as psychic before you’re allowed to pick up a Tarot deck.

You can learn the structure of Tarot.

You can study the traditional meanings.

You can learn symbolism.

You can practise different spreads.

And you can gradually develop confidence interpreting how cards work together.

Some Tarot readers also work intuitively or psychically, while others prefer to stay much closer to the established symbolism of the cards.

Neither approach automatically makes somebody a better reader.

If you’re interested in the wider question of psychic ability, I’ve explored it separately in Are Psychics Real?, where I look at intuition, personal experience, scepticism, cold reading and the importance of discernment.

Can Tarot Predict the Future?

This is probably one of the biggest questions surrounding Tarot.

Can Tarot actually tell you what’s going to happen?

Personally, I don’t teach Tarot as a way of predicting an unavoidable future.

A reading may highlight possibilities.

It might suggest a pattern.

Perhaps it shows the direction a situation appears to be moving based upon what is happening now.

But life changes.

Imagine somebody receives a Tarot reading about their career.

The cards may suggest a particular opportunity or direction.

The following week, that person could receive a completely unexpected job offer.

They might turn it down.

Accept it.

Move abroad.

Start their own business.

Or decide they don’t want to change career at all.

Every choice changes what comes next.

Other people also have free will, which means their decisions can affect circumstances too.

For me, Tarot is far more useful when we ask:

“What possibilities should I be aware of?”

rather than:

“Tell me exactly what my future will be.”

Your Future Isn’t Fixed

I think this is important enough to have its own section.

Nobody should make you frightened of your future because of a Tarot card.

If somebody turns over The Tower, Death or the Ten of Swords, that doesn’t mean disaster is now unavoidable.

Tarot symbolism is far more nuanced than that.

Difficult-looking cards may encourage you to examine change, endings, conflict, uncertainty or something that requires your attention.

They don’t remove your ability to respond.

A Tarot reading should leave you with more awareness, not less control over your life.

Can Tarot Cards Be Wrong?

A Tarot reader can certainly interpret cards incorrectly.

We’re human.

Sometimes a reader may misunderstand what a card relates to.

An intuitive impression might not be accurate.

Perhaps the question isn’t clear.

Or the reading simply doesn’t resonate with the person receiving it.

I don’t believe in blaming the client when that happens.

If something doesn’t make sense to you, you’re allowed to say so.

You don’t have to force a meaning onto your life simply because somebody turned over a particular card.

Tarot should encourage reflection, not pressure you into accepting something that doesn’t feel relevant.

What Is a Tarot Spread?

A Tarot spread is simply the layout used for the cards.

Different positions within the spread may represent different aspects of the question.

A very simple beginner spread might use three cards representing:

Past – Present – Future

Another might explore:

Situation – Challenge – Guidance

Or:

What I know – What I don’t see – What I need to consider

There are countless spreads available.

However, beginners don’t need complicated layouts.

Three cards can teach you an enormous amount because they encourage you to look at how the cards relate to one another rather than interpreting each card in isolation.

Understanding the Celtic Cross Tarot Spread

The Celtic Cross is one of the best-known Tarot spreads.

Traditionally, it uses ten cards positioned in a particular layout.

Different teachers sometimes use slightly different wording for the positions, but the spread generally explores the current situation, influences surrounding it, challenges, past and future factors, personal perspectives and possible outcomes.

Because it contains more cards, the Celtic Cross can provide a much broader picture than a simple three-card spread.

However, I wouldn’t tell a complete beginner that they need to master the Celtic Cross immediately.

Start simple.

Learn the cards.

Build confidence.

Then introduce more complicated spreads when you’re ready.

Reading Tarot Intuitively

Once you’ve learned some of the traditional meanings, you may begin noticing that certain things stand out to you during readings.

Perhaps your attention goes immediately to a particular colour.

Maybe one figure in the card catches your eye.

You might notice where somebody in one card appears to be looking.

Perhaps two cards seem to tell a story together.

This is where intuitive Tarot reading begins becoming more personal.

But intuition shouldn’t mean ignoring everything you’ve learned about the cards.

I encourage students to develop both.

Learn the foundations, then allow your intuition to work alongside them.

That gives you something solid to build upon.

How Do You Develop Intuition with Tarot?

One of the simplest ways is to spend time with the cards.

Take one card.

Before looking at the traditional meaning, study the image.

Ask yourself:

What do I notice first?

How does this card make me feel?

What might be happening in the picture?

What colours or symbols stand out?

If this card could speak, what might it say?

Then look at the traditional interpretation.

You may be surprised by what you noticed naturally.

Keep a Tarot journal if that helps.

Over time, you’ll begin building your own relationship with the deck while still respecting the foundations of Tarot.

Tarot and Spiritual Development

Tarot can become part of a wider spiritual practice, but it doesn’t have to be.

Some people use Tarot alongside meditation, journalling or intuitive development.

Others simply enjoy the cards as a reflective tool.

There isn’t one correct way to be interested in Tarot.

If your interest in the cards forms part of a wider spiritual journey, you may also enjoy my guide What Is a Spiritual Awakening?, where I explore spiritual awareness in a grounded and practical way.

The important thing is not to feel that you have to adopt somebody else’s beliefs before you’re allowed to learn Tarot.

Tarot and Mediumship Are Different

Tarot and mediumship are sometimes grouped together, but they’re different practices.

Tarot uses cards and symbolism as the basis of the reading.

Mediumship attempts communication with somebody who has passed into the Spirit World.

A person may practise both, but one doesn’t automatically mean the other.

For example, somebody can be an excellent Tarot reader without being a medium.

Likewise, a medium doesn’t need Tarot cards in order to work mediumistically.

If you’d like to understand that distinction more deeply, my guide What Is Evidential Mediumship? explains how I approach evidence and communication within mediumship.

What Makes a Responsible Tarot Reading?

Ethics matter.

A Tarot reader has influence over the person sitting in front of them, particularly when that person is worried or vulnerable.

That influence should never be abused.

I don’t believe in frightening somebody with the cards.

I don’t believe in telling people that something terrible is definitely going to happen.

And I certainly don’t believe a Tarot reader should make somebody dependent upon repeated readings.

A responsible reader should respect the client’s free will.

There should also be boundaries.

Tarot isn’t a replacement for professional medical, mental-health, legal or financial advice.

If somebody needs specialist help, a responsible reader should recognise that.

Questions I Would Avoid Asking Tarot

Some questions place too much responsibility onto the cards.

For example:

“Should I stop taking my medication?”

That’s a question for an appropriate healthcare professional.

“Do I definitely have this illness?”

Again, that’s medical territory.

“Will I definitely win this court case?”

A solicitor is better placed to advise you.

Instead, Tarot might be used to explore how you’re feeling about a situation, what you’re overlooking or what practical questions you need to consider.

The cards should support your thinking — not replace qualified advice or your own judgement.

Can You Read Tarot for Yourself?

Yes.

Reading for yourself can be a wonderful way to practise.

However, it also teaches you something important about objectivity.

When we’re emotionally invested in an outcome, it’s very easy to see what we want to see.

Suppose you’re desperate for a relationship to work.

You may naturally focus on the most hopeful interpretation of every card.

That’s human.

So when reading for yourself, try to remain curious rather than forcing the cards towards the answer you want.

Journalling can help because you can return to the reading later with a clearer perspective.

Should You Keep Asking Tarot the Same Question?

Personally, I wouldn’t.

If you ask the same question repeatedly because you don’t like the first answer, eventually you’re likely to become more confused.

You turn over one set of cards.

Then another.

Then another.

Before long, you’re trying to work out which reading was the “real” one.

Give the reading some space.

Reflect upon it.

Live your life.

Then revisit the situation later if circumstances genuinely change.

Tarot should reduce confusion, not create more of it.

How Often Should You Have a Tarot Reading?

There isn’t one rule.

But I would be cautious about becoming dependent upon readings.

You shouldn’t need to consult Tarot before every decision.

Should I message them?

Should I go out tonight?

Should I apply for this job?

Should I buy this?

At some point, you have to trust yourself.

A reading can offer another perspective.

But your own judgement still matters.

How to Choose a Tarot Deck

If you’re learning Tarot, people sometimes become overwhelmed by the number of decks available.

You don’t need the most expensive deck.

And you don’t have to wait until somebody gives you one as a gift — that’s a common Tarot myth.

Choose a deck whose imagery you can connect with.

For beginners, a deck based upon the Rider–Waite–Smith system can be particularly useful because so many books and learning resources refer to its imagery and symbolism.

Look through the cards if possible.

Ask yourself whether the pictures make you curious.

Can you imagine spending time studying them?

That’s more important than choosing a deck because somebody online says it’s the one you “should” own.

How to Start Learning Tarot

Don’t try to memorise all 78 cards in one weekend.

Give yourself time.

Start with the Major Arcana.

Explore the four suits.

Learn some basic numerology and symbolism.

Practise simple spreads.

Keep notes.

Then gradually begin putting everything together.

One of the things I tell students is that confidence comes through practice, not perfection.

You don’t have to know everything before you’re allowed to read the cards.

Learning Tarot with Age of Awakening

If you’d prefer structured learning rather than trying to piece everything together from different books and videos, you can explore my Tarot and spiritual development courses.

My approach is about helping you understand the foundations while developing confidence in your own intuition.

I don’t want students simply repeating somebody else’s interpretation word for word.

I want you to understand the symbolism, learn how a reading fits together and gradually discover how Tarot communicates with you.

That takes practice.

But that’s also what makes learning Tarot so interesting.

Tarot Should Empower You

This is probably the most important message in this entire article.

Tarot should not make decisions for you.

A reader shouldn’t become the authority over your life.

And the cards shouldn’t leave you frightened of what’s coming next.

For me, a good Tarot reading should help you leave with greater clarity and perhaps a different way of looking at your situation.

You may receive guidance.

You may notice a pattern.

Perhaps a card raises a question you hadn’t considered.

But ultimately:

You choose.

That is where your power remains.

Final Thoughts on Tarot Card Readings

Tarot card readings can be fascinating, insightful and deeply personal.

The cards contain layers of imagery and symbolism that can encourage us to explore situations from perspectives we may not have considered before.

For some people, Tarot is deeply spiritual.

For others, it is primarily a reflective tool.

And many people sit somewhere between the two.

You don’t need to decide exactly what you believe before you begin learning.

Stay curious.

Study the cards.

Develop your intuition.

Ask questions.

Use discernment.

And above all, remember that Tarot should help you become more confident in yourself — not more dependent upon the cards.

The cards can offer another perspective.

But the life you’re creating is still yours. 💜

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Continue Exploring

If you’d like to explore the subjects surrounding Tarot in more depth, these pages may also help:

Are Psychics Real? — a balanced look at psychic ability, intuition, evidence and healthy scepticism.

What Is Evidential Mediumship? — understanding how mediumship differs from psychic and Tarot work.

What Is a Spiritual Awakening? — a grounded introduction to spiritual awakening and greater self-awareness.

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

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