Learn to Read Tarot Cards
Learning how to read Tarot cards takes a little perseverance and practice but it doesn't need to be difficult. There are lots of ways to approach learning Tarot and different readers have varying styles, so there is no set "right" way, and perhaps explains why you may find some conflicting information as you progress.
The site and books are designed to help you start to learn Tarot quickly and easily, so the tips and techniques I'm sharing with you are the ones I use myself as a professional Tarot reader. Over time you'll add to your knowledge and gather experience as you discover what works best for you and what you feel most comfortable with.
You don't need a special gift to read Tarot cards, although that's not to say there aren't some gifted and talented readers, but most will tell you that their skills have been developed over time, so be kind to yourself as you become acquainted with your new deck.
The site and books are designed to help you start to learn Tarot quickly and easily, so the tips and techniques I'm sharing with you are the ones I use myself as a professional Tarot reader. Over time you'll add to your knowledge and gather experience as you discover what works best for you and what you feel most comfortable with.
You don't need a special gift to read Tarot cards, although that's not to say there aren't some gifted and talented readers, but most will tell you that their skills have been developed over time, so be kind to yourself as you become acquainted with your new deck.
Tarot for beginners ~ Getting Started
If you're just starting out on your Tarot journey, you'll find plenty of information in Part One: Good Foundations of Easy Tarot available for you to read here on the site.This straightforward, step-by-step guide, includes some of the questions you may have, such as:
- How does Tarot work?
- Do I need to be psychic?
- Fate or free will?
- Do you need to understand astrology, numerology, or kabbalah?
- Keys to learning
- Caring for your Tarot cards
- Preparing your Tarot deck
- About Tarot spreads... and much more!
- Meeting the Tarot (some Tarot card meanings are also displayed from Part Two.)
A Tarot deck normally consists of seventy-eight cards, so learning all the meanings may seem a bit daunting but the deck is structured and ordered into segments, which makes it easier to break down into smaller steps. You shouldn't need to memorise the cards because the meanings are contained within the images, which provide visual clues or triggers for you.
- There are twenty-two major arcana cards, meaning greater secrets, and sometimes referred to as trumps or triumphs
- The fifty-six minor arcana cards, meaning lesser secrets, are then broken down further into four suits of: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles.
- Each suit contains fourteen cards numbered from Ace to Ten, sometimes called pips, and four Court cards of: Page, Knight, Queen and King, also known as face cards.
Which Tarot Deck?
Tarot is a visual art so you'll want to feel a certain rapport and connection with the images in your deck, and this is very much a matter of personal choice. It's one of many myths that your cards need to be received as a gift and most readers select and purchase their own. I know if I'd waited for someone to give me my first deck I'd have been waiting a long time!
There are hundreds of different Tarot decks available now, many of which have been inspired by the traditions of the Rider-Waite-Smith, first published in 1909, and the Tarot de Marseille, which dates back further. Whichever deck you're using it's always worth reading the author or creator's interpretations behind their inspiration, as there will probably be some variations between some of the cards and those in other decks and, as previously mentioned, the symbolism and meaning contained within the images
The Tarot card meanings provided here are those I use with the Gilded Tarot, by Ciro Marchetti, as this is my working deck of choice and is included in the Easy Tarot kit, so some of the interpretations may vary slightly from others you're familiar with. Over time you'll develop some personal meanings for your cards, based on how you resonate with the images and your own reading experiences.
There are hundreds of different Tarot decks available now, many of which have been inspired by the traditions of the Rider-Waite-Smith, first published in 1909, and the Tarot de Marseille, which dates back further. Whichever deck you're using it's always worth reading the author or creator's interpretations behind their inspiration, as there will probably be some variations between some of the cards and those in other decks and, as previously mentioned, the symbolism and meaning contained within the images
The Tarot card meanings provided here are those I use with the Gilded Tarot, by Ciro Marchetti, as this is my working deck of choice and is included in the Easy Tarot kit, so some of the interpretations may vary slightly from others you're familiar with. Over time you'll develop some personal meanings for your cards, based on how you resonate with the images and your own reading experiences.
In the Tarot Card Meanings section of the site you'll find all the cards displayed by suit together with the keywords, associations, and Tarot Card combinations to help you become familiar with the cards.
There's more information on the practical aspects of reading Tarot in the Tarot Articles section and the weekly Tarot Trends are designed to help you learn to read Tarot too. If you prefer more of an individual and 'hands-on' approach I offer a one-to-one mentoring course for private students, which may be of interest.
Dive in and enjoy!
There's more information on the practical aspects of reading Tarot in the Tarot Articles section and the weekly Tarot Trends are designed to help you learn to read Tarot too. If you prefer more of an individual and 'hands-on' approach I offer a one-to-one mentoring course for private students, which may be of interest.
Dive in and enjoy!