Beginner Tarot

What Is Tarot

Tarot is a deck of 78 cards used for divination, self-reflection, and spiritual guidance. Each card contains rich symbolism that speaks to universal human experiences. Tarot readers interpret these symbols to gain insight into questions, situations, and potential outcomes.

The tarot's origins trace back to 15th century Italy, where the cards began as playing cards for wealthy families. By the 18th century, tarot had evolved into a tool for esoteric study and divination. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck, created in 1909, revolutionized tarot by adding detailed symbolic illustrations to every card, making interpretation accessible to everyone.

From an esoteric perspective, tarot works through the principle of synchronicity. When you shuffle and draw cards with a focused question, the cards that appear reflect the energies and patterns surrounding your situation. The tarot does not predict a fixed future but reveals current trajectories and the likely outcomes of present choices.

Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophy recognized tarot as a symbolic system representing stages of human development. The Fool's journey through the Major Arcana mirrors the soul's evolution from innocence through trials to ultimate integration. Each card represents an archetypal experience that humans universally encounter.

Tarot readings can address any area of life: relationships, career, spiritual growth, health, and major decisions. The cards offer perspective, highlight blind spots, and suggest courses of action aligned with your highest good. A skilled reading helps you understand your present situation deeply and make empowered choices about your future.

Choosing Your First Deck

Your first tarot deck is a significant spiritual tool. Choose carefully, as this deck will be your primary teacher. The right deck resonates with your energy and makes learning enjoyable rather than frustrating.

The Rider-Waite-Smith Recommendation: For beginners, the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) system is strongly recommended. Created by Arthur Edward Waite with artwork by Pamela Colman Smith, this deck established the standard imagery most tarot books reference. The cards show clear scenes with symbolic details that illustrate their meanings visually.

Variations of the RWS deck include the Universal Waite (softer colors), Radiant Rider-Waite (enhanced vibrancy), and Original Rider-Waite (vintage coloring). Any of these work excellently for learning. Choose the artwork that appeals to your aesthetic sense.

Where to Buy: Purchase from reputable metaphysical shops, established online retailers, or directly from publishers. Avoid mass-market novelty decks from general gift shops, as these often have poor cardstock and unclear symbolism. Your deck is an investment in your spiritual practice. Quality matters.

Buying Your Own Deck: The old superstition says you must receive your first deck as a gift. This is not true. Buying your own deck establishes your commitment to the practice and ensures you get exactly what you need. Choose a deck that calls to you personally.

Deck Care: Store your deck in a special bag, box, or cloth. Many readers keep their deck wrapped in silk or natural fabric. This protects the cards physically and honors them as sacred tools. Never let others handle your deck without permission, and cleanse it afterward if they do.

Understanding Deck Structure

A complete tarot deck contains 78 cards divided into two main categories: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Understanding this structure helps you navigate the system logically.

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards numbered 0 through XXI. These represent major life themes, spiritual lessons, and significant karmic influences. When Major Arcana cards appear in readings, they indicate important forces at work. The Fool (0) begins the journey, and The World (XXI) completes it.

The Minor Arcana contains 56 cards divided into four suits of 14 cards each. These represent daily life experiences, practical matters, and temporary influences. The four suits are:

• Wands (sometimes called Rods or Staves) - Fire element, representing creativity, passion, energy, and ambition
• Cups (sometimes called Chalices) - Water element, representing emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity
• Swords (sometimes called Blades or Spades) - Air element, representing thoughts, challenges, communication, and conflict
• Pentacles (sometimes called Coins or Disks) - Earth element, representing material world, finances, work, and physical health

Each suit contains cards Ace through Ten plus four Court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. The numbered cards (Ace-10) represent situations and experiences within that suit's domain. The Court cards represent people, personality types, or approaches to situations.

The structure creates a complete symbolic language. By understanding the elements, numbers, and court card hierarchies, you can interpret any card even before memorizing specific meanings. This systematic approach makes learning tarot manageable.

The Major Arcana Explained

The 22 Major Arcana cards form the backbone of tarot's wisdom. They represent the Fool's journey from innocence to enlightenment, with each card depicting a stage of spiritual development. Understanding these cards provides deep insight into life's major transitions.

The Fool's Journey Continues:

XI - Justice: Fairness, truth, law, cause and effect. What you put out returns to you.

XII - The Hanged Man: Surrender, new perspective, suspension. Sometimes waiting is the wisest action.

XIII - Death: Endings, transformation, transition. Not physical death but necessary change that brings renewal.

XIV - Temperance: Balance, moderation, patience, purpose. Finding the middle path and blending opposites.

XV - The Devil: Shadow self, attachment, addiction, restriction. What binds you that you can actually release?

XVI - The Tower: Sudden upheaval, broken pride, revelation. Necessary destruction of false foundations.

XVII - The Star: Hope, faith, purpose, renewal. Light after the darkness of the Tower.

XVIII - The Moon: Illusion, fear, anxiety, subconscious. Things are not as they appear; trust intuition.

XIX - The Sun: Positivity, fun, warmth, success. Joy and vitality illuminate your path.

XX - Judgement: Rebirth, inner calling, absolution. Hearing your true calling and answering it.

XXI - The World: Completion, integration, accomplishment. The journey's end and new beginning.

The Minor Arcana Suits

The Minor Arcana contains 56 cards divided into four suits, each associated with an element and life domain. While the Major Arcana shows major spiritual themes, the Minor Arcana reflects daily experiences and practical matters.

Wands (Fire): The suit of Wands represents passion, creativity, ambition, and spiritual energy. Wands cards indicate action, inspiration, and forward movement. They often appear when you are starting new projects or pursuing goals. Reversed, they show burnout, delays, or misdirected energy.

Cups (Water): The suit of Cups governs emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity. These cards appear in matters of the heart, both romantic and platonic. They indicate how you feel and how others feel about you. Cups cards encourage following your heart and honoring emotional truth.

Swords (Air): The suit of Swords deals with thoughts, communication, challenges, and conflict. These cards can be difficult as they show mental struggles, harsh truths, and necessary confrontations. However, they also bring clarity, breakthrough insights, and the power of clear communication.

Pentacles (Earth): The suit of Pentacles covers the material world: finances, career, health, and physical environment. These practical cards indicate resources, security, and tangible results. They often appear in questions about work, money, and long-term planning.

Understanding Court Cards

Court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) represent the most complex aspect of tarot learning. They can indicate actual people, aspects of yourself, or approaches to situations. Understanding their hierarchy helps interpret their messages.

The Four Ranks:

Page: The student and messenger. Pages represent beginnings, new information, and youthful energy. They bring news related to their suit. The Page of Cups might bring a romantic message; the Page of Pentacles, financial opportunity. Pages also represent the early stages of developing a skill.

Knight: The action-taker. Knights represent movement, pursuit, and focused energy. They are extreme in their approach, fully embodying their suit. The Knight of Swords charges ahead with ideas. The Knight of Cups pursues romance idealistically. Knights bring change and momentum.

Queen: The master of internal energy. Queens embody their suit's energy fully and share it with others. They are receptive, nurturing, and internally powerful. The Queen of Pentacles creates a comfortable home. The Queen of Swords cuts through illusion with wisdom. Queens represent mature mastery of emotions and intuition.

King: The master of external manifestation. Kings direct their suit's energy outward, leading and providing. They represent authority, achievement, and mastery in the material world. The King of Wands leads creative ventures. The King of Cups offers emotional stability to others. Kings represent accomplished leadership.

Cleansing Your Cards

Tarot cards absorb energy from readings, environments, and people who handle them. Regular cleansing maintains their clarity and accuracy. Cleanse your deck when you first receive it, after intense readings, if someone else touches your cards, or when readings feel unclear.

Knocking Method: Hold your deck in your non-dominant hand and knock three times on the top with your dominant hand. Visualize stagnant energy being released. This quick method works for daily use between readings.

Crystal Cleansing: Place a clear quartz crystal, selenite wand, or amethyst cluster on top of your deck overnight. These crystals absorb and transmute stagnant energy. Selenite never needs cleansing itself, making it ideal for this purpose.

Smudging: Pass your deck through sage, palo santo, or incense smoke. Fan the cards gently so smoke reaches between them. This traditional method clears energy effectively and adds your personal intention.

Moonlight: Leave your deck on a windowsill or outside during the full moon. Moonlight gently cleanses while infusing intuitive, feminine energy. Place a crystal on top to prevent cards from blowing away.

Visualization: Hold your deck and visualize white or golden light flowing through the cards, dissolving any attached energies. This method requires no tools and can be done anywhere.

Learning Card Meanings

Memorizing 78 card meanings feels overwhelming, but strategic approaches make it manageable. Rather than rote memorization, understand the systems underlying tarot symbolism.

Learn the Major Arcana First: These 22 cards form the foundation. Study one per day, examining the imagery and connecting it to the meaning. The Fool's journey tells a coherent story, making these easier to remember than random facts.

Understand Number Patterns: Each number (1-10) has consistent meaning across suits. Aces are new beginnings. Twos are choices. Threes are creation. Once you know number meanings, you only need to add the suit's element.

Use Elemental Associations: Wands = Fire (action, passion), Cups = Water (emotion, intuition), Swords = Air (thought, communication), Pentacles = Earth (material, physical). If you forget a specific meaning, the element points you toward the right interpretation.

Create Personal Associations: While learning traditional meanings, notice what each card makes you feel. Your personal response adds depth to standard interpretations. A card might remind you of a specific experience; this association becomes part of your reading vocabulary.

Flashcards and Quizzing: Create flashcards with the card name on one side and key meanings on the other. Quiz yourself regularly. Smartphone apps offer digital flashcards for tarot study.

Daily Practice Routine

Consistent practice transforms tarot knowledge into tarot wisdom. A daily routine builds your relationship with your deck and develops intuitive fluency. Even five minutes daily yields better results than occasional long sessions.

The Daily Card Pull: Each morning, cleanse and shuffle your deck while asking "What do I need to know today?" Draw one card. Study its imagery and meaning. Consider how it might apply to your day. Record your interpretation in your journal. In the evening, reflect on how the card's energy appeared.

Three Card Reflection: Before bed, draw three cards asking "What happened today? What did I learn? What am I taking forward?" This practice builds narrative reading skills and processes your day tarotically.

Card of the Week: Each Sunday, draw a card for the week ahead. Place it on your altar or desk where you will see it daily. Notice how its theme appears throughout your week. This longer-term observation reveals patterns you might miss in daily pulls.

Basic Tarot Spreads

Tarot spreads provide structure for readings, with each position representing a specific aspect of the question. Start with simple spreads before attempting complex layouts.

The Three Card Spread: This versatile spread works for most questions. Lay three cards left to right. Position 1 represents the past influences or current situation. Position 2 shows the present or recommended action. Position 3 reveals the probable outcome or future direction. This spread tells a story you can interpret narratively.

Reading Tips for Beginners

These practical tips help beginners develop confidence and accuracy in their readings.

Phrase Questions CareFULLY: Tarot works best with open-ended questions rather than yes/no queries. Instead of "Will I get the job?" ask "What do I need to know about this job opportunity?" or "How can I best prepare for this interview?" This invites richer, more useful guidance.

Read the Story: Do not interpret cards in isolation. Notice how they relate to each other. Multiple Major Arcana cards indicate significant forces at work. Many Court cards suggest important people are involved. Look for patterns, repetitions, and contrasts between cards.

Trust First Impressions: Your initial response to a card is often accurate. Notice what you feel before your analytical mind kicks in. Intuitive hits provide information beyond book meanings.

It Is Okay to Look Things Up: Even professional readers consult guidebooks. If you draw a card whose meaning escapes you, look it up. This reinforces learning and ensures accurate readings.

Practice on Yourself First: Read for yourself extensively before offering readings to others. This builds confidence and helps you discover your personal reading style. When you do read for others, start with friends who will be patient and supportive.

Frequently Asked Questions