Tarot for Beginners: Complete Guide to Reading Tarot Cards
By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst
Tarot is a powerful divination tool consisting of 78 cards that reveal insights, guidance, and wisdom about your life, relationships, and future. Learning tarot isn't about predicting a fixed future—it's about accessing your intuition, understanding patterns, and receiving divine guidance for your journey.
You don't need to be psychic to read tarot. The cards are a tool that helps you tap into your own inner wisdom and the universal consciousness. Anyone can learn tarot with practice, patience, and an open heart.
This is your complete beginner's guide to tarot—how to start, what the cards mean, and how to read for yourself and others.
What Is Tarot?
Tarot is a deck of 78 cards divided into Major Arcana (22 cards) and Minor Arcana (56 cards), used for divination, self-reflection, and spiritual guidance.
The Tarot Deck Structure
Major Arcana (22 Cards)
What they represent: Major life events, spiritual lessons, soul journey
Examples: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, Death, The Tower
When they appear: Significant events, important lessons, fate
Minor Arcana (56 Cards)
What they represent: Daily life, situations, people, emotions
Four suits:
- Wands: Fire, passion, creativity, action
- Cups: Water, emotions, relationships, intuition
- Swords: Air, thoughts, communication, conflict
- Pentacles: Earth, money, career, material world
How to Start Reading Tarot
Step 1: Choose Your Deck
- Rider-Waite-Smith (best for beginners!)
- Choose a deck that resonates visually
- Don't worry about "the deck choosing you"
- Start with one deck
Step 2: Connect with Your Deck
- Sleep with deck under pillow
- Shuffle daily
- Look at each card
- Journal about what you see
Step 3: Learn the Cards
- Start with Major Arcana
- One card per day
- Notice symbols and feelings
- Trust your intuition over guidebook
Step 4: Practice Simple Spreads
- One-card daily draw
- Three-card spread (past-present-future)
- Practice on yourself first
Basic Tarot Spreads
One-Card Draw
Use for: Daily guidance, quick answers
Question: "What do I need to know today?"
Three-Card Spread
Positions: Past - Present - Future
Or: Situation - Action - Outcome
Or: Mind - Body - Spirit
Celtic Cross (Advanced)
10-card spread for deep insight (learn after mastering basics)
How to Read Tarot Cards
Before Reading
- Cleanse your space (sage, candles)
- Ground yourself
- Set intention
- Shuffle while focusing on question
During Reading
- Draw cards intuitively
- Notice first impression
- Look at imagery and symbols
- Feel the energy
- Trust your intuition first, guidebook second
Interpreting Cards
- What do you see in the image?
- What feelings arise?
- How does it relate to the question?
- What story do the cards tell together?
Tarot Reading Tips
- There are no "bad" cards (even Death or Tower)
- Reversed cards = blocked/internal energy
- Trust your first impression
- Cards show possibilities, not fixed fate
- You have free will to change outcomes
- Practice daily for best results
Crystals for Tarot Reading
Enhance your readings:
- Amethyst: Psychic connection, intuition
- Clear Quartz: Clarity, amplification
- Labradorite: Psychic protection, magic
- Selenite: Divine connection, cleansing
- Black Tourmaline: Grounding, protection
Your Tarot Practice
Start today:
- Get a Rider-Waite-Smith deck
- Cleanse your deck
- Do daily one-card draws
- Journal about each card
- Practice three-card spreads
- Trust your intuition
Final Thoughts
Tarot is a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. The cards are mirrors reflecting your inner wisdom back to you. Trust yourself, practice regularly, and let the cards guide you to deeper understanding.
Welcome to tarot. Your intuition is awakening.
Are you learning tarot? What's your experience? I'd love to hear!