Tarot for Beginners: How to Read Tarot Cards & Trust Your Intuition
By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst
You're drawn to tarot. Maybe you've had a reading that felt eerily accurate. Maybe you're fascinated by the beautiful imagery. Maybe you sense there's wisdom in these cards that could guide your life.
But tarot feels mysterious, complex, even intimidating. 78 cards with intricate meanings, spreads with specific positions, reversed cards, court cards, major and minor arcana—where do you even begin?
Here's the truth: tarot is simpler than it seems. Yes, there are 78 cards, but you don't need to memorize them all before you start. The cards speak through intuition as much as traditional meanings. And you already have everything you need to read tarot—your intuition, your willingness to learn, and a deck that calls to you.
This is your complete beginner's guide to tarot—how to choose a deck, understand the cards, do your first reading, and trust your intuitive gifts.
What Is Tarot?
Tarot is a deck of 78 cards used for divination, self-reflection, and spiritual guidance. Each card carries symbolic imagery and archetypal meaning that speaks to universal human experiences.
What Tarot Is NOT
- Evil or demonic (it's a tool, neutral in itself)
- Fortune telling that predicts a fixed future
- Only for psychics or gifted people
- Requiring special powers
- Always literal (it's symbolic and metaphorical)
What Tarot IS
- A mirror reflecting your subconscious wisdom
- A tool for accessing intuition
- A way to explore possibilities and potential
- Symbolic language for the soul
- A practice anyone can learn
- A conversation with your higher self/universe/guides
How Tarot Works
There are different theories:
Psychological: Tarot accesses your subconscious mind. The cards trigger insights you already know but haven't consciously accessed.
Synchronicity: Carl Jung's concept—meaningful coincidences. You draw the exact cards you need at the exact moment you need them.
Spiritual: Tarot connects you to divine guidance, spirit guides, or universal consciousness.
Energetic: Your energy influences which cards you draw, creating a reading aligned with your vibration.
The truth? It probably works through all of these. What matters is: it works.
The Structure of Tarot
78 Cards Total
Major Arcana (22 cards): Big life themes, soul lessons, major events
Minor Arcana (56 cards): Daily life, smaller events, practical matters
Major Arcana (0-21)
These are the "big" cards—life's major themes and spiritual lessons:
0. The Fool - New beginnings, innocence, leap of faith
1. The Magician - Manifestation, power, skill
2. The High Priestess - Intuition, mystery, inner wisdom
3. The Empress - Abundance, nurturing, creativity
4. The Emperor - Authority, structure, stability
5. The Hierophant - Tradition, conformity, spiritual wisdom
6. The Lovers - Love, choices, union
7. The Chariot - Willpower, determination, victory
8. Strength - Inner strength, courage, compassion
9. The Hermit - Solitude, introspection, wisdom
10. Wheel of Fortune - Cycles, fate, turning point
11. Justice - Fairness, truth, cause and effect
12. The Hanged Man - Surrender, new perspective, sacrifice
13. Death - Endings, transformation, rebirth
14. Temperance - Balance, moderation, patience
15. The Devil - Bondage, materialism, shadow
16. The Tower - Sudden change, upheaval, revelation
17. The Star - Hope, inspiration, healing
18. The Moon - Illusion, intuition, subconscious
19. The Sun - Joy, success, vitality
20. Judgement - Awakening, renewal, reckoning
21. The World - Completion, achievement, wholeness
Minor Arcana (4 Suits)
Like playing cards, but with deeper meaning:
Wands (Fire Element): Passion, creativity, action, career
Cups (Water Element): Emotions, relationships, intuition
Swords (Air Element): Thoughts, communication, conflict, truth
Pentacles (Earth Element): Money, material world, health, practical matters
Each suit has:
- Ace through 10 (numbered cards)
- Page, Knight, Queen, King (court cards)
Choosing Your First Deck
The Rider-Waite-Smith Deck
This is THE beginner deck. Most tarot books and resources reference it. The imagery is clear and symbolic.
Pros: Standard, easy to learn, widely supported
Cons: Some find it dated or not aesthetically pleasing
Other Beginner-Friendly Decks
- Modern Witch Tarot: Diverse, contemporary, Rider-Waite-based
- Light Seer's Tarot: Bright, positive, beautiful
- Wild Unknown Tarot: Minimalist, nature-based, intuitive
- Everyday Tarot: Simple, accessible, modern
How to Choose
- Look at images online—which deck calls to you?
- Visit a metaphysical shop and hold different decks
- Trust your intuition (the right deck will feel right)
- Start with Rider-Waite-Smith or a deck based on it
- You can always get more decks later!
Do You Need to Be Gifted a Deck?
Myth: You must be gifted your first deck
Truth: Buy your own deck! This myth keeps people from starting. Your deck, your choice.
Preparing Your Deck
Cleansing Your New Deck
- Remove from packaging
- Hold the deck and set intention
- Cleanse with smoke (sage, palo santo)
- Place on selenite overnight
- Or simply hold and visualize white light clearing it
Bonding with Your Deck
- Sleep with deck under pillow for a few nights
- Carry it with you
- Look through each card, notice your reactions
- Do a reading asking the deck to introduce itself
- Use it regularly
Storing Your Deck
- Wrap in silk or velvet cloth
- Keep in a special box or bag
- Store with protective crystals (black tourmaline, selenite)
- Treat with respect (it's a sacred tool)
How to Do Your First Reading
Before You Begin
- Cleanse your space: Sage, palo santo, or selenite
- Set the mood: Light candles, play soft music
- Ground yourself: Take deep breaths, center your energy
- Place crystals: Amethyst for intuition, clear quartz for clarity, labradorite for psychic ability
- Set intention: "I am open to receiving clear guidance"
The One-Card Pull (Start Here)
Perfect for beginners and daily practice:
- Shuffle your deck while thinking of your question
- When it feels right, stop shuffling
- Draw one card from the top (or wherever you feel called)
- Look at the card—what's your first impression?
- Read the traditional meaning in your guidebook
- Combine intuition + traditional meaning
- Journal about the message
Daily practice: Pull one card each morning asking "What do I need to know today?"
The Three-Card Spread
Simple but powerful:
Position 1: Past/Situation
Position 2: Present/Challenge
Position 3: Future/Outcome
Or use:
- Mind / Body / Spirit
- You / Other Person / Relationship
- Option A / Option B / Advice
How to Shuffle
There's no "right" way:
- Overhand shuffle: Like regular cards
- Riffle shuffle: If cards aren't too big
- Spread and mix: Lay cards face-down, mix with hands
- Cut the deck: Split into piles, restack
Shuffle until it feels right. Trust your intuition.
Reading the Cards
Step 1: First Impression
Before looking up meanings, notice:
- What's your immediate reaction?
- What stands out in the imagery?
- What emotions does it evoke?
- What story does the card tell?
Step 2: Traditional Meaning
Look up the card in your guidebook or app. Learn the traditional interpretation.
Step 3: Intuitive Meaning
How does the traditional meaning apply to your specific question? What nuances do you sense?
Step 4: Synthesis
Combine first impression + traditional meaning + intuition = your reading
Trust Your Intuition
If a card traditionally means one thing but you strongly feel it means something else in this context, trust your intuition. Your intuitive hit is often more accurate than memorized meanings.
Reversed Cards
What Are Reversed Cards?
Cards that appear upside-down in a reading.
Do You Have to Read Reversals?
No! Many readers don't. As a beginner, you can:
- Ignore reversals (turn all cards upright)
- Read them as blocked/weakened energy
- Read them as the shadow side of the card
- Read them as internalized energy
Start without reversals. Add them later if you want.
Court Cards Simplified
Court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) can represent:
People: Actual people in your life with those qualities
Aspects of yourself: Parts of your personality
Situations: Energy or approach needed
Quick guide:
- Page: Beginner, student, messenger, youthful energy
- Knight: Action, movement, pursuit, extreme energy
- Queen: Mastery, nurturing, internal expression
- King: Mastery, authority, external expression
Common Beginner Questions
"Can I read for myself?"
Yes! Self-reading is powerful. You might be less objective, but you have direct access to your own intuition.
"How often can I ask the same question?"
Wait until circumstances change or you've taken action on previous guidance. Asking repeatedly usually means you don't like the answer.
"What if I get a 'bad' card?"
There are no bad cards. Death doesn't mean literal death (it means transformation). The Tower isn't bad (it's necessary change). Every card has gifts.
"Can tarot predict the future?"
Tarot shows potential futures based on current path. You have free will—you can change the outcome by changing your choices.
"Do I need to be psychic?"
No. Everyone has intuition. Tarot helps you access and develop it.
"Can I read for others?"
Yes, but practice on yourself first. When reading for others, create sacred space, get permission, and deliver messages with compassion.
Tarot Ethics
- Get permission: Don't read for people without asking
- Be compassionate: Deliver difficult messages gently
- Empower, don't predict: Focus on guidance, not fixed fate
- Respect free will: Don't try to control outcomes
- Maintain boundaries: Don't read when emotionally compromised
- Know your limits: Refer to professionals for mental health, legal, or medical issues
Enhancing Your Readings with Crystals
Best Crystals for Tarot
Amethyst: Enhances intuition, spiritual connection
Labradorite: Psychic abilities, accessing hidden knowledge
Clear Quartz: Clarity, amplification
Selenite: High vibration, cleansing, spiritual connection
Moonstone: Intuition, divine feminine, cycles
How to Use Crystals with Tarot
- Place around your reading space
- Hold while shuffling
- Place on specific cards for emphasis
- Cleanse deck by placing on selenite
- Wear crystal jewelry during readings
Sample Spreads for Beginners
Daily Guidance (1 card)
"What do I need to know today?"
Past-Present-Future (3 cards)
Card 1: Past influences
Card 2: Current situation
Card 3: Likely outcome
Situation-Action-Outcome (3 cards)
Card 1: Current situation
Card 2: Recommended action
Card 3: Potential outcome
Celtic Cross (10 cards - Advanced)
Save this for when you're comfortable with basics. It's the most famous spread but complex for beginners.
Building Your Tarot Practice
Daily Practice
- Pull one card each morning
- Journal about it
- Notice how it plays out during the day
- Review in evening
Weekly Practice
- Do a 3-card spread on a specific question
- Study one card deeply (imagery, symbolism, meaning)
- Practice reading for a friend
Monthly Practice
- Do a larger spread (Celtic Cross or custom)
- Review your journal for patterns
- Cleanse and charge your deck
- Study tarot books or courses
Learning Resources
Books
- "The Ultimate Guide to Tarot" by Liz Dean: Comprehensive beginner guide
- "Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom" by Rachel Pollack: Deep, philosophical
- "The Tarot Bible" by Sarah Bartlett: Reference guide
- "Tarot for Your Self" by Mary K. Greer: Self-reading focus
Apps
- Labyrinthos: Learn card meanings, practice readings
- Golden Thread Tarot: Beautiful, intuitive
- Galaxy Tarot: Simple, clean interface
Online
- Biddy Tarot (website and podcast)
- YouTube tarot teachers
- Instagram tarot community
- Online courses
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to memorize all 78 cards before starting: Learn by doing
- Ignoring intuition in favor of book meanings: Balance both
- Reading when emotionally compromised: Ground first
- Asking the same question repeatedly: Trust the first answer
- Fearing "bad" cards: All cards have wisdom
- Not journaling readings: You'll forget insights
- Comparing yourself to experienced readers: Everyone starts somewhere
The Truth About Tarot
Tarot doesn't tell you what WILL happen. It shows you:
- Where you are now
- Energies at play
- Potential outcomes based on current path
- Guidance for navigating your situation
- Wisdom you already know but haven't accessed
You always have free will. Tarot empowers you to make informed choices, not removes your agency.
The cards are mirrors, not crystal balls. They reflect your inner wisdom back to you.
Your Tarot Journey Begins
You don't need to be gifted, psychic, or special to read tarot. You need:
- A deck that resonates with you
- Willingness to learn
- Trust in your intuition
- Regular practice
- Patience with yourself
Start with one card daily. Learn as you go. Trust what you feel. The cards will teach you.
Your intuition is stronger than you think. The wisdom you seek is already within you. Tarot is simply the key that unlocks it.
Welcome to tarot. Welcome to your intuition. Welcome to the conversation with your soul.
Do you read tarot? What's your experience been? What deck do you use? I'd love to hear about your tarot journey.