Rider–Waite 1909 · 78 cards · no sign-up
Think of your question, then tap the deck
Three cards — how it got here, where it is, where it goes.
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Everyone can read tarot. Nobody is born knowing it, just as nobody is born knowing how to read a book. It is something that you learn and develop. Some people have more innate skills than others which can help them grasp it more quickly, but anyone willing to put in time and effort can learn tarot reading. Still, people sometimes struggle to read for themselves because of the emotional involvement, so meditation is recommended. It’s generally a good idea to quiet your mind before any practice that requires mental focus.
Readings can be done for yourself or for someone else. Traditionally, the reader shuffles the deck, spreads the cards face down, and invites the querent — the person receiving the reading — to choose one or more cards. If more than one card is chosen, the cards are laid out in a specific pattern called a spread. Each position in the spread has a different meaning.
The reader usually takes the lead in interpreting the cards and building a story from the symbols and meanings. However, there is no single set of rules that every reader follows. There are two broad approaches: traditional and free-form. A traditional reading uses the established meanings of the cards and their positions in the spread. A free-form reading places less emphasis on fixed meanings and relies more on personal associations, the images on the cards, and immediate impressions.
The reader may also invite the querent to take part by asking questions and encouraging them to share their reactions to the cards and images.
Of course, you can’t give readings until you’ve learned the cards — and that takes work.
While there are hundreds of tarot decks to choose from — including Marseille Tarot, Thoth Tarot — most tarot readers recommend starting out with the classic 1909 deck because its imagery is so descriptive.
Although you can ask absolutely anything you want, tarot is much more helpful when your question is clear and specific. Instead of asking “Will I...?”, try:
Make your questions as detailed as possible to get exactly the information you need.
One always has the capability of improving and moving up within the skill. The more you learn and practice, the more you can get out of each reading.
Frankly, you can do as many readings as you want. There’s no set rule. It’s really about what works for you.
Many people read whenever they feel called to. Single card readings are great for daily practice, larger spreads can be saved for meaningful moments, such as birthdays, moon phases, or when a particular question is on your mind.
A tarot spread is a tarot card layout with assigned meanings for each card position.
Common examples include:
The three-card spread gives you context for most of the questions. One card gives you the current situation. The second shows what can help. Three cards answer the questions “why?” and “what next?” Another reason is that the cards can also interact with each other, so sometimes the meaning of the third card can completely change how you understand the first.
We can recommend these five books. First, Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack — you can pick up some great information on the symbolism in the classic 1909 deck.
Second, The Ultimate Guide to Tarot by Liz Dean — a useful starting point for beginners learning the basics. Third, Holistic Tarot by Benebell Wen — not only will it help you as a beginner, but will continue to help all the way through advanced techniques and practices.
Fourth, Wild Card: Let the Tarot Tell Your Story — teaches you to study the images, ask questions about the cards, and see connections between them instead of memorizing meanings. Fifth, Tarot for Yourself by Mary K. Greer — uses exercises to help you learn the cards through practice.
The Tarot deck is divided into two groups: the 22 cards of the Major Arcana, which represent archetypal themes and major life lessons, and the 56 cards of the Minor Arcana, which reflect everyday experiences. Together, they make up a total of 78 cards.
For those wondering, arcana comes from the Latin word arcanum, meaning “mystery” or “secret.”
Within the Major Arcana, you’ll find cards such as The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, and The World.
You can think of the Major Arcana as the “big” lessons of life. The Major Arcana tells the story of both our collective and personal evolution, often described as the Fool’s Journey through life.
The Minor Arcana, by contrast, reflects the “smaller” influences of everyday life: emotions, thoughts, actions, and material concerns.
The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits, each associated with a different element and aspect of the self:
You’re getting a lot of good answers here. But remember tarot is a tool — the real work is going to be done by the person. You need to practice and develop your skills to become good at tarot reading. Pentad Tarot is designed exactly for that.
There are no truly negative tarot cards. Some cards just represent turning points of life. Death can mean an ending or a new beginning. The Tower can mean sudden change. The Devil can point to unhealthy habits or being stuck. The Three of Swords can represent sadness or heartbreak.
The meaning depends on the question and the other cards in the reading.
Tarot can predict the future but any future can be altered. Different circumstances can always change what happens next. A tarot reader can also alter some future paths.
If you’ve seen The Butterfly Effect, you have an idea of how interconnected things are and how seemingly unrelated decisions or circumstances can influence what happens next. So, it is not something fixed or set in stone, but rather what is likely to happen if nothing changes. It is one of the possible paths events could take.
It’s really a matter of belief. There haven’t been large-scale tests that could be used as solid evidence. There are many stories supporting the claim, but just as many stories arguing against it. So, while it is possible, it wouldn’t be fair to apply it to every reading.
Intuition is a big part of the process, so the reader’s skill may play an important role in how accurate a reading feels. If you’re a tarot reader or looking for one, the first thing worth testing is your “basic” ESP (extrasensory perception) skills. This will show you whether you actually have a stable connection with the cards.
Pentad Tarot is a playground to train exactly this. The cards have a specific energy, and if you can read them correctly above chance expectation, you are working with something real.
Readings can be surprisingly accurate but can also be wrong, as expectations or preconceived ideas can affect the reading. For this reason, it is better to treat a reading as a way to reflect on your relationship rather than as a definite answer.
For people who are in a serious relationship or looking for one, there are marriage tarot spreads that can answer questions like: Where are you in the marriage timeline? Who are you marrying? How will you meet them? What should you do to prepare? Some spreads can even help you find the best time to start a relationship or propose marriage. If you learn how to “sync” with the cards, you can even practice bringing the needed energy into your life.
It is possible. Some people use AI for tarot reading. But can you really trust it? First, you need to know the shuffle is truly random and it is not just picked by the app. The cards themselves also matter. Some apps use modern card designs that may not yet have the same energy as traditional decks. So we would recommend using AI with caution. The best way to use it is for learning the meanings of the cards. Start with a single-card spread reading daily and learn all cards as you go. It is worth noting that card descriptions written by AI are not the best either. Interpretations written by humans are more nuanced, thoughtful, and better at covering different contexts.
