There are so many amazing resources online that can help you learn Tarot, from books and courses to videos and communities full of other Tarot readers.
But sometimes, you don't need to know everything at once.
If you're just starting out, here are some of my favourite quick and easy tips to help you become more familiar with your cards and most importantly, your own way of reading them.
1. Pull a Daily Tarot Card ☀️
I do this almost every day.
Simply shuffle your deck a few times and ask:
"What is my card of the day?"
You can use the card on top of the deck, or if a card falls out while you're shuffling, you can use that one.
Then spend a little time looking at the card. What immediately stands out to you? What do you think it might represent? How does it make you feel?
You don't necessarily need to reach for a guidebook straight away. Try forming your own interpretation first.
Then, at the end of the day, come back to your card.
Ask yourself:
Did the card relate to anything that happened today?
Did your interpretation change throughout the day? Did you notice something in the card that you didn't notice in the morning?
Doing this regularly can help you become much more comfortable recognising the imagery, themes and feelings associated with each card.
2. Trust Your Intuition ✨
Sometimes you'll look at a card and immediately think of something very specific.
Maybe an image reminds you of a person. Maybe a particular word pops into your head. Maybe you suddenly think about something that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the traditional meaning of the card.
Don't dismiss it.
Tarot isn't just about memorising meanings from a book. The imagery on the cards can trigger different thoughts, memories and feelings depending on the person reading them and the situation they're asking about.
Your first thought isn't always going to be the answer, but it's worth paying attention to.
3. Remember That Cards Can Have More Than One Meaning
One of my favourite things about Tarot is that there isn't always one single interpretation.
For example, the Five of Swords in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck shows a man holding three swords while two people walk away from him, apparently leaving their swords behind.
The card is often associated with conflict, winning at all costs, tension or a hollow victory.
But what if you focus on the people walking away?
You might interpret the card as recognising that sometimes it's better to walk away from a losing situation than continue fighting.
Neither interpretation necessarily has to be "wrong."
4. Keep a Tarot Journal
A Tarot journal is one of the easiest ways to improve your readings.
You can use it to record your daily cards, spreads, interpretations, questions and anything that happens afterwards.
Over time, you'll start to notice patterns.
Which cards keep appearing?
Which cards rarely show up?
Are there certain cards you interpret differently depending on the situation?
I also find that when I write something down, I tend to remember it better.
Personally, I prefer a physical journal, but you absolutely can use the Notes app on your phone.
The important thing is keeping track of your Tarot journey.
5. Remember That Tarot Can Be More Reflective Than Predicative
It's very tempting to ask Tarot to predict the future.
And some Tarot readers are very comfortable using their cards in this way.
Personally, I prefer to use Tarot as a tool for reflection.
Rather than asking, "What is going to happen?", I like asking myself what the cards might be showing me about my current thoughts, feelings, choices or circumstances.
For me, Tarot is less about handling over control of my future and more about helping me understand where I am right now.
And sometimes, that's much more useful.
6. Learn Reversals Later
Many Tarot readers use reversed cards in their readings.
If you're just starting out, though, I wouldn't worry about them straight away.
I'd recommend learning the basic upright meanings first and becoming comfortable with the 78 cards before adding another layer of interpretation.
Personally, I rarely read reversals.
There are already 78 cards in a Tarot deck, each with countless possible interpretations depending on the question and surrounding cards. I don't feel like I need to turn them upside down to find more meaning.
And honestly, there's enough negativity in the deck without adding any more!
But that's just my personal preference.
There is no single "correct" way to read Tarot.
7. Ask Questions That Give You Power
Sometimes it's tempting to ask questions like:
"Will I be successful?"
or
"Does this person like me?"
But questions like these can leave you waiting for an answer instead of thinking about what you can actually do.
Try shifting the question towards yourself:
"What can I do to move towards success?"
"What can I do to present the best version of myself?"
"What do I need to understand about this situation?"
"What can I learn from this experience?"
These types of questions put the focus back where it belongs, which is with you.
At the end of the day, Tarot is a tool. You are still the person making the decisions.
And sometimes the cards can be wrong. Sometimes we can interpret a card incorrectly. Sometimes we simply don't understand what a reading is trying to show us.
It happens.
Don't let one reading convince you that your future has been decided.
8. Don't Panic When You Pull a Scary Card
Death.
The Tower.
Ten of Swords.
Three of Swords.
It's very easy to pull one of these cards and immediately think:
"Oh no."
But Tarot cards aren't simply good or bad.
Take Death, for example.
Despite its name, Death doesn't necessarily represent a physical death. It can represent transformation, endings, change and making space for something new.
The Tower can represent upheaval and unexpected change, but it can also represent breaking down something that wasn't stable in the first place.
And the Ten of Swords can represent an ending or conclusion of a difficult cycle.
Instead of immediately thinking:
"This is a bad card."
Try asking:
"What is this card trying to show me?"
That small change in perspective can completely transform the way you read Tarot.
Most Importantly, Have Fun With It ☀️
You don't need to know everything about Tarot before you start reading.
You don't need to memorise all 78 cards.
You don't need to have the perfect interpretation.
And you certainly don't need to read Tarot exactly like somebody else does.
Learn the traditional meanings. Look at the imagery. Keep a journal. Ask questions. Trust your intuition. Make mistakes.'
Most importantly, develop your own relationship with your cards.
Because at the end of the day, Tarot is just a bunch of cards.
It's how we interpret them that gives them meaning.
And that's where the magic begins.
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