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How to read tarot cards
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Reading tarot (pronounced as if the “t” was silent) cards is an acquired skill that is not difficult to learn. It generally requires time to be able to do a reading, but the process is not as mystical as it seems. However, the benefits are that you will be able to use these cards as a divination device and you will have an automatic icebreaker at parties.
Step one: Acquire a deck of tarot cards.
The most well known deck, the Rider-Waite Tarot, is a good standard deck to use. There's enough imagery to inspire someone to read the cards in this deck. However, when you are shopping for cards, pick up the deck that calls out to you. Just as a note, when inspecting a tarot deck, I would suggest looking at the suit cards if the tarot cards have a suit. The standard suits are cups, swords, wands, and pentacles (coins). Some cards have images drawn for each suited card while others have a playing card layout (for example, some decks will only have a layout of nine cups similarly to the nine of hearts in a playing card deck). If you are learning to read the tarot, pick up a deck with images rather than a simple layout because the images are drawn as visual reminders of what the card is supposed to mean.
When you are picking up a tarot deck, it would be a good idea to pick up a standard deck of 78 cards, which include 22 Major Arcana cards and 58 Minor Arcana cards. The Major Arcana are the cards with elements such as “The Fool,” “The Lovers” and “Death.” Since the 78 card deck is the usual number, you will be able to read with most other decks.
Step two: Acquire a book that has basic definitions for each card.
Sometimes a tarot deck will have instructions included. Even with those instructions, it's a good idea to get a book that elaborates on the meanings of each card. The books should also have a “reverse meaning” included, which is the meaning of the card when it is upside down in your spread (the layout of your cards). The book should be easy to understand; if you are picking up a tarot instruction book that elucidates on every single card for three pages, it will be overwhelming to digest. Even a pocket guide would be preferable to too much information.
Step Three: Find a three card spread to start reading tarot cards.
There's nothing like doing an actual reading to get started. Select a three card spread (the tarot instruction book may have a few examples) and ask a question.
The most popular three card spread is Past, Present, Future. Ask a question, then lay down one card that represents the Past, the second that represents the Present and the final card that represents the Future. Consult your book for the meanings of each card and interpret how those cards relate to your question. Even if the meaning is not immediately apparent, keep it in mind until you have read all three cards.
If you do not feel that the reading has provided you any insight or you can make no sense of the cards, do another reading.
Step Four: Begin memorizing the cards.
Another reason why it is important to get very visual tarot cards is because at some point, it will be more convenient to memorize the cards rather than keep looking at the book every single time. Treat the cards like flash cards. Take the time to memorize the meanings of each card and its reverse meanings. There will be a total of 156 meanings to memorize (78 cards x 2 meanings for each card). Because the cards are visual cues themselves, the memorization will not be as tough as you think. Some people take as little as a few days to have all the cards memorized and then refer to the book when they are completely stumped.
Step Five: Story Time!
After a while, you should begin getting into spreads that use more than three cards. Experiment to see which spreads like the Celtic Cross or the Tree of Life work for you.
But as you do these spreads and read the cards, begin to tell a story with the cards. As you move from one position to another, begin to form links between the position and the card you just read.
As you tell stories, you will begin to come up with ideas, concepts and images that are outside the standard meanings of the cards. Report what you are sensing, even if it is not a traditional meaning of the card. Go with the stories that the mind is showing you. The final card will mark the end of the story and the reading.
The flow between the cards is as important as the meanings of the cards themselves. The famous music composer, Claude Debussy, wrote “Music is the space between the notes.” Use that concept to get the most out of your readings.
By the time you can complete all these steps, you will look like an expert tarot reader.
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