Tips for Reading Tarot

My mom used to read tarot. I remember her telling stories about how her friends would approach her with all kinds of questions. Will I ever fall in love? Is a raise in my future? I spent a lot of my childhood infatuated with the idea of being able to tell the future. Eventually, I thought, Why not read cards like my mom?

At first, I was worried that I didn’t have the ability. I had no idea what I was doing and what skills were needed. Luckily, anyone can learn to read tarot because it’s simply based on intuition. Just like most other skills, all it takes is practice.

Over time, I realized that tarot is not only for fortune telling. It can be used for self-reflection and healing as well, as a way of encouraging self-growth and reassurance. Tarot is more a form of meditation than anything else; don’t let the movies fool you!

When picking a deck of cards, don’t stress about which cards are “right” or “best for reading.” Pick the cards that appeal to you the most. I personally have a deck that is decorated with the moon phases and a friend of mine has a The Nightmare Before Christmas-themed deck. These are YOUR cards; pick what makes you feel comforted and happy.

Before doing a reading, it’s best to set an intention or question. I recommend avoiding yes or no questions because it’s not easy to receive a clear answer from the cards. Focus on your intention. Meditate on it, evaluate what you are looking for from the cards. Do you want guidance? A deeper understanding of a situation?

I like to transfer my energy, and therefore my intention, into the cards by knocking three times on them before pulling. Find a practice that works best for you! It could be knocking, tapping, rubbing the stack—whatever feels comfortable to you. The same goes for shuffling and cutting the deck.

Once you have shuffled the cards in the way you like, there are many different ways you can go about placing the cards down. These are called “spreads.” The most common spread is the Past-Present-Future spread. The first card pulled represents your past, the second describes your present, and the third gives insight into your future.

Within the cards, there are two categories: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana usually represents major themes in a person’s life, and the Minor Arcana shows the smaller, day-to-day things—hence the name. The Minor Arcana is elementary, the same way astrological signs are. Cups are water, pentacles are earth, swords are air, and wands are fire. Cups tend to relate to emotional issues, pentacles to money and home, swords to conflict, and wands to work and ambition.

With all of that said, it’s also okay to make your own meanings. Try to keep a notebook or a journal where you write down all your readings. It helps to write down what you feel about each card and then compare your notes to the traditional meanings. Use both definitions to come to what you think. Each reading can lead to different meanings—there’s always more than one layer and interpretation.

Books

• Tarot for Your Self: A Workbook for Personal Transformation by Mary K. Greer
• How to Read Tarot: A Practical Guide by Adams Media

Podcast

• Tarot for the Wild Soul with Lindsay Mack

YouTube

• Tarot for Beginners: How I Use Tarot Cards for Self-Discovery & Guidance
  by Lavendaire
• Tarot for Beginners: 5 Tips to Start Your Tarot Journey by BronxWitch

Gabi Connor is a former member of the Geaux Girl! Teen Advisory Council and now a freshman at Louisiana State University, where she is pursuing a degree in English literature. Once she graduates from college, Gabi hopes to open a bookstore coffee shop. If you want to learn more about reading tarot from Gabi, you can message her on Instagram: @gabiiconnor.