What is Tarot and How Does It Work?
I remember the first time I held a tarot deck in my hands - I was both excited and completely overwhelmed. After spending the last few years working with tarot cards and helping my friends learn the basics, I wanted to share everything I wish someone had told me when I was starting out. Whether you're curious about tarot or ready to buy your first deck, this guide will help make your journey a little easier.
What Tarot Really Is (And What It Isn't)
Let's clear something up right away - tarot isn't about predicting some fixed future or getting spooky messages from beyond. It's actually a wonderful tool for self-reflection and gaining clarity when life feels complicated. Think of it as having a conversation with yourself, but with beautiful cards to help guide your thoughts.
The deck itself is made up of 78 cards, split into two main groups. First, there's the Major Arcana - 22 cards that represent life's big moments and lessons. These are the cards you might recognize, like The Fool, The Magician, and The High Priestess. Then there's the Minor Arcana - 56 cards divided into four suits that deal with day-to-day life:
Wands: Representing passion, creativity, and motivation
Cups: Covering emotions, relationships, and intuition
Swords: Dealing with thoughts, decisions, and communication
Pentacles: Focusing on practical matters like work, money, and home life
How Tarot Actually Works
Here's what I've learned about tarot after countless readings for myself and others: it works by helping you tap into your own intuition. When you're shuffling the cards and thinking about a situation in your life, you're actually creating space to connect with your inner wisdom.
The process is surprisingly straightforward:
Take some time to shuffle the cards while thinking about what's on your mind
Draw cards and arrange them in a specific pattern (called a spread)
Look at the imagery and symbolism in each card
Consider how these elements relate to your situation
What makes tarot so powerful isn't some mysterious force - it's the way it helps you see your circumstances from different angles and consider perspectives you might have missed.
Starting Your Tarot Journey
When I first started learning tarot, I made things way more complicated than they needed to be. Here's what I've found actually works:
Choosing Your First Deck
I started with the Rider-Waite deck, and honestly, I still think it's one of the best choices for beginners. The imagery is clear and straightforward, and most tarot resources reference this deck. That said, the most important thing is finding a deck that resonates with you - when you look at the cards, they should speak to you in some way.
Learning the Cards
Don't try to memorize everything at once! I spent my first few weeks just pulling one card each morning and spending some time with it. I'd look at the image, write down my first impressions, and then check what the traditional meaning was. This helped me build a natural understanding of the cards without getting overwhelmed.
Simple Spreads to Start With
I love a three-card spread for beginners. You can use it to look at:
Past, Present, Future
Situation, Action, Outcome
Mind, Body, Spirit
The beauty of this simple spread is that it gives you enough information to work with without being overwhelming.
Using Tarot For Personal Growth
One of my favorite ways to use tarot is for personal development. When I'm feeling stuck or unsure about something, pulling a few cards can help me:
Gain new perspectives on challenging situations
Understand my own feelings better
Identify patterns in my behavior
Consider different approaches to problems
For example, last year when I was debating a career change, regular tarot readings helped me understand what I really wanted versus what I thought I should want. The cards didn't tell me what to do, but they helped me ask myself the right questions.
Common questions i get about tarot
After teaching several friends how to read tarot, these are the questions that come up most often:
Do you need special abilities to read tarot? Not at all! If you can reflect on your life and understand basic symbolism, you can read tarot cards. It's more about developing your intuition than having any mystical powers.
How can tarot help with decisions? Tarot helps by bringing different aspects of a situation to light. It's not about the cards telling you what to do, but rather helping you understand what you already know deep down.
How often should you read tarot? I find that pulling cards whenever you feel you need guidance works best. Some people like daily draws, while others prefer weekly or monthly readings. There's no right or wrong frequency - it's about what feels helpful to you.
Conclusion
Tarot has become one of my favorite tools for personal growth and self-discovery. While it might seem intimidating at first, remember that it's really just a tool for having deeper conversations with yourself. Start simple, trust your intuition, and don't be afraid to interpret the cards in ways that make sense to you.
If you're interested in learning more about specific spreads or card meanings, let me know in the comments below. I love sharing what I've learned along the way!