How To Do A Tarot Card Reading

Just like some people might read their astrological chart each month, tarot card readings can be a great comfort. Tarot card readings don't show the future; they show what might happen and how you should respond to it.

Whether you want to learn to do everyday tarot on yourself or start tarot professionally, we'll share some essential tarot tips. We'll discuss what tarot is, how to read the cards, and where you can sign up for extra training.

You might have already started reading tarot. Or, if you are entirely new to the practice, follow our beginners' guide to tarot.

What are tarot cards?

Tarot cards are a form of playing cards. Originating in parts of Europe in the mid-15th century, they tell the past, present, and future. A tarot reading will reveal spiritual lessons and the daily tribulations of life.

Even if you're new to tarot cards, you will likely recognize some of the more well-known cards and spreads. For example, the Celtic cross spread, chevron icon, the death card, or the close icon (crossed lines that form an X) might look familiar.

Some might confuse tarot with oracle cards. Although similar, the latter is less structured. With anywhere from 10 to 100 cards in a deck, oracle cards are far broader. The reader can interpret them with more flexibility. Which deck you choose to familiarize yourself with is your choice; each set has its benefits. You can even use both simultaneously.

Tarot cards are incredibly versatile. Understanding how to read them can be a great asset. Whether you choose to use your skills to read for yourself or begin readings professionally, it's a worthwhile talent.

How many cards are in a tarot deck?

There are 78 cards in tarot decks. With far more common themes between decks than oracle cards, all tarot decks follow a similar structure. There are many varying decks to choose from.

It's your choice whether you want to start with a traditional set like the 1909 Rider-Waite deck or a newer, creative deck. The best way to decide is to opt for a deck you connect with.

The first thing to know is the difference between the arcana cards; there are 22 Major and 56 Minor Arcana cards. Each card has its spiritualism, imagery, and symbol.

Major Arcana

Major Arcana cards, also known as Trump Cards, include 21 numbered and one unnumbered card — the Fool. These are cards that represent the overarching life lessons and karmic themes.

The Fool is the leading figure in the Major Arcana cards. He meets new teachers and learns new lessons about life through each card, known as the Fool's Journey. The Fool ends his journey with the World card. This is an excellent way to learn about the storyline and to read tarot cards better.

When you draw a Major Arcana card in a tarot reading, it suggests that you reflect on the life lessons. Often, the Major Arcana will lay the groundwork for how you interpret the other tarot cards in the reading.

If most of the cards drawn in the reading are Major Arcana, it suggests that you are experiencing life-changing events. If any of the cards are reversed, the tarot might be telling you to pay closer attention to these life lessons.

Minor Arcana

Minor Arcana cards speak to your daily troubles. There are 56 Minor Arcana, each offering insights into your current situations and how you can reach your goals. Minor Arcana represents more temporary forces than Major Arcana. They'll tell you about your daily interactions and experiences. The issues identified are temporary and passing.

Minor Arcana consists of four different tarot suits. These include:

• Cups: The cups represent your feelings, emotions, creativity, intuition. They might reveal things about the relationships in your life and your emotional connections.
• Pentacles: Pentacle cards represent your financial, career, and material possessions.
• Swords: Swords represent your thoughts, actions, and words. They often appear when you ask questions about communication, decisions, and asserting power.
• Wands: Wands represent your energy, passion, and motivation. They'll often reveal aspects of your spiritualism and purpose.

Each suit comprises ten numbered cards and four court cards: King, Queen, Page, and Knight.

How to read tarot cards?

To begin to learn to read tarot, you need to get to know your deck of cards. Try to become familiar with what each card represents.

However, when you start reading tarot cards, familiarizing yourself is just the beginning. The real power comes when you learn to intuition read, tapping into your wisdom.

Although, the first step is to follow a simple format and begin your journey to becoming a professional tarot card reader.

Ask a question

Firstly, you need to ask the deck a question. Your client will probably have a question prepared if you do a professional reading. The question should be clear and open-ended. It's best not to ask "will I…" questions as these can only provide yes or no answers.

Broader questions illuminate more paths and interpretations about your future. Questions that begin with "what," "where," "how," and "why" are suitable for beginners. For example, you could ask, "why am I anxious about…?"

Then, you need to shuffle and cut the deck. Shuffling the cards can be made into a performance. Either you or the person you're reading for needs to pull one card. If you're doing a spread, draw as many cards as you need to. The bigger the spread, the more detailed and in-depth the reading is likely to be.

Interpretation

Now that you have your cards chosen turn them face up to take in the images and words. To read the cards, use your intuition to understand how they relate to your question. If you're struggling to begin with, you can use a reference book until you are more practiced.

If you have dealt a spread, you might have more than one card to read. Look out for interactions. These are when characters look like they interact with other characters on other cards, which might deepen your reading further.

How do tarot cards work?

The most important thing to understand when you begin to read the tarot is that they don't offer definitive answers but guidance. As we each have free will, the future can change. Therefore, the tarot card readings will suggest ideas and advice help you manage future situations.

Are tarot cards witchcraft?

When we hear of tarot card readings, we might think of a woman in flowing robes with a magnifying glass and magic. Tarot is not magic, nor is it witchcraft. Professional readers follow an ancient history of tarot card reading.

It wasn't until the late 1700s that tarot cards took on a mystical reputation and were used for divination. Before that, the cards were used as playing cards, much like today's ones.

How to become a tarot reader?

It's good to start with a simple reading to become a professional tarot reader. Tarot beginners usually pull a single card before moving to three-card spreads and five-card spreads.

There are many different ways to begin your career once you have the basics down and have mastered the different card spreads.

You might choose to set yourself up in a calming, spiritual room. Or, as many others are doing, you might want to begin with online tarot readings.

Tips for becoming a professional tarot reader

To master professional tarot reading, here are some tips.

1. Inevitably, you might draw a blank when trying to interpret the cards' meanings. It can be hard to see how they connect to the question. Take deep breaths and trust what the cards say. You can implement techniques and strategies to deal with such a situation.
2. Get familiar with several different spreads. Not every spread is suitable for every situation. It's best to have alternatives up your sleeve to address every question.
3. Know what kind of tarot card reader you are. What's your niche? If you're struggling to figure it out, write down your readings in a tarot journal and see if you can connect a theme.
4. Enroll in a certification program. Tarot card readers get better with time and practice. Learning a comprehensive guide to tarot cards will make you a stronger reader.

At Courses for Success, we offer a tarot study course. Completed over 150 hours, you'll become an expert at reading tarot cards. At the end of the course, you will receive a tarot certification.

Why Courses for Success?

Courses for Success offers over 10,000 online courses, all of which aim to help you in your personal development and career progression. Not only that, but you can also study them anywhere and at any time, and take them at your own pace, too.

You don't need career diplomas or specific experience to get started. From our coding courses and trading courses to design courses and developer courses, every course we offer will help boost your prospects, no matter who you are.

Beyond just the education itself, students will be issued a certificate online after completing each of the learning courses they do. Our online tarot courses are no exception and are recognized by industry leaders. You could make a name for yourself by signing up for a Courses for Success short course today.