How to Get Started with Tarot

You want to get started with Tarot, but are unsure where to start. There are many popular forms of divination. Tarot cards are at the top of that list. It is a tool that uses the wisdom and intuition of the universal energy that guides a person’s life. Tarot is one of the most widespread forms of divination. Tarot was first mentioned in the 1400s, but it’s been around for a lot longer than that.

In general, tarot readings are a tool for advising people on how to live their lives more effectively. The reader can use tarot cards to tell you about your future and give you advice on decisions that you want to make. It can be used as a mirror. With the help of tarot cards, you can acknowledge your hidden thoughts/feelings and truths.

It can help you make various decisions regarding love, health, career, life in general.

Getting Started with Tarot – The History

The oldest tarot was made in the 14th century in Italy under the name Tarocchini for the Visconti-Sforza family in Milan. That deck of cards was for playing games.

Tarot was used for the first time in Europe for predicting destiny in the middle of the 15th century. At the beginning of the 18th century, Court de Gébellin was the first to interpret the tarot. He used the famous Tarot de Marseille.

Getting Started with Tarot – The Basics

Tarot is a deck of cards with four colors, like a regular deck of cards. These colors differ depending on where the cards originated. The standard deck consists of 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana (divided into four groups of pentacles, wands, swords and cups that consist of 14 cards).

The major arcana symbolizes archetypal worlds, all spiritual and mystical. The minor arcana represents the everyday, material world. Interpreting these cards requires a certain amount of skill, dedication, time, and effort.

It represents universal ideas and concepts that everyone can understand, for example, a new beginning, love, death, work, joy, happiness, courage, heroism, sorrow, betrayal, and similar.

How to Choose a Deck for Your Needs – Factors to Consider

When choosing a deck of cards, try the following:

- listen to your gut/follow your instincts, let the artistic style guide you
- explore online content regarding all decks, find the preview of the cards
- consider your level of experience
- think about the purposes, will you use them only for yourself, or you will provide readings to other people as well
- each deck has its purpose explore different to get to that deck that is best for you

How to Read a Tarot Card Reading – 5 Easy Steps

Step #1

There are many different Tarot decks. Choose one based on your intention. When I teach I use Rider Waite as it is the most common and accessible. That being said I have a wide variety of decks that I use depending on the reading or feel of the day.

Step #2

Once you’ve decided on a particular deck, start shuffling it up as you think about what you want to find out. Focus on the question you want to ask the cards. I find it is helpful to write the question down first, then shuffle them.

Step #3

If you are a beginner, try the three-card Tarot spread. This is an ideal while you are still learning the meaning. Take the cards from the top of the deck. This is the most common way, you can also span them or pull and you shuffle. If one jumps out, use it, it is Spirit’s way of saying there is something you are not aware of. Arrange them one by one, from left to right.

Step #4

Try to analyze the cards. You can use them in the past/present/future context. If you are looking for a solution for your problem, the first one shows you the nature of your problem. The second one represents the cause and the third one solution.

Step #5

Use the reference you got with the tarot deck to help you figure out cards’ meanings. When you finish with the reading, release the energy of gratitude for what spirit helped you with today. Clear the cards and store them in a safe location.