Your Beginner's Guide to Learning Tarot

Gone are the days of this mysterious, age-old craft being closed-off knowledge. Anyone can learn how to read tarot (and with a nifty online guide, it's easier than ever, of course).

A Brief History of Tarot

While it's somewhat difficult to pin down tarot's origins with 100% certainty, the earliest references to tarot cards land us in Italy. Here the tarot deck was known not as a fortune-telling tool, but as a game — or, tarocchini.

So, before there was the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (birthed to life in 1909) that we know and love in modern-day, there was the Visconti-Sforza tarot (mid-15th century), the Sola Busca tarot (late 15th century), and notably the Tarot of Marseilles (est. 16th century, popularized 17th-18th centuries).

But of course, like many forms of eventually mass-published art, tarot decks have evolved past these origins. Now essentially synonymous with the spiritual and the occult, the question of how to learn tarot "traditionally" or "correctly" is often raised to me.

And yet, the beauty of tarot is that its semi-ambiguous history leaves room for us, as tarot readers, to allow the practice to continue to evolve (as it already has). While recognition of the practice's origins and paying homage to the readers that come before us is the respectful move, there will never quite be a "wrong way" to read tarot beyond this.

Selecting a Tarot Deck

Concerned tarot beginners will often ask me if they're allowed to buy their own first tarot deck. (The answer is an unequivocal "yes").

This aside, the question of what the right first deck is will yield a different answer from person to person, because different tarot readers have different styles, needs, and preferences.

(Of course, you could go check out my beginners' tarot deck recommendations list too, but no bias or anything). When it comes to the question of where to buy a tarot deck, you can usually find them in your local bookstore (or if you want to go indie, here's my other recommendation list).

A Quick Word of Advice

Personal preferences aside, I might also mention that the three most common tarot systems you'll notice in today's modern tarot resources are the Rider Waite deck, Thoth, and Marseille.

When you pick up a tarot deck, it'll be less confusing to pick up an accompanying tarot book or resource that matches the system you chose. (And when in doubt, it's usually Rider-Waite-Smith).

At any point, you're free to combine or learn all methods, systems, and decks that you can get your hands on! But if you're easily overwhelmed and want to be able to use most online resources, a RWS-based deck will usually be the safest route.

Tarot Deck Structure

What distinguishes a tarot deck from the other forms of card reading? Unlike, for example, an oracle deck, tarot cards will have 78 cards, and follow a certain structure (as explained below).

Learning this general structure will also make it easier to learn the tarot card meanings as a whole, and place the individual meanings in perspective of the larger story at play.

The Minor Arcana Cards

Introducing: the four suits. In each deck, you'll discover a set of Ace through 10, as well as four court cards (or "face cards") commonly labeled Page (or sometimes Knave), Knight, Queen, and King.

Here's a briefing on the themes of each suit.

Wands Cards (Active - Yang)

Sporting the element of Fire, the suit of Wands (sometimes Clubs or Staves) is a speedy story of triumph and defeat, a clash and expression of wills, and ambition and creative spark.

Swords Cards (Active - Yang)

A story of tragedy, wit, fast-paced intellect, and independence (often to a fault), the suit of Swords is ruled by the sharp element of Air.

Pentacles Cards (Passive - Yin)

The suit of Pentacles (sometimes called Coins) bears the element of Earth, rooted to themes of legacy, resources, material goods, and the consequences (or benefits) of give and take.

Cups Cards (Passive - Yin)

Ruled by the element of Water, the suit of Cups (sometimes called Chalices) tells a story of intuition, unconscious and creative ideas, emotion, and often relates to our interpersonal connections (so yes, this is arguably the most romantic suit).

The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana is the set of 22 cards (labeled 0-21) that tells what is called "the Fool's Journey."

The Fool walks through each stage, developing their skills with time, trial and error, and the classic openness and wide embrace often bestowed upon The Fool's depiction.

For example, the Magician (1) is where they walk into action and create, but the High Priestess (2) demands attention on the world of the internal (intuition and esoteric knowledge) right after.

How Do I Get Started?

Next, we'll go over some frequently asked questions that I usually receive from tarot beginners.

Can I Learn Tarot Cards on My Own?

Learning tarot and reading tarot can absolutely be a solitary practice, and often is.

Of course, if you're an overwhelmed tarot beginner, seeking out a community or a teacher that resonates with you is a viable option. Vibrant and active tarot study groups exist online even if local practice is not an option for you.

What's the Quickest Way to Learn Tarot?

The easiest or quickest way to learn tarot cards will most likely be the method of learning that typically works best for you.

I often recommend, for example, that auditory learners might prefer tarot podcasts or videos. And hands-on learners may prefer jumping right into tarot reading practice and learning as they go.

That said, learning tarot is not a one-and-done process. Constant growth as a tarot reader is part of being on our own individual Fool's journey!

Can I Practice Tarot Readings on Myself?

You can ultimately read with your tarot cards in any way that is comfortable for you.

Some may find reading tarot for themselves to be a bit of a harder task (thanks to our subjectivity and bias), but some may prefer the comfort and familiarity.

3 Simple Study Recommendations

It's important that you study and learn tarot at a comfortable pace in your own style (as everyone learns differently). But here's a few recommendations if you're completely lost on where to start.

1. The Classic Daily Card Pull

One card a day keeps the practice awake (that's the saying, right?).

Try pulling one tarot card at the beginning of your day, and reflecting on what the card represents, what the meaning traditionally is, and what you intuitively gather from it.

At the end of the day, you can meditate, reflect on, or journal about how it manifested for you. Now you've got the benefits of study, as well as practical, tangible application (in a way that's not overwhelming, and also highly personal).

2. The Right Tarot Spread

You don't necessarily need to jump into the celtic cross right away if you don't want to (although you can, if that makes sense to you).

Basic spreads (whether three cards or five) can still provide a hefty dose of insight, and there's an abundance of creative, low-pressure ones out there online too.

3. Bond, Shuffle, & Connect

Shuffling your cards and getting into the flow of a reading routine or ritual may seem strange at first, so connecting with your tarot deck in a way that works for you is key.

Find ways to integrate tarot cards into your everyday life, even with serious tarot reading inquiries aside. Mindlessly shuffle your cards, ask silly questions, perform a deck interview, and whatever else. A tarot practice can be fun, and should be personal too!

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