How to Read Tarot Cards – A Beginner’s Guide
Reading tarot cards is a deeply personal and intuitive practice. There is no single “correct” way to read tarot — the most important thing is to develop a relationship with your deck and trust your own intuition. This beginner’s guide will walk you through everything you need to start reading tarot with confidence.
Step 1: Choose Your Deck
The best tarot deck for beginners is one that resonates with you visually and intuitively. The classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck is widely recommended for beginners because its imagery is rich with symbolism that makes interpretation easier. Browse our Tarot & Oracle Cards collection to find a deck that speaks to you.
Step 2: Cleanse Your Deck
Before using a new deck, cleanse it to clear any previous energy and make it your own. Simple cleansing methods include:
- Passing through incense smoke (frankincense or sage)
- Knocking on the deck three times
- Placing on a Selenite plate overnight
- Leaving under moonlight
Step 3: Create a Sacred Space
Set the atmosphere for your reading. Light a candle, burn some incense, or use a sacred spray to clear and uplift the energy around you. Take a few deep breaths and centre yourself before you begin.
Step 4: Set Your Intention or Question
Before shuffling, hold a clear intention or question in your mind. You can ask a specific question (“What do I need to know about my career right now?”) or simply invite general guidance (“What does the universe want me to know today?”). There are no wrong questions.
Step 5: Shuffle the Cards
Shuffle your deck in whatever way feels natural while focusing on your question. Some people shuffle overhand, others riffle shuffle, others spread the cards on a table and mix them. Stop when it feels right — trust your instincts. If a card falls out during shuffling, pay attention to it.
Step 6: Draw Your Cards
Cut the deck if you wish, then draw your cards from the top. Start with a single card for daily practice, then progress to simple spreads as you grow in confidence.
Beginner Tarot Spreads
One Card Draw – Daily Guidance
Draw one card each morning and ask: “What do I need to know or focus on today?” This is the best way to build familiarity with your deck quickly.
Three Card Spread – Past / Present / Future
Draw three cards and lay them left to right:
- Card 1 (left) – The past: what has led to this situation
- Card 2 (centre) – The present: where you are now
- Card 3 (right) – The future: where things are heading
Three Card Spread – Situation / Action / Outcome
- Card 1 – The current situation
- Card 2 – The action to take
- Card 3 – The likely outcome
Step 7: Interpret Your Cards
Look at each card and notice your immediate reaction — what feelings, images, or words come to mind? Then consider the traditional meaning of the card and how it relates to your question. The best readings blend intuition with knowledge. Don’t worry if you don’t know every card meaning by heart — use your guidebook freely, especially when starting out.
Read our full Tarot Card Meanings guide to learn the meaning of all 78 cards.
Step 8: Journal Your Reading
Keep a tarot journal to record your cards, your interpretations, and how the reading unfolds over time. This is one of the most powerful ways to deepen your practice and develop your intuition.
Tips for Better Tarot Readings
- Read when you’re calm and centred — not when you’re anxious or emotionally reactive
- Don’t ask the same question repeatedly hoping for a different answer
- Trust your first impression of a card
- Practice daily, even if just one card
- Be open to unexpected answers — the cards often reveal what we need to hear, not what we want to hear
