How to read tarot cards — seven steps, in the right order

You are going to give up on tarot in about a week. Not because it is too hard. Because you will start in the wrong order.

If you have ever opened a deck, flipped through it and thought I have absolutely no idea what I am looking at, this is the way out of that. Seven steps, in the order that actually works.

1. Choose your deck

Hundreds of decks exist, in every style of art you can imagine, and this is where a lot of beginners trip.

If you are just starting, I would point you at the Rider-Waite deck. It is the most widely used deck in the world, which means the learning material out there — books, courses, forums, the whole internet — is built around it. Learning on it means every resource you find will be talking about the cards in your hand.

That said: if another deck speaks to you, if you are drawn to the art or the feel of it, go with your instinct. Just make sure it comes with a guidebook, because early on you are going to need it.

It is worth knowing that the deck I read with is not the one I would start you on. I use the Sacred Circle. I would still hand a beginner Rider-Waite, for the reason above — and move to whatever calls you once the language of the cards is in your head.

2. Get to know the cards

Every card in the deck has its own meaning and its own symbolism, and it can feel like a lot at once. Break it in half.

Start with the Major Arcana — the big cards. Life-changing events, spiritual lessons, major turning points.

Then the Minor Arcana — the day-to-day. Small challenges, ordinary situations, the moments that make up a life.

Do not rush this part. Sit with each card and really look at it. What is happening in the picture? What symbols are there? Why is that figure standing like that? Your brain starts connecting the dots much faster than you would expect.

3. Shuffle

There is no wrong way. Face down, face up, a big riffle, a lazy overhand — whatever feels natural in your hands. The only rule is to shuffle thoroughly, so that the draw is genuinely random and you are not steering it toward the card you want.

4. Ask a question

While you shuffle, decide what you are asking.

Here is the important part: tarot is not a magic eight ball. It is not a machine for predicting the future. It is a way of getting a clear look at your own actions and decisions.

So keep the question open. Instead of will I get the job, try what do I need to know about this job opportunity. The first one asks the cards for a verdict. The second asks them for something you can use.

I have written more about why the closed question is the most common reason a reading disappoints in Why that bad tarot reading wasn't really about the cards.

5. Draw your card

Place it face up in front of you. Breathe. Look at it properly before you jump to a conclusion.

What do you notice first? Not what you know about the card — what you actually see. Colours, symbols, figures, where the light falls, what the person in the picture is doing.

That first impression is not a distraction from the meaning. It is where the meaning starts.

6. Interpret it

This is where the guidebook earns its place, especially at the beginning. Read what it says.

Then put it down and think about what you saw before you read it.

Tarot is subjective. Two readers can look at the same card and come away with two different interpretations, and both can be right for the person in front of them. Trust your instinct and trust your own connection to the image. The book gives you the vocabulary; the reading is yours.

7. Reflect

Once you have an interpretation, sit with it for a minute and ask yourself three questions:

• What does this mean for me, specifically?
• How does it connect to the question I actually asked?
• What is one thing I can do about it?

This is the step where tarot stops being a curiosity and starts being useful. Most people skip it. It is the whole point.

Then practise

Here is the part nobody wants to hear: you have to do it.

Pull one card a day. Just one. Look at it, interpret it, reflect on it. Over weeks, you will start recognising cards instantly and your readings will get sharper, because you are building a relationship with the deck rather than memorising a list.

Four things worth knowing before you go:

There is no shame in help. If you are stuck, take a class or get a reading from someone more experienced. It genuinely shortens the learning curve.

Protect your energy. Tarot can be emotionally heavy, especially if you are reading for other people. Take breaks. Journal. Meditate. Whatever recharges you. Energy Vampires and Protection is about what to do when you have picked up more than you meant to.

Do not fear reversals. A card upside down is not a bad card; it adds a different layer or a challenge to the meaning. As a beginner it is completely fine to ignore reversals for a while and bring them in when you are more confident.

Keep an open mind. Sometimes the cards will say something you did not expect or did not want to hear. That is fine. Nothing is fixed, and you always have the power to make a different choice.

Learning tarot is a journey rather than something you master in a week. Be patient with yourself, stay curious, and treat the cards with respect. The rest is time.