How to read tarot?

Reading tarot is about learning the meanings of the cards and intuitively interpreting them in relation to their position in the spread. There are various spreads, each requiring a different number of cards, where each card has its own meaning.

Examples of tarot spreads

1-card spread
Quick daily guidance.

3-card spread
Past, present, future.

4-card cross spread
Quick analysis focused on problems and solutions.

Celtic Cross
A deep analysis of a situation.

Pentagram
Balance between the elements.

Personally, I believe you get the most out of a spread that strikes a balance between simplicity and detail, making the 3-card spread a great choice for most beginners.

The Major and Minor Arcana

The tarot deck contains 78 cards. The best deck for interpreting tarot is the Rider-Waite deck. Perhaps not because it’s especially beautiful, but its classic design illustrates the meanings of the cards in a way that makes it easier for your intuition to focus on the reading rather than wasting energy trying to interpret a card that doesn’t clearly reflect its meaning. You will likely see it as an obvious choice as well.

Furthermore, the tarot deck is divided into 22 cards that make up the Major Arcana. These cards have a deeper significance beyond a simple verbal interpretation. They reflect important archetypes from the collective unconscious of humanity. An archetype is a universal symbol or pattern found in the collective unconscious, according to psychologist Carl Jung. It is a fundamental idea or image representing key themes and roles in human experience. Examples of archetypes include ”The Hero,” ”The Mother,” or ”The Fool.” These figures appear repeatedly in myths, stories, religions, and even our dreams, reflecting deep aspects of human psychology and the soul.

The Major Arcana represents a journey through life, from the innocence of The Fool taking their first step to the enlightenment and completion of The World. Each card reflects a deeper aspect of human experience and the challenges we all face, making their interpretation often go beyond the obvious and touch on inner processes and transformations.

The other part of the tarot deck is called the Minor Arcana, consisting of 56 cards divided into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles). These cards address more everyday aspects of life and the challenges, choices, and opportunities we encounter daily. The Minor Arcana helps give context to the larger life themes brought up by the Major Arcana and serves as a guide for more practical aspects of a reading.

Becoming skilled at interpreting tarot is not just about memorizing card meanings but also about combining this foundational understanding with your intuition and insights from within. Tarot becomes a powerful tool when you learn to see the bigger patterns and symbols reflected in the cards and use this knowledge to gain deeper insights into your life and your questions.

How to do a 3-card spread

Shuffle the cards: Shuffle the cards while focusing on your question or the situation you want clarity on.
Draw three cards: When you feel ready, draw three cards and place them in a row from left to right.
Interpret the cards:
- First card (left): Represents the past and provides insights into previous events that influence the situation.
- Second card (middle): Represents the present and gives a picture of where you currently stand.
- Third card (right): Represents the future and shows what may happen based on the current circumstances.

Interpreting the cards involves understanding both their individual meanings and how they relate to one another. This provides a quick but powerful insight into a situation and can be used for both specific questions and general guidance.

Example: 3-card tarot spread

Question:
”What should I focus on to improve my career?”

We ”shuffle” the cards and draw three to represent past, present, and future.

Past: Eight of Pentacles
- Interpretation: You have spent a lot of time and energy improving your skills and becoming better at what you do. You’ve focused on developing your talents and have become skilled in your field. This card indicates that your diligence and willingness to learn have laid a strong foundation for your future career.
Present: Four of Swords
- Interpretation: Right now, you may feel overwhelmed or burned out by all the work. The Four of Swords suggests that you need to take a break and reflect on your next steps. It’s important to rest and recover before you continue on your career journey. Focusing on mental and physical balance now will benefit you in the future.
Future: Ace of Wands
- Interpretation: This card represents a new beginning filled with creativity and drive. The Ace of Wands shows that if you take the time to recover now, you will soon experience a surge of new inspiration and energy, leading to exciting career opportunities. It’s a signal to take initiative and dare to pursue something new.

We can interpret the spread as showing that you’ve already built a strong foundation (Eight of Pentacles), but now it’s important to take a break and reflect (Four of Swords). This will prepare you for a coming wave of creativity and new opportunities (Ace of Wands).

The cards’ advice is to rest and recharge now to be able to face future challenges with full energy and enthusiasm.

Reversed card interpretations

Reversed cards alter or enhance a card’s basic meaning. When Strength is reversed, it suggests weakness or imbalance, especially related to inner strength and confidence. This card shows that in the past, you may have struggled to overcome challenges, and these difficulties may still affect you.

Example: Tarot spread with a reversed card

Question:
”How can I improve my health and well-being?”

Past: Strength (reversed)
- Interpretation: When Strength is reversed, it indicates a period of weakness or internal struggle. In your past, you may have had difficulty managing stress or health challenges. You may have felt overwhelmed and struggled to take control of your well-being. Reversed Strength can also suggest that you’ve hesitated to address certain problems, weakening both your physical and mental strength.

Present: Queen of Cups
- Interpretation: In the present, the Queen of Cups shows that you need to focus on your emotional health. This card encourages you to be caring and nurturing, both towards yourself and others. You need to find balance by listening to your emotions and giving yourself the time and space you need for recovery. The Queen of Cups is also about finding emotional harmony by learning to manage stress and relationships in a more loving way.

Future: Two of Pentacles
- Interpretation: The Two of Pentacles indicates that the future will require balance and priorities. To improve your health, you will need to learn how to juggle different aspects of your life, such as work, leisure, and health. It’s about finding an equilibrium and organizing your time and resources so you don’t overburden yourself. The card shows that if you find the right balance, you’ll be able to handle these demands and feel more stable.

The overall spread shows that you’ve struggled with inner strength (Strength reversed) in the past, but now you need to focus on emotional care and recovery (Queen of Cups) in order to find balance between different parts of your life in the future (Two of Pentacles).

How to get good at tarot?

As you learn the cards, it will become easier to make intuitive interpretations. There are many books on the subject, but much of it is about intuition and simply learning the card meanings so that it flows quickly and you’re not blocked by trying to recall meanings. Once you know the cards well enough to effortlessly use feeling and intuition in interpreting them, you’ll be in a good position to give a great reading.

Use the tarot trainer to learn all the cards >>>

It also helps if you have an interest in spirituality, psychology, and consciousness, as tarot is a subject that strongly deals with the inner world.

Tarot is not just a method for predicting the future but a way to explore the subconscious and create greater clarity around current situations. The more you learn about the symbols of the cards, the better you’ll become at connecting your intuition with the knowledge you’ve built, making your interpretations more accurate and insightful.