woman holding tarot card

Tarot 101: The 3 Steps of a Tarot Reading

Learn Tarot the easy way in three simple steps

By Brigit Esselmont

Here, you'll get a quick crash course in Tarot, learning what the Tarot is and how it works.

What Is Tarot?

Ultimately, the Tarot is a deck of 78 cards that are enriched with images and symbols that help you connect with your intuition to make better, more spiritually-grounded decisions in your life. Many people turn to Tarot cards to help them understand and move forward in their relationships, career, finances, personal development, and major life changes.

The Tarot can also be used to help you understand your past, present, or future. It doesn’t tell you exactly what will happen -- like the date when you’ll meet your future husband, or the first letter of your unborn baby’s name -- but it does give you some insight into where you may be headed if you continue on your current path. It also gives you the space to make powerful and positive changes now so you can manifest your goals and your dreams in the future. What this means is that the future is indeed in your hands!

Every Tarot deck is typically made up of 78 cards, each with its own unique picture, symbolism, and meaning. While there are commonly agreed meanings for each card, it’s also very powerful to discover your own meanings of the cards as you connect intimately and intuitively with their images and symbols. Creating this kind of personal connection with the Tarot cards is where the magic happens, and what makes reading Tarot so special.

How does a Tarot reading work?

Ultimately, a Tarot reading boils down to a 3-step process:

Step 1: Create your question.
  • How can I find love this year?
  • Where is my career heading, and how can I make the most of my talents?
Step 2: Shuffle and lay out the cards.

As you’re shuffling, make sure you’re concentrating on your question to channel your energy into the reading and layout of the cards. Then when you feel ready, lay out the cards for your reading.

Step 3: Interpret the cards and answer your question.

This is the fun part! Go through each card and interpret what it means for you. Also, look at the reading as a whole and see what important messages and answers come through for you in the reading.

Of course, there’s a little more to a Tarot reading than these three simple steps, but if you’re just starting out, follow these three steps and you’ll be reading Tarot in no time! While some people prefer to have their Tarot cards read by professional Tarot readers, learning to read Tarot for yourself is like having the universe on speed dial! It’s such a gift to yourself to connect deeply with your intuition and have the Tarot cards as your spiritual guide.

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