Tarot for Beginners: How to Do Your First Reading

Curious about tarot but not sure where to start? You’re not alone. For centuries, tarot cards have been used as a powerful tool for guidance, reflection, and intuition. Whether you’re seeking answers about love, career, relationships, or your spiritual journey, learning tarot can help you connect to your higher self and find clarity in everyday life.

In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll discover exactly how to prepare for your first reading, choose the right deck, and interpret your cards — even if you’ve never touched a tarot deck before.

Before you begin, you can also take this Tarot Card Reading Quiz to get an instant, fun reading that reflects your current energy.

What Is Tarot and How Does It Work?

Tarot is a symbolic system made up of 78 cards, each holding spiritual and psychological meaning. Contrary to popular belief, tarot isn’t about “telling the future” — it’s about reading energy, uncovering truths, and connecting with your inner wisdom.

The deck is split into two parts:

Major Arcana (22 cards) – Reflect major life events, spiritual lessons, or archetypal energies
Minor Arcana (56 cards) – Reflect daily experiences, emotions, and practical concerns

Tarot taps into the subconscious mind and the collective energy around you. With every shuffle, the cards reveal what you need to know — not what you want to hear, but what your soul is asking you to see.

Why Tarot Is a Great Tool for Beginners

If you’re new to tarot, don’t worry about memorizing all 78 card meanings. Tarot is not about being “psychic”; it’s about listening, observing, and trusting your intuition.

Learning tarot can help you:

Gain insight during confusing times
Make aligned decisions
Develop your spiritual intuition
Connect with your emotions and inner truth
Explore your personal growth journey

Whether you read for yourself or friends, tarot opens the door to empowerment and self-discovery.

Step 1: Choose the Right Tarot Deck

As a beginner, choosing your first deck is crucial. Most people start with the Rider-Waite Tarot, a traditional deck with clear, easy-to-read symbolism. Other popular beginner decks include:

The Light Seer’s Tarot (modern and intuitive)
Modern Witch Tarot (inclusive and stylish)
The Wild Unknown Tarot (great for nature lovers)

✨ Tip: Let your intuition guide you when selecting a deck. If you feel drawn to its artwork, it's probably right for you.

Step 2: Cleanse and Connect with Your Deck

Before doing any reading, it's important to cleanse your tarot deck of any energies it may have picked up. You can do this by:

Knocking on the deck three times
Placing it under the moonlight
Smudging with sage or palo santo
Meditating with it in your hands

Next, connect with your cards by shuffling them, sleeping with them under your pillow, or pulling one card a day. This helps build a personal bond and trust.

Step 3: Learn the Basic Structure of the Tarot

To feel confident in your readings, start by learning the basic framework of the tarot deck:

Major Arcana (22 Cards)

These represent major life themes and soul lessons. Examples include:

The Fool – New beginnings, adventure
The Lovers – Relationships, values, choices
Death – Transformation, endings leading to rebirth
The World – Completion, spiritual wholeness

Minor Arcana (56 Cards)

Divided into four suits:

Cups – Emotions, love, intuition (Water)
Pentacles – Money, work, material life (Earth)
Swords – Thoughts, communication, conflict (Air)
Wands – Passion, creativity, action (Fire)

Each suit is also numbered from Ace to King, showing the journey of that element.

Step 4: Ask the Right Question

One of the most important parts of tarot is asking clear, focused questions. Instead of yes/no questions, use open-ended prompts like:

“What energy surrounds me right now?”
“What should I know about this relationship?”
“What is blocking my growth?”
“What path will help me align with my purpose?”

Always center yourself, take a few deep breaths, and focus your intention before drawing cards.

Step 5: Do a Simple 3-Card Reading

The 3-card spread is perfect for beginners and powerful in its simplicity.

Shuffle your deck while focusing on your question. Then pull three cards and lay them left to right:

Past – What brought you to this moment
Present – What is happening now
Future – What may unfold if current energies continue

✨ Trust your first impression of each card. Look at the imagery, colors, symbols, and your emotional response. Don’t worry about being “right” — your intuition is key.

Step 6: Interpret the Cards Using Intuition + Guidebook

When starting out, it's completely okay to use your tarot guidebook. But over time, try to interpret based on:

Visual symbols
Your emotions when seeing the card
Repetition of suits or numbers
Surrounding cards in a spread

If you pulled The Tower, for example, don’t panic. It could mean sudden change, a breakthrough, or the collapse of something outdated.

Tarot is about the bigger story the cards tell, not individual meanings in isolation.

Step 7: Record Your Readings

Keep a tarot journal to track your progress and insights. Write down:

The date and your question
Cards pulled and your interpretations
What emotions or visions came up
How the reading unfolded over time

This practice helps you build confidence, notice patterns, and strengthen your intuition.

Common Beginner Questions

Do I Have to Be Psychic to Use Tarot?

Not at all. Tarot is a tool — your intuition is the magic. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become.

Can I Read for Myself?

Absolutely. Reading for yourself builds inner trust. Just try to remain objective and open.

What if I Pull “Scary” Cards?

Cards like Death, The Tower, or The Devil aren’t negative — they often reflect growth, release, or transformation. All cards carry light and shadow, just like life.

Try a Tarot Reading Right Now

Not sure where to begin? Take our Tarot Card Reading Quiz for a quick and insightful reading tailored to your current energy. It’s a fun and gentle introduction to how tarot works — no experience required!

Learn More About Tarot for Beginners

If you're serious about building your tarot skills, start by exploring our full beginner’s guide and tools at tarot for beginners. You'll find everything from spreads and card meanings to intuitive development and love-focused readings.

Final Thoughts: Tarot Is a Journey of Self-Discovery

Tarot is more than a deck of cards — it’s a mirror to your soul. Whether you use it to explore your love life, plan your next steps, or simply reflect on your day, tarot offers a sacred space for truth and guidance.

Your first reading may feel uncertain, but as you grow with your deck, you’ll unlock a powerful language of symbols, energy, and transformation.

✨ So light a candle, shuffle your deck, and trust the magic. The answers are already within you — tarot just helps bring them to light.