How to Read Tarot Cards
Whether you're brand new to tarot or looking to deepen your practice, this guide walks you through everything — from the structure of the deck to popular spreads and how to interpret reversed cards.
What is Tarot?
Tarot is a deck of 78 illustrated cards originally used for card games in 15th-century Europe. Over time, they evolved into a powerful tool for self-reflection, spiritual guidance, and divination. Each card carries archetypal imagery drawn from mythology, astrology, numerology, and Kabbalah.
Tarot does not predict a fixed future — rather, it acts as a mirror for your subconscious mind, helping you access intuitive wisdom and consider situations from new angles.
The 78-Card Deck
A standard tarot deck is divided into two main sections:
Major Arcana (22 cards)
Cards numbered 0–XXI. These represent life's big themes, karmic lessons, and universal archetypes. When many Major Arcana appear in a reading, it signals a significant life moment.
Minor Arcana (56 cards)
Four suits of 14 cards each: Wands (fire/passion), Cups (water/emotion), Swords (air/mind), and Pentacles (earth/material). These reflect everyday situations and practical life events.
The Major Arcana — The Fool's Journey
The 22 Major Arcana cards follow The Fool's Journey — a metaphor for the human experience from innocence through wisdom. They are grouped into three stages:
The Fool's Journey Begins
External World & Societal Structures
Inner Growth
Inner Power & Life's Cycles
The Four Suits of the Minor Arcana
Wands (Fire)
Passion, creativity, career, ambition
Cups (Water)
Emotions, relationships, intuition, dreams
Swords (Air)
Intellect, decisions, conflict, truth
Pentacles (Earth)
Money, career, health, material world
Reversed Tarot Cards
A reversed (or inverted) card appears upside-down during a reading. It typically indicates that the card's energy is blocked, internalized, or manifesting in a challenging way. For example, The Star upright means hope and renewal — reversed, it can signal despair or disconnection.
Some readers choose not to read reversals. There's no right or wrong approach — trust your intuition.
Popular Tarot Spreads
A spread is the pattern in which cards are laid out, with each position having a specific meaning. Here are the most common spreads:
Tips for Beginners
- Start with a daily single card pull. One card a day is the fastest way to learn the deck.
- Trust your first impression. Before reading the definition, notice how the card image makes you feel.
- Keep a tarot journal. Write down your cards and what they meant to you that day. Review after a week.
- Learn the suit elements. Knowing that Cups = emotions and Swords = intellect gives you instant context for any card.
- Don't fear 'dark' cards. The Tower and Death are not literal — they symbolize transformation and change.
- Use our Card Library. Browse all 78 cards, read their meanings, and identify patterns in what you draw.