A tarot deck can look a little intimidating the first time you hold it: 78 cards, unfamiliar names and pictures full of symbols. The good news is that you don't need to memorize anything to begin. Many people use tarot simply as a tool for reflection, a set of pictures that invites you to pause, ask yourself a good question and notice what comes up.
This beginner's guide walks you through how a deck is organized, how to shuffle and draw, a simple three-card spread, and how a tarot journal can help you learn the cards at your own pace.
What tarot is (and isn't)
Tarot cards date back to 15th-century Europe, where they began as playing cards. Over time they also became a popular tool for divination and reflection. Today, many people approach a reading less as fortune-telling and more as a conversation with themselves. The images give your mind something to work with, and your own interpretation often says a lot about what's on your heart.
Think of tarot as a mirror, not a map. It can help you look at a situation from a new angle, but it isn't a substitute for your own judgment or for advice from a qualified professional on health, money or legal matters.
How a tarot deck is organized
Most decks follow the same structure of 78 cards, split into two groups.
The Major Arcana (22 cards)
These are the named cards, like The Fool, The Magician, The Lovers, The Moon and The World. They're numbered from 0 (The Fool) to 21 (The World), and they're commonly read as the bigger themes and turning points of life. Some readers describe them as a journey, beginning with The Fool setting out on an adventure.
The Minor Arcana (56 cards)
The Minor Arcana are split into four suits, a bit like a deck of playing cards. Each suit has cards numbered Ace through Ten, plus four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen and King. They're often read as the everyday details of life. Each suit is traditionally associated with a theme and an element:
- Cups (water): feelings, relationships, intuition.
- Wands (fire): energy, creativity, passion and action.
- Swords (air): thoughts, words, decisions and challenges.
- Pentacles (earth): home, work, money and the physical world.
Once you know the four suit themes, a card like the Three of Cups or the Eight of Pentacles already starts to make a little sense before you look anything up.
Choosing a first deck: Many beginners start with a deck based on the Rider-Waite-Smith imagery, because every card, including the numbered ones, shows a full illustrated scene. Most guidebooks and online resources use it as their reference. That said, the best deck is simply one whose art you enjoy looking at.
Getting ready to read
- Find a quiet moment. A tidy table, a cup of tea and a few slow breaths are all the setup you need.
- Think of a question. Open questions work best. Instead of "Will this work out?", try "What do I need to know about this situation?" or "What could help me this week?"
- Shuffle in any way that feels comfortable. You can shuffle like playing cards, cut the deck into piles and restack them, or spread the cards face down on the table and swirl them around. There's no wrong method.
- Draw your cards. Some people take cards from the top of the deck, others fan the deck out and choose the ones they feel drawn to.
If you like to set a softer mood, a candle or a sprig of dried lavender on the table can turn the reading into a small ritual.
Candle safety: Keep candles in a sturdy holder, well away from your cards, curtains and anything that could catch. Never leave a flame unattended, and blow it out when you finish. A battery tea light gives the same glow without the worry.
Start with a daily one-card draw
The gentlest way to learn tarot is to draw one card each morning. Ask a simple question like "What should I keep in mind today?", turn over one card and spend a minute just looking at it before you read anything about it.
Notice the colors, the people, the setting and how the card makes you feel. Then look up its traditional meaning and see how the two compare. In the evening, jot down whether the card connected to anything in your day. Over a few weeks, the cards start to feel like familiar faces.
A simple three-card spread
A spread is just a layout where each position has a meaning. The three-card spread is a favorite for beginners because it's quick to lay out and easy to read as a little story.
Lay three cards in a row from left to right. Here are a few ways to name the positions:
- Past, present, future
- The situation, the challenge, the advice
- What to keep, what to release, what to welcome
- Mind, body, spirit
Turn the cards over one at a time. Read each card in its position first, then look at all three together. Do they share a suit? Is there a Major Arcana card among them, which some readers see as a sign that the theme is a big one? Does the story flow, or does one card feel like a surprise?
How to read a card without memorizing everything
Guidebooks are helpful, but your own eyes are your best teacher. When a card turns up, try these questions:
- What's happening in the picture? Describe it as if you were telling a friend.
- What's the suit or number? The suit tells you the area of life. The number hints at where things are, with Aces often read as beginnings and Tens as completions.
- How does it make you feel? Your first reaction is worth writing down.
- How does it relate to your question? Look for one small, practical takeaway.
What about reversed cards?
Sometimes a card lands upside down. Some readers interpret reversed cards differently, for example as a blocked or softer version of the upright meaning. Others turn every card upright and skip reversals entirely. As a beginner, it's perfectly fine to leave reversals out until the upright meanings feel comfortable.
Keep a tarot journal
A tarot journal is one of the most helpful habits for learning the cards. Each time you draw, write down the date, your question, the cards and what you noticed. Looking back over the weeks, you'll see which cards keep appearing and how your understanding of them has grown.
A simple page layout might include:
- The date and your question
- The spread and the cards you drew
- Your first impressions, in your own words
- The traditional meaning, if you looked it up
- A note later on about how it connected to your day or week
Vintage Botanical Flower Notebook
A 6 x 8-inch hardcover lined journal with a vintage botanical cover. A sweet home for your daily draws, spreads and the thoughts they bring up.
Shop the notebookTarot FAQ
Do I need to be given my first deck?
There's an old saying that your first deck should be a gift, but plenty of people buy their own. Choose one you love looking at.
How many cards should a beginner use?
Start with one card a day, then try the three-card spread once you feel ready. Larger spreads, like the ten-card Celtic Cross, can wait until the basics feel familiar.
Can I read for myself?
Yes. Reading for yourself is how most people learn. Try to stay curious and honest rather than looking only for the answer you hope to see.
What if I get a card that looks scary?
Cards like Death or The Tower can look alarming, but they're commonly read as symbols of change, endings and new beginnings rather than literal events.
How should I store my deck?
Many people keep their deck wrapped in a cloth or in a small box or pouch. It keeps the cards clean and makes picking them up feel a little special.
Let the cards become a habit
Learning tarot is less about getting the "right" answer and more about building a quiet habit of reflection. Keep your draws together in a vintage botanical notebook, and pair a morning card with our five-minute morning ritual. For a monthly check-in, a three-card spread fits beautifully into our full moon rituals for beginners.