Tarot for Beginners: Your First Reading in 7 Steps

What Is Tarot?

Tarot is a deck of 78 illustrated cards used for reflection and divination. Each card carries symbolism; together, cards in a spread tell a story about your question. Many people use tarot as a tool for self-reflection rather than fortune-telling.

Your First Reading in 7 Steps

1. Get a beginner-friendly deck — see best tarot decks for beginners.
2. Find a quiet space.
3. Ask an open question.
4. Shuffle and draw three cards.
5. Look at each image before reading the meaning.
6. Read the cards together as a story.
7. Write it down.

Learn the Structure First

Instead of memorizing 78 meanings, learn the Major and Minor Arcana, the four suits and what numbers mean. That gives you a framework for any card.

Practise Daily

Pull one card each day and note how its theme shows up.

Frequently Asked Questions