Where to Begin With Tarot
Many people start learning tarot with the feeling that they need to “memorise” the meanings of all 78 cards before they can do anything useful. This is the most widespread misconception. Tarot is not a memory test — it is a language of symbols. And like any language, it is acquired through practice, not through rote learning.
The good news: you can do your first meaningful reading within minutes of understanding the basic structure.
The Structure of a Tarot Deck
A standard tarot deck contains 78 cards, divided into two groups:
The Major Arcana (22 cards)
From The Fool (0) to The World (XXI). These are archetypal images: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, The World.
The Major Arcana speaks of large life themes: key lessons, turning-point moments, and the deeper forces at work in a situation.
The Minor Arcana (56 cards)
Four suits of 14 cards each:
- Wands — fire, action, passion, work, creativity
- Cups — water, emotions, relationships, intuition
- Swords — air, thought, conflict, decisions, words
- Pentacles — earth, the material, the body, finances, practical matters
Each suit contains: an Ace (1), cards 2–10, and four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, King.
The Minor Arcana speaks of everyday situations: specific events, people, and actions.
Your First Reading
Start with one card. Each morning, draw a single card and ask: “What is important to know today?” Look at the image, notice your first reaction, then read the meaning.
Once you’re comfortable, move to the three-card spread: past, present, future.
How to Choose Your First Deck
The most popular deck for beginners is the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot. Most of its cards — including the Minor Arcana — show specific illustrated scenes, which makes it much easier to intuitively read the meaning. This is the most important quality for starting out.
Don’t choose your first deck purely for beautiful artwork. What matters is that you feel comfortable working with it — holding it, looking at the images.
Reversed Cards: Should You Use Them
For beginners, it is recommended to skip reversed cards for the first few months. First master the upright meanings — that is already 78 nuances to work with. You can add reversals later.
Common Tarot Myths
“You need a special gift.” No. Tarot works with your intuition, which everyone has. The only difference is practice.
“The Death card predicts physical death.” No. The Death card is a symbol of transformation and the completion of a cycle. After centuries of practice, tarot readers do not associate it with literal death.
“Cards predict the future.” Tarot shows tendencies, current states, and possible outcomes. The future is not fixed. You always have the capacity to change direction.
“You must store the deck in silk and never let others touch it.” These are beautiful traditions, not mandatory rules. What matters is your intention and regular practice.
Resources for Learning
Start with the TarotGram card encyclopedia — 78 detailed descriptions with upright and reversed meanings, advice, and keywords. It’s your free reference guide.
For daily practice, use the card of the day — a real card that changes every day.
Tarot is not a body of knowledge you need to memorise. It is the language your intuition already speaks.