12 Tarot Tips for the Tarot Beginner

So, you want to learn how to read Tarot? Here are my top 12 Tarot tips to help all Tarot Beginners read Tarot with confidence. 

1. Keep It Simple 

It’s easy to get lost in the complex esoteric systems that make up the Tarot, but if you try to learn all of these systems at once, you’ll find yourself becoming quickly overwhelmed. 

Instead, make a commitment to yourself to keep it simple. Stick to simple spreads, simple meanings and simple techniques. You’ll find your confidence grows immensely when you keep it simple. 

2. Create A Personal Connection with The Tarot 

I started learning the Tarot cards by reading dozens of Tarot books and trying to memorize the meanings. Not helpful! Not only did I forget all the meanings, I had no personal or intuitive connection with the cards. 

But when I started relating on a personal level to the Tarot cards, my intuitive insights took off! 

Look to your everyday life for personal examples of the Tarot cards. What card best describes your day today? What card represents your best friend? Make it personal. 

3. Swap the Celtic Cross for A 1-3 Card Spread 

Nearly every Tarot beginner book includes the Celtic Cross Tarot spread. It’s a beautiful spread, but at 10 cards, it’s not a great place to start for the Tarot beginner. 

Instead, use simple 1-3 card Tarot spreads. You’ll be pleasantly surprised about how much insight you can gain from even just a 1-card reading. 

4. Draw A Tarot Card a Day 

The best way to learn Tarot and to create a personal connection with the Tarot is to draw a card a day. 

Ask the Tarot each day, “What energy do I need to focus on today?” and proactively manifest that energy throughout your day. 

Or, ask the Tarot, “What might I experience today?” At the end of the day, match up what happened throughout the day and what you know of the Tarot card you drew. 

Over time, your ‘bank’ of personal experiences with the Tarot will grow and grow. 

5. Read the Picture in The Card 

One of the easiest ways to understand what a Tarot card means is to look at the picture. What is happening? Why is it happening? What’s the moral of the story? 

Then, relate it back to what you are experiencing. What can the story in the card tell you about your life right now? What new lessons can you learn? 

The best thing about this technique is that you don’t have to memorize any meanings! You can simply go with what you see in the picture of the card each time.

6. Tune in To Your Intuition 

I know – easier said than done! In fact, most Tarot beginners really struggle with knowing how and when to tune in to their intuition. 

My advice? Put down the books, and simply take in the energy of the Tarot card in front of you. It doesn’t matter if you connect with a different meaning of the card from what the books say. What you are doing is connecting with your intuitive read of the card – which is often way more powerful than regurgitating book meanings! 

7. Read Tarot for Yourself 

Ignore anyone who says you can’t read Tarot for yourself. Tarot is such a powerful tool for personal development and self-discovery so make use of it. In fact, when you are starting out with reading Tarot, you are your best client! 

Make time each day to do a short Tarot reading for yourself. You’ll learn more about the Tarot and about yourself. Bonus! 

8. Find A Study Buddy 

What I love about Tarot is that each and every reader has a different perspective of the Tarot cards. So, if you’re open to learning even more about the Tarot, find a study buddy and practice reading the cards together. You’ll be able to teach one another about the Tarot, share your diverse perspectives and support each other’s growth. 

9. Learn 2-3 Keywords for Each Card 

Don’t rush yourself. If you try to memorize everything at once, you’ll end up retaining nothing and, worse, getting discouraged.  

The Tarot learning process should be enjoyable and enlightening, not a source of frustration. Take it slowly.  

Start out by learning 2-3 keywords for each card. Then, write a bit about it.  

10. Forget The ‘Rules’ 

Gosh, if I had a dollar every time someone asked me about the ‘rules’ of Tarot, I would be a rich woman!  

“Am I allowed to buy my own Tarot cards or does someone have to offer them as a gift?”  

“Am I allowed to read with just the Major Arcana cards?”  

“Should I let someone else touch my cards?” 

Do you know what the number 1 rule of Tarot is? There are no rules! So long as you are ethical in the way you read Tarot, you can safely ignore all those “shoulds” and “musts”! 

11. Find Out What The Tarot Means To You 

One of the most valuable exercises a Tarot beginner can do is ask themselves the question, “How does Tarot work?” 

By reflecting on this question and coming up with your own answer, you’ll have a much better sense of what the Tarot means to you and how you can use this tool in the very best way. 

Now, the answer is going to differ from reader to reader – and that’s perfectly OK! You may see the Tarot as a predictive tool, a coaching tool, or a fun way to impress your friends. 

Once you have your answer, write it out, say it out loud, or post it on your blog. Get clear about what it means to you personally. That’s what matters most. 

12. Use the Tarot Mindfully 

One of the biggest mistakes that Tarot beginners make when reading Tarot for themselves is that they ask the same question over and over, hoping to get a better answer each time. Or they do a reading when they’re highly emotional or shut down to receiving truthful insight. 

Instead, use the Tarot mindfully. Draw on the cards when you have an open mind and an open heart. Treat the cards (and yourself) with respect and give yourself enough time and space to truly accept the wisdom they have to offer you. 

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