Astrology is amazing for predicting how amazing you’ll feel next month, decoding your current “I hate everything and don’t know why” mood, or choosing the best day to slide into your crush’s DMs. That said, sometimes you just want to go a little deeper (and, okay, splurge on something cute for your coffee table). Tarot cards, like astrology, are a ~mystical~ way to form a deeper connection between yourself and the universe—and also not a bad party trick.
But reading tarot can feel daunting because of how much you have to memorize and learn. We’re here to tell you something: It doesn’t have to be that way. Just follow our quick-start tarot guide and you’ll be a pro by the time your BFFs come over for drinks tonight.
The gist
Tarot reading dates back to the 14th or 15th century and may have originally been used as a card game, like poker, rather than for spiritual purposes. However, a spiritual aspect developed, with tarot cards being used for divination beginning in the late 18th century. They’ve also been used for psychological analysis—Carl Jung even saw the cards as ways to represent the “archetypes of mankind.”
Today, some people use tarot as a complement to therapy. “Using tarot in an appropriate way can enhance therapy. It’s not for fortune-telling—it’s a tool that gives you something to meditate on,” Jayni Bloch, a psychologist in Ontario, Canada, previously told Cosmopolitan.
Most tarot decks contain 78 cards and are based on the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition, using similar archetypes and symbology. There are also tarot cards from other traditions, like Marseilles tarot decks, as well as oracle cards, which can contain any number of cards and their own unique imagery. But if you’re just getting into tarot, odds are you have a Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
In these tarot decks, each of the 78 cards has a unique meaning. That’s a lot, but you don’t need to hold every bit of information about them in your head. Here are the essential things to know:
1. Tarot cards are divided into two groups, the Minor Arcana and the Major Arcana.
The 56 Minor Arcana cards are grouped into four suits (just like a regular deck of playing cards): Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. The 22 Major Arcana deal with your life’s overall journey.
Wands
These focus on inspiration, tasks, goals, and creativity.
Cups
Think: emotions, relationships, celebration, and feelings.
Swords
These are about reason, truths, and observations—all things that can be sharp!
Pentacles
You’ll learn about material items, careers, or your home life.
2. While the Major Arcana cards (e.g., The Lovers, The Tower) deal with big milestones, the Minor Arcana deal with day-to-day issues.
3. The Page, Knight, Queen, and King cards in the Minor Arcana are usually tied to people in your life. These are called the court cards. If these show up, relate them to someone with that type of personality.
4. Each suit of the Minor Arcana has those four court cards plus cards numbered ace to 10. In general, they show a progression: The Ace of Wands, for example, can represent the exciting start to a new project, while the 10 of Wands can appear when you feel overwhelmed with work.
Urban Outfitters How to Deal: Tarot for Everyday Life By Sami Main Book + Tarot Card Set
Most tarot decks come with a booklet or guidebook detailing the symbology of each card. Remember, there are no rules that say you can’t use your guidebook when you’re doing a reading! But if you do want to learn the cards more deeply, New York City–based tarot reader Angela Lucy recommends performing a self-guided meditation with each one. “Envision yourself in front of the card,” Lucy explains, “then walk inside it in your mind.” Or memorize them like flash cards right before a final—whatever works for you.
How to do a tarot reading
1. Set the mood with fancy candles—whatever makes your space feel relaxed.
2. Form your question. In general, open-ended questions are better—think, “What can I do to strengthen my relationship with my partner?” or “What should I consider when looking at the future of my relationship?” not, “Are we going to break up??”
3. Shuffle the cards while thinking about your question or listening to your friend explain theirs. Tarot cards are often larger than playing cards (and therefore a little trickier to shuffle), so you may as well take your time.
4. Cut (or have your friend cut) the deck into three stacks and select one of them for you to deal from.
5. Decide which layout works best for the question. (A simple question = a simple layout.)
6. Keep your focus on the broader picture rather than tiny details. “Tarot cards are like different pages of a book,” Lucy says. “You see the major journeys everyone goes through, and sometimes the pictures alone just pop out and speak to you.” Tarot is best for getting a general idea of the future.
Three easy layouts
Daily Card Draw
Ask a question, pick any card from the deck, and interpret it.
Three-Card Spread
This represents your past, present, and future. It’s ideal for seeing how simple situations will evolve.
Five-Card Spread
This one is great for deeper dives into your current situation, tasks at hand, new challenges, your overall strength, and the ideal outcome for you right now.
Why tarot is totally worth the hype
Tarot is a great way to help you overcome doubts that are holding you back or become even closer with your ride-or-dies. It really is that simple. “People think you have to be super psychic or that maybe you’re doing something sinister,” says Brigit Esselmont, founder of Biddy Tarot and author of Everyday Tarot. “They’re missing the real beauty of what tarot is: an awesome tool for self-discovery.”
