How to read Tarot cards easily without any prior knowledge is possible with a simple technique, and in this article, I’ll explain how to do it.

If you want to know how to interpret the Tarot in an easy way, I’ll explain how to lay the cards step by step with a few simple rules, without needing to memorize the meaning of every card. Let’s begin!

1. Choose a Tarot deck that’s easy to read

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What’s the best Tarot deck for beginners?

Without a doubt, the best deck for beginners who want to learn Tarot is the “Rider-Waite-Smith” deck, commonly known as the “Rider Tarot.”

This is an evolution of the Marseille Tarot, a deck that had graphic drawings on its Major Arcana, but the suits (Minor Arcana) were just like a standard Spanish or French deck, with a simple count of elements.
The Rider Tarot improves and modernizes the artwork of the Major Arcana and adds scenes to the Minor Arcana, so all 78 cards in the deck offer an illustration or scene that represents their meaning.

This is, without a doubt, the best deck to learn how to read Tarot cards, and it’s the most used worldwide by those starting out and wanting to learn how to lay the cards.

Why is the Rider Tarot the best deck to start reading Tarot?

Simply because all the cards have drawings, graphic scenes, people, and life situations that give you a pretty clear idea of what the card predicts, even if you don’t fully understand its meaning.
Remember, these tips for reading the cards are aimed at those who don’t know how to read Tarot and may not want to learn to do it professionally or regularly, just to lay some cards every now and then when they want to know something specific.

That’s why the illustrated scenes on the cards provide an answer that’s quite obvious and clear, even if you don’t know anything about Tarot. You’ll still be able to grasp the message they offer. At the end of this article, you can read more about how the Rider-Waite deck is structured.

2. Dare to Observe and Trust Your Intuition

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What do you need to read Tarot?

It might seem obvious, but the first thing you need is a Tarot deck. Whether it’s gifted to you or you buy it, the deck must be yours, unique and personal. You can’t use someone else’s deck, and no one else should touch or use your cards either.
We just discussed which Tarot deck is best for beginners, so my recommendation is to get yourself a “Rider Tarot” deck.

The only thing you need to read the cards is a Tarot deck and to connect with your intuition.

• Do you need to be psychic? No.
• Do you need to be clairvoyant? No.
• Do you need to be a medium, sorcerer, witch, or healer? No.
• Do you need experience and knowledge? No.
• Do you need to take a course first? No.
• Is Tarot dangerous, evil, or demonic? No!!

 

Can anyone read Tarot?

Yes, anyone can read Tarot. There are no special requirements—everyone has the ability and potential to do it.
However, as with all activities, some people will have more ease in reading the cards. Just as there are doctors, chefs, and writers who are better than others, in Tarot there will also be people with more or less talent, affinity, and connection with the cards and their messages.

But everyone can lay and read the cards, and that includes you! You don’t need to know anything about Tarot; you just need to tap into that gift of intuition we all have.

Professional Tarot Readings: If you want to read Tarot professionally for others, especially if you plan to charge for it, you still don’t need to be a psychic or clairvoyant. However, in this case, you do need training, practice, learning, and experience.

Still, this article is geared toward those who won’t read Tarot professionally—those who will lay the cards for themselves or for someone else, as a method of guidance, with curiosity and respect for the cards.

3. The third step: How to prepare the Tarot cards?

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Once you have your deck, the first and most essential thing is to create a unique bond between you and your Tarot cards. It’s recommended to sit in a quiet place and start looking at each card, familiarizing yourself with their images, without trying to interpret or understand them, just looking and discovering their artwork for the first time.

It’s also recommended that you keep them close to you for a few days, whether by carrying them with you, placing them on your nightstand, or even keeping them in their box under your pillow so that a sort of transfer between you and the cards can begin.

Once the cards have been charged with your energy, you can attempt your first reading without knowing anything about them.

 

4. Choose a place to lay the cards

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I’ll develop this point by answering the most common questions about the place where Tarot readings should be done.

Do you need a special place or conditions?

Not necessarily, but it’s recommended to do it in a quiet, clean, and private place.
Some people read cards in the street or at fairs, surrounded by noise and crowds, and that’s possible too, but generally, those people are more experienced.

If you’re just starting out, the recommendation is to find a peaceful and pleasant spot.

Do you need a table or special tools to read cards?

No. You can lay the cards anywhere—on a chair, a bed, a blanket, or even on the beach.
However, a table will always be more comfortable, and the idea is to have a place, preferably the same spot each time, where you lay the cards. A table dedicated only to Tarot reading, and if possible, a room or space set aside for it, but honestly, you can read the cards anywhere.

You don’t need special tools either. There’s no need for candles, ornaments, incense, or sage. These are personal choices, aesthetic preferences, and a way to create a pleasant atmosphere.

Therefore, you can use candles and lights, place a special cloth over the table, aromatic oils, and other decorative items if you wish, but it’s not mandatory.

Those who have requested a personal Tarot reading from me may have noticed in the photo I send them that I often have a candle and a small marble owl (its name is “Benicio”) that I always include in my readings. But you can choose not to use anything, as it won’t influence the reading or the answer from the cards, only perhaps your feelings and mood.

5. Shuffling and Cutting

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After completing the previous steps, it’s time for the “moment of truth”—laying the Tarot cards for the first time. Naturally, the first thing is to shuffle the deck and cut the cards. Let’s answer some questions about these two aspects:

How do you shuffle Tarot cards?

The cards can be shuffled or not. It’s not mandatory. Some people spread all the cards face down and randomly pick them. Others, like myself, shuffle a lot.
Since I do readings frequently, shuffling and mixing them is a way to cleanse the deck, so the same cards don’t show up in the next reading. In this sense, I recommend mixing and shuffling between readings, but it’s not a strict requirement.

How do you cut the Tarot deck?

Traditionally, you place the deck in front of you, or the person asking for the reading, and cut it with your left hand, twice to the left, so you end up with three piles of cards, always face down, so they’re not visible. Then, you gather the three piles in any order, reassemble the deck, and it’s ready to start turning the cards over.
It’s also recommended to avoid crossing your arms, legs, or feet while cutting the deck.

6. Laying the cards with your questions in mind

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It’s time to spread out the cards and then interpret them. You probably know or have seen that there are many ways or “spreads” to lay the cards, but if you’re just starting, looking at all the options will only confuse and overwhelm you. So let’s answer some key questions to help you get started in the best way possible…

The importance of asking the right questions in a Tarot reading

When we do a reading, it’s because we’re trying to get an answer, so we need to ask the right question. Avoid asking general or vague questions, as well as ambiguous ones. Tarot needs specific questions because it will give you specific answers.
If you ask, “How will things go for me in general?” “How will life treat me?” or “Will I be happy?” and the painful 3 of Swords shows up, you might panic and think that disasters and heartache are on the horizon.

Similarly, if the 9 of Pentacles appears, you might think you’ll live in abundance and become rich.

And the truth may be somewhere in between—your life will have joys and happiness as well as problems and sorrows, just like everyone else!

When a question is vague or general, you usually have to draw more cards to answer it. And the more cards, the more complex and difficult the interpretation becomes.

Try to make your questions precise: “Will I meet someone this summer?” “Will I find a job before the end of the year?” “Will my friend recover from their illness with this treatment?” “Will Pedro pay me the money he owes me this week?” “Should I move offices now, or should I wait?”

When the question is specific and focused, you’ll likely get a clear answer with just three or five cards, with a simpler interpretation.

Try to refine your questions—be concrete, be specific.

How many cards should be drawn in a Tarot reading?

Some Tarot spreads require a specific number of cards, like the famous “Celtic Cross” which uses 11 cards (some use 10), or the well-known “Simple Cross,” which always uses 5 cards.
If you’re just starting to read Tarot, my recommendation is to avoid complex spreads like the Celtic Cross. It’s quite challenging and not suited for beginners.

You can ask the deck for as many cards as you like, but in my opinion, to get a clear answer, ask for between one and five cards, with three cards being the ideal option.

One card can give you a direct answer, but it’s black or white—no nuance. A single card is great, for example, as a “daily card” or advice for the day. It can help you see not only what’s in store for you but also how you should act, your attitude, what you should improve or change, and which positive things you should continue doing or feeling.

Remember, Tarot doesn’t always predict the future. Many times, the cards simply offer advice. They point out your weaknesses and strengths, suggest actions, and recommend certain attitudes.

Tarot is not set in stone

The cards don’t predict a future that’s guaranteed, that can’t be changed. That idea is a myth and only serves to create suspense in movies. Tarot reveals POSSIBILITIES.

The sea of possibilities is endless, and everything can change at any moment. So, when you do a Tarot reading, the cards are showing you a present or future where the chances of things happening a certain way are high, based on the current situation.

But this isn’t an absolute truth—possibilities can change with actions and attitudes, with choices and decisions we make in the present, as well as through the actions of others and the unpredictability of life itself.

If you ask about your relationship and the cards “predict” a breakup, maybe you can change that. Maybe your partner can change that. It’s possible that life itself will generate situations that alter that outcome.

Today, the cards show a breakup—today, the highest possibility is that. And it’s highly likely things will happen as the cards suggest, but it’s not a definitive truth.

So… How many cards should you draw in a Tarot reading?

My suggestion is to draw three cards to answer a specific question. I think that’s the ideal number.

• One card might give too little information or a very arbitrary answer.
• Too many cards will only confuse you—you’ll get happy cards and unpleasant ones, and it will be overwhelming.
• Three cards provide a good balance—it’s manageable information, and you can make a sound judgment based on what you see.

 

If all three cards are negative, you’ll have no doubt about the answer. If all three cards are positive, you’ll be just as certain. And if they’re mixed—good and bad—your intuition comes into play. You’ll need to trust your feelings, consider what seems most prominent, and decide whether the negative or positive cards carry more weight. What you feel is crucial—it’s the real answer you need.

 

Five cards can also be a good number.

You always need a foundation, especially if you ask for many cards. If you draw 20 cards, you won’t know what the deck is trying to tell you. You might see a general trend—mostly positive or mostly negative—but it’ll be too much to process.

Ideally, you’d draw a base or “significator” card, or three significator cards if you’re planning on drawing many cards.

This is my personal method—I always use “significator cards.” I take these as the main answer, the most important one, the one that “counts.” Then I ask for other secondary or complementary cards for more information and context.

How should you arrange Tarot cards?

If you draw three cards, it’s common to place them side by side in a linear arrangement.

You can view these cards as a timeline if you’d like, or if your intuition suggests it. You might see the first card as something from the past, the middle card as the present, and the third card as the future, or you can read them all together as a general answer about the future.

You can also place the cards in a linear arrangement with five cards or do the “Simple Cross” spread, where in this case, the cards represent:

• The central card: This is your present, your current state, or the issue at hand.
• The card to the left: This represents something from the past that still influences the present or has led to the current situation.
• The bottom card: Obstacles, challenges, and difficulties—what stands in your way.
• The top card: What may help you, advantages, or things working in your favor.
• The card to the right: This is the future—what awaits you, what could happen based on the previous cards, but also something that might occur unexpectedly, beyond what the earlier cards suggest.

 

7. Interpret the story based on what you see

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In this particular article, I’m sharing my advice on how to read Tarot cards without having an extensive knowledge of the deck, for personal use or for close friends. So in this section, I’ll give you all the tips I can so you can do it yourself…

How to read Tarot cards without knowing their meanings

If you don’t have any knowledge and don’t want to learn how to read Tarot professionally, if you’re looking for quick answers without having to study the meanings of the cards, there’s a method you can use to lay the cards and receive answers, understanding what the deck is telling you.
You don’t need to know how many cards are in the deck or what the Major Arcana or Minor Arcana are, or what each suit represents. You just need to look at the cards and feel.

This method is called “Trusting Your Intuition.”

You can do it with any Tarot deck, but undoubtedly, the drawings and scenes of the Rider Tarot will make it much easier for you to use your intuition.

All you need to do is see what you feel when looking at a card or the cards in front of you. You should look at their artwork without trying to interpret it—just go with the flow, see what comes up inside you, what that image awakens in you.

You might feel it’s a happy, sad, painful, warm, or abundant image. You might intuit that it speaks of love or money. You could see work, prosperity, ruin, joy, suffering…

The scenes will give you a primary impression, almost a reflex, and what you feel is the most important thing.

Look at the colors of the cards, their background hues, the tones of objects, the light, whether it’s sunny or cloudy, the clothes people are wearing—everything will give you a distinct feeling.

Don’t try to “guess” what the card means. Let your imagination run free and simply feel what it evokes in you.

What does this card, for example, tell you? What feeling does it give you? Is it happy or sad?

And what about this one? Is there sorrow or joy? Does the scene worry you, or does it feel pleasant?

Well, that’s what it’s all about—the impression the card gives you and what you feel and intuit that it means.

There’s no other way to read Tarot without knowing anything about it than by using this method: Look at the images and scenes on the cards, feel them, and intuit what they’re telling you.

You don’t need to take a course or learn everything about Tarot to know that the 3 of Swords is a sad and painful card that gives a negative answer, no matter what you’ve asked.

Similarly, you don’t need to be a Tarot expert to understand that the 10 of Cups gives a happy, joyful answer. You know that everything will be fine, that it’s a positive prediction, whatever the question may be.

Some cards are more obvious in their scenes, like the ones we mentioned, while others are more complex. But all of them will provoke a feeling in you. You’ll immediately, almost instinctively, intuit what the card means and what its answer is.

Some cards may give you an ambiguous feeling, where you can’t decide whether the message is positive or negative. Like these, for example:

 

Things don’t seem great in these cards, do they? The little guy in the 2 of Pentacles seems to be struggling to juggle things. A man hanging upside down doesn’t seem like a happy image, and the injured figure in the 9 of Wands is discouraging… but look closer:

The man’s face in the 2 of Pentacles is calm. He has a confident, relaxed expression, and he seems to have control over his situation…

The Hanged Man doesn’t look desperate or in pain. In fact, he seems willing and at peace with being in that position—maybe it was his own decision to hang upside down!

The character in the 9 of Wands looks determined. He’s standing, not defeated, resting to recover his strength and continue. It’s actually a victorious card!

So, pay close attention to the figures, examine their details, their colors and shapes, their objects and elements. Everything matters in a Tarot card—the color of the clothes, the skies, whether there’s water, trees, animals, the facial expressions, gestures, and body postures of the characters—observe everything carefully!

That way, you’ll get a first impression when you see the card. Then, with more detailed observation, you can confirm or adjust your initial feeling until you have a complete sense of what the card evokes in you and what it means to you.

It doesn’t matter if the meaning is “correct” according to the Tarot book. What matters is what you feel and interpret from the figure. That’s the only thing that counts when you’re interpreting the Tarot.

Learn how to read Tarot cards like a story

My recommendation for you, because this is how I do every reading and how I understand and live Tarot, is that you have to see a story in the cards that appear.
You need to see a narrative. The cards should tell you a story, a tale, and you need to believe in that story. Try to link the cards together like a story, don’t look at them separately. See them as part of a bigger picture, a whole.

This way, explanations will come to you, and you’ll understand the message. What you see will become relevant to you—what the cards are telling you.

The most important thing, the only advice I can give you, is: Trust your intuition! Trust in that “story” you’re seeing and being told by the cards… trust in your impressions, in what you feel, and I promise you’ll do beautiful and accurate Tarot readings.

The secret to learning how to read Tarot is knowing how to interpret the story that each reading—whether one card or many—is telling you.

How to interpret Tarot cards: What you see is what it is

The cards that come up, whether you’ve drawn one or several, are the ones that give you the answer. You might not understand them at first, or you might think they’re not saying anything, or that can’t be the message… but what you see there is what it is. That’s the visceral answer from the cards. It might not be what you wanted to hear, you might not understand it, or you might not agree with it, but that’s what the cards are saying to you.
Trust in what shows up, in what the deck is revealing, even if it seems off.

Your friend wants to know if her partner is cheating on her. She’s convinced he’s unfaithful… You lay out the cards, and something like this comes up:

These cards don’t seem to suggest betrayal or infidelity, do they? The Hierophant seems to say that he respects his marriage, cares about his family and children (6 of Cups), and perhaps his absences are due to being too focused on work (8 of Pentacles), rather than spending time with another woman…

So, even though your friend is certain her partner is cheating, you’ll need to tell her that the cards say it’s not the case. You have to trust fully in what the cards are showing you, whether the news is good or bad.

You ask, and the Tarot answers. Everyone must be ready to receive the answer. We can’t keep drawing cards over and over until we get an answer we like or that makes us feel better. The first result is what matters—it’s what the Tarot wants to show you.

If you’re not ready to receive a negative or unpleasant answer, then it’s better not to ask, not to use the Tarot.

8. Read these additional answers on how to read Tarot cards

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Do you need to use all the cards for a Tarot reading?

Not necessarily. You can read Tarot using only the Major Arcana, but my recommendation is to use all 78 cards, including the Minor Arcana.
Some people only read with the Major Arcana, and that’s a valid method, but in my opinion, it greatly reduces the richness of a reading.

The Major Arcana are complex cards to understand because they encompass broad, general meanings, offering a macroscopic view. Depending on the question, they might give a strong answer, or they could be too broad and perhaps vague.

Learning how to read Tarot with the entire deck, including the Minor Arcana, will enrich the information and, therefore, the answer.

The Minor Arcana provide the necessary nuances—they are more direct and specific in their meaning, full of subtleties, and often give a clear response, even from the artwork itself.

Do the cards always have to be read upright?

No. Just as some people only read with the Major Arcana, some only read the cards in their upright position.
This is valid, but again, you’re limiting the possibilities and information in your reading. You’re only using part of the deck and would get a broader perspective and likely better results if you read the cards both upright and reversed.

Do the cards mean the same thing upright and reversed?

Of course not. In general, a reversed card has the opposite meaning of what it expresses when upright.
Similarly, and generally speaking, cards are more positive when upright than when reversed, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, some cards have a positive meaning when reversed and are negative when upright.

There are two general rules that don’t change:

1. All court cards (Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings) are positive when upright and negative when reversed.
2. The number 5 cards of each suit (Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands) are more positive when reversed and negative when upright.

 

In the Major Arcana, the vast majority of the 22 cards are positive when upright, with the exception of three cards that are positive when reversed:

• The Devil reversed
• The Tower reversed
• The Moon reversed

 

In the Minor Arcana, it’s a similar situation. Most cards are more positive when upright, but several cards are more favorable when reversed. These cards are:

• 4 of Cups
• 5 of Cups
• 7 of Cups
• 5 of Pentacles
• 2 of Swords
• 3 of Swords
• 5 of Swords
• 7 of Swords
• 8 of Swords
• 9 of Swords
• 10 of Swords
• 5 of Wands
• 10 of Wands

 

Does each Tarot card have only one meaning?

Of course not. Each card has multiple meanings—it’s a mistake to reduce them to just one.
For example, the Fool, the Chariot, and the World can all signify travel, but that’s not their only meaning. Each card also touches on other topics, perhaps even more important than this central theme of travel, which they undoubtedly have.

Every time the Fool shows up in your reading, you can’t automatically announce travel. You’ll only do that if the question was, “Will I travel?” “Should I take a trip?” or “Is my sister coming to visit from abroad?” to give some examples.

But if the question is about your grandmother’s health, your partner’s infidelity, or your son’s financial situation, “travel” won’t serve as an answer. You’ll need to dig deeper into the card’s other meanings and references.

While cards have a certain orientation and general theme, their meanings are broad and abundant.

The Cups suit primarily speaks to emotions, but it will still respond if you’ve asked about money or work.

The Pentacles suit represents the material realm, but it will also respond about love or health.

Do you need to take a course to learn to read Tarot?

Yes and no. To read Tarot it’s not necessary to take a course. You can learn simply by reading and practicing, being self-taught.
A course, taking classes—like in any activity—will always be beneficial. It will be useful, and you’ll learn many things you might miss if learning on your own. A good teacher always provides valuable lessons.

So, taking a course is helpful, but it’s not mandatory. You should also know that a Tarot course won’t teach you everything, no matter how great the teacher is or how much they teach you about the cards, spreads, meanings, and combinations. There are certain qualities needed that can’t be taught—such as intuition, perception, and the ability to make connections.

That’s why my grandmother and mother used to say that Tarot is an untransferable experience. You can learn all the meanings of the cards, but in the end, you’ll be alone with the deck in front of you, and you’ll have to interpret the cards by listening to your inner voice.

The knowledge you’ve acquired will help, of course, but there’s something extra in the art of Tarot—you need something more, which is intuition, your inner world, and sensitivity.

Tarot isn’t like mathematics; it’s not an exact science. There are fixed rules to build a bridge or perform heart surgery, but in Tarot, every reading is different.

Each Tarot reading is unique. The possibilities of the 78 cards, which increase if you use both upright and reversed cards, create a vast universe of potential outcomes. You’ll find yourself interpreting things differently each time.

All of this depends, of course, on the question being asked and how it’s framed. No Tarot course could ever cover all the possible variations of a reading. No teacher can tell you what to do in every scenario.

Taking a course will certainly enrich your knowledge, but at the end of the day, you’ll face the cards with a new set of possibilities every time. The knowledge you’ve gained will help, but you’ll still need that something that can’t be taught—intuition, emotional connection, abstract reasoning.

It sounds like a paradox, but someone who has studied a lot, taken courses, read, and researched might still never be able to read Tarot if they don’t have “that”—the intuition and inner voice.

On the other hand, someone who knows nothing about the meanings of the cards might do a very accurate reading simply by looking at the images. That’s the method taught in this article for those who don’t know how to read Tarot and don’t want to learn it professionally. They might see reality, find meaning, and receive a message from what they see in the cards.

These highly intuitive people, with deep sensitivity and strong trust in their inner voice, might have better chances of reading Tarot successfully.

So, we could conclude that everyone can read Tarot, and anyone can learn Tarot because, like any knowledge, it can be acquired.

However, just as there are brilliant surgeons with a “gift” and mediocre surgeons who don’t have it, in the world of Tarot, there are talented and not-so-talented readers—brilliant interpreters of the cards, and mediocre ones.

In that sense, the first thing you need to know before learning to read Tarot is whether you have “that” gift, which you won’t find in any book or course.

If you don’t have it, that’s okay—you can still learn to read the cards, but it might take you longer to understand their messages.

If you connect with your inner voice, if you connect with your intuition, if you can take a broad and sometimes lateral view of things, you might become an excellent Tarot reader.

9. Examples of 3-Card Tarot Questions

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As I mentioned at the beginning, there are many types of spreads passed down through generations, like the “Celtic Cross,” the “Mystic Star,” the “Tree of Life,” or “The Horseshoe,” where the cards are laid out in a fixed and established way that you can’t alter.

But I also told you that I DO NOT recommend doing these readings if you’re a beginner, and even less so if you know nothing about Tarot and it’s your first time with the deck, as these spreads typically use quite a few cards. The more cards you use, the more complex the interpretation becomes, and you’ll only end up confused.

My suggestion is to start with a single card or three cards, as these offer a broad enough view to answer any question.

Personally, when I want to know something about my life, I always resolve it with three cards. A triad of cards will answer anything in a concise and basic way, but it gives you an overview, a trend, and a quick answer you can use to guide yourself or make a decision.

You can approach the 3 cards in two ways:

► One is by interpreting the set of three cards, the whole context, in a more basic way.

If you draw, for example, three cards with happy images, you can understand that the deck is giving you a favorable answer.

The same applies if you draw three cards with a clearly negative appearance—you’ll intuit that the answer is unfavorable.

Of course, you might draw a mix of positive and negative cards, and you’ll have to work with your intuition to feel which cards prevail, which ones carry more weight as the answer.

Remember what I told you about finding a story there—imagine a narrative of what’s happening in those cards. Let the images speak to you, and above all, trust what you’re feeling.

Don’t ask yourself if it’s true or not, if it’s possible or impossible—just trust what you’re feeling, that first impression you got when you saw those cards. Trust the images you’re seeing and let them give you sensations.

You don’t know the meanings of the Arcana, so learn how to read Tarot with the best tool you have: Your intuition.

► The other way is to associate each card with a role, question, or situation.

Now I’ll give you some ideas of what or how to ask the three questions corresponding to each card. These are just examples to inspire you:

General Question Examples

• Past / Present / Future
• The nature of the problem / The cause / The solution
• Current situation / Obstacle / Advice
• Situation / Action / Result
• Context of the situation / Where you need to focus / Outcome
• What I think about the situation / What I feel / What I do

 

Some Future Question Examples

• Where you are now / What you aspire to / How to get there
• What you aspire to / What’s standing in your way / How you can overcome it
• What will help you / What will hinder you / Your untapped potential

 

Questions to Understand the Past

• What can change / What cannot change / What you might not know
• What worked well / What didn’t work well / Key lessons learned

 

Three-Card Relationship Questions

• You / The other person / The relationship
• What you want from the relationship / What they want from the relationship / Where the relationship is headed
• What brings you together / What pulls you apart / What needs attention

 

Three-Card Decision-Making Questions

• Strengths / Weaknesses / Advice
• Opportunities / Challenges / Outcome
• Option 1 / Option 2 / Option 3
• Option 1 / Option 2 / What you need to know to decide
• The solution / An alternative solution / How to choose

 

Examples of Self-Discovery Questions

• Mind / Body / Spirit
• Your conscious mind / Your subconscious mind / Your higher mind
• Material state / Emotional state / Spiritual state
• You / Your current path / Your potential
• Stop / Start / Continue
• What the Universe wants you to be / Personal qualities required / Specific action

 

10. An example spread to learn Tarot

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A real reading with a few cards as an example

Let’s look at an example of a reading I did in 2021 for a girl we’ll call “Maria,” where she wanted to know if her family would move into a house they wanted to rent.

If you’re among those who don’t know anything about Tarot, who will interpret the cards through their images alone, observe the figures, feel what they’re telling you, and try to sense the answer they give.

If you’re among those who have some knowledge of Tarot, no matter what level, this short reading may give you ideas on how to interpret the cards.

As in all my readings, I always draw some significator cards, three in this case, which are the central cards in the red box. The rest are cards I asked for to provide more context and information.

The specific question from this girl, Maria, was:

Will my family and I move into a house we’ve been waiting for over six months to rent this November or December? There’s a tenant currently living there who hasn’t ended their lease, but I’m not sure if they’ll leave… I feel like we’ve missed other opportunities waiting for this house…

This is the photo of the cards that came up at that time:

Alright, Maria, I’ll tell you right away that the reading is positive and favorable—the cards indicate that you will likely move into that house you want… I would lean towards December, rather than November, but it could be this month depending on how things unfold.

I always draw the central cards first, so the first card to appear in the spread is the 2 of Wands, and this card alone has already answered the question… It’s clear that this is a card of journeys, movements, and relocations, of moving house. So by itself, it’s already giving a favorable answer to the question… But of course, a Tarot spread is about context, not just one card, and maybe that 2 could mean heading towards a different house. That’s why the rest of the cards I asked for help confirm the favorable response.

In particular, the last thing I asked was if they should look for another house, despite already knowing that the answer is favorable for moving into the house they want… With the cards The Chariot reversed and Justice reversed, the deck’s answer is that they shouldn’t look for another house, that they won’t move elsewhere… Just as the 2 of Wands is a card of movement and journeys, the Chariot is too, but reversed, it means that journey or move won’t happen or shouldn’t happen… And Justice confirms that it shouldn’t happen because it’s a “bad judgment,” both cards indicating a poor outcome. So moving to another house, looking for a different place, and giving up on this one seems to be a mistake.

The 2 of Wands tells us they will move to this house, but the other cards give us the necessary context: What stands out is the 4 of Swords reversed, which we can summarize as saying that Maria or her family needs to take action—they can’t remain inactive. They can’t leave things in the hands of fate, the homeowner, or the man living in the house. They need to push things forward and take a proactive stance. This is largely in their hands… The 4 of Swords is a card of rest and pause when upright, but reversed, it’s the opposite—they need to act.

The Knight of Wands also confirms that they will move into this house because part of the card’s description clearly indicates journeys and relocations. Knights generally bring favorable and positive news, and in this figure, they are “heading” toward this house.

So the central cards are clear. We have two cards confirming the move toward that house, but the key message comes from the 4 of Swords, urging action, staying on top of things, not letting the situation cool down, and that will bring the positive results.

With the upper cards, I wanted to look into the man living in the house… The Ace of Cups is a card of new beginnings, and if The Hermit and The Empress were upright, the Ace could mean that this “new beginning” is a renewed lease, a continuation of his stay. But since they appear reversed, this new beginning for him undoubtedly takes place somewhere else. Just as for your family the cards indicate moving into this house, for him, they show moving out to a different location. There’s resistance in him, stubbornness, obstinacy with the reversed Hermit—he’s closed off—but the reversed Empress always refers to someone who has to take a step back to meet the needs of others. So what he wants or desires doesn’t really matter, because the needs of other people—in this case, your family or even the homeowner—will take precedence.

Now, for the homeowner, I also drew a couple of cards. They are both positive: the 8 of Wands, a card of speed and things moving quickly, indicating that everything is on the right track, which could mean the move is possible in November (though I still think December is more likely). And with the 6 of Pentacles, we see that all she wants is a fair deal. She’s not taking sides—neither with the man nor with you. She has no preference between the two of you, and in the end, she will decide based on who offers her the best deal.

The man might be able to offer a good deal, but in that case, you’ll need to outbid him, and this is within your control. You can guarantee regular payments, perhaps by offering to pay several months in advance, essentially finding a way to satisfy her financial needs and make your offer more tempting than his.

These two cards suggest she’s open to negotiating with you, that she’s interested in renting the property to you, but the whole reading carries the theme of action—being proactive, negotiating, not just sitting back. In the end, it will come down to a smart strategy to win her trust and secure the deal.

With the lower cards, I wanted to see what the final outcome might be, assuming you do end up renting the house. These are also positive cards. Just as the man has a new beginning with the Ace of Cups, you have the Ace of Wands, a card of drive, action, and moving forward, even if you don’t know exactly how things will unfold. You just need to take the first step, and once you’re on the path, the way forward will reveal itself. It’s a classic “go for it!” card.

The Sun reversed isn’t a particularly negative card. It generally represents a “temporary cloud”—short-term issues, a bad atmosphere. There could be some discussions, a bit of tension, and things might heat up during negotiations, but it’s precisely through this struggle (as the 4 of Swords and Knight of Wands indicated) that you’ll push through. Even if negotiations get a bit rough, the outcome will still be favorable for you.

The Page of Swords is a clear card of taking action, with some intensity but without aggression. Like all Swords, it emphasizes intellect and communication, so this is a matter of reason and intelligence—a mental duel of sorts… I think it’s about convincing the homeowner that you are the better option for her, the better tenants, and ultimately the better business decision to ensure she gets the money she’s seeking, as shown in the 6 of Pentacles.

She’s just looking for a fair deal. She’s not greedy or money-hungry, so it might not take much to convince her. It’s not just about offering more money; it’s about being a better option in every way—both in the amount you offer and the guarantees you can provide as tenants.

With these cards, dear Maria, I believe it’s likely that you’ll be able to rent that house you desire. As we’ve seen, it doesn’t seem like your destiny is elsewhere. You haven’t missed other opportunities, as you feared. This house is the right one, but you need to act—don’t wait, push, negotiate, and as the cards show, you’ll get what you want.

 

Learn Tarot Rider Waite

How the Tarot deck is structured

If you want to learn how to read Tarot cards with a bit more knowledge, not just interpreting the images but also digging into their meanings, you need to start by understanding how the deck is structured.
The “Rider Tarot” deck consists of 78 cards, divided into two groups: 22 cards make up the Major Arcana, and the remaining 56 are the Minor Arcana.

The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana are represented in Tarot by 22 numbered cards, from 1 to 21, plus one unnumbered card, “The Fool.” Some prefer to call it card 0 (zero), while others interpret it as card number 22.

The Major Arcana represent significant, vital matters in a reading—things of great importance that last over a long period of time.

We can divide the Major Arcana into two groups:

The first 10 cards, from 0 to 9, represent the internal aspects of a person—their energies, feelings, states, and thoughts.
These cards are:

• The Fool (0)
• The Magician (1)
• The High Priestess (2)
• The Empress (3)
• The Emperor (4)
• The Hierophant (5)
• The Lovers (6)
• The Chariot (7)
• Strength (8)
• The Hermit (9)

 

The remaining 11 cards, from 10 to 21, symbolize external forces, astral energies, and influences from the outside world.
These Major Arcana are:

• The Wheel of Fortune (10)
• Justice (11)
• The Hanged Man (12)
• Death (13)
• Temperance (14)
• The Devil (15)
• The Tower (16)
• The Star (17)
• The Moon (18)
• The Sun (19)
• Judgement (20)
• The World (21)

 

The Minor Arcana

The remaining 56 cards correspond to the suits, which are the traditional suits of a Spanish deck: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands. These are the Minor Arcana.

Their role in Tarot is to represent everyday scenes and moments in life—situations and events of daily existence.

In a very basic sense, we can associate the suits of the Minor Arcana as follows:

 

►The suit of Cups speaks of love and emotions, feelings, and the creative world.

►The suit of Pentacles is associated with the earthly and material aspects of life—financial matters and work-related issues.

►The suit of Swords represents ideas, reason, intellect, and logic.

►The suit of Wands relates to instinct, actions, beliefs, and inspiration.

 

Each suit has 14 cards: The first 10 are numbered from 1 (Ace) to 10, and the remaining four represent the court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

The first 10 cards depict vivid scenes, illustrating events, circumstances, and experiences of daily life. Meanwhile, the court cards can represent three essential types of messages:

• Internal processes—attitudes, qualities, flaws, and behaviors of the person they represent.
• Events—occurrences, news, and actions.
• People.

 

As people, Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings can signify two types of individuals:

 

►The court cards may represent the person asking the question (for instance, you, if you’re doing a Tarot reading).

►Or they may point to others—people around you, whether they’re known to you or people you’ve yet to meet.