If I Was Learning Tarot Again As a Beginner, Here's How I'd Get Started

Learning tarot as a beginner can feel overwhelming.

There are 78 cards, mountains of information, and no clear sense of where to begin or whether you're even doing it "right." You might be asking yourself: What questions should I ask my cards? How often should I read them? How do I know if my interpretation is correct?

When I first started, I tried to memorise every card meaning. And nothing stuck. It was only when I shifted my approach and learnt how to read the image rather than recite a definition that everything changed. My readings became resonant and genuinely useful.

So if I could go back and start again, here's exactly what I'd do:

1. Get Acquainted With Your Deck

Before you start diving into any books, start with the images on your cards.

Flip through the cards and notice what comes up for you. Are there any images that intrigue you? Any that you feel strangely drawn to? If something catches your eye, pause and sit with it. Be curious about why that card is pulling at you, as this is your intuition working.

You can also try laying your cards out in suit and number order to see if any visual themes emerge. Jot down notes or leave yourself a voice memo about anything that feels interesting or surprising. There are no wrong observations here!

2. Start With an Interview Spread

If this is your first time reading with a new deck (or if you're returning to tarot after a break) an interview spread is the perfect place to begin. It opens up a dialogue with your cards and gives you a sense of what they want to teach you.

I have one you can use just below!

When reading any spread, look for the clues that link the cards together: repeating suits, repeated numbers, similar characters or colours. Notice which cards sit near each other, as placement can show you where energies are influencing one another.

For any spreads you pull for yourself going forward, stick to open-ended questions like:

• Where should my focus be right now?

• What do I need to know?

• What guidance can you offer me on [situation]?

• How can I move forward?

And play around with shape. Don't just put your cards in a line! Arrange your cards in a triangular or diamond shape, and look at how the placement influences each card.

3. Learn How to Actually Read Your Cards

Here's something important: learning tarot and reading tarot are two very different skills.

Learning is logical, where you build your knowledge piece by piece. Reading is creative, where you weave those pieces into a bigger picture that reflects your life.

When you sit down to read, try not to reach immediately for definitions. Instead, look at the image on the card and ask: What set of circumstances might have brought this character to this moment? And what could happen next?

Then take it a step further and ask what might this mean symbolically for you? A card with a dark background and no nature might speak to grief, or that you're moving through a tunnel. Let your imagination play. There are no wrong answers when you're learning to trust your own read.

4. Build Your Knowledge Piece by Piece

Tarot takes time to learn, and that's completely okay. There are 78 cards, after all!

What helps is understanding that nothing on a tarot card exists by accident. Every element is there for a reason. Each suit carries its own lesson, each object and element within the Minor Arcana holds meaning, and each number carries its own energetic quality.

When you start to learn these building blocks, you'll find you can decode any card because you're looking for clues and are able to put these clues in context.

Whenever you research a card, always anchor what you learn back to the image itself. Find where that meaning lives on the card. This is what makes it stick.

5. Don't Put Your Cards Away Straight Away

This is one of the most underrated pieces of advice I can offer: leave your cards out.

When you read for yourself you can't be objective about your lived experiences. So the wisdom tends to unfold slowly. If you leave cards out for somewhere visible and spend even five minutes each day connecting the images to your lived experiences, you'll be amazed at how much deeper your understanding becomes.

You're also far more likely to remember what you pulled, and actually integrate the guidance into your life.

Final Thoughts on Learning Tarot as a Beginner

Learning tarot takes time, but reading tarot is something you can start doing right now.

Play with the image in front of you. Think creatively about the story being told and let your curiosity lead the way.

Learning tarot is meant to be enjoyable! The best readings often come when you stop trying to get it "right" and start letting the cards speak.

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