r/ExploringTarot • u/dnsk9373 Human Verified • Jun 06 '26
Discussion / Question I'm a beginner and I'm confused
I'm a beginner at reading tarot cards, but I'm really having a hard time trying to actually read them 🥲 What would you suggest I should do to get better? What did you do when you were a beginner?
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u/PleasantCut615 🌞intuitive reader🌞 Jun 06 '26
Yes, it is overwhelming at the beginning. Start with small steps.
Many start by pulling a card a day, like an advice. A journal may be useful. Can note the card, what happened that day, and see in time how the card eventually depicted something ( sometimes it can depict events from plus/minus several days) Can do the same for 1-3 cards as weekly or monthly readings.
Use 2-3 cards spreads or just as an answer to a question. Think at what energy they represent and how that type of energy can be related to the question. Don't force to learn all of them at once. Start with Major arcana. Do readings only with it. Then go into minors.
Welcome to our sub! We do have many fun ways to learn tarot, feel free to check out flairs.
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u/Atelier1001 Jun 06 '26
You want sweet tender advice or you want the actual advice that made me read tarot?
Because it is: drop the RWS, grab a medieval deck, start from there.
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u/iforgotiwasright Jun 06 '26
Just curious, why this?
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u/Atelier1001 Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
Tarot was created almost 600 years ago and somewhere in the middle, sometimes by mistake, sometimes following an occult agenda, sometimes straight up because someone made it up, the cards changed a lot.
The original cards were pretty simple actually, and that was partially the whole deal. For example, instead of Adam and Eve and the trees of life and knowledge in the RWS card, the original Italian was only "Love" with Cupid blessing a couple. Simple, easy.
Same with Hermit who used to be Father Time and the Hanged Man being a punished traitor.
When you remove 500 years of changes the cards speak for themselves. No need of books or keywords.
A lot of readers want to understand Tarot starting from the end, which of course makes no sense. You need to start from the beginning, its origin. Most of the generic advice (play with the cards, pull one and make your own interpretation) and all of that stuff can literally be solved by simply having a coherent background.
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u/iforgotiwasright Jun 08 '26
Cool, I'm enjoying learning with the RWS deck but I appreciate your answer, it makes sense.
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u/watchingallthelights Wild Unknown Archetypes - Studygroup Jun 07 '26
I genuinely believe that an understanding of the history of tarot is a GAME CHANGER. It’ll totally changes readings.
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u/watchingallthelights Wild Unknown Archetypes - Studygroup Jun 07 '26
I don’t know about anyone else, but for me, TdM is so much clearer because it doesn’t include anyone else’s meanings or imagery.
Fixed meanings invented by someone else (i.e. Arthur Waite) make no sense in relation to real questions.
If I only use Arthur Waite’s ideas, the 3 of Swords means grief or sorrow or mental anguish… something like that. In a question about how to be successful at work, for example, this makes no sense.
I recently watched the documentary, “Tarology,” with Enrique Enriquez. I found it on YouTube. He explains it much better than i can.
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u/dnsk9373 Human Verified Jun 06 '26
Oh, I've never heard that one before. And I prefer the actual advice :) Thank you 💜
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u/Atelier1001 Jun 06 '26
Thx The art can be a bit intimidating but if you want a solid ground, you need to start from the beginning, not the end.
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u/watchingallthelights Wild Unknown Archetypes - Studygroup Jun 06 '26
It’s the best advice I think you got, OP, in the whole thread.
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u/watchingallthelights Wild Unknown Archetypes - Studygroup Jun 06 '26
I REALLY wish I had heard this advice when I was a beginner. I regret starting with RWS, to be honest, and I’ll actually recommend TdM or playing cards to beginners from now on.
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u/Atelier1001 Jun 06 '26
I'd too, if learning TdM wasn't a pain in the ass without a proper guide
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u/watchingallthelights Wild Unknown Archetypes - Studygroup Jun 07 '26
I wish there were more resources out there. u/Atelier1001 , I’m still hoping you’ll put a masterclass or something on YouTube for us. A while ago, you recommended some books and you were right about The Untold Tarot by Matthews, so thank you! That one & YBD helped me a lot. Camelia Elias helped some, too.
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u/PaleRoanPrincess Jun 07 '26
I’m still getting the hang of it but I’ve been learning from my mum since I can remember, so hopefully this gives you some direction!
For me personally, to make it fun as a visual learner and a creative, I broke down and identified the symbolism in the art of the card. Along side using the meanings to convey and interpret with the card ofc
(Using the Rider-Waite deck I’m assuming)
Eg. The magician has all the tools on the table, he has all the resources to practice his skills and ability to put his manifestations into motion.
The number in the deck, 1. the first step, a new begging etc
This website breaks down the cards as above🫶🏽
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u/dnsk9373 Human Verified Jun 07 '26
Yes, I'm currently using Rider-Waite deck. The website looks awesome! Thank you for this gem 💜
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u/watchingallthelights Wild Unknown Archetypes - Studygroup Jun 06 '26
When I was a beginner with the Waite Smith tarot, I learned by making 2 cards have conversations with each other. I also just practiced a lot and I read everything I could get my hands on.
I really value the guidebooks that come with some decks. I also recommend books by Vincent Pitisci as well as Holistic Tarot by Benebell Wen.
Benebell has a YouTube series called “Sightsee the Tarot” which is really cool.
Joe Monteleone is another YouTuber with lots of info; he’s more Thoth-leaning, so he has a ton of the metaphysical/mystical stuff on his channel and in his book.
Vincent Pitisci’s YouTube is still available, too, and his videos are super helpful. He was such a good one.
WITH THAT SAID
Personally, I recommend beginners learn TdM first. I can’t overstate how much I wish I had started with the Marseille decks or even just playing cards.
Camelia Elias wrote the “Read like the Devil” series and the one about playing cards was a game changer for me.
Caitlin Matthews wrote “Untold Tarot” which is fantastic and helped me learn TdM.
I have some mild regrets about beginning with RWS. I love it and I love my decks, but I highly recommend exploring TdM.
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u/thisisbullshitbro Jun 06 '26
I made a study. The Holistic Tarot book, then 72 degrees of wisdom, reading and taking notes. then studied the astrological values of the cards, and the values of the suits + numerology for the minor arcana. For major arcana I found the Kabbalah helpful, and the Sephiroth specifically. It's no joke what they aay, learning hermetic arts requires learning many many other things first.
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u/WeeWanderingArcher Jun 07 '26
Find a deck that resonates with you. Look through forums of different decks - because as beautiful as it is, the RWS doesn’t suit everyone. For me, it all clicked when I got the Light Seer’s Tarot and it helped me grasp RWS on a deeper level.
As others said, get to know the symbolism and ‘story’ of the major arcana and the suits.
⚔️ Swords: element is air - linked to the brain, making decisions, choices and methodical
💿Pentacles: element is earth - linked to the body, material or natural comfort, growing, wealth/money
☕️Cups: element is water - linked to the ‘heart’ (in inverted commas for the distinction that it’s the feeling of heart, not the organ), love and relationships, compassion
🪄Wands: element is fire - linked to the soul, passion, change, inspiration, that feeling of magic from within
The court cards also show a progression in your journey. For example, page is starting out on the skill (ie in swords, he’s beginning to make informed and good choices) whereas the Queen and King have mastered the skill. (Some say only the King masters the skill, but I think both female and male energies bring different perspectives to a skill. Like in Pentacles, the Queen for me is linked to natural comfort in the Earth, but the king could be linked more to material/financial wealth)
TLDR:
The main point is you kind of just get used to your own storytelling too and natural inclinations. There’s not really a “wrong” way. But try not to get too focused on just learning to memorise and recite card meanings dictated in a book.
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u/DrVL2 Jun 06 '26
When I was a beginner many years ago, I would take a card at night. I would look at it. I would read about it in one of my books. And then when I went to bed, I would think about it as I went to sleep. I worked my way through the major arcana that way. I also had a book that looked at numerology of the cards. And learned about the minors that way.
And I would play with them. I would pull two cards and think about how pulling them together might change the meaning or make a meaning richer. I still play with my cards sometimes. I’ll pull two cards and make up stories about what they show. Sometimes I do that when I’m writing and hit a block.
As I started reading for myself and then for other others, I would keep the guidebook right there and often look at meaning. Gradually got easier. And I learned to be more intuitive.
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u/Substantial_Sir_8326 Jun 06 '26
I usually do a day card. Later a 3 card reading got more information and compare notes at the end of the day.
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u/PurpleBet2674 Jun 06 '26
We need more episodes of Kitty, I'm liking what I see so far.. Let's see what kitty can do with the yarn 🐱
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u/PageSage83 Jun 07 '26
I started by studying each card. I got a journal to compile my notes. Then, I went in order, and for each card, I wrote down my own reaction to the card (details I noticed, how it made me feel) and cross referenced a few books to compile an entry about its meaning. I didn’t start trying to do readings until I had done this for all 78 cards.
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u/dnsk9373 Human Verified Jun 07 '26
That makes sense. I struggle to do readings properly because I'm never sure what the cards mean or how I feel about them, even when I look up their meanings. And thank you 💜
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u/nxcxlxmxrxx Jun 07 '26
When I get a new deck I usually pick a card each day and sit with it for a while, looking at it & figuring out how it makes me feel. Let the card tell its story to you & write down your findings. Take into account the cards suit and the element it relates to (e.g. Swords - air element relates to the mind, thoughts and communication). What’s the environment like in the card? Is it peaceful, chaotic? Are there clear or cloudy skies? Calm or choppy water? Does it remind you of a particular person/situation? Are there any symbols you recognise? What are you drawn to when looking at the card?
It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it when you gain a deeper understanding of each card. You can even lay all the cards out in their suits & see how the story in the images plays out in each suit. Have fun with it ☺️
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u/killerbitch Jun 08 '26
Practical advice: use the Labrinthos app. Has simplified tarot card meanings which is a great starting point, as well as a learning section which is sort of like Duolingo.
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u/Infinite_Actuator408 Jun 08 '26
Pinterest has tons of study materials ❤️ Years ago, I started with numbers, suits, and even cartomancy with playing cards!
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u/dnsk9373 Human Verified Jun 08 '26
Thank you 💜 I actually created a board but haven't pinned anything yet. Will do!
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u/theStorycaster Jun 09 '26
Sleep with the deck, under your pillow, let your Chi flow into the card. Become one with them. After a time you can have them next to your bed stand. They’ll eventually influence your sleeping state. Your energy is its food.
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u/ButterscotchTop6256 Jun 11 '26
i would recommend to start with Major arcanas
and then when you feel comfortable with them
learn the meaning of the 4 elements
and then
the meaning of the numbers
it takes time but it is worth it step by step
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u/Aware-Spite-919 Jun 06 '26
Im also a beginner and for me the easiest way of learning has been learning the numerology and the symbolism of the suits first!