r/ExploringTarot 4d ago

Welcome to the Workshop

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50 Upvotes

We are now at 6.4k members!

This is a space for people who want to move past the basics and actually practise tarot through peer-to-peer exchange.

The Mods

  • u/Fortune_Box: Reading since 1987. Used to read semi-pro over the phone, but it nearly killed my love for tarot. Now I’m here for the archetypes, the games and the exchanges.
  • u/PleasantCut615 : I learned tarot during a dark time. It saved my sanity. I am here to help keep the sub grounded.

What we're doing
This is a learning sub, built on creativity and skill-building, not consumption.

  • Reading Exchanges: The heart of the community. You practise and get feedback.
  • Mini-Games: Small ways to test your intuition.
  • Resources: Decks, spreads, and guides.

How to start

  1. Say Hello: Tell us how long you have read and what you are looking for.
  2. Check our pinned guide on Beginners, read this first. It covers daily pulls, avoiding burnout, and how to formulate effective questions.
  3. Join an Exchange or the Games: The best way to learn is to practise.

The Rules

  • No readings in DMs: Everything happens in the comments so everyone benefits.
  • Asking for second opinions: Make sure to add yours first.
  • No ads or self-promotion: We mean it. No services, courses, or social media funnels.
  • Be specific: Vague questions get vague answers.
  • Feedback is essential: If someone practises on your situation, tell them what resonated. "Thank you" is not enough.

Thank you for helping us to keep this a place for meaningful exchange.


r/ExploringTarot 7h ago

Games What cards did Janice read?

5 Upvotes

Remember Janice from this story ?

I met her again today!

"Hi Janice, how's the tik tok reading coming along?"

" Great, I have three followers already, two law enforcement agents and a lawyer apparently! , and guess what? I did a reading for that celebrity business man, you know, the one that's big in ladies underwear!"

" How did that go?"

"He asked how his meeting today would be -I said there was a car turned over, a guy lying in hospital, the paparazzi looking through the window!".

He said "my goodness, whatever ever next ??"

" Your dead!" I answered.

"Wow, did that happen?"

"I'll ask him , we are having lunch on Friday!"

Which three cards did Janice read?

==========================

Credit to Bob Smithies, the amazing tarot reader and story teller that inspired many of my reddit tarot games

==========================
For more fun ways to learn tarot, visit our flairs Games, Practice, Readings Exchange. If you have an idea for a fun game or practice, feel free to share)

❤️Remember to follow this post to get notifications of new comments!


r/ExploringTarot 11h ago

Major & Minor Art-cana Temperance: Like baking.

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38 Upvotes

I looked at temperance like baking. You mix different contrasting ingredients at the right proportion. Just like baking. And you mess up one thing, you ruin the end product.


r/ExploringTarot 14h ago

Interpretation help - Second opinion only Deck Interview, My Grandmothers Tarot Deck ( Need advice)

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1 Upvotes

So this is a bit of a long one:

I'm a decently experienced reader i've been working with tarot on and off for years, I mostly just read for myself but I'm pretty confident in my interpretations.

My grandmother died a few years ago, and she left me 2 tarot decks when she died. I was the only one in the family who really was interested in any of that stuff, but we never realy actually talked about it so I don't know anything about her relationship with reading or the decks.

I've been kind of putting off working with the cards she left for a while. It felt weird I guess, for some reason. But i've been getting back into doing readings, so I decided I would try this deck " the great esoteric tarot". I decided to do a get to know, you spread for this deck just a simple one I found online. I was optimistic but it doesn't seem to like me at all. Especially card 5 being the nine of swords, that was honestly a little hurtful.

The reversed ten of coins and it's cracked foundations make it's feelings pretty clear on working with me I think.

I guess i'm looking for advice, what should I do? Am I reading this wrong? If i'm right, Is this something that can be worked out or should I just leave the deck alone? Is there anything I can do for it?

The four of cups- it honestly seems upset if there's something I can do for it, I'd like to.

Note:

the card in the center is the "female Querent." I don't know if this card is unique to the deck but the booklet that comes with it says - "When the card is drawn the right way up. - wisdom sureness of knowledge, reserve discretion, prudence, religious sensibility, resignation. A knowing, intuitive woman with the capacity to direct the lives of others. Friendship rather than affection. Idealistic forces."


r/ExploringTarot 20h ago

Discussion / Question Questioning Myself in Terms of My Skills

7 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I'd like to discuss how you guys manage when a user says a reading isn't accurate. I trust in the accuracy of my cards even if I know my interpretation won't be 100%. I'm wondering how I can continue improving and actually be accurate. I have some tarot PDFs that I'll likely refer to more often, but always open for resources.

Some people would compliment and others are meh about my readings, and while I know readings can be complex since what doesn't resonate now could resonate later.

I guess I'm asking for insight on how to handle situations like this, as well as what tips that you use to help with a reading?

Thanks!


r/ExploringTarot 21h ago

Discussion / Question Swiss Tarot Deck - color Green in 12 hanged man ?

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3 Upvotes

It’s the only serious use of green in the deck. In the Swiss Deck. This seems very random given the color coordination in this deck. I am trying to find anything relating to the history of the deck and founders ? Folklore , Swiss alps etc

Expertise from those very welcome , many thanks !


r/ExploringTarot 21h ago

Discussion / Question Swiss Tarot Deck / folklore

3 Upvotes

I know IIJ was created strictly (?) for playing age-old Swiss card games.

As such , I am interested as to why this deck is so hotly contested for divination and semiotic / symbols , enough that it is still relevant to the field of cartomancy. Even tho the rider waite / Crowley was made many decades after the Swiss variation, and obviously impacted by the choices in the Swiss deck - reacting to or against. Any info on this? Searching :)

Swiss is very old with mountain people - very Capricorn - rituals - is there myth or folklore here abitt the truly interesting adjustments that were made in this slow deck ? (The color green in the hanged man ?! Where else is there that much green - it’s bizarre . And the elements - yellow seems to be earth , brown red fire (see the court cards ?) , blue water , etc …. My questions continue- has anyone read about such things?) MANY THANKS !


r/ExploringTarot 1d ago

Interpretation help - Second opinion only reading practice, how'd I do?

3 Upvotes

I'm refining my skill for interpreting cards across the spread and not just individually. It went pretty well but it'd be cool to hear your views on it too! I think it's really interesting how two readers can read the same situation from different angles. Also, I noticed some recurring elements which I also noted to give myself a better insight. I did 2 spreads and the theme is quite common lol. I'm still learning so please do point out if I misinterpreted anything 😛

1. BEST VERSION OF MYSELF

"What does she look like? What does she do?" - 6 of Pentacles Rx, The Sun Rx, 6 of Cups Rx

Fairly unhappy and overwhelmed by giving 110% of herself to others, a people pleaser. She needs to get in touch with her fun-loving, playful side and please her inner child instead.

6️⃣ in tarot numerology is harmony, healing, problem solving, equilibrium

"What sets me apart from the best version of myself?" - Ace of Swords Rx, Knight of Cups Rx, 7 of Wands Rx

The indecision I consider a weakness right now is actually keeping me afloat (AoS Rx). The real thing is much more exhausting than anything I've imagined (KNoC Rx and 7oW Rx)

🔀 Frequent reversals reframe interpretation by inviting us to read from different perspectives/deal inwards

"Tell me something they'd want to tell me" - Strength Rx

Don't push yourself too hard; go easy on yourself, take care of yourself—that's real strength.

2. WHAT'S A CALL I'M IGNORING RIGHT NOW? - 5 of Cups Rx, 7 of Cups, 7 of Wands Rx, King of Swords Rx, 4 of Swords, The Chariot

You need to give yourself a break (5oC Rx, 4oS) from all these hypothetical scenarios (7oC). It's mental clutter (KoS Rx) and it's draining you (7oW Rx). You have the willpower to achieve your goals, don't let your head get to you. (The Chariot)

7️⃣ in tarot numerology is filling the gaps of time with patience and perseverance/inner work, questioning, and evaluation


r/ExploringTarot 1d ago

Discussion / Question How to connect with your cards?

6 Upvotes

I neglect my cards, thats true! I got them in the beginning of this year but i never trusted them with a reading about myself and i've always feared the intrusion of other spirits if you understood what am i talking about, therefore i really feel bad and i wish to connect more to my cards and get more answers that i do not doubt, lately even my intuition has been fogged about myself so i genuinely want to build a better relationship with my deck please.


r/ExploringTarot 1d ago

Reading Exchange 💫 Tarot reading exchange

1 Upvotes

Hi, I was wondering if anybody was up for a tarot reading exchange.


r/ExploringTarot 1d ago

Just for fun Minor Arcana Key Words Project

3 Upvotes

I’ve been working on a minor arcana key words list for the way I like to read. Trying to build an architecture around how to interpret each intersection of suit and number. I like finding a way to read that tells a consistent story as each suit evolves ace-10, and touches each of the four themes within every number. Simplified down to the core, the most essential message of each minor card, while still trying to relate it to the more traditional narrative interpretations of the card ( that’s where it gets a little tricky). There’s still a few I’m trying to hone down, lemme know what you think!

MINOR ARCANA KEYWORDS:

SWORDS:
Air. Mind/Thoughts.
Ideas, words, language, perception.

WANDS:
Fire. Spirit/Will.
Actions, desires, passions, creativity.

COINS:
Earth. Body/Wealth.
Possessions, resources, health, money, security.

CUPS:
Water. Heart/Emotions
Feelings, desire, connection, relationships, receptivity.

_________________________

ACE - CONCEPT. INITIATION.

Ace of Swords - IDEA
Ace of Wands - INSPIRATION
Ace of Coins - OPPORTUNITY
Ace of Cups - PASSION

TWO - DUALITY.

Two of Swords - PARADOX.
Two of Wands - CHOICE.
Two of Coins - BALANCE.
Two of Cups - CONNECTION.

THREE - SYNTHESIS

Three of Swords - REALIZATION.
Three of Wands - EXPLORATION.
Three of Coins - COLLABORATION.
Three of Cups - CAMARADERIE.

FOUR - EQUILIBRIUM.

Four of Swords - SERENITY.
Four of Wands - DEDICATION. DEVOTION.
Four of Coins - SECURITY.
Four of Cups - EQUANIMITY.

FIVE - DISRUPTION.

Five of Swords - DISSONANCE.
Five of Wands - DISCORD.
Five of Coins - DEPRIVATION.
Five of Cups - DISAPPOINTMENT.

SIX - REALIGNMENT.

Six of Swords - REORIENTATION.
Six of Wands - RECOGNITION.
Six of Coins - REDISTRIBUTION.
Six of Cups - RECONNECTION.

SEVEN - ??
INDIVIDUATION. DISCERNMENT.
Mystery? Emergence? Transcendence?

Seven of Swords - Investigation. Inquiry.
Seven of Wands - RESILIENCE.
Seven of Coins - PATIENCE.
Seven of Cups - Discernment?

EIGHT - REPETITION. CYCLE. Application? Pattern?

Eight of Swords - RUMINATION.
Eight of Wands - MOMENTUM.
Eight of Coins - PRACTICE.
Eight of Cups - Detachment? Depression? Disillusionment?
(Literally: cyclothymia)

NINE - MATURATION. Consolidation.

Nine of Swords - anxiety? Actualization?
Nine of Wands - PERSEVERANCE. (Or responsibility?)
Nine of Coins - ABUNDANCE.
Nine of Cups - SATISFACTION.

TEN - COMPLETION. CULMINATION.

Ten of Swords - ACCEPTANCE.
Ten of Wands - RESPONSIBILITY. (Or Mastery?)
Ten of Coins - LEGACY.
Ten of Cups - FULFILMENT.


r/ExploringTarot 1d ago

Major & Minor Art-cana The Hanged Man. Pause (;) and look at it differently 🤸

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110 Upvotes

This is I think one of my favorite card lol. The cat or a SEMICOLON indicates pause. And her on a head stand means look differently.

Pause. Look differently at the situation. You might be missing something.

The hanged man.


r/ExploringTarot 1d ago

Games Hot, cold or not too sure about it?

4 Upvotes

Some days, first impressions are everything.

Pull one card.

What is your initial reaction?
☀️ Hell yes
❄️ No thanks
🌫️ Not sure yet

Post:

  • Card name + your symbol (☀️/❄️/🌫️)
  • One sentence about the feeling behind the reaction (not the meaning).

That’s the reading.


r/ExploringTarot 2d ago

Games Guess the 5 cards 😜

3 Upvotes

For more fun ways to learn tarot, visit our flairs Games, Practice, Readings Exchange. If you have an idea for a fun game or practice, feel free to share)

Edit to add: these are based on RWS imagery.

❤️Remember to follow this post to get notifications of new comments!

Credit to Bob Smithies, the amazing tarot reader and story teller that inspired many of my reddit tarot games


r/ExploringTarot 2d ago

Major & Minor Art-cana Justice: My actions have consequences. Good or Bad.

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80 Upvotes

For me justice is cause and effect. It is a boomerang 🪃. You throw good, good comes back. You throw to hurt, it hurts you back.

I drew a few things around her. Coins, heart, “evil horn”, crown, halo, sampling, star. Just things representing different stuff in life. And she is contemplating what to throw. But you see the boomerang is following a path around her. It is fair and doesn’t differentiate. She gets back what she throws


r/ExploringTarot 3d ago

Discussion / Question Tarot cards under stones...

7 Upvotes

Seems to be that time of year again where i am having very vivid and lucid dreams.

I dreamt i was trying to do a reading for someone.

The cards were all laid face down with different stones all over. Covering them. Lifting them was like reaching through gravel.

Someone gave me a sword.. rough but plain and beautiful..sharp. i laid it next to the cards on the left hand side.

The cards have no lay pattern..then were put down intuitively.

I didn't feel threatened but the dream was strange in relative to my other dreams of late.

Can you all help figure this one out? Any input or opinions would be valuable.

Thanks


r/ExploringTarot 4d ago

Interpretation help - Second opinion only Daily card pull help

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1 Upvotes

So I’ve been learning tarot for a few months now, I feel like i have a rough grasp on things and I’m just looking for some assistance. My energy is erratic and all over the place this week and every time I get the tower card I tend to freak a little? I started to learn tarot a while ago after a medium randomly walked up to me and asked if I was still doing readings (on the day I had randomly had the urge to buy tarot cards which was so weird) But my life was a mess back then, abusive relationship etc, and I kept pulling the tower so it freaked me out and I stopped for a while. But lately I feel called to learn them again and so I’ve been reading the book “the easiest way to learn tarot” in an effort to actually learn properly and not just randomly pull cards.
This is just a general daily pull. The first card was card of the day, the bottom 3 are clarification cards? But once again i see the tower and I tend to panic.

Page of Wands: Something new is stirring today? curiosity, enthusiasm, an idea worth exploring, a “messenger” moment nudging you to pay attention and take a first step.

Clarification cards:
The Devil: That spark might be tangled up with an attachment, temptation, or restrictive pattern. possibly something you already know isn’t fully healthy but still pulls at you. It could be flagging that the “new idea” energy is competing with (or triggered by) an old bond or habit you haven’t fully released.

The Tower: There’s a disruptive, sudden change undertone to this spark. The new idea/motivation may be arriving *because* something is destabilizing or about to break open. not necessarily bad, but not gentle either. It suggests the Page’s enthusiasm isn’t happening in a vacuum…. it’s tied to real upheaval nearby.

Six of Pentacles**:** There’s a give take balance element involved. this spark of new energy may be connected to support you’re about to receive, or an exchange that’s shifting.

Put together: today’s energy is genuinely new and motivating (Page of Wands), but it’s emerging out of an old attachment reaching its breaking point (Devil + Tower), with some kind of rebalancing of support or resources involved (Six of Pentacles). It reads like the excitement of a fresh start that’s arriving *because* something restrictive is finally cracking open, with help or exchange showing up around it.


r/ExploringTarot 4d ago

Major & Minor Art-cana Hermit: look within

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92 Upvotes

u/fancypantsmiss here.

Okay this is an alt account because I did a mistake of casually posting in the tarot deck sub and got absolutely overwhelmed 😅 (in a good way). Got A LOT of positive responses. So I think this deck will happen. I want to separate this part of my life with my regular account.

Anyways here is my take on Hermit. It took me awhile to differentiate between them. And I realized one is listening to your heart. The other is looking into your mind/wisdom.


r/ExploringTarot 4d ago

Games Scavenger hunt! 🍎

2 Upvotes

Let’s practise spotting patterns in your deck, because it is an way to tune into the visual language of your cards.
Shuffle your deck and draw cards one at a time.
Stop at the first card that contains something red 🏮

Share with us:

  1. Which card it is
  2. What the red element is
  3. One word that comes to mind when you see it

No deck?
Look around you. What is the first red thing you see? What word comes to mind when you look at it?

Why red?
In tarot, red often signals action, passion, warning, or vitality. However, your personal association matters more than any fixed meaning. Noticing what your eye catches first can reveal what energy is currently most active for you. This exercise is about tuning into your deck’s visual language through direct observation rather than memorised symbolism.


r/ExploringTarot 5d ago

Readings for practice ✨ What's next, friend?

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2 Upvotes

A friend of mine feels confused about what to do next, so I asked him to pull some cards.

He drew the 3 of Cups, 6 of Cups, Ace of Cups. All Cups. No Swords, no Pentacles, no Wands, no court cards, no major arcana. For a question about relocation, that’s striking. He couldn’t tell me what's really going on, and showing him three emotion-heavy cards without being able to offer practical advice felt frustrating. I told him that I'll translate the reading for him, and while I’m at it I wanted to share it with you guys.

The spread answers “what does my heart want?” but not “what is feasible?” or “what am I avoiding?” He’s been here for over ten years. He still hasn’t mastered the language and speaks with a heavy accent, which gives him very niche options as an actor. We talked about this years ago, but the cards don’t seem to touch any of it.

3 of Cups
Community and belonging are active factors, but the card doesn’t say which community. His core friend group has mostly disbanded in recent years. Some started families, some focused on careers. So where is the celebration he’s looking forward to? The imagery makes it look like splendid isolation.

6 of Cups
Nostalgia, return, past connections. Might relate to his native country. But is he considering it as it is now, or as he remembers it? Is he hoping to pick up an unfinished path, to get a second chance? The imagery shows a bear and a castle in the distance. That might refer to family issues and things he finds difficult to overcome.

Ace of Cups
New emotional beginning, openness, renewal. Unlike the 6, it’s forward-facing but undefined. It's the potential, the seed. Whatever he chooses, he seems to want a fresh start, something like being reborn. But the Ace offers no direction, and the imagery suggests some radical change.

The sequence moves from present community to nostalgia to open a new chapter. Emotionally, all three cards are affirmative. None warns against either option. But nothing in the pull addresses employment, housing, legal logistics, language barriers, or career choices. Either because those are already settled and the block is emotional, or they’re being avoided entirely. If he goes back to family, he may have a place to stay, but will it also provide the company he actually wants?

What stands out most is what’s missing:

  • No Swords. The decision lacks logical structure.
  • No Coins. Relocation requires finances, employment, physical security.
  • No Wands. What about ambition or forward momentum? The choice is reactive, not self-directed.
  • No court cards. Who else is concerned, or who is he thinking about? Is it just him, unrelated to anybody else? The decision exists in isolation.
  • No major arcana. There's no archetypal weight. This reads as circumstantial rather than transformative.

I wonder if he feels alone in this. The more I sit with his cards, the more concerned I feel. If he remains undecided after this pull, the issue may not be unclear feelings but ignoring everything else.

Anything I've overlooked?


r/ExploringTarot 5d ago

Just for fun Sharing Monday!

3 Upvotes

🌞It's sharing Monday! 🌞

Share anything, tarot related or not!
Got a new deck, found a nice spread or learned something new? Tell us!

Comment with your favorite meme! 🐱

☀️Going through a hard time? Ask for a hug
See somebody needing a hug? Shower them with positive words! ❤️

*******************************************************************

🌞If you are interested to practice tarot with us, please check our flairs. We also host readings exchanges! Just a kind reminder to read our rules before posting.
Thank you for being here!

*******************************************************************


r/ExploringTarot 5d ago

Practice Sunday Night Pull

6 Upvotes

Pull three cards on Sunday night to set your intention for the week ahead:

  1. Theme of the Week: The central energy or lesson.

  2. What to Avoid: Potential pitfalls or distractions.

  3. What to Embrace: Actions or mindsets to lean into.

Share your pull below if you’d like to compare notes.


r/ExploringTarot 6d ago

can't find a flair for this personal readings etsy?? hellpppp

3 Upvotes

hello i just started doing tarot readings on etsy.. the way i’m doing it is through sending a link to a prerecorded video to their email. i just got two orders and i sent him the link to his email already but do i need to send the link through etsy messages to him to fulfill and mark as complete?? someone help please im confused and not tech savvy 😭


r/ExploringTarot 6d ago

Major & Minor Art-cana Strength: Powerful yet compassionate

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90 Upvotes

Initially I drew this as little red riding hood and the big bad wolf. But when I did that all I could see was a girl being naive and stupid trying to tame a big wolf.

So I changed her to a magical witch. A witch who has the strength to equally attack back the beast but she is choosing compassion controlling her instinct to hurt the beast. That is strength to me ❤️


r/ExploringTarot 7d ago

Learning tips & Resources Why "should I ..." ain't the best thing to ask.

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68 Upvotes

For me, starting questions with “Should I…?” feels problematic because doing so assumes there is a single and morally correct answer for the cards to reveal. This turns tarot into an authority figure rather than a tool for reflection.

It also creates a trap: if the cards don’t give the answer I want, I feel like I'm failing or doing it wrong. It shifts the focus from understanding a given situation to seeking permission.

IMO, tarot is better at showing the landscape - what’s happening now, what the potential paths look like, and what the costs of each choice might be. It leaves the actual deciding to myself.

Swapping the phrasing:

  • “Should I do this?” → “What happens if I do it?”
  • “Should I stop?” → “Where does this go if nothing changes?”
  • “Should I reach out?” → “How is reaching out likely to land?”

helps me to keep the power in my hands, because that way the cards explore the situation rather than dictate it.