How to Read Tarot: A Beginner’s Guide to Doing a Basic Tarot Reading

Tarot doesn’t have to be complicated.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by spreads, card meanings, or the pressure to “get it right,” you’re not alone. The truth is, you don’t need a fancy setup or a lifetime of study to connect with the cards. You just need a moment of presence—and a willingness to listen to what rises in response.

This beginner-friendly guide will walk you through a simple, accessible way to do a tarot reading for yourself. No heavy rituals required—just you, your deck, and an open mind.

🌱 Getting Started

All you really need is a tarot deck that resonates with you. It doesn’t have to be expensive or “the perfect one.” Trust your curiosity. A quiet space helps, but even a pause in your day can be enough. A notebook can be useful for reflections, but if you prefer to hold it all in your heart, that’s perfectly fine too.

Above all, remember: you don’t have to believe in magick for tarot to support you. This is about creating a small space for reflection and insight—no dogma required.

If you're curious about the mechanics behind tarot, you might enjoy How Does Tarot Actually Work? Symbolism, Insight, and Where the Messages Might Be Coming From, which explores the interplay between symbolism and intuition.

🗝️ Step 1: Set Your Intention

Before you pull a card, take a slow breath. Let your mind settle. Think about what’s on your heart or mind. You might have a clear question—something like, “What do I need to focus on right now?” or “How can I best support myself today?” But if no specific question comes, that’s okay too. Simply ask to be shown what’s most helpful right now.

You can choose to draw just one card for a simple, focused message. Or, if you’re ready for something more detailed, you might decide to do a small spread—like three cards representing past, present, and future, or challenge, guidance, and outcome. These spreads add structure to the reading by giving each card a position with its own meaning, layered on top of the symbolism of the card itself. The positions can even be customized to fit your question or energy.

There’s no need to phrase your question perfectly. The cards will meet you where you are.

🃏 Step 2: Shuffle the Cards

Hold your deck in your hands. As you shuffle, let your breath anchor you. Think about your intention, but don’t hold it too tightly. Some people like to imagine their energy flowing into the deck. Others just shuffle until they feel a sense of readiness.

There’s no one right way to shuffle. You might cut the deck into smaller piles and restack them, shuffle like playing cards, or even spread the cards on a table and swirl them around before gathering them back up. Try what feels natural to you—every method is valid.

If you’d like to include reversals—cards that come up upside down, adding another layer of meaning—you can divide the deck into smaller piles, rotate one pile upside down, then recombine the deck. Shuffle a few more times to mix them in, then continue as you normally would. This is completely optional, but it can add depth to your reading if it feels right.

✋ Step 3: Pull a Card (or Cards)

When you feel ready, stop shuffling. You might simply draw the top card, or you might choose to fan the cards out in front of you and let your receptive hand hover over them. Notice where your hand feels drawn—where the energy seems to pull or tingle. Trust yourself to choose the card (or cards) that are calling to you.

If you’re using a spread, place the cards in the order of the positions you’ve chosen. For example, you might place three cards left to right for past, present, and future. Or you might lay them in a triangle for mind, body, and spirit—whatever feels right to you. Each position in the spread gives you a different lens through which to understand the card’s message.

Either way—single card or spread—this is your reading. Let it unfold in a way that feels supportive and true.

🔍 Step 4: Reflect on the Card

Take a good look at the image on the card. Notice what stands out—colors, symbols, expressions, or the mood it evokes. Let yourself respond intuitively before reaching for a guidebook or online resource like Biddy Tarot. You can also use one of the many online tarot meaning directories to help shape your interpretation—these can be especially helpful when you’re first learning.

It’s okay to blend different approaches. Start with your gut reaction, then layer in the guidebook or online meanings to see what resonates. Remember: tarot isn’t about finding the “right” answer—it’s about what lands in your heart and makes sense for you in this moment.

If you’d like, jot down your thoughts in a journal or simply hold them quietly in your heart. There’s no rush. Tarot speaks in layers—sometimes a meaning comes quickly, other times it unfolds over days or weeks.

And if you’d like to go deeper, I’ll be adding posts in the future about the meaning and symbolism behind each card—so stay tuned!

For more on interpreting cards and understanding their symbolism, consider reading Tarot for Skeptics: A Spiritual Tool That Doesn’t Require Belief, which offers insights into approaching tarot with an open yet discerning mind.

🌀 A Gentle Reminder: Let the Message Unfold

It’s perfectly normal if the card doesn’t make complete sense at first. Sometimes the insight will reveal itself later—through a conversation, a dream, or a sudden realization. Trust that the card has marked a moment for you, and let the meaning come in its own time.

🌙 Trust Yourself—and Trust the Cards

Tarot is a conversation, not a test. Each reading, no matter how simple, creates space for you to hear yourself more clearly. Even if you don’t get a clear answer, you’ve already started listening—and that’s where the real magick lives.

So take a breath. Pull a card. Let it speak. And remember: you are allowed to grow at your own pace.