Tarot is definitely having a moment. What was once relegated to the occultic fringes is now raging in the mainstream. But how does Tarot even work? What do the cards mean? And can you do your own reading? We want answers to these questions, and we’re guessing our readers do too. So we’re bringing you a short series on Tarot that will teach you all about the ancient practice, the deck, and how to use the cards to usher in some magic to your life.
Is it possible to do Tarot spreads on yourself, even if you’re a beginner? Yes! It absolutely is. Tarot is a modality that helps us gain greater insight into our current situations, honor our intuition and forecast potential outcomes. It might seem a bit daunting, but it’s really a simple process. I’ll walk you through it.
Cleansing the energy of your space
Before we get down to it and begin our reading, prepare your space (physically and mentally). Cleanse the energy through the burning of herbs, ringing a bell or chimes, taking a bath, or using your favorite crystals. (My personal favorite is a Selenite wand, an excellent energy refresher that aids in clarity, which can easily and effectively be waved over the space, the cards, and your own body). Once the energy has been cleansed, sit somewhere comfortable where you will not be disturbed during your ritual. Close your eyes, clear out the mental cobwebs, and visualize protective energy surrounding you.
Shuffling and choosing the cards
Take a few deep breaths in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. As you do this practice, think about your question or what you need guidance with while keeping your mind and heart open to whatever answers may come through the cards. Once you feel ready, open your eyes and shuffle the deck, again thinking about your desired query. Remember, there is no wrong way to shuffle. When they feel sufficiently mixed (I assure you, you will know!), begin dealing out the cards in front of you. The pattern laid out is referred to as a “spread,” and the ways cards are dealt out and how they land influences the meaning of each card in combinations building up to the overall answer to your query. It is beneficial to know which spread you will be working with before beginning to shuffle, but as the answers come through, understand that sometimes we need to draw additional cards for further clarity or begin again with a new question tacking a different perspective.
Pro tip: Refrain from asking the same question over and over again. This is not helpful and will only lead to confusion. If you do not like the answer you receive (and that happens to all of us!), resist the urge to start over and pull fresh cards until a different outcome appears in front of you. (And honestly, it won’t.) A far more beneficial approach is to try to accept the answers provided and understand that the information you are receiving is simply just that: greater insight into the energy of your current situation. It is up to you what you do with it. Nothing is set in stone, and you have the power to plan your next move based on this guided wisdom.
Choosing a spread
Which spread will you utilize? How deep do you want to go with your answer? The more cards are drawn, the more complex insight will be received. As a rule of thumb, I suggest a three or five-card spread to offer clarity without confusion. I recommend reading each card individually based on its placement in the spread and then seeing how all of the cards blend together to form an overall story imbued with layered meaning. There is a hot debate among the Tarot community as to whether or not to read card reversals. (A reversal is when a card is dealt upside down.)
Reversals highlight something to pay attention to and can point to the “opposite” of the card’s upright meaning. In some cases, a reversed card does not change the definition of the overall card significantly, rather it points to a deficit of that energy. In other cases, it can mean something completely different or nothing at all. Because of this potential confusion, I recommend that you focus on the upright meanings of each card and as you get more comfortable with this language, delve into the reversal meanings as you continue your Tarot journey. As you become more seasoned and in tune with your intuition, you will confidently know when a reversal is to be paid attention to or dismissed.
I find that the best approach when conjuring your question is to veer away from “yes/no” and keep it more open-ended. Instead of asking “Will I get the promotion at work?” use “What are the obstacles blocking me from advancing my career?” Phrasing your question like this invites greater insight and reflection through a richer answer while offering a perspective that would be missed with a simple “yes” or “no.”
Types of Tarot reads
Past, present, and future
A great place for a beginner to start practicing Tarot spreads is with an easy and direct three or five-card spread. Whatever the theme may be (most revolve around the notions of gaining clarity around work, love, or spiritual purpose), the amount of cards pulled determines the depth of insight to be provided.
A three-card spread often invokes the past, present, and future energy of your current situation. A five-card spread builds upon this information by pointing out possible obstacles as well as providing additional advice to assist in reaching your resolution.
3-card relationship spread
My favorite relationship spread involves pulling three cards for a quick energetic read on a situation. This one may be utilized for romantic relationships, friendships, work colleagues or any situation around partnership to gain better insight into the energy surrounding your connection. The first card pulled shows your energy in relation to this other person. The second card reflects the energy of the other person in relation to you. The final card represents the combined energy of the partnership. If someone has been acting distant or something feels different, the spread offers information as to what is going on here so you can gain insight before approaching the other person with honest and open communication. (Because nothing progresses if we do not talk to each other and share our feelings and perspectives.)
12-card general read
To receive general information about a year ahead, pull twelve cards with each one representing the energetic theme of the month. This spread can be utilized before the start of a calendar year or on your own “personal new year” around your birthday to invoke lessons to learn, obstacles to watch out for, or to point towards advice for your long term goals.
The Celtic Cross
If you have a more complex question which requires major insight, it’s time to get down to business and utilize the classic Celtic Cross spread which consists of ten cards to reach your final resolution. This well known and widely used spread is comprehensive and complex so I recommend working your way up to this one as you become more comfortable with your skills. Because this spread allows for gathering insight from all different angles, this is a framework that can be used even if you do not have a specific query in mind. Sit back and see what the cards have to say to you right now!
The first six cards are laid out in a cross shape representing the current issue with the last four forming a vertical line reflecting additional influences beside it.
1. Present - The current situation and current state of mind of the querent.
2. Past - The past events that have influenced and led us to the current situation.
3. Challenge - The current challenge that must be solved in order to move forward.
4. Future - The most likely short-term outcome to the current situation if nothing changes.
5. Conscious - This points to the querent’s goals, desires, and assumptions around the current situation.
6. Unconscious - The feelings, beliefs, and values driving the current situation which have yet to be uncovered by the querent. (This card often reveals hidden surprises proving to be quite valuable.)
7. Your Influence - This card shows your perception of the situation influences the possible outcome. It can also give advice on how to proceed.
8. External Influence - This card shows how the world around you and other people’s perceptions can influence your situation beyond your control.
9. Hopes and Fears - This card offers insight into how the querent’s outlook is influencing the outcome. This card can be tricky but remember that what we fear and what we hope for are often inextricably linked.
10. Outcome - If the current course of action is taken and continued, this card represents the most likely resolution.
The more you do this practice, the easier and more intuitive reading the cards will become for you. Despite this, everyone gets stuck sometimes in a tricky situation or one we feel more personally attached to, and in that case, it will be an aligned time to call in a professional who can offer perspective without personal bias. Keep in mind that the cards provide insight and guidance, but what you do with this information determines your fate.
Sarah Potter is a psychic medium, Tarot reader, and witch based in New York City.
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