Whether you’ve read about them, you’ve checked countless reviews, or you’ve actually had a few free tarot card readings online yourself, you’re probably aware of their powers and guidance. A professional reader can provide a deep insight into the present to help you make better choices.
But if you want to do it yourself, buying a tarot card deck isn’t everything. It may take years of practice to actually become good at it. There are countless interpretations, not to mention the wide variety of spreads.
If you’re truly serious about reading tarot cards for yourself or others, here’s everything you need to know as a newbie. Keep in mind that you may fail at times, it’s perfectly normal if you’re new. But practice makes you perfect. Here are a few useful tips and tricks for newbies.
Make sure you get the right deck
There are more myths and misconceptions related to tarot cards, and one of them claims you shouldn’t buy your own deck. Instead, you’re supposed to receive it. Again, that’s only a myth. It’s an archaic rule, and believe it or not, you can still learn to read tarot cards, even if you spend your own money on a deck.
The typical tarot deck has 78 cards, and that’s what you should go for. While in theory they represent the same things, tarot decks are different in the imagery and graphics they offer. That’s why you need to shop around a little.
Different people will find meanings in different styles. Sure, that’s a matter of personal preferences, but at the end of the day, you need to like what you use in order to be willing to learn. Believe it or not, some professional readers even create their own decks, but you shouldn’t bother with that, at least not for now.
Develop a connection with the deck
Developing a connection with the deck is mostly about personalizing your cards. In other words, you should make this deck your own. Don’t just keep it in the original packaging in order to preserve it for as long as possible. Instead, make it unique.
Get a special pouch for it, for example. Maybe put it in a special place around the home. Shuffle cards for a few minutes every day. Go through the cards, get used to them. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to it. The concept is simple, you need to get comfortable with the deck, simple as that.
Some psychics, for example, don’t let anyone touch their cards. They even shuffle them themselves before a reading. This means they’ll only use the user’s energy rather than be exposed to different energies. Whatever you think of, your cards should feel special to you.
Breathing is extremely important
Having your own deck is definitely exciting, especially when you touch it for the first time. You need to keep cool, but also keep your expectations under control. It makes no difference how many tarot books you’ve read or how many tutorials you’ve watched.
At the end of the day, it’s all about getting familiar with them.
Tarot cards aren’t all about written meanings but also about finding specific connections between cards. It’s a matter of nuance. Your breathing technique is extremely important because you have to disconnect and focus on the cards. It’s a new skill you’re about to learn, so concentrate on doing it right.
Interpretations are critical
The more books you’ll read, the more interpretations you’ll find about each card. Sure, there are a few general meanings, but these meanings must be adapted to unique needs and questions. Each card has a few keywords, but that’s it.
If you take everything literally, you’ll be surprised to realize many interpretations are contradicting each other. Besides, an interpretation may also depend on the card’s reverse or upright position, spread, questions, and field.
If you don’t like finding connections and interpretations yourself, tarot cards aren’t for you. Uncertainty is part of the game, but you’ll gain more confidence as you become more experienced. Those keywords are just some starting parameters, nothing else.
Journaling is the best way to figure things out. Draw a card daily, focus on it, and write down its interpretation. See how the day goes and draw some conclusions. Do it again and again until you become accurate.
Start with simple spreads
There are dozens of different spreads to try out, but as a newbie, you need to go for the simple ones. Some spreads involve a single card. Others involve two or three cards. Start with these before moving on to 10 card spreads.
Keep in mind that you’re not going to impress anyone with a major spread. Tarot readings aren’t about reading generic interpretations. Instead, you’ll have to find connections and come up with a story that actually makes sense, everything based on the circumstances.
A single card spread is the best way to move forward. Educate yourself on spreads and add a card at a time when you find yourself confident enough to move on.
Read for yourself first
This is the best advice you’ll ever get if you’re new to reading tarot cards. Some say you shouldn’t read tarot cards for yourself, that’s only a misconception, so don’t worry about it. You must be able to do it for yourself before doing it for someone else.
Once again, journaling will help you make more sense of certain cards and their interpretations. The more you practice, the better you’ll become. You can start reading for others when you feel accurate about your readings.
At the same time, you shouldn’t read for others until you’re able to interpret a spread without having to look up the meaning of each card. It’s not about looking good. Instead, it’s about being able to focus on someone else’s unique situation, rather than a tarot guide.
Bottom line, tarot card readings are something anyone can get trained on. Sure, professional psychics have some extra gifts, but they weren’t born like that. Every reputable reader has years of experience, and everyone has started in the exact same manner.
