Tarot is a most magickal tool that I fell in love with many years ago, but like all relationships, it took a while to get to know each other.
Whenever I’m about to start something new or explore a new path, I always search for articles that start with ‘Things I Wish I Knew Before/About…‘. Boy I wish I had done this back when I opened my first tarot deck!
I started documenting my journey with tarot in 2014 via Instagram. While I haven’t used that account since 2018, I still go back and wonder through my posts whenever I’m feeling disconnected from my practice (there’s some real gems there!).
If you are ready to dive into a tarot practice, a wonderful starting place is the online course: Tarot Basics and Beyond. Tarot Basics & Beyond will help you gain a deeper understanding of the tarot, its symbolism, and how it can be used to gain insight into your life and the world around you. Tarot is a complex and multifaceted tool that can be used in many different ways. In Tarot Basics & Beyond, you’ll learn how to use the cards to gain insight into your life, address challenges and obstacles, and work towards your goals and aspirations.
1. Tarot isn’t about the future, it’s about now.
As humans with free will, we have the power to make decisions and set the direction of our lives in every moment. Tarot and tarot readings offer us a reflection of the current moment. The cards will emerge in response to the here and now and offer information and perspective; they don’t predict the future, they don’t tell you what to do, and they don’t lie. Receive readings with an open heart like you were talking to a friend. You may be offered a new lens to look through, a shift to consider, or a call to action but ultimately it is you who decides what you receive and what you do next.
2. Your card meanings will be different from everyone else.
One of the best techniques you can practice is developing your own tarot language. You practice will always be unique to you, your perspective, and your life path. A card that may feel doom and gloom for one person may be a shining light for another. Neither person is wrong; in fact, both are absolutely correct in their own language. It can be helpful to be exposed to how other read tarot but ultimately your language is the one that will always resonate most profoundly with you.
3. The LWB isn’t a bad thing.
The little white book (LBW) that comes with most tarot decks is a bite-sized guide from the author. Some readers may tell you these are absolute garbage while others will say it is the only way to interpret that deck. I think the truth is in the middle. Every LWB is a great resource and can be a helpful jumping off point for interpretation, especially when just getting started.
4. Not all tarot decks are for everyone.
There are endless decks with infinite imagery! It can be exciting to buy and explore new decks as each set of cards will evoke something a bit different in readings. While this can be an asset when reading, you may find a deck that you just don’t click with. That’s okay! If you think of each deck as a tool for a specific job they will each take on a personality for situations. You may have a deck just for yourself, a deck for when you read for others, a deck for readings about career inquiries, etc.
5. It’s okay to not know what a card means.
Tarot is not about memorizing meanings or giving what feels like a pre-recorded response. How you read tarot will shift and develop over time and how you interpret each card may also shift. Reading cards can also be impact by the other cards that pop up in a reading, giving new context. Think of it this way, you are an individual person but you are the same person everywhere you go. That doesn’t mean you are going to dress, speak, or act the same in every space. How you are at work is different from home is different from an afternoon out with your bestie. The cards are the same way! What else is around effects their interpretation. When in doubt, go with your gut and listen to your first impression.
6. Tarot is a lifelong learning process.
There is no finish line when it comes to tarot and that is so exciting! Every time you read tarot, engage the process, browse a reference book you learn something new. As your practice grows you fill find yourself more comfortable stepping into new spaces and opening your heart and mind to new facets of each card. Embrace the endless learning and your practice will always grow.
If you are just getting started, consider enrolling in Tarot Basics and Beyond to establish a solid foundation as you building your personal practice.
7. You don’t need to use a spread.
The classic Celtic Cross spread is something we see in media, have outlined in almost all LWB’s, and inevitably take a swing at early in our practice. The truth is, it’s hard and complicated! While spreads can be a way to structure readings they are not a deal breaker when it comes to tarot. Experiment with spreads, situation, and pulling cards intuitively to find what most resonates for you.
8. Tarot isn’t what it looks like on the internet/social media/movies/TV.
Like most things in life, what you see in media is not reality. So much of how we see tarot depicted falls into 2 categories; stereotypically demonized or trendy aesthetic. Both of these do a terrible disservice to the broader understanding of tarot and also instill unrealistic expectations for those just beginning to explore. Just as you will find a deck that fits you best, the rest of your practice will follow the same suit. How you store your deck, they space you read in, how you document your practice, how you adorn your space, and how you share your practice will all be deeply personal. If someone tells you that you are not doing tarot right or showing it correctly, take it with a grain of salt knowing that their expectation is likely based on misleading representation.
9. Tarot will open you up to seeing more meaning everywhere.
Tarot cards are deeply symbolic in their imagery. As humans, our subconscious speaks in symbols which is why tarot deeply connects with us. As you practice reading the images and symbols, you’ll find yourself much more aware and receptive to seeing symbols in your everyday life. You’ll start seeing things that remind you of specific cards or correlate cards with specific things in your life. This is all part of developing your own tarot language.
10. Tarot can be truly life changing.
I love tarot and it absolutely changed my life. Tarot came to be just before some major life changes and it became a comforting friend to help me process my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Tarot has helped me reframe situations, consider other perspectives, and dig into my own reactions and responses for better clarity. Anyone who engages tarot with an open mind, heart, and hands will have the opportunity to make a lifelong friend. A friend who is supportive, motivating, challenging, comforting, cheers you on, and call you on your bullshit.
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