The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to the Tarot ⋆ Angelorum

tarot cards and candles on a wooden table to illustrate a beginner's guide to the tarot

What is the Tarot?

The Tarot is a deck of 78 cards, built on the same skeleton as a regular playing card deck but with an added layer of symbolic richness. Like playing cards, it has four suits with pip (number) cards and court cards, but here the courts are expanded (Page, Knight, Queen, King instead of Jack, Queen, King). To this foundation, we add 22 “trump” cards, also called the Major Arcana. Together, these two groups make up the full Tarot deck. Today, I’m sharing the ultimate beginner’s guide to the Tarot, something I’m well-equipped to do after 40 years as a Tarot reader and 14 years of reading professionally.

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A Brief History of the Tarot
The Major Arcana
The Minor Arcana
The Court Cards
Choosing and Caring for Your First Tarot Deck
How the Tarot Works (What it can and can’t do)
Predictive Tarot and Timing
Ways to Work with the Tarot
Starting to Read for Yourself and Others
Recommended Resources

The Tarot has always been more than a pack of cards. It is a book without words, a living library of symbols, a mirror for the psyche, and, for many, a direct line of communion with the Divine.

A Brief History of the Tarot

The origins of the Tarot are somewhat hazy. What we do know is that lavish painted decks appeared in northern Italy during the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, most famously the Visconti-Sforza Tarot. These were used for a trick-taking game called Tarock (still played in parts of Europe today).

The 22 trumps (Trionfi) drew from the archetypes familiar to people of the time — figures from morality plays, religious processions, and medieval cosmology. They were not occult blueprints at first but part of a Christianised symbolic universe.

By the 18th century, French occultists began spinning elaborate theories: that the Tarot came from ancient Egypt, that it encoded the mysteries of the Kabbalah, or that its trumps mapped perfectly onto astrology and the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. These claims were more poetic than factual, but they reshaped how the Tarot was understood.

In the late 19th century, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn overlaid its own system of correspondences, birthing the most famous deck of all: the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot (1909/1910), illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of A.E. Waite. From then on, the Tarot has never ceased to evolve—finding new life in Jungian psychology, Neo-Pagan revival, and today’s global Tarot renaissance.

The Major Arcana

0. The Fool

New beginnings, trust, and a leap of faith. The Fool invites you to start an adventure without overthinking it. It’s the “yes” before the plan exists. Shadow: recklessness or naïveté.

1. The Magician

Manifestation, focus, and willpower. You already have the tools—now align mind, heart, and action. The Magician is excellent for intention-setting and skill activation. Shadow: manipulation or scattered energy.

2. The High Priestess

Intuition, mystery, and inner knowing. Slow down, listen in, and let what is hidden ripen. Ideal for dreamwork, silence, and journalling. Shadow: secrecy, withholding, or self-doubt.

3. The Empress

Creativity, nurture, and abundance. The Empress is fertile ground—art, gardening, cooking, self-care. She teaches receptive presence. Shadow: over-giving, smothering, or creative stagnation.

4. The Emperor

Structure, boundaries, and leadership. Build systems that support your life and protect your energy. The Emperor loves calendars, to-do lists and clean lines. Shadow: rigidity, control, or authoritarian vibes.

5. The Hierophant

Tradition, study, and spiritual lineage. Learn within a framework—schools, mentors, sacred texts. Ask: Am I choosing this path consciously? Shadow: dogma or conformity without soul.

6. The Lovers

Alignment, values, and meaningful choice. It’s not just romance—it’s the decision that changes everything. Choose what you truly love, not what’s expected. Shadow: temptation or misalignment.

7. The Chariot

Direction, discipline, and momentum. Harness competing drives and move with purpose. Great for goals, training plans, and road trips. Shadow: forcefulness, burnout, or tunnel vision.

8. Strength

Courage, patience, and gentle power. Strength tames with kindness, not control. Perfect for anxiety, healing, and self-regulation. Shadow: people-pleasing or suppressed anger.

9. The Hermit

Solitude, truth-seeking, and inner guidance. Step back to see clearly. Retreats, long walks, reading by lamplight. Shadow: isolation or avoidance of connection.

10. Wheel of Fortune

Cycles, fate, and turning points. What’s up will come down—and rise again. Flow with change and make conscious choices mid-spin. Shadow: fatalism or clinging.

11. Justice

Truth, balance, and cause-and-effect. Own your choices; clarify agreements; read the small print. Can indicate legal or ethical matters. Shadow: harsh judgment or self-righteousness.

12. The Hanged Man

Pause, surrender, and a new perspective. Let go to see differently. Ideal for reframing stories and releasing urgency. Shadow: stagnation or martyrdom.

13. Death

Endings, release, and transformation. Compost the old to feed the new. Excellent for decluttering and life transitions. Shadow: resisting change or dramatising endings.

14. Temperance

Integration, harmony, and sacred blending. Mix opposites into something wiser. Think habit-stacking, moderation, and alchemy. Shadow: denial of conflict or bland compromise.

15. The Devil

Attachment, shadow, and seduction of the comfort zone. Name the chain and it loosens. Useful for addiction patterns, money fears, and taboo work. Shadow: shame or self-sabotage.

16. The Tower

Shock, rupture, and truth revealed. Structures fall so freedom can rise. Sudden insights, breakups, breakthroughs. Shadow: resisting the inevitable or scorched-earth reactions.

17. The Star

Hope, healing, and spiritual renewal. Exhale. Refill your well with beauty and trust. Wonderful for gentle routines and creative recovery. Shadow: passivity or bypassing.

18. The Moon

Dreams, intuition, and the unknown. Proceed by feel, not by spreadsheet. Track dreams, watch projections, honour mystery. Shadow: confusion, fear, or deception.

19. The Sun

Clarity, joy, and life-force. Say it plainly; celebrate wins; play outside. Excellent for visibility, PR, and confidence. Shadow: ego glare or toxic positivity.

20. Judgement

Awakening, reckoning, and the call of purpose. Answer the summons and travel lighter. Forgive, release, and step up. Shadow: harsh self-appraisal or fear of calling.

21. The World

Completion, integration, and wholeness. The cycle is complete; harvest the wisdom. Launch, graduate, or close the loop with grace. Shadow: fear of finishing or post-success drift.

The Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana (56 cards) describes how big archetypal forces filter into everyday life. If the Majors are the myth, the Minors are the diary: work, relationships, study, health, and the small choices that snowball into character. The Minors are split into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles), each with Ace–10 plus four Courts (Page, Knight, Queen, King).

The Four Suits at a Glance

Wands (Fire, South, Archangel Michael): drive, passion, creativity, sexuality, career momentum.
Cups (Water, West, Archangel Gabriel): feelings, love, bonds, empathy, spiritual receptivity.
Swords (Air, East, Archangel Raphael): thinking, speaking, conflict, decisions, clarity.
Pentacles/Coins (Earth, North, Archangel Uriel): health, money, work, skills, embodiment.

Working with Elemental Dignities (friendly, neutral, and clashing elements) sharpens any spread interpretation—especially when cards seem to contradict each other. CLICK HERE to learn how to read with Elemental Dignities.

How Tarot Numerology Flows (Aces–10s)

Numbers provide the “grammar” of the Minors. Once you learn the flow, interpretations click into place no matter the suit. CLICK HERE to learn more about Tarot Numerology.

Aces — Source & Spark

Beginnings, raw potential, a green light.

Ace of Wands: creative ignition.
Ace of Cups: heart opening.
Ace of Swords: mental clarity, truth.
Ace of Pentacles: tangible opportunity.

Twos — Polarity & Choice

Tension, partnership, first decisions.

2 of Wands: planning a route.
2 of Cups: meaningful connection.
2 of Swords: stalemate, head vs heart.
2 of Pentacles: juggling priorities.

Threes — Growth & Expression

Initial results, collaboration, visibility.

3 of Wands: momentum, expansion.
3 of Cups: friendship, celebration.
3 of Swords: painful truth, release.
3 of Pentacles: teamwork, craft.

Fours — Structure & Stability

Foundations, routines, consolidation.

4 of Wands: homecoming, milestone.
4 of Cups: emotional flatness.
4 of Swords: rest, reset.
4 of Pentacles: security/control.

Fives — Disruption & Challenge

Growing pains, tests, and course-correction.

5 of Wands: friction, competition.
5 of Cups: grief, perspective.
5 of Swords: hollow victory, ego.
5 of Pentacles: scarcity, support needed.

Sixes — Harmony & Rebalancing

Resolution, generosity, right-sizing.

6 of Wands: recognition.
6 of Cups: memory, innocence.
6 of Swords: transition, relief.
6 of Pentacles: fair exchange.

Sevens — Assessment & Strategy

Pause, rethink, deeper investment.

7 of Wands: boundaries, courage.
7 of Cups: options, illusions.
7 of Swords: stealth, strategy.
7 of Pentacles: patient progress.

Eights — Mastery & Momentum

Skill, discipline, movement.

8 of Wands: speed, messages.
8 of Cups: soul-led departure.
8 of Swords: mental bind, reframe.
8 of Pentacles: craftsmanship.

Nines — Fruition & Pressure

Near completion, tests of endurance.

9 of Wands: resilience, vigilance.
9 of Cups: satisfaction, wish granted.
9 of Swords: worry cycle, mindset care.
9 of Pentacles: self-sufficiency.

Tens — Culmination & Transition

Cycle complete; integrate or reset.

10 of Wands: overload; simplify.
10 of Cups: contentment, belonging.
10 of Swords: over; liberate the mind.
10 of Pentacles: legacy, long game.

Suit-by-Suit: Themes, Strengths & Shadows

Wands — Fire (Drive & Creation)

Keywords: passion, initiative, visibility, leadership, sexuality.
Strengths: courage, entrepreneurship, ideation.
Shadows: impatience, burnout, performative hustle, and anger issues.
Everyday reads: “Pitch it,” “Ship it,” “Move your body,” “Protect your creative time.”

Cups — Water (Feeling & Bonding)

Keywords: love, empathy, intuition, devotion, imagination.
Strengths: attunement, compassion, spiritual softness.
Shadows: people-pleasing, moodiness, fantasy over reality, porous boundaries.
Everyday reads: “Name the feeling,” “Repair the bond,” “Create beauty,” “Offer mercy.”

Swords — Air (Mind & Meaning)

Keywords: thinking, analysis, truth-telling, communication, decisions.
Strengths: clarity, strategy, intellectual honesty.
Shadows: rumination, cynicism, weaponised words, cutting too deep.
Everyday reads: “Say it cleanly,” “Make the decision,” “Separate fact from story.”

Pentacles — Earth (Body & Matter)

Keywords: work, health, money, skill, nature, slow growth.
Strengths: consistency, stewardship, craft excellence.
Shadows: stagnation, scarcity mindset, workaholism, over-attachment to outcomes.
Everyday reads: “Do the reps,” “Tend the garden,” “Invest long-term,” “Rest is productive.”

Putting Number + Suit Together (Quick Examples)

3 of Wands (Fire + Three): early growth with a project; shipments, outreach, or “publish and see.”
5 of Cups (Water + Five): emotional disruption; grief work; shift focus to remaining resources.
7 of Swords (Air + Seven): strategy, intel, and discretion; ask if avoidance is serving you.
8 of Pentacles (Earth + Eight): practice makes mastery; quality through repetition.

The Court Cards

What Courts Represent

Courts can be people, roles, or modes of consciousness. They also map beautifully to learning stages:

Page: student, messenger, beginner’s mind.
Knight: movement, experimentation, “learning by doing.”
Queen: internal mastery, stewardship, embodied wisdom.
King: external mastery, leadership, executive decision-making.

They are gender-inclusive archetypes. Read them by energy, not by gender.

Pages — The Apprentices

Curious, exploratory, and porous to new information.

Page of Wands: try the thing.
Page of Cups: feel the thing.
Page of Swords: question the thing.
Page of Pentacles: build the thing.

Knights — The Movers

Action-oriented, each in their element’s style.

Knight of Wands: bold, fast, inspirational… sometimes inconsistent.
Knight of Cups: romantic, artistic… sometimes avoidant.
Knight of Swords: incisive, quick… sometimes abrasive.
Knight of Pentacles: steady, thorough… sometimes slow/stubborn.

Queens — The Integrators & Nurturers

Hold, cultivate, and deepen the element.

Queen of Wands: magnetism, confidence, creative sovereignty.
Queen of Cups: empathy, psychic depth, soul care.
Queen of Swords: discernment, boundaries, eloquence.
Queen of Pentacles: grounded nurture, resource magic, home-as-sanctuary.

Kings — The Executives

Direct resources, set standards, carry responsibility.

King of Wands: vision, momentum, rallying others.
King of Cups: emotional leadership, calm in storms.
King of Swords: policy, rules, strategic thinking.
King of Pentacles: enterprise, wealth stewardship, sustainable growth.

Reading Courts Without Panic (A Mini Method)

Role check: Person, part of you, or general energy?
Rank first: Page/Knight/Queen/King = stage of development.
Then element: Wands/Cups/Swords/Pentacles = style and domain.
Context: Neighbouring cards and Elemental Dignities refine the story. CLICK HERE to learn how to read with Elemental Dignities.

Ethics Note for Courts

When a Court looks like “a person,” avoid stereotyping. Offer traits, not labels: “someone who leads with words and logic” (Swords) vs “a Gemini man in HR.” Keep it spacious and respectful.

Choosing & Caring for Your First Tarot Deck

Busting the Myths

One of the longest-lived myths about Tarot is that your first deck has to be given to you as a gift. While that’s a romantic idea, it isn’t true. If you feel called to work with the Tarot, you are perfectly entitled to choose and buy your own deck. In fact, selecting one that speaks to you personally is the best way to start building a bond.

Another misconception is that you need to find a “spooky” or “occult” deck for it to be authentic. In reality, Tarot decks come in an incredible variety of art styles and themes—from traditional reproductions of historical packs to modern, diverse, and nature-centred creations. What matters most is that you feel inspired by the imagery.

How to Select Your First Deck

When browsing decks, consider:

Artwork: Do the images speak to your imagination? Can you see yourself journalling with them daily?
Symbolism: Some decks stick closely to the Rider-Waite-Smith system, making it easier to learn alongside most beginner books and courses. Others reimagine the system in fresh ways. Neither is better—choose what feels right for your learning style.
Accessibility: Are the card titles, numbers, and suits clearly printed? When you are new, clarity helps.
Companion guide: Many modern decks come with excellent little guidebooks. These can be invaluable as you learn.

Deck Care and Cleansing

Tarot decks are tools but also companions. Some readers treat them almost as sacred objects, others as trusty everyday instruments. There’s no single right way, but here are a few practices to consider:

Consecration: When you first bring a deck home, take a moment to hold it, breathe with it, and set the intention that you’ll work with it for clarity, growth, and guidance.
Cleansing: Some like to cleanse a new deck with incense smoke, moonlight, or a knock on the cards to shift energy. This isn’t mandatory, but it can be a helpful ritual to “reset” the deck.
Storage: Keep your deck somewhere that feels respectful. This could be a pouch, a box, or simply a dedicated drawer. Some readers like silk cloths or natural materials.
Handling: Don’t be afraid to shuffle and use the deck daily—your connection strengthens through regular contact.

Creating a Bond with Your Deck

One of the most effective ways to connect with a new deck is through a deck interview spread. You can ask the cards questions such as:

What are your strengths as a deck?
What do you expect from me as a reader?
How can we best work together?

Recording these answers in your Tarot journal gives you a great foundation for your journey.

Caring for Multiple Decks

It’s common to start with one deck and then slowly build a collection. Each deck has its own “voice.” Some will be better for personal shadow work, others for relationship readings, and some for creative brainstorming. Rotate them as feels natural.

Remember: your relationship with your deck is what matters most. Treat it with curiosity and respect, and it will serve you faithfully.

How the Tarot Works & Its Limitations

The Language of Symbols

Tarot communicates in symbols rather than words. Carl Jung called this the language of the unconscious; mystics might call it the language of the soul. Symbols bypass the rational mind and go straight to imagination, intuition, and memory.

When you draw a card, your inner world and the archetype on the card interact. This is why two people might see different nuances in the same card—it’s not random, but a dialogue between personal experience and universal archetype.

Synchronicity and Meaning

Many Tarot practitioners believe the cards work through synchronicity—meaningful coincidences that arise without a causal chain. The shuffling process may be random, but the card that surfaces is always meaningful in context.

Think of Tarot less as fortune-telling in the old sense and more as a mirror of consciousness. It shows what’s alive in your psyche now, what patterns are playing out, and what pathways are available moving forward.

Accessing Different Levels of Awareness

The Tarot can operate on multiple levels at once:

Personal unconscious: surfacing repressed material or hidden fears.
Everyday conscious life: providing clarity about decisions, relationships, and current challenges.
Collective unconscious: tapping into the archetypes and myths that unite us across time and culture.
Higher awareness: for some, Tarot is a spiritual practice that connects them to divine guidance.

What Tarot Can Do

Clarify choices by showing dynamics you might not have considered.
Encourage self-reflection by highlighting feelings, assumptions, or biases.
Offer timing guidance when combined with numerology, astrology, or spreads designed for cycles.
Inspire growth by surfacing the archetypes you’re currently working with.
Provide reassurance by affirming your intuition.

What Tarot Cannot Do

Give you absolute certainty. The future is not fixed; Tarot shows possibilities, not inevitabilities.
Make decisions for you. The cards reflect; the choice is still yours.
Replace professional advice. Tarot is not a substitute for medical, financial, or legal counsel.
Guarantee psychic hits. Even the most skilled readers sometimes pull cards that don’t “land” until later—or at all.

Working Within Its Limits

The best way to approach Tarot is as a collaborative tool. You bring your questions, your energy, and your openness; the cards bring their archetypal wisdom. Together, you create meaning in the moment.

Readers who respect Tarot’s limitations often find their readings are clearer, more empowering, and more ethically sound. In this sense, knowing what Tarot can’t do is as important as knowing what it can do.

Predictive Tarot and Timing

Can Tarot Predict the Future?

One of the most common questions beginners ask is: Can Tarot tell me the future? The answer is both yes and no. Tarot can point towards likely outcomes based on current energies and choices, but it cannot predict a fixed destiny.

Think of it like a weather forecast: if a storm system is moving in, meteorologists can predict rain. But if the wind changes, or you decide to stay indoors with an umbrella, your personal experience of that storm shifts. Similarly, Tarot shows patterns and trajectories, not absolute certainties.

Fate, Free Will, and Karma

Tarot sits at the crossroads of fate and free will. Some events may feel fated—major life shifts, karmic lessons, or collective patterns larger than ourselves. Others are shaped entirely by the daily choices we make.

When a reading reveals something you don’t like, you still have agency. You can choose differently, take preventative action, or shift your mindset. The Tarot empowers you to engage with life consciously, not resign yourself to inevitability.

Timeframes in Readings

Reading about timing in the Tarot is possible, but for practical purposes, predictive Tarot tends to work best with shorter timeframes:

1 day to 8 weeks: ideal for spreads about upcoming opportunities, challenges, or changes.
Up to 12 months: possible for annual readings (often done around birthdays or the New Year).
Beyond a year: unreliable, as too many variables can shift.

Tip: Beginners often do well focusing on the next six to eight weeks. It keeps insights grounded and prevents overreliance on long-term speculation.

Methods for Timing

Some readers avoid timing altogether, preferring to speak in terms of process rather than dates. Others use specific techniques, such as:

Numerology: associating numbers on the cards with days, weeks, or months.
Suits as time markers: Wands = days, Swords = weeks, Cups = months, Pentacles = seasons or years.
Astrological correspondences: linking cards to zodiac signs and planetary transits.

It’s worth experimenting to see what works for you. Timing in Tarot is always more of an art than a science.

The Role of Intuition

Sometimes, a timing insight arrives as an intuitive flash rather than a system. For example, you might look at the 3 of Wands and immediately feel “three weeks” without consciously knowing why. Over time, practice hones this ability.

A Gentle Reminder

When reading for others, be cautious about predictions. Emphasise that Tarot points to possibilities, not guarantees. Language matters—say “this looks likely if nothing changes” rather than “this will happen.” Clear, empowering phrasing protects both reader and querent.

Ways to Work with the Tarot

The Tarot is a flexible tool. Some use it for self-reflection, others for divination, and many weave it into spiritual or creative practice. There is no single “right” way to work with the cards — what matters is finding the approaches that serve your growth and align with your values.

Tarot for Self-Development

At its simplest, Tarot is a mirror. Pull a card daily and ask: What do I need to notice about myself today? Over time, this practice builds self-awareness, helps you spot repeating patterns, and gives language to your inner process. Check out this article about how to get started with a daily Tarot Journaling Practice.

Tarot for Meditation

You can meditate with a single card by placing it before you, breathing deeply, and letting your gaze rest on the imagery. Ask the card to reveal its wisdom. Let impressions, memories, or emotions arise.

Meditating with Tarot is especially powerful when paired with energy work. For example, you might explore Chakra Healing with the Tarot.

Tarot as Spiritual Devotion

Many practitioners use the Tarot as part of their devotional life. You might pull a card during morning prayer, as a journalling prompt in a gratitude practice, or even as part of a Christian contemplative path.

See: A Daily Devotional Christian Tarot Practice.

Tarot for Divination

Divination means “speaking with the divine.” When used in this way, Tarot becomes a way of receiving guidance from God or the Higher Mind/Higher Self. This might be about relationships, career, life purpose, or spiritual path.

Remember: the cards don’t replace your free will. They offer perspective. A good divination session ends not with a fixed answer but with clarity, encouragement, or a fresh way of seeing the problem.

Tarot for Healing

Tarot can be integrated into holistic wellbeing practices. Paired with the chakras, essential oils, crystals, or energy healing, it becomes a multi-layered approach to self-care. Because the cards work through imagery, they’re especially good at surfacing emotional blocks or forgotten memories that need healing attention.

Tarot for Creativity

Artists, writers, and problem-solvers often turn to Tarot as a spark. Drawing random cards for character development, story arcs, or brainstorming can unlock fresh inspiration. The archetypal imagery bypasses writer’s block and stimulates new pathways in the imagination.

Starting to Read for Yourself and Others

Begin with Yourself

It’s wise to start by reading for yourself. This allows you to experiment without pressure and to notice how the cards speak to your own life. As you gain confidence, you’ll begin to see how meanings flow naturally in conversation with real situations.

When you read for yourself:

Write down the question clearly before drawing.
Stay curious rather than hunting for the “right” answer.
Return to the spread a day or two later—you’ll often see details you missed.

Starting Small: Easy Spreads

Beginners sometimes leap straight into large layouts like the Celtic Cross and quickly feel overwhelmed. Start simple.

The Two-Card Spread

Perfect for quick clarity.

Card 1: The situation as it stands.
Card 2: The best way forward.

Variations: yes/no questions, option A vs option B, problem vs solution.

Further reading: 2-card spreads and starting to do readings.

The Three-Card Spread

Versatile and beginner-friendly.

Past – Present – Future
Mind – Body – Spirit
Situation – Obstacle – Advice

Further reading: More variations of the 3-card spread

The Celtic Cross (With Care)

This classic 10-card spread can provide rich detail, but it’s better tackled once you’ve built confidence with smaller layouts. Think of it as a long novel, whereas two- and three-card spreads are short stories.

Further reading: How to smash the Celtic Cross.

Reading for Friends and Family

Once you feel ready, you may wish to offer readings to others. This is an exciting step, but it comes with responsibility.

Tips for first readings:

Ask your querent to phrase their question clearly. “How can I improve my relationship with my boss?” is more useful than “What’s going to happen at work?”
Remember, you are a translator of symbols. Avoid absolute statements such as “this will happen.” Instead, frame insights as possibilities or tendencies.
Allow space for dialogue. Sometimes a querent’s reaction reveals as much as the card itself.

Common Beginner Pitfalls

Overloading spreads: Too many cards can blur the message.
Forcing meanings: If a card doesn’t make sense, don’t twist it. Set it aside and return later.
Reading too often on the same issue: Constantly re-asking a question muddles the energy.

Ethics for New Readers

When you read for others, it’s vital to honour boundaries and act with integrity.

Respect privacy: Never share a querent’s reading without permission.
Stay within limits: Tarot is not a replacement for professional medical, legal, or financial advice.
Empower, don’t control: A good reading leaves the querent with clarity and agency, not fear or dependency.
Know your “no”: You are free to decline questions that feel intrusive or beyond your comfort zone (e.g. health diagnoses, third-party spying, etc).

Building Confidence

The more you read, the easier it becomes. Practice with low-stakes questions at first. Keep a record of your spreads and revisit them after events unfold. This feedback loop will strengthen your trust in the cards and in your intuition.

More Tarot Resources

Books Worth Having on Your Shelf

Tarot for Your Self by Mary K. Greer – a classic workbook for using the Tarot as a tool for self-discovery. Ideal for beginners who want to grow intuition alongside book learning.
Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack – often called the “Tarot Bible.” Deepens understanding of symbolism and archetypes.
Learning the Tarot by Joan Bunning – clear, step-by-step guidance with exercises and practice spreads. (These book links are all Amazon affiliate links)

Decks for Beginners

While any deck you feel drawn to will work, some are especially beginner-friendly. If you want to learn the symbolism detailed in most books for beginners, it’s best to start with a version of the Waite-Smith Tarot:

Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot – the most widely used and referenced, with clear imagery that makes learning easier.
The Radiant Rider–Waite or Universal Waite – brighter, more modern colour versions of the classic deck.
The Hanson-Roberts Tarot – a softer version of the Rider–Waite–Smith. The artwork by Mary Hanson-Roberts has a warm, storybook quality, with expressive faces that make the emotions in each card easier to read. This is my personal favourite. (All deck links are UK Amazon affiliate links.)