What Is Tarot Reading?
Tarot reading is a reflective practice using a deck of 78 cards to explore your present situation, recognise patterns, and choose practical next steps. It is not about predicting a fixed future. Whether you read for yourself or with a professional, tarot offers a clearer perspective so you can make grounded decisions with confidence.
How A Tarot Reading Works
A tarot reading works through a dialogue between you, the reader, and the cards. The process is structured but flexible. Each stage creates space for reflection and choice rather than prediction. Here are the core steps:
Step 1. Bring a focus
Arrive with a question or theme. It might be love, career, burnout, or something harder to name. Open questions work best. Change “Will I get the job?” into “What strengths should I lean on and what might block me?” Curiosity is enough if you are unsure.
Step 2. Shuffle and lay a spread
Choose a layout that suits the topic. You might pull one card, use a simple past-present-future, or work with a Celtic Cross for complex issues. Spread positions show roles such as Present, Challenge, or Advice, helping you see what is happening, what shapes it, and what could unfold if nothing changes.
Step 3. Read the images
Look closely at the cards: symbols, colours, numbers, and suits. Notice patterns like repeated numbers or a dominant suit. Decide in advance whether to read reversals. Keep the language plain and useful rather than abstract so the insights stay practical and accessible.
Step 4. Connect it to your life
Test what resonates. Link card themes to real events, timelines, or choices. Acknowledge assumptions and blind spots. If sensitive topics arise, use consent checks and boundaries so the reading stays safe and constructive rather than overwhelming.
Step 5. Map options and momentum
Tarot sketches likely paths if the current pattern continues. Explore options, resources, and risks. Use if/then framing to show how choices affect outcomes. Keep timeframes short to medium. Tarot is about choice, not fate, and patterns shift when you act differently.
Step 6. Leave with next steps
End the reading with one to three practical actions. Capture a summary or photo and note what stood out. Set a grounding practice or follow-up point. Revisit the cards later to see what has changed and where more attention is needed.
If you want to learn how to prepare for a reading, I’ve written a breakdown on that here.
Tarot Reading Definition
What is a tarot reading? A tarot reading is a structured yet intuitive dialogue using a shared 78 card system to reflect a situation clearly. The aim is clarity and movement, not fixed predictions; you leave with insight that supports choice.
What Is In A Tarot Deck
A tarot deck has 78 cards divided into two groups: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Together they map the cycles of life, from turning points and archetypes to everyday decisions and habits. This shared structure gives tarot its depth and consistency across different decks.
Major Arcana
The 22 Major Arcana cards represent the big arcs of a life: identity shifts, healing, endings, and new beginnings. They capture headline themes and universal experiences that shape who we are and where we are going.
Minor Arcana
The 56 Minor Arcana cards track everyday patterns. They are split into four suits: Cups for feelings and relationships, Wands for drive and action, Swords for thought and truth, and Pentacles for body, work, and material life. These cards ground readings in daily reality.
If you want a deeper dive on any card, see my Tarot Card Meanings hub.
What Tarot Helps With
What can tarot help with? A tarot reading highlights patterns, surfaces blind spots, and offers clarity when life feels messy. It gives you perspective and helps you choose next steps with confidence. You can use tarot to explore transitions, relationships, or creative blocks.
Pick what fits your season:
- Seasonal and Special Occasions to mark birthdays and new chapters.
- Life Change and Shadow Work when something is ending or beginning, and you need orientation.
- Career and Creativity when work feels stuck or you want a spark.
- Love and Relationships when dynamics feel messy and you want a way through.
- Self Care and Empowerment when you need to reclaim energy and agency.
Tarot vs Oracle Cards
Tarot and oracle cards both offer reflection, but they differ in structure and use. Tarot is built on a 78 card system with archetypes and suits, while oracle decks vary in theme and size. If you are unsure whether tarot or oracle suits you, here are the main contrasts:
- Structure: Tarot follows a shared 78 card system. Oracle decks are unique to the creator.
- Best for: Tarot is strong for spotting patterns and longer stories. Oracle is best for single themes or affirmations.
- Learning curve: Tarot takes study but has a common language. Oracle is easy to start and deck-specific.
For a deeper comparison, read my Tarot vs Oracle breakdown.
Very Short History of Tarot
Tarot began as a card game in fifteenth century Italy. By the eighteenth century it was adopted for symbolic and esoteric exploration. Today many readers use tarot as a reflective tool for clarity, growth, and decision making. This is what tarot is at its core: a system for reflection.
There have been a number of tarot decks across history, some of which have been especially influential on how tarot is read today. These include the Visconti Sforza, Tarot de Marseille, Etteilla Tarot, Rider-Waite Smith, and Thoth. I’ve written full breakdowns of each in my Decks That Changed Tarot series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during a tarot reading?
A tarot reading starts with a question or theme, then the deck is shuffled and cards are laid in a spread. The reader interprets symbols, numbers, and suits before connecting them to your life. The focus is reflection and clarity, not fixed predictions, so you leave with perspective and useful next steps.
Is tarot fortune telling?
Tarot is not fortune telling. A tarot reading does not claim to predict a fixed future. Instead it reflects your present situation, highlights repeating patterns, and shows likely outcomes if nothing changes. The value is in choice and awareness, helping you shape the future through informed action.
How accurate are tarot readings?
Accuracy in tarot depends on the reader, the clarity of the question, and your openness. Tarot highlights what is true in the moment and shows where current patterns might lead. It cannot guarantee results but offers a clearer map, helping you make informed choices that can influence outcomes.
Can I read tarot for myself?
Yes, you can read tarot for yourself, and many people do. Start with one to three card spreads and ask open questions. Treat self-readings as a reflective dialogue with yourself. They help you build intuition, reveal blind spots, and connect present decisions with longer term patterns in your life.
Do I need to be spiritual to use tarot?
No spiritual belief is required to use tarot. You can approach it as a reflective tool that prompts thought and dialogue. The imagery sparks ideas and helps you process decisions. If you are spiritual, you can also frame tarot as a way of connecting with something greater, adding another layer of meaning.
Is tarot evil or dangerous
No, tarot is not evil or dangerous. It is a set of illustrated cards used as a reflective tool. Some religious traditions view it with suspicion, but in practice tarot is about reflection, clarity, and conversation. It encourages self-awareness and supports decision making rather than inviting harm or negativity.
Can tarot predict the future?
Tarot does not predict a fixed future. The cards reflect your present and show where current patterns may lead if nothing changes. By highlighting choices, risks, and resources, tarot empowers you to shape outcomes. It is about guidance and perspective, not prophecy or absolute certainty about what will happen.
How long does a tarot reading take?
The length of a tarot reading depends on the depth of the question and the spread used. A short session may last 15 to 20 minutes and cover one focused theme. Longer readings can take up to an hour, allowing space for more detail, multiple topics, and reflection on practical next steps.
Is tarot the same as mediumship?
Tarot is not the same as mediumship. Mediumship involves communication with spirits or the deceased, while tarot uses a 78 card system to reflect current patterns and choices. Both are forms of spiritual practice, but tarot is grounded in imagery and symbolism rather than spirit communication.
Do you have to be psychic to read tarot?
You do not need to be psychic to read tarot. Anyone can learn the card system and practice connecting the imagery with real life situations. Over time, readers often build intuition, but tarot is just as much about pattern recognition, reflection, and conversation as it is about any psychic sense.
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