What Is Tarot Reading?
Tarot reading is a reflective practice using a deck of 78 cards to explore your current situation, identify patterns, and map realistic next steps. It does not predict a fixed future. You can read for yourself or with a professional to make clearer choices.
How A Tarot Reading Works
Step 1. Bring a focus
Turn up with a question or a theme. It might be career, love, burnout, or a wobble you cannot name yet.
Open-ended questions work best. For example, change “Will I get the job?” to “What strengths should I lean on in this process, and what could block me?” Curiosity is enough if you are not sure yet.
Step 2. Shuffle and lay a spread
Use a layout that fits the topic, or read freely without one. You might pull a single card, follow a free flow, or use a simple three card past, present, future. For complex situations a Celtic Cross helps.
In a spread, each position has a clear role such as Present, Challenge, or Advice. Positions help you see what is happening now, what influences it, and the likely direction if nothing changes.
Step 3. Read the images
Look at symbols, colours, numbers, suits, and the relationships between cards. Notice patterns such as many Majors, a dominant suit, or repeated numbers.
Decide in advance whether to use reversals and note where they change tone. Keep the reading grounded and useful rather than abstract; plain words over jargon.
Step 4. Connect it to your life
Test what lands and what jars. Link the card themes to real events, timelines, and choices.
Name assumptions and blind spots. If sensitive material appears, use consent checks and set boundaries so the space stays supportive and practical.
Step 5. Map options and momentum
Cards sketch likely paths based on the current pattern. Explore if/then options, risks, and resources.
Keep timeframes short to medium rather than absolute. The point is choice, not fate; change the inputs and outcomes can change.
Step 6. Leave with next steps
Choose one to three actions that match your capacity. Capture a brief summary or a photo and note what stood out.
Set a prompt, a grounding practice, or a check-in date. Return to the cards later to see what has moved and what still needs attention.
If you want to learn how to prepare for a reading, I’ve written a breakdown on that here.
Tarot Reading Definition
A tarot reading is a structured yet intuitive dialogue that uses a shared 78 card system to reflect a situation clearly. The aim is clarity and movement, not fixed answers.
What Is In A Tarot Deck
Major Arcana
22 cards for the bigger arcs of a life. Turning points, identity shifts, disruption, healing. The headline moments.
Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana contains 56 cards that map day-to-day patterns across 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.
If you want a deeper dive on any card, see my Tarot Card Meanings hub.
What Tarot Helps With
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 decks both offer insight, but they work differently.
- Structure: Tarot uses a shared 78 card system with suits and archetypes. Oracle decks vary by creator and size.
- Best for: Tarot is strong for spotting patterns and a story over time. Oracle shines for single themes or affirmations.
- Learning curve: Tarot has a common language you can learn. Oracle is low effort and deck specific.
For a fuller comparison, read my full Tarot vs Oracle breakdown.
Very Short History of Tarot
Tarot started as a card game in fifteenth-century Italy. By the eighteenth century, it was being used for symbolic and esoteric exploration. Today, many readers treat it as a reflective tool that supports decision-making and growth.
If you want deck origins, see my series Decks That Changed Tarot. It covers Visconti Sforza, Tarot de Marseille, Etteilla Tarot, Rider-Waite Smith, and Thoth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tarot reading in simple words?
Tarot reading is a reflective practice with a deck of 78 cards that helps you understand what is going on and choose realistic next steps. It does not predict a fixed future.
How does a tarot reading work?
You bring a focus, cards are drawn with or without a spread, and the images are read in context. The insight is then linked to real life so you leave with language for what is happening and a next step.
How many cards are used in a reading?
There is no magic number. Three cards work well for a check-in. Seven to ten give a fuller picture. Larger layouts help when there are many threads. The layout matters more than the count because positions give context.
Do I need a question or can we be open?
Either works. A clear, open-ended question sharpens the reading, while an open read lets what matters most surface. If you are stuck, we can shape a question together.
Can tarot predict the future
Tarot shows momentum and possibilities based on where you are today. Change your choices and the path can change. My take: tarot is guidance, not fate. Read the deep dive in Can Tarot Predict The Future.
Is tarot evil or dangerous
Tarot is a tool. For many people it is a structured way to reflect, like journalling with pictures. If you have spiritual concerns, treat it as a conversation starter rather than a ritual. More in Is Tarot Evil and Is Tarot Witchcraft.
Is tarot the same as oracle cards
No. Tarot uses a shared 78-card structure with suits and archetypes. Oracle decks are free-form and vary by creator. See Tarot vs Oracle for the fuller comparison.
How long does a tarot reading take
Short sessions suit one clear topic. Longer sessions give space to untangle layered situations and leave with a plan.
Ready To Book?
Book a session now, in Manchester or online via Zoom.
