I'm new to tarot cards

[Jack Mitchell]

Hi guys. I joined recently in the forums and got really interested in tarot cards.i really wanted to know how these work and how to do tarot reading myself. I've seen many online sites for tarot reading where we should choose random cards. but I couldn't fully understand. I hope someone could help me to tell More about this

Thank you

[Clover]

Hi Jack,

Welcome to the forum. My BEST advice is to start with the Rider-Waite Smith tarot deck. Most decks and reference books in the market follow this system. Most of the games the members play here also use decks centered round the RWS.

I would definitely look into online references online. Kindle also has free tarot reference guides as well. As far as how to use them. I feel the best way to start is by doing 1 or 3 card pulls. Ask very simple questions. For example, "What do I need to focus on right now?". The 3 card pulls are past, present and future. Personally, I like ask questions in the present as much as possible.

I think the best thing to take away from the tarot is... relax and have FUN. In my personal opinion, some folks take a one time reading way too serious, life is ever changing, nothing is permanent so expect changes and shake ups in readings. Tis' life.

[Hugmenots]

Hi Jack,

I agree with what Clover has mentioned.

Just to add on my own personal experience... For 3 card pulls, I feel that it might be easier to just read the 3 cards together. What are the common themes? For example, if I pulled 3 cups, the issue could likely be strongly influenced by emotions.

As for reading into the meanings of the cards, there are plenty of guides online and paper-back copies interpreting the cards. I would really suggest that you take these interpretations as a guide for your understanding of the cards. They are really good guides, but you have to create your own story from what you see. When I was much younger, I used to try reading tarots using these interpretations, but I was never able to make any sense of it. It's because I took those interpretations at face value and never tried to understand the cards by myself. But I know better now :)

Quoting Clover, relax and have FUN and welcome to the community (of tarot readers) :)

[KTM19]

Hi Jack! I'm not sure if you've picked a deck yet or not, but my advice is that you should feel drawn to it. The art on the cards is the best way to do this. If you're at a store and one deck keeps popping in your head and you can't get it out, then that's probably the deck you're meant to pick.

I took a class on reading tarot cards a few months ago, and it was my introduction to them. One thing I learned in the class is that it is hard to find a deck with solid instructions that actually teaches you how to read them. I found a deck of Doreen Virtue & Radleigh Valentine cards that has a great guidebook. It gives step by step instructions on how to do a reading, and quirky descriptions of the meaning of the cards. So, that's a little recommendation if you're looking for a deck with a solid guide to teach you.

But an important thing to keep in mind is that each deck has it's own personality.

Another recommendation is the book Tarot for Life by Paul Quinn. We used it in the class. It also gives descriptions of the cards along with stories of when they applied in various situations of the authors life, as well as his clients. There is also a little bit at the end about different type of reading and card spreads.

Hope this helps, and your fellow newbie welcomes you to the forum!