Tarot Decks
There are hundreds of different Tarot decks available. Some are based upon famous artwork, movies, books, legends, mythology, and even movies. Choose a deck that feels right for you.
If you’re not sure which deck is the best one for you, and you’re a beginning Tarot reader, pick up the Rider Waite deck. It is the one used most often as illustration in Tarot instruction books, and it’s a fairly easy system to learn.
About The Cards
A Tarot deck consists of 78 cards. The first 22 cards are the Major Arcana. These cards have symbolic meanings focused on the material world, the intuitive mind, and the realm of change. The remaining 56 cards are the Minor Arcana, and are divided into four groups or suits: Swords, Pentacles (or Coins), Wands and Cups.
Each of the four suits focuses on a theme. Sword cards generally indicate conflict or moral issues, while Cups reflect matters of emotion and relationships. Coins focus on the material aspects of life, such as security and finance, while Wands represent things like jobs, ambition, and activity.
How Do Tarot Cards Work?
Any experienced Tarot reader will tell you that reading cards is an intuitive process. Like any other form of divination, the cards become a focal point for your own psychic abilities. There is any number of different spreads, or layouts, which can be used in a Tarot reading. Some readers use elaborate layouts, while others may just pull out three to five cards and see what they need to see. One of the most popular layouts is the Celtic Cross method.
Reversed Cards
Sometimes, a card comes up backwards or upside down. Some Tarot readers interpret these reversed cards in a way that is the opposite of the card’s right-side-up meaning. Other readers may not bother with a reversed interpretation, feeling that the messages may be incomplete. The choice is yours.
Try ThoughtCo.'s Free Intro to Tarot Study Guide!
This free six-step study guide will help you learn the basics of Tarot reading, and give you a good start on your way to becoming an accomplished reader. Work at your own pace! Every lesson includes a Tarot exercise for you to work on before moving ahead. If you've ever thought you might like to learn the Tarot but didn't know how to get started, this study guide is designed for you!