The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Tarot Deck

The Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Tarot Deck

Welcome to the magical world of Tarot! Whether you’ve just received your first deck or you’re thinking about diving into the art of reading cards, the journey of learning Tarot is both exciting and deeply personal. But, with so many cards and meanings to absorb, it can feel a little overwhelming at first. Don’t worry, though! You’re not alone in this. I’ve got you covered with this beginner-friendly guide to understanding your Tarot deck.

The Basics of the Tarot Deck

A standard Tarot deck contains 78 cards, and they’re divided into two main groups: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Let’s break this down so you can understand exactly what you’re working with.

The Major Arcana: Your Spiritual Journey

The Major Arcana is made up of 22 cards that represent key life lessons, spiritual growth, and significant events in your life. These cards speak to your inner world, your soul’s journey, and the big moments that shape your life. They’re often considered the most impactful cards in a reading.

Some of the most well-known Major Arcana cards include:

• The Fool: This is the card of new beginnings and adventures. It encourages taking risks and embracing the unknown.
• The Magician: A card that symbolizes manifestation, power, and creativity. The Magician reminds you that you have everything you need to create the life you want.
• The Empress: A symbol of abundance, nurturing, and fertility, reminding you to embrace creativity and growth.

Each of these cards holds a deep message about different stages of your life, so as you start learning, pay special attention to how these cards resonate with your personal experiences.

The Minor Arcana: Everyday Life and Practical Matters

The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards and is divided into four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands. These cards reflect the everyday challenges, opportunities, and feelings that we encounter. If the Major Arcana represents the bigger picture, the Minor Arcana helps us focus on the details.

Here’s a quick rundown of each suit:

• Cups: Related to emotions, relationships, and intuition. This suit governs the heart and emotional fulfillment.
• Pentacles: Focused on material aspects, such as career, money, and physical well-being. It’s all about grounding and stability.
• Swords: This suit is connected to the mind, intellect, and challenges. It often indicates conflicts, decisions, and thoughts that need to be processed.
• Wands: Representing creativity, action, and inspiration, Wands are the suit of passion and ambition.

Each suit consists of 14 cards, ranging from numbered cards (1 to 10) to face cards like the Page, Knight, Queen, and King, each of which has its own unique meaning.

How to Start Learning

Now that you have a basic understanding of what’s inside your deck, let’s talk about how to begin your Tarot journey.

Familiarize Yourself with the Cards: Start by sitting with your deck, shuffling the cards, and observing the images. You’ll notice that each card has its own symbolism, colors, and energy. Don’t rush through this step—let the cards speak to you.

Learn the Card Meanings: There are plenty of resources available to help you understand the meanings of each card. A great way to begin is by learning one card at a time. You might want to keep a Tarot journal where you can jot down your thoughts and personal interpretations of each card. Or you could take my comprehensive tarot course here

Practice Daily: Pull a single card each day to start your practice. Reflect on how it relates to your life. This simple practice can help you build confidence and become more attuned to the messages the cards are sending.

Trust Your Intuition: Tarot is as much about intuition as it is about memorizing meanings. As you become more familiar with your deck, allow your intuition to guide you. The cards will begin to speak to you in a more personal way.

Don’t Stress About Perfection: Tarot is a lifelong learning journey. There’s no right or wrong way to interpret the cards. Trust yourself, and have fun with the process!

Your Tarot Adventure Starts Now!

You’ve taken the first step into a world of insight, magic, and self-discovery. The Tarot deck is full of wisdom, but remember—this journey is about you and how the cards resonate with your experiences. As you continue to explore, don’t forget to have fun with it. Tarot is meant to be a tool for growth, clarity, and inspiration!