Tarot cards are more than just self awareness — they’re a mirror for your thoughts, emotions, and intuition. Each card in a tarot deck carries a unique symbol and message, helping you reflect on your life’s path and uncover fresh perspectives. For beginners, it’s best to start with a simple 78-card Rider-Waite deck, known for its clear imagery and easy-to-understand meanings. Once you’re familiar with the cards, you can explore other popular decks like Crystal Vision Tarot for deeper insight and personal connection.
🃏Commonly Drawn Cards and Their Meaning
As a beginner, start by getting familiar with a few commonly drawn cards and their basic meanings:
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The Fool (Major Arcana): Symbolises new beginnings, spontaneity, and a leap of faith. It encourages you to trust the journey, even if you don’t know where it leads.
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The Magician (Major Arcana): Represents manifestation and personal power. You already have the tools and resources you need to make things happen.
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The High Priestess (Major Arcana): Speaks of intuition and hidden knowledge — a reminder to trust your instincts and listen to your inner voice.
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The Lovers (Major Arcana): Highlights love, harmony, and important choices. Often about relationships, but also about aligning your actions with your values.
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The Chariot (Major Arcana): Represents determination and willpower. Stay focused — victory comes when you steer your emotions and direction with intent.
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The Sun (Major Arcana): Brings joy, success, and clarity. A positive omen that everything is falling into place.
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The Tower (Major Arcana): Indicates sudden change or revelation — a shake-up that clears space for growth and truth.
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The Star (Major Arcana): Symbolises hope, renewal, and peace after challenges. It encourages faith in your healing journey.
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Ace of Cups (Minor Arcana): Overflowing emotion, new relationships, or a fresh wave of inspiration — love begins here.
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Three of Swords (Minor Arcana): Heartbreak, separation, or emotional pain — but also a chance to release what no longer serves you.
📖 How to Interpret Your 3-Card Spread (With example)
The 3-card tarot spread is one of the easiest and most insightful ways to start reading tarot. It helps you understand the past, present, and future influences surrounding your question. To begin, find a quiet space where you can focus. Shuffle your deck while thinking about your question — for example, “What should I focus on this month?” — and when you feel ready, draw three cards.
Lay them side by side:
1️⃣ Card 1 – Past: What has led to this moment.
2️⃣ Card 2 – Present: The current situation or energy.
3️⃣ Card 3 – Future: The likely outcome or advice moving forward.
Once you’ve drawn your cards, begin by taking in the imagery and symbolism — the Rider–Waite Tarot is filled with detailed illustrations that tell a story if you look closely. Let’s say your question is “What should I focus on this month?” and your three cards are:
1️⃣ Past – The Hermit: A figure holding a lantern stands alone on a mountain peak. This card suggests that you’ve recently withdrawn to reflect or seek clarity — a time of learning from within rather than relying on others.
2️⃣ Present – Two of Wands: A man gazes out from a castle wall, holding a globe in his hand and planning his next move. This represents decision-making, vision, and expansion — you’re considering your options, but action hasn’t been taken yet.
3️⃣ Future – The Sun: A child rides a white horse beneath a shining sun, surrounded by sunflowers. This card radiates optimism, joy, and success — symbolising that your efforts will soon bring clarity and happiness if you move forward with confidence.
Together, these cards tell a story of transition from reflection to action to reward. The Hermit’s lantern lights the path toward the bold choices of the Two of Wands, which ultimately lead to the warmth and fulfilment of The Sun. When interpreting your own spread, look for this kind of visual and emotional flow — notice the shift in colours, mood, and direction of the figures. The Rider–Waite deck’s detailed artwork makes it easier to trust your intuition and see how each image connects to your life situation.
🪞 Reflecting on Your Reading & Applying the Message
Once you’ve interpreted your spread, take a moment to reflect on how the cards relate to your real-life situation. Tarot isn’t about fixed predictions — it’s about guidance and self-awareness. Ask yourself: “What insight did these cards offer me? What action can I take from this?” For instance, if your reading showed The Hermit, Two of Wands, and The Sun, your takeaway might be: “I’ve spent time understanding myself (The Hermit); now it’s time to take that idea and act on it (Two of Wands) so I can step into success (The Sun).”
Write these reflections in a tarot journal or notebook — note the date, your question, and what each card meant to you. Over time, you’ll start spotting patterns and recurring messages that deepen your intuition. Some people like to pull a daily card afterward as a “follow-up message” to reinforce the main reading. Others meditate on the imagery of one card for a few days to internalise its lesson.
The key is to apply your reading, not just interpret it — tarot offers the most clarity when its wisdom meets real-world action.
🌟Beginner Friendly Tarot Deck Recommendation
If you’re ready to get your first deck, the Rider–Waite Tarot series is perfect for beginners.
Classic & Traditional - Rider–Waite Tarot Deck
Best for learners who want to study the original artwork and symbolism used in most tarot guides. This is the gold standard used in most tarot guides.
Soft & Gentle Colours - Universal Waite Tarot Deck
Best for beginners who prefer soothing tones and cleaner line art. This deck offers a gentler, easy-to-read version.
Vibrant & Modern Look - Radiant Rider–Waite Tarot Deck
Best for readers who enjoy bright, high-contrast imagery and lively energy. This deck brings the traditional imagery to life with rich tones and modern appeal.
As you begin your tarot journey, remember that the right question opens the door to true insight. Whether you’re exploring tarot questions for beginners or seeking guidance on love, career, or self-growth, focus on open-ended prompts that encourage reflection — like “What energy surrounds me right now?” or “What lesson am I being guided to learn?” For a deeper look at meaningful questions to ask during your readings, check out this guide on questions to ask in a tarot reading. Explore our tarot collection here.