Reading Tarot Cards: How to Give A Tarot Reading In 7 Steps

There are many, many ways to read Tarot cards, but5) Reading: Using your knowledge of the Tarot or, if
it helps to have a consistent method that you useyou are new, a guidebook, comment on your
each time. In this way, you can think less about howimpressions of the meaning of the card. Do not just go
you are going to read and focus completely on yourby the book definitions of the cards and say whatever
subject, the cards and their meaning.comes into your mind. Look at the image on the card
A basic reading can be boiled down to seven steps:and remark on the card themes as they come to
Rituals, Shuffling, Selecting, Turning, Reading, Discussionmind. Whatever your first impressions are, they're
and Refining.correct. Then analyze the meaning of the card in
1) Rituals: Rituals are an important part of reading theconnection with its position and comment on it. If a
Tarot, but whatever those rituals may be will becard is reversed, explain its meaning (Upright, it means
uniquely yours. Some people take special care of their_____) and then comment on its reversal (But when
deck, wrapping in a beautiful cloth or keeping the cardsreversed, it indicates ______). Do this with each card,
in a special box. Other sleep with their cards undersaying what comes to mind. Do not ask for validation
their pillow, to increase their connectivity with their deck,from the subject yet, just share any thoughts and
and many people feel that the must never read theirinterpretations that come to mind.
own cards using their deck. Whatever rituals youTry not to second-guess yourself or overthink what
employ, including the methods you use to lay out andyou are saying. You are going to learn to tap into your
read the cards, keep them consistent.intuition, not your intellect.
Before reading, make a silent opening statement such6) Discussion: After you have given your interpretation
as a prayer or affirmation, or a greeting to your innerof the cards, ask your subject if anything you have
guide.said was particularly meaningful as regards some
2) Shuffling: Always shuffle face-down, so no oneissue in their life. If yes, reinterpret the cards in more
sees the cards, and avoid bending the cards as this isdetail, specific to the circumstances that they describe.
no time for fancy tricks. Beyond that, there are aIf your client says no, nothing sounds familiar, ask them
number of methods of shuffling. You can hold aboutquestions and re-phrase the themes of the cards and
half the deck in each hand, and insert one half downyou may well be on the right track, but need to explain
through the other half.the cards in a different way for the client until
Another method, designed for maximum hand contactsomething rings a bell.
with little damage to the cards, is the one7) Refining: Once your subject gives you some
recommended by Norma Cowie in her book calledfeedback, reinterpret the cards in a way that is
Tarot for Successful Living. Hold the deck face downspecific to the subject situation. Tell a story tying all of
in your dominant hand. Push some cards from the topthe cards together, explaining them in as clear a way
with your thumb into the other hand. Then, push again,as possible. tying all the themes together, and perhaps
but this time to the bottom of the new pile. Continueusing a different way of explaining them which might
alternating a push to the top, then one to the bottommake it even clearer to the client.
until all the cards have been transferred.Focus on the positive aspects of the cards, and stress
At this point, put the entire deck back into yourthat nothing is carved in stone and the subject actions
dominant hand and start over. This method can becan change the situation later.
difficult at first, but your technique will improve withIf any of the cards indicate a negative event, explain
practice. Stop shuffling when you feel that it is time toagain that the subject is master of their own destiny
stop, or if a card falls from the deck (and take note ofand if they change their course of action then they
any fallen card, for it has meaning) and then return it orcan remedy the situation and head off trouble. Remind
set it aside. If you choose to return the card to thethe subject that the cards only reflect what is in his or
deck and the same card turns up later in the reading,her mind, and that they have free will to change the
consider that significant.outcome of future events. If you cannot get a good
3) Selecting: Spread the cards in a line or sem-circle,read on a particular card, ask the subject to draw
face down, above the area you will use for the layout.another and use it as a modifier and read it in
Ask your subject to choose a card, then slide it faceconnection with the original card.
down to the first position within your chosen layout,If a card was dropped or set aside during the shuffle,
keeping it vertical, not horizontal. Add new cards in theinterpret it as a guidance card, offering overall advice
same order to complete the layout.on the entire reading as a whole.
4) Turning: Turn over the first card from side-to-side,Naturally, your style of reading Tarot cards will be
so it is not reversed by you. Tell your subject theunique, and you may have a method that is very
significance of that card position in the spread, studyingdifferent from this one. As long as you are consistent
the card to get a sense of its meaning, both alone andwith your rituals and techniques, you will be able to
in that position. Turn the next card only when you arefocus entirely on reading the cards without the
ready to focus on it, repeating until all the cards aredistraction of wondering what you should be doing
turned.next.