Tarot divination means asking a question, drawing cards from a 78-card deck and reading their images as a prompt for reflection. A beginner needs four things: a deck, an open question, a simple spread and the card meanings.
For a first deck, we suggest our Borderless Vintage tarot: 78 cards with the classic 1909 artwork by Pamela Colman Smith, a gift box, a cloth bag and a printed guidebook (in English). If you prefer a more atmospheric look, the Moon Magic tarot comes with the same set of extras.
The full deck
Want to hold all 78 cards and learn them?
Borderless Vintage Tarot Cards — Light Edition, 1909 Classic Art
The Borderless Vintage deck is the full 78 cards plus a printed guidebook that explains each one.
See Borderless VintageHow a tarot reading works
Divination with tarot is a simple routine, and it is the same whether you read for yourself or for a friend. People have used these cards for centuries as a way to slow down, look at a situation from a new angle and put thoughts into words. We treat tarot as a tool for reflection and decision-making, not as a way to see a fixed future.
A reading usually follows five steps:
- Choose a question. Write it down so you can return to it later.
- Shuffle. Take your time, and stop when it feels right. There is no official number of shuffles.
- Pick a spread. A spread is a layout in which every position has its own meaning, such as "situation" or "advice".
- Draw and place the cards. Turn them over one at a time, in order.
- Read the cards together. Look at each card in its position, then at how the cards relate to one another and to your question.
The last step matters most. A single card rarely tells the whole story, and the picture only becomes clear when you read the cards as one sentence rather than as separate words.
The 78 cards in two minutes
A standard tarot deck has 78 cards, split into two groups: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana.
- Major Arcana (22 cards): numbered from 0 (The Fool) to 21 (The World). They stand for big themes and turning points, such as The Lovers, Death, The Star or The Sun.
- Minor Arcana (56 cards): four suits of 14 cards each. They describe everyday life and the way things unfold.
The four suits are Wands (energy, action, ambition), Cups (feelings and relationships), Swords (thoughts, words and conflict) and Pentacles (work, resources and the practical side of life). Each suit runs from Ace to Ten, followed by four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen and King. The court cards often describe people, or sides of your own character.
Cards can land upright or reversed (turned upside down). Many readers give a reversed card a softer, blocked or inward version of the upright meaning. If this feels like too much at first, read every card upright and add reversals later. Both approaches are common and neither is wrong.
Three spreads for a first reading
Start small. These three spreads cover most beginner needs.
1. One card a day
- Shuffle the deck while thinking, "What should I keep in mind today?"
- Draw one card and look at the picture before you check any meaning.
- Write down one sentence about what you see and what it might mean for your day.
- In the evening, read your note again and see whether the card fitted.
2. Three cards: past, present, future
- Draw three cards and lay them left to right.
- Read them as past (what led here), present (where you are) and a possible direction (where things may go if nothing changes).
- Prefer a more practical version? Use situation, obstacle and advice instead.
- Finish by summing up the three cards in a single sentence.
3. A five-card cross
- Place one card in the centre: the heart of the matter.
- Place one card to the left (what is behind you) and one to the right (what is coming).
- Place one card above (what you hope for or are aiming at) and one below (what supports you).
- Read the centre first, then each arm, and ask how they connect.
If you want a quick yes/no feel, draw one card and note whether its mood is open and positive or closed and difficult. Treat that as a nudge to think, not as a verdict.
Learning the meanings without a book on your knees
Every beginner asks how to remember 78 meanings. The honest answer: you do not need to memorise them first. Learn the structure (Major and Minor, the four suits, numbers) and look up each card as it appears in a reading. Meanings stick far better when they are tied to a real question.
Two resources help here. Our Borderless Vintage tarot includes a printed guidebook, written in English, so you can look up each card at the table. And we keep a free online guide to all 78 cards on our site: the complete tarot card meanings guide. Open it on your phone while you practise.
A good habit is to keep a small notebook with the date, the question, the cards drawn and your first impression. After a few weeks you will see your own patterns, and the meanings will start to feel familiar.
Our stock picks
Practicing? Here's where to start.
Moon Magic Tarot Cards
The Moon Magic tarot has 78 cards, a gift box and a printed guidebook in English.
See this deckGood questions vs bad questions
The quality of a reading depends heavily on the question. Open questions that start with "what" or "how" give the cards room to speak. Closed yes/no questions, and questions about what another person thinks or will do, tend to produce vague or unhelpful answers.
| Weaker question | Better question |
|---|---|
| Will he text me back? | What should I keep in mind in how I communicate with him? |
| Will I get the job? | How can I prepare well for this interview? |
| Is this a good decision? | What are the strengths and risks of each option? |
| What is my future? | What theme matters most for me over the next month? |
Questions about your own choices, attitudes and next steps work best. They keep the reading useful, and they keep the decision in your hands.
Common beginner mistakes
- Memorising before practising. Read real spreads early and look up meanings as you go.
- Asking the same question again and again. If you dislike an answer, redrawing rarely helps. Reflect on why it bothers you instead.
- Reading cards one by one. Always connect neighbouring cards and the position they sit in.
- Fearing "scary" cards. Death usually means an ending and a change, and The Tower means sudden upheaval. Neither is a prediction of disaster.
- Asking about health, money or legal matters and treating the answer as fact. Tarot is not a substitute for a doctor, an adviser or a lawyer.
- Ignoring the pictures. Before you look up a meaning, say what you notice: colours, figures, mood. Your first impression is part of the reading.
FAQ
Do I need to be psychic to use tarot?
No. Tarot is a skill built on observation, imagination and practice, much like learning an instrument. Anyone can learn the basics with a deck and a little patience.
Is tarot divination accurate?
Tarot cannot predict the future with certainty, and no honest reader will claim otherwise. Many people find it useful for clarifying their thoughts, seeing options and starting a conversation with themselves.
How many cards should a beginner start with?
One card a day is the easiest start. Once that feels comfortable, move on to a three-card spread, and only later try larger layouts.
Which deck is best for a first reading?
A standard 78-card deck with clear, traditional pictures is a safe choice, because most tarot books and guides refer to that imagery. Our Borderless Vintage tarot follows the classic 1909 style and includes an English guidebook.
How often can I read the cards?
As often as you like, but a daily card or one longer reading a week is plenty. Reading too often on the same worry can leave you more anxious rather than clearer.
Ready to begin? Browse the full range in our tarot deck collection and choose the deck whose pictures speak to you.
