How do you do your first tarot reading? Write one open question, shuffle, cut, then draw three cards and lay them left to right. Read each card in one sentence, sum up the three in a single sentence, and write it all in a notebook. Allow twenty minutes, and do not try to understand everything the first time.
What you need
French-language tarot teachers recommend keeping the first reading simple and finished. You need a 78-card tarot deck (in French searches "jeu de tarot" can also mean the trick-taking card game, which is not what we mean here), a notebook, twenty quiet minutes and a question written in advance.
The seven steps
- Settle in. A calm moment, phone on silent. If you wonder about preparing, see our simple routine before a reading.
- Write your question. Open and about you: "What should I understand about my pace at work right now?" Avoid yes/no questions; our guide to asking a tarot question shows how to rephrase them.
- Shuffle and cut. Shuffle as it feels natural, cut the pack in two and put the bottom half on top.
- Draw three cards and lay them face down, left to right.
- Turn them over one by one and look before you read: figures, colours, where they look.
- Read each card in one sentence: what you see, the keyword that speaks to you, the question the card asks you.
- Sum up and write it down. Tell the three cards as a short story, then note the question, the cards and your sentence.
Which spread for a first time?
We suggest three cards. One card is quick but offers little to connect; the five-card cross gives nuance but five images are easy to get lost in at first. For the first reading we use the positions situation, obstacle, advice: card 1 is the situation, card 2 what blocks you, card 3 what can help or what you could try. It is not the only reading, but it gives a beginner the most concrete material. See our three-card spread guide for variants.
A worked example
An illustration of the method, not a prediction. Question: "What should I understand about my pace at work right now?" Situation: The Chariot, keyword momentum. Obstacle: the Two of Swords, keyword indecision. Advice: The Star, keyword calm. Summary: "I move fast, but a pending decision holds me back; regaining confidence means making it rather than avoiding it." Nothing was predicted: the reading simply put words on a tension. That is what a good first reading does. Tarot is a tool for reflection, not an oracle.
Where the deck helps
Many beginners stall because they must look up each card in a book. Our French-language learning deck has the meaning printed on every card, a printed French booklet comes in the box, and the full French course (4 books) arrives by personal link after purchase. Any deck can teach you; this one removes the "look it up every time" step. Marseille is a different tradition, with no scenes on the minor arcana, and is read through symbols alone. We do not suggest it for a first deck: our learning deck is built on the 1909 scene system, and for a first deck with printed meanings it is the one we recommend.
French-language learning tarot deck, 1909 art
Meanings printed on every card in French, a French guidebook in the box and the full course in French after purchase. Ships to the EU, UK, Switzerland and Iceland.
See the French deckKeep a notebook line per reading and revisit it a few days later; our tarot journaling guide for beginners helps. For a month-long plan, see learning tarot on your own.
Frequently asked questions
How is tarot read?
You ask a question, shuffle, cut, draw the planned number of cards and lay them in order. You read each card in its position, then the whole as a short story.
Which tarot should a beginner start with?
The one you will want to look at every day. Marseille is a different tradition with no scenes on the minor arcana; a deck with meanings on the cards simply removes the book lookup.
How many cards for a first reading?
Three is a good compromise: enough for a story, short enough not to get lost. If that still feels like a lot, start with one card.
Should I read reversed cards at first?
No. Read every card upright at the start and add reversals once you are comfortable. Our reversed cards guide shows how.
In regalo il corso completo di tarocchi in italiano
In regalo il corso completo di tarocchi in italiano
