Is there a day you should not draw tarot cards? No. Tarot has no forbidden day. Monday, Sunday, Friday the 13th and certain moon nights come up in French folk tradition as moments to avoid, but they are beliefs, not rules. What matters is a calm moment, a clear question and, we suggest, one reading per question.
Where do the "forbidden day" beliefs come from?
Their exact origin is undocumented: they are popular customs passed on by word of mouth, and we only cite the etymology of the day names, which explains the name, not the belief. Tarot is a tool for reflection, not an oracle, so it does not change with the calendar. Many readers still keep these customs because they give structure, an appointment and a way not to draw in a hurry. Adopt them as a personal ritual or ignore them; neither changes the value of your reading. Our reading: drawing cards takes attention, and a day when you are free and calm is a good day.
Monday, Sunday, Friday the 13th, the moon
- Monday. According to a popular belief, the cards "lie" on Monday. The French word lundi comes from the Latin for "day of the Moon"; we do not know whether the belief follows from it. Our reading: after the weekend you may be tired or scattered. The reading is not false, but your attention can be.
- Sunday. Dimanche comes from the Latin for "the Lord's day", a day of rest; again, we do not know whether the belief follows from the name. If Sunday is your calm time, it can suit you; if it feels wrong, pick another day.
- Friday the 13th. A general superstition, not specific to tarot, seen as unlucky by some and, in France, often as lucky. In our reading, the calendar does not act on the cards.
- New or full moon. Some draw at the new moon to set an intention; others avoid the full moon. It is a ritual choice, useful if it gives you a regular appointment.
- At night. The real criterion is tiredness: late in the evening it is the reading that weakens, not the cards.
Where do the names of the weekdays come from?
The French weekday names come from Latin: lundi (the Moon), mardi (Mars), mercredi (Mercury), jeudi (Jupiter), vendredi (Venus), samedi (the Sabbath) and dimanche (the Lord's day). This explains the names, not a rule for drawing cards: no day is better or worse for a reading because of its name.
When is it better to wait?
Instead of days, think of situations: strong emotion (anger, panic, deep sadness), exhaustion, a question you have already asked, and anything about health, bereavement or an emergency, where a professional is the right door. Drawing again and again until you get the answer you hoped for blurs everything; we suggest one reading per question, and waiting for something to change before asking it again. See our guide is tarot dangerous? and our page on beginner mistakes.
A small ritual we suggest for beginners
This is our own ritual, not a rule of the tradition. Pick a calm moment on any day. Write an open question ("What should I understand about...?"; see how to ask a tarot question). Shuffle without hurry (see our shuffling guide) and draw one card, or three. Describe the image, then read the meaning. Write one sentence with the date and do not ask the same question again that day. The card of the day makes a good daily habit, and reading tarot for yourself covers the basics of drawing alone.
How to keep and protect your cards
No ritual is compulsory. Practically, keep the deck in its box or in a cloth, away from damp, heat and direct sunlight, and handle it with clean, dry hands without bending the cards. Keeping it in one place also marks the end of a session.
Reading at any time without the book
If you want to draw a card whenever it suits you, a deck that prints the meaning on each card removes the trip to the book. Our French-language learning deck does that: the card name and number, a one-sentence meaning, four upright and four reversed keywords and a question to ask yourself are printed on every card. A French booklet comes in the box, and the full beginner course in French (4 books) is included, sent by personal link after purchase. Its illustrations are the 1909 designs by Pamela Colman Smith; Marseille is a different tradition, and any deck can teach you.
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 deckFor a complete route, see learn tarot on your own.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best day of the week to draw cards?
The one when you are free and calm. No day is better by nature; keep a regular appointment if routine helps.
When should you not draw cards?
Under strong emotion, when exhausted, or when you have already asked the same question. For health or emergencies, see a professional instead.
Which day do the cards lie?
By popular belief, Monday. We do not read cards as witnesses that lie: they show images and you read them. On a distracted day the reading is simply less precise.
Can you draw a card every day?
Yes, one card a day, without repeating the question.
