What is Tarot Reading?
Tarot reading is a form of cartomancy—divination using cards—in which a practitioner interprets the symbolic imagery on a deck of 78 cards to gain insight into questions, situations, or inner states. The reader shuffles the cards, lays them out in a pattern called a spread, and interprets their meanings based on card symbolism, position in the spread, and intuitive perception. The 78 cards are divided into two groups: 22 Major Arcana cards depicting archetypal life themes (The Fool, Death, The Star) and 56 Minor Arcana cards organized into four suits (typically Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles). Unlike fortune-telling that claims to predict fixed futures, most contemporary tarot reading functions as a contemplative tool for self-reflection, pattern recognition, and decision-making support.
Origins & Lineage
Tarot cards originated not as mystical instruments but as playing cards for a trick-taking game among Italian nobility. The earliest surviving decks, the Visconti-Sforza tarot commissioned by Milanese ruling families around 1440, were luxury items featuring hand-painted imagery and gold leaf. These 78-card decks consisted of 56 suit cards plus 22 illustrated trump cards called trionfi (triumphs). The word “tarot” derives from the Italian tarocchi, which replaced trionfi around 1502; the etymology remains uncertain, though taroch was used as a synonym for foolishness in 15th-century Italian. By the 16th century, tarot games had spread across Europe as popular entertainment.
The transformation of tarot from game to divination tool began in 1781 when French Protestant pastor Antoine Court de Gébelin published volume eight of Le Monde primitif, claiming—without evidence—that tarot cards encoded ancient Egyptian wisdom from the Book of Thoth. This fabricated origin story, though rejected by historians, captivated the occult community. In 1783, French fortune-teller Jean-Baptiste Alliette (“Etteilla”) published the first deck explicitly designed for divination. In the 1850s, French occultist Éliphas Lévi connected tarot to Kabbalah and the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, cementing its place in Western esoteric tradition.
The most influential deck for contemporary practice, the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) tarot, was created in 1909 by artist Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of occultist Arthur Edward Waite, both members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Smith’s innovation—illustrating all 56 Minor Arcana cards with narrative scenes rather than simple suit symbols—made intuitive reading accessible to non-experts. Over 100 million copies of this deck have circulated worldwide.
How It’s Practiced
A typical tarot reading begins with the querent (person receiving the reading) formulating a question or area of inquiry. The reader shuffles the deck while focusing on the question, then lays cards face-up in a predetermined pattern or spread. Common spreads include the one-card pull (quick daily guidance), three-card spread (often past-present-future), and the ten-card Celtic Cross (comprehensive life overview). Each position in a spread holds a specific meaning: “present situation,” “obstacle,” “advice,” “possible outcome.”
Interpretation combines multiple layers: the card’s traditional symbolic meaning, its position in the spread, surrounding cards, and the reader’s intuitive impressions. The Three of Swords, depicting a heart pierced by blades, might indicate heartbreak, difficult truth, or necessary pain. In the “advice” position, it could suggest confronting a painful reality; in the “past” position, it may reference a previous emotional wound still influencing present circumstances. Reversals—cards appearing upside-down—may be read as blocked energy, internalized qualities, or simply given alternative meanings, depending on the reader’s methodology.
Readings range from 15 minutes for a simple spread to over an hour for complex layouts. Some readers work in silence followed by interpretation; others narrate as they lay cards. Professional readers typically work one-on-one, though group readings and self-reading are common. The session often concludes with the reader synthesizing the narrative and offering reflection points.
Tarot Reading Today
Contemporary tarot has moved beyond occult circles into mainstream culture. Therapists use tarot as a projective technique for exploring clients’ psychological patterns. Creative professionals employ cards for character development, story prompts, and overcoming blocks. Journals, apps, and online courses teach card meanings and spreads. The practice appears at metaphysical fairs, spiritual retreats, and increasingly in secular self-development contexts.
Thousands of deck variations now exist—feminist tarot, herbal tarot, decks reimagining traditional imagery through diverse cultural lenses. Monthly subscription boxes deliver themed spreads. Instagram accounts offer daily card pulls to millions. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck remains the most recognized reference point, with most modern decks using its structure and archetypal framework. Tarot reading is offered at festivals, conferences, and private sessions; practitioners range from professional readers charging $100+ per hour to hobbyists reading for friends.
Common Misconceptions
Tarot does not predict a fixed, inevitable future. Cards reflect current energies, patterns, and possible trajectories that can shift with changed behavior or circumstances. The practice does not require psychic ability, though intuition can enhance interpretation; card meanings can be learned systematically like any symbolic language.
Tarot is not inherently religious or anti-religious. While certain Christian denominations forbid divination, many practitioners integrate tarot with various spiritual paths or use it entirely secularly. The Death card does not predict physical death; it symbolizes endings, transformation, and transition. “Accuracy” in tarot is not about literal prediction but about resonance—whether the reading illuminates useful patterns or perspectives. The practice is not ancient Egyptian, Romani, or Kabbalistic in origin; these associations are 18th- and 19th-century inventions, though they have become meaningful within modern practice.
How to Begin
Begin by selecting a deck whose imagery speaks to you. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck or its many derivatives (Universal Waite, Modern Witch Tarot) offer beginner-friendly symbolism with abundant learning resources. Purchase the deck and a guidebook; many come packaged together. The Modern Witch Tarot Deck by Lisa Sterle, The Wild Unknown Tarot by Kim Krans, and classic editions with Arthur Edward Waite’s The Pictorial Key to the Tarot provide accessible starting points.
Practice daily one-card pulls: shuffle while focusing on “What do I need to know today?” and draw a single card. Consult the guidebook, then notice throughout your day what the card might reflect. Graduate to three-card spreads with simple frameworks (situation-action-outcome or mind-body-spirit). Keep a journal recording cards drawn and your interpretations; patterns emerge over time. Online resources like BiddyTarot.com and Labyrinthos Academy offer free lessons on card meanings and spreads.
Seek community through local metaphysical shops offering tarot circles, online forums, or teachers offering workshops. Reading for willing friends builds skill. Approach learning as studying a symbolic language rather than acquiring magical powers. With consistent practice, interpreting complex spreads becomes fluent within 6-12 months.