7 Essential Insights About Tarot Cards for a Fruitful Reading

Coming across tarot cards for the first time can be very overwhelming. As a tool for self-reflection, their symbolism offers a glimpse into our subconscious. Since tarot cards can open doors to our hidden feelings and thoughts, they often face unfounded fears and biases.

At the same time, their motifs and pictorial language have held a curious fascination for people that has lasted for centuries. This blog post lists 7 important insights about tarot cards to help dispel doubts and misconceptions for a more encouraging approach to the ancient practice of tarot reading.

1.) Every Tarot Deck Has the Same Structure

If you want to read tarot cards for yourself or others, getting familiar with the structure of a tarot deck is inevitable.

Normally, a deck contains 78 cards that are divided into the 22 so-called major arcana and the 56 minor arcana with the word arcana meaning secret.

While the major arcana represents significant life themes and archetypes, the minor arcana grouped into cups, wands, swords, and pentacles show aspects of everyday life and how they are affecting us.

2.) Tarot Cards and Oracle Cards – Nope, Not the Same!

There is often a huge confusion between tarot cards and oracle cards. Especially newbies can’t really tell the difference. But it is actually quite simple.

While every tarot deck has a fixed structure, the number of oracle cards can vary from deck to deck. Also, all tarot cards hold the same symbolical meaning, while oracle cards can cover many themes and unique messages.

3.) Learning the Meaning of Each Tarot Card Takes Patience

Since the symbolism of each card is rich and diverse, it can take a while to memorize the meaning. The many possibilities of interpretation can vary according to the given context of a reading, the questions asked, and also the reader’s knowledge and experience.

So don’t get discouraged. Be patient and take your time to study each card thoroughly, as this will form the basis for everything to come. Once this part is nailed, there is literally no end for interpretation.

A Tip for when you just start out with tarot cards: Pull one card for the day. This way, learning their meaning will become a daily ritual and you will be able to strengthen your interpretation skills more intuitively.

4.) There Are Multiple Ways to Spread the Cards

There are spreads for different purposes highlighting different aspects of the question or situation. The most common one is the celtic cross, which leads to a very detailed and compound reading.

Another highly popular one is the past-present-future-spread of three tarot cards that gives you a quick answer and impulse. This spread is particularly recommended for beginners.

5.) Tarot Cards Don’t Predict the Future

While tarot cards can show you a potential outcome to a situation, they won’t make the decision for you. Everybody understandably desires a quick solution to their problems, but unfortunately, a tarot reading is not a “highway to happiness”.

You will always be in charge of your own life. Therefore, the tarot cards will rather provide you with the needed transparency about how a certain situation came about and enable you to initiate self-determined and solution-oriented action steps.

6.) Your Intuition Is More Important Than a Manual

Although learning the traditional meaning of the tarot cards is important, the interpretation of a spread is not only about memorizing.

Your intuition is what connects you to the tarot cards and guides you through a reading. Developing trust in your instincts is a crucial part and allows the tarot to speak to you beyond the standard interpretation given in manuals.

Also, you don’t need to be a psychic to read tarot cards. It is a skill we all can develop. All that is needed is consistency and dedication to gradually improving your practice. Embrace the journey!

7.) Reading Tarot Cards Is a Responsible Act of Trust

Left this point to the last because it is the most important one! Divination and tarot has become a booming industry over the last decades. And with that came a lot of misuse which gave the tarot a bit of a bad reputation.

Looking into someone’s cards (literally!) is a deeply personal matter which requires an ethical and respectful approach.

Don’t ever share private information and be aware of the impact of your words in a reading. People reach out to you because they seek guidance, so maintain sensitivity and only offer readings with the purpose of honestly helping.

Conclusion

Hopefully, the insights in this blog post gave you a better understanding of the tarot and inspired you to study the cards with more clarity and courage while tapping into a deeper understanding of your own intuition.

Remember, it is a process that needs patience and the willingness to overcome your doubts. Once you invite the tarot cards into your life, you will never run out of magic and the connection with yourself and other people will blossom as well.