How to Do a Tarot Card Reading in 6 Easy Steps

Have you ever wondered what the cards have to say about your life? Tarot is a fascinating and ancient practice that can help you gain insight, clarity, and guidance on any topic or situation. But how do you do a tarot card reading? And what do the cards mean?

This guide will show you how to do a tarot card reading step by step, from choosing a spread and asking a question to interpreting and synthesizing the cards. You will also learn some tips and tricks to make your readings more accurate and meaningful. By the end of this post, you will be able to do your tarot readings confidently and easily. So grab your deck, and let’s get started!

Step 1: Relax and prepare yourself for the reading.

Before diving into the cards, you must create a calm and comfortable environment. This will help you tune in to your intuition and the energy of the tarot. You can do this in many ways, depending on your preferences. Here are some suggestions:

• Light some candles or incense to set the mood and clear the space. You can choose scents that resonate with you or match your intention, such as lavender for relaxation, rose for love, or sage for cleansing.
• Play some soothing music or sounds that help you relax and focus. You can opt for instrumental music, nature sounds, or even silence if that works better for you.
• Meditate for a few minutes to calm your mind and body. You can use a guided meditation, a breathing technique, or observe your thoughts and sensations without judgment.
• Say a prayer or affirmation to invite positive and protective energy into your reading. You can address your higher self, spirit guides, angels, or any other source of wisdom and support you believe in. You can also create your own affirmation that reflects your intention, such as “I am open to receiving the guidance of the tarot” or “I trust my intuition to show me the way.”
• Shuffle the cards while focusing on your question. This will help you connect with the cards and infuse them with your energy. You can shuffle them as long as necessary — until you sense they are ready.

Once you have prepared yourself and your cards, it’s time to choose a spread and clarify your question. 

Step 2: Choose a spread that suits your question and intention.

A tarot spread is a specific arrangement of cards with meaning and purpose. Different spreads can help you answer different types of questions and explore various aspects of your situation. For example, there are many spreads to choose from, ranging from simple one-card readings to complex layouts with multiple cards and positions, and you can even create your own if you feel inspired. So how do you choose? 

First, consider the type of question you have. Is it a simple, complex, general, or topic-specific question? Some spreads are better suited for some kinds of questions than for others. For example:

• If you have a simple question, use a one-card or three-card spread to get a quick answer.
• If you have a complex question, use a spread that covers multiple aspects of your situation, such as the Celtic Cross.
• If you have a question about a specific topic, there are many spreads to choose from, such as the Love or Career spread.

Second, consider the intention behind your question. What do you want to achieve or learn from the reading? Do you want to gain clarity, guidance, inspiration, confirmation, or healing? Different intentions require different types of spreads. For example:

• If you want clarity, use a spread that helps you see the situation from different perspectives, such as the Celtic Cross or the Horseshoe spread.
• If you want guidance, use a spread that offers advice or suggestions, such as the Decision Making or the Question and Answer spread.
• If you want inspiration, use a spread that sparks your creativity or intuition, such as the Star or the Moon spread.
• If you want confirmation, use a spread that validates your feelings or choices, such as the Outcome spread.
• If you want to heal, use a spread that helps you release negative emotions or patterns, such as the Forgiveness or the Healing Heart spread.

Third, consider your personal preference and style. What kind of tarot reader are you? Do you prefer simple or complex spreads? Do you like to follow traditional or intuitive meanings? Do you enjoy using symbols or words? Different types of spreads suit different styles and preferences. For example:

• If you prefer simple spreads, use one-card or three-card spreads that are easy to interpret and apply.
• Use larger layouts with more depth and detail if you like complex spreads.
• If you like to follow traditional meanings, you might prefer spreads based on established systems or frameworks, such as the Zodiac or the Tree of Life spread.
• If you like to use intuitive meanings, you might use spreads based on your associations or impressions, such as the Mandala or the Soul Journey spread.

Choosing a tarot spread that suits your question, intention, and personal style is essential for getting accurate and helpful readings, having fun, and enjoying the process. Experiment with different spreads and see what works best for you. Remember that there is no right or wrong way to read tarot cards; only what resonates with you and your situation. Trust your intuition and let the cards guide you.

Step 3: Ask a straightforward, open-ended question reflecting your goal or concern.

The question you ask the tarot is one of the most critical factors that determine the quality and accuracy of your reading. A good question can help you focus your intention, clarify your expectations, and invite meaningful insights. A lousy question can confuse, mislead, or limit your potential. Therefore, you must pay attention to how you formulate your question and ensure it aligns with your goal or concern.

Here are some general guidelines that can help you ask a good question for a tarot reading, such as:

• Ask open-ended questions that allow the cards to provide more insight and guidance, rather than yes or no questions that limit the scope of the reading. For example, instead of asking, “Will I get married soon?” you can ask, “What can I do to attract a loving partner into my life?” or “What are the qualities of my ideal partner?”.
• Use specific language that clarifies your situation and intention for the reading rather than vague or general terms that can lead to confusion or irrelevant answers. For example, instead of asking, “What should I do with my life?” you can ask, “What are my talents and passions that I can pursue as a career?” or “What are the steps I need to take to achieve my dream of becoming a writer?”.
• Think about what you want to know, not what you don’t want to know. Avoid pessimistic questions that can create a self-fulfilling prophecy or block your potential. Instead, ask optimistic questions that can empower you and inspire you. For example, instead of asking, “Why do bad things always happen to me?”, you can ask, “How can I overcome the challenges I face in my life?” or “What are the lessons and opportunities that these situations offer me?”.
• Get to the heart of the question and try to understand what you are really looking for in the reading. Sometimes, the surface question may not reflect your deeper issue or desire. Try to dig deeper and ask yourself why you are asking this question and what you hope to gain from it. For example, instead of asking, “How can I make more money?” you can ask, “What is the source of my financial insecurity?” or “What is the true value and purpose of money in my life?”.
• Remember to ask time-specific questions if you want to know about a specific period or event in your life. The tarot can reflect the past, present, or future, depending on how you phrase your question. Include it in your question if you want to know about a specific timeframe. For example, instead of asking, “How will my relationship turn out?” you can ask, “How will my relationship evolve in the next six months?” 

Once you have formulated a clear and open-ended question that reflects your goal or concern, you need to say it out loud or in your mind while shuffling the cards. This will help you connect with the tarot and infuse it with your intention. You can also write down your question on a piece of paper or in a journal if you want to keep a record of your reading.

Once you have clarified your question, you are ready to shuffle, draw, and place the cards in the chosen spread. 

Step 4: Shuffle and lay down the cards in the chosen spread.

Now that you have prepared yourself, your cards, your spread, and your question, you are ready to shuffle and lay down the cards. This is the fun and exciting part of the tarot reading, where you see what the cards say.

There are different ways to shuffle, draw, and lay down the cards, and you can experiment with what feels best for you. However, here are some basic steps that you can follow:

• Shuffle the cards with your dominant hand while focusing on your question. You can shuffle them as long as necessary, until you sense they are ready. Some people like to shuffle until a card jumps out of the deck, which they take as a sign or a message. Others prefer to shuffle until they feel a tingling sensation in their hand or a nudge in their intuition. You can also use a simple method, such as counting to seven or ten while shuffling.
• Cut the deck with your non-dominant hand. This is optional, but some people like to cut the deck into two or three piles and then restack them differently. This can help you mix the cards more thoroughly and add some randomness to the process. I skip this step. Try it yourself and see how it feels to you.
• Draw the cards from the top or bottom of the deck. Depending on your preference, you can choose to draw the cards from either the top or the bottom of the deck. Some people believe that drawing from the top represents the conscious mind while drawing from the bottom represents the subconscious mind. Others think drawing from the bottom adds more mystery and surprise to the reading. You can also alternate between drawing from the top and bottom to balance both aspects.
• Another way to draw the cards is to spread the cards in a line on a table. Then focus on the question for the first position and let your intuition guide you to pull a card. Repeat this for each position in the spread. 
• Place the cards face down in the order of the spread. You can place the cards on a table, a cloth, or a clean and comfortable surface. You can also put them on your lap or on the floor if you prefer. Ensure you have enough space to lay out all the cards in the chosen spread. You can use a diagram or a guide to help you remember where each card goes.

Once you have shuffled and laid down the cards in the chosen spread, you are ready to turn them over and interpret them individually. 

Step 5: Turn over and interpret the cards one by one.

This is the most exciting and challenging part of the tarot reading, where you discover each card’s meaning and message. You need to use your intuition and knowledge of the card meanings to interpret the cards and to understand how they relate to your question and situation.

There are different ways to interpret the cards; you can experiment with what works best for you. Here are some basic steps that you can follow:

• Turn over the first card and look at it carefully. Observe the image, the symbols, the colors, the number, and the suit of the card. Notice what feelings, thoughts, or impressions come to your mind as you look at it. You can also say the card’s name aloud or in your mind to activate its energy.
• Refer to the tarot card meanings that came with your deck, or turn to the descriptions on Joyful Mystic to learn the card’s general meaning. You can also use your own notes or memory if you have studied the cards before. Read the card’s general meaning and see how it applies to your question and situation. You can also look for keywords or phrases that summarize the essence of the card.
• Consider the position and context of the card in the spread. Each card has a different meaning depending on where it is placed in the spread and how it relates to the other cards. For example, a card in the past position may represent something that influenced or shaped your situation in the past. In contrast, a card in the future position may represent something that will affect or shape your situation. You can also look for patterns or connections between the cards, such as similarities, contrasts, or repetitions.
• Trust your intuition and personal interpretation of the card. The most important thing is to listen to your inner voice and trust what it tells you about the card. You may have a different or more profound understanding of the card than what is written in the guides. You may also have a personal association or experience with the card that gives it a special meaning. You can also use your imagination and creativity to make sense of the card.

Once you have interpreted the first card, repeat the same steps for each of the remaining cards in the spread. You can also write down or record your interpretations if you want to keep a record of your reading.

Now you are ready to synthesize the overall meaning of the reading.

Step 6: Synthesize the overall meaning of the reading.

This is the final and most rewarding part of the tarot reading, where you get to see the big picture and the central message of the cards. To synthesize the overall meaning of the reading, you need to connect the dots between the individual cards and see how they form a coherent and meaningful story.

There are different ways to synthesize the overall meaning of the reading. Experiment with what works best for you. Here are some basic steps that you can follow:

• Review the cards and your interpretations. Look at all the cards in the spread and recall what you learned from each. You can also read your notes if you made any. Try to summarize each card’s main point or lesson in a word, phrase, or sentence.
• Identify the theme or lesson of the reading. Look for a common thread or a central idea that runs through all the cards. This is the theme or lesson of the reading, which answers your question and guides you toward your goal or concern. You can also use a word, a phrase, or a sentence to express the theme or lesson of the reading.
• Apply the theme or lesson to your situation. Think about how the theme or lesson of the reading relates to your situation and what it means for you. Consider what actions, changes, or decisions you need to make based on the reading. You can also think about what challenges, opportunities, or outcomes you can expect from following the reading.
• Express gratitude and close the reading. Thank the cards, your intuition, and any other source of guidance or support that you used for the reading. You can also say a prayer or affirmation to seal the reading and affirm your intention. You can also clear and store your cards safely and respectfully.

Once you have synthesized the overall meaning of the reading, you have completed your tarot card reading. Congratulations! You have just learned how to do a tarot card reading step by step. We hope you enjoyed this blog post and found it helpful and informative and that it inspires your next reading. Happy Tarot-ing!