Before diving into a reading, let's clear up some of the language, symbols and history of the cards so you know enough to get to grips with your reading.

 

To be clear, you do not need to know anything about the Tarot to have a reading. The information here is purely to give you a bit of insight and background to deepen your engagement with your reading. When you're sitting with your reader, everything will be explained to you.

Tarot

Pronounced "Taro" (the last 't' is silent), it's the deck of 78 cards that has been used for divination since at least the 15th century.

Reader

The person doing your reading. This person will guide the steps taken in the reading, as well as interpret the cards and offer guidance based on your question.

Querent

The person asking the question and receiving the reading.

Major Arcana

The first 22 cards of the Tarot, numbered 0 (The Fool) to 21 (The World). These cards follow the journey of the soul, marking major milestones on its path to enlightenment. Each of the Major Arcana cards individually has its own distinct characteristics, symbols and meanings. 

Minor Arcana

The next 56 cards after the Major Arcana, made up of four suits: Wands (or Fire), Swords (or Air), Cups (or Water) and Pentacles (or Earth). Each suit consists of cards 1 (Ace) to 10, which maps the more everyday markers of our journey through life. Then there are four Court Cards: the Page, Knight, Queen and King, which embody more specific values that inform our progress on our respective journeys.

Spread

The layout of the cards for your particular reading. There are many spreads; there is no singular, 'definitive' spread. Spreads can be adapted based on need, question and intuition, or to address specific parts of your question in more depth.

Rider-Waite

The most commonly-known style of Tarot cards today, featuring such familiar images as the Sun, the Hanged Man, the Star, the Devil and so on. While it's the most popular set of designs, it's by no means the only one; there are many, many different interpretations of the cards out there, but they all follow the same structure of the Major and Minor Arcana.

Swords

One of the suits of the Minor Arcana, it is also represented by the element Air. Swords govern the realm of the mind, masculinity, sorrow and logic. 

Wands

One of the suits of the Minor Arcana, it is also represented by the element Fire. Wands represent ambition, expansion, creativity and strength. 

Cups

One of the suits of the Minor Arcana, it is also represented by the element Water. Cups speak to the inner world, emotions, intuition and spirituality. 

Pentacles

One of the suits of the Minor Arcana, it is also represented by the element Earth. Pentacles embody the physical realm, resources, work and the body. 

When Should I Get a Reading?

 

It's really quite simple: when you have a question, the tarot can help answer it. Getting a reading is generally most helpful when the querent (see the glossary above!) comes with something to ask. Your reader may roll their eyes at you if confronted with, "Well I just wanna see what the cards say!"

You are free to ask your question at any time. Whether it pertains to something in the near or distant past, or the near or distant future, there is no 'bad' time to get a reading.

What Kind of Question Can I Ask?

 

You can ask about anything. Make it matter, though: this should be something you take seriously. Frequent themes include matters of love, career, intentions for the year ahead, decisions that need to be made, yes/no questions, life direction and orientation, guidance on what to do in a situation - the list is lengthy, but you get the point.

What Should I Be Open to?

 

The space is yours to be vulnerable in. Keep in mind that your reader's job is to be objective; as such, the more honest and nuanced you are willing to be, the more detailed and compelling your reading can be. This does not mean that you have to share things that you are not comfortable sharing. You set your own boundaries, and they will be respected. That being said, expect the reading to be an honest one; your reader will ask direct questions based on what the cards represent and evoke. You are free to bring the emotions you associate with your question, your hopes, your fears, and anything you experience and want to express. Expect to be challenged - if the cards go in that direction. Still, in every reading, empathy and compassion are central. Which brings us to the next question.

The Guiding Principles of a Reading

 

Every reader is, of course, different. As such, these are the principles that form the central pillars of every reading in my practice.

 

  1. Compassion, always. Because a reading is a space for you to reveal your question - and sometimes deep parts of yourself - it is my responsibility to make sure that the reading is delivered with compassion and empathy.
  2. Infringing on free will is forbidden. I will never tell you what to do with your life. The cards do not represent instructions, unless directly asked; what you do with what comes up in your reading is always up to you, and only you.
  3. You either win or you learn. In tarot, as in life, there is no losing; it's always a matter of perspective. Where there are challenges, these are carefully identified as part of the journey of the narrative; not a condemnation of it. Everything that comes up is there to help you, even when it is difficult.
  4. And above all, there is always hope. There is no combination of cards that is hopeless. There may be steering in other directions; there may be results that are contrary to your expectations; there may be things you hear that disappoint you. But there is always hope.
  5. This does not mean sugarcoating. I am not known for holding back.

Fine by me. There is nothing in Tarot that asks for your 'belief'. It remains a system of 78 cards bearing symbols. Yes, these symbols have their own power, but there is nothing in them that changes based on whether you 'believe' in Tarot or not.

 

The cards are not here to cause harm, play games or cast curses. It's a tool: a system of symbols mapping out the soul's journey through existence, with recognisable markers to guide the way. We all intuitively understand these symbols, and our collective experiences in life often revolve around familiar themes.

 

That being said, sitting for a reading can be an intense experience - the symbols in the cards speak to parts of ourselves that are sometimes deeply rooted and rarely see the light. When having a reading, expect to dive into a very honest conversation with your reader!

Here's an example of a five-card spread for someone who has asked the question:

 

"I've had a really tough year. I've been really sad recently and now I'm unable to decide on the path I should take in the coming year. I feel lost. What should I do?"

Card 1:
The Year That Has Been

Three of Swords

 

This card indicates that the past year has been one of sorrow and heartbreak, and it has weighed on the mind. Losses have occurred, but it's important to remember that this is part of growing in strength in life.

Card 2:

How We Got Here

Two of Swords

 

The querent has felt unable - or been unwilling - to make a decision. The intuition (represented by the water) is still active, and should not be ignored; listening to one's inner voice is critically important.

Card 3:

The Present State of Mind

XVI: The Tower

 

Recent events have been severely disruptive, but ultimately, it serves to clear out that which no longer serves the querent. It is a tough process, but necessary in order to move forward.

Card 4:

The Tool to Move Forward

Eight of Pentacles

 

It's perhaps time to focus on learning and/or honing a skill. There is abundance on the way, and a lot of work has already been done; it's now time to focus on getting to that higher stage of development.

Card 5:

The Message Ahead

XIV: Temperance

 

The coming year will be one that will require patience, and an engagement with both the intellectual and emotional self to achieve the right balance. This is a time for healing, and the year ahead has great things on the horizon.

Understanding the Interpretation

 

 

Even though this reading contains several cards that can come across as very 'negative', the fact is that they function - in this particular case - only to acknowledge the suffering that the querent has already endured. As they look forward, there are good things on the horizon - as long as they put in a bit of work!

 

The first two cards indicate that the querent has gone through very difficult times recently, and that there is a pattern of allowing the sadness to infiltrate the mind (as indicated by both cards being Swords, which govern the realm of the mind.) Overthinking and overanalysing have led to paralysis and stasis.

 

The third card, representing the situation in this case, is where we get the first Major Arcana card: the Tower. Traditionally feared, this card represents sudden, dramatic change. In the context of this reading, it demonstrates that the querent's recent suffering has served to clear out obstacles, and that this is a great time for making changes in life. It is, in fact, a good thing!

 

The two final cards - the tool to move forward and the message for the coming year - emphasise that it's time to buckle down and focus on learning something new or developing an existing skill as the way out of the current feelings of sadness. It will take time (as indicated by Temperance), and it will surely be a process, but there are tremendously good things on the horizon. Just keep going!