Tarot for Beginners
Tarot looks complicated, but the basics are simple — and you don't need to memorise anything to start. Here's everything a beginner actually needs.
What a tarot deck is
A tarot deck has 78 cards in two groups:
- The Major Arcana (22 cards) — the big life themes, from The Fool to The World.
- The Minor Arcana (56 cards) — everyday life, across four suits: Wands (fire/drive), Cups (water/emotion), Swords (air/mind), and Pentacles (earth/material).
Your first reading, in 4 steps
- Pick a simple question — open, not yes/no.
- Shuffle while you think about it.
- Draw one card (or try a three-card spread).
- Read the card's meaning, then ask: what does this say about my situation?
How to learn without memorising
- Draw one card a day and notice how it plays out — the fastest way to learn. Use our Card of the Day.
- Read the image first. What's happening? How does it feel? Then check the meaning.
- Keep a journal. Your own associations stick far better than a list.