Tarot cards began as a card game in 14th-century Italy and, from the 18th century, came to be used as a tool for divination and self-reflection. The modern tarot deck has 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, for a total of 78 cards.
Each card symbolizes a different energy, archetype, or situation in life. Tarot doesn't "predict" a fixed future—it acts as a mirror that reflects the energy of the present moment to help you choose more wisely.
These represent the big themes of life and the spiritual journey. The "Fool's Journey," from 0 The Fool to XXI The World, symbolizes a person's growth and fulfillment.
Personal start and growth
New journeys, will and creation, intellect and authoritySociety and inner search
Tradition, choice, balance, victory, strength, inner wisdomLife's turning points
Destiny, justice, change, death (transition), temperanceTrials and awakening
Bondage, disaster, the light of hope, facing illusion, joyCompletion and return
Rebirth and calling, the completion and integration of the journeyThese deal with everyday situations and emotions. They are divided into four suits, each with Ace through Ten plus four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King)—14 cards per suit.
Passion, creativity, will, action
Emotion, relationships, intuition, the subconscious
Intellect, conflict, truth, communication
Material world, reality, wealth, the body
A spread is the layout in which you place the cards. The card in each position takes on the meaning of that position.
The simplest spread, ideal for the energy of the day or a quick question.
Message
The key message you need for the current situationUsed to read the flow of past–present–future, or situation–action–outcome.
Past
The background and cause of the current situationPresent
The energy of this momentFuture
The outcome of continuing in the current directionThe most detailed and traditional spread, used for complex situations or deeper insight.
Present
The core energy and current stateChallenge
The force standing in your waySubconscious
Feelings hidden beneath the surfacePast
The background that shaped the presentPossibility
The best outcome or goalNear future
The influence soon to arriveInner self
The querent's attitude and approachExternal environment
The influence of people and surroundingsHopes & fears
What you hope for or fearFinal outcome
The ultimate result of the current pathWhen a card appears upside down, it is "reversed." A reversal can mean the card's energy is suppressed, turned inward, or delayed. It isn't automatically negative—the direction and intensity of the energy are simply different.
Don't read a card's meaning in isolation—interpret it together with the meaning of its position in the spread. For example, The Tower in the "Past" position reads as "a sudden change or collapse in the past."
Pay attention to your first impression of a card and the images that come to mind. When the textbook meaning and your intuition conflict, let the context of the situation guide your judgment.
No. Tarot is a tool that reflects the energy and possibilities of your current situation. Outcomes can always change, and tarot offers insight to help you make better choices.
Not necessarily. A reversal indicates that the card's energy is turned inward, delayed, or expressed in excess or deficiency. It is interpreted in context.
Repeating the same question is discouraged. Drawing until you get the answer you want clouds your objectivity. It is better to change the question or wait a day.
Yes. Simply learning card meanings and applying them to the spread positions is enough for a solid reading. Intuition develops naturally as you gain experience.