What is Tarot? A Beginner's Guide to Cards, Meanings, and Your First Reading

I remember the first time I held a tarot deck — I was in my twenties and had absolutely no idea what I was looking at. Who are all these people? Why does Death not mean death? And the big one: how can shuffled cards possibly “know” anything?

If you’re at that same starting point right now — good. You’re in the right place.

Tarot isn’t fortune-telling (not really)

Let’s clear up the biggest misconception first. Tarot isn’t a crystal ball that reveals a fixed future. And it’s not a magical tool that only works for “gifted” people.

Tarot is a system of 78 cards filled with symbols and images that mirror the full range of human experience. Joy, loss, decisions, fear, love, change — it’s all in the deck. When you draw a card and look at it, the image helps you notice something you already know but haven’t consciously processed yet.

Essentially, tarot is a mirror. A very beautiful and surprisingly accurate one.

A brief history

The first tarot cards appeared in 15th-century Italy — and they were just playing cards for the nobility. The Visconti-Sforza deck (around 1440) is one of the oldest that survives today.

It wasn’t until the 18th century that mystics began finding esoteric meaning in the cards, connecting them to Kabbalah, astrology, and spiritual practices. The famous Rider-Waite-Smith deck you’ve probably seen — the one with the yellow backgrounds and detailed illustrations — came out in 1909. It became the foundation for most modern tarot decks.

What’s in a tarot deck

A standard tarot deck has 78 cards split into two groups.

The Major Arcana (22 cards)

These are the “famous” cards: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Wheel of Fortune, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun… Each one represents a major life lesson or turning point.

When a Major Arcana card shows up in your reading, pay close attention. It’s speaking to something significant — not small stuff.

The Minor Arcana (56 cards)

Four suits, each with 14 cards (Ace through King):

• Cups — emotions, relationships, feelings, intuition
• Wands — creativity, energy, passion, action
• Swords — thoughts, communication, truth, conflict
• Pentacles — money, work, the body, material world

The Minor Arcana is everyday life. Situations we encounter daily. If the Major Arcana are the chapters of a book, the Minor Arcana are the sentences and paragraphs.

How does it actually work?

This is probably the most common question. How can cards I shuffled randomly mean anything?

There are different perspectives. Some believe in synchronicity — Jung’s concept that external events mirror internal states. Others think it’s the subconscious at work: you see in the card what you already feel but can’t articulate. And some people just say: “I don’t know how, but it works” 😊

After years of practice, I’ve come to a simple conclusion: it doesn’t matter that much why it works. What matters is that the cards help you ask yourself the right questions and see your situation from a different angle.

Tarot doesn’t predict a fixed future. It shows tendencies, energies, and possibilities. You create your own future.

Getting started: 4 simple steps

1. Choose a deck

The classic is the Rider-Waite-Smith (Smith-Waite). The illustrations are clear, easy to learn from, and most books reference it. But if you’re drawn to a different deck — go with what resonates. Your connection to the deck matters more than “correctness.”

2. Start with one card a day

No need to jump into a 10-position Celtic Cross right away. Every morning, draw one card and ask: “What do I need to know today?” In the evening, come back to it and reflect — how did the card show up in your day?

3. Keep a journal

Write down the date, your question, the card, and your first associations. After a month, you’ll see your understanding growing. You’ll also notice cards that keep coming back to you — those are your “working” cards.

4. Trust yourself

Book meanings are a starting point, not a rulebook. If a card stirs a specific feeling that doesn’t match the “official” meaning — trust your gut. Tarot is a dialogue, not a test.

Common fears

“What if I get Death/The Tower/The Devil?” — These cards scare beginners only. Death is about transformation and letting go of the old. The Tower is about unsustainable structures crumbling to make room for something real. The Devil is about addictions and illusions you’re ready to release.

“Do I need special abilities?” — No. Tarot is a skill that develops with practice. Like a musical ear or learning to cook. The more you work with the cards, the deeper you understand their language.

“Can I read for myself?” — Absolutely. Most tarot readers started by reading for themselves. One tip: ask open questions. Not “will I get married?” but “what do I need to know about my relationships right now?”

Try it right now

Here’s a simple exercise you can do even without a physical deck.

Look at The Fool card above in this article. What do you see? What feelings does the image evoke? Where is this person going? What’s in their bag? Why is the dog there?

Write down your thoughts. Then look up The Fool’s meaning — you’ll be surprised how much you already understood intuitively.