How To Interpret Tarot Cards

If you’re interested in learning how to interpret tarot cards, read on for some useful tips:

1. Choose a specific deck to work with. There are so many kinds of tarot decks with different interpretations for each that it’s virtually impossible to learn how to do tarot card readings for each type of deck. The best tip therefore is to settle on one particular deck and spend time observing and analyzing it in detail. Make it a point to be familiar with each of the 78 cards (belonging to 4 suits), along with the spreads and patterns that form whenever you lay them out for a practice reading. Through time you would be able to gain more familiarity and be comfortable such that interpreting them would be second nature to you.  If you are a beginner at tarot, you could choose the Waite tarot deck (otherwise known as the Waite-Rider deck), which is widely recognized to be one of the easiest decks to read.
2. Use signifiers. To accurately interpret tarot cards, it’s best that you use a signifier (or a significator card). A signifier is a specific card that stands for the querent or the person for whom the reading is being done. This signifier could stand for the querent’s gender and age – for example, “the emperor” would be a good signifier for a mature man, a princess for a young lady, and so on.
3. Learn what the cards stand for. A tarot deck has 22 major arcanas, plus four different suits. The major arcanas represent the human experience, such as “the lovers”, “the wheel of fortune” and “death”. These major arcanas could also be used as signifiers (see number 2). The four suits are the suit of swords, which stands for conflict; the suit of wands, which stands for mental processes and is connected with creativity; the suit of cups (which in other decks could be cauldrons or chalices), which stands for love and emotion; and the suit of pentacles or coins, which are associated with wealth.
4. Look for patterns in the spread. Once you’ve laid out the cards, give them a studied glance and look for patterns. Check and see if there are suits or a suit predominantly represented; see how many major arcanas are present. A pattern would help you give your preliminary reading: many coins reveal financial issues in the querent’s current situation; many aces reveal power; etc.
5. Try to adopt a dramatic, story-telling style. Tarot readings belong to the realm of mystery, so it’s great if you project an appropriate air of drama while giving your interpretations. It’s good to read the pattern as a whole, and not focus on each individual card – for example, avoid saying things like, “this card says that you have a conflict in your life right now; this card says that you should expect good things to come in the future,” etc. Instead, think of the whole spread as a story that you would need to interpret for your querent. Pause for a while as you collect all the information (this would also add to your air of mystery) and then give your interpretation in an interconnected way.

To help you better prepare for giving tarot card readings, take advantage of free online tarot and love tarot readings that would help you understand the basics more. You could also buy tarot books and tarot supplies online. Over time, you would likely be able to impress your friends with tarot readings at parties and special events. Good luck!