Learn Tarot: Cards, Meanings & Spreads

How does tarot work? This guide explains the 78 cards, the difference between Major and Minor Arcana, the four suits, and how to do a reading yourself.

What is tarot?

A tarot deck has 78 cards, used since the 18th century for self-reflection and divination. Each card carries an image full of symbols; its meaning shifts depending on whether it lands upright or reversed and where it falls in a spread.

The Major Arcana

The 22 Major Arcana (from the Fool to the World) represent life's great themes and soul lessons – fate, change, trial and fulfilment. When they appear in a spread, they point to significant, often fateful influences.

The Minor Arcana & the four suits

The 56 Minor Arcana describe everyday life in four suits: Wands (Fire – drive & passion), Cups (Water – emotions & relationships), Swords (Air – thought & conflict) and Pentacles (Earth – money & body). Each suit runs from Ace to Ten plus four court cards.

The Major Arcana

0
The Fool
I
The Magician
II
The High Priestess
III
The Empress
IV
The Emperor
V
The Hierophant
VI
The Lovers
VII
The Chariot
Tarot →

How to do a reading

  1. 1Frame a questionPhrase an open question or a matter that is on your mind.
  2. 2Shuffle & drawShuffle while focusing on your question, then draw three cards.
  3. 3Read the positionsLay them as past, present and future and read each card in its position.
  4. 4Weave the storyConnect the three cards into one coherent story – the link between them carries the real message.
Draw three cards now

Three-Card Spread