Learn Tarot

Tarot has fascinated people for centuries. Some people come to it out of curiosity, others because they feel drawn to the symbolism, the mystery, or the promise of deeper insight. If you’re new to tarot, the seventy-eight cards can look overwhelming at first. But learning tarot is much easier than most beginners expect.

The key is simply to approach it step by step.

Tarot Is Like Learning an Alphabet

The easiest way to understand tarot is to think of it like learning a language.  When we first learn to read, we start with the alphabet. Once we recognise the letters, we begin to form words, and eventually we can read full sentences. Tarot works in a very similar way.

Each card carries a core meaning or keyword, and that meaning is reflected in the imagery on the card. For example:

• The Fool – new beginnings
• The Magician – personal power
• The Lovers – relationships and choices
• The Tower – sudden change or disruption

These keywords form the alphabet of tarot. Once you know them, the cards begin to make much more sense.  The images on the cards reinforce those meanings, which is why many beginners find it easier to learn by combining keywords with the pictures on the cards.

From Keywords to Tarot Readings

Once you understand the “alphabet”, the next step is learning how to read the cards together.  In tarot we do this using spreads.  A spread simply gives each card a position and meaning. For example, a very simple three-card spread might represent:

• the past
• the present
• the direction things are heading

Now the cards start to form a story.

Just as letters become words and sentences, tarot cards begin to create a message when they appear together in a spread.  The more you practise, the more natural it becomes.

Choosing Your First Tarot Deck

If you’re starting your tarot journey, it helps to choose a deck with clear imagery and symbolism.

Most beginners begin with a Rider–Waite style tarot deck. This is because every card in the deck is illustrated with a full scene that reflects its meaning. The images themselves help guide your interpretation, which makes learning much easier when you’re starting out.  For this reason, the Rider–Waite system has become the foundation that most tarot books, courses and tutorials are based on.  

If you’re unsure where to begin, our Tarot Starter Kits include a beginner-friendly deck along with a few carefully chosen tools to help you get started with confidence.

Bonding With Your Tarot Deck

Once you have your deck, it’s a good idea to spend some time getting familiar with it.  Many readers like to look through the cards, shuffle them regularly, or pull a card each day to reflect on its meaning.  If you’d like a simple introduction to connecting with your deck, you may enjoy this video:

How to Bond with Your Tarot Deck

Learning the Meanings of the Cards

A great next step is learning the core meanings of the 78 tarot cards. Once you understand those foundations, reading tarot becomes much easier.  This beginner lesson walks through the cards and explains their basic meanings in a simple, practical way:

Learn How to Read All 78 Tarot Cards in 30 Minutes

You can also explore more tarot tutorials, deck walkthroughs and monthly readings on the The Tarot Shop UK YouTube channel, where new videos are added regularly.

Start Your Tarot Journey

Tarot is a skill that develops over time. Like learning any language, the more you practise, the more fluent you become.

• Start by learning the keywords.
• Spend time with your deck.
• Practise simple spreads.

Before long, the cards will begin to feel familiar, and you’ll find yourself reading them with growing confidence.