So You Just Got a Tarot Deck
The day has finally come. You hold that rectangular little box tightly in your hands as if it could disappear the second you let go. You carefully open it and take out that flimsy little paper guidebook, maybe accidentally tearing the corner a little bit. You lay out your cards with reverence, eager to finally learn the secrets of the known and unknown universe. With shaky hands, you pull a card, turn it over, and…
You have no idea what this means.
The tiny guidebook is sort of helpful with its generic buzzwords, but what does any of this truly mean? How does this card of a guy standing on the edge of a cliff represent new opportunities and the beginning of a journey? Why is he number 0 anyway? These are all perfectly reasonable questions to have, along with the billion other questions every new tarot reader inevitably asks. In this article, I’ll be addressing some tips and tricks for what to do when you’ve never read tarot before. This is meant for beginner readers, but I believe advanced readers can benefit from this as well.
Rituals for your New Deck
If you want to open your deck and get to reading right away, that’s perfectly valid! Some people find “breaking in” their deck to have little to no impact and would prefer to just start using it for readings from the get-go. I personally enjoy having a little ritual with any new decks I get as a way of channeling my energy into the deck and to get an idea of that particular deck’s energy.
One thing that I like to do with a new deck is to just carry it around in my pocket for a day. This lets my energy pass through the deck and lets the deck experience my range of emotions and attitudes throughout the day. It also lets me get used to the weight and feel of that particular deck and lets me develop a deeper connection before even getting a good look at the cards.
Once the day is done and I feel like our energies are sufficiently married, I like to do an introductory reading with the deck. This is a reading that lets me understand the deck’s strengths, weaknesses, and preferences towards the types of readings it’s best suited for. I don’t want to ask for a love reading from a deck that’s meant to give career advice. This can go into as much or as little detail as you’d like. Sometimes it’s fun to let a deck surprise you!
Reading with your New Deck
When it comes to reading for other people, I tend to hold off on using a new deck until I feel confident with its imagery and how it likes to get messages across. Not every deck is suited for everyone and it can be nice to have a deck that’s meant for no one else but you. My Wild Unknown deck hasn’t been used to read for anyone but myself in years and it shows through the bond we have.
If you’re brand new to tarot, make use of the guide book! Nearly every tarot deck comes with its own guide book that provides context for the cards within. Some keep their definitions limited to a few choice words while others go into pages of detail for each card. These will not only help you learn the meanings of each card, but can also provide insight into the author’s thought process and personal interpretations for each card. You might find your interpretations differing, depending on the readings you do - this is perfectly normal! As you gain more experience and get more comfortable, your intuition will shine through more and more. Trust it, even if it’s not exactly what the card means. You’ll find a whole world of opportunities in how to interpret the cards and your readings will be all the better for it.
Over time, you’ll learn the meanings of the cards and trust yourself enough to let it become second nature. Until then, don’t be afraid to learn and improve. You’re going to make mistakes and have readings that don’t resonate or make absolutely no sense at all. That’s when it gets fun. You can learn from your mistakes or even look back one day and realize they weren’t mistakes at all. Go forth and happy reading!
