Starting Tarot
Even if you don't have a gift for using tarot (even if you spend your whole life reading the meanings from online posts and books) there is something about the introspection that tarot lends itself to that allows you to meditate on where you are in your place in life, what has led you there, and what you can achieve in the future.
Tarot originally began as a card game, but has since been used as a divination tool. Some witches are uniquely talented when it comes to divination (my friend who recently started the craft being one of these people) whereas others are talented elsewhere. But whether looking into the future is a talent for yours or not, tarot can be a useful tool to help you find your way in the world.
Beginning with Tarot
Buy a deck
There are many different ways that you might like to start learning about tarot. The myth that you must be gifted a tarot deck is entirely wrong (and isn't some ancient prophecy or anything like that, but actually just a tale a few decades old). Buying your own tarot deck is actually one of the most important things you could do because the designs of your deck should be unique to you. I love the traditional imagery of the Rider-Waite deck, but the deck that I love the most was designed by one of my favourite authors with imagery from her book series, hand drawn. Choose a deck where the imagery calls to you. The imagery as well as what the card actually is will be something that will help guide the meaning for you as you learn to read your spread, so it's important you're choosing something that will speak to you.
Ways to learn
Some of the decks that you purchase (especially if they're unique designs) will come with a booklet helping explain the cards and how you may interpret them. If your deck doesn't come with a book, you don't need to fear as there is plenty of literature out there that can help teach you. There are also online apps that can help record your readings, and teach you about the different cards and what sort of spreads you might like to use.
Some witches say that the best way to learn is not by researching the meaning of every card and memorising it, but by understanding what those cards mean uniquely to you. Picking out a card in the morning, seeing where you day leads you and noting down the themes of the day and then comparing it later on to what themes continually pop up with those cards.
Like all aspects of witchcraft, how you choose to learn is entirely up to you. Just like how you may interpret the cards differently to any other reader. You will see on your journey that whilst each card relates to the same theme, the wording differentiates which can give slightly different readings. Always choose a an interpretation that works for you. As Lilibet says when she's doing a reading and is reading up the meaning: I ignore that part entirely, it doesn't speak to me. But that other part... that speaks to me. That's about me.
Spreads
In tarot, the spread (how you lay out your cards and what each area represents) is one of the key aspects. If you're a beginner, you might choose to simply pick one card and allow that meaning to guide you. The second easiest spread to do is a past/present/future three card draw. As you progress, you might want to do more complex spreads (or even begin with theses - there's nothing saying you can't!)
On our Instagram we share a tarot spread every New Moon and every Full Moon.
Links to Learn
Here are a few links to books and resources that you can use if you're starting out on your journey with tarot that I have mentioned above:
The Little Book of Tarot by Xanna Eve Chown
Labyrinthos Tarot Reading Apple Store Google Play Store
As always, I wish you luck on your new journey into the world of tarot and I hope that you find all you are looking for!
Blessed be,
Diana Greenbird
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