Tarot for beginners ( english)

Tarot For Beginners
- Lisa Boswell -


“Welcome to the Tarot For Beginners free guide!
My name is Lisa Boswell, and I specialize in teaching
diviners like yourself how to make more detailed
predictions.
I have been reading Tarot ever since I was 7 years old. I
am Romany Gypsy, and many of my family members are
also fortune-tellers (think crystal ball readers and dream
interpreters).
My Tarot journey began when I started ‘borrowing’ my older sister’s Tarot deck. After a
couple of years I acquired my own and I have been obsessed with divination ever
since!
Although my family are diviners, I pretty much had to teach myself how to read Tarot.
For the rst decade, all I had to assist me on my Tarot journey was my deck and the
one small guidebook that came with my cards.
Everything else I learned about Tarot, I had to discover through trial, error and lots of
practice readings.

However, I have no regrets. I believe that, when learning the basics, less is always
more. Too many Tarot books and beginner resources confuse the budding Tarot
reader and overwhelm them with information. I’m not going to do that.
Through this guide, I’m going to teach you just enough to make sure you know the
basics of Tarot reading, so that you can learn what you need to know to be able to
read Tarot and leave the rest.
Because I self-learned Tarot, I know what it is like to feel overwhelmed. That’s why I
created this guide just for budding diviners like yourself. If you ever get confused
over the meaning of a Tarot-related phrase, just come back to this guide.
By saving and printing this guide you can refer back to it again and again. If you’re

unsure how to save or print your guide to your iPhone or tablet, don’t worry as there
is a useful walkthrough on the next page.
Finally, I want you to keep in mind that learning Tarot will be one of the best things
you ever do. By reading Tarot, you can:
• Read Tarot for yourself or others







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As I was left to my own devices, it took me a very long time to gure out Tarot. For
example, I had been reading Tarot for ten years before I discovered what a reversal
was!

• Predict whether or not something is likely to work out
• Get advice on how to overcome your issues
• Make better choices
• Make predictions for your love life, career, business, health, spirituality, nances,
family, pets, friendships, and pretty much any other subject you can think of!
Good luck on your Tarot journey. And, if you would like to go further than the basics,
feel free to check out my Tarot course, The Tarot Immersion or sign up for the free
workshop at the very end of this guide.
I look forward to further assisting you during this adventure.
Happy divining,”

Lisa xx



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Print & Save Instructions

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To print, open the
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Click to print! If you
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The Basics
I’m super excited to get started on teaching you how to read Tarot cards, so let’s get
to it!
I’m pretty sure that, as a budding Tarot reader, you’re going to have a lot of questions
about how Tarot works, what Tarot is, and how you can get started reading Tarot
cards. Therefore, for this section of this guide, I’m going to give you the very basics of
Tarot.
From my experience as a full-time divination teacher, I know there are several
questions that potential Tarot readers have when they’re learning Tarot. Therefore, this
section is going to be formatted in a Q and A style, and it will answer all the questions
I know you’re just dying to ask.

“Can anyone read Tarot?”

“Do you need to be psychic to read Tarot cards?”
I believe that everyone is psychic and anyone can develop their psychic abilities. To
read Tarot, you don’t have to consider yourself to be psychic – but just like all
creatures, you already are a little bit psychic!
That being said, you don’t have to have super strong psychic abilities to be able to
read Tarot. Believe it or not, Tarot will actually improve your psychic abilities! So, you
don’t have to worry too much about the strength of your psychic skills.

“Is Tarot dangerous or evil?”

No, Tarot is not dangerous or evil. I’ve never been possessed yet!

“Is it true that you can’t buy your own Tarot deck?”
No! This is another urban myth of Tarot. It’s not true that you shouldn’t buy your own
Tarot deck. In fact, the opposite is true.

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YES! Anyone can read Tarot, especially if you have a strong interest in developing
your Tarot skills. However, I will say that not everyone wants to learn how to read Tarot.
You have to have some level of commitment and desire to read Tarot. So, if you feel as
though you’re committed and ache to learn Tarot, you’re good to go!


It’s better if you do buy your own Tarot card deck. If you purchase your own deck, you
will instantly begin to form a bond with your deck and get used to its energy. It’s
much more desirable if you go out of your way to hunt down your own deck than

waiting on someone else to do it for you!

“Do I need any special equipment to be able to
read Tarot cards?”
No! To be able to read Tarot, all you need is a Tarot deck. There are some optional
extras you can pick up on the way including:
• Tarot Bags

•

Incense

• Wooden Storage Boxes

•

Crystals

• Tarot Mats

•

Journals

Keep in mind that all of the above items are all optional extras and are not required in
order to have a thriving Tarot practice.

“Which Tarot deck should I buy?”
There are many different types of decks you can use for divination. There are Tarot
decks, Lenormand decks, Oracle decks, Kipper decks… the list goes on. Therefore, it

can sometimes be easy to purchase the
wrong type of deck accidentally.
For ease, I recommend that you purchase a
Rider-Waite-Smith (sometimes simply called
Rider-Waite) Tarot deck. This is a classic Tarot
deck that will get you familiar with the
structure of Tarot, get you used to the
symbolism of Tarot. It is just a good allaround beginner’s deck. Then, in the future,
when you get more con dent, you can
expand your collection.
The reason why I recommend the Rider
Waite-Smith deck to begin with is because
there are some deck creators who have

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If you’re going to invest in anything (other than your Tarot deck) I recommend that
you purchase somewhere safe to store your deck and a journal so that you can record
your readings. Anything after that is in no way essential.


renamed certain elements of their decks (we will look at this in more detail later in this
guide). Obviously, this can be confusing, so if you’re just starting out, you should stick
to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck until you’re more con dent with reading Tarot. You can
buy a deck from Amazon or any reputable mind-body-spirit shop.

“What are reversals and should I use them?”

The Magician Upright

The Magician Reversed

It is not essential that you use reversals. In fact, I recommend that you don’t as they
can become confusing – and besides, you don’t honestly need them. That’s just my
opinion, but your readings will probably be better (and less confusing) without them.

“How should I care for my deck?”
There are no hard and fast rules for how you should care for your Tarot deck. There
are no ‘best’ ways, but I can give you a little bit of direction!
It’s best if you put your Tarot deck in its own special Tarot bag so that it doesn’t get
damaged. You can keep your deck in the box or you can decide to take it out.
A lot of older readers feel that your deck should be wrapped in pure silk, or that you
should try to obtain a silk Tarot bag. You don’t have to use silk, but this can add to the
‘special’ feeling of your cards.

Some readers opt to keep their deck in wooden Tarot boxes with crystals or ‘powerful’
herbs. If you’re into crystals, magic, and/or witchcraft, you may want to have a think
about what types of things you would like to store with your Tarot cards. However, this
isn’t essential (I currently don’t store anything at all with my cards).

























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Reversals are the name given to Tarot cards that appear upside down. Readers who
read with reversals shuf e half of the cards with them upright and the other half with
them reversed. They assign different meanings to the cards that appear upside down.
Usually, these meanings are negative (but not always).


Another point is that a lot of people like to ‘cleanse’ their decks after readings.
Usually, deck cleaning consists of passing your Tarot deck through some incense
smoke or leaving them out to ‘charge’ under the full moon. Cleaning your deck isn’t
essential (I prefer to let the energy in my decks build up), but it’s a practice that a lot
of Tarot readers like to do.

“Well, which deck practices do you recommend?”
One Tarot deck practice that I strongly recommend is to form a relationship with your
deck. I feel it’s very important to have a personal relationship with your cards – carry
them with you, sleep close by them, handle them often, and don’t let other people
play or read with them. Your deck should feel like yours and nobody else’s. Having a

bond with your deck will make your readings more accurate.

“What is shuf ing?”
In divination, the name given to the act of mixing your cards up is known as ‘shuf ing’.
You should shuf e your cards before you lay them out in a spread. Shuf ing will
randomize your cards.

You may just be starting out with reading Tarot, but you probably have plans to one
day expand into reading other people. One question that comes up time and time
again with my students is this: who shuf es. Is it you (the diviner/reader), or is it the
person you’re reading for (the seeker)?
This comes down to personal preference. Personally, I don’t like other people
touching my cards, so I always shuf e the cards for the person I’m reading. However, I
know some very good readers who like the seeker to ask their question, shuf e the
cards, and then hand the cards over to the reader; the reader then lays them out and
interprets them. As I said, it’s purely about personal preference, but again, I don’t like
other people touching my cards.

“How do I know when I have shuf ed enough?”
There is no such thing as shuf ing too much, or not enough. You have to trust that the
right cards appear in the right position at the right time.
With that being said, some readers like to shuf e their decks a set number of times
before they lay their cards out in a reading. For example, you may decide to shuf e

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“If I am reading someone else, should they be the
person to shuf e?”

your cards twelve times before laying out your reading.
If you’re a beginner, I recommend that you pick a number of times to shuf e for each
reading and stick to that number. Then, in the future when you feel more con dent,
you can stop shuf ing when you feel like it. As a general rule, if you’re getting bored
during the shuf ing process, your cards are shuf ed enough!

“What is the ‘top of the deck’?”
In a pile of cards, the top of the deck is the card with its back facing upwards.

In this image, her right
hand (with the bracelet)
is facing the bottom of
the deck. Her left hand
is touching the top of
the deck.

Finally, as you can see,
the woman is correctly
pulling a card from the
top of the deck with her
right hand in this
picture.

This information is important because you should pull your cards from the top of your
deck after shuf ing.
Some readers go through their deck, selecting cards at random. They may take a card
from the top, a card from the middle, a card from near the bottom, etc. I think doing
this causes confusion and can make you second-guess the accuracy of your readings.

Instead, you should always take your cards from the top of the deck - this will ensure
that you are not left wondering whether or not you have selected the ‘right’ card from
the ‘right’ place.




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For example, on this
picture, the woman has
her hand on the top
card. The bottom card
in this deck is the one
that touches the table.


Tarot Structure
Tarot has a very speci c structure. Tarot’s structure is what separates true Tarot cards
from other methods of cartomancy, such as Oracle or Lenormand card reading.
There are 78 cards in a Tarot deck. Any less and you’re not working with a Tarot deck.
While some deck creators choose to create an extra card(s) and include them in their

deck, these extra cards are usually not used in Tarot readings. Tarot readers either
collect extra cards or use them as bookmarks.
Tarot decks consist of two different types of cards. These card types are known as the
Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. In Tarot, there are twenty-two Major Arcana cards
and fty-six Minor Arcana cards.

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The Major Arcana re ect major life events. The Major Arcana speaks of – or predicts –
events that are hard to control because they’re the result of destiny or fate. Although
the situations of the Major Arcana can sometimes be avoided, it’s more challenging to
do so when compared to the Minor Arcana. However, don’t worry, as this can also
mean that destiny is on your side.
The Minor Arcana are more likely to re ect day-to-day events. Situations that are
predicted with the Minor Arcana are somewhat easier to control. That isn’t to say that
you can always avoid what will be revealed with the Minor Arcana, but it’s easier to do
so than it is with the Major Arcana.
Although you will have more control with the Minor Arcana cards, fate may not be
working for you as hard as it is if you have lots of Majors.










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The Minor Arcana is further split into four suits, which are called Wands, Cups, Swords,
and Pentacles (sometimes called Coins). In the above graphic, the names of these
suits have been short handed to W, C, S, and P.

All of the cards can predict events, feelings, or situations in love, career, business,
health, and more. However, the meanings of the suits can generally be interpreted as:
• Wands represents energy

•

Swords represent trouble

• Cups represent love

•

Pentacles represent money

Finally, keep in mind that some modern deck creators have renamed certain deck
elements. In the Wild Unknown Tarot deck, for example, the Queens are called
Mothers, the Kings are named Fathers, the Knights are named Sons, and the Pages
are called the Daughters.
The renaming of elements in some decks is one of the reason why I feel you should
stick to a more traditional deck. In the future, you can branch out and try modern
decks when you become comfortable with Tarot.

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There are fourteen cards in each suit; the numbered cards, which are numbered from
Ace to Ten, and the Court cards, which are the Page, Knight, Queen, and King of the
suit. The numbered cards represent events and the Court cards represent people.


Tarot Card Meanings
In Tarot decks, it is traditional for the cards to be numbered in Roman numerals,
even in more modern decks. Don’t worry – this is something you’ll get used to as
you become more familiar with Tarot.
Also, in some Tarot decks, Justice is numbered VIII (eight), and Strength is numbered
XI (eleven). This doesn’t really make any difference to the Tarot meanings.

I - The Magician

II - The High Priestess

You will leap into the
unknown. Have fun and
take risks. Keep in mind
that others may not take
this matter too seriously

This will be a time of
manifestation where your
thoughts become things.
The Magician is usually a
‘yes’ for all questions

Your psychic abilities are in
development. You must
use your intuition at this
time as some information
is hidden from you

III - The Empress

IV - The Emperor

V - The Hierophant

This will be a time of
abundance. Pregnancy is a
possibility. Be careful not
to ‘mother’ or suffocate
those who do not need it

You will nd yourself
socialising with in uential
people who can help with
this matter. Try not to be
too bossy or domineering

Tradition, religion, and
belief will play a role in this
matter. The Hierophant is a
good card for predicting
marriage, baptisms, etc.










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0 - The Fool


VII - The Chariot

VIII - Strength

There will be mutual love
between two people.
Someone will make a very
important decision that will
impact this matter

You will be very
determined to succeed in
this matter. Sometimes,
The Chariot can predict a
desire for revenge

Care and strength is
required here. This matter
will leave you shouldering
a lot of responsibility well
into the future

IX - The Hermit

X - The Wheel of Fortune

XI - Justice

You will feel lonely in the
future. The Hermit predicts
that you will need to spend
time by yourself in order to
process past events

Your luck is beginning to
turn and good fortune is
going to be on your side.
The spirits of your
ancestors have your back

Everyone involved in this
matter will get exactly what
they deserve. Justice can
also predict attendance to
court and legal issues

XII - The Hanged Man

XIII - Death

XIV - Temperance

If you’re waiting around
now, you will still be
waiting around in the
future. Sometimes, this
card predicts illnesses

This situation is going to
come to a natural
conclusion. Eventually,
your feelings will change
enabling you to move on

Your ancestors are
watching over you, giving
you daily guidance. In the
future, you will nd peace
with this matter




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VI - The Lovers


XVI - The Tower

XVII - The Star

You will be manipulated by

something (or someone) in
the future. The bond you
have with this thing will be
hard to break

This matter is going to lead
to catastrophe. Nothing
good will come of this path
as it is doomed for
complete failure

There is hope for this
matter. You will get what
you want from life but you
may not get it exactly how
you expect

XVIII - The Moon

XIX - The Sun

XX - Judgement

The future of this matter is
uncertain so you must take
it a day at a time. Be careful
that you’re not only seeing
what you want to see

You are going to be very

happy in the future. Expect
success. Any stress you’re
currently experiencing will
be cleared up eventually

This situation is going to
transform you as a person.
Whether all goes well or
fails, all will turn out exactly
how it is supposed to

XXI - The World

Ace of Wands

II of Wands

The world is a positive card
predicting good results.
You may travel to far away
places. This cycle will end
and a new one will begin

A creative solution to this
problem will present itself.
You will be given the
opportunity to move a
matter forward

You will be in a partnership

in the future. Although you
will be successful, your
achievements will feel
hollow




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XV - The Devil


IV of Wands

V of Wands

In the future, you will work
as part of a team. Be
prepared to explore other
possibilities, people, and
places

Your home will become
your sanctuary. In the
future, you will live with
your partner (if you do not
already live together)

You will have to ght for
the things you want well
into the future. This matter
is going to cause drama in
your personal relationships

VI of Wands

VII of Wands

VIII of Wands

You may have to battle for
a job or relationship, but
you will be victorious in the
end. Your enemies will not
outsmart you

Other people are going to
attack you because of your
actions, thoughts and
feelings. Be prepared to
defend yourself

Expect news regarding this
situation in the near future.
Are you waiting on
someone contacting you?
You’ll hear from them soon

IX of Wands

X of Wands

Page of Wands

This situation is going to
put you directly in harms
way. You are at risk of
sickness or injury. Remain
alert and guard yourself

Your burdens will not ease.
This matter may be hard
now, but it will become
even more challenging in
the future

There is an enthusiastic
person who is going to
help you. They are a friend
who is fun to be around
and always on your side




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III of Wands


Queen of Wands

King of Wands

Someone will rush into
things without thinking of
the consequences. They
will quickly breeze in and
out of your life

You will be focused on
your friendships and not
work, love, or con ict.
However, you will be
feeling ambitious

An individual with an
extreme personality will
become a key feature in
your future. They have lots
of hobbies and interests

Ace of Cups

II of Cups

III of Cups

In the future, you will
experience the rst stages
of love. Sometimes, this
card can predict the birth
of a baby

Both your romantic
relationships and platonic
friendships are going to be
perfect. You will nd your
‘other half’

You will attend lots of
parties in the future either
solo or with someone else.
There will be reason to
celebrate

IV of Cups

V of Cups

VI of Cups

You’re going to be bored
with this situation in the
future. You’re currently not
exploring all options that
are open to you

A disconnection will
impact this situation. There
is a break-up or separation
in your future. This may or
may not be for a long time

You will return to a
situation from your past.
Expect an ex-lover or exfriend to come back into
your life




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Knight of Wands


VIII of Cups

IX of Cups

You will not be able to
progress past this point
unless you make some
tough decisions. Take
action now

This situation/person will
never give you what you
want. Walking away is the
only thing that will lead to
eventual happiness

Congratulations! All of
your wishes are going to
be ful lled. You will get
everything you have ever
wanted

X of Cups

Page of Cups

Knight of Cups

You will achieve your
fairytale ending. Your
family life, romances, and
friendships will bring you
contentment

There is an emotional
person who can tip the
scales in this matter. This
individual is empathetic to
your cause - they like you

An alternative situation or
person is going to present
you with an opportunity. Is
this person is too good to
be true?

Queen of Cups

King of Cups

Ace of Swords

You will be focused on
your romances and not

your career, friends, or
drama. Make sure the right
people have your loyalty

A loving, empathic person
will be a key player in your
future. This individual
prioritizes their family and
romantic relationships

Drama stemming from this
issue will arise in the future.
You will have to act
forcefully if you want to
claim your desires




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VII of Cups

III of Swords

IV of Swords

You’re going to be locked
in a stalemate with
someone, unable to move
forward. Con icts will not
be resolved

This situation is going to
cause you a lot of
emotional pain - expect
heartache. In delity is a
strong possibility

In the future, this situation
will come to a pause,
giving you the time you
need to reevaluate your
life. You need to rest

V of Swords

VI of Swords

VII of Swords

You will be defeated by a
competitor who will rub

their victory in your fact.
This beating will leave you
feeling embarrassed

Travel is on the cards. You
will explore new ground.
Alternatively, you will either
move on or move forward
from a situation

Beware of theft! Someone
will try to steal something
from you. Or, will you be
the person to steal from
them?

VIII of Swords

IX of Swords

X of Swords

You will be tied to a
situation, unable to move
or escape. Feelings of
restriction may be caused
by your mindset

Anxiety and stress will
overwhelm you in the

future. Expect to
experience many sleepless
nights

A situation or relationship
will end in complete ruin.
You will feel ‘stab in the
back’ by people you
thought you could trust




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II of Swords


Knight of Swords

Queen of Swords

A sharp (and often nosey)
person is spying on you.
They may cause trouble, so
be mindful of what you
share with others

Beware as there are
aggressive, possibly even
dangerous people
involved in this situation.
Avoid violence

You will be focused on
con ict. This situation will
leave you feeling hurt and
betrayed causing you to
want to harm others

King of Swords

Ace of Pentacles

II of Pentacles

An intelligent but
emotionally detached
person will be a key feature
in your future. He deals
with facts, not feelings

An opportunity is going to
present itself. You will start
a new job or business.
Expect to invest time or
money into this matter

Money and time are going
to be in low supply. You
will have to carefully
balance your work life with
your personal life

III of Pentacles

IV of Pentacles

V of Pentacles

In the future, you will learn
how to better deal with this
situation. You should learn
new skills from a course,
mentor, or therapist

You (or someone in your
life) will hoard all of their
resources. This person
does not want to share
their money or energy

Money is going to be tight.
Poverty is a strong
possibility. While this will
be dif cult, you will be in
this situation with others




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Page of Swords


VII of Pentacles

VIII of Pentacles

People are going to freely
share their time, money,
knowledge and resources
with you. They may be

doing this out of obligation

All that you are working
hard for now will pay off in
the future. Soon, you will
enjoy the fruits of your
labor

You are going to have
mastery over this situation.
Other people will view you
as an expert and trust the
advice you give them

IX of Pentacles

X of Pentacles

Page of Pentacles

Life is going to be
abundant for you. Soon,
you will purchase a house,
car or expensive
decorations for your home

You’re going to gain
wealth that will bene t
several generations of your
family. You may enter or

start a family business

Someone will require the
time, money and attention
of you or your lover. What
impact will this have on
your life and relationships?

Knight of Pentacles

Queen of Pentacles

King of Pentacles

You will be able to depend
on someone who is slow
moving but always reliable.
This person has a lot to
offer you

In the future, you will be
focused on your career,
staying well away from
drama. You will have an
abundance of time

A successful person with
lots of resources will be
part of your life in the
future. They are traditional

and often set in their ways




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VI of Pentacles


Tarot Card Meanings
Tarot cards are read in what is known as ‘spreads.’ Tarot spreads are layouts in which
you place your cards. The cards are then interpreted based on the traditional card
meaning and the spread position.
Spreads can be as small as two cards or as large as using the full Tarot deck. Some
spreads cover multiple life areas (love, career, health, etc.), while other spreads might
only be designed for one life area.
Spreads that read life areas and your future in general are known as ‘general’ spreads.
Although general spreads are rather popular, the most common Tarot spreads are
those that are designed for a speci c question or life area.
Before you lay out your spread, you should set your intention. For example, in your
head or out loud, ask, “What is going to happen with regard to X”? You should write
down your question before you perform your reading to help you cement your
question and so that you don’t second-guess what your question was about!

You can have a pre-reading ritual or just jump into your readings. However, I will say
that having some type of ritual can make your readings feel more special, important,
and powerful, so you should eventually develop one. Personally, I always burn
sandalwood incense or oils. I like sandalwood because it’s a sacred wood. I
recommend that you develop a ritual of your own. Setting your own Tarot ritual is
something I go over in The Tarot Immersion. Once you’ve gone through your ritual,
you can perform your reading.
While shuf ing your cards, you should think of the question that you want to know
more about. Keep the question rm in your mind as you shuf e and lay out your
cards.
Once you have performed your reading, it’s a good idea to record the results. I like to
photograph my readings on my phone. Most readers keep some kind of Tarot journal.
In your journal, you should record your goal for the reading, the spread, the date,
where you performed the reading, and any astrological information if you’re into
astrology.
I’ve included some journaling worksheets within this PDF that you can print off and
use during your Tarot practice.




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I recommend that before your readings, you ask your ancestral spirits for assistance.
Ask them to reveal to you all that you should know and to help you get the best
results possible. Again, this can be out loud or just in your head.


To perform this spread, you will perform your reading as previously instructed and
then lay your cards out from left to right. Here’s how the cards should be laid out:

1

2

3

The rst card (1) represents what has happened in the past with regards to this
situation. The second card (2) symbolizes the present, and the third card (3) predicts
what will happen in the future.
Now, let’s say our seeker, Melyssa, wishes to know the past, present, and future of her
life in general. Here are her cards:

In the past, Melyssa has had a very hard time, especially when it comes to money.
Historically, she has not had a lot of resources. Financial lack was a major theme of her
past.
At present, Melyssa’s luck is beginning to turn. She is starting to see a change in her
fortune, and (because her past was not very rosy), the changes she is experiencing are
for the better.
Finally, in the future, things are looking good for Melyssa. It looks like she is going to

be nancially stable. She will pass items from one generation to the next.
Feel free to give this spread a go using the worksheets on the following page. You can
also design your own spread with the help of the second worksheet.

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So, now that you know how to record your readings, let’s jump into a basic Tarot
spread! The Past, Present, Future Spread is the most basic Tarot spread. This spread
predicts (you guessed it) the past, present, and future of your life, or of a life area that
you would like to know more about (for example, your love life).


Date

Time

Location

Tools Used

Spirits Petitioned

Notable Astrology

The Past

The Present

The Future

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Past, Present, Future Spread


Drawing of Spread

My Question

Date, Time & Day

Deck & Tools Used

My Interpretation

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Tarot Journal Worksheet


While I have given you all you need to know to begin reading Tarot, there will be
some words that creep up on you during your Tarot journey. Therefore, as an added
bonus, I’m giving you my ‘Tarot Dictionary’ below, which you can refer to if one of
these words pops up.
Before you read through this dictionary, I should point out that it’s not essential to
know these things if you want to read Tarot. However, I’m going to cover them here so
that, when you happen to come across them, you’ll be prepared!
Aleister Crowley: Aleister Crowley was an occultist who was active during the turn of
the 20th century until his death in 1947. Crowley founded the religion Thelema and
created The Book of Thoth Tarot deck.
Ancestral Work: For your Tarot readings, you can work with your ancestors just as
you would with spirit guides. I recommend ancestral work over other forms of spirit
work.
Arthur Waite: Arthur Waite (known as A.E. Waite) was an early member of The
Golden Dawn and the creator of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck.
Cartomancy: Cartomancy is the name given to divination using cards. Playing card
divination, Tarot, Lenormand, Oracle, and Kipper decks are all forms of cartomancy.
Celtic Cross: The Celtic Cross is a famous Tarot spread that’s often used by Tarot
readers. A Celtic Cross spread has either ten or eleven positions, depending on the

reader.
Charging (Deck): Some Tarot readers believe that leaving your deck under the full
moon or in a box with crystals charges the deck and makes it more powerful.
Coins: Coins is another name for the Pentacles suit.
Correspondences: Some Tarot readers believe that Tarot corresponds to aspects of
astrology, the Kabbalah, and even crystal healing. For example, The Emperor card is
associated with the zodiac sign Aries, while The Devil corresponds with Capricorn.
Crystals: Crystals are believed to attract certain things into your life. For example,
rose quartz is believed to attract love, while lapis lazuli is believed to increase psychic
development. Some Tarot readers keep crystals nearby to strengthen their readings.
Diviner: Diviner is the name for a person who practices divination, fortune-telling,
and/or seeks the advice and assistance of spirits during readings. It’s another name
for a reader or fortune-teller.







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Tarot Dictionary


Etteilla Tarot: Etteilla is an old-fashioned method of reading Tarot with an Etteilla
deck and Etteilla meanings. While this is technically a Tarot deck (it has Wands, Cups,
Swords, and Coins suits), several of the Major cards are different, although many of
the card meanings are the same. If you’re new to Tarot, don’t worry about accidentally
purchasing an Etteilla deck and not a ‘normal’ Tarot deck; you have to be looking for
an Etteilla deck to nd one.
General Reading: A general reading is a Tarot reading that’s performed without a
speci c question. General readings look at the seeker’s life in general.
Golden Dawn: The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was an occultic organization
that was devoted to the study of divination, magic, and the paranormal. They were
most active during the end of the 19th to the early 20th century. Their teachings
heavily in uenced Western Esotericism and, ultimately, Tarot.
Grade: In Tarot, a grade is similar to a suit, but it re ects the level of the Minor cards.
Aces, Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives, Sixes, Sevens, Eights, Nines, Tens, Pages, Knights,
Queens, and Kings are all of the different Tarot grades.

The Rider Waite Smith deck (on the left) is an
illustrated or ‘scenic’ deck. The image gives clues to
the meaning of the card.
By contrast, the Visconti Tarot (right) is unillustrated.
It’s Seven of Pentacles only depicts the coins.

Interpretation: In Tarot, the term ‘interpretation’ is often used interchangeably with
the term ‘meaning,’ but they are actually different. A card meaning is what the card
symbolizes on its own, but technically, an interpretation is what a card means when
the meaning is combined with the spread position. However, don’t stress too much

about this, as everyone uses the word ‘interpretation’ to mean a meaning, and it still
makes sense!
Journaling: A Tarot journal is like a Witch’s Book of Shadows but for Tarot. In your
Tarot journal, you can record your readings. When recording your readings, you can
include the date of the reading, the spread used, where the reading was performed,
the time of day, what your question was, which incense you burned, candles used,
spirit petitioned, your interpretation, the deck you used, any important astrological
information (for example, if you performed the reading doing a full moon) – pretty
much anything you feel makes a difference to the accuracy of your Tarot readings.













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Illustrated: ‘Illustrated’ is another word for a scenic deck. Illustrated decks depict a
scene on the Minor Arcana cards.