A guide to tarot
78 images to help you name what you feel.
Tarot is not fortune-telling or diagnosis. It is a vocabulary of archetypes — it helps you see your situation from another angle, ask better questions, and reflect calmly.
Part 1
What tarot is
A tarot deck has 78 cards split into two families. Each card is an image — symbolic, layered, open to interpretation.
22 cards
Major Arcana
Archetypes of human experience — the Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Death, the Sun. Big life chapters and inner figures we move through.
Browse the Major Arcana56 cards · 4 suits
Minor Arcana
Wands (action), Cups (feeling), Swords (thought) and Pentacles (matter). Everyday situations, stances, energies. Plus court cards — the roles we play.
Browse the Minor ArcanaA short history
1440
Visconti–Sforza
The oldest surviving decks appear in northern Italy as playing cards for the nobility.
1781
Court de Gébelin
A French occultist first ties tarot to Egyptian mysticism — the esoteric tradition begins.
1909
Rider–Waite–Smith
A. E. Waite and Pamela Colman Smith create the deck that becomes the modern standard.
Today
Secular tarot
Tarot as a tool for reflection — no supernatural claims, open to anyone.
Part 2
What tarot is for
When you draw a card, you project your own situation onto it. The image becomes a mirror — it helps you name what you already know inside but cannot yet say in words.
What tarot does
- Names feelings you were ashamed to say out loud.
- Offers a new angle you would not find on your own.
- Helps you frame better questions.
- Slows down decisions — from reactive to thoughtful.
What tarot is not
- Medical or psychological diagnosis.
- Legal or financial advice.
- A prediction of what will happen no matter what you do.
- A replacement for therapy, a doctor, or a trusted person.
“The cards will not tell you what will happen. They will tell you how you are reacting inside.”
Part 3
How to read your first card
No secret rules. Just four steps that work every time.
Frame the question
An open question works better than yes or no. Instead of asking whether someone will call, ask what you need to know about this relationship. The question shapes what you will see.
First impression
What catches your eye first? A figure, a color, a gesture, a gaze. That first impression is your gateway — stay with it before reaching for the dictionary.
Symbols and context
What is the figure holding? Where are they looking? Day or night? The same card in another reading says something different — context decides.
Position in the spread
In multi-card spreads, every position has a meaning — past, present, advice. The card in a position is the answer to that specific question.
Part 4
Common questions
Can I draw cards every day?
Yes. A card of the day is a great ritual — a question in the morning, a look back in the evening. Just do not expect every card to be life-changing; many are subtle.
What if I get a so-called bad card?
No card is bad. Death means an ending and a beginning. The Tower means something stops working — often a relief. Hard cards are usually the most valuable messages.
Should I read reversed cards?
You can, but you do not have to. At Tarotas we work primarily with upright meanings — clearer for beginners. Add reversals when you are ready.
Do I have to believe in it for it to work?
No. Tarot works as a projective tool — even taken purely as a random image generator, it forces you to phrase a question and interpret. The value is in the process.
Can I draw for someone else?
You can, but be careful. The cards then say more about you and your relationship to that person than about them. Never use it as a diagnosis of someone else.
How many times can I ask the same question?
One question, one reading. If the answer does not fit, do not re-ask — reframe, or wait. Repeated draws are usually avoidance of what you already know.
About tarot
The best way to start is to draw a card.
Theory gives you a frame. The first card gives you experience.