The Beginner's Guide to Tarot: Learn the Cards, Part 1
Tarot has fascinated people for centuries. Beautifully illustrated cards, rich symbolism and timeless wisdom combine to create one of the world's most enduring spiritual and personal development tools. Whether you are simply curious, hoping to buy your first tarot deck, or looking to deepen your intuition, tarot offers a lifetime of learning and discovery.
This first part of the guide covers what tarot really is, where it came from, how a deck is structured and the major arcana card meanings for all twenty-two cards.
Contrary to popular belief, tarot is not about predicting an unchangeable future. Instead, it helps us explore possibilities, recognise patterns, understand ourselves more deeply and make conscious choices. Every reading becomes a conversation between the cards, your intuition and your current circumstances.
For beginners, tarot can feel overwhelming. Seventy-eight cards, mysterious symbols, unfamiliar terminology and conflicting advice online can make it difficult to know where to start. The good news is that tarot doesn't have to be complicated. Once you understand its structure and purpose, the cards begin to tell surprisingly clear and meaningful stories.
In this beginner's guide you will discover:
Part 1
- What tarot really is
- A brief history of tarot
- How tarot works
- The structure of a tarot deck
- The Major Arcana
Part 2
- The Minor Arcana
- The four suits explained
- Court cards made simple
- Choosing your first deck
- Preparing and caring for your cards
- Simple tarot spreads
- Common myths about tarot
- Frequently asked questions
Whether you approach tarot from a spiritual, psychological, or purely symbolic perspective, the cards offer a unique mirror that reflects your inner world.
So... What Is Tarot?
A tarot deck contains 78 cards, each carrying layers of symbolism that can be interpreted in countless ways. Together they create a visual language capable of exploring emotions, relationships, personal growth, challenges, opportunities and life direction.
Many people assume tarot is purely fortune telling, but modern tarot practice is much broader than that.
The Fortune Teller, painted by Albert Anker in 1880.
Tarot can be used for:
- Personal reflection
- Decision making
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Shadow work
- Spiritual development
- Creative inspiration
- Self-discovery
- Understanding relationships
- Exploring life's possibilities
Rather than giving absolute answers, tarot encourages meaningful questions.
Instead of asking:
"Will I get the job?"
Tarot encourages questions like:
"What energy surrounds this opportunity?"
or
"How can I give myself the best chance of success?"
This subtle difference shifts tarot from passive prediction towards active empowerment.
A Brief History of Tarot
The earliest tarot decks appeared in northern Italy during the fifteenth century. Originally they were beautifully painted playing cards commissioned by wealthy families. These early decks were used for games rather than divination. It wasn't until the eighteenth century that scholars and mystics began associating tarot with esoteric traditions, symbolism and spiritual teachings. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries tarot evolved into the system most readers recognise today.
The World, from a modern facsimile of the fifteenth century Visconti-Sforza tarot.
One of the most influential decks, the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, published in 1909, transformed tarot forever. Pamela Colman Smith's fully illustrated Minor Arcana made intuitive reading far more accessible than previous decks.
Pamela Colman Smith, photographed for The Craftsman in 1912.
Today tarot has expanded into an incredible art form. Independent artists around the world reinterpret traditional symbolism through mythology, nature, folklore, dreams, psychology, fantasy and contemporary life.
Every deck offers a different artistic voice while remaining rooted in the timeless structure of the seventy-eight cards.
How Does Tarot Work?
This is perhaps the question every beginner asks.
There is no single answer because readers approach tarot in different ways. Some believe the cards connect with spiritual guidance. Others see tarot as a psychological tool that helps uncover subconscious thoughts (Jungian archetypes). Some view tarot as a symbolic language that stimulates intuition. Many readers blend all three perspectives.
As an aside note here, tarot can be seen as one's journey through the Kabbalistic Tree of Knowledge and an understanding of creation and enlightenment. We will perhaps cover this in a future blog post.
Whatever your beliefs, tarot encourages thoughtful reflection.
When you shuffle a deck while focusing on a question, your conscious and unconscious mind begin working together. The images on the cards spark memories, emotions and insights that may otherwise remain hidden. In this way tarot becomes less about magical prediction and more about meaningful conversation.
The cards don't force events to happen.
They reveal possibilities.
Ultimately, your choices shape your future.
Why Tarot Remains So Popular Today
Despite being hundreds of years old, tarot continues to grow in popularity. People increasingly seek tools that encourage mindfulness, self-awareness and emotional wellbeing. Tarot provides exactly that. Unlike scrolling endlessly through social media, sitting quietly with a tarot spread encourages us to pause, reflect and listen to ourselves.
Many people keep daily tarot journals.
Others draw a single card each morning as a focus for the day.
Some use tarot during meditation.
Others enjoy reading for friends and family.
The beauty of tarot lies in its flexibility.
There is no single correct way to work with the cards. Your practice naturally evolves alongside your life.
The Structure of a Tarot Deck
Every traditional tarot deck contains 78 cards divided into two sections:
The Major Arcana (22 Cards)
These represent life's major lessons, spiritual development and significant turning points.
The journey begins with The Fool (0) and ends with The World (XXI). Together these twenty-two cards tell the story known as The Fool's Journey, a symbolic path of growth, challenge, wisdom and transformation. When several Major Arcana appear in a reading, they often suggest that important life themes are unfolding.
The Minor Arcana (56 Cards)
The Minor Arcana represents everyday life.
- Relationships.
- Career.
- Home.
- Family.
- Communication.
- Money.
- Creativity.
- Daily decisions.
The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits that represent the elements.
- Wands ~ Fire
- Cups ~ Water
- Swords ~ Air
- Pentacles ~ Earth
Each suit contains:
- Ace
- Two through Ten
- Page
- Knight
- Queen
- King
Together they mirror the experiences, challenges and opportunities we encounter throughout ordinary life.
Far from being "less important" than the Major Arcana, these cards often provide the practical guidance that helps us navigate each day.
The Major Arcana: The Soul of the Tarot
If the Minor Arcana reflects the events of our everyday lives, the Major Arcana represents the milestones that shape who we become. These twenty-two cards speak of profound lessons, spiritual awakening, personal transformation and the universal experiences that connect us all.
When several Major Arcana cards appear in a reading, they often suggest that you are moving through a significant chapter in your life. These cards encourage you to pause, pay attention and recognise that something meaningful is unfolding.
The Major Arcana is often described as the "soul" of the tarot, offering guidance that reaches beyond day-to-day concerns and into the deeper questions of purpose, identity and growth.
The Fool's Journey
The twenty-two Major Arcana cards tell a symbolic story known as The Fool's Journey.
The Fool is not foolish. Instead, they represent each of us at the beginning of a new adventure. Innocent, optimistic and carrying only what is needed, The Fool steps forward with curiosity and trust, unaware of the lessons that lie ahead.
As the journey unfolds, The Fool encounters a series of archetypal figures, each offering wisdom, challenges and opportunities for growth. Together, these experiences reflect the cycles we all move through during our lives.
Understanding this journey helps beginners remember the meanings of the Major Arcana, as each card becomes part of a much larger story rather than an isolated symbol.
The 22 Major Arcana Cards Explained
The cards photographed throughout this guide are from the Lucid Dreams Beginners Tarot.
0 The Fool
Keywords: Beginnings • Adventure • Trust • Potential
The Fool represents the first step into the unknown. It is the card of fresh starts, optimism, freedom and embracing life's possibilities with an open heart. This card reminds us that every expert was once a beginner.
I The Magician
Keywords: Manifestation • Skill • Confidence • Action
The Magician teaches us that we already possess the tools we need. By combining knowledge, intention and focused action, we can turn ideas into reality. The Magician encourages us to believe in our abilities and use them wisely.
II The High Priestess
Keywords: Intuition • Mystery • Inner Wisdom • Reflection
Quiet and deeply intuitive, the High Priestess encourages us to trust our inner voice. Rather than seeking answers outside ourselves, she invites us to pause, listen and allow wisdom to emerge naturally.
III The Empress
Keywords: Abundance • Creativity • Nurturing • Growth
The Empress celebrates nature, beauty, fertility, compassion and creativity. She reminds us that growth flourishes when we nurture ourselves, our relationships and our ideas with patience and love.
IV The Emperor
Keywords: Stability • Leadership • Structure • Responsibility
Where the Empress nurtures, the Emperor provides structure. He represents discipline, security, leadership, healthy boundaries and the strength that comes from responsibility.
V The Hierophant
Keywords: Tradition • Learning • Wisdom • Spiritual Guidance
The Hierophant symbolises established knowledge and the value of learning from teachers, mentors, traditions and shared wisdom. This card encourages us to remain open to guidance while discovering what resonates with our own beliefs.
VI The Lovers
Keywords: Relationships • Choices • Harmony • Values
Although often associated with romance, The Lovers speaks more broadly about meaningful connections and important choices. It asks us to make decisions that align with our deepest values.
VII The Chariot
Keywords: Determination • Willpower • Success • Direction
The Chariot represents focused determination. Success comes not from force alone, but from balancing opposing energies and remaining committed to your chosen path.
VIII Strength
Keywords: Courage • Compassion • Inner Power • Patience
Strength teaches that true courage is gentle rather than aggressive. Patience, resilience, kindness and quiet confidence often achieve more than force ever could.
IX The Hermit
Keywords: Reflection • Solitude • Wisdom • Self-Discovery
Sometimes the greatest growth occurs in moments of quiet reflection. The Hermit encourages introspection, learning and taking time away from distractions to reconnect with your inner wisdom.
X Wheel of Fortune
Keywords: Cycles • Change • Destiny • Opportunity
Life constantly changes. The Wheel of Fortune reminds us that nothing remains fixed forever. New opportunities emerge, circumstances shift and every ending creates space for a new beginning.
XI Justice
Keywords: Truth • Balance • Integrity • Accountability
Justice reminds us that our actions have consequences.
It encourages honesty, fairness, responsibility and making thoughtful decisions based upon truth rather than emotion alone.
XII The Hanged Man
Keywords: Surrender • New Perspective • Patience • Acceptance
Sometimes progress requires us to stop pushing. The Hanged Man asks us to release control, view situations from a different perspective and allow clarity to emerge naturally.
XIII Death
Keywords: Transformation • Endings • Renewal • Rebirth
Despite its dramatic name, Death rarely predicts physical death.
Instead, it symbolises endings that make way for new beginnings. Old habits, relationships, careers, beliefs, or identities may be released so that something healthier can grow.
It is one of tarot's most hopeful cards.
XIV Temperance
Keywords: Balance • Harmony • Healing • Moderation
Temperance encourages patience, balance and finding the middle path. Rather than extremes, lasting growth often comes through gentle adjustments and steady progress.
XV The Devil
Keywords: Limitation • Attachment • Temptation • Awareness • Addictions
The Devil shines a light on unhealthy patterns, limiting beliefs, addictions, fears and attachments. Importantly, the chains shown in many tarot decks can often be removed.
This card reminds us that freedom begins with awareness.
XVI The Tower
Keywords: Sudden Change • Revelation • Liberation • Awakening
The Tower can appear unsettling, yet its purpose is ultimately positive. It clears away false foundations so that stronger, more authentic ones can be built.
Although change can feel uncomfortable, it often creates the opportunity for remarkable growth.
XVII The Star
Keywords: Hope • Healing • Inspiration • Renewal
After the upheaval of The Tower comes The Star. This beautiful card brings optimism, peace, emotional healing and renewed faith in the future. It reminds us that even after difficult times, hope always returns.
XVIII The Moon
Keywords: Dreams • Intuition • Illusion • Emotion • Unconscious • Hidden
The Moon invites us into the mysterious landscape of dreams, emotions, imagination and the unconscious. Not everything is as it first appears. This card encourages patience while hidden truths gradually reveal themselves.
XIX The Sun
Keywords: Joy • Success • Vitality • Confidence
Few cards radiate such warmth and positivity. The Sun represents happiness, clarity, abundance, confidence, achievement and celebrating life's blessings.
It reminds us to embrace joy wholeheartedly.
XX Judgement
Keywords: Awakening • Reflection • Purpose • Renewal
Judgement calls us to reflect on who we have become. It encourages forgiveness, personal growth and answering the deeper calling of our authentic selves.
XXI The World
Keywords: Completion • Achievement • Wholeness • Fulfilment
The Fool's Journey concludes with The World. Having travelled through every lesson, challenge, triumph and transformation, The Fool reaches a place of wisdom and completion. Yet every ending also marks another beginning.
With newfound understanding, another adventure is ready to unfold.
These are all upright meanings. We will look at reversals (upside-down cards) in another blog, rule of thumb is the card meanings are simply reversed. As a beginner, I recommend you keep your cards the right way up until you feel ready to bring reversals into your readings. Always go at your own pace.
Why Learning the Major Arcana First Is So Helpful
For beginners, the Major Arcana provides the perfect place to start learning tarot. Because there are only twenty-two cards, it is much easier to become familiar with their symbolism before moving on to the remaining fifty-six cards of the Minor Arcana. As you become comfortable recognising these archetypes, you will begin to notice how they appear in your own life. You may find yourself navigating a "Hermit" period of quiet reflection, celebrating a joyful "Sun" moment, or embracing the transformation symbolised by "Death".
Rather than memorising definitions, allow yourself to build a relationship with each card. Study the artwork, notice your emotional response and consider how the symbolism speaks to your own experiences. Over time, the meanings become intuitive rather than something you need to look up.
The Major Arcana forms the backbone of tarot wisdom, offering timeless lessons that remain just as relevant today as they were centuries ago.
In part 2 we will explore the Minor Arcana, explain each of the four suits and make the Court Cards easy to understand, helping readers feel much more confident when they begin reading tarot. We will bring everything together by exploring how to choose your first tarot deck, how to cleanse and care for your cards, simple tarot spreads for beginners, common myths about tarot, frequently asked questions and a gentle invitation for readers to discover authentic independent tarot decks at The Guilded Veil.
•♡• May your path be illuminated, your intuition trusted and your cards always reveal the wisdom you seek. Until next time... welcome to The Guilded Veil •♡•