Tarot for Everyone: An Introduction to a Timeless Practice

Here at BeWitchy, one of the most common questions we get asked is, "How do you become a tarot reader?" We’ve come to realize that many people ask this because they worry they need some sort of special psychic ability or occult pedigree to succeed. We are here to tell you that this is a myth!

The tarot is for everyone, and anyone can learn to read it. It is for you, too, if you want it to be. That being said, just like singing, some may find it harder than others or might need more practice. The practice is personal and unique to each individual. For some, reading tarot connects with other practices like spellcraft, astrology, or crystal work. But for many others, it is simply a tool for self-reflection and guidance. We believe that you are not only allowed but encouraged to find your own personal relationship with the cards, on your own terms.

Is Tarot “Real” or Just a Party Trick?

For us, the magic of the tarot is less about fortune-telling and more about storytelling. We believe the tarot’s power lies in its narrative symbolism, which invites questions and deep self-reflection, empowering you to make your own decisions about the direction you want your future to take.

The interplay between different cards can offer new perspectives, challenge old ways of thinking, or even just bring to light things you’ve been hiding from yourself. That doesn’t mean the cards aren’t helpful when it comes to making decisions or thinking about the path ahead. But it does mean that the way they help isn’t quite what popular culture has led us to expect.

How Do Tarot Cards Work?

When you lay out all of the cards in a tarot deck, you find all of life's experiences hidden within them. The tarot is made up of two sections, called the Arcanas (the word means "secrets"). There is the Major Arcana, which contains 22 cards, and the Minor Arcana, which contains 56.

Within the Minors, you find four suits, just as you would in a regular pack of playing cards, but with the difference that each suit is associated with a different element and aspect of the self. The suits are:

• The Cups: Associated with water and the emotional self.

• The Pentacles: Linked to earth and the physical self.

• The Swords: The cards of air, which are all about the mind.

• The Wands: The suit of fire, which are about how you apply your energy.

Meanwhile, the journey of the Major cards represents seismic shifts in life, telling a dramatic story of beginnings and endings, discoveries and losses, stillness and growth. When you combine all of these different cards, you’ve got all of the ingredients for a thousand unique narratives.

What to Look for in a Tarot Deck

If you are looking to take that leap into tarot, you might be wondering what to do first. We highly recommend you start by buying a tarot deck—and yes, you can buy your own, and it can definitely be second-hand.

The earliest tarot decks date back to the fifteenth century, which means there has been plenty of time for innovation, and the card designs have passed through thousands of hands. The closest thing that exists to a standard tarot deck is the Rider Waite Smith. The deck dates from the turn of the twentieth century, but it is the one on which the vast majority of other deck designs and structures are now based. It is also easy to get hold of and among the more affordable options, making it a great starter deck.

The RWS isn’t the only option, though. The most important thing is to find something that speaks to you, whether that is in terms of its design, its concept, or its creator. There are many decks which reimagine the imagery of the traditional RWS.

If you’re getting started, it is definitely worth seeking out a deck that follows the most common structure: 78 fully illustrated cards. If something is listed as an "oracle deck," it is not tarot.

The Art of the Tarot Reading

Readings can be performed for oneself or for others, and they all follow a similar format: the reader shuffles and fans out the deck face down, and then invites the querent (the person being read for) to pull a series of cards. The cards are laid out on a flat surface in a specific pattern, known as a spread. Each position in the pattern has a different significance, and the meaning of the card has to be read through that lens. For example, you might pull a card to signify your past, something that’s holding you back, or a hidden strength.

Almost needless to say, tarot readings are very intimate and very personal. The most important thing to remember is that a reading is always about the querent, not the tarot reader. If you’re reading for someone else, you’re in a position of trust. They might share things with you that they’ve not told other people, or that they haven’t even realized about themselves before. If you're curious to learn tarot, we’d always recommend starting out by reading for yourself or for someone who you know well, and only graduating to readings for strangers once you’re steady on your cartomancy feet.

Telling Your Own Stories with Tarot Cards

Lastly, but by no means least, learning tarot means learning how to apply your own unique experiences and perspectives to each of the cards. You’ll learn that the Death card connotes change and endings—but what does that bring up for you personally? If you draw The Hermit, ask yourself how you’ve used and benefited from periods of solitude. Over time, you’ll begin to see the cards everywhere: in day-to-day moments, in fragments of poetry or song, in characters from your favorite TV series.

The tarot survives because it stays relevant for each new generation. The images on the cards are symbols, not signposts: they can never be pinned down, or fixed, or owned. They are big enough to carry every life, every experience, and every story within them. So, when you learn and read the cards, don’t be afraid to make them your own—and share what you find there.

We recommend watch this space for our Tarot Course because it is going to be amazing! You can enrol soon! https://www.bewitchy.com/challenges

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Warrior Strength to those who deserve it & Destruction to those who need it!

International Psychic Medium Witch Madame Verveine+ Witchcraft Practitioner Demonologist Author Artist Mentor Owner and Founder of BeWitchy

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