There is a lot of information out there, but this 8-minute video will tell you all you need to know to get started reading the tarot. (Of course, once you start, you can keep learning for a lifetime.)
Below the video, find detailed info on the 7-card spread from The Witches Tarot and a written summary of the simple steps involved in doing a tarot reading.
How to Do a Tarot Reading
- Relax and center your mind. Call on the Divine in a way that feels powerful for you. Ask for and envision a circle of protective light around yourself.
- Ask a question in an open ended way that will help you gain insight into the situation you’d like guidance on.
- Shuffle the deck.
- When you intuitively sense it’s time to stop (you can’t go wrong), stop. If you’d like to, cut the deck once or twice.
- Lay the top 7 cards out, left to right. When you’re first getting started, don’t worry about reversed cards. Just turn them all so they’re facing up. (This is the tarot spread from The Witches Tarot by Ellen Dugan.)
- Look at each card. From left to right, the cards are: past, present, future, advice, people, obstacles, outcome. Use the guidebook that comes with your tarot deck to learn the meaning of each card and consider how it corresponds with each designated position in the spread. Below, you’ll find more insight into each card position.
The 7-Card Tarot Spread
- Card 1 is the past: factors, patterns, and conditions that have contributed to the object of your inquiry.
- Card 2 is the present: what you are feeling or experiencing now.
- Card 3 is the future: the natural evolution of the current conditions as they stand.
- Card 4 is advice: guidance or insight into how to best move forward.
- Card 5 is people: the people or person who is contributing to or helping perpetuate the condition or challenge.
- Card 6 is obstacles: what you are learning or overcoming in order to move through this challenge.
- Card 7 is outcome: the natural evolution of the current patterns of energy at work, or the way things are likely to go if you make the choice you are inquiring about.
Did you give the tarot instructions in this post a try? What did you think? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
I just wanted to let you know that I ran across your YouTube video and immediately loved how easily you explain, and most importantly you make it simple to understand. I’ve looked at other videos and so far your’s is by far the best one. I’m anxious to get started. Thank you.
Monica
Monica, that’s so kind of you to say! Thank you for this lovely compliment. 😊
Can you use this spread to do a reading for others and would they just ask the question instead of me?
And also can you use this spread for general readings or does it have to be specific
I would say you can use it for general readings but be a little specific, like “what guidance would be best for me right now?” or “what is a general overview of what’s going on for me emotionally right now?”
Yes! That’s exactly right. Then you would interpret the cards using your intuition.