Q&A for How to Read Tarot Cards

Learning tarot does not make you able to see ghosts. Tarot cards help you develop greater intuition and understanding.

Yes. Sometimes it is a subtle difference in interpretation and sometimes significant, depending on the card and where it falls in your spread. If look at a tarot book, it will let you know the differences between the upright and reversed cards.

In that situation, you have damaged your piece of card stock. If it is only very slightly damaged, there's no reason why you couldn't continue to work with it. If the edges are damaged, however, you will always know where it is in the deck when shuffling and drawing, and that is counterproductive. It is not necessary to have a flame anywhere near your cards to 'clear' them. It is YOU who may need 'clearing' rather than your cards. YOU are the one who reads the Tarot. Anything that clears your mood or your mind clears your cards for Tarot work.

Yes, since the energy is coming from the reader. Readers must take care not to put too much of themselves in when doing readings for other people.

No. The death card is actually a sign of rebirth. It can signal a change from one situation that is ending to a new beginning in your future.

Yes and no. It will not be a Tarot reading if you do not use Tarot cards. There are 78 cards in a Tarot deck, 52 in a regular playing deck, and no equivalent of the Tarot's Major Arcana cards except for the Joker (Fool in Tarot). However, you certainly can do psychic readings with regular playing cards, and learn to do them very well. Tarot itself began life not as an occult system of divination, but as a game played for fun, or gambling. Cards, whether they are Tarot cards or playing cards lend themselves as tools for facilitating and more precisely articulating your own intuition. They are powerful tools, but just tools, nonetheless.

You can choose to use a found deck. Found decks can be exciting to work with due to the mystery they present. However, you should make sure to clear the found deck before using it in order to rid it of any possible negative energy and to establish your unique intentions and personality on the deck.

The hermit symbolizes a hardship revealing true knowledge. The star symbolizes a time of renewal, and the judgement card means that karma will take its place, bringing good things if you have been kind, and poor luck if you haven't.

It depends on the spread you deal, and if you use reversed cards. You could search online and even find apps to explain all this.

Tarot is very popular with magic users. There are lots of places to learn, but Googling "Tarot protection spells" will likely get you in the right ballpark.

There's no age requirement! Anybody can use it, but since there are 78 cards and it's very complicated to learn, it's probably not best for younger children. Younger children can still be read for though!

None at all. Tarot can be fun, but there's absolutely no scientific evidence to suggest it can be used to see the future. Most readings are about suggestions, anyway, not reading the actual future.

Cat decks are typically good for beginners.

To buy locally, check out spiritual shops in your area. They should also be able to advise you on how to use them. You can also buy them online at Tarotopia or Amazon.com.

Not at all. They actually can be helpful in a reading. If there is a card that you need more clarification on, put down the jumper card and it will clear it up for you.

It depends on the deck you are using, and your true perception of what you are looking at and how it makes you feel. Generally, the card is The Hermit.

Keep practicing spreads. Over time, you'll become more and more fluent and less reliant on your notes or guidebook. Begin with simple 3 card spreads, and slowly work your way into larger spreads. It also helps to do a few just by yourself before you start giving others readings. If you're really struggling, start practicing with only the Major Arcana, then work your way into the Minor Arcana. If you're struggling to introduce Minor Arcana into your readings, add them one suit at a time (Minor Arcana can be difficult, especially since there are 56 different cards you need to become fluent with). Take a little time out of each day, anywhere from 5-30 minutes and do a little practicing.

Yes, definitely. I would recommend burning some white sage and praying over your cards.

Go to your local library and request as many tarot card books as you can. Each person will view each book differently. Find one that works best for you!

The first cards that resemble the modern deck came about in the early 1400s in Italy. They were only used for occult purposes though about a century or so later in France. It was brought to England in the 19th - 20th centuries by members of the Hermetic order of the Golden Dawn.

Yes, you can make your own if you prefer.

You can use tarot cards to act as a medium between spirits and ghosts, yes.

Smudge them using sage or palo santo, moonlight or sunlight.

Not at all. They are simply a form of divination by chance. They have no evil intention and will never have such.

It really depends what your question was but a vague guide would be: The star: a happy mistake. Judgment: Judgement. The empress: control over the feminine side. The chariot: controlling what you can control, status, popularity. The moon: Underrated, only noticed sometimes, femininity. Feel free to contact my talk page if you want a further interpretation or help.

You don't need gemstones for tarot, put them aside for now. Think of a simple question, Yes or no questions don't work with tarot unless you are experienced. For example: Is my friend happy? Frame your question in picture(s) form. For example: Imagine your friend happy and your friend sad. Keep the image in mind while you mix the deck, if a card is going upside-down let it do that. Pick a card but don't flip it, slide it out. See what the card says to you, for example: does it remind you of a happy time with your friend? Does it make you feel sad? Analyse the symbols, for example: an olive branch for hope, yellow for happiness, grey for uncertainty etc. You should have a good reading.