Best Tarot Cards for Beginners: How to Start Reading Today

Introduction

You don't need to be a psychic to read tarot cards. At its heart, tarot is a powerful tool for self-reflection and intuition, and getting started is much easier than you might think. The journey begins with a single, important choice: finding the right deck.

With so many beautiful options available, finding the best tarot cards for beginners can feel like the most challenging part. This guide simplifies the process, showing you exactly what to look for so you can confidently select a deck that resonates with you and makes learning feel intuitive and fun.

Let’s walk through the simple steps to choose your first deck, understand the basics, and perform your first reading today. This beginner's guide to tarot will set you on the right path. Your journey toward deeper self-awareness starts now.

What to Look For in Your First Tarot Deck

Choosing your first tarot deck is an exciting step, but the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming. To find the right fit, focus on a few key elements that make a deck accessible and supportive for a beginner. The goal is to select a tool that invites you in and facilitates learning, rather than one that intimidates you with overly abstract art or a lack of guidance.

Familiar Imagery and Symbolism

The most crucial feature of tarot cards for beginners is clear, illustrative imagery. You want cards that tell a story at a glance. Most tarot learning resources, books, and online guides are based on the symbolism of the classic Rider-Waite Tarot (also known as the Rider-Waite-Smith or RWS deck). Decks that follow this tradition feature detailed scenes on every card, including the numbered "pip" cards of the Minor Arcana. This narrative artwork makes it much easier to intuitively grasp the card’s meaning, even before you’ve memorized it from a book.

When you're starting out, a deck where the Four of Swords depicts a figure resting with three swords on the wall and one beneath them is far easier to interpret than a card that simply shows four abstract sword icons. Adopting this shared visual language also connects you to a vast community and a wealth of learning materials built around this foundational system.

A Comprehensive Guidebook

Nearly every tarot deck comes with a small companion book or leaflet, often called a "Little White Book" (LWB). For your first deck, the quality of this guidebook is paramount. A good guidebook for beginners will provide:

• Clear Meanings: It should offer concise upright and reversed meanings for all 78 cards.
• An Introduction to Tarot: Look for a brief explanation of the deck's structure, including the Major and Minor Arcana.
• Simple Spreads: A helpful guide will include a few basic spreads to help you get started right away.

This book will be your primary teacher as you build confidence, acting as a trusted mentor in your early readings. A deck with a well-written, detailed guide is an invaluable asset.

Card Quality and Size

Finally, consider the physical aspects of the cards. You will be shuffling and handling your deck a lot, so look for sturdy cardstock that won’t bend or fray easily. The tactile experience of working with your cards is part of the ritual. Card size is also a matter of personal comfort. Standard tarot cards are larger than playing cards, but if you have smaller hands, you might find a "pocket" or smaller-sized version of a popular deck more comfortable to shuffle. The best deck is one you enjoy using, so don't overlook these practical details.

With these criteria in mind, you can confidently select a deck that will support your learning journey rather than hinder it.

Best Beginners' Tarot Cards: Our Top Recommendations

Now that you know what to look for, let's explore which type of deck is best for a complete beginner. The answer depends on your personal learning style and aesthetic preferences. Some people prefer a traditional foundation, while others connect more with modern art or need extra support. This beginner's guide to tarot highlights three types of starter tarot decks that are perfect for learning.

The Classic Choice: The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck

There is a reason the Rider-Waite Tarot is the most recommended deck for beginners. Its imagery, created by Pamela Colman Smith, is rich with symbolism that is easy to read and has become the universal language of modern tarot. Every card, from the Major Arcana to the Minor, features a full scene that helps you understand its meaning through storytelling. Think of this deck as the Rosetta Stone of tarot; learning its system unlocks the ability to understand countless other decks.

This deck’s clear, narrative structure makes it exceptionally well-suited for learning foundational tarot spreads and exercises for beginners, such as the Three-Card Spread (Past, Present, Future). Because each card depicts characters and actions, you can easily see how they interact to tell a cohesive story across the spread, which we will explore later.

Modern and Intuitive Decks

If the classic artwork of the Rider-Waite deck doesn't resonate with you, a modern, intuitive deck might be a better fit. Decks like The Modern Witch Tarot or This Might Hurt Tarot are based on the RWS system but feature contemporary, diverse, and relatable artwork. They maintain the core symbolism, so you can still use standard learning resources, but the updated visuals can make it easier to form a personal and intuitive connection. For many, seeing themselves and their world reflected in the cards accelerates intuitive understanding.

These decks are perfect for starting with a simple One-Card Pull. Their evocative and emotionally resonant art helps you build an intuitive relationship with the cards, allowing you to interpret their messages based on the feelings and thoughts the images spark within you.

Decks with Meanings Printed on Them

For those who feel anxious about memorizing 78 different card meanings, classic tarot cards with meanings on them are a fantastic choice. Decks like the Quick & Easy Tarot print a few keywords for both the upright and reversed meanings directly on the card face. This removes the pressure of constantly referring to a guidebook and allows you to focus on the reading itself.

These are perhaps the most user-friendly tarot cards for beginners because they flatten the learning curve significantly. Having the meanings readily available helps build confidence quickly, making them a great tool for practicing any beginner exercise, from a simple one-card draw to your first three-card reading.

Having explored these options, you are now equipped to choose a deck that aligns with your learning style. Let's walk through the exact steps to perform your very first reading.

How to Perform Your First Reading Today

With your new deck in hand, you don't need to wait until you've mastered every card meaning to start reading. Tarot is a tool for reflection, and you can begin using it for simple guidance immediately. Here is a step-by-step guide to your first reading.

Step 1: Connecting with Your Deck

Before you ask a question, take a moment to connect with your cards. There's no single "right" way to do this. You can simply hold the deck in your hands, shuffle the cards slowly, or spread them out and look at the images. The goal is to quiet your mind and infuse the deck with your energy and intention. Many people like to "cleanse" a new deck by knocking on it three times or fanning it through incense smoke, but simply spending focused time with it is enough.

Step 2: Asking a Clear Question

The quality of your reading often depends on the quality of your question. Avoid yes/no questions (e.g., "Will I get the job?"). Instead, frame open-ended questions that invite guidance and reflection. Good beginner questions include:

• For daily guidance: "What energy should I focus on today?"
• For problem-solving: "What do I need to know about [a specific situation] to move forward?"
• For creative insight: "What perspective can help me overcome this creative block?"
• For general reflection: "What message does the universe have for me right now?"

While these questions are great for general guidance, many people seek clarity on specific areas like romance. For those moments, a dedicated free tarot reading for love can offer more focused insights. Focus on your question as you shuffle the cards. Continue shuffling until it feels right to stop.

Step 3: Simple Tarot Spreads and Exercises for Beginners

You don't need a complex, ten-card spread to get a meaningful answer. Start with one of these simple, powerful exercises.

• The One-Card Pull: This is the simplest way to start. After shuffling, draw a single card. This card represents the core energy, theme, or piece of advice for your situation. Look at the image, consider your first intuitive impressions, and then consult your guidebook. This is a perfect daily practice for learning the cards, and if you're on the go, you can always get your free online tarot reading for quick insight.
• The Three-Card Spread (Past, Present, Future): This classic spread provides a simple narrative. Draw three cards and lay them in a row from left to right.
  1. Card 1 (Left): The Past. This represents the past events or energies that have led to the current situation.
  2. Card 2 (Center): The Present. This card reflects your current situation or the central challenge you are facing.
  3. Card 3 (Right): The Future. This card suggests a potential outcome or the direction things are heading if you continue on your current path.

Look at how the cards flow from one to the next. Do they tell a story of progress, challenge, or resolution? This is where a Rider-Waite style deck shines, as the scenes on the cards often link together visually to create a clear narrative.

Once you’ve completed your first reading, the journey of integrating this practice into your life truly begins.

Next Steps on Your Tarot Journey

Your first reading is just the beginning. Developing a relationship with tarot is an ongoing practice of learning and self-discovery. Here are a few simple ways to continue building your skills and confidence as a new reader.

Journaling Your Readings

One of the most effective ways to learn tarot is to keep a journal. For each reading, write down:

• The date and your question.
• The cards you pulled and their positions in the spread.
• Your initial intuitive thoughts and feelings about the cards.
• The meanings from your guidebook.
• How the reading's message played out over the next few days.

This practice helps you track your accuracy, notice recurring card patterns, and develop your own personal interpretations beyond the book definitions. Over time, your journal becomes a personalized dictionary of card meanings that resonate specifically with you.

Learning the Cards One by One

Trying to memorize all 78 cards at once is a recipe for burnout. A more gentle approach is the "Card of the Day" practice. Each morning, pull one card and make it your focus for the day. Look at its imagery, read its meaning, and observe how its energy shows up in your life. This method allows you to learn the deck organically, one piece at a time. As you do this, you'll start to understand the tarot's structure:

• The Major Arcana: 22 cards representing major life themes and spiritual lessons.
• The Minor Arcana: 56 cards divided into four suits that reflect day-to-day situations: Wands (passion, action), Cups (emotions, relationships), Swords (thoughts, challenges), and Pentacles (material world, finances).

Building Confidence as a New Reader

Remember that there is no "wrong" way to read tarot. It is a personal tool for introspection and guidance. Your intuition is your most powerful asset, so trust the feelings and ideas that come to you during a reading, even if they don't perfectly match the guidebook. Tarot is not about predicting a fixed future; it's about exploring possibilities and empowering you to make conscious choices. The more you practice, the more your confidence will grow, and the deeper your connection with the cards will become.

Conclusion

Choosing your first tarot deck is less about finding the “perfect” one and more about selecting a supportive partner for your journey into self-discovery. By prioritizing clear, narrative imagery and a comprehensive guidebook, you equip yourself with a tool designed to teach and inspire rather than intimidate. The initial steps—from your first one-card pull to journaling your insights—are the foundational practices that build both knowledge and confidence.

Looking ahead, tarot is more than a simple divination tool; it is a framework for mindful decision-making and a mirror for your own inner wisdom. The real power of tarot lies not in predicting the future, but in its ability to illuminate the present so you can consciously create the future you desire. As you continue your practice, the cards will become a trusted compass for navigating life's complexities with greater clarity and purpose. The conversation with your intuition has just begun—trust where it leads you.