Beginner Witchcraft: Learning Tarot

It can be SO overwhelming starting out. In fact, sometimes I still get overwhelmed when I'm working with a new deck or doing an extra large spread. It's important to take time to bond with your tarot deck before you begin reading; meditate with it, shuffle it fairly often, just hang out with that baby. After doing this, dive on in! I've shared 5 Do's and 5 Don'ts of learning tarot that I wish someone shared with me when I started out:

1. Do start with single card pulls for yourself.

This is an exercise that I just recently decided to try! I'll be the first to admit that sometimes it's exhausting doing a whole spread in the morning before my day starts, spending time trying to interpret each individual card on my own and journaling about each card as well as the spread as a whole. Doing a single card pull in the morning and taking just five minutes to write about your own personal interpretations and initial feelings is a great way to get to know the cards one at a time!

2. Do take time to get to know the Major Arcana separately.

This is something I wish I had done prior to starting my exploration into tarot. The four suits each carry different energies; but still carry the same themes throughout all of thirteen of their respective cards. The Major Arcana each have their own individual meanings. Some tarot readers even recommend start your practice by just using the Major Arcana! You could do this, or start your single card pulls working through the Major Arcana and them move on to the Minor.

3. Do journal about your own interpretations of the card first.

Only after taking the time to feel the card out for yourself, should you look up what the general consensus is on the meaning. When I first started, I was relying way too heavily on the little booklets that came with each deck. It not only confused the hell out of me from time to time within readings, but it really stunted my growth as a tarot reader. It wasn't until after I received an incredible reading from a friend on Instagram that I was reminded to truly trust my intuition and listen to what it was the cards were telling me. Your interpretations of cards may be a bit different than those little booklets' and that's okay! Your guides know how to speak to you best- trust them and trust yourself!

Only after your write about your initial impressions and understandings of the spread, might it be a good idea to pull open a resource to look at other interpretations. It may help spread some additional light on a card, or it may actually be more confusing! But again; the most important thing is to trust your intuition and that gut feeling.

4. Do start with smaller spreads.

I know, I know, it's super exciting to see those posts with the big, gorgeous, intense spreads that look like they have your whole future spread out on the table for you! But again, that may only confuse your further and leave you feeling small. I started with the Celtic Cross spreads and while I was able to faintly catch on after a little while; I really struggled trying to understand it. It was so much to take in and it was hard to see the big picture of what the cards were telling me! I felt so defeated for a while and felt like I'd never be able to learn.

But again; once I moved to creating my own simple three-card spreads, it was so much easier to wrap my head around all of it. After doing single card pulls, I recommend doing a daily three card that's similar to what I do! The first card is what energy you're headed into the day with, the second card is what may hinder or challenge you, and the third is what you should really be focusing your energy on.

5. Do work with oracle cards!

I love love love oracle cards. It took me a little while to get used to figuring out the best way for me to work them into my craft but now that I understand how certain decks work; I'm all over them! I'm even hoping to make my own deck here shortly! But anyway. It wasn't until @Mariathearcane answered a question of mine on her and @Atiredwitch's podcast (Coffee and Cauldrons) that I started to learn how to work with orcale decks!

Maria explained that sometimes she likes to pull oracle cards with her tarot spreads to clarify parts of the reading. Genius, right? So typically, if I'm struggling to see the overall picture of the spread, an oracle card just about does the trick! And yes, you can do readings with just oracle cards. But as Maria and Robyn mentioned in their podcast, do be careful about the deck in particular. Certain decks (mine included) are mostly positive, and lack any possible chance of a challenging or "negative" outcome. For that reason, I don't really use my Amenti Feather Heart Oracle deck for tarot spreads. I may pull from it with tarot spreads, or create a spread for that deck in particular, but it is important to be aware of your specific deck and how best to work with it.

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1. Don't start by doing readings for others.

Yet another thing I learned the hard way. I'm pretty sure when I got my first deck, I did maaaaaaybe one spread for myself and then only wanted to do tarot readings for other people. I think that was an early sign that I do truly prefer to do readings for others; but regardless, I think it's important to start with yourself. It's important that you develop a relationship with your deck and allow yourself time to get to know it, as well as what each of the cards mean to you, before you start trying to apply your understanding to another person's situation or energy.

2. Don't expect yourself to constantly be having jaw-dropping readings.

There will definitely be a few times, especially when you're just starting out, where things may be eerily on point. And yes, this may cause your jaw to literally drop, but this probably won't happen every time! Remember that there are going to be readings you may do that won't resonate, or you won't be able to understand what they're getting at. It's okay. I still recommend journaling about what you pulled, and possibly revisiting it later.

3. Don't compare yourself to other readers!

I know this seems like a no-brainer, but it was honestly pretty difficult for me not to do. Instagram is constantly covered in photos of gorgeous, intense spreads and reviews of incredible readings that left me feeling like I would never be able to match that! But again, remember that everyone is different. Different energies will mix differently with different energies. Different people will mix differently with different readers and different decks. There are a ton of variables! And your ways of reading are unique.

4. Don't assume this is the only form of divination you can use.

While most witches I know prefer tarot reading; there are plenty of other forms of divination you can try your hand at! If it feels like tarot isn't the most comfortable form, get creative! I'll be posting about different forms that I've been experimenting with, but any way that you feel you can connect with your spirit guides is fine! I personally love fire gazing, and feel most connected then, but reading my cards is quick and dirty for my guides and me haha.

5. Don't take the input, advice, or suggestions from others as the only true ways of reading tarot.

Even though I made this post to help you learn tarot more quickly; all of my advice is from my own experience! Certain suggestions I've given (or you may have received from others) may not resonate with you and that's okay! You'll know what's working for you and what's not. Just stick with it!

Have any questions or suggestions for a future post? Let me know! Leave a comment, send an email to wisteriawitchblog@gmail.com, or shoot me a DM @wisteriawitch. Blessed be and happy learning!