Free Tarot Readings

Find out the answers to your deepest, burning questions with free Tarot readings for every topic–love, career, or any unanswered question! But how can the Tarot help guide you and reveal truths?

Tarot cards and their symbolic meanings have intrigued people for centuries. What started as a game in the 15th century has evolved into a source for spiritual guidance, where life's hardest questions–such as "Is this the right job for me?" or "Am I ready for love?"–can be answered with a single shuffle (or click!) of the Tarot deck.

Every card in the Tarot deck has a different meaning. When you put cards together and read them as a story, you can draw conclusions about your life. To see dimensions, the deck is divided into two sections: Major Arcana (spiritual themes) and Minor Arcana (experiences, people, and characteristics). Every zodiac sign is associated with a card as well–so pay extra attention if your card comes up during a Tarot reading!

Get a Free Tarot Reading

What Is Tarot?

Tarot is a form of divination and a system of using a deck of cards known as Tarot Cards to gain insight, guidance, and self-awareness. Tarot has been practiced for centuries and is often associated with mystical and esoteric traditions.

Today, Tarot has become widely popularized on social media, from in-depth readings on YouTube to thirty-second check-ins on Tik Tok. Tarot subscribers often use this tool to better understand mundane matters, such as love and career. It can even be used to heal emotional wounds, better understand one's soul purpose, and perform shadow work. What was once a simple card game has become a complex part of society, still used for entertainment but likely consulted for pressing matters of the heart.

The Rider-Waite adaptation is arguably the most commonplace deck. It's often favored for its complex imagery, the length of the deck, and the in-depth descriptions of the deck's meanings. The Rider-Waite deck is also widely modernized. From Amazon to Urban Outfitters to a local witchy store, there are several versions of this deck offered.

How Many Cards Are There in a Tarot Deck?

There are 78 cards in a standard Tarot Deck, which are then divided into two main categories: Major Arcana and Minor Arcana.

Major Arcana Cards

The Major Arcana holds 22 cards, starting with The Fool (0) and ending at The World (21). If reading in order of the Major Arcana, this is known as the Fool's Journey, which can be helpful for the reader to understand how one card leans into the next:

1. The Fool
2. The Magician
3. The High Priestess
4. The Empress
5. The Emperor
6. The Hierophant
7. The Lovers
8. The Chariot
9. Strength
10. The Hermit
11. Wheel of Fortune
12. Justice
13. The Hanged Man
14. Death
15. Temperance
16. The Devil
17. The Tower
18. The Star
19. The Moon
20. The Sun
21. Judgment
22. The World

In addition to this, these 22 cards are known as "trump" cards, indicating that they often hold the most pull, power, or significance in any spread. The Major Arcana is reasonably straightforward in meanings, usually the easiest to depict in the upright or reversed position. Each card is also associated with a strict zodiac sign or planet, often ideal for those who incorporate astrology into their readings.

To learn more about what each card means, head to our Major Arcana Meanings page.

Minor Arcana Cards

On the other hand, the Minor Arcana differs considerably from the Major Arcana. The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards, which is a mix of court cards and numbered cards that range from the ace to 10. Court cards consist of the pages, knights, queens, and kings. The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits, with each suit representing 14 cards. The suits are often known as Cups, Pentacles, Wands, and Swords.

However, modern artistic liberation may use interchangeable terms for several suits. Pentacles may also be known as Coins or Disks, Cups as Chalices, and Wands as Rods. Swords tend to be the most straightforward of the suits, usually not synonymous with another term. Each suit is associated with an element; Cups with water, Pentacles (disks/coins) with earth, Wands (rods) with fire, and Swords with air. The Minor Arcana suits begin with the ace followed by the numbered cards, succeeded by the page, after the knight, then the Queen, and finally ending with the King. The suits often depict their own story, which can explain how the suits work on their own and with one another.

The History of Tarot

From the 14th century to the modern–day social media trends, Tarot has been utilized by all groups, ages, and cultures. While Tarot has been around for quite literally ages, its usage and practice have differed over time. The deck was first practiced as a parlor game, then later adopted by the occult. To better understand how Tarot has evolved from a game to a divination tool, let's dive into a quick history lesson. Tarot first originated as a card game in Europe.

By the 1400s, French and Italian artists began to take a more liberal approach with artistic flair. The art was the propelling reason why owning a deck was highly sought after and owned by nobility. The nobility used the decks as not only a symbol of class, but also for entertainment purposes.

The cards within the deck weren't assigned any special meanings until the late 16th century. When the usage of the cards switched from game to tool, numerous occultists put their spin on the cards' meanings. This resulted in numerous types of decks. Thankfully, this now gives modern–day readers options, but one would argue that the Rider–Waite Tarot deck is the most popular. Even now, Tarot continues to evolve with beautiful adaptations, creative imagery, and with the option of buying decks that include even more cards!

How to Read Tarot Cards

Like anything else, practice will make perfect when it comes to reading tarot cards! The continuous application of daily Tarot pulls will help a novice become an expert in no time. The easiest way to begin mastering all 78 cards is doing small, daily pulls. Begin with pulling one card a day to sit with. Ask yourself what stands out in the card, what personal keywords come to mind, what your intuition picks up. Even journal what you think of the card pull!

Then look up the meaning of the card to see how spot–on both memory and intuition were according to the meaning of the card. Starting with small pulls helps the novice reader become comfortable with understanding the cards one–by–one, which allows for muscle memory to build. From there, add more cards to the pulls. In time, the Celtic Cross or a massive spread will feel like child's play! It will also help the reader figure out what style of reading works best for them as well. Some Tarot readers only need three cards to get the whole picture while others use intensive spreads with multiple decks. It's truly up to the reader, as every reader will differ in application, usage, style, and practice.

With that being said, all 78 cards can be pretty daunting to learn. After all, each card is complex, from the imagery to the numerology to the astrology. To simplify, it's first recommended to learn the astrological importance of the Major Arcana, the elemental correspondence of the Minor Arcana, and a few keywords for each card in both positions. It's also easier to master upright positions of each card before considering the reversed positions!

What Are the Different Types of Tarot Spreads?

While learning about reading tarot, you'll discover there are different types of what are called "tarot spreads." These are specific arrangements of cards used in a tarot reading to address different types of questions the person getting the reading might have. There are many, many spreads out there, but here are just a few:

1. One-Card Spread: The simplest and quickest spread, where a single card is drawn to provide a concise answer or daily guidance.
2. Three-Card Spread: A versatile spread that can be used for past-present-future readings, problem-solution-outcome scenarios, or mind-body-spirit insights.
3. Celtic Cross Spread: One of the most well-known and comprehensive spreads, the Celtic Cross involves ten cards and provides a detailed view of a situation, including past influences, current circumstances, future outcomes, and advice.
4. Relationship Spread: Designed to explore the dynamics and potential outcomes of a romantic or interpersonal relationship. It can vary in complexity, with multiple cards representing each partner's feelings, desires, and challenges.
5. Horseshoe Spread: A spread that resembles an upside-down horseshoe shape, it is used to gain insight into a particular situation, including past events, current influences, and possible outcomes.
6. Decision-Making Spread: A spread that helps individuals make decisions by outlining the pros and cons of various choices and potential consequences.
7. Spiritual Growth Spread: This spread is perfect for readings that are focused on personal development and self-awareness.
8. Career Spread: This spread is designed for guidance on things related to one's career. Readings from this spread include insights on things like current job satisfaction, professional opportunities, and future career prospects.
9. Birthday Spread: This spread is often used on someone's birthday or during their birthday month (as the name would imply). It's a fantastic way to learn about high and low points in the year ahead.
10. Chakra Spread: A spread that aligns with the seven chakras, using cards to explore each energy center's current state and how to balance and heal them.
11. Elemental Spread: Based on the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water), this spread gives the reader a look into someone's life through the lens of these elemental energies.
12. Planetary Spread: Each card in this spread is associated with a planet, offering insights into specific astronomical influences and energies affecting the person getting the reading.
13. Astrological Spread: This spread takes influence from the twelve zodiac signs we all know and love. A reading from this spread aligns each card with an astrological sign, providing insights into personality traits, tendencies, and potential challenges on the road ahead.
14. New Moon Spread: Used in conjunction with lunar phases, this spread offers guidance for setting intentions and goals during the new moon phase.
15. Yearly Spread: Typically consisting of 12 cards, one for each month, this spread offers a yearly overview and insights into what to expect in the coming months.