How-to Guides · 8 min · 2026-07-29
Reading Tarot: A Guide to Interpreting Each Card in the Rider-Waite-Smith Deck
This guide walks you through interpreting tarot cards using real situations as examples. Whether you're new to the practice or looking to deepen your understanding, learn how to blend intuition with foundational knowledge to read the cards meaningfully—especially when they appear reversed.
Introduction
Tarot is more than a divination tool; it's a mirror for reflection and a way to examine situations and people with greater nuance. This guide will show you how to approach and interpret cards in ways that feel genuine and grounded.
Preparing to Read
Before you begin: - Clarify your question - Choose a deck that feels right to you (Rider-Waite-Smith works beautifully for those starting out) - Select a spread that matches your question - Quiet your mind and stay open to what arises
Key Cards and How to Read Them
The Magician
Upright: Represents command over your circumstances, skill, and the ability to transform what's in front of you. The querent shows strong adaptive capacity.
Reversed: Loss of control; what seemed like success reveals itself as illusion. Resources dry up, abilities diminish.
King of Wands
Upright: A confident leader, high capability, recognized authority.
Reversed: Misuse of power, poor management. The querent may feel exhausted, wanting escape, or has become overambitious beyond their actual capacity.
Nine of Cups
Upright: Contentment, satisfaction, the arrival of what was wished for.
Reversed: Waking from a dream; realizing what was pursued was never real. The querent may be pushing themselves too hard for money, ignoring spiritual warnings. In work, this might signal burning out across too many projects at once.
Six of Cups
Upright: Peace, warmth, safety, and predictability.
Reversed: Stability without growth. The querent may be overtaken by competition because they're holding onto the status quo instead of evolving.
Nine of Wands
Core meaning: Persistence, defending your territory, enduring a prolonged struggle. The querent is in a defensive position—tired but still holding the line. They may be waiting for outside support.
Ace of Cups
Upright: New opportunity, success, and the joy that comes from inner fulfillment.
How to understand it: Not necessarily the best possible outcome, but one that brings genuine satisfaction to those involved.
The Hermit
Reversed: Loss of guidance, false wisdom, misguided advice. The querent may feel confused and pulled in the wrong direction.
Queen of Pentacles
Reversed: Loss of stability; difficulty maintaining work or advancement. There may be unwanted changes or a lack of career foundation.
How to Use a Spread
Choosing Your Spread
Common spreads include: - Horseshoe: Seven cards, ideal for questions that need comprehensive guidance - V-shaped: Focused on a central question with fewer cards
Interpreting Card Positions
In a horseshoe spread:
1. Card One (Past): The context and events leading to the current situation 2. Card Two (Present): Current circumstances or feelings 3. Card Three (Future): Where things are heading if nothing changes 4. Card Four (Self/The Answer): Advice or the best solution available 5. Card Five (Environment): External forces influencing the situation 6. Card Six (Obstacle): Challenges to overcome 7. Card Seven (Outcome): The conclusion when all factors are considered
Guidance for Those New to Tarot
Listen to Your Intuition
Booking interpretations won't always fit your specific situation. Let your intuition speak and weave it together with what you've learned.
Pay Attention to Reversals
When a card appears reversed (upside-down), it often signals: - The shadow side of the card - Blocked or stalled energy - Something overlooked or ignored that needs reconsideration
Look for Patterns
Read the entire spread as a whole, not isolated cards. Themes and patterns will emerge: - Are there too many reversed cards? - Are the four suits (Cups, Wands, Swords, Pentacles) balanced? - Do any Major Arcana cards appear, and if so, what weight do they carry?
Practice Regularly
The best way to learn is to pull a card each day, write down the card and your interpretation, then review a few weeks later to spot patterns and growth.
Conclusion
Tarot is a tool for self-reflection and deeper understanding. The key is balancing knowledge with intuition and genuine openness. Don't rush to conclusions; take time to read deeply into each card and its place within the whole spread.