How-to Guides · 7 min · 2026-07-18
Tarot is not a tool for absolute prediction, but a means to recognize your current state and adjust accordingly. Let's explore the tarot reading process from A to Z—from psychological preparation through shuffling, cutting, and interpreting the cards.
Before you begin, one crucial point needs clarifying: Tarot is not a tool for "predicting the future" in any absolute sense. Instead, it helps you recognize your current states, trends, and patterns—so you can adjust your path forward. This is a method grounded in relative understanding, not tied to numerology theory or fixed fate.
This is the most important element. Before using tarot, whether you're the reader or the querent, both of you must ensure your body and mind are in good condition—alert, clear, and calm.
Tarot interpretation demands intense focus and considerable mental energy. Only when your concentration is sharp can you fully understand the meaning a card wishes to convey.
Important note: Never adopt an attitude of "I'll keep reading until I get a good result." Life is not a game of contradiction or error. Always maintain respect for the cards, whether the outcome pleases you or not.
Tip for readers: Before beginning a reading, help the querent clarify their question. The more specific the question, the more precise your interpretation can be.
Repeating what was emphasized earlier: This point deserves mention twice because of its significance. Your body and mind must be in a balanced, calm, deeply focused state in order to read with accuracy.
Who shuffles? Either the reader or the querent can shuffle the deck.
How to shuffle: - Lay the deck face-down before you - Using both hands, shuffle clockwise or counterclockwise (choose one direction and remain consistent across all readings) - Blend the cards thoroughly
Mental approach while shuffling: - If the querent shuffles: Hold the question in focus, silently repeating it in your mind - If the reader shuffles: The reader concentrates on the shuffling process, silently reflecting on the question, and considering which spread will be used
Ending the shuffle: - Listen to your inner voice; you might sense when to stop shuffling - Slowly gather the cards back together, maintaining the same face-down orientation - Stack the shuffled deck neatly in a single horizontal pile
The cutting process:
1. Place the neat deck horizontally on the table 2. The person cutting (reader or querent) gathers their mental focus 3. First cut: Lift a portion of cards from the top and place this section below, creating 2 piles 4. Second cut: From the second pile (now on top), lift another section and place it on the first pile (below), creating 3 piles total 5. Reassemble: The reader takes the first pile (bottom) and places it on the second, then places this combined pile on the third 6. Rotate the deck: Turn the entire deck 90 degrees from horizontal to vertical position (cards remain face-down)
The direction of rotation is crucial: - If reading for someone else: Rotate counterclockwise - If reading for yourself: Rotate clockwise - Warning: If you rotate in the wrong direction, the entire meaning of every card in the spread will be inverted. Be very careful!
The interpretation process:
1. Overall impression: Before diving into specific meanings, pause and sense the overall feeling the spread conveys. What is it saying? What does it symbolize?
2. Card-by-card analysis: Then interpret each card individually, while also considering how the cards relate to one another within the context of the entire spread
3. Synthesis: Weave together each card's meaning with the larger story the spread is telling
Tips for readers: - Before presenting your interpretation, take time to write down and organize your thoughts in a reading journal - This second review ensures your interpretation is comprehensive and accurate - This practice not only prepares you better as a reader, it also conveys professionalism to your querent
Read deeper
Reference: zhihu.com — 100 Hours of Tarot Learning: Working Through Tarot Calculations
Reading note: Check these meanings against the cards beside them before settling on one keyword.
Source: Zhihu
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