How To Prepare For A Tarot Card Reading
6 Tarot Tips From A Professional Tarot Card Reader
I like to say that there are no rules when it comes to tarot—only magic. However, I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a few best practices to really optimize the outcome of your tarot readings.
If we want to get the most out of our tarot readings, we first have to define what success looks like. In the mystical world of tarot, a successful reading might look like deepening our self-awareness, feeling at peace, finding hope, receiving validation, emotional support, reassurance, inspiration, inner knowing, and feeling confident to embrace the unknown with open arms.
The secret to an insightful and impactful tarot reading is really simple. A little bit of preparation goes a long way, starting with your mindset and expectations. If you’re getting a tarot reading for the first time, or even for the 100th time, here are a few great tips to keep in mind when you sit down with a tarot reader.
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Tarot Card Reading
Be Open, Curious, And Receptive
A successful tarot reading is one where you feel seen, supported, and validated. In order to have the best tarot reading experience, approach it from a space of curiosity. We never know what message the tarot may have for us, so it’s best to remain as open and neutral as possible and simply let the magic unfold.
Just like any other relationship, personal or professional, you do not have to agree or resonate with everything a tarot reader says, and you most certainly do not have to take every word as gospel. Always, and I mean always, use your discernment. Tarot is an intuitive tool where there is room for error and misinterpretation. It’s not an exact science, and most importantly it is not meant to be used as a way to dictate how you should live your life.
No matter what cards are pulled, you are always in the driver’s seat of your own life. The power is in your own hands to take any guidance from a tarot reading either with a grain of salt, or to incorporate it into your life for the better if it feels aligned.
2. Set A Clear Intention
The key to a successful tarot reading is knowing what you want to get out of it. What do you need guidance or advice for? What aspect of your life are you trying to optimize? What are you really focusing on lately? Where are you trying to grow? Take a moment to reflect on the guidance that your heart desires and meditate on that intention before your tarot reading. This will help both you and your tarot reader to be more effective and directed during the reading.
Stumped trying to come up with an intention?
Maybe your intention is simply to be open and receptive to magic and inspiration and to let the cards surprise you. If you want to set an intention that is more general and not as specific, I recommend “show me what I need to know right now that is for my highest good”. The cards always have something to say.
3. Take A Deep Breath & Get Grounded
Excited? Nervous? Bit of both? Of course you are!
There is some magic waiting to be unleashed in those tarot cards and it’s always a bit nerve-wracking waiting to see what wisdom is going to come through. Before you get started, don’t forget to inhale (and exhale), and maybe even close your eyes for a moment and connect with your body. Your presence is the greatest magic that you can bring to a tarot reading. Relax your body, calm your nervous system, and tune in.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Join The Conversation!
Different tarot readers might have different opinions on this, but in my experience, readings are so much better when they are a 2-way conversation. Tarot readings are intimate and personal and sharing your thoughts and feelings as cards are pulled is helpful to build connection and give context. Don’t be afraid to say what’s on your mind or ask for clarification. A good tarot reader is there to be of service, not just to yap at you.
Advice On Setting Boundaries
Remember that tarot readers are just messengers, and sometimes the cards may bring up some sensitive topics that you aren’t prepared to talk about. An ethical tarot reader should not overstep any personal boundaries or intentionally make you uncomfortable or upset. Sometimes, readers may unknowingly traverse into some sensitive territory (perhaps you recently suffered a loss that is really painful to discuss). If this is the case, just give your reader a heads up and let us know what you would like to focus on instead. Tarot is only magical if you are open and able to receive the guidance, and we recognize that there is a time and place for certain information to come through.
5. Record Your Reading Or Take Notes
You definitely don’t want to forget the details of your tarot reading! There can be a lot of information that comes through in a reading so it’s really important to have something to refer back to at a later date. It usually takes time to integrate the insights from a reading, so looking back at your notes or a voice recording will help jog your memory and potentially lead to some new revelations and “a-ha” moments that you initially missed. It’s also important to capture your own intuitive thoughts that arise during a reading too! Your intuition is also invited to the party 😊
6. Have Realistic Expectations For Your Tarot Reader
Remember that tarot readers aren’t miracle workers. Nothing we say can immediately or unequivocally solve all your problems or eradicate every ounce of uncertainty you may have. The truth is, we aren’t meant to have all the answers. There will always be a little mystery, and we will always have to navigate the unknown, but if you have a strong intention and vision for the future, the steps to get there will be a little less scary!
The intent of a tarot reading shouldn’t be to concretely know your future (I wouldn’t say it’s the most reliable tool for fortune-telling anyways). Tarot is there to help guide you along the path to the future that you are consciously co-creating with the Universe. You set the destination, and the tarot (and your reader) will help get you there one card at a time.