Tarot guide
What tarot is and how a reading works
Tarot is a deck of cards that originated in Renaissance Italy and over time became a symbolic language. Images such as the Fool, the High Priestess, the Wheel and the Star bring together characters, gestures and situations that can be related to a question.
During a reading, the meaning does not depend only on the definition of each card. The position in the spread, the neighbouring cards, the theme of the question and the way the symbols echo one another all matter. The same card can therefore highlight an invitation, a tension or a different resource depending on the context.
A reading does not replace facts, professional decisions or personal responsibility. Its value is reflective: it makes associations and alternatives visible, but it does not certify what will happen.
Major and Minor Arcana: how the deck is made up
A traditional deck contains 78 cards. The 22 Major Arcana represent broad passages and archetypes: beginnings, choices, crises, transformations, encounters and moments of awareness. They do not describe good or bad people, but dynamics that can take different forms.
The 56 Minor Arcana bring the reading closer to everyday life. They are divided into four suits — Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles (also called Coins) — associated respectively with action, emotions, thought and the material world. Each suit includes numbered cards and court cards.
- Wands: initiative, energy, desire and creativity.
- Cups: emotions, relationships, receptiveness and imagination.
- Swords: ideas, words, conflicts and choices.
- Pentacles: the body, work, resources and concrete results.
You don’t need to memorise every definition to get started. It is more useful to look at the scene, recognise the tone of the card and connect it to the question before checking a traditional meaning.
How to ask the tarot a useful question
A clear question makes the spread easier to read. Open questions encourage practical reflection: instead of simply asking “will it happen?”, you can ask which dynamic is shaping the situation, what you are not considering or which attitude could help you.
- Choose a single theme: a relationship, work, a decision or a personal path.
- Focus on what you can observe or decide directly.
- Set a time frame only if the context really needs one.
- Avoid repeating the same question until you get the card you want.
Medical, legal, financial or safety matters require qualified professionals and verifiable information. Tarot can accompany emotional reflection; it cannot replace a diagnosis or professional advice.
From a single card to a three-card spread
A single card is the simplest way to begin. It can offer a theme to focus on, a quality to cultivate or something to notice during the day. A single image cuts out the noise and invites you to go deeper rather than pile up answers.
A three-card spread adds a relationship between positions. You can read it as past, present and future possibility; situation, obstacle and resource; or what you know, what you can’t see and the next step. The positions should be defined before you draw the cards.
Larger spreads are not automatically more precise. They increase the number of connections and require more experience. For a focused question, a short structure is often clearer and easier to revisit later.
Tarot de Marseille or Rider–Waite: which to choose
The Tarot de Marseille keeps a visual structure close to the European tradition. The Major Arcana have simple, recognisable images, while the numbered cards of the suits mostly show an arrangement of emblems. This invites you to work with numbers, suits and formal relationships.
The Rider–Waite–Smith system uses illustrated scenes for the Minor Arcana too. Gestures, settings and characters provide plenty of narrative clues, so this deck can feel more immediate for beginners who prefer to start by looking at the picture.
There is no universally better deck. Choose readable images, a comfortable size and an edition with consistent symbols. Before buying, look at a few complete cards: the deck should make you curious without forcing you to guess what it represents.
Tarot online: how to use the AstriOnLine tool
An online tarot reading lets you follow a simple sequence: define the theme, choose the cards and read the interpretation of the positions. The result is a starting point to compare with your real situation, not an automatic verdict.
Before drawing, take a moment to put your question into a single sentence. After the reading, note the first association each image brings up and check which connections are borne out by the facts. If a meaning feels distant, don’t force it.
Frequently asked questions about tarot
Can tarot predict the future?
Not with certainty. A reading can highlight current tendencies, expectations and possibilities, but it does not prove that a future event will happen. Circumstances and choices can change.
How many cards do I need for a reading?
One card can be enough for a specific theme; three cards let you see a relationship between positions. Adding more cards only helps when each position has a clear purpose.
Do I have to read reversed cards?
No. Some methods give reversed cards a specific meaning, while others work only with upright cards and draw nuances from position and context. What matters is choosing a rule before the spread and applying it consistently.
Can I ask the same question more than once?
Repeating it straight away tends to muddle the reading. It is better to go back over the cards you have already drawn, note what comes up and return to the question once information, circumstances or decisions have changed.