Similarly to reading your horoscope in astrology, tarot card readings give you insight into what might be in store for you, or advice on how to work through the current or upcoming events and conflicts you may face. Just like your horoscope, these can be done daily, weekly, monthly, or whenever you feel like you need a bit of guidance. Tarot cards may seem intimidating or confusing at first but starting with simple spreads will help everything make sense.
Personally, I like aligning my tarot reading with the lunar calendar, rather than going month by month. This week’s new moon signified the start of another lunar cycle, so it is time for a “New Moon” reading. The new moon represents a new beginning, so your tarot reading will relate to the start of a cycle in your life, planning ahead, and your goals for this coming month. There are a ton of different tarot spreads you can find online for each moon phase that may focus on different questions, so try to find one that you think will best address your concerns. Online, you can also find free tarot generators if you do not have your own deck of tarot cards but are still curious to see what might come up (they usually have interpretations as well to help you figure out what the cards are trying to tell you).
I like to do just a simple, 3-card spread – the first card representing how I would like this cycle to end or my goal, the second representing my current state and forces at play, and the third representing past feelings, thoughts, attitudes, or events that have led me to this point. For an example, here is a picture of what I pulled this time (yes, I use cat themed tarot cards):
I got III of Wands for Card 1, The Fool Reversed for Card 2, and IX of Swords Reversed for Card 3. There are many ways I could interpret these to make them personal and specific to my situation, but I’ll provide a quick sample interpretation: Card 1 could mean I would like to end the cycle in a state of expansion and focus on moving forward. Card 2 suggests I am currently naïve in some aspect and at risk of facing some pitfalls if I am too reckless. Card 3 possibly represents a state of stress or being overwhelmed recently or in the past that led me to my intention for this cycle.
It is important to use your own intuition when trying to find meaning in the cards – the textbook definitions will not always fit your life exactly! However, they can be a good place to start if you are not familiar with tarot cards. The meanings are also something you can contemplate over time; the clear answer does not have to come to you instantly. I think tarot is a great way to just give yourself something to think about and reflect on, so hopefully you give it a try and discover some new wisdom!