What is Tarot?
What is tarot?
What is tarot, and are you ready to see what a deck of cards can show you about yourself?
Life often moves fast, and tarot offers a moment to pause and look inward. The first tarot cards appeared as early as the Renaissance, possibly as a game. But people who looked beyond the game soon found that the cards work as a mirror for their own thoughts and feelings. Tarot invites you to look beyond what is visible, to notice the quieter movements of your inner life and to explore the layers of yourself and the world around you.
What is tarot? 78 cards in the Major and Minor Arcana
A tarot deck has 78 cards, full of archetypes and recognisable life experiences. They are divided into the Major and Minor Arcana.
- The Major Arcana (22 cards): The core of the deck. It touches on universal themes such as love, loss, change, growth and awakening, themes that return in every life and can touch us deeply.
- The Minor Arcana (56 cards): Linked to the four elements: cups (emotion and relationships), wands (action and creativity), swords (thought and truth) and pentacles (material matters and grounding).
Together they tell the story of daily life, with its small moments and big lessons.
The language of symbols
The real strength of tarot lies in the symbolism of each card. Colours, numbers, landscapes and figures together form a visual language that often speaks beyond words.
- Colours: Yellow often stands for optimism and new ideas, while blue suggests calm and spiritual depth.
- Numbers: Three symbolises growth and cooperation, while nine stands for completion and wisdom.
- Landscapes: Mountains symbolise challenges, while rivers stand for flowing emotions.
- Figures: The Empress embodies abundance and creativity, while the Fool stands for new adventures and the trust to explore unknown paths.
Learning this language is not only a matter of study. It is also a matter of listening and tuning in. In the quiet exchange between you and the cards, you see what is going on inside you and which insights can help you move forward.
Tarot spreads: a snapshot of where you are
When cards come together in a spread, a story unfolds. The pattern in which they are laid out reflects what is present at that moment. A single card can offer a useful daily reflection, while larger spreads, like the Celtic Cross, give deeper insight into complex situations.
Tarot is not about making fixed predictions but about exploring possibilities. The cards show you the opportunities ahead and the consequences your choices may have. They help you choose more consciously and see which direction fits your wishes and values.
“Tarot is not about making fixed predictions but about exploring possibilities.”
Self-awareness and personal growth with tarot
Working with tarot invites honest self-reflection. You look at your own thoughts, emotions and patterns without judgement. When you spend time with the images and messages of the cards, you can see where you keep running into obstacles, which fears or wishes drive your decisions and which habits you hold on to without noticing.
Tarot makes visible where you still hold yourself back and where there is room to grow, so you can steer your life more consciously.
Developing your intuition with tarot
Tarot can help you strengthen your intuition in quiet moments. Draw a card and spend a while with its image. That can help you let go of busy thoughts and make room for your own inner voice. If you draw the High Priestess, it may invite you to trust what you already know. If the Star appears, it may encourage you to hold on to hope even when the path is not yet clear.
Beyond the traditional meanings, notice what a card brings up in you. An image can call up memories, feelings or insights that connect directly to your life. When you take your intuition seriously, you build a personal dialogue with the cards, where not only knowledge but also your own feeling shapes the answers you look for. That makes tarot something you keep growing into.
Choosing your first tarot deck
Starting with tarot begins with choosing your first deck, a personal step. The Rider-Waite tarot deck is often recommended because of its clear imagery and the many books and online resources that explain the cards. But your choice does not have to stop there. Some people feel more drawn to a deck with soft colours, dreamy images or a modern style. Others prefer a deck that stays close to traditional symbolism. If the history of tarot appeals to you, Marseille tarot decks follow one of the oldest tarot systems.
Take your time to look at different decks, feel which images speak to you and trust your first impression. At Tarot.nl we have a special category for beginners, where you can easily find a deck for your first steps. These decks were chosen for their clear imagery, helpful guidebooks and accessible style, so you can start with confidence.
Which tarot spread fits your question?
There are many types of tarot spreads, shaped by the question you have and the depth you are looking for:
- Three-card spread: Gives insight into past, present and future. The first card shows where you come from, the second shows your current situation and the third points to possible developments.
- The Celtic Cross: A classic spread that explores your question in detail, including outside influences and inner motivations.
- Themed spreads: Love spreads or career spreads, focused on one area of life.
The position of each card in a spread adds extra meaning, which helps you understand situations better and make clearer choices.
What tarot really shows: insights and choices
Many people believe that tarot predicts the future. In reality, tarot helps you see which possibilities and developments are already taking shape. The cards do not fix your path, but they show the directions you can take, based on your choices.
Say you are thinking about a career switch. Tarot can show you which forces support you and where obstacles may lie. A card like the Lovers may point to the importance of following your heart, while Strength invites you to act with courage and trust. In this way tarot shows which paths are opening up, what is influencing you and how you can shape your own future.
Learning to work with tarot: books, courses and communities
If you want to learn more about tarot, there are many resources:
- Tarot books: Give detailed explanations of card meanings, teach spread techniques and offer tips to strengthen your intuition.
- Online courses: Guide you step by step through the basics and more advanced techniques, often with videos and exercises.
- Workshops: Practise with experienced tarot readers and ask your questions in real time.
- Online communities and forums: Share insights, practise spreads and ask for advice alongside others who are learning too.
At Tarot.nl you find not only tarot cards but also a selection of books and materials to support your learning.
Reading tarot responsibly: why respect and care matter
When you use tarot, for yourself or for others, you are responsible for how you share what you see. Tarot cards often touch on personal, sensitive topics, so it is important to work with respect, honesty and compassion.
Leave room for the other person’s own interpretation, avoid pushing meanings on them and be careful with predicting fixed outcomes. A good tarot reading supports people and invites them to make their own choices, without creating fear or dependence. When you work with care and honest intentions, tarot stays a source of insight and trust.
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