Can Anyone Read Tarot Cards? Myths And Truths

You have seen them on TV, psychics shuffling cards and mumbling like in some trans. You want to learn to read the Tarot but are unsure if you will be able to. You have never connected with spirits or seen ghosts, or had discussions with the dead. This article will bust some common myths and perceptions.

To read the Tarot with success, you need to learn the card meanings and access your intuition. With practice, anyone can learn the meanings of the cards – for some, it’s easier than others – but everyone can do this. The more tricky part is accessing your intuition. We all have it; some is in closer connection to it than others.

CAN ANYONE LEARN TO READ TAROT?

As a general rule, everyone can learn the Tarot. Everyone can learn the Tarot if they put the hours in. Some will need more practice than others, but everyone can do it.

Learning the card meanings takes a lot of work and practice. It’s 78 cards, after all. But with time, everyone is capable of understanding the basic definitions of the cards. There are systems how to decode the meanings as well. Knowledge of these logical structures will shorten the learning curve as well. 

The more tricky part is connecting with your intuition. For some, this comes naturally, but for some, it takes lots of practice. 

We are all born with intuition, and we use it naturally as kids to access our imagination. You see this when kids play, for example. As we grow up, society tells us not to rely on such information but rational ones. Some lose their connection, and some keep it.

My observation is that artistic people can keep their intuition as they use it in their creative expression. This is not true in all cases, but I have seen it over and over again. 

If we don’t exercise our ability to connect with our intuition, we forget how to do it. With the help of the Tarot, you can regain that connection. Tarot is built on a rational and logical structure (the card meanings). Still, it comes alive with the help of our intuition (connecting the cards to make sense of the message). 

As you practice reading Tarot, your skills will develop over time, so never feel discouraged if you cannot do intuitive readings right away. Learning the Tarot is a marathon, not a sprint. Your ability to access your intuition will grow with time, and your readings become more and more “accurate.” 

Everyone can regain connection with their intuition. It is just a matter of commitment and practice – and lots of acceptance and self-love involved. 

It might feel scary to rely on your intuition when you’re tough to make decisions based on rationality and logic.

DO YOU NEED TO BE PSYCHIC TO READ TAROT?

As a general rule, you don’t have to be a psychic to read the Tarot. The only thing you need to access is your intuition. This is an ability deep within everyone. It’s your gut feeling, something we tend to ignore in our everyday life, right? But in the Tarot, we need to rely on it. This can be a challenging experience for some; it comes naturally and is second nature for others. 

But before we dig deeper, what does it mean to be psychic? It means that you have an ability to gain information from our “sixth sense”. Sometimes this phenomenon is called extrasensory perception, or ESP.

There are no scientific evidence that psychic abilities are true. But on the other hand, science is based on rationality and logic. Intuition and clairvoyance might be based on something competently different. Maybe we try to compare apple and pears? This is just my thoughts, trying to make sense of it all.

If you want to do psychic readings, you need to be psychic, though. But this is not required for all types of Tarot readings. You can do intuitive tarot readings where you don’t predict the future or connect with the Ether. 

Tarot readings without psychic elements are often called secular or intuitive readings. Sometimes they are just called plain Tarot readings. When you do predictive readings, they are often referred to as psychic readings. 

SECULAR TAROT READINGS

There is no divination in secular Tarot readings, and the element of intuition is not as prominent as in the other types of readings. But you will never learn to read the whole context just with the automatic decoding of the cards. But if you struggle with accessing your intuition, it is often here your start.

Some do these kinds of readings and never aspire to use their intuition, which is ok too. It is harder to get a deep reading with this technique, though, as read the card’s meaning and leave it there. It is harder to get a personalized reading of the card mechanically. 

But as always, there is nothing right or wrong when it comes to the Tarot. There are situations where these kinds of readings are perfect. Sometimes seekers are afraid of the “unknown” and feel comfortable knowing you only read the cards and nothing else.  

INTUITIVE TAROT READINGS

An intuitive Tarot reading is a reading where you don’t predict the future or use divination. The reader relies on the information gathered from the card meanings and their intuition. This helps them make sense of the reading. I know there are some confusions around the terminology, making it a little harder to understand as a newbie reader or seeker.

Card meanings + Intuition = Tarot reading

PSYCHIC TAROT READINGS

A psychic Tarot reading, on the other hand, adds a layer of clairvoyance to the mix. The reader uses intuition to gain access to the meaning of the cards. The reader taps into the Ether and acquires information about what is to come or alike. 

A psychic use Tarot cards as a tool to access their psychic insights. They can use many tools for this other than Tarot cards, though. Some psychics don’t use Tarot cards at all. 

Card reading + Intuition + Psychic insight = Tarot reading

CAN YOU LEARN TO READ THE TAROT BY YOURSELF?

As a general rule, you can. It’s easier (and faster), though, to learn by taking a class or getting guidance from a teacher or mentor. Some systems help you understand the structure of the Tarot. When you know the structure, you get keys to the meanings in the process. 

By just studying the card meanings it can be a daunting experience. Memorizing 78 cards is a massive task. But nothing is impossible. Many have learned the Tarot by themselves. Facebook groups, YouTube channels, and online forums are a great place to start.

Learning to access your intuition is complex learning. One great start is meditation. There are great free apps for meditation that can help you get started. There are lovely guided meditations with Tarot themes as well. 

I often meditate on the card meanings to gain deeper insights. This has helped me a lot to open my heart and mind. 

RESOURCES FOR LEARNING THE TAROT

• Online Tarot classes: Biddy Tarot
• Meditation: Medito App

I love the Biddy Tarot classes. I have enrolled in many classes, as the certification program, for example. The classes are perfect for both psychic readers, as intuitive readers. The classes are very well structured and it help with the learning process.

Medito is one of my favorite mediation apps. I use it for daily meditation and relaxation. There are lots of different themes you can choose from, and it’s perfect for beginners. I love their 30-day mediation program. It sets you up for a healthy habit. 

CAN ANYONE READ FOR OTHERS

Do you have to have some special abilities to read for others? In my opinion, no. As long as you are clear about what kind of reading you do, everything is ok. As we touched on earlier, there are several types of readings, and they all have different characteristics. There is always a type of reading that suits you. 

If you don’t have psychic abilities, stay with the secular or intuitive readings. In my option, you can guide self-discovery and growth, one of the most potent readings. You let the seeker take control of their life and make their own decisions. This is empowering and helps the individual to grow. 

In psychic readings, on the other hand, you deliver the answer and are therefore a bit more limited. So psychic readings are by no means “better.” Just another kind. Clients need different things at different stages in their lives.

COMMON MYTHS ABOUT TAROT READING

You don’t need to be psychic or connected to the Ether for reading the Tarot. This is one of the most common myths when it comes to the Tarot. There are different ways of reading the cards; there is always a type of reading that fits you and your style. This is the most fantastic thing about the Tarot. It has its arms open to everyone – to read and to seek advice.

Another myth is that not everyone has the skills to read for others. As long as you are open with your level of expertise and your reading style, it is ok to read for others. Be honest with your limitations and unique strengths. It’s important to have a code of ethics and do readings with the client’s best at heart. 

As long as you are able to read with empathy, my opinion is that anyone can read cards for others if they feel that calling. But as always, you need to be able to give value to the seeker. If you’re able to step out of the Ego zone, you’re ready to read for others. 

It is up to you to decide if you want to go pro or read the cards as a hobby. You don’t need to read for others if you don’t want to. Many use the cards as a spiritual tool for self-discovery. That is totally fine. You don’t have to read professionally just because you have the gift or read the cards. 

If you want to take on clients, a great sign of being ready is when you don’t need a reference book and are comfortable reading for others. It is as simple as that.

You don’t need to abandon your faith or religion to read the Tarot. Tarot isn’t a religion, it’s just a tool for your to discover your spiritual world – may it be whatever religion. It’s a common myth that you need to change your faith and become a witch or pagan. This is not true at all.

IN SUMMARY

Everyone is capable of reading the Tarot with practice and dedication. After all, there are 78 cards you need to master, and not only that… you need to access your intuition as well. So it might not happen overnight, but you can do it if you put your heart into it.

The only limitation is if you want to do psychic readings but lack the gift. Sometimes you discover that you have more psychic abilities than you think. As you reconnect with your intuition, many other things might surface. Clairvoyance is one of those. So you never know…

There is always a reading style that will fit your unique style and vibe. Everyone puts their special touch to it. That’s why one spread ends up having different meanings for different readers. Intuition is the magic essence that makes the Tarot come to life.

Intuition also brings a deeper meaning to life and opens up new experiences of life. When we rush through life without really feeling and experiencing it, we miss so many miracles.

THE DEFINITIONS IN THIS ARTICLE ARE BASED ON THE RIDER WAITE DECK AND SYSTEM.