Learn Tarot

A simple guide from Mestre Cruz for anyone who wants to start reading the cards.

What is tarot

Tarot is a deck of 78 cards that has been used for centuries as a tool for self-knowledge and guidance. Each card is an image full of symbols that speaks of a life situation — a beginning, a loss, a love, a decision.

Reading tarot isn't predicting the future like in a movie. It's looking at the present moment with new eyes, understanding the energies at play and where the path is heading. The card doesn't decide for you: it sheds light.

The 78 cards

The deck is divided into two groups: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.

The 22 Major Arcana

They speak of life's big themes — the lessons, the turning points, the moments that leave a mark. When many of them appear in a spread, the matter is serious. They go from The Fool (0), the start of the journey, to The World (XXI), its completion.

0 · The Fool — I · The Magician — II · The High Priestess — III · The Empress — IV · The Emperor — V · The Hierophant — VI · The Lovers — VII · The Chariot — VIII · Strength — IX · The Hermit — X · Wheel of Fortune — XI · Justice — XII · The Hanged Man — XIII · Death — XIV · Temperance — XV · The Devil — XVI · The Tower — XVII · The Star — XVIII · The Moon — XIX · The Sun — XX · Judgement — XXI · The World

The 56 Minor Arcana

They speak of everyday life: conversations, money, work, feelings. They're divided into four suits, each with cards from Ace to Ten and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen and King).

Numbers speak too: the Ace is the beginning, the Five is often a crisis, the Ten is the end of a cycle. The court cards can be people in your life or parts of yourself.

How to ask the right question

The quality of the reading depends a lot on the question. The best questions are open-ended and centered on you.

• Instead of "Will he come back?", ask "What do I need to know about this relationship?"
• Instead of "Will I get rich?", ask "What path will help me improve my finances?"
• Ask one question at a time and avoid repeating the same question until you get the cards you want.

For questions with a direct answer, use the Yes or No Tarot.

The most popular spreads

1 card — the card of the day

The simplest way to start. Draw a card in the morning and watch how its energy shows up in your day. It's the best exercise for learning the meanings. Try the Card of the Day.

3 cards — past, present and future

The classic spread. The first card shows what brought the situation to this point, the second what's happening now and the third where things are heading. It can also be read as situation, obstacle and advice. Try it yourself with Free Tarot.

7 cards — the Mestre Cruz Method

For love matters and important decisions, Mestre Cruz uses seven positions: what brought you together, what drove you apart, what the other person feels, what you feel, the obstacle, the advice and the outcome. It's the full reading spread.

Reversed cards

When a card comes out upside down, many tarot readers read it as reversed: the energy is blocked, delayed or in excess. It doesn't mean the opposite of the card — it means its energy isn't flowing. If you're just starting out, you can ignore reversals and read every card upright; that's perfectly valid.

Mestre Cruz's advice for beginners

1. Look at the image before reading the meaning. What you feel when you see the card is your first reading.
2. Read the cards together. A card on its own says little; next to the others, it tells a story.
3. Write down your spreads. Over time, you'll see patterns and learn from what happened.
4. Respect the deck. Keep it in a clean place and use it with intention.
5. Don't read with fear. No card is a final verdict. Even The Tower and Death bring release.