How to Learn Tarot by Yourself: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Have you ever wanted to learn tarot -
but felt like you had to memorize card names
before you could even begin?
I felt the same way.
When I first tried to learn tarot through
memorization it only felt harder.
It felt like there were right answers,
like I wasn't allowed to make mistakes,
like it was homework instead of healing.
But then something shifted.
The moment I actually laid out the cards,
I realized - what I saw first wasn't the card.
It was the person's situation.
Their emotions. The choice they were facing.
That's when I chose story over memorization.
This series doesn't start with card definitions.
Instead, I'll walk you through moments
we've all experienced - relationships,
decisions, hesitation, and turning points -
told as stories.
Within those stories, you'll naturally begin
to feel how tarot cards work.
By the time you finish reading,
you won't feel like you memorized the cards.
You'll feel like you understood them.
Why Learn Tarot by Yourself?
Learning tarot solo has some powerful advantages:
- You learn at your own pace
- You build a personal connection with your cards
- You develop your own intuition naturally
- It costs almost nothing to start
Tarot is not about memorizing 78 definitions.
It's about building a relationship with the cards
and trusting your inner voice.
Step 1: Choose Your First Tarot Deck
The best deck for beginners is
the Universal Waite Tarot.
Why? Because:
- The artwork is softer and more approachable than the original
- Colors are gentle and easy to connect with
- Perfect for beginners who want to read intuitively
- Widely used and trusted worldwide
Avoid oracle decks or themed decks at first.
Stick with Universal Waite Tarot until
you feel confident.
Step 2: Don't Try to Memorize All 78 Cards at Once
This is the biggest mistake beginners make.
Instead, try this approach:
- Start with the Major Arcana (22 cards)
- Learn 2 to 3 cards per day
- Write keywords in your Tarot Note (Journal)
- Connect each card to a story or feeling
The Minor Arcana (56 cards) will come naturally
once you understand the Major Arcana well.
Step 3: Use the Storytelling Method
This is my favorite way to learn tarot —
and it works incredibly well.
Instead of memorizing meanings,
tell yourself a story about each card.
For example, The Fool card:
"A young person stands at the edge of a cliff,
looking up at the sky with excitement.
They carry only a small bag — they are ready
to begin a brand new journey,
full of hope and possibility."
This story tells you everything:
- New beginnings - Innocence and optimism
- Taking a leap of faith
- The start of a journey
When you connect cards to stories and feelings,
you remember them forever.
Step 4: Pull One Card Every Day
Daily card pulls are the fastest way
to learn tarot.
Here's how to do it:
- Shuffle your deck in the morning
- Pull one card
- Write down what you see and feel in your Tarot Note (Journal)
- At the end of the day, reflect on how the card showed up in your life
Do this every single day for 30 days.
You'll be amazed at how quickly
your understanding deepens.
Step 5: Practice with 3-Card Spreads
Once you feel comfortable with single cards,
move on to 3-card spreads.
The most classic 3-card spread is:
Card 1 — Past
Card 2 — Present
Card 3 — Future
This simple spread teaches you how cards
relate to each other - which is the real
skill in tarot reading.
Step 6: Keep Your Own Tarot Note (Journal)
Your own Tarot Note (Journal) is
your most powerful tool.
Write down:
- The card you pulled each day
- Your first impressions and feelings
- Keywords that come to mind
- How the card related to your day
Over time, your Tarot Note (Journal) becomes
your personal tarot guidebook -
built entirely from your own experience.
Step 7: Learn Tarot Through K-Drama Storytelling
One of the most powerful ways to understand
tarot is through stories you already feel deeply.
K-dramas are full of emotional turning points
— moments of loss, courage, love, and transformation
— that perfectly mirror tarot card energies.
For example :
When a character in a K-drama faces an impossible
choice between love and duty - that's The Lovers card.
When someone hits rock bottom and has nothing left
but their own strength - that's The Tower card.
When a character finally finds peace after
years of pain - that's The Star card.
By learning to see tarot through these familiar
stories and emotions, you'll find that reading
the cards becomes natural and deeply intuitive.
This is the heart of what we do at Tarot & Soul.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Tarot?
Here's an honest answer:
- 1 month: Comfortable with Major Arcana
- 3 months: Familiar with all 78 cards
- 6 months: Reading confidently for yourself
- 1 year: Reading intuitively and fluently
Remember — tarot is a lifelong practice.
Even experienced readers learn something new every day.
Final Thoughts
Learning tarot by yourself is one of the most
rewarding journeys you can take.
You don't need a teacher.
You don't need special abilities.
You just need curiosity, consistency,
and a willingness to listen to your inner wisdom.
Start with one card today.
The rest will follow naturally.
Ready to take the next step?
Check out my guide on
3-Card Tarot Spreads for Beginners!
🌙 Coming Up Next on Tarot & Soul:
CAMPUS Series EP.1 —
A Tarot Storytelling Project
Two people. One campus.
A feeling that doesn't have a name yet.
Follow Seoha and Jihoon
as their days quietly begin to overlap -
and discover which tarot cards
capture each emotional moment of their story.
If you've ever noticed someone
for no reason at all —
this series is for you.
🎬 Prefer Learning Tarot Through Video?
Watch Luna's free YouTube series —
From The Fool to The Lovers:
Tarot Cards 0 to 6 Complete Guide
📌 Please note:
This video series is taught in Korean
with Korean subtitles.
Each card is explained through
keywords and core meanings -
perfect for beginners who want
a structured, step-by-step foundation
before moving into storytelling-based reading.
▶ Watch the Full Playlist Here:
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