Man, so you’re thinking about diving into the Rider Waite Tarot, huh? Let me tell you, it’s a ride. I remember when I first got my hands on a deck, probably about five, six years back now. It was a gift from an old friend, just a standard Rider Waite. I opened that box, spread the cards out, and my first thought was, “What in the actual hell am I supposed to do with all these pictures?” It looked like a complicated mess, honestly. All those figures, symbols, colors – it felt like cracking some ancient code I definitely wasn’t smart enough for.
Getting Started, Or, Trying Not to Drown
My first instinct was to grab the little white book that came with the deck. Big mistake. I started reading through it, card by card, and it was just a wall of text. “The Fool represents new beginnings, innocence, free spirit…” and then the next card, “The Magician, manifestation, power, skill…” My eyes glazed over. I’d read about five cards and already forgotten what the first one meant. It was a total bust. I put the deck down for a good few weeks, honestly. Thought it wasn’t for me.
Then, one lazy Sunday afternoon, I picked it up again. This time, I decided to ditch the book for a bit. I just pulled one card, the first one that felt right. It was
The Empress.
Instead of immediately hunting for a meaning, I just stared at it. I saw the woman, the lush garden, the wheat, the waterfall. I thought about what I felt from it. Nurturing, abundance, comfort. I wrote those feelings down in a cheap notebook I grabbed from the kitchen. That was my first real step.
The Daily Draw and My Messy Notebook
After that, I made a commitment. Every morning, with my coffee, I’d draw one card. Just one. No fancy spreads, no questions, just a “card of the day.” I’d look at it, really look at the image. What’s going on in this picture? What colors pop out? What emotions does it stir in me? Then I’d jot down those initial thoughts. After that, and only after, I’d pull out that little white book, or sometimes just do a quick search on my phone (don’t tell anyone, but I’d just type “Empress tarot meaning” or whatever). I’d compare what I felt with the standard interpretation. It was rarely a perfect match, but I started seeing overlaps.
- I started with the Major Arcana. There are only 22 of them, felt less intimidating.
- I focused on the overall vibe of the card, not just specific keywords.
- I kept it super simple: my feelings, then a quick check of the “official” meaning.
- My notebook became a chaotic mix of scribbles, bad drawings, and crossed-out ideas.
That notebook, man, it’s still sitting on my shelf. It’s a testament to how messy learning can be. Some days, my “insight” was literally “this card looks boring.” Other days, it would hit me like a ton of bricks, connecting perfectly with something going on in my life. Those were the good days.
When It Started Clicking (Sort Of)
The Minor Arcana were a whole different beast. So many swords, cups, wands, and pentacles. So many numbers! But by then, I had a rhythm. I realized the suits represented different aspects of life:
- Wands: Passion, creativity, action, career stuff.
- Cups: Emotions, relationships, feelings.
- Swords: Intellect, challenges, communication, conflict.
- Pentacles: Money, material things, health, grounding.
Once I wrapped my head around that, and the numbers (Ace is new beginnings, Ten is completion, Fives are challenges, etc.), it became less about memorizing individual cards and more about understanding the patterns. A Five of Swords ain’t gonna be a party, just like a Ten of Cups is probably going to feel pretty good. It’s all about context, you know?
My “Simple Tips” for Anyone Just Starting
So, here’s what I learned, after all that fumbling around:
Don’t get bogged down by the books right away. Seriously. Look at the damn picture first. What does it tell you? Your intuition is more powerful than you think.
Draw one card a day. Make it a habit. Don’t overthink it. Just pull a card, observe, jot down your initial thoughts, and then peek at what others say it means. It builds a relationship with the deck.
Keep a messy journal. It doesn’t have to be pretty. It’s your own personal record of your journey with the cards. Seeing how your understanding evolves is super cool.
Focus on the Major Arcana first, then the suits and numbers. Don’t try to learn all 78 meanings at once. Break it down. Master the big players, then tackle the supporting cast by understanding their themes.
Don’t be afraid to be “wrong.” There’s no tarot police coming to get you. Your interpretation is valid, especially when you’re learning. It’s a tool for self-reflection, not some rigid rulebook.
Learning tarot isn’t about memorizing definitions; it’s about forming a connection with the cards, developing your own language with them. It takes time, patience, and a whole lot of just messing around. But it’s worth it, truly. It opened up a whole new way of looking at things for me, and I bet it can do the same for you.
