How to Become an Adept Reader

Becoming a strong, confident Tarot reader is like mastering an instrument. The “banshee screams” of your intuition and the deep roars of your instinct are uniquely yours. You must learn their pitches and rhythms through practice. At first, relying on intuition will feel awkward or uncomfortable—but with consistency, you’ll find that even signals you once thought negative can guide you toward positive outcomes.

Shadow Work

To reach your authentic self as a reader, you must confront personal obstacles. Toxic people—even those you love—who dull your sparkle may need to be released. Imagine every source of misery as a towering monster, latching onto your soul and stealing your energy, happiness, and time. Overcoming it allows you to reclaim your life and pursue the things you truly desire: happiness, clarity, love, knowledge, and achievement.

Understanding Your Intuition

• Instinct vs. Intuition: Your instinct may come as a gut feeling, while your intuition often originates from the heart.
• Both sensations have value. Learn to distinguish which one resonates with you, and trust it to guide your shuffling and card selection.
• Over time, you’ll develop confidence in reading these signals and interpreting them accurately.

Why Tarot?

Ask yourself: why are you drawn to Tarot? What are your intentions with this powerful tool?

• Tarot can bring enlightenment, but it comes at a cost. Once you begin, it can dismantle the structures you’ve built in life, much like walking on unstable ground.
• Consistent practice is essential. Neglecting your deck or your spiritual practice can result in lost progress.
• Treat Tarot like a lantern in the darkness: it illuminates your path, but only if you actively engage with it.

Start slowly if you are unsure. If you feel called to dive deeper, do so—but always respect the process and the responsibility that comes with metaphysical work.

Safety and Respect

Engaging with metaphysical practices can attract energies you may not intend. Treat your Tarot practice with respect:

• Clear your space before and after readings.
• Turn off lights, metaphorically “lock the door,” and honor the wisdom you’ve received.
• Avoid using Tarot recklessly; intention and mindfulness are key.

Reading for Friends

Reading for others is one of the most effective ways to grow as a reader.

Guidelines:

1. Start with Familiarity: Read for people you know who are open to it.
2. Separate Decks: Ideally, use one deck for personal readings and another for reading others to prevent energy contamination.
3. Energy Transfer: The touch of another person can leave an “influence marker” on a card. This can be used intentionally—for example, designating a card as a significator for a specific person.
4. Study and Compare Decks: If using a new deck, lay it over your familiar deck and study the imagery to maintain consistency in interpretation.

Technique:

• Avoid asking leading questions. Let the cards guide the reading naturally.
• Observe the feelings that arise from each card and how they interact with one another.
• After the reading, ask your friend for feedback: what resonated and what did not.

Counseling-style reading:

• Shuffle while your friend speaks about their concerns.
• Listen actively, focusing on their words, not your own thoughts.
• When they indicate to stop, read the cards as loving guidance, drawing insight from both symbolism and the emotional context they’ve shared.

Becoming an adept Tarot reader takes practice, patience, and self-reflection. Your journey is as much about personal growth as it is about learning the cards. With time, respect, and consistent engagement, your intuition will sharpen, and your readings will carry clarity, depth, and meaningful insight.