What are the most common mistakes beginners make when learning Tarot?

Hi, welcome to the world of Tarot! When first starting out, everyone inevitably takes a few detours, and don't worry, that's completely normal. I was the same when I began. Based on my experience and observing many beginners, I've summarized a few particularly common "traps" that I hope will help you avoid them.

1. Memorizing card meanings and treating Tarot like a "dictionary"

This is one of the most common mistakes. Many beginners, upon getting their cards, immediately flip through a book or search online: "What does the Three of Wands mean?" "What does the Page of Cups represent?" The result is that when interpreting, it feels like a translation exercise, rigidly applying keywords to the question.

Change your mindset: Tarot cards are more like a series of storytelling paintings. Before you look up the "standard answer," spend a minute or two carefully observing the card. What are the people in the painting doing? Is their expression happy or serious? Is the surrounding landscape barren or abundant? Are the colors bright or dim? These details themselves are giving you information. For example, when you see the Three of Swords, don't just remember "heartbreak"; feel the sensation of those three swords piercing the heart. That stinging feeling is its true energy. Treat the card meanings as a reference, but the ultimate interpretation should combine your own intuition and the card's imagery.

2. Dividing cards into absolute "good cards" and "bad cards"

Drawing the Sun, Star, or World makes you feel great, like you've definitely won; drawing Death, Tower, or Devil scares you, making you feel like disaster is imminent.

Change your mindset: There are no absolutely good or bad cards in Tarot; they all represent an energy or state. The Death card rarely literally means physical death; it more often signifies "a complete ending and a brand new beginning." For example, ending an unhealthy relationship or quitting a job that makes you miserable—isn't that a good thing? While the Tower card represents sudden shock, it can also be an opportunity to break through your old stalemate and see the truth. Conversely, while the Sun card is wonderful, it might also remind you if you're being overly optimistic and ignoring potential problems. Every card is neutral; it's a teacher here to give you guidance.

3. Asking "lazy" questions

For example: "Does he love me?" "Will I pass this exam?" "Should I break up with him?" These are questions that only require a "yes" or "no" answer. Tarot isn't very good at answering such simple true/false questions.

Change your mindset: Try to ask questions that are more open-ended and profound. Change "Does he love me?" to "What is the current energy of our relationship? How can I foster its development?" Change "Will I pass?" to "What aspects do I need to pay more attention to and work harder on to successfully pass the exam?" Asking this way, Tarot won't give you a cold, fatalistic answer, but rather a wise guide to action, telling you "why things are this way" and "what you can do."

4. Repeatedly drawing cards for the same question in a short period

You're not satisfied with the first result, you don't believe it, or a few hours/the next day you ask the same question again, until you draw the answer you want.

Change your mindset: This is actually a manifestation of your inner anxiety and distrust. Usually, the information given by the first draw is the clearest and most direct. If you keep asking repeatedly, the cards will only become more chaotic, because they no longer reflect the core of the problem, but rather your "I don't want to hear it" confused mindset. Trust the first guidance, give the advice some time to sink in, to think, and to act. It will be more appropriate to revisit the question when new developments occur, or after a relatively long period (e.g., a few weeks or a month).

5. Fearing or simply ignoring "reversed cards"

Many beginners find reversals too complicated, so they just turn all cards upright when shuffling and only interpret upright meanings. Or, upon seeing a reversed card, they feel doomed, thinking it's the complete opposite of the upright meaning.

Change your mindset: Reversals aren't that scary; they simply add another layer to the card's meaning. You can simply understand it as: the energy represented by an upright card is flowing smoothly and expressed outwardly; while a reversed card means this energy is "stuck," hindered, has become an internal lesson, or the energy is too strong/too weak. For example, an upright Strength card signifies confidence and inner courage, while reversed it might mean a lack of confidence, or misusing one's power. See it as a "needs adjustment" signal light, not a "death sentence."

In summary, the most important thing when learning Tarot is to relax. You're not taking a strict exam, but learning a language to communicate with your inner self. Making mistakes is part of learning. Practice more, feel more, think more, and gradually you will build an irreplaceable rapport with your cards. Have fun!

Hello, glad to chat with you about this. When it comes to common mistakes beginners make, I think there are a few, and I certainly fell into these traps myself when I started:

1. Rote memorization of card meanings, treating Tarot like an "instruction manual." This is the most common issue. Many beginners, upon getting a deck, immediately flip through the accompanying booklet (or search online) to match each card to a specific meaning, for example, "Death" means an end, and "The Lovers" means love. But doing this makes readings very rigid and completely strips Tarot of its flexibility.

Change your approach: Try to see each card as a painting. Don't rush to find its "standard answer." Just look at the image and ask yourself: "What do I see? What are the people in the picture doing? What are their expressions? What's the surrounding environment like? What feeling does this image give me?" Often, your first intuition and the details on the card face are much more accurate than dry keywords from a book. Tarot is about having a conversation with you, not about memorizing a textbook.

2. Fearing "bad cards" or treating reversed cards as terrifying omens. Drawing "The Tower," "Ten of Swords," or a bunch of reversed cards can make your heart sink, making you feel like "it's over, something terrible is going to happen." This is a common beginner's mistake.

Change your approach: There are no absolute "good" or "bad" cards in Tarot. Those seemingly scary cards, like "The Tower," might be reminding you that an issue you've been avoiding has reached a point where it must be addressed. While the process might be painful, rebuilding afterward will be better. Reversed cards aren't all negative either; they might represent blocked energy, delays, or a need for you to consider an issue from an "unconventional" perspective. They are there to give you a heads-up, not to pass judgment.

3. Always wanting to ask "yes/no" questions. For example: "Does he love me?" "Will I pass this exam?" "Should I change jobs?" Tarot cards aren't very good at answering these black-and-white questions. If you force them to answer "yes" or "no," the answers you get will often be vague, or even leave you more confused.

Change your approach: Rephrase your questions to be open-ended. For instance, instead of asking "Does he love me?", ask "What is the state of our relationship? How can I improve it?" Instead of "Should I change jobs?", ask "What impact is my current job having on me? If I consider changing jobs, what should I be aware of?" This way, Tarot can act like a wise friend, offering you richer perspectives and advice, rather than simply making decisions for you.

4. Immediately tackling high-difficulty spreads. Many people feel that the more complex a spread is, and the more cards it uses, the more "professional" it is, like the classic "Celtic Cross spread." The result is that once the cards are laid out—a dozen or so cards, each with its own position and meaning—they become completely overwhelmed, not knowing where to even begin, and end up looking up each card in a book, falling back into the first mistake.

Change your approach: Start simple, really. A single "daily guidance" card is excellent, or use a three-card "past-present-future" spread. Build a solid foundation first, and establish a connection and rapport with your own deck. Once you can easily weave three cards into a logical little story, then it's not too late to gradually try more complex spreads.

All in all, relax and don't treat Tarot as a scientific instrument that requires precise calculations. It's more like a tool to stimulate your intuition and inner wisdom. Observe more, think more, feel more, and most importantly, trust your own feelings. Have fun!