How long does it take to learn Tarot?

Honestly, this question is a bit like asking "How long does it take to learn how to paint?" The answer varies for everyone. However, I can give you a general reference to help you get a sense of it.

We can divide learning Tarot cards into several stages:

Stage One: Recognizing the Cards (Approximately 1 month)

This stage is like learning the alphabet of a new language. You need to become familiar with all 78 cards, know their names, and understand how they are divided into Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. Within the Minor Arcana, you'll learn about the four suits: Wands, Pentacles, Cups, and Swords. You should aim to grasp the core, fundamental 'keywords' for each card. For example, when you see 'The Sun' card, words like 'joy, success, vitality' should pop into your mind.

Don't feel pressured to memorize everything at this stage. Just draw one card each day, get acquainted with it, look at the imagery, and read its meaning. After about a month, you should be able to recognize most of them.

Stage Two: Interpreting the Cards (Approximately 3-6 months)

Once you can recognize all the cards, you'll start learning to 'form sentences.' In this stage, you'll study some simple spreads, such as the classic three-card spread for time flow (Past-Present-Future).

The focus shifts from understanding the meaning of a single card to connecting several cards together and interpreting them like telling a story. For instance, if the 'Past' card is a sorrowful one and the 'Present' card signifies action, you can interpret this as 'You are emerging from past sorrow and beginning to take action.' This stage requires extensive practice; do readings for yourself and your friends frequently to gradually develop your intuition.

Stage Three: Becoming One with the Cards (1 year or even longer)

After you've passed the first two stages, you'll gradually find that you no longer need to rigidly memorize card meanings. When you see a card's imagery, your intuition and inspiration will tell you what it represents in the context of the current question. You'll start noticing details in the artwork, colors, and the expressions of figures, all of which become part of your interpretation.

At this stage, Tarot transforms from 'knowledge' into a 'tool' – a tool that helps you connect with your own intuition. This requires time and life experience to mature, which is why learning is endless. Many seasoned practitioners, even after more than a decade, often discover new insights from the cards.

A Few Tips for Beginners:

Don't Stress: Don't treat it like an exam; instead, view it as a fun game for self-discovery and developing your intuition.
Daily Draw: Pull a 'daily guidance' card for yourself every morning. This is the quickest and least stressful way to practice.
Keep a Journal: Briefly record the cards you draw, your interpretations, and what happened afterward. Looking back at these entries will be very interesting and can help build your confidence.
Trust Yourself: Book meanings are references, but your own intuition is paramount. If your feelings differ from what's in a book, prioritize your own intuition.

In summary, you can get started and do simple readings for yourself in one or two months. However, to truly master it and make it a part of yourself, it will be a continuous and enjoyable journey of learning and growth.

Hi there! I'm glad you're interested in Tarot cards. Regarding how long it takes to learn Tarot, there's no standard answer, as it's more like asking "how long does it take to learn a musical instrument" or "how long does it take to learn to cook." It entirely depends on your goals and the time you invest.

However, based on most people's experiences, I can break down this process into several stages to give you a clearer idea.

Phase One: Getting Started – Familiarizing Yourself with the Cards (Approx. 1 Month)

The goal of this stage is to understand the basic structure of Tarot cards. Think of it like getting to know 78 new classmates in a new class.

Getting to know the 'Main Characters': The 22 Major Arcana cards. They form the backbone of the story, each with strong personalities and symbolic meanings, such as 'The Fool' representing new beginnings and 'The World' representing completion.
Getting to know the 'Everyday People': The 56 Minor Arcana cards. They relate more closely to our daily lives and are divided into four 'suits' (Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles). Each suit has numbered cards from 1-10 and 4 Court cards.
What you need to do: Flip through the cards daily, look at the imagery, and read the card meanings. Don't try to memorize them; the main goal is to form an initial impression. Knowing that 'Cups' relate to emotions, 'Swords' to thoughts, 'Wands' to action, and 'Pentacles' to material matters is enough to complete this task.
Time: If you're willing to spend 15-30 minutes each day, you'll likely have a basic understanding of all the cards after about a month.

Phase Two: Practice – Starting to 'Form Sentences' (Approx. 2-3 Months)

Once you have an impression of individual 'words' (card meanings), you'll start learning to connect them into 'sentences'.

Start with yourself: The simplest way is to draw a 'Card of the Day' for yourself daily. Look at the card and reflect on how it connects to your mood or events of the day. This is the best way to build 'rapport' between you and the Tarot cards.
Simple Spreads: You can start trying some simple three-card spreads, such as 'Past-Present-Future' or 'Situation-Advice-Outcome'. At this point, you might frequently refer to books, and that's perfectly normal! The key is to start practicing interpreting the connections between cards.
Time: This stage is crucial for building a foundation and might take two to three months. You'll gradually transition from relying entirely on books to being able to articulate your own understanding without constant reference.

Phase Three: Integration – Fluently 'Telling Stories' (6 Months to 1 Year or More)

By this stage, Tarot cards will no longer be isolated pieces of paper in your eyes.

Seeing the bigger picture: You'll start to connect several cards into a vivid scene or a complete story. Instead of simply reciting 'Three of Cups represents celebration,' you'll be able to interpret, based on adjacent cards, something like, 'This might be a celebration after a successful collaboration, but the Five of Swords nearby suggests there might be underlying conflicts or discordant voices behind the festivities.'
Intuition's Role: Your intuition will begin to play an increasingly important role. Sometimes a tiny detail on a card will suddenly resonate with you, sparking a strong insight that often holds the key to the interpretation.
Developing Personal Style: You'll develop your own unique interpretation style, no longer solely relying on 'standard answers' for card meanings.
Time: To reach this level of proficiency, it usually requires consistent practice for six months to a year, or even longer.

In summary, here's a more intuitive timeline for you:

Quick Start (able to do simple self-readings while referring to resources): 1 Month
Independent Readings (mostly without books, able to do basic readings for yourself and friends): 3-6 Months
Proficient Application (able to fluently read for others and start developing your own style and system): 1 Year or More
Becoming a Master: A Lifetime. The wisdom of Tarot is endless; even very experienced Tarot readers always learn new things from the cards.

So, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Tarot is an excellent tool for self-discovery and inspiring thought. Enjoy the learning process; treat it like getting to know a new friend. Take your time, and you'll find that the joy of the journey is far more important than just 'mastering' it.