What Is Tarot? A Clear Guide to How It Works and What to Expect

Tarot is one of the most widely recognized tools in the intuitive space, and one of the most misunderstood. If you've ever been curious about what tarot actually is, how a reading works, or what it can and can't tell you, here's a plain explanation.

What tarot is

Tarot is a deck of 78 cards, each carrying specific imagery and symbolism, used as a tool for reflection, guidance, and intuitive insight. A tarot reader draws cards in response to a question or area of focus and interprets their meaning in the context of the person they're reading for.

The deck is divided into two sections. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards representing significant life themes and archetypal experiences: the Fool, the Tower, the Star, Death (which rarely means literal death), Justice, and so on. The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards divided into four suits, Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, each associated with different areas of life: creativity and passion, emotions and relationships, thoughts and conflict, and material matters respectively.

How a tarot reading works

A tarot reader typically begins by asking you to focus on a question or area of your life you'd like clarity on. They then draw a specific number of cards and lay them out in a pattern called a spread, with each position in the spread representing a different aspect of the question: the current situation, what's working against you, potential outcomes, and so on.

The reader interprets the cards in combination, considering not just the individual meaning of each card but how they interact with each other and relate to your specific situation. A skilled reader brings both knowledge of the cards and intuitive perception to this process.

It's worth noting that tarot readers vary significantly in how they work. Some approach tarot as a purely psychological tool, a way of surfacing unconscious patterns and prompting reflection. Others work intuitively, using the cards as a channel for psychic perception. Many work somewhere in between. Understanding how a particular reader works before you book helps you know what to expect.

What tarot can and can't do

Tarot is a tool for reflection and guidance, not a predictive system that tells you exactly what will happen. Responsible tarot readers frame their readings as possibilities and perspectives rather than fixed outcomes. The future is shaped by choices, and a good reader will say so.

Tarot also cannot diagnose illness, provide legal or financial advice, or tell you with certainty what another person is thinking or feeling. If a reader is making specific claims in those areas, that's a red flag regardless of how confident they seem.

What tarot can do well is offer a different perspective on a situation you're navigating, surface patterns you might not have consciously recognized, and prompt reflection on questions you haven't thought to ask. Many people find it useful not because they believe the cards have inherent power but because the process of engaging with them creates space for insight.

How tarot differs from a psychic or mediumship reading

Tarot, psychic readings, and mediumship are related but distinct practices.

A Psychic reads your energy and current life situation directly, without necessarily using any tools. A Medium connects with people who have died and relays their messages. A tarot reader uses the cards as a structured framework for accessing and communicating intuitive information.

Some practitioners combine these approaches, using tarot as part of a broader psychic or intuitive reading. Others work exclusively with the cards. Knowing which you're looking for before you book helps you find the right practitioner for what you actually need.

What makes a tarot reader trustworthy

The same principles that apply to Psychics and Mediums apply to tarot readers. The ones worth working with are specific rather than vague, honest about what the cards can and can't tell you, and not creating urgency or dependency around repeat bookings.

A tarot reader who tells you something terrible is coming and you need to book urgently to address it is not someone worth booking again. A reader who helps you see your situation more clearly and leaves you feeling more capable of navigating it is.

The intuitive space more broadly, including tarot, lacks formal vetting standards. That's a problem the category is only beginning to address. At Midori, we focus on Psychics and Mediums, but the same principles of demonstrated ability, ethical practice, and professional conduct apply to any intuitive practitioner worth working with. You can learn more about how we think about vetting at ourmidori.com.

Kate is the founder of Midori, a platform bringing real vetting standards to Intuitive Guides. Learn more at ourmidori.com.