How to Use Tarot for Personal Growth (Even If You’re a Total Beginner)

Feeling stuck or uncertain about your next move can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to grow and improve yourself. Tarot gives you a unique way to gain clarity and insight into your own thoughts and feelings.

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It’s not just about predicting the future. It’s also a tool to better understand yourself and the path ahead. In fact, many people use it for growth and self-reflection only, never for future divination.

When used with intention, tarot cards can help you explore your inner world, identify obstacles, and find fresh perspectives. This guide will show you how to use tarot for personal growth in a simple, practical way – no special skills or mystical background needed.

It’s like having a conversation with your inner voice, guided by the rich symbolism of the cards. 

What is Tarot and How Can It Help with Personal Growth?

Tarot is a deck of 78 cards, each with its own unique symbolism and meaning. The cards are divided into two main sections:

1. The Major Arcana: 22 cards that represent the major life events, archetypes, and spiritual lessons we encounter.
2. The Minor Arcana: 56 cards that mirror the ups and downs of everyday life, providing guidance on more mundane matters.

When you pull a tarot card, it’s like receiving a snapshot of your current situation or mindset. The imagery and symbolism on the card can offer profound insights, help you gain clarity, and uncover new perspectives.

It doesn’t have to be about predicting the future at all. You can use tarot as a tool for personal exploration and growth. By regularly engaging with the cards, you can:

• Gain self-awareness and a deeper understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Identify and work through any limiting beliefs or emotional blocks
• Clarify your goals and create a roadmap to achieve them
• Find the courage to make important life decisions
• Cultivate more mindfulness, intuition, and inner wisdom

How is This Different From Normal Readings?

The general idea with tarot is that the reader is tuning into a spiritual force of some sort to get answers from the cosmos. But using tarot to understand yourself better requires no spiritual element at all.

It’s more like a psychology exercise. In fact, some therapists use tarot kind of like ink blots, just to start a patient talking and thinking. And that’s the goal here.

This type of reading is about reflecting on what the cards mean to you, not trying to interpret signs from the universe. 

Before You Start

If you’re new to tarot, the idea of working with the cards may feel a little confusing at first. But it’s easier than you think! Here’s a simple 5-step process to get you started:

1. Choose Your Tarot Deck

There are hundreds of tarot decks out there, each with their own unique artwork and themes. Most people recommend starting with a classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck because it’s one of the most popular and widely-used tarot systems, with imagery that’s easy to interpret.

But when I was starting, I didn’t like that deck. It just didn’t feel like me. So I started with a different deck, and you can too.

You can find tarot decks at metaphysical shops, online retailers, or even some bookstores. Go with one that intuitively calls to you – the artwork should resonate and feel meaningful.

2. Learn the Basics of Tarot

Before you start reading the cards, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of tarot symbolism and card meanings. There are plenty of resources out there, from books to online tutorials, that can teach you the fundamentals.

Your deck may have come with a guide to card symbolism. If not, you can look the meanings up online.

Focus on learning the meanings of the Major Arcana cards first, as these represent the big-picture themes and archetypes in your life. Then, move on to the Minor Arcana suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles) and how they relate to different areas of your experience.

3. Cleanse and Attune Your Deck

If your approach is completely scientific, you can skip this step. Tarot cards are believed by many to hold energy, so they advise you to cleanse and attune your deck before using it.

This helps remove any lingering energies and prepares the cards to work with your personal vibration. There are many ways to do this, such as visualizing a cleansing white light, or simply shuffling the cards while focusing on your intention.

You can also try tapping the deck on your palm or against your heart chakra to infuse it with your own energy.

4. Develop a Regular Practice

The more you work with tarot, the more comfortable and confident you’ll become. I recommend setting aside time each day or week to pull a card and reflect on its meaning. You can do a simple single-card draw, a 3-card spread, or even a full Celtic Cross layout, depending on your needs.

As you pull cards, pay attention to the imagery, symbols, and feelings that arise. Jot down your observations in a tarot journal to track your insights and personal growth over time.

5. Trust Your Intuition

Tarot is ultimately a tool for tapping into your own inner wisdom. So as you work with the cards, don’t just rely on the traditional card meanings – tune in to your intuition and let the cards speak to you in a personal way.

Over time, you’ll start to develop your own unique interpretations and connections. The more you practice, the stronger your intuitive abilities will become.

5 Ways to Use Tarot for Personal Growth

Now that you have the basics down, let’s dive into some specific readings and ways you can use tarot to support your personal development journey.

1 Card Pull

Many people draw a tarot card each morning, or the night before, and meditate on it to see what they should focus on or look for in the coming day.

If you feel confused about what the card means to you, you can pull an additional card as a clarifier and consider what the two cards mean together.

3 Card Pull

Another popular reading is the 3 card pull. You can use it like the 1 card above, to reflect on what the day will bring.

Or you can use it as a past-present-future reading to get a general sense of where you are in your life and where you’re headed.

Now let’s look at what you can hope to get out of your readings!

1. Gain Self-Awareness

One of the most powerful applications of tarot is using it to cultivate self-awareness. By regularly pulling cards and reflecting on their meanings, you can uncover unconscious thoughts, emotions, and patterns that may be influencing your life.

For example, if you consistently pull cards like the Hermit, the Moon, or the Hanged Man, it could indicate a need for more introspection, emotional processing, or a shift in perspective. Pay attention to the themes and archetypes that keep showing up – they’re likely areas of your life that require further exploration.

2. Overcome Limiting Beliefs

We all have certain beliefs, fears, and doubts that hold us back from reaching our full potential. Tarot can be a powerful tool for identifying and working through these limiting mindsets.

Try pulling a card to represent a specific challenge or area of your life, then use the card’s symbolism to gain insights. How does the imagery reflect your current thoughts or behaviors? What new perspectives does the card offer? Use these insights to reframe your limiting beliefs and cultivate a more empowering mindset.

3. Set and Achieve Goals

Tarot can also be a valuable ally in the goal-setting and achievement process. By tapping into the cards’ intuitive wisdom, you can clarify your desires, create an actionable plan, and stay motivated along the way.

Start by pulling a card to represent your overall goal or vision. Then, do a multi-card spread to map out the steps, potential obstacles, and supportive energies involved. Revisit this spread periodically to track your progress and make any necessary adjustments.

4. Navigate Life Transitions

Whether it’s a career change, a relationship shift, or a major life event, tarot can provide much-needed guidance and support during times of uncertainty and transition.

Pull cards to gain clarity on your current situation, uncover hidden opportunities, and identify the lessons or spiritual growth available. The cards can help you see the bigger picture, manage your emotions, and make empowered decisions as you navigate the unknown.

5. Cultivate Mindfulness and Intuition

Regularly working with tarot can also be a powerful practice for developing mindfulness, presence, and intuitive awareness.

Each time you pull a card, take a few moments to really observe the imagery, tune into your feelings, and let the card’s message sink in. Approach the process with an open, curious mindset, and pay attention to any insights, gut feelings, or synchronicities that arise.

Over time, this practice can heighten your intuitive senses and help you become more attuned to the subtle energies and messages all around you. It’s a beautiful way to enhance your self-knowledge and spiritual growth.