If you're new to tarot, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. Luckily, there are many resources available to help you learn the basics and start reading tarot cards. Here are just some of the many resources for beginner tarot readers. There are plenty out there and there could be a whole separate post just about any of these subjects but I wanted to give just a quick overview for tarot beginner basics.
Tarot Decks for Beginners
When starting out with tarot, it's important to choose a deck that resonates with you and feels comfortable to use. Finding a deck that you're excited about and love the images of is important, it will help keep you motivated to learning. A lot of resources out there are Rider Waite Smith based (that's the system I've learned) but you don't have to choose the original deck to use these resources. There are plenty of mass market and indie tarot decks out there that follow the same structure but are more modern and inclusive. Decks like This Might Hurt Tarot will be easy to use with most resources, has a pretty great guidebook and is more diverse and representative than a standard RWS deck. I usually suggest for beginners to choose a deck that comes with a guidebook or you can pair with a companion book. It's great to have a quick resource on hand and a good guidebook will have everything from how to information, card meanings and even spreads. Deck and companion book combinations like Wayhome Tarot paired with WTF is Tarot? & How Do I Do It? or The Gentle Tarot Bundle, are choices that are unique and when paired with the full sized books are more beginner friendly while being very different from your standard deck. There are so many great decks out there and I truly believe you don't have to start with a particular one, as long as it works with the resources you have available to you! (I learned with the Sasuraibito Tarot).
I think a lot of your deck choice depends on you, like what kind of learner you are, what you want from tarot / how you intend to use tarot. There is a list of questions like these that I want to gather one day and make a future post about!
There are also some decks I wouldn't suggest at all for beginners and that's because of many reasons like they stray too far from most resources or are intended for more advanced readers. I am always happy to answer a question like that for any of the decks available in the shop!
Tarot Books for Beginners
One great way to learn tarot is through books. If you're a book lover like me, I'm very motivated to read a book and something about curling up with one just does it for me.
There are many great options out there for beginners, and different styles for different readers. Some are classics like Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack but there are always new ones coming out that I'm loving like Finding the Fool by Meg Jones Wall and Unlocking the Tarot by Lisa Papez. I know a few creators on YouTube have posted really lovely videos about books like this video from Sapling Tarot who I absolutely adore. Books can provide a comprehensive introduction to tarot, including the meanings of the cards, different spreads, and tips for interpreting readings but also some go further like Radical Tarot by Charlie Claire Burgess or Queering the Tarot by Cassandra Snow who show new perspectives and expand tarot to include lgbtq+.
I am looking to stock these and more in the shop but for now; shop small and use a local metaphysical shop or bookstores.
Online Tarot Resources for Beginners
In addition to books, many online resources are available for those looking to learn tarot.
Websites like Biddy Tarot and blogs like Fable's Den Tarot Kingdom or Little Red Tarot which are dedicated to teaching beginner tarot readers.
YouTube is another place for learning tarot with instructional videos, deck walkthroughs and even the #tarottube community for connecting with other tarot lovers. There are a lot of great tarot tubers out there with playlists full of videos for learning tarot like Lisa Papez who has a Tarot Beginners playlist.
There are podcasts like Fortune's Wheelhouse and Tarot for the Wild Soul for your listening learners and now even apps (how crazy).
You can find many great readers, teachers and creators on social media. Be mindful and remember that real accounts won't message you for money or readings. Tarot communities are also helpful to be a part of and there are facebook and discord groups that are free to join.
So many of these resources are free and I think everyone should exhaust their free resources first but I also know some people prefer the extra structure and guidance of an online course. There are so many great people offering courses out there. It's always special too when you can support those people that you already enjoy their free resources like their Youtube channel, podcast or blog. If you no one in your content circle currently offers them, make sure to look around and sample the free resources others off to get a feel of their teaching style and make sure its a good fit.
As with all these resources there are lists of peoples favorites out there and even reddit threads about them. Do your research to make sure you find someone who aligns with your values too!
Obviously this is a quick overview but I hope to do a separate post one day about each of these topics and with my personal suggestions and reasonings listed out!