How to Read for Yourself (Without Overthinking It)

Ready to explore a bit but not sure where to start? Reading for yourself can be a fun way to dip your toes into the world of cards without the need to tap in someone else or shell out some beans for a reading. The good news? You don’t need to be psychic, magical, or even particularly insightful to get started (seriously, I promise).

1. Step 1: Grab a Deck First, you’ll need a Tarot deck. If you’ve got one, great! If not, well…I know a shop that can help. 😉 Choose a deck that catches your eye—bonus points if you like the artwork. (Sidebar: if you've heard that it's bad luck to buy your own deck instead of being gifted one, I think the Universe understands that taking a step toward better understanding yourself isn't a recipe for bad karma...if anything, it's a reason to give you a high five.)

2. Step 2: Pick a Simple Spread Keep it basic. A one-card pull is a classic way to get the ball rolling. Want to get fancy? Try a three-card spread for past, present, and future vibes. No need to memorize spreads—your intuition is your guide. (But if you want a tool to help set you up for success with this, head to the L&L shop to purchase one of my workbooks or download my free spread template!)

3. Step 3: Shuffle and Ask Think of an open-ended question like, "What should I focus on today?" or "What’s something I need to reflect on?" Shuffle the cards in a way that feels good to you. There’s no wrong way to do it.

4. Step 4: Flip a Card and Reflect What do these cards mean to you? What are some aspects associated with their traditional interpretation? And no, you don’t need to know all 78 cards by heart. (This is supposed to be light and fun, right?) There are lots of resources, like my Reflection Bundle, that can help with some key words in a way that is simple and understandable. If that's not your speed, take a wild guess based on the artwork. Tarot is as much about your personal brain sparks and insights as it is about the card meanings.

5. Step 5: Don’t Overthink It Here’s the big secret: your first reading doesn’t have to be groundbreaking. Maybe it sparks an aha moment. Maybe it doesn’t. Either way, you’re learning to tune into yourself...and that’s kind of the whole point.

Ready to take your Tarot adventures to the next level? Check out my shop for fun tools and custom readings designed for skeptics and the curious alike. (Because, let’s face it, figuring this out solo is fun… but a little help never hurts!)