How To Pull Tarot Cards (Easy & Comprehensive 10-Step Guide)


Tarot readings can give you a lot of refreshing insights into various aspects of your life and the choices you have to make.

In order to get the most out of your tarot readings, it is important to have a basic understanding of how to pull your tarot cards.

Even though it may look like you need quite a bit of skill, pulling cards is actually far simpler than it looks!

All you need is a tarot deck, some patience and an open mind.

In this blog post, I will explain everything you need to know and go more in-depth into the different ways you can draw cards and what to expect.

On top of that, I will also be providing you with some tips on getting the most accurate reading possible, so sit back and relax and let’s uncover the art of pulling tarot cards together!

This post contains affiliate links.

How To Pull Tarot Cards In 10 Easy Steps

Now first and foremost, let me be clear and say that there are a lot of different ways and methods you can use to pull tarot cards.

Actually, there are no set ways or strict rules as to how you should draw cards as everyone tends to develop their own individual method over time.

Let me share with you my favorite method that I like to use, which you can then use as a starting point and adjust in whichever way you like and feel comfortable with!

1. Calm Your Mind

Begin by gathering your tarot deck in front of you and bringing yourself into a calm and relaxed state.

2. Connect With Your Cards

Take a few moments to bond and connect with your tarot cards, either through meditation or simply by holding them into your hands.

How to pull tarot cards

3. Focus On Your Question

Once you feel comfortable and relaxed, focus your mind on the question that you want to ask your cards or a specific situation on which you’d like to receive clarity and helpful insights.

4. Start Shuffling

Start by shuffling the deck of cards and ask your question or focus on a situation in your life that you’d like to gain insight on (you can do this in your mind).

5. Intuitively Connect With Your Deck

Intuitively decide how many times you would like to shuffle the cards and communicate this with your deck and your higher self.

For example, I personally like to shuffle the deck 3 times and then pick the card from the top.

I keep repeating the strong belief in my mind that this is the card that will answer my question or provide insight into what I have been focusing on.

If cards happen to fly out of the deck while you are shuffling, you can either decide to put them back in the deck or use them as “extra” cards that later on can give you additional information on the main card you’re about to pull.

However, if you are just starting out, I would advise you to put them back for now as it may just cause unnecessary confusion (especially if half of the deck falls out..).

6. Pull A Card

Once you are done shuffling the cards for the amount of times you have intuitively chosen, pick the top card from the deck and place it in front of you. 

How to pull tarot cards

7. First Impressions

Take your time to look at the card, notice the details and color of the card.

Also try to associate your intuition with the card itself.

What do you feel it is trying to tell you?

8. Study Your Card

Read through the interpretation or meaning of the card and see how it relates to you.

Often tarot decks come with a handy guidebook that explains the meaning of each card, but you can also look up each card’s meaning online (on my website you’ll find a lot of different types of interpretations and meanings for each card! Feel free to check out the tarot section)

9. Let The Message Sink In

Once you are done with one card, take a few moments to be still or meditate on it to truly let is message sink in.

10. Repeat The Process

If you are looking to receive more insights or answers, feel free to repeat this process as any times as you would like. 

You can also try out a specific tarot spread (more on that further down this blog post!).

Hey there my dear Cosmic Companion, thanks for being part of the Calming Cosmos tribe 💖! 

I am so glad you’re here & I hope you find my website enlightening and informative.

Even though I am devoted to share as much knowledge and insights as I can on this blog, nothing compares to experiencing your own personal tarot reading.

The depth, clarity and unique insights of a professional tarot reading can be truly transformative.

Whether you’re just getting started with tarot or you’ve been using this amazing tool for years, every reading has its own special gifts.

That’s why I’m so excited that my favorite online tarot platform Mystic Sense is now offering 5 minutes free for your first reading!

A personal tarot reading can help you:

Gain clarity on a specific situation.

Take action to create positive change.

Tap into your inner wisdom.

Understand the deeper meaning of your spiritual journey.

Connect to a sense of peace, joy and self-discovery.

Open the door to new opportunities & possibilities.

I know there are many online tarot reading platforms out there, but Mystic Sense truly stands out.

Their easy-to-use website, experienced readers and outstanding customer service is second to none (not to mention, the glowing reviews from satisfied customers speak for themselves!).

So go ahead & give them a try, take advantage of this amazing offer and explore the mysteries of your inner Universe.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Popular Tarot Spreads For Pulling Cards

Tarot spreads are a way to layout the cards in order to gain insight into your life and the situation that you asked about.

Let’s go over some of the most popular spreads to pull cards and what to expect from each one:

The Single Card Spread

The Single Card spread is a great way to get specific answers about a particular question or situation.

You will simply draw one card and see what it has to say about your situation.

You can do this in many different ways, but the simplest is to shuffle your deck and then draw one card.

This can be done by placing all the cards face-down in front of you and then reaching out and picking one up or by just selecting one from the top of the deck after you’ve done some initial shuffling.

As stated earlier in this blog post, I personally prefer to focus on intuitively selecting a card when I feel ready to do so.

I find it really helps me get a more accurate reading as me and the cards are energetically aligned.

It may take a bit of practice to be able to feel when it is the right moment to pull a card, but it is a great way to become more connected to the cards and ultimately receive better readings and answers.

The Three Card Spread 

The Three Card spread is a popular and relatively easy spread for getting insights about (for example) your past, present and future.

Once you’ve pulled 3 cards (for which you can use my method mentioned above), you will lay out three cards in a row and draw a conclusion based on the symbolism and meaning of each card.

Three Card tarot spread

When laying out the cards, start out with the first card representing your past (if your 3 card spread happens to be a past-present-future one).

The place your second card, which will represent your present situation.

The third card will represent the future.

Once you have the cards laid out, take a few moments to observe them and see what stories they seem to tell.

This is a great spread for getting a general idea of what is currently going in your life, what you may be overlooking and where you may be headed based on this current snapshot in time.

The Celtic Cross Spread

The Celtic Cross spread is a bit more complex and advanced, but it can provide you with valuable insights into your inner self and life path.

You will lay out ten cards in a cross formation and look at their positions to discover what they mean for your situation.

Celtic Cross tarot spread

The 10 cards are laid out as follows:

Card 1: The Situation

Card 2: Current obstacles

Card 3: Beliefs

Card 4: Root of the issue / the past

Card 5: The present

Card 6: The near future

Card 7: The power you have in this situation

Card 8: People around you / effects of your environment

Card 9: Your hopes and fears

Card 10: The outcome of the situation

Once you’ve intuitively pulled your cards and have them all laid out, take some time to look at them and see how they interact with each-other

Slowly but surely, you will start to see that the cards are telling you a clear story.

This spread is an excellent way to gain insight into your life as whole as it takes into account many different aspects of a specific situation.

However, this is quite an advanced spread and can definitely take some time to get used to and understand completely so it is best not to attempts it until you feel comfortable with basic tarot card readings and spreads.

How To Pull A Tarot Card For The Day

If you are just looking for some quick insight into your day, you can use the daily one-card draw.

This is a simple yet effective way to get an overall sense of what the day ahead may bring (and a great way to get more in touch with your intuition as you will start to notice the signs throughout your day!)

To start, simply shuffle your deck and draw one card for the day once you feel this is the card that is going to deliver the message you need to receive.

Once you have your card, take some time to observe it more closely and discover the message it is trying to get across to you.

You can also look up the meaning of the card in a tarot guidebook or online so that you can get an even clearer understanding of it.

No matter how you go about it, the daily one-card draw can be a great way to receive quick insights into the day ahead.

Above all, have fun with it!

Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Tarot Reading

There are a few things you can do to ensure that you get the most fulfilling and accurate reading possible.

Here are my top tips!

Find A Calm Environment 

When you are about to read your cards, it is important to be in a relaxed state of mind.

Make sure the environment around you is calm and peaceful and won’t have too many distractions.

Have A Specific Question In Mind

Having a specific question in mind can help guide your reading and give you more precise and direct answers.

If you’re not sure what to ask and are looking for some inspiration, make sure to check out this other blog post I wrote that goes over 101 questions you can ask your cards.

And if you’re more into love themed readings, this blog post that covers 61 love & relationship questions will be right up your alley!

Ground Yourself

Grounding yourself before you start your reading can help you to feel connected and present in the moment, which in turn will lead to more accurate readings.

I personally like to do a simple meditation to help ground myself before I start a reading.

Take Your Time

Tarot readings should be taken slowly and mindfully.

Don’t rush through it, but instead take the time to ponder over each card and its meaning.

You will see that when you take your time, the answers will become much clearer.

Write Down Your Thoughts

Writing down your thoughts after a reading can help you to remember what the cards have revealed and also provide a reference point whenever you’d like to look back on past readings and connect the dots.

Trust Your Intuition

Always trust your intuition when selecting cards or interpreting their meaning.

Your intuition is an extremely valuable guide and helps to provide accuracy in readings.

If at any point during a reading you feel like you need to pause and re-evaluate, don’t be afraid to do so. 

You know yourself and your situation best, and trusting your intuition will ultimately always lead you to the right answers.

Use A Deck That Resonates With You

Each tarot deck is unique, so it’s important to use one that resonates with you the most. 

When selecting a deck, I personally like to focus on the art work and allow myself to be drawn to whichever one speaks to me. 

I find that this usually indicates which deck will provide me with the most accurate insights and answers! 

Other Questions You May Have

Which Hand Should I Use When Pulling Cards?

Most tarot readers use their non-dominant hand when pulling cards as this is said to be more intuitive.

However, it is always up to you and whichever method you feel most comfortable and connected with.

What you believe will work for you personally is the most accurate and effective way to do your readings.

Should I Let Other People Touch My Tarot Cards?

It is not advised to let other people handle your cards as their energy could affect the accuracy of your readings.

If you do need to let someone else handle your cards, make sure to cleanse them afterwards with a smudging ritual, crystals or a meditation before you use them for yourself.

Final Thoughts

Tarot readings can be a very powerful and enlightening spiritual tool for gaining valuable insights into your personal life path.

Taking the time to learn how to pull and read tarot cards and understanding the unique stories they tell can help to provide clarity and a sense of guidance on your life journey.

Pulling tarot cards can also be a great exercise in tuning into your intuition and trusting your deepest instincts. 

Whether you are just beginning on your tarot journey or are already an experienced reader, the key is to practice and have confidence in your own methods and interpretations.

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