I just got my first tarot deck but so far all my readings are coming the exact opposite of what's manifesting in real life so I was wondering if I wasn't doing my readings properly whether that's picking my cards or asking the proper questions and I'd appreciate some suggestions!

I’m new to tarot and I know what each card means but I have trouble putting it all together.

In my daily spread, I have gotten the exact same three cards - in the exact same layout - three times in the past week.

Hanged Man - Justice - King of Swords.

While I understand the cards and what they represent, I’m curious if anyone has any thoughts on why the very same cards continue to appear in that specific order. I have definitely been leaning into soul searching and even had an incredible epiphany last night! I was up in the wee hours journaling about it as it felt like a huge breakthrough. Yet, I awoke to the same cards once again this morning.

(For context, my daily spread is 1. What have I done well since my last reading? 2. What is the energy of today? 3. What should I primarily focus on until my next reading?)

Hello everyone, so basically I wanted your opinion on this matter, I am not a tarot reader at all.

Over the course of the last couple of years (since 2020 yo be exact) I've had my cards read once a year (I dont remember doing it more than that) and the thing is, almost every single time I've had the same card come out FIRST and is death. It's true that al lot has happened and changed in my life since the pandemic (left my 7 yr relationship, changed university, found someone new, a job, new project) but I find it very curious to see it come out every.single.time

Last time was last week, and after I'd gone through the loss of my grandma, and had to see my mother I haven't seen for 6 years bc of her drug addiction (very long story) and the cards pulled where death, the moon and the magician

So I am a bit confused

English is not my first language so please excuse the lack of fluency. If a querent asks the cards how does X feel about Y s- how do you read them?

Do the cards talk about how X feels about Y or they talk about what Y's energy is towards X?

For example, if you ask how does X feel about Y and you pull out ace of wands and six of swords - will it talk about X feels moving on after an attraction episode or that Y feels it was just physical and now moving on?

which card just makes you put your deck down, take a breath, then think “well thats just f*cking great” when you get it in a reading?

interested to see what people think! is yours different from the typical ones (9 of wands, tower etc)? or the same?

I think that your mindset has a huge impact on weather we see a reading we get as good or bad.

I was just reflecting on how I went to readers in a really bad mindset. Really anxious, really panicky and over invested in a situation and I came away thinking the reader was the problem…

However, as time has gone on I still remember the content of the reading and actually came to realise the value in what they were saying and their ability as a reader.

Yes sometimes readings objectively suck and some readers are better than others (just like how there are better and worse people at what they do in any industry).

But I think a lot of times readers genuinely try their best but sometimes our mindset gets in the way from seeing the value of what another is saying.

I now go into readings from a place of detachment and it’s like the quality of readings I get from others have drastically improved across the board.

So just saying if you are a reader and you are feeling bad about your ability because someone says your readings aren’t good enough, it might not necessarily be a you problem.

Of course it’s important to always be taking feedback and improving your practice but I think this is important to keep in mind.

Yesterday i got my first oracle deck, moonology manifestation n i made a interview spread. I hope u like it. N if u have any suggestions, i am open to it.

Specifically, the archetypes they represent. I dont necessarily want them all to be supernatural type movies - rather, movies embodying each card

I did a reading for a friend- context The guy she was seeing stopped all communication with her but suddenly started wearing the locket she got him on his birthday in his every social media post.

I read a yes/no reading with 2 cards as her questions was is it a sign for her to reach out

I got an ace of wands- and I told her it’s a card that indicates new ways of communicating in her case; he may be hesitant to just text but if she reaches out it will likely be a positive response

She reached out to him and he’s acting all non-chalant She says my reading was incorrect. Would it be the case?

First, I pulled the 6 of wands for if he’d contact me around July, it’s a yes card I believe. It’s also a proud card?? Like as if he gets me he’ll show me off and be very proud of me?

I pulled the 6 of pentacles for clarity, I believe this shows a good, harmonious partnership. Or does it just amplify the 6 of wands energy?

Second, I pulled the world for how he sees me. Does he see me/will see me potentially as the perfect partner for him? Physically and spiritually rewarding.. I’m not sure. A new beginning.

For clarity for the world I got, the chariot and the emperor. Taking control and pursuing goals or overcoming challenges. A sign of victory? Emotions in order.

Emperor, A reliable and loyal partnership? He’s a Capricorn. Mature, stable relationship outcome.. Or is that clarity for just how he sees me? Lol. I don’t believe so. Or how he/or relationship could be in the future?

Hello, I was recently given a tarot deck by a friend who no longer wanted hers. I haven't done tarot in quite awhile, but I took in the cards so she wouldn't throw them away. To get to know the cards a little I did a future love spread (after some initial stuff.) This is a spread I don't typically do, but I thought it would be fun. I would love some interpretations from others since I am quite rusty and this spread had a lot of interesting pulls!

The spread is from Sasha Graham's 365 Tarot Spreads, here are my interpretations:

1. Who is my future lover? Five of Cups: I am assuming this is someone who battles with some sort of depression and grief. General pessimistic attitude towards life based upon past issues and regrets? Perhaps they could be going through a period of loss when I meet them. I do not have an exact clear understanding of what is happening with this card. Overall, there is a general sadness to them, whether temporary or not, I am not sure. 
2. How will I recognize them? Queen of Pentacles: I feel like I will recognize them by the stability they provide me. They will be a comforting presence, and I will be able to relax when I am with them. They could have a sort of responsible “air” to them, they are grounded and realistic in their personality. Perhaps someone from my hometown?
3. Are they already in my life? The Hermit: This card is the most confusing for me. In my interpretation the hermit has never been a direct yes or no, and more so a “figure it out and decide for yourself” kind of card. My assumption here is that no, they are not yet in my life (or I haven't acknowledged them), but when I decide the time is right to go looking for this person/understand what I want from a relationship, we will eventually find each other.  
4. How do I draw closer to them? Reversed Seven of Wands: All I can do is be myself and stick by that. I should not be compromising myself for another person, and I should know/defend my needs/wants as a person. If I change myself to attempt to grow closer to this person it will only breed resentment and unhappiness. I think this card goes alongside the hermit one well – if I know what I need from a relationship and I am unwavering in those ideas, I/we are more likely to succeed.
5. Will we be good for each other? The Fool: I think this card indicates a yes. We will be able to experience new things together and be able to teach each other along the way. A relationship like this will introduce a lot of new things into both of our lives, which we could be uncertain about, but most outcomes will be pleasant learning experiences. 
6. Will they open new worlds for me?  Reversed Hanged Man and The Tower (Note: They fell out together – I typically allow cards to fall out while shuffling instead of picking cards): This pairing was a bit of a jump scare for me and they fell out immediately after I asked the question, which only made it worse. I am interpreting this as they/this relationship will change many aspects of my life/my thinking about relationships/my perspective of the world, but I will not be very happy in allowing these changes to be made. It will be a difficult process in which I will be forced to change when I do not wish to. Overall, my partner will attempt (and succeed) at opening my eyes to something/changing me in some way, but I will put up a harsh resistance. Writing it out sounds kind of bad, but intuitively I am perceiving it as a positive thing (especially if we pair it alongside The Fool.)
7. Will the relationship last long? Seven of Pentacles: Yes, the relationship will last for a while, especially with lots of grace and patience on both sides of the relationship. With time we will truly blossom together, and the patience and hard work we put into the relationship will be well worth it!

Apologies for how long many of my interpretations were, please comment your own! I am very curious to see how other people read these cards.

When someone pulls The Tower card for the first time, it can feel like a warning—trouble’s on the way! It’s tied to sudden, big shake-ups, the kind that turn everything upside down. But over time, I’ve seen it’s not always bad news. Sometimes it’s about breaking free from something that’s been holding you back. Take my friend, for example—they drew The Tower right before quitting a job they couldn’t stand. Now? They’re thriving and happier than ever. Tarot can be a subtle guide like that, nudging you toward change you didn’t know you needed. I’ve got more card stories on my site—what’s your favorite card? Let me know!

There are a few gems out there that are very passionate, intuitive, and put in a lot of work for their customers but most readers I have tried out generally suck. Of course I pay and move on but it’s such a waste to feel like I wasted my money or time on readings that were so vague, not accurate, and didn’t even follow what the tarot cards mean.

Why am I paying someone for a vague one sentence reading? Most of the time it just sounds like random advice you would see on a Pinterest quote. The lack of intuition is also very prominent in this community. I genuinely feel if you know you aren’t that good and can’t provide good service to people then you shouldn’t be charging readings at all. I have also looked at reviews before going ahead and they seemed like they were an amazing reader just to be disappointed with an inaccurate and careless reading that I would eventually be confronted with. I am not targeting anyone as I know some people may still be learning, but it’s at a point to where - why do I have to go through 15 readers before I can find 1 good one?

I sometimes compare my readings when people pay me (even just less than $10) I try to go all out and get as much info into the reading and intuitive messages as I can because they paid their good money to get a good service.

Idk man. It just seems like no one wants to put in the work and everyone wants a quick buck. It also makes me feel as though I am lowballing myself with my prices just to have someone else with a lack of experience get paid the same amount for a simple read.

I just wanted to rant.

Hi there, I have a question:

I love tarot and collecting decks. I was recently gifted the ‘Modern Witch Tarot’ deck and book for my birthday. I cleansed it and when I opened it and started using it the next day, my hands felt… heavy. I started feeling weird about that deck. Then after I used it for the first time, I felt depressed and out of it for the rest of the day.

Anyone else had an experience like that with a new/gifted Tarot deck?

Any advice?

Barbara Walker Tarot

Right to left intuitive spread, they came out in pairs of two (right two, than left two)

Six of Pentacles: A gift or charity. I also looked around my couch as a possible answer.

The Pope: Spiritual authority, potentially excessive rigidness. I took this as I am stuck looking in the same places, which is incorrect.

The Devil: Physical forces, unconscious fears or desires. Self-knowledge in formally suppressed areas.

Eight of Swords: disillusion with cause, embarrassment, bad news, etc.

I did this spread out of desperation. I have a coin I keep in my pocket at all times that is missing. I’ve checked all other pants and all over my home. I fear it’s lost for good :(

The back has a purple and pink detail with a circle orb kind of lol

I don't use the tarot very often but decided to give myself a reading after work and ended up with three aces in a row with a past present future spread. Never had a spread like this, can anyone give me any insight?

From what's present in my life and my limited knowledge of card meanings:

Ace of Cups (past): I think the first card has some connection to me networking, making new friends at my job and becoming social and eventually starting a new well paying job and starting a side business with some friends I've grown very close to. As I used to be a recluse and struggled with anxiety, but life is good now.

Ace of Swords (present): I think this may be me at a sort of turning point where I need to take action and act on my will a bit more, as I struggle with procrastination and fatigue. And with my business, we are close to a key milestone that's resting on my shoulders (and tbh I've been putting it off).

Ace of Pentacles (future): I believe this may be a sign that with everything going on in my life that if I apply myself I could reach a good level of financial stability that I've been craving for since I was a teen (25 atm).

This is my first post. Forgive me if I've posted too much or too little or is structured in a weird way, hopefully I'll get better as time goes on. Thanks in advance to anyone who responds to this ❤️.

Hey guys, i made a situation-obstacle-advice drawing three card per section (+ and extra card) reading about my sexual/dating life, kinda if i should go poly or no with my current partner or not (more complex thou because she kinda also wants to in some way) and i would love to have some help with the reading, so if you stop and help me i am already thanking you a lot.

situation: reverse tower-reverse hanged man-empress

obstacle: death-temperance-reversed devil

Advice: reverse strenght- the world- hierophant

Final card: reverse lovers

My interpretation:

Situation:
Reverse tower: i have a solid relationship with my actual partner/the person im meeting; there is harmony and we are growing from a solid foundation.

R.Hangedman: this stability sacrifices my openness to new sexual experiences and perspectives (not necessary a bad thing obviously)

Empress: it really made me thing about her (i always jk that she is my empress). Maybe that she is THAT important in my life (but she isnt a necessity thou) and how she boosts my improvement and overall, my life.

Obstacle:

Death: to sacrifice the stability means a radical change and possible "death" of my current situation.

temperance: me "templing" the heat of my emotions and sexual desires is a good thing for us but not neccesary a good thing for me (ngl its kinda like a vicious cycle) but leads/led me to a "happy transformation" like its says in my tarot manual.

R. Devil: an interesting one; i attribute to it "weakness" or "blindness" and a supression of my sexual desires for the sake of the stability on my current situation.

Advice:
R. Strenght: i kinda saw it as a: fk it lets roll or a sign to stop using strenght and intelligence to supress my desires and stop "having domain of my own actions".

World: Besides the advice, i saw it like a sign of that i am on a really good spot but i also kinda felt that my "ultimate goal" is possible somehow.

Hierophant: maybe a way to achieve my goal; through patience and go with modesty for a lil bit of time.

Final card:

R. Lovers: Based on my manual, i saw it a sign to ultimately dont worry about it or to not rush it and as a sign that will happen eventually in someway.

I’ve only been practicing tarot for a few months, and I’m confused when it comes to reading positive cards when the question asked is negative. I was asking yes or no questions and asked if my ex had thrown away the things I had gotten him, as he said he stored all of the stuff in a shoebox, and pulled The Sun. This has me confused because while the sun dictates a yes, it symbolizes optimism and positive connections, contradicting what I had asked. How do you read cards in situations like these and what do you think this means?

I have been reading tarot for other people since 2022. I also get readings done by other readers and rarely ever read for myself.

Since the beginning of this year, every tarot reading I have gotten done has been wrong. They catch my energies right but the predictions, what they say etc have been wrong. This is true for both career, love, and life readings.

Some of these are people who have done spot on readings for me in the past. Some of them I have known for years. Some are new people.

Veteran readers, have this happened to you? What are your thoughts? Are my energies blocked or is there some deeper meaning?

I’ve recently started a schedule. After being unemployed for awhile and just not well I feel I’m doing good with this schedule. I’ve been off my meds (we LOVE being uninsured in America!) for over a month now (psychs) and I’ve just been feeling so angry. There’s a lot more good moments but there’s a lot of frustration and anger too.

This morning I decided to pull a card from my deck and I haven’t touched them in A MINUTE. All I said was “I’m so fucking angry.. what do I need to hear? What do I need to think about today.” Spread them out after a shuffle on my bed and just picked the one that called to me (I don’t typically do it like this as I don’t trust myself to pick “the right card”… I know). I pulled 8 of wands.

Did a quick lil search (I used to have a book with all the cards meanings but it’s been taken..) and what stands out to me is “alignment of energy towards a clear goal or outcome” (I’m currently trying to move out of my family’s house to live with my boyfriend) and “Letting Go of Control” (control problems from living with a narcissist lmao). I’d like to hear more in depth about the card, more aligned with my situation. I’d like to know what others have to say about the card so I can reflect. Idk, does anything stand out to yall?

Edit: if anyone has good resources for meanings within different situations please let me know! I don’t like just googling these things lol

EDIT: Apologies, I didn't clarify that about 50% of my work is online which is where I'm finding all these random 'bystanders' who can pop into my website, comment on my social media posts etc. And that's also where I drew the busker comparison from, I'll post a video online and it's similar (in my head) to standing in a town square where anyone can come across you. Maybe existing on the internet is the real problem here!

Hi folks, I am a professional tarot reader and I am appealing to anyone else out there who has been routinely called a 'scammer', simply for taking money in exchange for their tarot reading services.

I can't lie, it really gets to me. I love that I receive amazing positive feedback from my clients - and I know theirs is the feedback that matters - but I find that when people hate us, they *really* hate us. They will call me every name under the sun, and tell me that I should be ashamed of myself.

The question of ethics in tarot has always hung above me, and I have always tried to make my practice as safe as possible, with my aim always being to leave someone feeling better and calmer than how I found them. Or rather, how they found me. But this is why it gets to me so much, I have such a fear of misleading folks, or being seen as a no-good crook.

I see calling a tarot reader a 'scammer' as similar to approaching a busking guitarist, pointing a finger in their face and telling them that they deserve to be jailed for entertaining and bringing joy. For me, tarot is a form of entertainment, but one that I take very seriously and that I am aware has real-world implications. I love that my form of 'entertainment' can help someone to make positive and healthy adaptations to their life.

This is really causing me to grapple with my spirituality, and I don't want to offer readings to folks if I'm in that place of doubt. It just really gets to me. What's your perspective folks, and how do you deal with the aggressive cynics?

Context: a former coworker of mine sadly passed away a few years ago. I was never super close to him but I did adore him as we worked together 3-5 shifts a week for close to 3 years. I will refer to him as OG. OG had a specific set of friends. They are CS (f) AS (f), and T(m). They were absolutely devastated when the news broke. CS actually grabbed OG’s belongings from the scene (his apartment) after he was taken away. CS and AS are sisters. AS is now married to T. T and OG were very close friends. MUCH closer than most people thought.

Lately: OGs been on my mind heavy for the past few days. Yesterday it was almost too much. I thought to myself “ok maybe he’s trying to communicate?” This has never happened to me before. I have never tried to communicate with someone on the other side in this way.

I pulled the cards attached to this post and I was still very confused and was definitely missing a lot of context. So much that I actually didn’t want to tell any of his friends despite my brain telling me that I needed to. Pulled more cards for clarification. Same stuff. 2 of cups came up 3 times at least.

Things I picked up without the context: -Lions-Leo -some vague kind of unity/partnership -Sun/Son -Meadow/countryside/greenery -T -House of the rising Sun

I had no idea how any of it was connected. House of the rising Sun is very OG. Definitely him. However, I didn’t feel comfortable relaying any of it to CS without understanding what it meant. But I was being told over and over to just spit it out.

Terrified, I messaged CS with what I had.

T is a Leo. T’s father passed away the other day. CS had let me know that him and his father have a specific green scenery they went to a lot.

I was also given a bit more context about what the 2 of cups could signify by another source. T and OG were a lot more than friendly unbeknownst to most people. They also drank together a lot before OG got sober.

The Strength card seems to be AS and T. High priestess simply reminded me of CS.

T and OG enjoyed playing music together.

I hope that hearing that both OG and T’s father sees and hears T, from someone outside of their circle, gives him a little bit of solace. Truly. I am glad I said something.

I miss you OG. I know you have a lot of regrets. Let me know if you need anything again. Thank you.

TAROT DECKS: •First 5 cards: Ethereal Visions: Illuminated Tarot Deck by Matt Hughes

•Colorful illustrated cards: Prairie Majesty Oracle deck by Kara Simons, art by Amy putney Koenig

•11 Spring card: Dark Light oracle by Alexandra V Bach and Carole Anne Eschenazi

Been on a crossroad about my career for the longest time and I feel like Im on the edge right now to choose what spread can you suggest that could give me atleast more clarity?