Frequently Asked Questions about Tarot

On this page you find answers to some questions that are often asked about tarot.

Can I buy my own tarot decks?
Do I need to store my tarot decks in a special way?
Do I have to use reversals?
How do I shuffle a tarot deck?
Does the Death card always indicate a physical death?
How come the Majors are numbered differently in some tarot decks?

I read somewhere that a tarot deck has to be given to you. Does that mean I can't buy my own tarot decks?

This is a very persistent myth and it's just that: a myth. Just buy your own decks. It's actually better, because then you can pick a deck that suits you best. Also, if everyone would have to wait for someone else to buy them a deck, I'm sure there would be a lot less tarot enthusiasts today...

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Does a tarot deck need special care? Do I need to wrap it in special fabric or something?

A tarot deck needs the same care as you would give any other deck of cards or a book. No more than that. After all, tarot cards are just that: cards, made of paper and ink.

A lot of people like storing their decks in special bags made of beautiful fabrics, or in special boxes. That's perfectly fine if you like beautiful bags or boxes, but you don't have to do that; it's not going to change the way the cards work.

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Some people say you have to use reversals, and that you can't do a proper reading without them. Is that true?

There are just as many opinions on this as there are tarot readers... My personal opinion is that you should do what you feel best. Try using them, and if you like using them, do so; if you don't like using them, then don't. If you've only just started using tarot cards, it might be a good idea to leave them out for now and to learn reading the cards with their upright meanings first. By the time you feel comfortable doing that, you can add reversals if you want to.

There are also people who don't use physical reversals (ie. they don't actually reverse the cards), but read some cards as reversed based on the surrounding cards and the question asked.

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Can I shuffle a tarot deck just like a normal deck of playing cards or do I need to follow a specific procedure?

You can shuffle the deck in whatever way you prefer. Some people shuffle the deck and then cut it once or twice. Others have the querent shuffle and cut the deck. Some people fan out the cards and have the querent pick the cards. In other words: there are many different ways and there is no one "right" way.

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If I get the Death card in a reading, does that always indicate a physical death?

No. The Death card often indicates an important ending, for example of a life phase. But it's hardly ever a definitive ending, it is more like a transition: the ending of one phase and the beginning of the next phase. Such an ending can be stressful and upsetting, just like a real death, but it is always followed by something new.

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In some tarot decks, Strength is number 8 and Justice number 11, whereas in other decks it's the other way around. Why is this?

In the original tarot decks, based on the Tarot of Marseilles, the Justice card was number 8 and the Strength card was number 11. This was changed by Arthur Edward Waite in his Rider-Waite Tarot: he made the Strength card number 8 and the Justice card number 11. A lot of modern-day tarot decks are based on the Rider-Waite Tarot, so they have adopted the order used by Waite.

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