How to Do a Tarot Reading for Someone Else: Step-by-Step Guide

Tarot reading is a powerful tool for gaining insight, clarity, and guidance. While many people use Tarot for personal reflection, reading for someone else brings its own set of challenges and rewards. It requires not only knowledge of the cards but also empathy, intuition, and communication skills. This article offers a comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide to reading Tarot for others with confidence and integrity.

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1. Understand the Responsibility

Before diving into a Tarot reading for someone else, it’s essential to acknowledge the responsibility involved. You are offering insight that might influence someone’s thoughts, emotions, or even life decisions. This means approaching each reading with respect, empathy, and ethical awareness.

Key principles:

• Be honest, not harsh.

• Don’t predict fixed futures. Tarot reveals possibilities, not certainties.

• Maintain confidentiality.

• Avoid medical, legal, or financial advice. Refer professionals for those matters.

2. Build Your Foundation

Know Your Cards

You should be familiar with the meanings of the 78 cards in the Tarot deck — 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards. While memorization helps, deeper understanding comes from practice, journaling, and intuitive interpretation.

Practice Regularly

Practice reading for yourself or friends before offering readings to others. Use different spreads and notice patterns. With time, you’ll develop your own reading style.

Cleanse and Connect

It’s helpful to cleanse your deck before each reading using smoke (sage or incense), moonlight, or crystals like selenite. This resets the energy, especially before reading for someone else.

3. Prepare for the Reading

Create a Comfortable Space

The environment affects the energy of a reading. Choose a quiet, clean area where you won’t be interrupted. Light a candle, play soft music, or bring out crystals — whatever helps you and the querent (person receiving the reading) feel calm and focused.

Set Intentions

Before starting, center yourself. Take a few deep breaths and mentally set your intention to provide clarity and insight. You may also ask the querent to silently set their own intention.

Choose the Right Deck

If you have multiple Tarot decks, choose one that feels right for the person or the question. Some decks are better suited to introspection, others to action or relationships.

4. Ground and Connect with the Querent

Establish Trust

Start with a friendly conversation. Ask if they’ve had a Tarot reading before. If not, explain how it works and clarify that the cards are a tool for reflection and self-awareness.

Ask an Open-Ended Question

Have the querent state their question or concern. Avoid yes/no questions. Encourage questions like:

• "What do I need to understand about this situation?"

• "What blocks are standing in my way?"

• "How can I improve my relationship with X?"

This allows the Tarot to offer layered, meaningful guidance.

5. Choose a Spread

Popular Spreads for Reading for Others:

• Three-Card Spread – Past / Present / Future or Situation / Challenge / Advice.

• Celtic Cross – In-depth view of a situation, ideal for more complex questions.

• Relationship Spread – For exploring dynamics between two people.

• Decision Spread – Helps clarify the pros and cons of two choices.

Choose a spread based on the complexity of the question and your comfort level.

6. Shuffle and Draw the Cards

Involve the Querent

Let the querent shuffle the cards if they’re comfortable. If not, you can shuffle while focusing on their question. Cut the deck and draw the cards face down.

Trust your intuition on how many cards to draw and how to arrange them. Some readers fan the cards and let the querent pick. Others draw from the top after cutting.

7. Interpret the Cards

Use Intuition + Knowledge

As you lay out the cards, take a moment to observe them as a whole. What stands out? Are there repeating symbols, suits, or themes? Share what each card traditionally means, then connect it to the querent’s situation.

For example:

• The Tower might indicate sudden change — but is it destructive or liberating? Let context guide you.

• The Lovers could mean a romantic relationship — or a major life choice.

Encourage Dialogue

Engage the querent. Ask, “Does this card remind you of anything?” or “How do you feel about this message?” Readings become richer when the querent participates.

Be Honest and Gentle

If a card presents a challenge, don’t sugarcoat — but deliver the message kindly. Offer guidance rather than doom. For example, instead of saying, “This means heartbreak,” say, “This card suggests a painful truth may be emerging, and you might be called to grow through it.”

8. Offer a Summary

Once all cards are interpreted, tie the reading together. Reflect on the central themes, patterns, and lessons. This helps the querent see the big picture and leave with clarity.

A good summary might sound like:
“Overall, your reading suggests you’re at a crossroads. You’re being asked to let go of old patterns and step into your power. The cards encourage patience, self-trust, and honest communication in your relationships.”

9. Empower the Querent

Tarot should leave people feeling empowered, not fearful. Remind them they have free will and that the cards reveal potentials — not absolutes. Suggest journaling or meditation to further reflect on the messages.

Avoid making decisions for them. Instead, say things like:

• “This card suggests…”

• “You might want to consider…”

• “One possible interpretation is…”

Always leave the power in their hands.

10. After the Reading

Cleanse the Deck

Clear the energy from the cards before storing them. You can knock on the deck, pass it through smoke, or use a cleansing crystal.

Reflect and Rest

Reading for others can be energetically draining. Drink water, ground yourself, and take time to reflect. Journaling about the reading (especially if you're a professional) helps track your progress and accuracy.

Bonus Tips for a Great Tarot Reading

Trust Yourself

Doubt is normal, especially at first. But overthinking can block intuition. Trust the images, symbols, and words that come up. The more you practice, the more confident you'll become.

Practice Ethical Boundaries

Avoid reading for someone without their permission (e.g., reading about a third party without consent). Respect energetic privacy.

Keep Learning

Even seasoned Tarot readers keep growing. Read books, take classes, or join Tarot communities online. Sharing interpretations and techniques expands your understanding.

Final Thoughts

Reading Tarot for someone else is a beautiful act of service — a mix of intuition, compassion, and storytelling. When done with care, it becomes a space for transformation and self-awareness.

Remember, you’re not predicting the future. You’re holding up a mirror. Through the cards, people can see what they already know deep down. And that’s where the real magic happens.

Recommended Resources:

• Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack

• Tarot for Yourself by Mary K. Greer

• Biddy Tarot’s blog and card meanings

If you're called to read for others, start small. With practice and heart, your readings can become a guiding light for those seeking clarity.

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Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.