Complete Guide to Tarot Reading Techniques & Tips

🕐10 min read

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this site!

The tarot deck you hold in your hands is not a book of fortunes—it is a living map of symbols, and among its most potent guides are the animals that peer out from the cards. The Fool’s small white dog, the lion under the woman’s hands in Strength, the crab crawling from the waters of The Moon—these creatures are not mere decoration. They carry the weight of ancient bestiaries, of Celtic animal lore, of Egyptian and Hindu reverence for the non-human world. When you learn to read tarot, you are learning to listen to the language of these animals as much as to the numbers and suits. This guide will walk you through the techniques and tips that transform a stack of cardboard into a conversation with the soul, grounding each method in the wisdom of traditions that have long understood that animals speak truth. Whether you are pulling your first card or refining a practice of twenty years, the path ahead is rich with fur, feather, and scale.

Understanding Tarot as a Symbolic Language Rooted in Animal Wisdom

Before you shuffle, you must understand that every tarot card is a miniature ecosystem of symbols. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck, first published in 1909 and still the most widely used deck (over 100 million copies sold worldwide), is particularly dense with animal imagery. Take the Strength card: a woman gently closing the jaws of a lion. In traditional interpretations, this represents courage and inner power. But if you look to the lion’s real nature—a social predator whose pride structure depends on cooperation—you see that the card also speaks to the balance between raw instinct and conscious will. The Celtic tradition often saw the lion as a symbol of sovereignty; in Egyptian mythology, the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet embodied both destruction and healing. When you read this card, ask yourself: which animal is speaking in your life right now, and how are you meeting it?

Similarly, The Moon card features a crayfish emerging from water, flanked by a wolf and a dog. The crayfish is a real creature that lives in the boundary between water and land, shedding its exoskeleton to grow. This molting process mirrors the card’s theme of illusion and fear—things that must be shed for clarity. Native American traditions often view the crayfish as a symbol of renewal, while Hindu mythology associates the moon with the mind and the animal with primal fears. By grounding your reading in these behavioral facts, you move beyond rote meanings into a richer dialogue. A meditation prompt: sit with The Moon card and imagine the crayfish’s journey from water to land. What are you shedding today?

Choosing Your First Deck: Materials, Prices, and Animal Affinities

Not all decks speak the same language. The classic Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck costs between $18 and $25 and uses thick cardstock that holds up to frequent shuffling. Its animal imagery is clear and archetypal. For those drawn to more explicit animal symbolism, consider the Wild Unknown Tarot by Kim Krans (priced around $28–$35), which uses hand-drawn animals for every card—the Fool is a fox, the High Priestess a moth, the World a serpent. This deck strips away human figures entirely, forcing the reader to engage with the creature’s raw energy. Another option is the Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson (approximately $22), which pairs each card with a specific animal guide from traditions including Native American and Celtic lore. Robertson’s companion book provides behavioral facts—for example, the bear’s hibernation cycle mirrors the Hermit card’s introspective journey.

When selecting a deck, consider the weight and finish. Most tarot cards measure 2.75 x 4.75 inches, but some decks like the Thoth Tarot (Aleister Crowley, first published 1969) are slightly larger and use a glossy finish that some find slippery. The Thoth deck incorporates Egyptian and astrological symbolism, with animals like the crocodile (representing the Egyptian god Sobek) appearing in the Adjustment card. Prices for mass-market decks range from $15 to $35; limited editions can exceed $100. For beginners, I recommend starting with the RWS or the Wild Unknown—both have extensive online resources and community support. Avoid decks with overly abstract or minimalist art until you have a solid grasp of the symbolic system; you need the animals to be recognizable to build your intuitive vocabulary.

Preparing Your Space and Mind: Rituals Grounded in Tradition

Your physical environment shapes the quality of your reading. In Celtic tradition, a reading space was often cleansed with smoke from sage or sweetgrass—a practice borrowed from Native American smudging ceremonies, but used with respect and intention. You can replicate this by lighting a single white candle (unscented, or with a natural scent like lavender, which costs about $4–$6 for a pack) and placing a small bowl of salt at the four corners of your table. Salt has been used for purification in Hindu rituals (such as the shuddhi ceremony) and in European folk magic to absorb negative energy. Spend two minutes grounding: breathe in for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four. Visualize roots growing from your spine into the earth.

Moon phases offer a natural rhythm for tarot work. The new moon (which occurs every 29.5 days) is ideal for pulling cards about new beginnings; the full moon (about 14.8 days later) amplifies clarity and revelation. A 2023 survey by the Tarot Association found that 68% of readers incorporate moon phases into their practice. You can align your readings with the moon calendar available at Lunascircle’s moon calendar. Before each reading, hold the deck in your non-dominant hand (the receptive hand) and ask a specific question aloud. This sets the intention. Avoid vague questions like “What will happen?” Instead, ask “What do I need to see about my relationship with my work?” The animals on the cards will respond to the clarity of your request.

Fundamental Reading Techniques: Spreads, Steps, and Animal Anchors

The three-card spread is the most versatile and beginner-friendly. Lay three cards left to right: past, present, future. But instead of interpreting each card in isolation, look for animal connections. For example, if the past card is The Empress (often shown with a lush forest and a lion at her feet) and the present card is The Chariot (with two sphinxes pulling the chariot), ask: what animal energy carried you forward? The sphinx in Egyptian tradition is a guardian of thresholds—are you crossing a threshold now? The lion in The Empress represents fertility and abundance—did you come from a place of creative fullness? This technique, which I call “animal anchoring,” deepens your reading by treating each creature as a character in a story.

For more complex questions, the Celtic Cross spread uses ten cards in a specific layout. Card 1 (the center) represents the present; card 2 (crossing) represents challenges; cards 3–6 (below, behind, above, ahead) form a circle; cards 7–10 (right column) represent self, environment, hopes, and outcome. A 2019 statistical analysis of 500 Celtic Cross readings found that the most common animal card to appear in position 8 (environment) was the Moon (crayfish, wolf, dog), suggesting that readers often feel surrounded by illusion or uncertainty. To perform this spread, shuffle at least seven times (a number sacred in many traditions—seven chakras, seven classical planets). Lay the cards face down, then turn them one by one, noting the animal in each card before reading the full symbolism. This prevents you from jumping to human-centered interpretations too quickly.

Interpreting Reversals: When Animals Turn Upside Down

About 70% of tarot readers use reversed cards, according to a 2022 poll on the subreddit r/tarot. A reversed card means the energy of the upright meaning is blocked, inverted, or delayed. For animal symbolism, reversals can be particularly telling. Consider the Strength card reversed: the lion’s energy is suppressed or misdirected. In the real world, a lion that cannot express its natural dominance may become aggressive or withdrawn. Similarly, the Fool’s dog reversed might indicate a lack of loyalty or a misplaced trust. The technique for reading reversals is simple: first, state the upright meaning; second, ask what is being held back; third, look to the animal’s natural behavior for clues. A wolf (The Moon reversed) that would normally howl to communicate is silenced—perhaps you are not speaking your truth.

Not all readers use reversals, and that is fine. The Thoth deck, for instance, does not include reversed meanings because Crowley believed the card’s position in the spread already conveys nuance. If you choose to read reversals, mark the top of your deck with a small dot of nail polish (costs about $3) so you know which end is up. Alternatively, you can shuffle and let the cards fall as they will, then interpret the angle of the animal’s gaze—if the lion faces left (the past), it may indicate a need to revisit old courage. This technique, called “directional reading,” is rooted in the Celtic practice of reading omens from the flight patterns of birds. The animal’s orientation becomes a message in itself.

Developing Your Intuition Through Animal Meditation and Journaling

Intuition grows with practice, but it can be cultivated deliberately. One powerful method is to pull a single card each morning and spend five minutes meditating on the animal in that card. For the Star card (often with a bird perched on a tree), close your eyes and imagine the bird’s perspective: what does it see from above? What does it drink from the two vessels? In Egyptian mythology, the bird is often a heron or a phoenix, representing rebirth. In Hindu tradition, the bird is a symbol of the soul (atman) freed from earthly bonds. Write three sentences in a journal about the animal’s behavior—use real facts. For example, herons stand still for long periods before striking—what are you waiting to strike at in your life? Over 30 days, you will build a personal lexicon of animal meanings that no book can give you.

Another technique: the “animal dialogue” exercise. Take a card you find challenging (perhaps The Tower, which often shows a lightning-struck tower with falling figures and sometimes a small bird). Sit with the card and ask the animal: “What do you want me to know?” Write the answer without censoring. This method is similar to the shamanic journeying practices of Native American traditions, where the seeker converses with an animal spirit. A 2020 study in the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology found that 82% of participants who practiced guided animal visualization reported increased emotional clarity. The key is to treat the animal as a wise being, not a projection of your own thoughts. If the bird in The Tower says “I am the one who flies away before the collapse,” honor that message. It may reveal a truth about your own survival instincts.

Ethical Considerations: Reading with Respect for All Traditions

Tarot is a tool, not a toy. When you use animal symbolism drawn from Native American, Hindu, Egyptian, or Celtic traditions, you must do so with respect. Never claim that a card represents a “spirit animal” in the Native American sense unless you have been specifically taught by an elder of that tradition. Instead, use phrases like “the energy of the wolf in this card” or “the symbolic lion from medieval bestiaries.” Avoid cherry-picking—for example, using the Egyptian ankh on The Hierophant card without understanding its context within the full pantheon. A good rule: if you cannot name the specific cultural origin of a symbol, research it before reading. The website Lunascircle’s tarot meanings provides cultural context for many cards.

Also, never read for someone without their explicit consent. A 2021 survey by the American Tarot Association found that 94% of professional readers require verbal permission before a session. When reading for others, frame interpretations as possibilities, not certainties. For example, instead of saying “Your job will end,” say “The reversed Five of Pentacles suggests you may be feeling scarcity around work—what support systems can you strengthen?” This respects the querent’s autonomy. Finally, avoid charging exorbitant fees—ethical readers typically charge $30–$60 for a 30-minute session, with sliding scales for those in need. The animal world teaches us reciprocity: the lion hunts to feed its pride, not to hoard prey. Let your readings be a gift of insight, not a transaction of fear.

Advanced Tips and Common Mistakes: Refining Your Craft

Even experienced readers fall into traps. One common mistake is over-reliance on guidebooks. While the Little White Book that comes with a deck (often just 48 pages) is useful, it cannot capture the nuance of a specific card in a specific spread. Instead, create your own card meaning database after 100 readings—you will have seen patterns emerge. For instance, the Queen of Wands often appears with a cat at her feet (in the RWS deck). After 50 readings, you might notice that the cat’s posture (sitting upright) correlates with situations requiring patience. Document these observations. Another mistake: reading too many cards. A ten-card Celtic Cross is powerful, but for daily guidance, one card is enough. A 2018 study on decision-making found that humans process information best in chunks of three to five items—beyond that, interpretation becomes noise.

Advanced technique: the “animal chain” spread. Pull three cards and focus only on the animals in each. For example, The Fool (dog), The Magician (snake on his belt in some decks), and The High Priestess (moon and pillars, sometimes with a cat). Create a narrative: the dog leads you forward, the snake represents transformation, the cat guards hidden knowledge. This bypasses traditional card meanings entirely and trains your intuition. Practice this with a timer—three minutes per spread. After ten such readings, compare them to standard interpretations. You will find that the animal chain often reveals a deeper truth. Remember: the tarot is a mirror of nature, and nature speaks through creatures. The more you listen to the animals in the cards, the more the cards will speak to the animal in you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I read tarot for myself?

There is no universal rule, but most experienced readers recommend no more than once per day for