How to Read Tarot With Playing

Cards
Updated on September 27, 2018

Bev G 
 more

I'm a professional tarot reader, but when I don't have a tarot deck with me, I
can use a deck of playing cards to provide a useful reading.

How to use playing cards to read tarot.

Can You Use Playing Cards to Read Tarot?

You don't need a special deck of tarot cards to perform divination—a deck of ordinary playing
cards will suffice. I'm a professional tarot reader, but when I don't have a tarot deck with me, I
might use a deck of playing cards to provide a useful reading.

A regular tarot deck has an extra set of cards called the Major Arcana that give extra depth and
power to the meaning of the spread (layout of the cards). These qualities will obviously be
missing when reading with playing cards, but you can still gain some insight.
Which playing card suit corresponds to which tarot card suit?
It's a little bit harder to read playing cards since apart from the court (royal figures) cards, there
are no images to guide you. This makes the numbers and the suits more important. Hearts
represent cups, spades are swords, diamonds translate to pentacles, coins, or discs, and
clubs represent wands, rods, batons, or staves.We will get to the number properties in the
next section.

Meanwhile, you might be looking for a quick list of playing card tarot meanings.

Playing Cards Tarot Correspondence

Emotions, feelings,
Hearts Cups
relationships

Thinking,
Spades Swords
communication

Pentacles, Coins, or Practicalities, material

Diamonds
Discs world

Wands, Rods,
Clubs Creativity, action
Batons, or Staves

How to Read Playing Cards

Hearts (like cups) represent the realms of emotions and feelings.
Heart cards cover not just love but the whole range of human emotion, from despair and
powerlessness to contentment and joy. Hearts are very often also represent relationships
because relationships engender the full range of emotions.

Spades (like swords) are connected to all aspects of thinking and

communication.
Spades represent 'head-stuff', if you like. So lying would come under the rule of spades, as would
writing, studying, and decision-making. Spades and swords are also associated with taking
(constructive or destructive) action, like making changes, using force, asserting power, displaying
ambition, having courage, or facing conflict.

Diamonds (like pentacles, coins, or discs) can offer insight into the
practicalities of life.
Diamonds reflect all practical, material aspects, including home, work, business, projects,
property, and money—all the things we can touch, and yes again, relationships, but from a
practical viewpoint. Diamonds may also indicate health issues.

Clubs (like wands, rods, batons, or staves) are action cards.

Clubs may be a call to action in the realms of creativity, business, intellect, or relationships. They
represent action, adventure, risk-taking, or competition. They can also refer to physical or spiritual
energy, inspiration, intuition, ambition, and growth.
Spades—like swords in a tarot deck—are connected to all aspects of thinking and communicating.

CARTOMANCY (noun): fortune-telling by

interpreting an array of playing cards
What Numbers Mean in Tarot Cards
Knowing the properties of numbers will give you a solid framework on which to base all card
readings, whether they be playing cards or tarot. Remember that each attribute has a positive
and negative aspect. For example, fours mean stability but they can also mean feeling stuck.

 Ace: Beginnings (aces are always positive and always represent the new)
 Two: Balance (or delays, waiting)
 Three: Connection (or division, mixed-up communication, plans gone awry)
 Four: Stability (feeling stuck)
 Five: Disturbance (or challenges that can lead to expansion)
 Six: Harmony (or the lack of or yearning for it, but sixes are rarely negative)
 Seven: Mystery (or being overly concerned with superficialities)
 Eight: Movement (or lack of movement, stagnation)
 Nine: Growth (or satiety)
 Ten: Completion (or new beginnings, or new endings, too)

Combining the Suits With the Numbers

We now have two points of reference for each playing card: its suit and its number. The following
table will help you interpret each card. However, the depth of a reading depends upon your skills
of seeing stories in the cards, linking them together, and judging how one might influence
another. Those skills will only come with practice.

Also keep in mind that these interpretations are necessarily brief, and you can extend them to
encompass related concepts. For example, the three of hearts might indicate a party, the four of
clubs might mean a wedding or a change of residence (each event is the culmination of a period
of hard work). Be creative in your interpretations.

How to Use Playing Cards as Tarot Cards for

Divination and Fortune Telling
  Hearts Spades Diamonds Clubs

New New idea,

New insights, New project,
Ace friendship, business,
realizations job, home, win
romance action

Juggling
Planning
Deepening Failure to resources,
Two and
attraction communicate waiting on
preparation
results

Joy in Miscommunicatio
Teamwork,
Thre company, n, Leadership,
improving
e friendship, misunderstandin exploration
skills
celebration g

A goal
Turning Recuperation, Miserliness,
achieved,
Four inwards, recovery, possessivene
rest from
apathy contemplation ss
action

Loss of
Discord, Competition,
Loss, possessions
Five dishonor, hollow disagreemen
despair or job or
victory t, irritation
money

Childhood,
nostalgia, Giving or
Moving on, Victory,
good receiving
travel, mentally achievement
Six memories, money, a pay-
getting to a better , passing
an old rise, obtaining
place exams
friendship resources
resumes

Daydreamin Lying, Reassessmen

Defense,
Seve g, wishful deceitfulness, t, turning
conviction,
n thinking, theft, point, mild
strong belief
choices irresponsibility dissatisfaction

Eight Emotional Illusion of being Paying Organization

detachment, trapped, attention to , moving
   Hearts Spades Diamonds Clubs

leaving love detail, focus, quickly,

behind, practice pregnancy
powerlessness
making a
hard choice

Satisfaction, Continuing a
Independence
sensual Nightmares, battle,
, self-reliance,
Nine pleasure, problems, worry, endurance,
increasing
spiritual guilt physical
wealth
growth strength

Great wealth, Carrying

Contentmen Giving up,
family burdens,
Ten t, fulfilment, victimization,
property, responsibility
joy, family martyrdom
inheritance , debt

Before you do a reading, it's important to remember that someone might be upset by

a disturbing one, so always keep your interpretations upbeat and emphasize that it's

just for fun.

The face cards in a regular playing card deck correspond to cards in a tarot deck.

The Court Cards

The court or face cards (Jacks/Knaves, Queens, and Kings) can be read in two ways—they can
either represent general personality traits or they can point towards real people. You have to work
out which applies in the context of each particular reading.
What the Face Cards Represent
  Hearts Spades Diamonds Clubs

Reliable,
Falls in
Rebel, fights hard- Unreliable,
love
Jack/Knav for a cause, working, hotheaded,
easily,
e intellectual, quiet, risk taker,
romantic,
political hidden athletic
chatterbox
depths

Sharp, Energetic,
Practical,
Emotional, intelligent, career-
warm,
Queen dependent ruthless, minded,
dependable,
, empathic insightful, untidy,
motherhood
organized disorganized

Self-made,
Wise, business Creative,
Introspective,
tolerant, owner forceful,
ethical,
King diplomatic, encouraging entrepreneuria
communicator
feeling, , enjoys the l charismatic,
, stern
patient fruits of his hot-tempered
labors, jolly

The Joker
The Joker is the equivalent of the Fool in the tarot and, as such, it means unlimited potential, a
simultaneous ending and beginning, taking a big risk but having trust that all will be well. In many
decks, the Fool is depicted as a young, carefree-looking man standing on the edge of a precipice.
It is a powerful card. It would be a good idea to mark this card to indicate a 'right way up' or a
'wrong way up', so that it can show the reverse meanings of folly and foolishness.
The Joker can be used to represent the Fool (this one from the 1909 Rider-Waite deck).  | Source

Full List of Playing Card Tarot Interpretations

To help you learn and understand the cards, I've created a page: List of Meanings for Playing
Card Tarot. By necessity they are short, but with practice, you can expand on them and learn how
to interpret them to fit the question and situation.

How to Learn to Read Tarot Cards

 Begin with one-, two-, and three-card readings.
 Practice by reading cards for situations you read about in the press or on TV.
 Pick a random card each day and see how you can connect it to your daily trials and
tribulations, triumphs and joys.
 Read for friends by all means but emphasize that it is for fun and practice.
 Don't try serious readings until you feel competent.
 Learn how to lay out a spread—the position of a card in the spread will modify its
meaning.
 Above all, enjoy the learning experience and do go and buy yourself a real tarot deck!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in a tarot deck?
There are 78 cards in a standard tarot deck, which includes both the Major and Minor Arcana.
  There are 56 suit cards in the Minor Arcana: Ace (one) through 10 and four face cards.
 There are also 22 "trump" cards in the Major Arcana.
There are 52 cards in a standard playing card deck, plus a Joker, so if you don't have a tarot
deck, you'll be playing without the knights and most of the Major Arcana.

What is the Major Arcana?

The Major Arcana, also known as the trump cards, are 22 picture cards that have archetypal and
allegorical meanings and divine Egyptian, kabbalistic, and/or Jungian interpretations. Some
suggest that these cards correspond to the stages of life (that begins with 0, the Fool, standing on
the precipice). They usually employ a Roman numeral (from 0 to 21) to visually separate them
from the Minor Arcana. For example, 1 is the Magician... and 21 is the World.

If I'm doing a tarot reading with playing cards, which cards represent Death,
the Hanged Man, the Tower, etc?
Since a regular playing card deck doesn't include the Major Arcana (except the Fool, 0,
represented by the Joker), you won't be using those cards.

Please note: the Question & Answer section below is for queries about how to learn to read the cards. It's
not for requesting free readings, or for me to interpret your cards for you. That's your job :)

As you probably guessed, hearts correspond with cups in a tarot deck and represent the realms of
emotions and feelings.

If you want an in-depth reading, it is best to consult a professional tarot reader with a

good reputation.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Ask

 Question:
How do I cleanse tarot cards to rid them of negative energy?
Answer:
Sometimes all you need to do is a really good, prolonged shuffle.
 Alternatives are: swap to a different deck and let the first one rest. Placing a crystal on
top would also help. Spread them out on a windowsill in the moonlight and leave them
over night. Pass the whole deck through the smoke of a candle.
Also remember that if you feel yucky after a reading, try washing your hands in cold
water and shake them outside. Have a drink of water too.
Helpful 24

 Question:
I don't understand the Six of Diamonds. What are a few ways I can interpret this
card when reading for tarot?
Answer:
The Six of Diamonds is connected to the Six of Pentacles in the tarot. It generally means
reaching a better place after discomfort or material challenge. It also means giving and
receiving help and support.
Here is a complete list of the card meanings: https://exemplore.com/fortune-
divination/List-of-P...
Helpful 29

 Question:
How many tarot cards do you put down to read?
Answer:
That depends on your question. If you want a yes/no answer, then one will do. If you
need more information then a structured spread will be necessary.
I have some suggestions here:
https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...
https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...
https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Reading-P...
Hope they are useful to you.
Helpful 9

 Question:
I've starting tarot reading at a young age. People say I've been able to read their
past, present, and future (they come back and tell me it came true). I was
wondering if I should continue this?
Answer:
Well, I would discourage you. For the simple reason that you just haven't lived enough
life to be able to advise other people. It's really easy to cause horrible damage with one
ill-thought-out remark. You really don't know how it can affect sensitive or anxious folk.
For your own well-being, I would wait until you are older.
Helpful 24

 Question:
Should I use one or two decks of playing cards? Does the ten of clubs mean my
boyfriend is cheating?
Answer:
 Use one deck otherwise you will get confused. An experienced reader may use two
decks for a particular kind of spread, but that is rare.
The Ten of Clubs doesn't mean your boyfriend is cheating. However, it probably means
the relationship is coming to a natural end. The energy of the Ten of Clubs is heavy and
slow. However, if you are both determined to work at it, you could revive it.
Read these articles for further information:
https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/List-of-P...
https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Reading-P...
https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...
Helpful 11
 Question:
How do I set up the tarot cards?
Answer:
When reading playing cards, shuffle them thoroughly, cut the deck in half with your non-
dominant hand and swap the two halves over. Turn as many cards as you want and
interpret them.
More information here: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...
Helpful 11

 Question:
Can playing cards read as tarot give answers/interpretations that are more in-
depth than those described in this article?
Answer:
Absolutely. It would be...
Helpful 3

 Question:
Is it weird that my brother does tarot and gave me a tale of pregnancy and
motherhood when he read me with his tarot cards? When I read with a regular
deck, I got both of them: the 8 of Clubs and then the Queen of Diamonds.
Answer:
Is it weird? Well, no. That's the whole point of cartomancy to reflect what is happening in
your life. Sometimes you will get different readings, depending on the energy and other
things going on with you.
It wouldn't even have to be the same cards. For instance, in tarot, there are lots of cards
connected to pregnancy and children: The Empress, Six of Cups (Six of Hearts), and
Page of Cups. Often a combination of cards might hint at a baby or new family member:
Ace of Cups and Ace of Wands, or Ace of Cups and Ten of Cups/Ten of Pentacles
(Diamonds).
Helpful 7

 Question:
My two daughters and I shuffled a deck of cards and we all picked the Queen of
Hearts. What does that mean in terms of tarot?
Answer:
 It means you are all three surrounded by the lovely, gentle energy of the Queen of
Hearts. She's equivalent to the Queen of Cups in tarot, so if you'd like to learn more
about her you could read this: https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/Court-Card...
I wonder if one of you could identify with the character of the Queen? It means that you
are emotionally supportive and sort of the glue that holds you together.
Helpful 4

 Question:
I am doing a tarot course where Pentacles is linked to Clubs, but do you have
Pentacles with Diamonds?
Answer:
Yes, that's right. Clubs is the most 'negative' suit and thus is aligned with Swords.
It's fine to have a different system because the right cards will turn up for you when you
do your readings. There are systems in tarot that hold that Swords = fire and Wands =
Air. That doesn't work for me, but it does for many readers. As I say, you will still be able
to perform your readings as good as any other reader.
Helpful 1

 Question:
Do you recommend a set of tarot cards, or could you advise on how to pick a
deck?
Answer:
For beginners, it would always have to be the Rider-Waite or a close variation. And that's
because there is so much written material for that deck. It's the deck that most readers, I
would guess, carry in their heads. So learn with that one, then take that knowledge and
apply it to the next deck with all the additional insights from the new deck's creator. In
that way, with each new deck you work with, you'll be building a comprehensive body of
knowledge almost without any effort.
I have a guide to purchasing tarot decks here:
https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/How-and-Wh...
Helpful 3

 Question:
How many cards you put down for a reading?
Answer:
As many as your question requires. If you want a simple yes/no answer, then it's best to
stick with one. If your situation is complicated enough to warrant several questions, or
aspects, such as past, present, and future, then you'll have to use more.
I have some ideas for spreads here: https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/Playing-
Ca...
Here's an article about yes/no spreads: https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/Playing-
Ca...
Reading playing cards for love: https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/Reading-Pl...
Helpful 2

 Question:
 Can playing cards tell me if I've been lied to?
Answer:
Yes the cards can tell you. Grab a pack of playing cards and head over
here: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...
Helpful 2

 Question:
What does it mean when the cards read 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8?
Answer:
It means you haven't shuffled them thoroughly. If they are mixed suits, then they become
quite significant and can indicate a journey or progression through a life lesson. Without
knowing the question/situation I can't tell you anymore.
Helpful 2

 Question:
If using playing cards for tarot, what does it mean if the Ace and Three of
Diamonds fell out while I was shuffling the deck?
Answer:
It could mean there's a gift or promotion on the way.
Helpful 2

 Question:
How do I pull and lay my tarot spread?
Answer:
This might help: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...
And I also have this article: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-to-De...
Helpful 2

 Question:
How do I shuffle playing cards for tarot?
Answer:
There is no one way to shuffle tarot cards. Go with what feels best to you. Some people
smoosh them on a flat surface, some hold half the deck in one hand and ease the other
half into them. Others, like me, prefer the casino-style shuffle, where you cut them in half,
place them face-down, and flick them so they 'mesh.' I do that a few times until they feel
ready. I then cut them with my left (receptive) hand and swap the two parts over. Here's
a page that might help: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/How-to-De...
Helpful 2

 Question:
Do I need to bless my playing cards before using them for tarot readings?
Answer:
Only if you want to. They are just cardboard with symbols on them. They are not magic.
The magic comes when your intuition interprets the symbols. I have over 50 tarot decks,
and I don't bless them either, although I do whisper a little 'thank you' to the universe
after a good reading.
Helpful 2
 Question:
What does the reversed Joker mean in a tarot reading?
Answer:
If you choose to use the Joker, you can mark the card so that you have an upright and
reversed option.
Should the reversed Joker turn up in a reading, it means the energy of the upright card is
weakened or made negative. It depends on the situation and question. Common
reversed meanings are folly, stupid risk-taking, making mistakes, impulsive, reckless,
etc.
Helpful 1

 Question:
How many playing cards should I draw for a good answer?
Answer:
That depends on the question and your level of reading skill. If you want a straight
answer to a straight question, then stick with one card. If your situation is more complex,
then you need to think about a spread: https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-
C...
For example, for a love reading, you might draw two cards to represent two people's
point of view. Or how about something like 1. How he feels, 2. How she feels and 3. The
future of the relationship.
The only thing I would not recommend it to draw too many cards, as it will simply lead to
confusion.
Helpful 1

 Question:
How many cards do I deal?
Answer:
That depends on the question. If you are looking for a short answer, you only need one
card. If you are doing a complex reading, then use as many as you need to. I have more
information on spreads for playing cards here:
https://exemplore.com/fortune-divination/Playing-C...
Helpful 1

 Question:
When reading tarot cards, what do the 10 diamonds mean if in reverse?
Answer:
There aren't any reversed cards when reading playing cards. It's possible to mark them
but there's no point really. All the meanings are contained in the 'upright' orientation.
Helpful 1

 Question:
Is tarot card reading a form of magick?
Answer:
 Yes and no. There is nothing magical about the cards, after all they are just mass
produced cardboard. The magic happens when the images connect with your intuition to
form a message or conclusion.
Helpful 1

 Question:
In a tarot reading, if the card is reversed, would it mean the opposite?
Answer:
There aren't any reversals with regular playing cards as they are the same both ways. It
is possible to mark them so that you have the chance of reversed cards showing up.
Reversed cards can mean the opposite, but they are more likely to show that the energy
of the upright meaning is weakened or 'malformed'.
So taking the Ace of Hearts as an example, it could mean that a new friendship doesn't
get going properly, or that the 'friend' isn't really a friend, or the new romance is dead in
the water. As always, context is everything.
Personally I rarely read with reversals, even with tarot cards, as I think that all the
meanings are available in the upright cards. It's all in there, and if my intuition whispers
that the card's negative aspects are more suited to the interpretation, then that's what I
go with.
Helpful 1

 Question:
What does the reversed Ace of Hearts mean?
Answer:
Usually, there are no reversed (upside-down) playing cards as they are the same from
both ends. However, you can mark them to add the extra dimension of reversals.
The reversed Ace of Hearts is the same as the Tarot Ace of Cups. It can mean that love
has flowed away, or that a new attraction is not quite so strong as it first appeared.
Sometimes, it merely indicates a weakened version of the upright card. As always, the
interpretation depends on the question and circumstances.
Helpful 1

 Question:
How can I learn to read tarot cards? I don't have much money, and I am very
young. My family is psychic and sensitive to otherworldly things and beings.
Answer:
All you need to learn tarot...
Helpful
 Question:
How do I set up playing cards to read tarot?
Answer:
I have an article here to...
Helpful
 Question:
 I am trying to get a feel for a person. What would be the best way to do this? I have
numbered cards. For example, if I get a 3 of Spades, I’d think that they were easily
misunderstood, or they misunderstand themselves.
Answer:
It sounds like you have it nailed. Although it's important to remember that the card may
only reflect he or she as they are at this moment. If you drew another card next week,
you'd get a different aspect of the person.
Helpful
 Question:
Where did you learn to read playing cards?
Answer:
I began to learn tarot in 2000. I read everything I could. I did free readings for the
American Tarot Association; sometimes one, three or six card readings in an evening. I
helped set up TABI (Tarot Association of the British Isles), and created their basic tarot
course, based on Joan Bunning's teachings.
I then set up my own website, and so on. A few years ago, I tried to read with playing
cards by merely transposing my knowledge of tarot, and it worked. I gave a solid,
accurate reading. I decided to write down what I'd learned, hence this article (and many
others).
Helpful
 Question:
How do I ask yes or no questions with tarot?
Answer:
I have an article which deals with this very subject: https://hubpages.com/fortune-
divination/Playing-Ca...
Helpful
 Question:
How long does it take to see any results from a tarot reading?
Answer:
A tarot reading is just a snapshot in time. It reflects what is happening around the
querent in the present. It may also indicate what past influences are at the root of the
present situation, and it might also show a possible path to the future. However, nothing
is set in stone, and the querent might make changes in the present that affect how things
turn out.
For instance, if you had a reading and the reader told you that your future planned trip
isn't such a good idea, you might decide to alter your plans and go on a different trip, or
not go on one at all. You are in charge of making the changes that will define your future
experience.
My readings have been very accurate many times, and a large reading, such as a ten
card Celtic Cross might take a year to unfold.
Helpful
 Question:
I asked a single yes or no question and got the joker. What does drawing the Joker
mean in tarot?
 Answer:
It really depends on your...
Helpful
 Question:
How do I shuffle and deal the cards?
Answer:
You shuffle the cards in whatever way you prefer. Same with how you deal them out.
You can read more about it here: https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/How-to-Dea...
If you are looking for 'spreads' or 'layouts,' I have a selection
here: https://hubpages.com/fortune-divination/Playing-Ca...
Helpful

© 2012 Bev G