How to Use Tarot Cards for Self-Improvement and Growth

People often associate tarot cards with mystical fortune-telling, but your tarot deck is more than just a divination tool. Beyond predicting the future, tarot readings can be a powerful tool for personal development and self-discovery.

Tarot reading has been one of my favorite practices on my journey to self-awareness, healing, and wellness.

In this article, I want to share some of the best ways that you can use tarot cards as a spiritual practice for personal growth.

What Is Tarot?

Tarot cards are a deck of 78 cards divided into the Major and Minor Arcana, each adorned with intricate symbolism and archetypal imagery.

The tarot deck was originally developed in the 15th century for playing card games, but over the centuries it has evolved into a tool for divination, self-discovery, and personal growth.

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards. Each card represents significant life events, archetypal figures, and major themes. These cards, such as “The Fool,” “The Lovers,” and “The Tower,” carry deep symbolic meanings and relate to the broader aspects of the human experience.

The Minor Arcana has 56 cards divided into four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands. These cards often represent day-to-day events, emotions, challenges, and actions.

Using Tarot for Self-Discovery and Personal Growth

Reading tarot cards is often associated with divination and fortune-telling, but it can also be a powerful way to engage in self-reflection, gain insight into your own thoughts and past experiences, and access your intuition on a deeper level.

Drawing and interpreting tarot cards allows you to create a rich personal dialogue with yourself and reach a higher understanding of why you came to this Earth.

Getting Started with Tarot Reading

To get started with an intuitive tarot reading for self-improvement, it’s important to choose the right tarot deck for you and familiarize yourself with the tarot card meanings.

Choosing the Right Deck

When practicing tarot, you should select a tarot deck that resonates with you.

There are many artistic styles and themes available, and it’s important to find a deck that speaks to your intuition and personal style.

This will help you create a strong connection with your deck and improve your tarot skills.

Study Tarot Meanings

Once you have your tarot deck, flip through the cards and spend some time figuring out what individual cards mean.

Your deck may come with a guidebook that explains card meanings and shares tarot tips, but it’s important to use your intuition and decide what each card means to you.

You can also experiment with different tarot spreads and practice interpreting tarot cards in different contexts.

5 Ways to Use Tarot Cards for Self-Improvement and Personal Development

1. Daily Card Pulls

One of the best and easiest ways to use tarot for self-improvement is to do daily card pulls.

Start your day with a simple one-card draw from your tarot deck and use it to inform your intention and decision-making for the day.

You can ask for general guidance on the day ahead or seek insights into a specific aspect of your life that is worrying you in the present moment. Once you draw the card, reflect on what the card may be representing and how it relates to your own life and circumstances.

This tarot practice is only going to take a few minutes of your time, but doing it consistently every day can help you reach a higher level of self-discovery and growth.

2. Journaling and Reflection

A great way to track how you use tarot for personal growth is to keep a tarot journal documenting your card pulls and interpretations. Over time, you’ll be able to see your progress and how tarot reading has informed your decisions and daily life.

Record your thoughts, feelings, and any intuitive insights that come up during your tarot readings.

Journaling gives you the space to process your thoughts and do some self-reflection. Then, you can look back on your notes to see the changes in your personal growth over time.

3. Goal Setting and Planning

If you are figuring out what steps to take to start living in alignment with your bigger purpose, you can use tarot to gain clarity on your goals and aspirations.

Do a tarot reading focused on a specific goal, asking the cards for guidance on the steps to take or potential obstacles to overcome.

This way of using tarot helps you look at things from a fresh perspective and uncover hidden insights.

Sometimes you know that you’re craving change and more alignment in your life but are not sure how to bring forth the future you envision for yourself. In these cases, using tarot for goal setting and planning can be very helpful.

4. Overcoming Challenges

Another way to use tarot for personal growth and self-improvement is to turn to your deck when you are facing challenges or obstacles on your path.

Tarot cards can open your eyes to different perspectives and allow you to see your life experiences from a new angle.

New insights received from tarot make it easier to deal with difficulties and overcome challenges. Trust your intuition to interpret the messages within the cards and don’t be afraid to learn, grow, and expand.

5. Meditative Tarot Sessions

If you practice meditation, incorporating tarot cards into your practice can help you gain deeper insights and reach corners of your mind that were previously hidden.

Choose a tarot card that resonates with your current state and use it as a focal point for mindfulness during meditation.

Don’t rush, stay still, and explore the thoughts, emotions, and insights that your chosen tarot card brings up during your meditation. 

After your meditation, you can also journal about your experience in your tarot journal to deepen your self-reflection.

Final Thoughts: Using Tarot Reading for Self-Improvement

Even though tarot cards are traditionally associated with divination and looking into the future, they are also a great tool for people who want to gain insight into the present moment and their daily life. 

Regularly using tarot cards, whether through daily card pulls or to overcome challenges, can deepen your understanding of yourself and personal growth.

If you want to look closely at your personal growth, relationships, career, and spirituality with a tarot reading, learn more about my tarot reading services!