Instantly Give General Tarot Readings With Confidence (Simple Method)

Introduction

Giving general tarot readings can be intimidating. Usually, interpreting the tarot cards based on the question (as well as keywords and, if applicable, the spread position) helps us to give a specific and accurate answer for our querents. But as soon as no question is asked, the tarot cards can become vague and our intuition can go blank.

In this article I will show you some simple and effective ways to give an accurate general tarot reading that will impress your clients.

A simple (but effective) method for giving general tarot readings

Simply pull a few cards before your main spread.

These cards will represent the inquiry (i.e. the question). For example, if we get the Knight of Swords, Ace of Cups and 7 of Cups (left to right) whilst using the Rider Waite Smith deck, we might interpret the question as concerning someone (Cups) toxic love matters (7 of Cups next to Ace of Cups, rendering the Ace of Cups sort of reversed).

Now we can read our spread as normal. Let’s say that we did a 3 card situation, advice, outcome spread and the cards were; High Priestess, 4 of Wands, King of Cups.

General tarot reading spread with 6 cards. Bottom row is a 3 card situation, advice, outcome spread (left to right). Top rows is 3 cards to focus that spread on a specific life area or question.

The situation is that the querent’s intuition is telling them to run away from toxic love. The advice is for the querent to instead search for people who are willing to commit to a stable, long-term relationship, likely through marriage. The outcome of taking this advice will be that the querent matures into someone who can confidently give out great love and compassion without compromising their boundaries or being deceived by illusions and temptations.

Summarized interpretation (what you actually say) The querent’s inner wisdom appears to be urging them towards taking on the commitment of marriage. This will mature the querent emotionally with great spiritual benefit.

Note: this interpretation would apply solely to the querent (subject to it actually resonating in the first place).

Why this general reading method works

Recall from the card combinations article that the three things required for beginners are; keywords, spread positions and the question. It would appear that a general reading omits the “question” requirement. But we can still pull cards to determine the life-area (and sometimes specific enquiry) of the question. Call these pre-reading cards. By using pre-reading cards, we can satisfy all three requirements for reading tarot cards in combination - just in a different way.

Another general reading method

Based on this understanding, we can create further and more advanced ways of answering general readings. For example, we can create a custom tarot spread for the sole purpose of discerning the life area in question (excuse the pun).

Tarot spread to determine the specific concern of a general reading.

Technical Considerations

Technically, it would be preferable to do our main reading with a full deck. Two ways to ensure this are:

1. To use two decks (one for the pre-reading and one for the reading itself) and

2. To shuffle the pre-reading cards back into the deck once we have interpreted them.

If we want to be discrete about our pre-reading or even just to save time (both good skills for professional readers), then we can interpret our pre-reading during a pre-shuffle, without ever drawing the cards from the deck.

Conclusion

If you can’t do general readings despite the tutorials available (this isn’t the only one out there!) then you probably shouldn’t be reading professionally. Just saying.