How to Read Playing Cards As Tarot Cards

Choose which playing card suit will symbolize which tarot card suit. There is no right answer; do whatever feels right and whatever makes sense to you. Take into account what each symbol means to you and the colors of the suits (Diamonds and hearts are red, while spades and clubs are black.)

Figure out your numbering system. Tarot cards run ace (one) through 10, and have four court cards (page, knight, queen and king). Similarly, playing cards have ace (one) through 10 and have three court cards (jack, queen and king). You must decide which court card to leave out while reading with playing cards. If you want to improvise, you can use extra cards (such as jokers, the instruction cards and cards from a second deck) to make a full set of court cards.

Choose whether or not to include the major arcana. Tarot cards have 22 major arcana cards (numbered 0 through 21). Obviously, playing cards do not have anything equivalent to this. When using playing cards, most people choose to leave the majors out completely. If you wish, you can add cards from a second deck to symbolize them. If you do this, however, be careful to differentiate them from the other cards that symbolize the minor arcana. (For example, use cards that have a different pattern on the back.)

Shuffle the cards, cut them, and spread them out just as you would a regular deck of tarot cards. The more closely you follow the same routine you follow with your tarot cards, the more natural it will feel.