How to Make Decisions with Tarot for Beginners: Step-by-Step Guide for Remote Workers

Relatable Scenario: A Mid-April 2026 Remote Content Creator’s Decision Crossroads

It’s 2:17 a.m. on April 12, 2026, and Javi, a remote B2B content creator, is staring at their laptop. For the past three weeks, they’ve been juggling two high-priority client offers: one is a steady, long-term contract with a sustainable skincare brand, and the other is a one-time, higher-paying project with a fast-growing wellness startup that would require shifting their entire workflow to overnight shifts to align with their west-coast client’s hours. Javi is burned out from back-to-back pitch revisions, and they don’t trust their own tired judgment to pick the right path. If this sounds like your own recent crossroads, this guide is for you.

First Rule for Tarot Decision Reading: Frame a Clear, Targeted Question

The single biggest mistake new tarot readers make when using cards for decisions is asking vague, open-ended questions like “What should I do?” Instead, you need to frame a targeted, specific question that narrows down your choice without leading the cards. For example, Javi might have initially asked “Will I make more money with the startup?” but that only focuses on one narrow factor. Instead, they reframed their question to: “What do I need to know about choosing the sustainable skincare brand long-term contract versus the wellness startup one-time project?” This question invites reflective insight without forcing a yes/no answer, and centers both of their core options.

You can also use this framework to refine questions for smaller decisions, like “What do I need to know about asking my team for a flexible schedule next week?” or “What will happen if I enroll in that beginner graphic design course?” The key is to tie the question directly to your specific choice, not a broad life query.

Beginner-Friendly Tarot Spreads for Decision-Making (2 Simple Options)

You don’t need a complex 10-card spread to get clear, actionable insights as a beginner. Two ultra-simple spreads work perfectly for decision-making, no fancy layouts required:

1. Two-Card “Dueling Options” Spread

This is the easiest spread for choosing between two clear options. Lay out two cards side by side:

• Card 1: Energy, risks, and key insights for your first choice
• Card 2: Energy, risks, and key insights for your second choice

2. Three-Card “Clarity” Spread

Use this spread if you’re feeling stuck and need more context beyond just comparing two options:

• Card 1: What you’re not seeing about your current situation
• Card 2: Key insight for your first choice
• Card 3: Key insight for your second choice

Javi used the two-card dueling options spread for their client choice, since they had two clear, defined options to compare.

Step-by-Step Tarot Decision Reading Workflow (No Card Memorization Needed)

You don’t need to memorize all 78 tarot card meanings to do a useful decision reading. Follow this simple, step-by-step workflow:

1. Set a low-pressure space: Find a quiet spot where you won’t be interrupted for 10 minutes. Light a candle, play soft music, or take three deep breaths to ground yourself. Javi did this on their couch, with their favorite chamomile tea and their well-loved standard tarot deck (they didn’t use a fancy “decision-specific” deck).
2. Shuffle intentionally: Hold your deck in your hands, and focus on your decision question as you shuffle. You can shuffle by hand, or use a table shuffle if that feels easier. The goal is to center your energy on your question, not to perfectly randomize the cards.
3. Draw your cards: For the two-card spread, draw two cards one at a time, laying them face up in order. For the three-card spread, draw three cards in order. Javi drew the Eight of Pentacles and the Ten of Cups reversed for their two options.
4. Interpret without memorization: Instead of pulling up a card meaning cheat sheet, ask yourself two simple questions for each card: “What does this card feel like in the context of my choice?” and “What message is this card sending about the pros or cons of this option?” For Javi, the Eight of Pentacles felt like consistent, focused work (perfect for the long-term skincare contract), while the Ten of Cups reversed felt like unfulfilled emotional and work-life balance for the startup overnight shift.
5. Reflect on the full reading: Step back and look at both cards together. What do they tell you about the tradeoffs of each choice? You don’t need to have all the answers—just the reflective clarity to make a more intentional choice.

East-West Divination Bridge: Tarot Meets Western Decision Frameworks

If you’re new to tarot, it can help to bridge its reflective practice to familiar Western decision-making tools. Here’s a simple translation between tarot decision reading and two common Western frameworks:

Javi paired their tarot reading with a quick pros/cons list, using the card insights to fill in gaps they hadn’t considered before: the Eight of Pentacles aligned with the steady, skill-building work of the skincare contract, while the Ten of Cups reversed highlighted their fear of burning out from overnight shifts with the startup. This bridge made tarot feel less like a mysterious ritual and more like a structured reflective tool.

3 Common Beginner Mistakes Unique to Tarot Decision Reading

Even with a simple workflow, new readers often make mistakes that muddle their decision clarity. Here are the most common pitfalls to avoid:

1. Asking leading questions: Phrasing your question like “Will the startup be a bad choice?” forces the cards to confirm your existing biases, rather than giving you neutral insight. Stick to open, targeted questions that center both options.
2. Looking for a “yes/no” answer: Tarot is a reflective tool, not a fortune-telling oracle. Most cards don’t give a clear yes or no—instead, they highlight energy, risks, and hidden factors that will influence your choice.
3. Ignoring your own gut reaction: If a card feels off or doesn’t align with what you know about your situation, trust your initial reaction. Tarot is a mirror for your own subconscious, not a separate source of fixed truth. Javi almost ignored their gut feeling that the Ten of Cups reversed felt like lost work-life balance, but they realized that matched their recent burnout from late-night revisions.

Turn Tarot Insights Into Tangible Next Steps for Your Decision

The final, most important step is to turn your tarot insights into tangible action steps, rather than just interpreting the cards. For Javi, their insights led to three clear next steps:

1. Schedule a 15-minute call with each client to ask about their flexible work policies and long-term project timelines
2. Draft a sample weekly schedule for both options to compare work-life balance
3. Talk to a fellow remote creator who has worked with both brands to get firsthand feedback

You can use this same framework for any decision: after your reading, write down 1-3 specific, actionable steps you can take this week to move forward with your choice. This turns reflective tarot insights into real-world progress.

Reflection Prompts for Your Next Tarot Decision Reading

Before you do your next reading, take a minute to journal about these questions:

• What specific decision am I facing right now?
• What two or three core factors matter most to me in this choice?
• What am I not seeing about my options right now?

Disclaimer

This article is for entertainment and self-reflection only. Tarot and divination practices are not intended to replace professional financial, medical, legal, or psychological advice. Always consult a qualified expert for decisions related to your career, health, finances, or personal relationships. Tarot should be used as a reflective tool to gain clarity, not as a source of fixed, absolute predictions about future outcomes.