13 Tarot Reader Pitfalls and How to Dodge Them

What Not to Do to Improve Your Tarot Readings

I get asked a lot about the mistakes readers (me included!) can fall into during Tarot sessions. Over the years, I’ve turned some of my insights into a series of gentle reminders for myself, and now I’d like to share them with you.

Tarot, at its best, is RITE: rigorous, interactive, transformational, and empowering. But even the most experienced reader can sometimes slip into habits that limit the magic. The good news? Once you notice them, they’re surprisingly easy to sidestep.

Here are the most common pitfalls I’ve fallen into, and how you can avoid them.

1. Always interpreting a card the same way

It’s tempting to stick with one neat definition for each card. But the Tarot isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different people and situations call for different interpretations.

Take the Emperor, for example. It can stand for authority, patriarchy, bosses, or rules. But it can also speak to self-discipline, stability, and becoming the master of your own life.

In one of my decks, it’s called the rebel which is about creating your own rules. I used this deck for a reading for a husband and didn’t follow through on the intuitive insight that this card showed he was rebelling against the marriage by having an affair which was key to the reading.

Tip: Free your imagination. Ask to be shown what you don’t know. Multiple layers of meaning help you adapt readings to every situation - sense which one is most relevant.

2. Feeling you must provide a solution

Tarot isn’t about “fixing” people. Some issues don’t have a solution, for example terminal illness. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what decision the client makes. Sometimes the attitude they are bringing to the situation, for example lack of assertiveness or arrogance, is more important than the decision.

The real value of Tarot is expanding awareness and helping someone clarify their issue, values, and choices.

Tip: Guide reflection instead of prescribing action. The client’s own solutions are the ones they’ll follow.

3. Using “should, must, ought, have to”

Clients have free will. Your role is to open doors of insight, not dictate their path. And when someone tells me I should do something my inner teenager often wants to rebel.

Tip: Explore options. Offer ideas. But let them decide.

4. Trying to fix everything

One reading won’t undo decades of patterns. It can help illuminate the path, but transformation is a process.

5. Feeling you must answer every question

Health, finance, and legal issues belong to trained professionals. It is possible to do readings around these issues but please don’t provide diagnose or provide financial and or legal advice.

Tip: Set boundaries early. For example, I often say up front that I don’t provide legal or financial guidance. If something seems off, I’ll suggest a check-up with a doctor.

6. Reading about someone else without their consent

Tarot isn’t a spying tool. Focusing on someone who hasn’t asked for a reading is both unethical and unhelpful and doesn’t empower the person you are doing the reading for, because they can only change themselves, they can’t change someone else.

Tip: Redirect questions back to the querent: “What can I do to heal from this breakup?” instead of “What is my ex thinking?”

7. Not trusting your impressions

Random thoughts and images are often your intuition speaking. Don’t censor yourself.

Tip: Say it. If you are worried it’s nonsense, say “I have no idea how this relates or where it comes from but…” Don’t try to interpret it. If they accept it, they often explain it, if they don’t accept it, it stops you obsessing about the idea so you can better focus on the reading.

8. Staying too general

Details matter. If a client hints at something, gently ask. For example, the client says, ‘well you know how men can be’ – ask ‘how can they be’. Remember the best readings are conversations, not monologues.

9. Making assumptions

Never assume you know — about sexuality, background, relationships, or anything else. Most mistakes I’ve made, in life as well as Tarot, are because I’ve assumed without being open to other possibilities. I remember assuming one female client was heterosexual when they were gay. Embarrassing.

Tip: Staying open avoids unnecessary embarrassment.

10. Trying to comfort a client

When emotions rise, don’t rush to soothe or fix. Hold the space. Be empathetic, not smothering. You don’t need to comfort or hug a client, often it’s not appropriate and can block the emotion that is being released, cutting short the healing. And yes, always keep tissues nearby.

11. Using your language instead of theirs

If they say “fragmented” and you say “chaotic,” you risk breaking rapport. Use their words to show you share a common understanding.

12. Letting your own agenda creep in

Projection is one of the hardest things to avoid, especially when reading for yourself. Stay curious, detached, and open. It helps if you can relax and hold an interested but detached state of mind where you don’t care one way or other about the outcome. Be curious and open and receptive to what comes up.

Tip: Meditation before the reading can help.

13. Asking “Am I right?”

This pressures clients to agree. And if what I’m saying is wide of the mark I want to know, I don’t want them to agree when they really don’t.

Tip: Better alternatives include:

• “What part of this feels accurate to you?”

• “Where does this make sense in your life?”

This keeps the reading collaborative and allows insights to land more deeply.

Closing Thoughts

I’ll be honest — I’ve done most of these myself at some point! The important thing is not to read “perfectly” but to stay aware, reflective, and open to learning.

So next time you sit down with your cards, remember the heart of Tarot: to create readings that are rigorous, interactive, transformational, and empowering.

And if you notice yourself slipping into one of these traps? Smile, adjust, and continue. The Tarot — and your clients — will thank you for it.

Tarot Reading FAQ

What are the most common mistakes in Tarot readings? Some of the most common pitfalls include always interpreting a card the same way, making assumptions about a client, or feeling pressured to provide solutions. Other traps involve stepping outside your competence (for example, giving health or legal advice) or reading about someone who hasn’t given consent. Being aware of these helps you avoid them and keep your readings ethical and empowering.

How can I improve my Tarot readings? One of the best ways to deepen your readings is to keep them interactive. Ask questions, listen carefully, and use the client’s own words. Trust your intuition, even if what comes up feels odd at first. And remember, your role isn’t to fix or dictate — it’s to help clients explore their options and see things more clearly. That shift alone can transform a reading.

Can Tarot cards predict exact outcomes? Tarot doesn’t usually work like a crystal ball. Rather than fixed predictions, the cards highlight patterns, energies, and possibilities. Free will and personal choice always matter, so the future isn’t set in stone. Instead of asking “What will happen?”, it’s often more useful to ask “What can I do to create the outcome I want?”

What should I avoid saying in a Tarot reading? It’s best to avoid words like “should,” “must,” or “have to.” These can make clients feel disempowered or pressured. A gentler, more effective approach is to offer options and ask reflective questions. This way, clients feel supported in making their own choices  which is exactly where the power of Tarot shines.