How to Prepare for a Tarot Reading (and close it with Clarity)

Looking for guidance on how to prepare for a Tarot reading? Whether you're a professional Tarot reader or exploring the cards for personal insight, this guide will help you ground, connect, and open and close your sessions with intention and spiritual clarity.

Why Preparing for a Tarot Reading Matters

Meditation and prayer are useful ways to ground and centre yourself before doing a reading.

Many people turn to Tarot when life feels overwhelming, uncertain, or unclear. The truth is most of us have simply forgotten one vital fact: We are spiritual beings having a human experience. In the chaos of daily life, it’s easy to disconnect from our inner wisdom. Tarot helps us tune back in. But first we need to energetically prepare.

Preparing for doing a reading for yourself is particularly important as it is more difficult to be objective about yourself. Yet many of us just lay out some cards in a hurry when doing it for ourselves and wonder why the results seem confusing.

According to Tarot writer Avril Price the word psyche comes from the Greek and means soul, so, as psychics, we are reading the soul. To me that makes each reading a special and spiritual event.

Connect with Spirit First

Before you lay out a single card, take a moment to connect with your Spirit, your Higher Self, or your guides. This is about remembering that you already have a direct line to the Divine and switching it on.

When reading for myself I say: “High Self, Angels, and Guides, please tell me what I need to know. I am willing to listen, to learn, and to act.”

When reading for others I connect in with their High Self and ask to be a clear and accurate channel for the messages their Spirit wants me to convey to them.

How to Ground and Centre Before a Tarot Reading

Creating a short personal ritual before each reading can open your intuitive channel while keeping you grounded. Try this grounding meditation:

1. Sit upright with your spine tall and take deep, slow belly breaths. Close your eyes and imagine there is a small flame in your heart centre, the flame of your Spirit. With each breath out this flame strengthens and grows larger.

   
   

2.   Imagine roots growing from your feet, anchoring you to the Earth. Inhale Earth’s nurturing, loving and grounding energy into your heart, where it mixes with your heart flame. With each breath out this flame continues to grow larger.

3. Connect to a light above your head, your stellar gateway chakra. and draw that cosmic energy into your heart as well, while continuing to breathe in the energy from Mother Earth.

   
   

4. Breathe in from above and below, with the energies mixing in the heart centre and your heart flame continuing to expand. This will gently awaken your intuition, your compassion and keep you centred and grounded. When you feel centred open your eyes.

Creating a Sacred Reading Space

Your reading environment should be:

• Quiet and private if possible

• Clear of clutter and distractions

• Comfortable for you and your client

Optional tools to enhance your reading space:

• A cloth for your card table

• A candle or gentle lighting

• Crystals, incense, or essential oils – I don’t use these as not everyone may like the oil or incense you choose. But feel free if it helps you focus.

• Peaceful music or silence – again I prefer the silence, music is such a personal choice.

Remember: the cards and the setting are not magical—the connection between you and your client and Spirit is where the magic is. Keep it simple. Let Spirit do the rest.

Beginning the Reading: Welcoming and Connection

Greet your client warmly. Offer water or tea and coffee if appropriate. Trust that you are meant to read for this person and everything is working out as it should,which is why the universe has brought you together.

Silently or verbally ask to connect with their Higher Self and guides. You might like to say a short prayer: "Let me be a clear channel. May what I receive be accurate and for  the highest good."

Closing a Tarot Reading with Care

All spiritual work needs closure. Here's one way to end a Tarot reading with intention.

Recap the key messages and briefly summarize your insights. Ask: “What’s standing out most for you?”

Give Thanks - thank the cards, the guides, and the client, either silently or aloud. This acknowledges the sacredness of what just occurred.

Cleanse and Disconnect - shuffle the cards to reset their energy. Please don’t carry the client’s energy home with you. Don't invite a stranger to say in your aura. Disconnect – I ask to disconnect from the client’s High Self, and I surrender the outcome of the reading to God or to their High Self. I visualise letting go of the client’s energy – perhaps saying “This reading is complete. I release this energy with love.”

Final Thoughts: You Are the Bridge

Being a Tarot reader is about being present, compassionate, and clear. Trust that you were meant to show up for this moment and allow the reading to unfold as it’s meant to. You may also find this blog helpful: https://www.thomsontarot.com/post/the-importance-of-listening-in-a-tarot-reading

Ready to Deepen Your Tarot Journey?

If you feel called to go deeper and into the heart of what Tarot can truly offer, join me for Master the Tarot in Ten Weeks. This live, transformational course is designed to help you:

• Read with confidence (for yourself and others)

• Deepen your connection to Spirit

• Tailor the card meanings for each person and their situation.

For more information and to register, email me at mark.thomson56@outlook.com