Learning to do a Tarot reading on yourself really isn’t that complicated. There are a couple of rules and pitfalls to watch out for, but I would say at least 80% of the experienced readers in the community use the cards for their own questions.
A Tarot reading on yourself can be particularly useful during times of personal uncertainty or when facing important life decisions. This type of spread can provide insights into your subconscious thoughts, hidden motivations, and potential outcomes of different choices you’re considering. It’s especially helpful when you need to gain clarity on your own feelings or desires without the influence of others’ opinions, allowing for deep self-reflection and personal growth.
Problems Doing a Reading for Yourself
There’s absolutely no rule that says you can’t do a reading for yourself, but you just need to learn to watch out for:
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Letting bias slip in. Especially if you immediately dismiss this as not even an option. We’re human. It happens. It happens often in emotionally charged topics. This is the main reason some readers won’t do a spread for themselves and would rather do it for another.
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Overpulling spreads, hoping to get the answer you want (consciously or otherwise).
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Be clear on the question before you pull the cards. Some beginners have a vague idea, pull some cards and then pose the question or topic in a way that the answer suits them. They often do this without meaning to or even knowing they’re doing it.
The second problem is easy. Set yourself a limit of once a day at most.
The first problem is harder. It takes time, practice and a lot of mindfulness to be unbiased about what you see in the cards.
I’ll show an example spread you could do for yourself, which can give you a bit of guidance and make it easy, but you can also use a specific spread (like this one) and just try and be wary of these things. Otherwise, you would read the cards the same as you would for any other querent.
The Spread
- The Mirror Your current self-perception and energy.
- The Shadow Hidden influences or blind spots affecting your reading.
- The Lens How you’re interpreting your current situation.
- The Compass Direction or guidance for your self-reading process.
- The Veil What you might be overlooking or need to pay more attention to.
- The Anchor A grounding force or stabilizing element in your self-reading practice.
- The Beacon Illuminating insight or revelation to focus on during your reading.
Timing & Preparation
The best time to do a Tarot reading on yourself is during a new moon, which symbolizes new beginnings and fresh insights, or when you’re facing an important decision or life switch. Before starting your reading, take a few minutes to center yourself through deep breathing or a brief meditation, which helps clear your mind and connect with your intuition. Keep your Tarot deck in a special cloth or box when not in use, and cleanse it with sage smoke or moonlight before important readings to maintain its energy.
For self-readings, the classic Rider-Waite, Smith Tarot deck is an excellent choice due to its rich symbolism and widely available resources for interpretation, while the Morgan-Greer Tarot offers similar imagery with a more modern, active aesthetic that can be particularly engaging for personal reflection. A lesser-known option that works well for self-readings is the Wild Unknown Tarot, which features minimalist, nature-inspired designs that encourage intuitive interpretation and deep personal connection.
Of course, any deck that hits home with you can be used for self-readings, as the most important factor is your comfort and connection with the cards.
When doing a Tarot reading for yourself, pay close attention to how cards interact and create a narrative together, rather than focusing too much on individual meanings. Look for recurring symbols, numbers, or elements across the spread, as these often point to important themes or energies at play in your life right now. After your reading, take time to journal about your insights, noting any initial reactions, emotions, or intuitive hits you experienced during the process (these can be just as valuable as the traditional card meanings. If you choose to read reversals, consider them as internal or blocked energies rather than negative omens, and ask yourself how you might be resisting or not fully expressing the card’s energy in your life.
Please share your experience with this reading or your variations 
