The quickest way to find your tarot card is to calculate your birth card: add your birth month, day and year, then reduce the total to a number between 1 and 21 and match it to the Major Arcana. You can also use your zodiac card, notice which card keeps appearing in daily draws, or choose a card that reflects a goal.
Here’s how each method works, with an example.
What Your Tarot Card Can (and Can’t) Tell You
Tarot cards aren’t crystal balls that show you what’s going to happen tomorrow. Think of them as a GPS: they won’t take you directly to the destination, but they’ll show you possible routes and warn you of potential roadblocks.
Your personal card works the same way. It highlights themes and patterns in your life so you can make decisions that shape what comes next.
5 Effective Methods to Find Your Own Tarot Card
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into the fun part – finding your tarot card! Here are five methods you can try:
Select a Card of the Day
One of the easiest ways to start exploring tarot is by choosing a card of the day. This method is perfect for beginners and can help you build a connection with the cards over time.
Here’s how it works:
- Shuffle your tarot deck while focusing on the question, "What energy do I need to embrace today?"
- When it feels right, stop shuffling and draw a card from the top of the deck.
- Spend some time looking at the card, noting its imagery, colors, and the feelings it evokes in you.
- Read about the card's traditional meanings and trust your intuition about what it might represent.
- Remember this card throughout your day, looking for ways its energy might manifest in your experiences.
By practicing this daily, you’ll notice which cards appear frequently for you. These recurring cards often hold special significance and could be considered your personal tarot cards.
Find Your Zodiac Card
Did you know that each zodiac sign has a corresponding tarot card? This method connects astrology with tarot, giving insight into how your sun sign’s energy manifests in the tarot deck.
Here’s a quick guide to zodiac tarot cards:
- Aries: The Emperor
- Taurus: The Hierophant
- Gemini: The Lovers
- Cancer: The Chariot
- Leo: Strength
- Virgo: The Hermit
- Libra: Justice
- Scorpio: Death
- Sagittarius: Temperance
- Capricorn: The Devil
- Aquarius: The Star
- Pisces: The Moon
Once you’ve identified your zodiac card, could you get to know it? Read about its traditional meanings, meditate on its imagery, and consider how its qualities align with your personality and life experiences.
Calculate Your Birth Card
Your birth card (also called your personality or soul card) is calculated from your birth date. Here’s how:
- Add month + day + year as whole numbers. Example: May 15, 1990 → 5 + 15 + 1990 = 2010.
- Add the digits of the result: 2 + 0 + 1 + 0 = 3.
- If the result is 22 or higher, add its digits again until it’s 21 or lower.
Then match your number to the Major Arcana:
1 The Magician, 2 The High Priestess, 3 The Empress, 4 The Emperor, 5 The Hierophant, 6 The Lovers, 7 The Chariot, 8 Strength, 9 The Hermit, 10 Wheel of Fortune, 11 Justice, 12 The Hanged Man, 13 Death, 14 Temperance, 15 The Devil, 16 The Tower, 17 The Star, 18 The Moon, 19 The Sun, 20 Judgement, 21 The World.
In the example, the birth card is The Empress, a card of creativity, nurturing and abundance. Some readers also count a second card from a two-digit result (for example 19 → 1 + 9 = 10 → 1), giving a pair such as The Sun and The Magician. Some decks number Strength 8 and Justice 11, others the reverse; use your deck’s numbering.
Set Clear Intentions and Manifestation Goals
This method allows you to choose a tarot card that resonates with your personal goals and intentions. Here’s how to do it:
- Reflect on your current life goals and the areas where you want to grow.
- Look through your tarot deck and find a card that symbolizes your desired outcome or energy.
- Once chosen, meditate on this card and keep it visible—like on your desk or as a phone wallpaper—to remind you of your goals.
For instance, if you’re looking for more confidence, you might choose the Strength card. If you’re focused on finding balance, Justice could be your go-to.
Try Tarot Spreads That Can Help You Get to Know Yourself Better
Using specific tarot spreads can also help you uncover your personal tarot card. A simple three-card spread can offer insight into your personality, challenges, and potential.
Here’s a quick spread you can try:
- First Card: Represents your core personality traits.
- Second Card: Highlights current challenges or areas for growth.
- Third Card: Shows your potential or future direction.
Take your time reflecting on these cards. The one that resonates most with your inner self may be your personal tarot card, offering insights into who you are and where you’re heading.
Birth Card vs. Zodiac Card: Which Is “Yours”?
Your birth card describes long-term themes and the lessons you keep returning to. Your zodiac card reflects your sun sign’s energy. Many people find one resonates more than the other, and that’s fine; both are tools for reflection, not labels.
What Should You Do When You Find Your Tarot Card?
Once you’ve found your personal tarot card, it’s time to dive deeper into its meaning and how it can guide your journey. Here are a few ways to work with it:
- Journal About It: Write down your initial thoughts and reactions to the card. What stands out to you in the imagery or meaning? How does it connect with your life experiences or personal traits?
- Meditate with the Card: Hold the card in your hands or place it in front of you during meditation. Focus on its symbolism and imagine embodying the qualities it represents.
- Create Affirmations: Turn the card’s energy into positive affirmations. For example, if your card is The Magician, your affirmation might be, “I have all the resources and creativity I need to succeed.”
- Display the Card: Keep the card in a place where you’ll see it often—your desk, altar, or even your mirror—to remind you of its message.
By interacting with your tarot card regularly, you’ll develop a deeper connection to its symbolism and be able to apply its wisdom to your daily life. Look up its full meaning in our complete list of tarot cards, including what it means upright and reversed.
Does Your Tarot Card Stay the Same Your Whole Life?
While you may have a core tarot card based on your birth date or life path, your relationship with different cards can change over time. As you grow and evolve, different tarot cards may resonate with where you are on your journey.
For example, you might connect strongly with The Fool during a time of new beginnings, while The Hermit might resonate during a period of introspection. It’s common for people to identify with different cards at various stages of their life, as they reflect the lessons and challenges they’re facing.
Your tarot card doesn’t have to stay the same forever—it’s okay to embrace different cards as your life evolves. This flexibility makes tarot a dynamic and reflective tool for self-discovery, guiding you through the various phases of your personal journey. Your birth card stays the same; the cards you feel drawn to can change.
How Can Tarot Readings Assist You in Finding Your Tarot Card?
While self-exploration is a powerful way to discover your tarot card, sometimes getting a professional tarot reading can offer valuable insights. Tarot readers bring a wealth of experience and intuition to the table, which can help you see connections you might have missed. Here are some ways a reading can assist:
- Objective Perspective: A tarot reader can provide an outside view, helping you identify patterns or recurring themes in your life that connect to specific cards.
- Guided Exploration: Readers often use specific spreads or techniques designed to uncover your personal tarot card. They can guide you through this process with clarity and insight.
- Confirm Your Intuition: If you’ve already found a card that resonates with you, a tarot reading can either confirm that connection or suggest alternative cards that may be more aligned with your current path.
Tarot readers can offer fresh perspectives, especially if you’re unsure or want deeper confirmation of your card. Their experience can also provide clarity on how to integrate your tarot card’s energy into your daily life. New to readings? Start with our guide to how tarot reading works.
Conclusion
Discovering your personal tarot card is an exciting and enlightening journey into self-awareness. Whether you’re selecting a daily card, exploring your zodiac or personality card, or diving deep with tarot spreads, finding your tarot card can offer new insights into who you are and where you’re headed. It’s a tool for self-reflection, helping you understand your strengths, challenges, and potential growth.
FAQs
What is my tarot birth card?
Add your birth month, day and year, add the digits of the total, and reduce to 21 or less. Match the number to the Major Arcana.
Can my tarot card be a Minor Arcana card?
Birth and zodiac cards are Major Arcana. A card you pick for an intention, or one that keeps showing up in daily draws, can be any card.
What if my number is 22?
Reduce it again (2 + 2 = 4, The Emperor). Some traditions use 22 for The Fool.
Is my tarot card the same as my life path number?
They use similar math but aren’t the same system; your birth card is read through tarot imagery rather than numerology.
