Welcome! From my experience, this forum is great for everybody, no matter where we are right now on our tarot journey. Which is never-ending anyway. There is no tarot police, whatever you do is okay. Referencing the booklet, or a book, or not doing so at all - it's all okay. The learning effect is maybe greater if you try to do your own interpretation first, write it down and then compare with what's written in the book. But it's not necessary. The traditional meanings of the cards have developed over time, depending on the time and place the cards were used and who created the deck. There are different traditions; in the English-speaking world, the Waite=Smith tradition is dominant. Its card meanings were not only influenced by tradition but also by astrological associations. If you're interested, you can dive into that knowledge, but many people are good tarot readers without astrological knowledge. While the meanings of the trump cards are the same in nearly every deck, there is more variation among the suit cards. Each suit has a theme or character of its own, usually based on the four ancient elements, and each numbered card also has numerological associations. All these associations also influence the meaning of the card. If you don't have questions about your own life, one way of working with the cards is asking questions about historical or fictive characters and situations, but also sports or politics or your own past. Yes-or-No-questions are possible, but you may get better result from open-ended questions. Some people get better results with general questions, others with very concrete questions, you'll have to try this for yourself. One-card-readings are very useful, and many people recommend starting, like you do, with a card-per-day exercise. Draw it in the morning, look at it, keep it open, and in the evening, ask yourself: did I meet the mood or energy of this card anywhere today? Simple three-card readings are also great because they give you a bit more information, and you can see how the cards interact. There are tons of ideas for three-card spreads, from Past/Present/Future, Mind/Body/Spirit or Root/Problem/Solution to whatever interests you. Many people work without spread positions and just look at the overall picture the three cards generate. You can simply try every idea that comes to your mind. Just playing with the cards is a good way of getting to know them. I have always found that picking cards can be as helpful as drawing a card. For example, you can ask yourself: how do I want this job interview to go?, and then go through the deck and take out three or four cards that show the answer. Don't overthink it, just look at them and see what comes up. Then, put these outcome cards together and think about them. There are reasons why you picked them. You may wish to take a picture of these cards together and look at them before and after the job interview. Who is my mother as a tarot card? my father? my best friend? Again, find the cards without looking at the book. First, pick the card or cards, and only then read about their meanings. I found the advice of writing everything down to be very useful for me. No matter whether you use a note-taking app or a paper journal, it will help you learn to get the tarot better. You'll keep track of your insights and won't lose them. As a newbie, you have the chance of developing your own associations with the cards, and that's great. You can also write here on the boards about your card and get input from others. There is a great reading circle for beginners here where you can read for others and get feedback. It's often easier to get a clear reading when you read for a stranger. Reading for ourselves, we all have our biases 😉 There are tons of material about the tarot on these boards, online and in books. And it's your choice whether you use it or rely on your own wisdom and intuition; you can change your focus whenever you want. The most important thing is to work with a deck that speaks to you with a clear voice, where each card has a distinct character. Nowadays, there are so many decks that it may seem impossible to find one. The usual advice is to stick with a Waite-Smith tradition deck because there are so many good resources about these decks, but many people have started with different decks. Even if everybody loves a certain deck and recommends it - if you find it ugly, dry or uninteresting, you don't have to follow the advice. Tastes differ. The deck library here on the forum is a great resource if you're looking for a deck that resonates with you. There are also great apps where you can work with different decks to see how they work for you before you invest in buying one. There is no pressure and no end-of-year exam. Tarot is an open art, and it's a language that anyone can learn. The fun for me is in the learning, not the knowing. Because with every reading, you start anew. Enjoy the journey!

Hello @Lakewater welcome to the TT&M Family

Hello @witchcraft welcome to the TT&M Family