How to read Tarot with Playing cards
This blog post is a quick little ‘How To’ guide for using a plain ol'd regular deck of playing cards to read the Tarot.
Use a regular deck of cards to read tarot?! Yes - you read that right.
No Tarot - no problem!
You CAN use a deck of playing cards to read the Tarot and this post will tell you how.
We will cover suit correspondences, what is and isn’t included when you use playing cards, tips to make it easier (or more difficult!) to use and why you may wish to use them.
Here is a condensed 7 min, video version of this post which was filmed and uploaded 2 years ago for those visual learners out there.
But firstly, the elephant in the room.
Why would anyone use a playing deck of cards to read the Tarot, instead of a Tarot deck to read the Tarot?
Great question, glad you asked….
Accessibility
Not everyone has access to a Tarot deck. In some parts of the world they’re very difficult to get your hands on, yes, even in the USA! I can’t tell you how many people people that live in the bible belt have contacted me asking where and how they can access a Tarot deck discreetly. Playing cards on the other hand, are easily found everywhere, with little to no stigma attached to them.Safety
Yep. Safety. There is a stigma attached to using the Tarot and unfortunately a lot of fear too (I’m looking at you Christians). If you’re in the broom closet playing cards can be an excellent option for you, that won’t get you into any hot water.
On the flipside here, if you’re an ex-christian holding onto the fears of the tarot, playing cards can be a great first step… another great step for you is to check out some of my deconstructing christianity content.Tradition
Some people see playing cards as a more traditional form of Tarot. This may or may not be accurate but playing cards have been used for fortune telling for a very long time. The Tarot itself began as a card game, which didn’t develop into the divination tool we see it as today until the 1800s!Familiarity
Playing Cards are more familiar and common to most people. They do not come off as “scary” like a Tarot Card deck might. They are commonplace and almost everyone knows playing cards in one form or another.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s dive into the similarities across both forms of card decks.
Similarities between Playing Cards and the Tarot
The Four Suits
A deck of playing cards has four suits:
Hearts, Spades, Diamonds and Clubs.
A deck of Tarot cards also has four suits:
Cups, Swords, Pentacles and Wands.
When using a playing deck of cards for the Tarot the suit conversion is as follows;
The suit of Hearts are Cups
The suit of Spades are Swords
The suit of Diamonds are Pentacles
The suit of Clubs are Wands
Here is a handy dandy graphic to help you with these correspondences.
The Court Cards
A deck of playing cards has three court cards:
King, Queen and Jack
A deck of Tarot cards has four court cards:
King, Queen, Knight and Page
When using a playing deck of cards for the Tarot the court card conversion is as follows;
Kings are Kings
Queens are Queens
Jacks are a Knight/Page combo
Here is a handy dandy graphic to help you with these correspondences.
The Minor Arcana
This is the biggest similarity of all.
The numbers!
A deck of playing cards has 10 cards in each suit numbered Ace - 10
A deck of Tarot cards has 10 cards in each suit numbered Ace - 10
Use your knowledge of the suits and weave this with the number meanings when reading. This will help without the need to rely on a pictural reference as with traditional Tarot cards.
For example, the number meaning of a 10 is completion, perfection or the end of a cycle. Pair that with the suit of Hearts (or Cups) and it could mean the completion of relationships, emotions or perfection, happy endings, or a happy family life.
Another example, use the Ace of Spades (or Swords). This could mean new ideas, insight or focus. Renewed energy in mental health. Or take the Ace of Clubs (or Wands) - you could have a new project to get you fired up and feeling creative. You’ll be fully motivated to grab an idea and run with it - use that energy!
Differences between Playing Cards and the Tarot
But Hana, what about the Major Arcana? I hear you yelling through the screen….
Yes, this is a major difference between the playing card deck and the Tarot but there are ways around it.
As the keen viewer may have noticed in one of the above graphics, you can use the Joker card instead of the Fool but the buck stops there and I’ll admit that no major arcana is a major drawback when it comes to using a playing deck for tarot reading.
There are ways around this though;
Use the number sequence of the cards, starting with 0 to 21!
Lay out several cards and see that number they add up to. For example, say the cards you lay out equals 13. You can interpret the overall reading as if it were the Death card. The Death Card is number 13 in the Tarot Deck. It’s a way to use the playing card deck as they are….
Or you can be a rebel and ignore the majors all together.
Sure it’s not a ‘true’ Tarot deck, but I promise you the Tarot police are not out to get anyone.
Wrap it all up
Using playing cards can be another tool in your divination tool belt.
With several pros and cons, to take into consideration before using.
Pros:
handy, almost everywhere
won’t scare anyone
can almost always find a deck
good size and paper quality for shuffling
Allows intuition to reign supreme
Cons:
No major arcana in playing cards
Must know number/suit meanings fairly well
BUT you do get new + interesting ways to read these cards as major arcana.
Give it a try and let me know how it went!
Not yet confident in your ability to interpret the cards, regardless of whether they’re the Tarot or Playing Card versions?
Don’t stress, I got you!
This Tarot class will take you from confused to confident in a matter of hours.
Pro Tip: Watch it at 1.5 speed (especially if you’re neurodivergent) and re-watch whenever you need a boost!
Meet Hana
Hana O’Neill, the Suburban Witch is a professional Tarot & Astrology reader, Intuitive Coach and the host of the Witch Talks podcast.
