How to Read Two Tarot Cards Together In 5 Easy Steps

Have you mastered reading one tarot card at a time, but you’re not sure what’s next? It’s time to move on to learning how to read two tarot cards together! This where the real fun begins because there are so many combinations to the cards! In fact, there are 3,003 different combinations!

1. Shuffle and Cut Your Deck

Shuffling your tarot cards has more than one purpose. Sure you are mixing up the cards, but you are also adding your own energy to the cards. The cards are reflecting your energy back to you and the way your cards get your energy is by touching them.

There are a few ways to shuffle your cards, and I have a blog post about that if you want more information.

Basically, there are a few different ways to shuffle your tarot cards, either by overhand shuffling, laying the cards out like a poker dealer and picking them, or break the cards into 3 or 4 piles and put the deck back together differently.

While you are shuffling, make sure you are asking the cards the question you want answered. This will help the Universe you want and will guide you to choose your cards.

2. Select Your Cards

Things are starting to get interesting now. The next step in how to read two tarot cards together is picking your tarot cards.

When you are finished shuffling and are ready to pick your cards, you can do this in a couple of different ways.

You can lay those cards out like the poker dealer and run your hands slightly above the cards. I do this sometimes and I just keep going over the cards until I feel the energy from one of the cards. I usually feel that energy in my third and fourth fingers.

Other times, I cut the cards into piles and choose the top cards from the piles. This works pretty well for me.

The other way you can choose the cards for your two card reading is to just deal two cards from the top of the pile. I have been known to shuffle my cards for like 3 minutes, so when I shuffle a lot, I use this method.

3. Interpret Your Card Combination

We’re at the point where we are ready to look at our cards and start reading them. This is where your knowledge of the cards and your intuition come into play.

Turn over the first card

Once you turned the first card over, it’s time to study the card. The first thing you want to notice is if it is upright or reverse. I read my cards upright, so I don’t need to do this part.

If you read reversals, you are going to want to note that in your tarot journal.

Then you want to look at the image on the tarot card. I’m going to put my teacher hat on for a moment. Ask yourself, “What is the main idea of the card?” It’s a good way to get an overall feeling for the card. This will give you a pretty good feel for what the card means.

Ask yourself what the vibe of the card is. Does it look like a positive card, or does it have more of a negative feel? Is the image about action or contemplation?

What are the symbols on this card? These are the secret code in the tarot cards.

Turn over the second card

You are going to repeat the same process for your second tarot card. At this moment you only want to pay attention to the second card. Make any notes about what you notice about the second card.

Compare and Contrast the two Tarot cards

So, how do you do this? Some of the things you want to notice when you do this are:

• Look to see if there are any of the same symbols are on the card. If there are, then these is something the cards are trying to tell you.
• Are the “main ideas” of the card the same? For example, if you get the Lover’s card and the Two of Cups, something romantic could be in the air.
• How are the “main ideas” of the cards different? For example if you get the 10 of Cups and the 3 of Swords, there is a story to be told there. Make sure you take into consideration which card came first, and which came second. This will effect the way you interpret the cards.

Notice how the order of the cards will affect the meaning of the reading? The first image shows heartbreak first, then happiness and the second image shows happiness first, then heartbreak.

The combined meaning of the cards will help you look at at your question from different perspectives.

4. Apply the Cards to Your Question or Situation

We’ve come to the meat of the reading. All the prep work you did in Step 3 will help you with how the cards apply to you!

Think about how the cards’ combined meaning applies to the question or situation you had in mind when drawing them.

Let’s say you asked, “What do I need to know about my love life?” Depending on the cards you pulled you will get different answers.

For example, if you pulled the Lovers card and the 2 of Cups, that is a very positive energy. You might be thinking your relationship is pretty solid. Perhaps the cards are suggesting that you may need to make a choice in the future, but it will lead to a loving, long lasting relationship.

On the other hand, ask the same question and you have pulled the 3 of Swords and the 10 of Cups. This combination has a very different feel to it. You just know there is some heartbreak in your story.

When you get these seemingly opposite cards, write about where that energy might be coming from. Are you having some sort of internal conflict? Are you being asked to make a hard decision or choice?

Trust your intuition

I will admit that this was so hard for me when I first started learning to read two tarot cards together. I always checked the meaning of both cards and tried to craft a message from that. That will only get you so far.

If you receive a card and it doesn’t feel right with you, what is your gut telling you? That’s your intuition. The more you listen to your gut, the stronger your intuition muscle will become.

5. Integrate the Messages

Once you have read the two cards together, it’s time to journal about your reading.

You can start by summarize the core message or advice they offer.

Here is an example summary from the example above. If I ask the question “What do I need to know about my love life?” and pull the Ten of Cups and the Three of Swords:

You are in a place where you are open to finding happiness in your love life, as the 10 of Cups suggests, however the 3 of Swords can show that you are still feeling the effects of a breakup you haven’t gotten over 100% yet. This could be holding you back, so it’s time to work through whatever is still affecting you.

If you aren’t sure where to start, here are some questions to think about. You don’t have to answer all the questions, just choose the questions that feel aligned to your tarot reading.

Relationship Between the Two Cards:

1. How do these two cards interact or relate to each other?
2. What story or narrative do these cards tell when considered together?
3. Are there any contrasting or complementary elements between these cards?

Reflecting on Actions and Decisions:

1. What actions can I take based on the guidance from these cards?
2. How can I use the insights from these cards to make informed decisions?
3. What changes or adjustments should I consider in my approach to the situation?

Deeper Insights:

1. What hidden aspects or underlying issues do these cards show?
2. Do these cards line up with my intuition or inner feelings about the situation?
3. Are there any patterns or recurring themes in my recent readings that these cards highlight?

Moving Forward:

1. What steps can I take to embrace the positive energy of these cards?
2. How can I prevent or try to attempt any challenges or warnings these cards present?
3. What mindset should I have moving forward because of this reading?

Joining my Facebook group is another resource to learn more about tarot and manifesting.

Adding Affirmations

Once you read your two tarot cards together, you should consider creating an affirmation to help you focus on your intentions and raise your vibration. You can use these affirmations to help manifest the outcomes you want and help set a positive mindset.

For example:

• If your reading suggests a need for more confidence and leadership, you might use the affirmation: “I am a strong and capable leader, guiding my path with wisdom and confidence.”
• If the cards indicate a need for self-care, an affirmation like “I embrace healing and self-love, nurturing my mind, body, and spirit” can be helpful.
• Here is an affirmation based on the 10 of Cups and 3 of Swords that we discussed above:

I embrace the joy and fulfillment in my life while allowing myself to heal from past hurts. I open my heart to both the love and lessons that come my way, knowing that I am resilient and deserving of true happiness.

Repeat these affirmations every day. It will help you stay focused and open minded towards whatever you are trying to manifest.

I have some awesome Inner Peace affirmation cards that are good for everyday use in my Etsy shop. There are different styles to choose from. I hope you will check them out!

Reading two tarot cards together will give you a more thorough reading than a single card reading. Be open, go with your gut, and let the cards guide you toward greater clarity, understanding and self-growth.

Give yourself grace as you are learning how to read two tarot cards together. It takes time and effort to become a more practiced tarot reader.

If you like free things, check out this Freebie Marketplace. I have a free gift for you there. It is the Tarot Intuition Playbook and I think you will love it!

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