Know the structure of the deck
A common Rider–Waite–Smith-style deck contains 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The four minor suits are Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Each has Ace through Ten and four court cards.
Major cards are often read as broader themes, while minor cards invite attention to everyday situations. This convention does not mean a major event is guaranteed. Wenbu uses the full deck, with original abstract artwork and concise editorial prompts.
Ask what you can notice, not what must happen
“Does this person definitely love me?” asks cards to reveal someone else’s unconfirmed feelings. “What needs am I overlooking in this relationship?” points toward something you can observe and discuss.
A useful question can include real context without demanding a reassuring answer. When considering a job, for example, ask which conditions beyond salary deserve attention. The cards can start an association; evidence still comes from real information.
Three cards, three perspectives
Wenbu’s spread uses Situation, Tension and Next Step. These positions organize reflection rather than claim fixed knowledge of past, present or future events. Cards are drawn without replacement, so a spread cannot contain duplicates.
With reversals enabled, each card independently has a 50 percent chance of appearing reversed. Read reversal as a possible blockage, internal focus or imbalance, not automatically as something bad. A reading without reversals is also a valid reflective practice.
Record before elaborating
Write down the card names, positions and orientations before interpreting them. Add “This reminds me of…” and one small action. The distinction makes it easier to see where an association came from.
Return later and record what did not fit as well as what did. Tarot may support reflection, but it cannot replace conversation with the people involved or qualified advice about health, law and money.
Sources & further reading
Project Gutenberg · The Illustrated Key to the Tarot ↗Labyrinthos · Tarot learning and journal ↗Traditional interpretations are not established predictions. See the source notes for context.