Do You Really Have to Know All 78 Cards of the Tarot?

Short answer?
Nope.
Long answer? Let’s talk about it.

If you've ever opened a tarot guidebook, joined a tarot class, or followed a “rules-based” tarot teacher, you’ve probably heard this:
“You need to memorize all 78 card meanings before you can give a proper reading.”

And look—I get it. Studying the symbolism and learning the traditional meanings is valuable. It's like learning the structure of a language. But does that mean you can’t speak the language unless you’ve memorized the whole dictionary? Of course not.

Tarot is not about perfection. It’s about presence.

💡 Tarot Isn’t Just About Knowing—It’s About Listening

The way I see it, tarot isn’t just about knowing what the card says—it’s about tuning into what it means to you, in that moment, for that question, in that energy.

Each card carries a frequency. And sometimes, that frequency speaks louder than the traditional interpretation.

Ever pull a “positive” card in a moment of anxiety and feel your gut say, “Hmm… something feels off”? That’s intuition speaking.
Ever get a “scary” card like The Tower, but instead of fear, you feel relief? That’s your soul translating the message.

And that’s the part no one teaches enough.
Tarot isn’t just about what the book says. It’s about what your body knows.

🌀 The Myth of the “Right Way”

There’s a myth that to be “good” at tarot, you have to follow traditional spreads, say the correct phrases, and recite meanings like flashcards. And if that’s your thing, cool. Structure can be helpful. But it’s not the only path.

Tarot is an intuitive tool. A personal one.
You don’t need incense and incantations unless they genuinely feel good to you.
You don’t need a Celtic Cross spread if pulling two cards and breathing with them works better for your rhythm.

There is no “real” or “fake” way to connect with your inner knowing.
There’s just your way. And it’s valid.

🔮 Intuition Is the Real Skill

When you read tarot from a place of intuition, you're not just “reading cards”—you're reading energy. You’re tuning into subtle cues. You’re creating space for something deeper to emerge.

That’s why I believe in teaching tarot for normal people. Not just the mystics. Not just the rule-followers. But for those of us who want to use it as a self-reflection tool in real life—between meetings, before bed, during tough decision moments.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present.
You don’t need to memorize. You need to trust yourself.

💬 Final Thought

So do you really have to know all 78 cards by heart?
No.
You have to be willing to listen to the cards.
To yourself.
To what’s being reflected in that sacred little moment between question and insight.

Because tarot isn’t about getting it “right”—it’s about getting real.
And when you let go of the rules and lean into your intuition? That’s when the magic really happens.