Tarot Groups Guide

What Tarot Groups Actually Are and Why They Matter

Tarot groups are gatherings — online or in person — where people come together to practice reading tarot cards, learn from each other, and share interpretations. They range from casual meetups at someone’s kitchen table to structured communities with hundreds of members on Discord or Facebook. Some focus on study. Others on practice readings. A few do both.

If you’ve ever pulled a card and stared at it thinking “I have no idea what this means,” a tarot group is where that confusion turns into actual understanding. You get feedback. You hear how other readers see the same card differently. That back-and-forth is what builds skill faster than any book or YouTube video alone.

The tarot community has grown fast. According to data from the American Tarot Association, interest in tarot study groups increased by over 40% between 2020 and 2025. A lot of that growth happened online, but in-person tarot groups have made a strong comeback in 2026, especially in cities like Austin, Portland, Los Angeles, and New York.

How Many Cards in a Tarot Deck — The Basics You Need Before Joining

Before you walk into any tarot group, you should know the fundamentals. So how many cards in a tarot deck? A standard tarot deck has 78 cards. That’s split into two sections: the Major Arcana (22 cards) and the Minor Arcana (56 cards).

The Major Arcana covers big life themes. Think The Fool, The Tower, Death, The World. These cards represent major shifts and deep lessons. The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits — Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles — each with cards numbered Ace through Ten, plus four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

Most tarot groups use the Rider-Waite-Smith deck as a starting point. It was first published in 1909 and remains the most widely referenced deck in tarot education. If you’re joining a group for the first time, having a copy of this deck makes it easier to follow along when someone references specific imagery.

Some groups work with alternative decks — the Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley, the Marseille Tarot, or modern indie decks. It depends on the group’s focus. But the 78-card structure stays the same across nearly all traditional tarot decks.

Types of Tarot Groups You Can Join

Study Groups

These are focused on learning. Members typically go through the deck card by card over weeks or months. One week might be The Empress. The next, the Four of Cups. People share journal entries, art, personal associations with each card. It’s methodical and slow, which is the point.

A well-known example is the Tarot Study Group that ran on Aeclectic Tarot Forums for over a decade. Members would post their interpretations of a single card and discuss differences in meaning across decks. That forum closed in 2019, but the format lives on in Reddit communities like r/tarot and in private Discord servers.

Practice Reading Groups

Here, the goal is to actually read for other people. Members take turns being the reader and the querent (the person asking the question). You pull cards, give your interpretation, and the querent tells you if it landed or not.

This is where real growth happens. Reading for yourself is one thing. Reading for a stranger who gives you honest feedback is completely different. It forces you to trust your instincts and learn to articulate what you see in the cards without hedging every sentence.

Group Tarot Reading Circles

A group tarot reading is a specific format where one reader pulls cards for the entire group at once. Instead of individual readings, the reader addresses a shared theme or collective energy. These are common at full moon gatherings, seasonal celebrations, and tarot meetups.

The dynamic is interesting. In a group tarot reading, each person in the room will relate to the cards differently. The reader might pull the Ten of Swords, and one person feels it deeply while another shrugs. That range of reaction becomes part of the reading itself. It opens up conversation that a solo reading never could.

Online Tarot Groups

These exist on nearly every platform. Facebook has thousands of tarot groups, ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced. Discord servers offer real-time voice readings and card-of-the-day channels. Reddit’s r/tarot community has over 400,000 members as of early 2026. Telegram groups tend to be smaller and more focused.

The quality varies wildly. Some online tarot groups are moderated well, with clear rules about respect and no unsolicited readings. Others are a mess — full of spam, self-promotion, and people giving readings they’re not qualified to give. Choosing the right one matters.

How to Find Good Tarot Groups Near You

Meetup.com is still the most reliable platform for finding local tarot groups. Search “tarot” in your city and filter by activity level. Groups that meet at least once a month and have recent activity are usually the ones worth joining.

Metaphysical shops and bookstores often host tarot nights. Places like The Mystic Dream in Walnut Creek, California, or Catland Books in Brooklyn, New York, regularly hold group readings and study circles. Call ahead or check their event calendars.

Libraries have started hosting tarot groups too. The Los Angeles Public Library system, for instance, has included tarot workshops in their adult programming since 2023. These tend to be beginner-friendly and free.

Word of mouth still works. If you get a reading at a local fair or shop, ask the reader if they know of any tarot groups in the area. Readers tend to know each other, and many participate in private circles that aren’t advertised publicly.

What Happens at a Typical Tarot Group Meeting

Formats vary, but here’s a common structure for an in-person tarot group that meets monthly:

The group gathers. There’s usually some small talk. Someone might bring snacks. Then the facilitator — if there is one — introduces the focus for the session. It could be a specific card, a spread, a technique, or an open practice round.

If it’s a study session, someone presents a card. They talk about its traditional meaning, the imagery in different decks, and their personal experience with it. Then the floor opens for discussion. People share how they’ve seen that card show up in their readings, what it’s meant to them, where they’ve struggled with it.

If it’s a practice session, members pair up. One reads for the other. After a set time — usually 15 to 20 minutes — they switch. At the end, the group might reconvene and share takeaways or tricky moments from their readings.

Some tarot groups incorporate meditation, journaling, or creative exercises. One group in Portland asks members to sketch the card of the month from memory. Another in Chicago uses tarot cards as writing prompts. There’s no single right way to run one.

Common Mistakes People Make in Tarot Groups

Giving Unsolicited Readings

This is the fastest way to make people uncomfortable. Reading someone’s energy or pulling cards for them without their explicit permission is a boundary violation. Good tarot groups have rules against this. If yours doesn’t, bring it up.

Treating Readings as Absolute Truth

Tarot cards are a tool for reflection, not a crystal ball. When someone in a group insists their interpretation is the only correct one, it shuts down learning for everyone. The whole point of a group is to see multiple perspectives on the same card or spread.

Not Practicing Between Meetings

Showing up once a month and never touching your deck in between won’t build your skills. Daily or weekly pulls — even a single card with a journal entry — make the group sessions far more productive. You come in with questions. You come in with patterns you’ve noticed. That’s what fuels real discussion.

Joining Too Many Groups at Once

Especially online. People join five or six tarot groups on Facebook and end up scrolling past all of them. Pick one or two. Engage deeply. Comment on posts. Share your own readings. You’ll learn more from active participation in a single group than passive membership in ten.

The Difference Between Free and Paid Tarot Groups

Free tarot groups — especially online — are great starting points. They give you exposure to different reading styles, decks, and approaches without any financial risk. Reddit, Discord, and Facebook groups cost nothing to join.

Paid tarot groups usually offer more structure. A monthly membership might include guided lessons, exclusive spreads, live group tarot reading sessions with a professional reader, and direct feedback on your practice readings. Prices range from $10 to $50 per month for most online memberships. In-person circles with a professional facilitator might charge $20 to $40 per session.

The value depends on what you need. If you’re brand new, a free group with active moderation is more than enough. If you’ve been reading for a year and feel stuck, a paid group with a skilled teacher can push you past plateaus you didn’t know you had.

Lindsay Mack’s Tarot for the Wild Soul community is one example of a paid tarot group that’s been running successfully since 2017. Members get access to monthly teachings, recorded readings, and a private community space. It’s not cheap, but participants frequently cite it as a turning point in their practice.

How to Start Your Own Tarot Group

You don’t need credentials. You don’t need to be an expert reader. You need a space, a consistent meeting time, and at least two other people who want to learn.

Start small. Three to six people is the ideal size for a new tarot group. Larger groups require more structure and facilitation skill. With a small group, everyone gets time to read, share, and ask questions.

Set expectations from the start. Decide on a format. Will you study cards one by one? Will you practice readings? Will you rotate who leads each session? Write it down. Even a simple one-page guide keeps everyone aligned.

Choose a consistent schedule. Biweekly or monthly works for most people. Weekly can lead to burnout or attendance drops. Monthly gives people time to practice between sessions.

Pick a location. Someone’s living room works. A rented room at a community center works. A coffee shop works if the group is small and the shop isn’t too loud. For online groups, set up a Discord server or a Zoom link with a recurring schedule.

Ground rules matter. Here are a few that experienced tarot group facilitators recommend:

No unsolicited readings. What’s shared in the group stays in the group. Respect all decks and traditions. No shaming someone for a “wrong” interpretation. Everyone gets equal time to speak.

If you post about your new tarot group on Meetup, Eventbrite, or local Facebook groups, you’ll likely find interested people faster than you expect. Tarot has a large and growing community, and many people are actively looking for a group but haven’t found one yet.

Tarot Group Etiquette That People Overlook

Shuffling someone else’s deck without asking — don’t do it. Many tarot readers consider their deck personal. Some believe it holds their energy. Whether or not you share that belief, respecting it costs you nothing.

Arriving on time matters more than you’d think. Tarot groups often start with a grounding exercise or a brief check-in. Walking in late disrupts the flow and takes attention away from whoever is speaking or reading.

If someone shares something vulnerable during a reading — and they will, because tarot tends to pull that out of people — don’t offer advice unless they ask for it. Hold space. That phrase gets overused, but it applies here directly. Listen. Acknowledge. Move on when they’re ready.

Clean up after yourself. If the group meets at someone’s home, offer to help set up or break down. Bring something to share once in a while. These small gestures keep a tarot group running for years instead of fizzling out after three meetings.

What a Group Tarot Reading Looks Like in Practice

A group tarot reading differs from individual readings in a few key ways. The reader isn’t addressing one person’s question. They’re pulling cards for the collective — meaning everyone present.

Here’s how it typically unfolds. The reader sets an intention or theme. It might be tied to the current moon phase, a seasonal shift, or a topic the group has agreed on — like career, relationships, or personal growth.

The reader shuffles and pulls a spread. A common one for group tarot reading is a three-card pull: past energy, present energy, forward energy. The reader interprets each card aloud, and participants are invited to share how the card resonates — or doesn’t — with their own experience.

In larger groups, the reader might pull additional cards for each position to add depth. Some readers ask for a volunteer from the group to pull the cards, which adds a layer of shared participation.

Group tarot readings work well for building cohesion within tarot groups. They create a shared language and shared reference points. Weeks later, someone might say, “Remember when we pulled the Nine of Pentacles that night?” and the whole group feels it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tarot Groups

Do I need experience to join a tarot group?

No. Many tarot groups are designed for beginners. Look for groups that explicitly welcome newcomers. Study groups are the most beginner-friendly format. You don’t need to know every card before showing up — that’s what the group is for.

How many cards in a tarot deck?

A standard tarot deck contains 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits of 14 cards each. This structure has been consistent since the 15th century when tarot decks were first used in Europe.

Are online tarot groups as good as in-person ones?

They serve different needs. Online tarot groups offer convenience, diversity, and access to readers from around the world. In-person groups offer deeper connection, physical card handling, and energy exchange that some readers find essential. Many people participate in both.

How often do tarot groups meet?

Most meet monthly or biweekly. Some online groups have daily activity through text channels and weekly live sessions. The right frequency depends on the group’s goals and members’ availability.

Can I join a tarot group if I use oracle cards instead of tarot?

That depends on the group. Some tarot groups are strictly tarot-focused and use the 78-card structure as their foundation. Others welcome oracle decks, Lenormand cards, and other divination tools. Ask before you join.

What should I bring to my first tarot group meeting?

Bring your deck, a notebook, and a pen. Some groups provide decks for shared use, but having your own is better for practice. A journal helps you track patterns, new meanings you learn, and personal insights from the session.

Keep Going With What You Know

Tarot groups give you something that solo practice can’t — perspective. Other people see things in the cards that you’ll miss. They ask questions you wouldn’t think of. They challenge interpretations you took for granted. That friction is what sharpens your reading ability over time.

Whether you join an online community on Discord, find a local circle through Meetup, or start your own group with a few friends, the step that matters most is the first one. Pick a group. Show up. Pull a card. See what happens.

Now that you know how tarot groups work, what to expect, and how to find the right one — go put that knowing into action.