How to Tell if a Tarot Reader is Genuine

Booking a tarot reading can feel like a leap of faith. Maybe you’re curious, maybe you’re looking for clarity, or maybe you’ve reached a point where you want a fresh perspective on your life. Whatever the reason, you want to know that the person you’re trusting with your questions and the sometimes very private details of your life is genuine.

The problem is, the world of psychics, spiritualists, and tarot readers can be confusing and sometimes, a little scary.

There are brilliant, professional readers who use tarot as a serious tool for guidance — and there are others who lean on vague statements, scare tactics, or tricks designed to keep you coming back.

So how do you tell the difference? Let’s look at the signs of a genuine tarot reader, the red flags to avoid, and what you should expect from a professional reading.

Why people worry about “fake” readers

It’s perfectly natural to feel sceptical about tarot. The media often lumps tarot readers together with phoney mystic Meg types, and dodgy psychics who promise to tell you when you’ll meet a tall, dark stranger.

You might even have heard stories about readers who use underhanded tactics:

• Looking up a client on social media before a reading and then pretending “spirit” revealed those details.

• Using vague, one-size-fits-all statements that could apply to anyone.

• Claiming to see curses or bad energy, then offering to remove them (for a fee, of course).

If you’re nervous about being scammed, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: once you know what to look for, spotting a genuine tarot reader is straightforward.

1. Tarot is a consultation, not a guessing game

A tarot session with me is a conversation about a stated problem. We start with a clear question and just enough context to frame it. I’m not here to “prove” I can guess details about your life. I’m here to interpret symbolic patterns in the cards and apply them to your situation so you can make better choices.

I don’t trawl your social media or need background research. The cards carry the symbols. Meaning comes from the pattern on the table plus the context you’ve given. I explain what I’m seeing and how I’ve reached each conclusion, step by step. Nothing is hidden behind secret messages or unverifiable claims.

🚩 Red flags: Be cautious of readers who make grand statements without showing their working, or who lean on phrases like “spirit is telling me…” without offering a clear interpretation of the cards in front of you. A good reading should feel transparent, collaborative, and grounded in what’s actually on the table.

2. A good tarot reader explains the cards clearly

A genuine tarot reader should be able to:

• Tell you what each card traditionally means.

• Show you how those meanings apply to your question.

• Explain the symbols in front of you.

Of course, intuition plays a part, some cards can be interpreted differently in relation to other cards or to the context of your question. But it should be grounded in the imagery and symbolism of the cards, not plucked from thin air. If someone skips straight to a dramatic pronouncement without explaining the connection to the cards, be cautious.

Example: If the Three of Swords appears, a professional reader might say: “Traditionally, this card is associated with heartbreak, grief, or difficult truths. In the position it’s fallen here, it may be pointing to unresolved pain in your recent past. How does that connect with your current question?”

That transparency builds trust — and it means you can see how the reading is taking shape.

3. They don’t do single-card yes/no readings

It’s important to separate genuine quick readings from gimmicks. I do online live tarot myself, and yes, those sessions are fast, but I still use multiple cards, laid out in a spread, with proper interpretation and interaction to check in with the querent.

What’s taken over online is something else entirely:

• Single-card pulls.

• Yes/no “fortune cookie” answers.

These have become popular on live streams because they’re easy to consume and they get engagement. But let’s be clear: they are not real tarot. They are a sideshow trick that has morphed into a monster online, and if you ask me, it's destroying the perception of tarot reading as an art form.

If a reader is willing to compromise the integrity of tarot for clicks, what else will they do?

4. Collective readings aren’t the real thing

Another growing trend online is the “collective reading.” One small spread supposedly meant for thousands of viewers at once. We’ve all seen them: “If this video has ended up on your for you page, this message is meant for you!” or "someone is really obsessed with you right now!" Followed by some vague, pop-psychology or girl-power affirmation nonsense. It makes for engaging content, but it isn’t genuine tarot.

Tarot is about the exchange between the querent and the reader. The question, the context, the individual circumstances, that’s what gives the cards their relevance. Strip that out, and you’re left with vague generalisations dressed up as guidance.

Collective readings might be entertaining, but they aren’t real tarot.

5. They avoid scare tactics

Sadly, some readers still use fear as a way of keeping clients hooked. You might hear things like:

• “I see a curse on your family, but I can remove it for a fee.”

• “If you don’t pay for more sessions, bad luck will follow you.”

This isn’t tarot — it’s manipulation. A genuine tarot reader will never use fear to pressure you into spending more money.

Tarot should empower you, not frighten you.

5. They don’t make false promises

Another common trick is offering guarantees:

• “I can make your ex return.”

• “I guarantee success if you follow my advice.”

Tarot doesn’t work like that. The cards don’t dictate your future; they illuminate possibilities. A genuine reader will help you reflect, gain clarity, and make informed choices, but they won’t promise miracles.

6. They respect boundaries

A professional tarot reader will be clear about what tarot can and can’t do. They won’t offer medical advice, predict lottery numbers, or take the place of professional counselling.

Instead, they’ll explain that tarot is a tool for insight and self-reflection. It helps you see where you are, what influences surround you, and what paths might be open to you.

🚩 Red flag: If someone positions tarot as the only authority in your life, that’s a sign to walk away.

7. They’re clear about pricing and process

Vague promises and unclear costs are another warning sign. A genuine reader will:

• State their prices upfront.

• Tell you how long a session lasts.

• Explain what kind of reading you’re booking.

Transparency shows professionalism. If a reader dodges questions about cost or pushes you into buying more, think carefully.

8. They focus on empowerment, not dependence

The best tarot readings leave you feeling clearer, stronger, and more confident. You should come away with a sense of perspective, not a need to book again immediately because you feel powerless.

A genuine reader might suggest follow-up sessions if you want them, but they won’t create dependence.

Why tarot is different from psychic, mediumship or spiritualist readings

Some psychics and spiritualists use tarot cards as part of their work. The cards act more like props to support a psychic or mediumistic connection. That’s a perfectly valid form of reading if that’s what you’re looking for, but it isn’t the same thing as a tarot reading.

In those sessions, what you’re getting is a psychic reading that happens to use cards, not a reading based on the tarot system itself.

A tarot reading, on the other hand, is grounded in the structure of the tarot deck the reader uses. Each card carries established meanings that can be combined and interpreted through the reader’s experience and intuition.

A good tarot reader can explain exactly why a card has been interpreted a certain way and how the meanings link together. You should be able to take note of your spread, look up those cards later, and recognise the logic in what was said.

That transparency is the strength of tarot. You can see the symbols, understand the reasoning, and ask questions about the interpretation. Once psychic or spiritualist elements are added, things become less clear. The source of insight shifts from a visible system to a personal claim of connection. Both approaches can be valuable, but it’s worth knowing which one you’re signing up for before you book a reading.

Questions to ask a tarot reader or before you book a tarot reading session

If you’re not sure whether someone is genuine, here are a few questions you can ask:

1. Can you explain how tarot works in your readings? 

   A real reader should be able to answer clearly.

2. What form of tarot do you practice or what decks do you use?

Different decks spring from different spiritual traditions and sometimes have cards that are similar to the best-known tarot system (the Rider Waite Smith deck) but are subtly different. Just take a note so you can check in with other sources after your reading and understand what you’re getting ahead of your session. 

3. What kind of questions can I bring? 

   Professionals will set boundaries (e.g. no fertility, medical or legal advice).

4. Will you explain the cards during the session? 

   The right answer is yes.

5. Are you 100% accurate

A real tarot reader will be honest and tell you that NO tarot reader in the world is 100% accurate. This is not a science; it’s a spiritual art. If we get 80% accuracy for 80% of people - that’s amazing. The best tarot readers will be open with you about that. 

6. Do you offer one-card yes/no readings? 

   If they say that’s their main method, that’s a red flag. If they explain why one card pulls are not good tarot or yes/no answers are not part of this divination system, you probably have a good one! 

7. Do you guarantee outcomes? 

   A genuine tarot reader will never promise results and if they offer to sell you a spell to guarantee an outcome, I’d personally run a mile. The reading itself should empower you to make the changes needed or cope with the changes coming towards you. 

🚩🚩The ultimate red-flag!

If there’s one thing that makes me shudder when I see people charging for a tarot reading, it’s when they use a beginner deck.

You’ve probably seen these decks, they’re often recommended to people who are just learning tarot. In fairness, they can be a useful study tool for understanding the basic structure of the tarot, the elemental and astrological correspondences, and for getting used to the imagery.

But they are exactly that: beginner tools. They were never meant to be used in professional tarot readings. These are the decks that have phrases or keywords printed on each card — sometimes even “yes” or “no” labels — as if that’s part of the original Rider–Waite–Smith system. It isn’t. Many of these decks are poorly made, often mass-produced from dubious online sources, and the keywords themselves are sometimes flat-out wrong.

If a reader relies on a deck like that, it’s a sign they don’t really know their cards. The presence of those prompts limits intuition, creativity, and the ability to weave meanings together into a coherent story - which is the real art of tarot. A good reader interprets, blends, and contextualises the cards. They don’t just recite a list of stock meanings.

Honestly, if you sit down for a paid reading and the reader produces a deck covered in keywords, stand up and leave. If you only want someone to read out keywords, you’d get the same result from buying a beginner deck yourself or, frankly, using an AI tarot app (don't even get me started on AI tarot reading!!!!)

Tarot is a living, interpretive art. It’s about how archetypal meanings combine and speak to one another. It's not about repeating a set of printed prompts.

FAQs: Common questions about genuine tarot readers

Q: Can tarot readers be trusted?

Yes, many can. The key is to look for professionalism, transparency, and clear boundaries. Avoid anyone who uses fear or promises miracles.

Q: Do tarot readers just make things up?

No. Genuine readers use the established symbolism of the cards, combined with intuition, to guide their interpretations. They’ll always be able to explain how they reached a conclusion.

Q: Is tarot the same as fortune-telling?

Not exactly. Tarot highlights influences and possibilities — it’s about insight and reflection, not guarantees. Other card-based divination systems, such as Lenormand, Gypsy decks and playing card reading, are more ‘fortune teller’ in their style which is to say that they are more focused on 'mundane' events and experiences.

That can be part of a good Tarot reading but tarot is more archetypal and spiritual in the style of information that emerges. 

I don't think fortune-telling is a bad word, by the way. I think it is part of this tradition and deserves respect but there's a variety of opinion on that phrase in the tarot community.

Q: How do I know if a reader is right for me?

Read their website, check reviews if they have them, look at their approach, and see if they explain their process clearly. Also, just see if they seem like a nice person. Someone who is constantly online, attacking other people in the spiritual community or promising to hex people for a fee, might not be the most balanced person to entrust with your personal issues. 

The best tarot readers are chill, approachable and genuine people with real-world lived experiences. A genuine connection matters as much as their method.

Final thoughts

A genuine tarot reader doesn’t hide behind mystery or pressure you with fear. They work openly, explain the cards, and guide you towards clarity.

If you’re looking for a reading that’s honest, transparent, and rooted in the real symbolism of the tarot, you can book a session with me here…