Introduction

When you first start reading tarot, the cards are calling to you. You want to shuffle, pull, and read for anyone and everyone — but finding people who will actually let you practice can be harder than it sounds. Maybe you’ve tried Reddit or Facebook groups, maybe you’ve offered free readings to friends… and still, you’re left wishing for more real-life practice.

That’s why I created these exercises. You can binge them as much as you want, as long as it’s fun for you — no waiting, no approval, just you and your cards.

Here’s how it works: you’ll get a fake email from a completely fictional querent. (I would never use a real client’s question — I’m discreet, always.) You’ll pretend to be a professional tarot reader answering their query.

Of course, you’re welcome to do your own thing — draw random cards, try a Celtic Cross, whatever calls to you. But for the sake of the structure in this course, we’ll first assume you draw The Fool on its own, and then we’ll assume you draw The Fool along with two other cards, which I’ll give you in the exercise.

For both versions, you’ll find my answer hidden in a spoiler. This isn’t the “right” answer — there isn’t a single right answer in tarot — but it will give you a starting point and a feel for how one professional might approach the reading.

These fake emails are made up, but they’re based on the kinds of questions real clients often ask. So while you’re practicing, you’re also getting a preview of what it’s like to read for actual paying querents.

Have fun with this — the more you practice, the more confident you’ll become.

Exercise 1

📝 Fictional client email:

Hi! My name is Cassy, November 27, 2002, and I want to know about Jason, May 5, 1998.

💬 Let’s talk about what’s happening here:
If you’ve been reading tarot for any length of time, you’ll know this is perfectly normal.
Some clients send long, emotional paragraphs. Others? Just the bare facts — and sometimes only names and birthdays. That’s not a problem.

We’re not here to interrogate people or gather their entire life story. We’re here to listen to the cards. And the beauty is — you can still give an insightful reading, even when the backstory is a mystery.

We don’t know if Cassy and Jason are married, dating, just friends, or if she’s quietly admiring him from afar. That’s fine. You’ll learn to word your response so it’s meaningful in any of those situations.

🎯 Your Exercise:
For this reading, you draw The Fool.
Now imagine you’re writing back to Cassy as a professional tarot reader. Keep your tone warm, clear, and compassionate. Speak as if she’s right in front of you.

When you’ve written your version, open the spoiler below to see how I approached it.
There’s no single “correct” answer — but my example will give you a feel for how I’d shape the message while still leaving room for her personal situation.

Exercise 1.2

You’ve seen how much insight a single card can offer — now let’s turn up the challenge a little. This time, we’ll see how the reading changes when two more cards join the conversation. You can always pull your own cards as many times as you like (and they don’t even need to include The Fool), but for this exercise we’ll work with a set trio: The Fool + The Wheel of Fortune + The Ten of Pentacles. Imagine these three cards landing on your table for Cassy’s question. How do they speak together? How does the story deepen? Take your time, enjoy the process, and when you’re ready, you can peek at my sample answer in the spoiler below — not as “the” right answer, but as one possible path you could take.

And with that, we’ll bring Cassy’s reading to a close. She’s chosen to keep her question simple and direct, and we meet her right there with respect and care. There are countless reasons someone might write in with just the basics — and every single one of them is valid.

Maybe Cassy is in the middle of a workday and can only type a quick note. Maybe she’s a deeply private soul who prefers not to share her heart with strangers. Or maybe she’s sitting by her phone right now, refreshing her inbox with tears in her eyes, hoping for a glimmer of clarity to hold onto. Whatever the reason, she’s invested in herself by seeking guidance — and that’s always worth honoring.

If she had wanted to share more, we could have woven a more detailed, deeply personal forecast. But her choice to keep it open allows the cards to speak in a way that fits any situation she’s walking through. Every client’s needs are different, and part of being a good reader is meeting them exactly where they are, with compassion and without judgment.

Now, let’s move into our next exercise — a fresh scenario with its own unique energy.

Exercise 2

Our next exercise takes us into a very different type of client email — one that offers more background and personal detail.

📧 Fictional Client Email — Brenda

Hello,

My name is Brenda, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my message. I’ve been thinking about reaching out for a while now, but I wasn’t sure how to put my situation into words.

I work at the call center of a large international bank, handling emergency calls when customers lose their cards or have them stolen. My shifts rotate, so sometimes I work through the night, sometimes early mornings, and it’s been difficult to have any kind of routine. The pay is modest, but I’ve always tried to do my job well. Unfortunately, the atmosphere has become increasingly unpleasant. There’s a lot of gossip, subtle backstabbing, and I’ve felt the weight of that tension more and more.

I’ve applied for other positions, even at a different bank, but I wasn’t chosen. I don’t have a degree — I left college early — and I have bills to pay, so I can’t risk being unemployed. I try to stay positive, but lately it feels like I’m stuck in a toxic place with no clear way out. I’m hoping you can give me some insight into what lies ahead for me in my career and whether things might change for the better.

Thank you for your time,
Brenda

Looking at the Bigger Picture

Brenda’s email opens the door for a reading that can truly make a difference. She’s shared enough for us to understand where her struggles lie, and that gives us the chance to respond with care, insight, and guidance shaped just for her. Moments like this are why many of us read tarot — because sometimes, the right message at the right time can bring clarity, comfort, and a little more light into someone’s path.

Your Turn

For this exercise, imagine you’ve drawn The Fool for Brenda.
If you enjoy crafting detailed, personal readings, take this opportunity to write an interpretation tailored to her situation — something warm, supportive, and meaningful that meets her where she is right now.

If that’s not your preferred style, that’s perfectly fine. You might simply reflect quietly on how The Fool could speak to Brenda in this moment, and how its message might play out for her.

When you’re ready, open the spoiler below to read my own suggestion for how a reading like this could sound.

The Power of Context in a Reading

When a client offers a glimpse into their circumstances, even a single card can unfold into a deeply personal and practical message. That one symbol becomes a doorway to advice tailored to their unique path — grounded in their reality, yet still true to the spirit of the card. With just a little context, we can craft a response that feels not only accurate, but also supportive and actionable.

Exercise 2.2

Now we move into the second part of Brenda’s exercise.
This time, instead of one card, we have a three-card spread: The Fool, The High Priestess, and The Ace of Pentacles.

Once again, you’re invited to craft your own answer for Brenda — or, if you prefer, simply reflect on how these three energies might weave together in her situation. When you’re ready, you can open the spoiler below to see my sample interpretation.

A Note About this Reading

You’ll notice that this three-card reading for Brenda is about the same length as our single-card answer. The value here isn’t in adding more words — it’s in adding more dimension. Instead of exploring one single energy from different angles, we now see a sequence: the leap into something new (The Fool), the quiet certainty already within her (The High Priestess), and the tangible opportunity waiting to be claimed (Ace of Pentacles).

With three cards, we’re not just offering Brenda a snapshot — we’re mapping out her journey.

Closing the Fool’s Exercises

That’s the end of our Fool exercises. I hope you enjoyed working through them and exploring how one card can offer so many angles and depths. There will be an exercise section for every single card in the tarot, so feel free to jump ahead to the next one — new articles are released frequently.

If you found value in these exercises and want to help keep this work alive, you can leave a tip through the tip jar in the sidebar (on desktop) or footer (on mobile). Your support is always appreciated.

Thank you for being here.