How to Do a Tarot Reading for Someone Not Present: 7 Tips From Psychics

Sometimes the person whose heart you want to read is far away, in another city or across three time zones. You want connection and clarity, and you want it now. Luckily for you, a tarot reading doesn’t care about geography. The deck doesn’t need a mutual signal. It needs intention and honesty: two ingredients you already have.

However, there are rules everywhere, and the art of reading tarot cards is no exception. Get ready to dive into the etiquette of doing a tarot reading for someone who is not present.

1. Get Consent: Emotionally, If Not Literally

Can you do a tarot reading for someone not present? Asking permission is not a mandatory rule, but if possible, we recommend doing so. This way, the person's energy will be easier to read, and the possibility of incorrect reading will be greatly reduced.

You don’t have to gather witnesses or issue an invitation: a simple, “I’d like to check in via tarot cards. Are you cool with that?” is enough and can save you a lot of energetic guilt. If they say no, respect that. If they say yes, you’re ready.

2. Choose the Right Spread

Five cards. Ten cards. Three cards. The number doesn’t matter. What matters is purpose. Try these accessible spreads:

1. What Do They Think of You? The Crush Tarot Spread
2. What Your Ex Thinks Of You: A 4 Card Tarot Spread
3. Is It Your Other Half? The Twin Flame Tarot Spread
4. Have a Chat With Your Love Interest: A 5 Card Tarot Spread
5. How Does He Feel About Me Tarot Reading

3. Meditate Before the Tarot Reading for Someone Not Present

Before you touch your deck, sit down. Do it without your phone and not while microwaving leftovers. Think of the person you’re reading for. What’s their energy like: are they sad, distant, or maybe a little chaotic but kind? You need to spend a moment and notice what arises.

Meditation purifies your emotional state. It clears the static from your inner psychic so that when you start your reading, you’re tuning into something meaningful. Three minutes is enough.

4. Start with a Ritual

Lighting a candle is one of the simplest ways to mark the start of something sacred. Pick a candle. Light it slowly and take a breath while you do. This is your signpost that you’re shifting gears from the everyday to the insightful.

Rituals are anchors. When you’re doing a reading for someone not present, someone whose physical energy can’t co-sign what you’re feeling, this kind of anchor matters. You can say a small phrase like, “May this reading bring clarity,” or “Let truth come through.” You can write their name on a slip of paper and place it next to the candle. The ritual is yours.

5. Use the Power of the Elements

Place a piece of clear quartz beside your deck for some clarity. Use rose quartz if the reading is about someone you are in love with. Amethyst is for intuitive energies, black tourmaline is for situations when you’re worried about absorbing someone else’s emotional chaos.

Now, the elements. A lit candle is fire. A glass of water nearby is water. Crack a window for air. Sit cross-legged on the floor for earth. The point is to ground yourself in the world while you open up to what’s beyond it.

6. Send Their Energy into the Cards

Tarot works best when your energy is directed. So while you shuffle, think about the person you're reading for. Picture their face. Imagine their voice, their vibe, their energy when they’re in a room.

Now send that energy into the deck. Each card in your hand becomes a little emotional satellite. You’re not trying to control the message; you’re opening a channel.

You might say their name out loud. You might ask, “What do they need to know?” You might feel silly, and that’s okay. Most things worth doing begin with a bit of doubt and end with a surprising amount of emotional accuracy.

7. Shuffle With Intent

Shuffle until you feel something. It may be an internal click, a memory, or a feeling. It’s always personal.

Some readers set a number, others shuffle until a card jumps. None of this is wrong. Just be aware: you are working with intention.

Conclusion

Tarot can reach beyond proximity. A caring inquiry across distance can be as simple as a question and a card. So next time you pause in your kitchen, deck in hand, wondering how to do a tarot reading for someone not present, remember: intention sees past geography. 

So, can you do a tarot card reading for someone not present? Yes, just be kind. Ask the question, and then trust yourself enough to read the answer.