Frequently Asked Questions

Tarot is a deck of 78 cards, each carrying symbolic imagery drawn from mythology, alchemy, astrology and psychology. Readings use these cards — drawn at random and placed in structured layouts called spreads — to reflect on a question or situation. The cards do not predict a fixed future; they offer a mirror for the present, surfacing patterns, feelings and possibilities that may not be immediately visible.

No. Many people find tarot useful purely as a reflective tool — a structured way of examining a situation from multiple angles. The value comes from the questions the cards invite you to consider, not from any supernatural mechanism. Whether you approach it as symbolic psychology, spiritual practice, or creative self-inquiry, the readings can offer genuine insight.

Not as we practise it here. Velvet Tarot readings are not predictions of fixed future events. They explore the energies, patterns and possibilities present in a situation right now. The future is shaped by choices — tarot is most useful for illuminating those choices, not forecasting outcomes as if they were already decided.

No — and it wouldn't be useful if it could. Tarot is most valuable when it helps you understand your own feelings, motivations and options more clearly, so that you can make a better-informed decision yourself. The cards are a thinking partner, not an authority.

Cards are drawn at random and placed into the positions of your chosen spread. Our AI — powered by Claude, Anthropic's language model — then interprets each card in its position in the context of your question, drawing on deep knowledge of tarot symbolism, traditional card meanings, and the relationships between cards in combination. The result is a reading specific to your cards, your spread and your question, not a generic template.

Yes. Cards are selected using cryptographically secure random selection, equivalent to a thorough shuffle of a physical deck. There is no weighting, no repeated cards within a single reading, and no manipulation of which cards appear.

AI reads tarot differently from a human — not necessarily worse, but differently. It is consistent, available at any time, non-judgmental, and draws on comprehensive knowledge of card meanings and their combinations. What it cannot replicate is the embodied, relational dimension of sitting across from a skilled human reader who responds to you in real time. Both have genuine value; they are different experiences.

No. Because the cards are drawn randomly and the interpretation is generated fresh for each reading, every reading is unique — even for the same question and spread. Two people asking identical questions will receive different cards and therefore different readings.

Velvet Tarot offers over 20 spreads, including the classic three-card past/present/future, the Celtic Cross, dedicated love and relationship spreads, career spreads, the horseshoe spread, a daily single card draw, and more. New spreads are added regularly. Premium subscribers have access to the full library.

Most readings are generated in under 30 seconds. Longer spreads such as the Celtic Cross or the premium love report may take slightly longer. Voice readings add a few additional seconds for audio generation.

The Premium Love Report is a detailed, 900-1,200 word reading focused specifically on love and relationships. It uses a dedicated love spread, a specialised interpretation prompt, and is delivered as a beautifully formatted PDF you can save and return to. It is available as a one-time purchase and covers the dynamics, challenges and possibilities in your relationship situation in depth.

Yes. All readings are saved to your account history and can be reviewed at any time from your dashboard. Moon plan subscribers and above have full access to reading history. Free users can review their most recent readings.

Velvet Mind is our AI wellbeing companion feature. It offers three distinct conversation styles — Calm (gentle and supportive), Analytical (clear and structured), and Mystical (intuitive and reflective) — for when you want to think through something, process a feeling, or simply have a thoughtful conversation. It is available on Star plan and above.

No. Velvet Mind is a supportive conversational tool, not a therapeutic service. It cannot replace professional mental health support. If you are experiencing significant distress or mental health difficulties, please speak with a qualified professional. Velvet Mind is designed for reflection and support in ordinary life situations, not for clinical or crisis contexts.

Voice readings deliver your tarot reading as spoken audio, generated by ElevenLabs' high-quality voice AI. The reading is narrated in a warm, atmospheric voice that brings the cards to life in a different way from reading on screen. Voice readings are available on Star plan and above.

Length varies by spread. A three-card reading is typically 3–5 minutes of audio. A Celtic Cross reading may be 8–12 minutes. The Premium Love Report voice version runs to approximately 10–15 minutes.

Velvet Tarot includes a full natal birth chart reading based on your date, time and place of birth; daily personalised horoscopes for your sun, moon and rising signs; compatibility readings between two birth charts; and transit forecasts showing how current planetary movements interact with your natal chart.

A birth time is needed for an accurate rising sign and precise house placements. If you do not know your birth time, you can still receive readings based on your sun and moon signs, which will be accurate for most of the chart. Many hospitals and birth registrars in the UK record birth time on the original certificate if you need to find it.

New accounts receive three free readings with no card details required. After your free readings, you can subscribe to one of our paid plans to continue. Plans start at £10.99 per month and include unlimited readings, daily horoscopes, astrology charts, and more depending on the tier.

We offer three paid tiers — Moon, Star and Professional. Moon covers all the core tarot and astrology features. Star adds voice readings and Velvet Mind. Professional is for practitioners who want to use Velvet Tarot with clients, with additional tools and priority support. Full plan details are on our pricing page.

Yes. All subscriptions are monthly and can be cancelled at any time from your account settings. You retain access until the end of your current billing period. There are no cancellation fees.

Yes. Payments are processed by Stripe, one of the world's leading payment processors. Velvet Tarot never sees or stores your card details — they go directly to Stripe's secure infrastructure. Your card details are never visible to us.

We store your account information (name, email), your reading history (the cards drawn, your question and the generated interpretation), your astrology birth data if you provide it, and subscription status. We do not sell your data to third parties. See our full Privacy Policy for details.

Yes. Your readings are stored securely and are visible only to you when logged in. We do not share individual reading content with anyone, including other users. Staff access to reading data is strictly limited and logged.

Yes. You can request account deletion at any time by contacting us at hello@velvetarot.co.uk. We will delete your account and associated data within 14 days of your request, in accordance with GDPR.

Create a free account at velvetarot.co.uk — it takes under a minute with just your email address. Your first three readings are free, no card details needed. From there you can explore the spread library, try your daily card, and see what the cards have to say.

None at all. The readings are written to be fully self-contained — you do not need to know anything about card meanings to get value from them. If you want to learn more, our Articles section covers everything from the basics of how tarot works to in-depth guides on individual cards and spreads.

Use our contact page or email us directly at hello@velvetarot.co.uk. We aim to respond within one working day.