A really good question, what advice would I give? This is the moment when I, again, realize that I am not a born teacher. I know a lot about tarot, but going back and trying to see myself as the beginner again – that is hard! What would I have been helped by when I started?
First of all, if I had been a beginner today I would’ve had a lot more help by going online, finding books (unfortunately there are very few really good ones in my language, I’m from Sweden). The problems with going online on the other hand are all the opposing teachings, suggestions, do this and do that and never in any way should you do this! The cards have these meanings and that is the only right and true interpretation, the old well-told story about you have to be given your first deck and so on and so forth.
I would probably start somewhere there, remind that beginner that this is no super-magical hocus pocus mumbo-jumbo stuff. They are holding 78 pieces of cardboard, they won’t bite you or explode if you happen to look at them the ”wrong” way. Relax, don’t rush anything. Start by finding something that can work as a journal for making notes when you finally have found a deck to start with. And that is something you shouldn’t rush either, there are a lot of decks out there and you will hear Tarot de Marseille (TdM), Rider Waite Smith (RWS), clones, non-traditional and what not and it will probably make your head spin when you see exactly how many decks there are out there! Deep breath, relax, and no panic. You will probably be given different advice here and some are good, others maybe just confusing. The easiest suggestion is to perhaps pick a RWS of some sort or a clone (they use a lot of the same symbols and imagery as the classic RWS) since many books are using the pictures for them, or if you feel turned off by them then pick some other deck, but then it could be of help if they have a good little booklet or an actual book coming with them since that could give an idea of what the creator had in mind with it. Oh, and while you read a lot about tarot, don’t freak out about you can’t let anyone else touch your cards and not buy your own deck because it’s bad luck. Fine, if you don’t want anyone touching your cards, then it is so, but the world will not come to an end if someone does, and there is no bad luck or some such if you buy your own decks. Trust me, I have bought the majority of my decks (and many others have too), and I’m still around reading cards just fine.
Another thing is how to learn to read the cards. Don’t do it my way, that is only confusing, I had no internet and no people to ask, two books that contradicted each other and it took me perhaps a year before there was a workshop that got me on track. Look at the cards, pick a card a day to work with, or something in that way. Make notes on what you feel, think, or notice in that card. If you want to try a spread, keep it 1-5 cards at most since it will be very confusing to deal with too many impressions and positions in the beginning. Did you get a book? When you have found out what you feel about those cards, look in that book, or that site on the internet and see if there are any additional meanings to take note of. Keep going, don’t rush and find some people to try out your reading skills with. Perhaps someone to do readings for each other with? If you like and can afford it, take a class with someone, or a study group, that can also be of help starting out.