If you are brand new to tarot reading, it is strongly suggested that you first work your ways through all 78 cards, with this accompanying booklet, before stepping into the space of giving your first reading to anyone. After completing this step, you are ready to step into the space of giving readings, which means you'll need to shuffle the cards and start drawing some from the deck to receive some answers, clarity and universal guidance.
There are a number of ways to shuffle and draw cards, neither being more superior to the other. In fact, the ways in which you shuffle and draw your cards are as personal as how you prefer your favorite beverage. By shuffling your cards, you bond with your tarot cards, connecting your energy. Whichever way you settle on, the idea is for you to keep on focusing on your goal for the reading you are about to give. When you are ready, you can start drawing the amount of cards matching the kind of reading you intend on giving.
One of the most used ways of drawing cards are jumpers. This is where one continues to shuffle the deck of cards until one or more cards either stand out promptly or literally jump from the deck onto the reading surface. From here the name jumpers. Some people opt to shuffle the deck until a card jumps and then continue to draw the rest of the cards either from the top or the bottom of the deck. Many readers shuffle their cards until they feel in their gut that it is time to start drawing cards, which they then do, once again either from the top or bottom of the deck. Another popular way of drawing cards is by fanning them all out and choosing cards at random, whichever ones call you/draw your towards them so to speak.
Whatever method you choose for shuffling and drawing cards, follow the guidance of your own heart. Let the psychic ability we all have within us, guide you, trusting that these are the right steps to follow. As long as your intention is to serve the other person's highest good through your reading, you should do just fine. Something important to guard against is the desire to only want to deliver good messages or serious news. The person you are reading for may need a message of warning or perhaps they just need a confirmation from the universe that they are doing well and that they are on the right path. As a tarot reader, delivering messages, it is important to remember that you are the deliverer of the message, not the message itself.
You are welcome to add candles, music, flowers, incense burners, crystals, figurines that are important to you, fountains, etc into your reading space. Just be sure to not get sidetracked by unnecessary fanfare too much.
The avenues you can do readings for are literally endless. A good space to come from is usually, what would the universe like me to communicate to this person? You could also focus on specific areas, such as love, career, the future, etc. Always try to keep your focus open-ended, meaning steer clear from yes, no outcomes. This way of questioning is very limited, versus "what is the guidance for Cindy's love life please?" This opens a whole different array of opportunities for guidance. Perhaps the person experiencing love problems needs to focus on being more trusting, which may mean they need to focus on healing childhood trauma.
A note on drawing readings for yourself. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this, all professional tarot readers will agree that drawing cards for yourself on matters where you are highly invested, especially emotionally, to the outcome may not be the greatest idea. All human beings are biased by nature. We don't see the simplest truths in ourselves, even when you will see it clearly in others. Therefore, it is highly suggested that if you are facing a big life choice, best you let someone else you trust implicitly read for you.
On drawing cards for others, this can be one of the most daunting tasks for the new tarot reader. Be sure to start your first readings for people you trust and only those who will provide honest feedback, but also positively support your growth. You may start off by practicing providing readings in a mirror. You could also stick up a photograph of someone you trust and provide them a reading or do so to a teddy bear, a mannequin or even your dog. In alignment with respecting the universal law of free will, always steer clear from doing readings for anyone without their expressed permission, even if you use their photograph. If possible, always gain permission first, even if it sounds a bit silly initially.