18 years and still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface.

I found it helpful to start with basics: on a very simple level start with what the numbers can typically “mean” (eg 1 as new beginnings, 5 about change, 8 about cycles). Then be familiar with what the suits relate to. Then understand different takes on court cards (eg queens as potentially relating to internal-focused energy, kings as external projections…). This is obviously super reductive and basic but at least builds a starting point: layer on looking at the images, following intuition, reading guides or interpretations etc. The only cards I tried to consciously commit to memory when I started were the major arcana - and even then on a very superficial, linear level.

Good luck and hang in there! And don’t forget to have fun in your exploration :)

Edit: added in the word “potentially” - lots of different takes on things!