What to do before starting tarot?

Before embarking on a tarot journey, are there any preparatory steps one should take to ensure a meaningful and insightful experience? Is it crucial to set clear intentions or meditate beforehand? Are there any specific questions one should ask themselves to align their mindset with the purpose of the reading? Moreover, would researching different tarot spreads and meanings of cards beforehand enrich the experience or is it better to approach it with an open mind? Ultimately, what's the ideal mindset and preparation for a tarot reading?