How To Do An Intuitive Tarot Card Reading
When I first started learning tarot, I assumed I had to follow the traditional meaning of each card. Yet it never felt accurate. It felt like something was missing.
And then I learned that you could read cards intuitively. That I could take the traditional meaning, what the guidebook said and pair it with my intuition.
And guess what – my readings became clearer.
I am going to share with you the process I use so you can do your own intuitive card reading.
But before we dig in, let’s clarify a couple of commonly asked questions so we can be on the same page!
What is an Intuitive Card Reading?
An intuitive reading is where instead of going by traditional meanings and what a card decks’ book says you use your intuition.
This doesn’t mean you can’t use the traditional meanings, but that you are adding an extra level of customization to your reading. This is important because, while the traditional meanings are helpful, we all process pictures and words differently.
For example, let’s say your grandmother called you starfish. And you drew from an oracle deck that had a starfish on the card. For you this could be a sign from your grandmother and not what the card is meant to communicate. Or it is a combination of both. By sticking only to the predetermined meanings, you miss the information meant for you.
How To Do an Intuitive Tarot and Oracle Card Reading
This is the process that I use when doing an intuitive card reading.
Set Sacred Space
This ensures that you are getting information from your spirit guides and not other random beings hanging out! This doesn’t have to be a big process; you can do it simply by stating out loud – “I create sacred space for only my guides and myself.”
State the Question You Want Answered
You want to make sure you are very clear on what you need from the reading. You can write it down or say it out loud.
Examples of what you can ask:
- Upcoming events. I love to draw cards for information anytime an event is coming up. I do everything from moving to an important meeting. When asking about an event say: “What do I need to know about this _____________.”
- Problem Solving. When I am stuck and can’t figure it out, I head for my cards! You can ask what you need to know or what you might not be seeing.
- Week ahead. Often, I will draw cards for a specific time period so I can plan for what to expect.
- What do you want me to know. A simple generic question will help you see things you may never have thought to expect! I love doing this in the morning to see what I need to know for the day.
- Confirm what you are getting from your guides through other means. If you are working on developing your intuitive and channeling gifts, confirming with cards is a great way to build confidence.
Select The Deck(s) You Want to Use
I use my intuitive skills to do this. I will ask my guides what deck(s) they want me to use. If I don’t get anything right away, I pull out all my decks and move my hands over them. As I do so my hand will start tingling when I am over the deck they want.
How you do this will be specific to how you typically receive spiritual guidance. If you are clairsentient then you will know and if you are clairaudient then you will hear. Learn more about the different ways you can communicate with your guides here.
Clear the Decks Energy
This can be as simple as knocking on it. This will clear out any energy that is not yours. It does not have to be a big process, one simple tap on the cards.
Shuffle and Draw Cards
After you shuffle, begin pulling cards based on your intuition. As you did with picking your deck, have your guides communicate to you which cards they want you to pull.
This can be an ongoing process, in that they have you draw a few cards. Then pick a new deck and draw a few more.
Should you use a specific layout?
Because this is an intuitive reading you can do what feels instinctually right. There is no right or wrong. You can choose to do a traditional spread from the beginning. Or you can read each card individually, with no predefined meaning. You can even start doing it without a traditional spread and shift to a spread if that feels right.
For example, I might draw the cards with no plan and instinctively know it is a Past/Present/Future reading. Other times I know that while there are three cards it has nothing to do with a Past/Present/Future reading.
Trust your instincts.
If you are new to doing Oracle and Tarot Card readings, you can find layouts in most of the guidebooks that come with the deck you buy. If not, I recommend the book – Guided Tarot. For not only doing a reading but also for learning the cards. (I have this in a paper version and as an eBook, so I can refer to it anytime I need.) Get your copy here.
Interpret the Cards
In this step it is time to get the messages they want you to hear. You can do this in a variety of ways, here are some ways that I do it.
Study the Pictures
Look at the pictures on each card. What jumps out at you? How does the card make you feel? Does the card have words that you feel are disconnected?
Trust what you are getting when they come up.
Read the Booklet
As you read the description, what comes up? Is there a line that jumps out at you? If it feels wrong, trust that!
Are you getting messages any other way?
You may hear your guides say something while pulling the card. Take that as part of the reading. Or you may hear something outside at the same time you drew the cards and that also relates to the cards.
Ask Clarifying Questions
If you are unsure if what you have been given answers your question, or the reading creates more questions, keep asking questions and drawing cards. You don’t have to stop with the original cards given to you.
Close Out The Session
When you have gotten what you need you close out the session by thanking your guides and closing sacred space.
At this point you may still feel like you need to process the information more. For this I recommend you either journal or meditate on what you got.
When journaling the goal is to begin to understand what came up as it applies to your situation. For example, you draw the Four of Swords Reversed. Which you know for you means you need to stop procrastinating. However, you don’t know why you are procrastinating. Grab your journal to explore what fears or other issues may be blocking you.
If you have no idea what is going on as it applies to what you were trying to get information on I recommend you start with a meditation to see if your guides give you more information.
If neither journaling or meditating helps, I recommend taking a bit of time away from it to see if your subconscious starts to help you understand it. I will often leave the cards out so I can glance at them throughout the day. Or I will take a picture of them. If that still doesn’t help, I will do another reading.
Need More Help Getting Intuitive Guidance?
I can help! I offer intuitive messages in two different forms. First, is in a spiritual guidance reading. You give me your question and I will have my guides lead me in a tarot/oracle card, shamanic journeying or channeling.
The second way I can help is with my Illumination Healing Sessions. In this session you receive energy work plus messages from your guides on what your next steps should be. The biggest difference (besides the energy work) is that in the healing session you don’t ask a question, instead it is what the guides think you need to hear. The focus being on removing blocks to living your as your true self.
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