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 a process that will help you 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 deck’s 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 star fish. And you drew from an oracle deck that had a star fish 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 pre-determined meanings, you miss the information meant for you.
How To Do an Intuitive 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 it for 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.
Don't have decks yet and aren't sure what to buy? Check out my list of decks I love 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.
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.
Layout
This can be done in many ways since this is based on you and your needs. You can choose to do a spread with the cards or read them individually or have it be multiple ways. Trust your guides on what is right for you.
For example, I might draw the cards 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.
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.
Ask Clarifying Questions
If you are unsure if what you have been given answers your question, or it may create more questions! If this happens ask more questions. Then repeat the process by drawing new cards.
Close Out The Session
When 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 mediate on what you got.
You can journal when you have a general idea but need more information. 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, then start with a meditation to see if your guides give you more information.Need More Help Getting Intuitive Guidance?
I can help! I do energy healing combined with spiritual guidance.
Why do I combine the healing and channeling work?
When we are stuck it creates energetic gunk. Thus, getting guidance is only one part of the process.
I can give you messages but if you are carrying old energy and your chakras are out of balance then it will be difficult to move forward. By combining the two, I give you the spiritual guidance you need and clear your energy.
This also allows your spirit team to give me information in a way that best communicates the message. You might get cards; it may be channeled messages, or it may be a combination. As much as I love a good card reading, they don't always fit what you need to hear.