Hello and welcome back to your tarot studies.
In our last lesson, you learned how to apply specific frameworks to interpret reversed cards, adding a significant layer of nuance to your readings. We moved from the "what" of reversals to the "how," using a structured, analytical approach.
Today, we shift our focus from the "science" of tarot to the "art." This lesson is designed to help you achieve the learning outcome: Combine intuition with traditional card meanings to enrich and personalize interpretations. We'll explore how to listen to your inner voice and blend it with the knowledge you've built over this course. For you, as someone with a goal of personal insight, this is a pivotal step. It's how you begin to move from reading what the cards mean in general to understanding what they mean specifically for you.
1. What Does It Mean to Read Intuitively?
First, let's clarify what we mean by "intuitive reading." It's not about discarding the card meanings you've worked so hard to learn. Rather, it's about adding another layer of information—your own inner wisdom—to the reading.
The following video from the YouTube channel Ethony offers a great perspective on this. She distinguishes between a purely "intuitive reader" and an "intuitive tarot reader," which is our goal.
Reading Tarot Cards INTUITIVELY! (for beginners)
Watch this clip to understand the benefits of reading tarot intuitively and the important distinction between someone who reads cards purely on intuition versus a tarot reader who integrates intuition with their knowledge of the system.
Please watch from 00:54 to 04:56. Pay attention to the benefits she lists, such as trusting yourself more and being able to read any deck. Note her definition of an 'intuitive tarot reader' as someone who knows the system but also uses their intuition.
As Ethony explains, by combining system knowledge with intuition, you create a richer, multi-layered interpretation. Your deep knowledge of the card meanings provides the structure and archetypal context, while your intuition provides the personal nuance and specific message for the moment.
2. Techniques for Awakening Your Intuition
Intuition isn't a mysterious gift; it's a skill you can cultivate with practice. Here are some concrete techniques to help you start listening to your inner voice when you work with the cards.
A. Read the Story in the Image
Before you even think about the "official" meaning of a card, simply look at it. The images in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck and its clones are rich with narrative detail.
The TAROVERSE video you watched in one of our first lessons has an excellent segment on this. It encourages you to observe the card's "weather," landscape, colors, and the body language of the figures.
Easily Learn Tarot: Watch This First
Let's revisit a clip from the 'Easily Learn Tarot' video. It demonstrates a powerful method for intuitive interpretation by simply observing the visual elements of the cards.
Please watch from 11:09 to 14:59. Notice how the presenter derives emotional meaning from the weather (cloudy vs. clear sky), the state of the water (calm vs. wavy), and simple gestures (a hand offering a cup). This is your first layer of intuitive data, gathered before you even access your memory of the card's meaning.
This practice of visual observation connects you directly to the card's energy and the emotional story it's telling.
B. The Description Method
A more structured way to engage with the card's imagery is the "Description Method." This technique can be particularly effective as it breaks down the process into clear steps, moving from objective observation to subjective experience.
This article from Joanna Powell Colbert provides a step-by-step guide.
How to Read a Tarot Card Intuitively, without Looking it Up ...
The article 'How to Read a Tarot Card Intuitively, without Looking it Up...' details a fantastic exercise called the 'Description Method.' It's a way to step inside the card and feel its energy.
Please read the section titled 'Description Method.' Follow the two main steps: first, describe the card in detail, and second, repeat the description in the first-person present tense ('I am...'). Notice how this simple shift helps you embody the card's message.
This method is incredibly powerful for personal readings. By stating "I am experiencing a moment of magic," you are not just interpreting the card; you are connecting its energy directly to your own life.
C. Trust Your First Impression
When you draw a card, what is the very first word, feeling, or memory that comes to mind, even before you start your analysis? Don't dismiss it. That first "hit" is often your intuition speaking before your logical mind takes over.
The article you just read mentions this, as does Ethony in her video. She advises to "trust the first thing that comes to you" and to "say what you feel you were going to say in the beginning." It takes courage, but it's a crucial part of building intuitive confidence.
3. Weaving It All Together
So what happens when your intuitive feeling differs from the traditional card meaning? This is where the true art of tarot reading comes into play.
In your legal work, you are familiar with the concepts of the "letter of the law" and the "spirit of the law." You can think of traditional card meanings as the letter of the law—the established, collective understanding. Your intuition helps you understand the spirit of the law as it applies to the unique circumstances of your question.
For personal readings, the message for you is paramount. The presenter of the TAROVERSE video makes a strong statement on this.
Easily Learn Tarot: Watch This First
In this final clip from the TAROVERSE video, the presenter discusses what to do when your intuitive feelings conflict with the textbook definitions.
Please watch from 14:59 to 16:00. The advice here is to prioritize your personal, intuitive response, especially in a personal reading. This is an empowering perspective that encourages you to trust yourself.
When your intuition aligns with the traditional meaning, it serves as confirmation. When it diverges, it's an invitation to explore a more personal, nuanced interpretation. Your journal will be an invaluable tool for tracking these personal meanings, a topic we will explore more in our next lesson.
4. Practice Exercise: Bridging the Cards
Reading a spread isn't just about interpreting individual cards; it's about seeing the story they tell together. An excellent way to practice weaving intuitive connections is through an exercise called "Bridging."
How to make connections between tarot cards
The article 'How to make connections between tarot cards' from MJ's Tarot introduces a simple yet powerful exercise called 'Bridging' to help you see the relationships between cards.
Please read from the 'Background' section through the 'Examples' section. First, understand the premise: experienced readers see how cards relate to each other. Then, carefully read the 'How to do it' steps for the Bridging exercise. Finally, review the examples provided (like The Hermit and Page of Cups) to see how the author finds connections in colors, objects, numbers, and themes.
This exercise trains your mind to look for patterns and create narratives—the very essence of synthesizing a reading. You're not trying to give a definitive answer, but simply letting your mind make free associations.
Test your understanding!
Take your own deck. Draw two cards at random and place them side-by-side. Using the "Bridging" technique, what connections can you find? Jot down at least three "bridges" between them. Look for:
- Similar or contrasting colors.
- Figures looking toward or away from each other.
- Repeated symbols (birds, water, mountains).
- Thematic links (e.g., a card of struggle next to a card of rest).
There are no right or wrong answers. The goal is simply to practice the act of looking and connecting.
Show example
Let's say you drew the Three of Swords and The Star.
Possible bridges could be:
- Color Bridge: Both cards have a prominent grey/blue sky, but the atmosphere is completely different. The Three of Swords feels stormy and oppressive, while The Star feels clear and serene. This suggests a movement from sorrow to hope.
- Symbol Bridge: The Star features water being poured out, symbolizing flow and healing. The Three of Swords depicts rain falling, which can be seen as tears or a cleansing release of grief. The water connects them.
- Narrative Bridge: The Star card often represents healing after a difficult time. Placed next to the Three of Swords (heartbreak, sorrow), the story becomes one of finding hope and peace after a painful experience. The figure in The Star is vulnerable and naked, suggesting that healing requires dropping one's defenses after the "piercing" truth of the Swords.
5. A Simple Workflow for Your Practice
To bring these ideas together into your personal practice, you can follow a simple workflow. This image provides a clear, seven-step guide for conducting an intuitive reading.
Conclusion
Today you have learned how to add the essential ingredient of intuition to your tarot practice. By blending your inner wisdom with your knowledge of the tarot system, you unlock a deeper and more personal level of insight.
Key Takeaways:
- An "intuitive tarot reader" uses both system knowledge and personal intuition.
- You can activate your intuition through practical techniques like reading the imagery, using the Description Method, and trusting your first impressions.
- When intuition and traditional meanings diverge, it's an opportunity to explore a more personalized message.
- The "Bridging" exercise is a powerful way to practice making connections and seeing the story within a spread.
Preview of the Next Lesson:
This lesson was about learning to hear your intuitive voice. Our next lesson, "Identify and document personal symbolism and connections that emerge from the cards over time," is about learning to record it. We will focus on the role of the tarot journal in creating your own personal dictionary of card meanings and symbols, building on the intuitive hits and connections you start noticing now.