Category: Tarot Talk

Visual Cues for Intuitive Reading

Tarot cards laid out on an astrology cloth with candle, crystals, and lavender bundle
~ Judith ~ Leave a comment

We all know the importance of “intuition” in reading tarot, yet it remains a rather mysterious, illusive concept. It’s difficult to define. Essentially, intuition is a bit like inspiration or insight. A thought suddenly comes to mind and we know it’s exactly the right inerpretation for a card, or the right overall message from a reading.

At least, that’s how it should be. Sometimes, though, we’re so unsure of ourselves that we start second-guessing these insights. Is it really “intuition”, we ask ourselves? Our are we just making things up? Are we merely seeing what we want to see?

Let’s look a bit more closely today at intuition in tarot. Where does it come from?

Intuition in tarot begins when we look at the first card of a spread and note the details. What draws our attention first can serve as an “intuitive spark”. We can then follow that spark through other cards, allowing our intuition to suggest additional ideas and concepts that relate. It sounds simple, and in reality, it is. But all too often we complicate the process with doubts and questions.

One reason we’re sometimes hesitant to accept these intuitive ideas is because we’re expecting something more. “Intuition” should be dramatic or magickal! We should hear voices in our head; we should have images flashing through our brain. That’s what we so often think.

In truth, intuition is simply awareness, and as often as not it’s rooted in our physical vision. We see something and our emotions react. It’s this sudden “coming together” that produces intuitive insights.

Take a look at this familiar tarot card.

A card depicting the Strength tarot card, featuring a woman in a white dress adorned with flowers, gently holding the mane of a large orange lion. The background is yellow with trees and mountains in a simplified landscape.

You know this card well. It’s STRENGTH from the popular Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot. Because you are so familiar with the card, you may not take in the different details. You simply think “STRENGTH” and move on. Intuitive reading asks you to pause for a moment and think about what you see. What single part of this card image stands out?

Your answer will change from one reading to another. Sometimes you might first notice the lion, or even see how his tail and mane resemble flames. Other times, the infinity symbol about the woman’s head may draw your attention. Maybe it’s the bright yellow color of the sky you first notice; maybe it’s the distant mountain. In an illustrated deck like this, every card — no matter which deck you’re using — contains visual cues. Pay close attention to what you see first.

This “first point” is a bit like an anchor. Your mind grasps hold of it, and then your thoughts and feelings can “kick in” to deliver insights that are relevant to the reading you’re doing.

If the lion caught your attention first, your thoughts may center around power and actual strength. Seeing the “flames” may give you a feeling of combustion or energy. Focusing on the infinity loop could bring thoughts of endless cycles; the distant mounains may call you to step away from a current situation while the bright yellow sky might evoke a feeling of joy and confidence.

Long before you learned to read words and sentences, you looked at storybooks, creating your own narrative from the pictures you saw. Tarot draws upon this same creative ability. When we’re children looking at books, no one speaks to us about intuition, but it’s the same process. We’re processing information from visual cues and turning it into actual thoughts and feelings.

Another key point to keep in mind is that what we see isn’t “right” or “wrong”. It’s simply what we see. Even in a difficult card, we may see positive signs and symbols. Guided by these intuitive thoughts, we can understand the lessons of the card and the message that it’s bringing us. This is one reason why trying to “memorize” definitions for cards leads to discouragement. The true meaning of the card doesn’t come from a guidebook; it comes from what each reader sess and feels.

Strengthening intuition is largely a matter of trusting yourself; it’s giving yourself permission to explore ideas as they come to mind. Intuitive tarot reading means moving away from standard “textbook” interpretations and discovering your own card meanings.

So when you do your next “daily draw” or lay out your next spread, focus on the first card and pay close attention to what YOU are seeing. Close the guidebooks. Forget searching websites for “deeper meanings”. Those meanings are already there within you. You access them by acknowledging your first impression of a card, adding in your thoughts and feelings, and trusting that your intuition will guide you.

This is why different readers can look at the same card and each come up with a different interpretation. A tarot card isn’t meant to have a “one size fits all” definition, and this is the beauty of the art. Every card invites us to step into its world, to see what is meaningful for us, and to follow that intuitive spark as we explore other cards.

Don’t Touch That Deck!

~ Judith ~ Leave a comment

When I was growing up, transistor radios were all the rage! We carried them around wherever we went, and a friendly DJ would always remind us “Don’t touch that dial…” meaning, leave it right here on our station, please.

In a similar tone of voice, I’ve ofen heard tarot readers shout out “Don’t touch that deck” at psychic and metaphysical fairs or in little corner shops where querents step inside to find out what the cards have to say to them.

Should anyone else ever touch your tarot deck? That’s a question that’s often asked in online groups and forums, and the answer — as with almost everything else in tarot — depends on YOU and your personal beliefs, the way you practice, and your relationship with the cards.

I’d be inclined to say that the majority of card readers are a bit protective about their decks. Why? It’s largely because of the concept of “energy” or “vibes”. It’s a fact that our bodies are electric and we do emit an electrical “energy” when we touch things, so when we hold a tarot deck, we’re actually “putting our personal vibes” into the cards.We’re “connecting”, so to speak.

For some tarot practitioners, that connection is sacred. They don’t want someone else’s “vibes” messing with their cards. They see it a bit like “interference” — a sort of “static” that could prevent a message from coming through clearly.

Other readers take a slightly more open approach. They will allow others to touch their decks (especially when doing a reading for that individual) but then they’ll quickly perform a cleansing ritual to, hopefully, remove any of those vibrations. You’ll sometimes see a tarot reader pass a deck of cards through incense smoke, or you’ll hear them “rap three times” on the table, presumably to “knock out” any leftover vestiges of another individual.

Some readers — especially during busy times at reading fairs — have a sort of “grin and bear it” attitude. They may not invite others to touch their decks, but they allow it, and they’ll wait until a quiet time to perhaps do a thorough cleansing.

And then, there’s me. I am at the opposite end of the “Touch-Do Not Touch” spectrum. I not only allow people to touch my decks, I encourage it. I invite people to hold the cards, to look through them, to ask questions, to comment, to get as well-acquainted with tarot as possible! When I was reading at fairs and shops, I had several “favorite decks” — the Hanson-Roberts was always with me wherever I went — and I wanted to “expose” my cards to as much energy as possible. I wanted everyone’s vibrations, either through touch, or simply through the air, a bit like radio waves reaching our ears.

Even today, if you come to my studio and are curious about any decks, I’ll gladly hand you whatever you’d like to see. I’ll encourage you to hold the cards, spread them out, rub them on your face if that’s what you want. What I want is YOUR energy and the energy of anyone and everyone else who comes to my studio. I want as many different energies and vibrations in my cards as I can get!

For me, tarot is a respository of energy, and it’s this energy that allows the cards to speak so eloquently on any question that arises. I want my decks to have the sort of “energy experience” required to enable them to address issues that may be far outside of my personal experience. To me, it makes sense. The more different energies my cards hold, the better able they will be to provide the insights my querents need.

Not everyone agrees with me, of course. You may be shaking your head and thinking, “Yuck! I don’t want to ever touch HER decks!” And if so, you probably don’t want me touching your decks either. That’s fine. I respect your choice in this matter.

To touch? Or not to touch? It up to YOU to decide.

Of course, I’m curious — as always — and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Do you let people touch your cards, or are you a bit like a metaphysical DJ shouting out, “Ah-ah-ah! Don’t touch that deck!”

Should I? Getting Started on Your Tarot Practice

A fan of tarot cards laid out on a wooden surface surrounded by candles and crystals
~ Judith ~ Leave a comment

Let’s start with one of the most important things every new tarot reader needs to know.. It’s simply this. Tarot is a very personal divinatory art, which means that the way you use tarot is for YOU to decide. Yet, time and again, you’ll hear readers insist that you must face east when reading, that you must keep your cards in a silk cloth, that you must clease your cards after every reading or do this, do that, and while it’s true that some readers may do all of these things, you don’t have to do any of them.

It’s really not possible to look back and figure out where a lot of these ideas originated other than to say that someone once thought a certain practice would be meaningful. And it probably was — for them. But that doesn’t make that same practice meaningful for others. What it comes down to is setting up a tarot practice that makes sense for you, working and playing with your cards in ways that feel right, and mostly treating your cards and the practice of divination with respect.

Here are a few of the most-often heard “Must-do” rules. They aren’t rules, remember, so read through them, accept them as the suggestions they are, and try ones that interest you.

Your Reading Room

Maybe you have a private room for your spiritual work or maybe you have no more than a small corner space. Maybe you have a table; maybe you sit cross-legged and spread your cards out over the floor. It’s all fine. Maybe you don’t even have a “sacred space” for divination. It doesn’t matter. You can pick your cards up, carry them with you, and read anywhere at anytime — just be careful if reading outside, especially on a windy day.

It’s often advocated to have a wooden table only for reading. Why? Wood is a natural material and it’s believed to help “ground” your energy and make it easier for you to concentrate. Of course wood is also very durable, and there’s often an aesthetic value in a highly-polished wooden surface. If you have a wooden table (even a small wooden tray that is portable), your mind and spirit will attune to it, so that as soon as you bring out your table or sit down in front of it, you’ll easily slip into the proper intuitive state you need for divination.

Others believe it’s more important to have a special cloth, and there are many beautiful “reading cloths” and “altar cloths” available with mystical designs and patterns. Some readers like the mysterious “vibe” a cloth can add; some readers just love the texture and richness of a deeply-colored velvet or rich tapestry. Add a lace cloth if that appeals to you. Throw a gingham square or a paisley scarf over your reading surface. Or forget the cloth completely. As with all other suggestions, if it adds to the meaningfulness of your practice, do it. If not, don’t. You aren’t breaking any rules.

Another thing you might hear is the injunction that you should face a specific direction. Do so, if you wish. You might hear that you should sound a bell before and after your readings. Fine, if you like bells and want to do it. You’ll hear some readers say you should offer a prayer or ask a deity for a blessings. If it suits you, do it; if not, you don’t need to.

Incense? Yes, definitely if it adds to your practice. Music? It’s entirely up to you. Candles? Crystals? Flowers? Oils? These are all personal choices. Just ask yourself what you need to “set the tone” for a reading. Keep in mind, too, that while rituals and routines can be helpful, that’s a personal choice, as well. You don’t have to follow the exact same set-up or process every time you pick up a deck of cards

Caring for the Cards

Your cards deserve respect; each deck you own will become a close, trusted friend and confidant if you use the cards wisely. Common sense will tell you to approach your readings with clean hands and to keep your cards in a place where they will be protected from damage.

You’ll often hear that you should wrap the cards in silk. Similar to the thoughts about wooden tables, some practitioners believe that the natural silk fibers form a protective barrier, preventing unwanted energies or “psychic residue” from seeping into the cards. You can, of course, wrap your cards in any fabric you wish. You can keep them in wooden boxes, leather pouches, velvet bags — or leave them in their original packaging. It’s your choice. Keep in mind that smaller “tuck boxes” can become worn with use, so you might want to find sturdier options for decks that are frequently used. Convenience is a factor to consider, as well. I’ve seen decks sold and packaged in boxes that actually make it difficult to open the box and remove the cards. Again, for the most part, common sense applies. Keep your cards in a safe, secure, but accessible location and protect them as necessary.

Cleansing the cards is another area where you’ll hear many different opinions and methods. Let’s consider first the reasons behind the practice. Many readers believe that our cards “absorb” energy from being touched — which seems logical. Some tarot practitioners are very insistent about never allowing anyone else to touch their decks. If that feels right to you, it is right. There are readers who allow other people to touch their cards, but who then feel they should “cleanse” the cards afterward to remove those energies or vibrations. Some readers simply do regular cleansing sessions, and on the other end of the spectrum are readers who never cleanse their cards and who, in fact, invite others to “add their energies” to the deck.

What do we mean by cleansing? Most readers cleanse their cards by passing them through sage smoke or incense smoke. Others cleanse by wiping each card with a silk cloth. Another suggestion for cleansing is to leave the cards on a windowsill during a New Moon. This is like “doing a reset” to wipe the cards clean from all energies and start fresh.

Your First Deck

Perhaps one of the most persistent — and most frustrating — myths about tarot is that you must be “gifted” your first deck. I’ve known countless individuals who were eager to learn tarot but who were waiting for that moment when someone handed them a deck and said “Here you go.” As with other myths and superstitions, there are reasons to support the idea, and yet there are just as many, if not more, reasons against it. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN TAROT, BUY YOURSELF A DECK. Consider it a gift from yourself to yourself. Tarot offers a world of incredible insights and knowledge. Please don’t deny yourself the opportunity to learn, to grow, to build the future you desire by waiting around in hopes that somebody might give you a deck.

There are many other little myths you’ll hear, all kinds of “do’s and do not’s” when it comes to tarot, but the only ones that really matter are these: DO get a tarot deck and DON’T listen to everyone else. Your deck and your reading practice should be uniquely your own. Trust your intuition and do what feels right to you.