The Magic of Tarot & Intuition

What is Intuition?

Intuition is the subtle feeling of just knowing information that you should not know nor have any way of knowing, but you somehow just KNOW. You just know something without consciously working through every step of the reasoning. Everyone has probably had this feeling before, and there were probably times where your intuition was spot on. But how do you KNOW that what you are truly feeling is intuition?

Intuition is a tricky thing to catch, so it makes sense that most people (myself included) can sometimes confuse the difference between intuition, wishful thinking, anxiety, or fear.

Sometimes we mistake fear or anxiety as "intuition", but there IS a difference.

For me personally, intuition hits me right in the gut, I guess you could call that a "gut feeling". The exact spot is right in the middle of my diaphragm right below my chest, and right above my tummy. When it is anxiety or fear, I feel that in my chest and heart, and my heart rate rises a little bit. When it is wishful thinking, it stays in my head and brain.

I've been trying to hone my intuition better lately, and it's been working a bit, but this is a slow and steady process. Working on your intuition takes time and practice, and it will not give big changes overnight, but over TIME.

How Does Intuition Work With Tarot?

Tarot cards have many meanings that readers spend years learning and practicing. However, Tarot isn't just about the card meanings, but how the reader interprets them. Intuition does not replace this knowledge, it works alongside it.

Each Tarot card holds its own distinct meaning, but a reader may also notice:

• A particular symbol that catches their attention
• An emotional reaction to a card
• A word or phrase that suddenly comes to mind
• The way two cards seem connected
• A feeling about how a card applies to the question asked by the client
• Something in the artwork that they've never noticed before

You Don't Have to Be Psychic to Use Tarot Inuitively

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be a psychic to read Tarot intuitively. Reading Tarot intuitively may mean becoming more aware to your own impressions and associations. I usually associate the Pages of every suit as a sign of news coming in or someone with a youthful personality is involved in the situation or question that's currently on the table.

It took me some time to hone my intuition for readings, and I'm still working on it. I noticed that my intuition during readings often picks up on repetitive numbers and symbols. I may also notice certain colors and what associations they may have and what suits of the Tarot may dominate a reading.

How to Strengthen Your Tarot Intuition

There are many ways to strengthen your intuition when it comes to reading Tarot, and I've personally done quite a few to help me hone my skills as a reader.

Here are some ways you too can hone your Tarot intuition skills at home with your own deck:

• The One Card Pull: I call this the "Daily Pull" and all you have to do is shuffle the cards, pull a card (or catch the one that flies out) and write down your immediate impression BEFORE looking at its traditional meaning.
• Keep a Peep on Your First Reaction: What is the first thing you notice about a card? How does the card make you feel?
• Tell the Story: Instead of immediately looking up the card's traditional meaning, look at the entire spread and describe the story you see developing before you.

Learning to Trust Your Inner Voice

At the end of the day, intuition can be practiced and learned over time. The more time you spend with your cards, the more you get to know your deck and what subtle or obvious signs to incorporate into your readings.

Tarot isn't just about memorizing 78 cards, its about noticing the symbolism and imagery of the cards and what they mean to that reading.

Anyone can practice Tarot, you don't need to be psychic or special to do so. You just need practice, trust in your inner voice, and a 78 card deck.