Why ditch the book? Read the book for sure because those definitions are a good starting point, sure. But the real magic happens when you connect with the cards, read tarot, on a personal level. It’s like, the book tells you what a pizza is, but tasting it? That’s a whole different experience.
When you rely too much on the book, you risk missing the subtle messages the cards are trying to send you. Your intuition – your gut feeling – is way more powerful than you think! Trust me.
Understanding Tarot
Think of tarot less like a set of rules, and more like a language. A language of symbols, colors, and feelings. You wouldn’t learn to speak French just by memorizing a dictionary, right? You’d learn the grammar, the context, and then you’d start actually talking. Tarot is the same!learn to read Tarot!
Each card is packed with symbolic imagery – swords, cups, wands, pentacles, people, landscapes. These aren’t just random pictures! They tap into universal ideas and feelings we all understand on some level.
So how do you start speaking tarot? It’s all about connecting with your intuition.
Your intuition is that little voice inside you, your gut feeling. Tarot helps you unlock that voice and understand your own subconscious patterns. When you look at a card, don’t immediately reach for the book. Instead:
- First, take a deep breath. Seriously, it helps.
- What’s the first thing that pops into your head? A color, a feeling, a memory?
- What’s the overall mood of the card? Is it happy, sad, scary, peaceful?
- What’s the story the card is telling you?
The more you practice, the easier it gets. Start with one-card readings for yourself. Ask simple questions like, “What energy do I need to focus on today?” and then just see what the card brings up for you.
Most importantly, develop a personal relationship with your deck. Handle them, shuffle them, look at the artwork. The more you connect with your cards, the more easily they’ll speak to you. And remember, there’s no right or wrong answer, only your own unique interpretation.
Using Visual Clues
The secret isn’t in memorizing definitions, it’s in observing the details. Let’s break it down.
Colors
Don’t underestimate the power of color. What colors jump out at you?
- Red often represents passion, energy, or anger.
- Blue can signify calmness, intuition, or sadness.
- Yellow is usually associated with joy, intellect, or optimism.
- Green can represent growth, healing, or wealth.
So, look at your card. Is there a dominant color? What feeling does that color evoke in you? Your initial reaction is important!
Symbols
Next, let’s look at the symbols. Tarot is full of them!
- Swords often represent intellect, challenges, or conflict.
- Cups symbolize emotions, relationships, and intuition.
- Wands are linked to passion, creativity, and action.
- Pentacles represent material aspects, security, and the physical world.
See a sword piercing through the sky? That might suggest a mental struggle or a breakthrough in thought. Notice a overflowing cup? It could be a signal of overwhelming emotions. Just allow yourself to consider the possibilities.
And finally, observe the emotions the card evokes. Do the figures in the card look happy, sad, scared, or contemplative? How does the overall scene feel?
Body Language
Now, let’s go deeper and analyze the figures in the cards. Pay attention to their body language!
Are their arms crossed? That could suggest defensiveness or resistance. Are they reaching out? That usually represents openness and connection. Are they slumped over? Maybe they’re feeling defeated or tired.
Positioning is also important! Are the figures facing each other? Maybe there’s collaboration or conflict. Are they facing away? Perhaps they’re feeling isolated or withdrawn. Are they facing you, the viewer? They could be trying to communicate something directly to you.
And don’t forget the facial expressions! A smile suggests happiness, a frown could indicate sadness, and a furrowed brow might mean confusion or worry. It sounds very obvious, but when we are starting off, those simple queues can really help.
Consider the energy of the card. Is it dynamic and full of movement, or still and introspective?
Elements
Elements can seem intimidating but trust me, you don’t need to memorize long lists. Just think about what each element represents in the real world.
- Fire is about passion, energy, and action.
- Water is about emotions, intuition, and relationships.
- Air is about intellect, communication, and thoughts.
- Earth is about material things, stability, and the physical world.
So, if you see a lot of Wands (associated with fire) in a reading, it might suggest a time of intense creativity or action. If there are many Cups (water), focus on your emotions and relationships. Swords (air) might indicate mental challenges or the need for clear communication. And Pentacles (earth) could point to financial matters or a need for stability.
Look at your spread. Notice which elements are dominant. This will give you a clue to the overall themes of the reading.
Tell a Story
The secret is the real magic of Tarot comes from you. It’s about unlocking your intuition and telling a story with the cards. Forget rote memorization, learn to read Tarot by weaving narratives!
Think of Tarot as a visual language. Each card is like a character, a place, or an event in a story. Instead of just spitting out definitions, we’re going to learn how to connect these elements and create a narrative that makes sense.
So, instead of just seeing The Fool and thinking, Okay, this card means new beginnings, risk-taking, and blah blah blah, think about what the image shows you. He’s standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump, with a little bag. What kind of person does that? What are they feeling? Where are they going?
The Spread
Let’s say you pull a three-card spread. Three cards are a standard way to begin and the positions can be “Past, Present, Future,” or “You, Your Path, Your Potential”.
Past
First, let’s look at The Tower. Whoa, that’s a lot of chaos! A tower is crumbling, people are falling. Instinctively, you might think this is bad news. And it can represent upheaval, sudden change, or a breakdown of old structures. So, in your past, there was a major life change that was unexpected and possibly scary, but it was necessary.
Present
Now, let’s move to the present with The Star. After the chaos of The Tower, The Star is like a breath of fresh air. It represents hope, healing, and inspiration. See how she’s pouring water back into the pool and onto the earth? It’s suggesting you are starting to heal from your difficult past event.
Future
Finally, The Sun for the Future! This card is all about joy, success, and vitality. It’s that feeling of warmth and happiness.
The Story
Now, let’s weave these cards into a story.
In the past, there was a sudden and dramatic change in your life (The Tower). It might have felt devastating at the time. Now, you are in a period of healing and finding hope (The Star). You are nurturing yourself and recovering from your major past change. If you stay on this path, the future holds immense joy, success, and a sense of accomplishment and well-being (The Sun).
The key is to trust your intuition. What do the cards make you feel? What story do they tell you? There’s no right or wrong answer.
Develop Personal Associations
Use Life Experiences
When you look at a card, say the Four of Cups, don’t just think apathy. Think about a time you felt apathetic. What was happening? Who were you with? What did that feeling feel like? Maybe it reminds you of that time you were stuck inside on a rainy day, scrolling through your phone, feeling totally bored. BAM! That’s your Four of Cups.
Your experiences give the card a depth and meaning that a book definition just can’t capture.
Journal Exercises
Grab a journal! Pick a card. Any card. Now, write down the first three words that come to mind when you see it. Don’t overthink it! Just let your subconscious do its thing.
Then, ask yourself questions. What emotions does this card evoke? What colors do you see? Does it remind you of a song, a movie, or even a smell? The more senses you involve, the stronger the connection will be.
Showing Up in Real Life
Start noticing how the cards show up in your daily life. Did your best friend just land their dream job? That could be the Ten of Pentacles. Are you feeling creatively blocked? Maybe that’s the Five of Wands.
Even better, try associating cards with people you know. Who embodies the energy of The Empress? Who is totally a Knight of Swords? This makes it easier to remember and connect with the cards on a deeper level.
Trust Your Gut
So why is your gut feeling so important? Your brain is all about logic and facts, but your intuition is like a super-fast internet connection to…well, everything! It picks up on vibes, energies, and subtle clues that your brain might miss. Often, your first impression of a card is way more accurate than anything you’ve memorized.
When you look at a card, what’s the first thing that pops into your head? What colours stand out? What emotions do you feel? That’s your intuition talking! Don’t ignore it!
Train a your Intuition
Time to train that intuition! Here are some fun exercises:
- Speed Readings: Grab your deck and quickly flip through the cards. For each card, say the first thing that comes to mind – don’t overthink it! Just blurt it out. This helps you bypass your logical brain and access your instant reactions.
- Free Association: Pick a card and write down EVERYTHING that comes to mind – words, images, memories, anything! Don’t censor yourself. It’s like a brainstorming session with the Tarot.
Chill Out and Practice
The most important thing? Relax! Don’t put pressure on yourself to be “right.” Tarot is a tool for self-discovery, not a test. Practice with friends, or even just for yourself. Ask simple questions, and focus on feeling the cards, not just knowing them.
The more you practice without the pressure of being perfect, the stronger your intuition will become. You’ll start to see patterns, connect the dots, and develop your own unique interpretation of the cards.
Experiment
I’m going to share some cool experiments I’ve tried that helped me ditch the training wheels and start reading tarot in a way that feels authentic and personal.
Single Card of The Day
The single-card daily pull, but with a twist! No guidebook allowed. Each morning, I pull one card and just…look at it. I notice the colors, the symbols, the overall vibe. What feelings does it bring up? What thoughts pop into my head?
Let’s say I pull the Queen of Wands. Instead of looking up confident, fiery, creative, I might notice the sunflower and think about growth, or the black cat and think about following my intuition. It’s about connecting with the card personally. Throughout the day, I pay attention to how those initial feelings and thoughts relate to what’s happening in my life. It’s like the card becomes a little nudge, a different way to view things.
Multiple Decks
Experiment number two: deck diversity! Not all tarot decks are created equal. They all have different artwork and can evoke totally different feelings. So, grab a few decks, pull the same card from each, and compare!
See how different the Tower can look? One might be super dramatic and scary, while another might look more like a necessary clearing. This helps you understand that card meanings are flexible. The artwork triggers different aspects of the card’s energy.
Read for Others
Alright, this one might feel a little scary, but it’s super powerful. Try reading for a friend and ditch the book. Explain what you’re doing beforehand. Tell them you’re experimenting with intuitive reading.
Focus on what you see in the cards. What story do they tell? What advice bubbles up? Your friend can then give you feedback on how accurate it felt. You can always check the book afterwards, but the goal is to trust your initial impressions. This builds confidence and really strengthens your intuitive muscles.
Overcome Doubt
Now, I know what you’re thinking: But what if I’m wrong? What if I’m just making stuff up? That’s imposter syndrome creeping in! It’s that little voice that says you’re not good enough. It’s totally normal, especially when you’re trying something new.
Everyone starts somewhere. And yeah, sometimes you might feel like you’re faking it. But guess what? Even if you’re faking it till you make it, you’re still engaging with the cards, building your intuition, and learning!
Patterns
One of the coolest things about reading tarot while you ditch the book is that you start to see patterns. Maybe the Queen of Wands always shows up when you’re asking about your creative projects. Or maybe the Tower card keeps popping up when you’re avoiding a tough decision.
Keep a journal! Write down your readings, not just the official meanings, but also what you felt when you saw each card. Over time, you’ll start to build your own personal tarot dictionary based on your own experiences. This is where the real power lies!
Affirmations
Finally, let’s talk about mindset. Affirmations can be super helpful! Try repeating these to yourself:
- “I trust my intuition.”
- “I am capable of understanding the tarot.”
- “Every reading is a learning experience.”
Believe in yourself! Even if you stumble a few times, remember that every reading is a practice. Don’t be afraid to be wrong!
So, ditch the book, embrace your intuition, and have fun! Tarot is a journey of self-discovery, and you’ve totally got this. Now go out there and read some cards with confidence!