How to Read Tarot More Intuitively (Not Literally)

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a tarot card, trying to squeeze out its “meaning” like a predetermined definition from a dusty old book, you’re not alone. Many of us start our tarot journey by memorizing keywords or consulting guidebooks, hoping to unlock a universal truth embedded in each card. But over time, something shifts. The cards begin to whisper in subtler, more personal ways. The experience becomes less about rote interpretation and more about intuitive dialogue.

Reading tarot intuitively isn’t about tossing the meanings aside altogether—those traditional interpretations can be a sturdy foundation—but it’s about opening to the living, breathing language of the cards as they speak uniquely to you and your querent’s moment. It is a dance between the symbolism, your inner voice, and the context of the question or situation.

There’s a kind of magic when you trust your intuition in tarot reading. The images on the cards aren’t static hieroglyphs; they’re gateways to your subconscious, mirrors reflecting layers of feeling, stories, and wisdom that often defy neat categorization. So, how do we move beyond the literal and into the intuitive? Let me walk you through some reflections and practices that have gently reshaped my own readings into something richer, more vibrant, and deeply personal.

Starting with Presence and Openness

One of the biggest hurdles to intuitive tarot reading is the noise—our mental chatter, expectations, doubts, or even the urge to be “right.” To read tarot intuitively, the first step is often cultivating a quiet, receptive space inside yourself. This might sound a bit woo-woo, but hear me out.

Before laying out the cards, try taking a few slow, deep breaths. Let go of any agenda or pressure to produce a “correct” answer. Be willing to encounter whatever arises without judgment. Sometimes I like to close my eyes and imagine the cards as a river, flowing symbols and stories that I can dip my fingers into gently, rather than trying to grab them all at once.

This presence invites your intuition to come forward. Instead of rushing to decode the card’s textbook meaning, you pause to feel into the image, the colors, the characters, and even the empty spaces. What emotions surface? What memories or associations stir? This kind of mindful attention gradually trains your inner senses to notice subtle shifts and sparks.

Allowing Impressions, Not Just Definitions

Traditional tarot study emphasizes learning a card’s keywords and upright/reversed meanings. These are useful signposts, but reading tarot literally can box you into expecting certain outcomes or narratives. To read more intuitively, it helps to loosen the grip on fixed meanings and invite whatever impression the card gives you in that moment.

For example, the Death card often triggers anxiety or automatic assumptions about physical death. But intuitively, the card might evoke feelings of transformation, shedding old layers, or even a sense of relief. Sometimes the image’s details might catch your eye—the black horse, the white rose, the rising sun—and they can offer nuanced insights that aren’t captured in a definition.

Try describing what you see and feel aloud or in writing when you pull a card, without immediately labeling it. What story does this card tell you? What metaphor or life image does it conjure? This practice shifts the reading from a formula to a creative, exploratory process.

Connecting Cards Through Story and Feeling

When you lay out a spread, it’s tempting to interpret each card in isolation, as if they’re bullet points on a list. Intuitive reading invites you to weave a narrative, noticing how the cards interact, contrast, or complement one another.

Imagine the cards as characters in a play or dancers in a choreography. How do they relate? Does one card seem to challenge another? Do they create a progression or a tension? Sometimes, the emotional tone of the spread—whether it’s hopeful, tense, playful, or somber—can guide you to the core message more than any single card’s traditional meaning.

For example, a spread with the Moon, the Hermit, and the Sun might be read literally as a mix of illusions, introspection, and clarity. But intuitively, you might sense a journey from confusion to enlightenment, or the need to sit with uncertainty before stepping into the light.

Trusting Your Inner Voice and Impressions

There’s a certain vulnerability in trusting your intuition because it doesn’t always come with the certainty of a “right” answer. Sometimes your first impressions may feel contradictory or unclear. That’s okay. Intuitive reading is rarely about quick fixes or absolute truths; it’s a dialogue that unfolds over time.

I often find it helpful to journal my intuitive impressions immediately after a reading, then revisit them later with fresh eyes. This reflection can deepen your understanding and help you notice patterns or insights you might have missed in the moment.

Also, try to notice where your mind tries to override your intuition with learned meanings or fears. Gently remind yourself that the cards invite playfulness and curiosity, not rigidity. Your intuition is like a muscle—the more you use and nurture it, the stronger it becomes.

Incorporating Spiritual Practices

Many intuitive readers find that their tarot practice is enhanced by spiritual or mindfulness routines. This might include meditation, grounding exercises, connecting with nature, or even setting sacred space with candles, crystals, or incense. These rituals help align your energy and open channels for intuitive insight.

Personally, I like to ask for guidance from my higher self, spirit guides, or simply set an intention to receive clarity and compassion through the cards. This doesn’t have to be solemn or complicated—sometimes a quiet, heartfelt invitation is all it takes.

Remember, tarot is ultimately a tool for connection: to yourself, to the universe, and to the mysteries that live between the lines of everyday life. When you approach it with openness and trust, the cards can offer profound wisdom that transcends literal interpretation.

Practicing Gentle Curiosity Over Time

Developing intuitive tarot reading is a gradual, ongoing journey. There’s no rush or perfect endpoint. Some days your intuition will shine brightly; other days it might feel dim or muddled. That’s part of the ebb and flow of psychic work and human experience.

Try to approach each reading with gentle curiosity. Celebrate small moments of clarity or new perspectives. Notice how your relationship with the cards evolves. And if you sometimes fall back into literal readings, that’s perfectly okay—the key is that you’re expanding your capacity to listen beyond the surface.

In the end, tarot is a mirror, a guide, and a companion. By embracing intuitive reading, you invite a deeper conversation with your own inner wisdom and the subtle energies that shape our lives.

I hope these reflections encourage you to lean into the intuitive dance of tarot. Trust your feelings, nurture your inner voice, and allow the cards to tell their story in their own time and way. The magic often lies in the spaces between the words.