Tarot Reading - Intuition VS Card Meanings

[MistressOfTheMoon]

Okay. So I need other people's opinion on tarot reading - and whether it is your intuition or the actual card meanings that should be trusted. Here's the story...

I have had tarot decks since I was about 20 (I'm 26 now) but it wasn't until the age of 24 when I started to read cards and understand what they mean without looking at materials for their meaning. So I pretty much use my own intuition to read these cards. I do however, check online for their meanings after finishing my reading to make sure that I read the cards correctly.

There are times when my intuitive-based readings are accurate, and others when they are off their actual card meanings. The question is, which do I trust? My intuition and how I see these cards in my life? Or the predetermined card meanings?

Note: I use an Esoteric deck. It is the only deck that works for me when it comes to intuitive reading. I can look at prettier decks, and not get what they mean no matter how long I stare at them. Also, I limit my readings to the Major Arcana.

Any insight will be helpful!

May the Spirit guide us.

[Kassandra]

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMimqfJVedE




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[Xiao Rong]

Speaking as a rune reader (though I imagine tarot is similar to runes in many respects), I would definitely say that trusting your intuition is far more important. I bet that pretty much any sources you find on tarot meanings will likely vary pretty dramatically on what they think the "predetermined card meanings" are anyways. They can be useful sources, but it's far more important for you to develop your own system and make your own associations - that's what makes you a better diviner than, say, some website which randomly draws tarot cards.

[MistressOfTheMoon]

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMimqfJVedE

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I was on Tapatalk and didn't see the video right ahead. I had to view it on YouTube and behold... It gave me quite a laugh! I thought it was going to be a video that would tell me to follow my intuition, or how tarot cards should be read. But this gave me an answer I wanted to hear all the same. Thanks!

[MistressOfTheMoon]

Speaking as a rune reader (though I imagine tarot is similar to runes in many respects), I would definitely say that trusting your intuition is far more important. I bet that pretty much any sources you find on tarot meanings will likely vary pretty dramatically on what they think the "predetermined card meanings" are anyways. They can be useful sources, but it's far more important for you to develop your own system and make your own associations - that's what makes you a better diviner than, say, some website which randomly draws tarot cards.

Thank you for your insightful words Xiao Rong! I would have to say, my intuition never failed me when reading tarot cards but I felt a little discouraged when my readings were way off from the tarot card meanings. I really do have to learn trusting my intuition above anything else.

Again, thank you!