How do you know the symbolism of a card or is it just intuitive?

[jfjsjjdjxjdjw]

How do you know what is the connection of symbolism of each card or do you just use intuitive interpretation of the cards?

[2dogs]

I found learning the meanings of all those symbols far too confusing and difficult, would rather read cards based on science and nature which I can understand.

[jfjsjjdjxjdjw]

36 minutes ago, 2dogs said:

I found learning the meanings of all those symbols far too confusing and difficult, would rather read cards based on science and nature which I can understand.

I see so just based on book ?  I feel like it as well. I think that most readers the ones who read for years are amazing to connect even the smallest symbols on the cards

[Raggydoll]

I think that if you’re going to use tarot as a tool for intuitive reading, you still need to know your tool properly. Every reader will benefit greatly from studying tarot and learning how to read traditionally. Intuitive input will come naturally with time for many readers. 

[2dogs]

I tried in particular to learn the Thoth Tarot but found it's based on a very deep system of occult philosophy which I didn't have the background knowledge for and couldn't absorb. If one could learn the system properly then one would perhaps come to view the world in that way and it would all make sense.

[Nemia]

Thoth was my first deck and it's still my favourite reading deck. When I started out with it, I didn't know a lot about its background. It's perfectly possible to read intuitively with the Thoth, basing your reading on the colours, atmosphere, symbols and composition of the card. Over time, I read and learned more and more about its background, and that enriched my readings. I find that the Thoth is a great teacher. 

 

Tarot learning is not like learning a profession: first, you learn to cut someone's hair, and then you do it. It's more like a life skill: when you start cooking, all you know is scrambled eggs, and over time, you accumulate more and more knowledge and skills. But your first scrambled eggs are edible, tasty and fulfilling, so you just go on expanding your knowledge. 

 

As long as you enjoy cooking or tarot or any other life skill, your skills will expand and you will learn something new every day. 

 

An important tool on this tarot journey is journaling. Writing down every reading and every idea and association about a card or card combination allows you to go back and review your readings. 

 

It doesn't matter whether you use a lovely journal, a simple notebook or a digital tool (I use Evernote). Snap pictures of your readings and write down what you think the reading means. Journaling allows you to see patterns - are there cards that pop up regularly? 

 

For a beginner, I'd say focus on working with ONE deck. It's so easy to fall into the rabbithole of endless deck buying, chasing the Perfect One, but if you work with one deck, getting to know it really well, you'll acquire a knowledge of the structure and core meanings of the tarot which allows you to expand your deck collection with much more self-confidence later. Your first deck will be your frame of reference. 

 

Lay out the cards systematically - put together all Aces, all Sevens, and try to see what they have in common. Or look for symbols - lay out all the cards with a snail, a butterfly or a starry sky together and think about the ways they are connected. 

 

Try to find the three most upbeat, optimistic cards and the three grumpiest or most desperate cards. Set yourself little challenges. If somebody asked you about a love triangle, which cards would you use to describe it? If you had to describe your sister's character with three cards, which cards would that be? Write it all down, and do the same exercises again in six months. 

 

All this is fun and deepens your understanding of the cards without much effort. And if you do it with the Thoth, you'll be fit to tackle any old tarot deck that comes your way in the future... 😉 

Edited January 10 by Nemia

[Chariot]

Unlike when I began learning tarot, back in the mid-1970s, you are lucky in that there are now SO many decks to choose from.  We were so limited at the time, and the internet didn't exist.  We had to just buy a deck—usually sight-unseen and unwrapped in a bookstore—and start from there.  So many of us use either the Thoth or the RWS systems because those were the two main decks on offer at the time.

However, we now have YouTube unboxing and flip throughs, so you can see what you will get before you buy a deck.  

If you are interested in learning to read intuitively, rather than learning traditional meanings, I'd say spend some time on YouTube, choosing "Tarot Flip Through" as your subject.  Keep looking at all the decks you can, until one strikes you as something you can use to read intuitively.  In other words, choose one that gives you something practical you can use NOW in each picture.  Don't get distracted by fancy, or stunning, or 'trendy' artwork.  Instead, look at each card.  If that card came up in a reading, would you be able to interpret it?  How about if it were reversed, etc.  Take your time with this activity.

That being said, I totally agree with @Nemia above—especially her suggestion about keeping a journal, and also some of the ways to apply cards to situations or people you already know.  It certainly won't hurt to learn about traditional ways of interpreting tarot cards, as well as playing with your own intuition.  BUT you CAN do both at the same time, if you find a deck that speaks to you.  

Just don't fall into the trap of buying umpteen decks, hoping one will work. Instead, buy a single deck that speaks to you, and practice working with it!  🙂

Edited January 10 by Chariot

[jfjsjjdjxjdjw]

12 minutes ago, Chariot said:

Unlike when I began learning tarot, back in the mid-1970s, you are lucky in that there are now SO many decks to choose from.  We were so limited at the time, and the internet didn't exist.  We had to just buy a deck—usually sight-unseen and unwrapped in a bookstore—and start from there.  So many of us use either the Thoth or the RWS systems because those were the two main decks on offer at the time.

However, we now have YouTube unboxing and flip throughs, so you can see what you will get before you buy a deck.  

If you are interested in learning to read intuitively, rather than learning traditional meanings, I'd say spend some time on YouTube, choosing "Tarot Flip Through" as your subject.  Keep looking at all the decks you can, until one strikes you as something you can use to read intuitively.  In other words, choose one that gives you something practical you can use NOW in each picture.  Don't get distracted by fancy, or stunning, or 'trendy' artwork.  Instead, look at each card.  If that card came up in a reading, would you be able to interpret it?  How about if it were reversed, etc.  Take your time with this activity.

That being said, I totally agree with @Nemia above—especially her suggestion about keeping a journal, and also some of the ways to apply cards to situations or people you already know.  It certainly won't hurt to learn about traditional ways of interpreting tarot cards, as well as playing with your own intuition.  BUT you CAN do both at the same time, if you find a deck that speaks to you.  

Just don't fall into the trap of buying umpteen decks, hoping one will work. Instead, buy a single deck that speaks to you, and practice working with it!  🙂

Thank you.i tried reading intuitively before even if I didn't know much about the recent person however since I have a bit of a background of what happened in the past like more than 10 years ago I can connect some of the events and why it " should happen" not the case of the recent people I have  dealt with 2 years until recently.

[EMarieHasADHD]

On 1/9/2026 at 9:38 PM, Raggydoll said:

I think that if you’re going to use tarot as a tool for intuitive reading, you still need to know your tool properly. Every reader will benefit greatly from studying tarot and learning how to read traditionally. Intuitive input will come naturally with time for many readers. 

This 👆

 

Intuition absolutely can come into play during your readings, but you definitely should have the foundational knowledge of the traditional or common meanings of the cards to work with, as well.
 

Most seasoned and effective readers have studied the common card meanings and continue to study and learn new techniques and interpretations. The studying and learning is never done. 
 

I highly recommend Benebell Wen’s book “Holistic Tarot”, which covers all card meanings, tons of techniques, and pretty much anything else about tarot you could be looking for. You can also download an app, such as Labyrinthos to draw a card of the day and study its meaning.
 

I also recommend keeping a tarot journal. Write your daily interpretations, spreads you want to make a note of, your intuitive impressions of the cards, etc. 

[Sar]

On 1/10/2026 at 2:23 AM, jfjsjjdjxjdjw said:

How do you know what is the connection of symbolism of each card or do you just use intuitive interpretation of the cards?

 

Both. 

when my intuition fails me, I rely on the meaning of the cards to string the sentence together.

It works.

[jfjsjjdjxjdjw]

7 hours ago, Sar said:

 

Both. 

when my intuition fails me, I rely on the meaning of the cards to string the sentence together.

It works.

Nice

 

23 hours ago, EMarieHasADHD said:

This 👆

 

Intuition absolutely can come into play during your readings, but you definitely should have the foundational knowledge of the traditional or common meanings of the cards to work with, as well.
 

Most seasoned and effective readers have studied the common card meanings and continue to study and learn new techniques and interpretations. The studying and learning is never done. 
 

I highly recommend Benebell Wen’s book “Holistic Tarot”, which covers all card meanings, tons of techniques, and pretty much anything else about tarot you could be looking for. You can also download an app, such as Labyrinthos to draw a card of the day and study its meaning.
 

I also recommend keeping a tarot journal. Write your daily interpretations, spreads you want to make a note of, your intuitive impressions of the cards, etc. 

Sometimes I did some readings before then some people goes " so when did that happen?" " Did it already happen" like the receiver should be the one to know that right?