Does anyone else use intuition instead of the meaning when giving readings

[Jessica]

So I got my first deck a little bit ago for my 17th bday and I haven’t bothered to learn the meaning cause I feel more connected when use if my intuition and just looking at the cards and depending on the reading I’ll see different things catch my eye and I’ll see little details and connect them to other things like one of my cards show a women holding beads and I though of that as pray beads for one of my readings .and my mom keeps saying I should learn the meaning to all my cards but I don’t see the point if all my readings have been accurate

Discussion

[lilyhegens]

Using your intuition is the best way to do readings! This cards themselves have no real meaning to you or your personal life, so the real point is to pick up on their energy and figure out what it means to you. I found that my readings only began making sense and really coming true when I just used my intuition and forgot about the actual card meanings themselves.

[Dorsidh]

When I got my first Tarot deck, reading using the “book” meanings was really the only way people read. Eventually I discovered reading intuitively, and it really opened up the Tarot for me. However, having the traditional meanings and some basic knowledge of numerology (or astrology, etc.) in my toolbox is really helpful, especially when I turn a card over and get nothing. Starting with the book meaning or numerology (or astrology, etc.) primes the pump, so to speak, and my intuition will kick in. Plus the traditional meanings are often embedded in the symbolism of the cards.

Keep reading intuitively! If/when you want to learn more, there are plenty of resources. Just keep reading. Blessings on your journey.

[honorthecrones]

It’s not an either or. Some people use just the symbolism, some just intuition, but I think most use a combination of the two.

[Sparrowsfly]

I use both. If a card has a meaning to me given the spread/the people involved/etc then I’m not going to take a contradictory meaning from the card. If the card doesn’t seem to “fit” it’s place in the reading, it’s the same. Knowing the meanings is important to my practice, but I value my intuition and interpretations as well.

[lilahunnisett]

Yes always! But I do like to look up the meaning as well when I can’t remember and am confused.

[elemtilas]

You might also want to join r/SecularTarot.

[bifanybeef]

I think it’s great to use the history and general meanings as a jumping off point when doing readings but I also use more of my intuition as well. I find I tend to give the recipient of the reading the general meaning of the card as an understanding first, and then explaining how I’m intuitively seeing it with regards to them.