Intuitive reading

In an intuitive reading the reader looks at the image, notices what stands out, a colour, a gesture, a figure looking away, and lets that guide the interpretation instead of a set list of meanings. Picture decks such as the Rider–Waite–Smith, with a scene on every card, made this easier; with older pip cards readers relied more on numbers and suits. Some readers work almost entirely this way, others never do, and most mix the two: they know the usual meanings and let the picture pick which one fits. A common misunderstanding is that intuitive reading needs a special gift; in practice it is close looking. See how to read tarot.