Using Intuition with Oracle Cards
by Donna Thomson
When you move into an area of divination it's a great idea to get to know your new tools on an intuitive level before studying the guide books. This is especially relevant in the case of oracle cards because they are so intuitive in nature. Their images are often rich with colour and symbolism, and you may find that particular decks have an overarching theme which makes them best for questions relating to that theme, e.g. love/relationships, spiritual growth or inner guidance.
When you bring your new deck home, take time to shuffle your deck to remove the static and to start to pass your energy throughout your deck. People who work with tarot and oracle cards always take time to get to know their new deck and make it 'theirs'. Take in the images, colours and symbolism. Are there similarities between some cards? Do the cards collectively seem to tell a story or do they stand alone?
You may also get a feel for the artist through their work and sometimes you will find a bit of information about the artist and their intentions in the booklet that usually accompanies an oracle deck. I enjoy reading such information but that is where I'd like your reading to stop. Put aside the actual card descriptions for now because you are going to get a feel for your cards and what they mean to you, which is much more relevant than another person's interpretation (even the creator of the cards!). The most relevant cards will always show themselves and will be unique to your individual interpretation.
In getting to know your cards, I suggest drawing one or two cards a day out of your deck. You may choose to do this expecting a message of guidance for yourself for the day, or simply to study the card in detail. What are your first impressions of the card? What is your eye drawn to? Is it a colour or some aspect in the image such as a symbol, character, or object? What do you feel it is saying to you? Keep a notebook to record your interpretations, thoughts and feelings. After noting your first impressions, look deeper and see what else you find in the image. What could those different aspects represent for yourself or someone else? Looking at the card as a whole, could you sum up the feel of the card in a word or two?
All these impressions will get you used to using your intuition with the cards. As you come back to a card repeatedly, you may start to find things in the image that you hadn't noticed before. Add those additional impressions to your notebook and you will build up a working list of possibilities for each card. Ask different types of questions of the same card. Do certain aspects of the card stand out to you in response to those questions?
What you discover about each card is not set in stone but will introduce you to using your intuition for interpretation. As I've already alluded to, the interpretation of a card will depend on the question asked and the person who is the focus of the reading too. A symbol, colour, character or object could have a specific importance for one person and a different importance for someone else. You may find it useful to explore what different colours mean to you in general then use this to help you interpret your cards using your intuition (see a great article on this topic here).
You may surprise yourself when you do refer to the guidebook later, noting how many similarities there are between your own intuitive interpretations and the suggested interpretations. This has often been the case for me and helps to increase your confidence to intuitively 'know'. Having worked on developing your intuition, you will also be able to use it to your advantage when referring to the printed information about your cards. You may be drawn straight to a particular word, sentence or paragraph that feels relevant for the question and person. Not all information in relation to a card is meant to be appropriate in every instance anyway. Using the printed information can however provide valuable guidance and words of wisdom. Many creators of such cards have been inspired on a special level to pass on beautiful and wise words in relation to the cards.
My own practice is to use my intuition first, pulling all the meaning I can from the card for the question and person. Sometimes this may bring a lot of information forward and other times I will feel stumped or drawn to the booklet where very relevant words or a passage will stand out and make perfect sense. Sometimes seeing a particular word is all you need to get on the right track again and then things will start drawing your attention in the card itself. So even when you are referring to printed information you can maintain a focus on using your intuition to know what is most relevant and meaningful in each instance.
It is a great journey when you explore a new deck of oracle cards. Let the cards speak to you and tell you their message. I'm sure you will have a delightful time and will enjoy the feeling you get from repeated confirmations when you trust your instincts.