Intuitive Tarot

Two people are given the exact same set of high-quality watercolor paints and a blank canvas. The first person has spent years studying color theory, memorizing every pigment's chemical composition, and learning the precise, historical techniques for mixing shades. They approach the canvas with a detailed plan, a numbered sequence for each layer, and a clear image of the final product. The second person has never had a formal lesson. They simply feel the pull of cerulean blue, the warmth of cadmium yellow. They let the colors bleed into each other, following the feeling that arises when a brush loaded with water touches the paper, discovering the image as it emerges.

The first person creates a technically perfect, recognizable landscape. The second creates something unexpected, alive with emotion, a piece that speaks a language beyond technique. For centuries, learning a skill like painting—or reading Tarot cards—was treated like the first approach: a rigid system of rules to be mastered. You memorized the meanings, followed the prescribed spreads, and delivered a pre-approved interpretation. This method produced competent readers, but it often left a frustrating gap between the head and the heart, turning a spiritual tool into an academic exercise. What if the real power was in learning to trust the intuitive splash of color?

That very frustration is what led Brigit Esselmont to create a different path. After learning Tarot the traditional way, she felt disconnected, as if she were just reciting facts from a textbook instead of connecting with the cards' energy. She began to experiment, setting aside the rulebooks and focusing on the personal stories, feelings, and symbols that the cards sparked within her. This shift from memorization to intuition transformed her practice from a rigid intellectual exercise into a flowing, creative conversation. Realizing that thousands of others felt similarly blocked, she founded Biddy Tarot, an online community dedicated to helping aspiring readers connect with their own inner wisdom and read the cards with confidence and soul.

Module 1: Demystifying the Deck

The first step in any new endeavor is to get the fundamentals right. Esselmont starts by dismantling the biggest myths surrounding Tarot. She argues that the cards are a powerful psychological and intuitive tool. They are a deck of 78 symbolic images that act as a mirror to our subconscious mind.

This leads to her first core insight: Tarot is a structured system for accessing your intuition, not an occult practice. The deck is divided into two parts. The 22 Major Arcana cards represent major life themes and spiritual lessons. Think of them as the big archetypal forces in our lives, like The Fool representing a new beginning or The Tower signifying sudden, necessary change. The other 56 cards are the Minor Arcana. These reflect the day-to-day events, thoughts, and feelings we all experience. They are organized into four suits: Cups for emotions, Pentacles for material life, Swords for thoughts and conflict, and Wands for energy and passion. Understanding this structure is the first step toward using the cards effectively.

But here's the thing. Esselmont insists you don't need to memorize 78 different meanings. Rote memorization actually blocks intuition. She shares a story about a student named Becky. Becky was so stressed about remembering the "correct" meaning of a card that her mind went blank. She missed the intuitive message entirely. The author's approach is different. It’s about building a personal relationship with the cards. It’s about feeling into the imagery and connecting it to your own life experiences.

This brings us to a critical point. The most important factor in choosing a Tarot deck is your personal connection to it. Forget tradition or what an expert recommends. If a deck’s art speaks to you, it's the right one. The imagery is the language of Tarot. You need a deck whose visual dialect you can understand intuitively. Whether it’s the classic Rider-Waite deck or a modern, artistic one like The Wild Unknown, the connection is what matters. Esselmont even dispels the old myth that you must be gifted a deck. She encourages you to buy your own. This ensures you start with a tool you genuinely resonate with.

Finally, once you have your deck, you need to care for it. Regularly cleansing and thoughtfully storing your deck maintains its energetic clarity. The cards absorb energy from their environment and from readings. Cleansing removes this residual noise. This can be as simple as knocking on the deck three times to release stuck energy or as ceremonial as placing it in moonlight. The method is secondary to the intention: to treat the deck as a respected tool for insight. Storing it in a special cloth or box reinforces this respect and protects its energy.