Tarot With Intention

July 28, 2025

How to Read Cards With Purpose and Connection

Tarot is not just about pulling cards—it’s about opening a space for clarity, reflection, and connection. The secret to powerful, meaningful readings is to approach the tarot with intention.

When you practise tarot with intention, you move beyond simply asking questions. You create a sacred space, set a clear purpose, and invite deeper answers that truly resonate with your life and your energy.

The difference between reading the tarot casually and reading it with intention is like the difference between chatting and having a heart-to-heart. When you bring intention into your tarot practice, the messages become clearer, more aligned, and more transformative.

Let’s explore what it means to read tarot with intention and how you can start doing it today.

What Is Tarot With Intention?

Tarot with intention means approaching your reading with:

Clarity about what you’re asking
Presence in the moment
Respect for the process
Openness to receive, not just control, the answers

It’s about setting an energetic focus before you shuffle the deck. You don’t just pull cards randomly—you pull them as part of a meaningful conversation with your higher self, your intuition, or the universe.

Reading tarot with intention turns your practice into something sacred, personal, and powerful.

Why Intention Matters in Tarot

When you read tarot without intention, you may:

Feel confused by the answers
Pull card after card looking for the “right” response
Disconnect from your intuition
Feel like the reading is random or shallow

When you read tarot with intention, you:

Feel grounded and present
Receive messages that truly resonate
Strengthen your connection to your deck
Develop trust in your inner guidance

Intention is what transforms a reading from something superficial into something deeply insightful.

How to Practise Tarot With Intention

1. Set the Space

Before you begin, take a few moments to create a calm, focused atmosphere. This tells your energy (and your deck) that you’re ready to listen.

You can:

Light a candle or incense
Play soft music
Take deep breaths
Hold your deck in both hands and feel its weight

You don’t need an elaborate ritual—a few mindful moments are enough.

2. Be Clear With Your Question

The quality of your question shapes the quality of the answer.

Instead of:

“Will I find love?”
Try:
“What energy can I embrace to invite healthy love into my life?”

Instead of:

“What will happen to me?”
Try:
“What can I focus on to move through this moment with wisdom?”

✨ Tip: Tarot loves open-ended, reflective questions. Ask how, why, what can I learn, what can I focus on.

3. Set a Verbal Intention

Speak your intention out loud or silently. Example:

“I open this space to receive guidance with clarity and honesty.”
“I trust that the cards will bring forward what I need to know at this time.”

By naming your intention, you align your energy with the reading.

4. Shuffle With Purpose

As you shuffle, stay focused on your intention. You can repeat your question, breathe deeply, or visualise your energy blending with the deck.

Shuffling is not just a mechanical step—it’s part of the energetic connection.

5. Pull Cards Mindfully

Don’t rush.
Pull cards when you feel ready.
Trust the first card that draws your attention—it’s often the most aligned message.

✨ Optional: You can place your hand over the deck and pause until you feel warmth, tingling, or simply “a pull” towards a certain card.

6. Read With Openness

Approach the reading with curiosity, not with the need to control the answer.

Sometimes the message won’t be what you expected—but it’s what you needed to hear.

Let the card images, feelings, and symbols speak to you before jumping to the guidebook.

7. Close the Reading With Gratitude

Once you’ve finished, take a moment to thank the cards, your intuition, or the energy that supported you.

You can simply say:
“Thank you for this guidance. I close this space with gratitude.”

Closing the reading helps seal the energy and create emotional closure.

Examples of Powerful Tarot Intentions

“I open this reading to receive the message that supports my highest good.”
“I ask for clarity on the energy I’m currently navigating.”
“I welcome guidance to help me step into my purpose.”
“I set the intention to hear what my soul is asking me to see.”
“I trust the answers will arrive with love and honesty.”

Your intention can be simple or detailed—what matters is that it feels real to you.

The Energy Behind Tarot With Intention

Reading tarot with intention shifts your mindset from:

Chasing answers → to welcoming messages
Feeling unsure → to trusting your process
Pulling random cards → to holding a sacred conversation

Tarot with intention teaches you to slow down, listen, and approach your life with more presence—even outside of your readings.