People can usually associate their basic nature with the energies of one of the Tarot’s suits. I was describing the suit of Wands to someone the other day, and I said that people who are linked to this suit tend to have flashes of inspiration when they are busy undertaking an activity. This inspiration can be ideas for plot lines when they are writing, or solutions to a puzzling situation when working on a task. If they are doing a creative project and they are not sure how to proceed, this inspiration can burst forth from nowhere to set them on their way again. When doing a Tarot reading, a Wands person might give an innovative interpretation about a combination of Tarot cards, based upon a sudden burst of insight.

My friend asked me how this was different to a Cups individual, whom I had previously described as being someone who was able to call upon their intuition when they needed guidance. In other words…What’s the difference between inspiration and intuition?

A Tarot reader uses both inspiration and intuition during readings. All card readers work out their interpretations based upon their knowledge of the cards’ meanings and from their inner guidance. However, they each discover this information from their inner self in different ways. For example, a Wands personality will receive a flash of inspiration when they notice an important symbol in one of the images. A reader who is associated with the qualities of the suit of Cups will get help from intuitive hunches instead. They’ll look at the relationship of all the cards in a spread and then get a feeling about the most important information.

Readers who have qualities linked to the Pentacles and Swords suits use both inspiration and intuition in their interpretations. The Pentacles person, however, tends to work their way slowly through the reading — being methodical in their approach and being surprised when insight comes from unexpected sources. The Swords personality thinks and thinks about possible interpretations and is perhaps a bit suspicious of information coming through to their mind from inspirational or intuitive means.

To return to the point though, there is a big difference between intuition and inspiration. Tarot readers who are associated with the suit of Wands get a flash of inspiration that goes to the head. It’s a ‘Eureka’ moment in which everything becomes clear immediately. Inspiration is a powerful and compelling force, jolting consciousness with its relevance.

For the Cups personality, intuition arrives at a slower pace. Insights gained from intuition come from a hunch or a feeling deep within — and it has to be coaxed into understanding and it is eventually turned into words. It’s an instinctive, emotional response to the images displayed on the Tarot cards.

Intuition and inspiration are important tools in Tarot and in everyday life. Both can be developed through practice and an open mind. And both can make a difference between an average Tarot reading and a great one, so regardless of which one you tend to use, make sure you open yourself to receiving information from at least one of these sources.