Mindfulness is all around us, used in just about any way. Some people have visceral reaction to the word mindfulness, and school districts are telling teachers they can't even say the word in front of the students. Back 20 years ago, it wasn't called mindfulness, it was just called taking care of your mind and body. It's turned into a huge industry. If you need to calm your mind or figure things out for yourself, I have an easy practice you can use everyday, and it only takes five minutes. It's called mindful tarot journaling.
Mindful tarot journaling is using tarot cards along with your intuition to find answers within yourself. We create a personal space that is quiet, where we can do a tarot reading and record our thoughts. To me, this is mindfulness. It's inviting in the quietness to get real insight and new perspectives.
Mindful Tarot Journaling
Mindful tarot journaling is really slowing down to look at the images and symbols on our tarot cards. Slowing down to take each card and break it down into its symbols and messages will show us our current emotions or challenges. One of my favorite tarot sites, Biddy Tarot, has a ton of resources that encourage us to look beyond just the surface and go deeper into our intuition to answer our questions. As we are actively engaging in the cards, we can be recording our thoughts in a beautiful journal, answering questions the cards evoke. This turns the journal into a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth.
As we continue to journal, we start to notice patterns鈥攂oth in the cards that frequently pop up and in our own reactions to them. This helps us to see how we can grow and change over time. Looking back into our journal entries has a couple of benefits.
- First, we can follow our thought process over time, noticing how our past journal entries have helped shape our current journey
- Journaling over time also helps us collect our wisdom, showing us our journey. We can go back and look for guidance, support, see what has helped us in the past and what hasn't
The Essentials of Tarot
Before we dive into the tarot cards themselves, it's important for us to grasp the basics and comprehend how tarot readings unfold. This way, we'll be better equipped to connect with the secrets of tarot mindfully.
Basics of Tarot
Tarot is more than just a deck of cards; It tells the story of the human experience.This is probably a short review for some, but for others we are going to look at the basics of a tarot deck.
- Major Arcana: These 22 cards represent life's karmic and spiritual lessons. They tell of major themes and milestones in our lives.
- Minor Arcana: Comprising 56 cards, these reflect the trials and tribulations we experience on a daily basis.
Within the Minor Arcana, there are 16 tarot court cards that symbolize 16 different personality traits we might choose to express at any given moment. Sometimes those court cards can also signify a person. Pay attention to the cards around the court cards for more guidance on the meaning of the card.
There are also four suits in the Minor Arcana, similar to a regular deck of playing cards. Each suit has its own theme:
- Cups: Emotions and relationships
- Pentacles: Material aspects and career
- Swords: Thoughts and intellect
- Wands: Energy and motivation
Each suit is numbered from 1 (Ace) to 10, and then there's a Page, Knight, Queen, and King. They represent daily situations we all face throughout life, adding to the meaning of a tarot reading.
Understanding Tarot Readings
When we conduct a tarot reading, we pick cards from the deck that reflect on what's happening in our lives. Each reading is a mirror of the energy you have at the moment. Have you ever noticed that if you are having a down day, your mindful tarot reading will also not be as up as you would like it to be. Here's the simple structure of a tarot reading:
- Forming a Question: We start by asking a question that we seek insight on. It's important that we keep it open-ended.
- Shuffling the Cards: As we shuffle, we focus on our question, allowing our energy to infuse the deck.
- Drawing the Cards: Whether we pull a single card or a spread of cards, each has a specific position that represents an aspect of our question.
- Interpreting the Cards: We interpret the cards' symbols and meanings in the context of our question and our lives. This is where intuition and knowledge merge.
Before you start your tarot reading you might want to set out some crystals, burn sage to clear your room of negative energy, and light some candles to enhance the atmosphere.
Keep in mind, being a tarot reader is as much about intuition as it is about the knowledge of the cards. By practicing regularly and reflecting on the meanings and symbols, we can unlock a little bit more about the insight tarot holds.
Personal Development with Tarot
Using tarot for personal growth isn't just about making predictions鈥攊t's about reflection and improvement. We use our decks to dig deeper into ourselves, to better understand our experiences, and to foster mindfulness.
Tarot Journaling for Personal Growth
Understanding Our Own Story: As we journal, we uncover patterns in our lives. The tarot cards serve as a mirror, reflecting our triumphs and challenges. For instance, drawing the Six of Wands might remind us of a recent piece of good news or success.
- First Step: In the first week, jot down daily draws. This creates a habit and opens avenues for self-reflection.
- Patterns Over Time: Notice any recurring cards. They might point to areas of your life demanding attention or celebration.
Enhancing Mindfulness with Tarot
Sometimes you might feel like you don't even know where to start. You can't go back to when you first started reading cards unless you journaled about them then. Here are a couple of ideas I suggest.
Being in the Now: Repeatedly looking at our cards helps anchor us in the present moment. The tarot deck becomes a tool not just for introspection but for mindfulness鈥攁 form of meditation.
- Focusing on the Cards: Take a deep breath and draw a card. Let your mind settle on the image. What does it bring up for you?
- Mindful Observation: Keep a section in your journal dubbed “Today's Focus” to revisit and contemplate the card's significance throughout the day. I have to be honest, this one is tough for me. It is helpful if you actually carry the card with you. Then you will be reminded to reflect on what is happening in your day and see how it resonates with you.
Building a Connection with Your Tarot Deck
Developing a Relationship: Our tarot decks are like close friends; they grow with us. The deeper our connection with our cards, the more we understand and appreciate their insights. There are many tarot readers who have a favorite tarot deck they use over and over again.
- Handling Your Deck: Spend time each day shuffling your cards, touching each one, feeling the texture, weight, and energy.
- Personal Significance: Assign your own meanings to the cards based on personal experiences. This personalized interpretation enriches your readings and journal entries.
Daily Mindful Tarot Practice
Before we get into the heart of our daily tarot practice, it's key to note that regularity and reflection are what transform a simple reading into a mindful journey.
Daily Practices for Mindful Tarot Journaling
Morning Ritual: Start your day by pulling a card. Ask, “What should we focus on today?” Or you could be asking “What do I need to know about today?” Write down your initial thoughts and feelings about the card in your journal. Keep it simple鈥攁 few sentences will do.
- Card of the Day: In your journal, dedicate a page for “Card of the Day.” Date the page for easy reference.
- Reflections: At the end of the day, return to your morning's card. Reflect on how its message played out. Any surprises? Write them down.
Monthly Look-back: At the end of the month, review your daily card entries. This helps us see broader patterns and gives us insight into our month's journey.
Leveraging Tarot for Insight and Clarity
Tarot Spreads: Use specific spreads to gain clarity on particular questions. Here's a simple structure:
- 1st Card: The current situation
- 2nd Card: Challenges we might face
- 3rd Card: Potential outcomes
Yearly Insights: Once a year, preferably at the beginning or end of the year, do a larger spread. Reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year ahead.
- Cards for the Year: Pull a card for each month of the last year. Look for trends and lessons learned.
- Setting Intentions: Choose a card that represents our hope for the upcoming year. Write down why we chose this card and what it symbolizes for us.
By engaging with the tarot daily, we gain a clearer picture of our inner landscape. This helps us navigate life's ups and downs with a deeper sense of awareness and intention.
Deepening Your Tarot Skills
As we advance in our tarot journey, it's crucial to keep our practice both engaging and reflective. A beautiful journal can be a key ally in this venture, allowing us to maintain an open mind as we explore the cards' meanings.
Tarot Journaling as a Reflective Practice
What better way to understand the nuances of tarot than to document our thoughts and feelings about each reading? Keeping a tarot journal is a thoughtful process, where we take the time after a reading to write about the cards we drew, their positions, and the insights they provided.
- Card Details: Note the cards drawn and their positions.
- Personal Reflections: Jot down our initial reactions and feelings.
- Contextual Associations: Record the query or situation addressed.
By reviewing our entries, we can notice patterns and deepen our connection with the deck. A beautiful journal that brings us joy can make this process even more fulfilling.
Taking Your Tarot Practice to the Next Level
To truly grow in our tarot skills, we must challenge ourselves continuously. Here are some steps we can take:
- Daily Draws: Commit to pulling at least one card daily, using our journal to track our thoughts and feelings over time.
- Study Each Card: Spend a week with each card, exploring its symbolism and story in our journal, to fully grasp its complexities.
- Share and Discuss: Engage with a community or a friend to broaden our understanding and get new perspectives.
- Regular Reviews: Set aside time to go through our journal entries, reflecting on our progress and areas for improvement.
By deliberately engaging with tarot and maintaining an open mind, our beautiful journal becomes a record of personal growth and a testament to our deepening skills.
Embracing the Tarot Journey
