Tarot for Meditation

Tarot was developed in Western Europe sometime between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries as a card game. The earliest references to tarot all date to the mid-1400s in northern Italy. It wasn't until the Enlightenment period that people started connecting the symbology of the cards to different religions and mystical beliefs, thus turning it from a game into a tool for the occult.

Although tarot is now mostly associated with the occult, fortune tellers, and all manner of witchery, it's a great tool for self-reflection and meditation. It can be as quick and simple or as complex as you need it to be. I like pulling two cards first thing in the morning (when I give myself enough time) and asking what energy should I be working with that day and what energy I need to be mindful of. For example, if I pulled the Four of Swords (rest and reflection) and the Knight of Swords (action and motivation) I would interpret that as "today is a day to rest and reflect, don't let yourself be pulled into action". As I continue through my day, I'll be more mindful about how much energy I'm spending, and where, and dial it back when I can. Life has to go on so this doesn't necessarily mean "spend the day in bed" although that does sound fantastic, but it may be more like, "don't act to hastily when it comes to that project", or "reserve your energy because you may need it later".

From a meditation standpoint, I now have a focal point for my practice. Maybe there is a project I am working on and I can take some time to meditate on it. Mull it over, envision various scenarios and outcomes, brainstorm some plans, and see what feels right before moving into the next stages. Sometimes just focusing on the card can be a great meditation. Think, "What does a restful day look like to me?".

The High Priestess

I also like meditating with the cards when I get a new deck and the imagery is different and tells a more complex story. What does the card make you feel when you look at it? What images pop into your head when you look at the card?

The Magician

This has a double benefit for me as I have a hard time meditating if I don't have something to focus on. By focusing on the energy and imagery of the card and the feelings it invokes in me, I have a focal point for my meditation and establish a deeper connection with my card.

What I like about using tarot as a meditative tool is that, no matter when I decide to pull my cards, first thing in the morning, midday to top and re-center myself, or before bed to reflect on the day, it is time that I take to focus on myself, my thoughts, my feelings, and the cards in front of me. It's my time, time to block out everything and focus solely on myself. It may take me five minutes or thirty minutes, depending on the day and time. But after that time I spend with myself and my cards I feel a sense of clarity and a little more refreshed than before I took that time. It's peaceful, even when the cards are delivering unwanted messages, and helps quiet some of the background noise in my head and lets me focus on one thing at a time.

Here is a quick breakdown of my usual tarot meditation. If you don't have or want to light a candle or incense, that's fine. If you want to sage first, have at it but don't worry about it if you don't. Take some deep breaths to center yourself before you read. You'll get a clearer understanding of your cards if you are looking at them with an uncluttered (or less cluttered) mind. Give your cards a good shuffle and when it feels right, pull two. If one jumps out at you, obviously use that and then just pull another. Now you just reflect and carry the energy that you need throughout the day.