Keeping a daily Tarot journal is the ideal way to combine learning and furthering your knowledge of Tarot with self-reflection. Using Tarot when journaling can help us reach thoughts or emotions that might be hidden, or to tap into an idea that we couldn't quite grasp. It creates a starting or focal point for the entry and may aid in alleviating writer's block or feeling stuck. Personally, my favorite thing about journaling, of any kind, is how it helps me to see myself and situations from a different point of view. By adding Tarot, it increases my awareness of certain concepts out of my scope. Sometimes it helps my stubborn ass see that my way is not always the best way, or that I need to be patient (this is nearly impossible for me). Tarot can also help me direct my thoughts to what is important and where I need to focus. I can be very single-minded and goal-oriented, which means that other important things in my life get left out. It's a great reminder of balance and moderation. Combining the Tarot with the therapeutic act of writing helps me to alleviate anxiety and align my thoughts. It's a gift I give myself so that I can know and understand myself, my motivations, and my hidden self on a different level.
Keep in mind that there are countless ways to keep a Tarot journal and there is absolutely no right or wrong way. How you use your Tarot journal is completely up to you. Following are several suggestions and ideas on how to get started with your Tarot journal, but ultimately, you will choose how to put it to the best use for yourself. Remember, you can journal daily, or maybe when you create a new Tarot spread. You may choose to journal with Tarot as a starting point to help you write. Using a Tarot journal is a greatly beneficial experience no matter how you decide to implement it, unless of course, you don't use it. Trust me, I've been there. I've gone out and bought a perfect, beautiful, made for me journal which ends up sitting dormant on my nightstand until the poor thing gets used for shopping lists and doodles. That's okay too. Again, it's totally up to you. Getting started is always the hardest part. With 2020 right around the corner, it may just be time to start something new, to step out of your comfort zone and learn something out of the norm.
The first thing you will need to do is choose a journal. It can be something as simple as a spiral notebook or something as elaborate as a leather-bound, custom engraved book.
If you have something laying around and you want to use it, then go for it. Or, you can make your own. Whatever you choose will be exactly right for you.
Secondly, you will need to have a Tarot deck. If you are just starting out, I always recommend a Rider-Waite deck, but it is totally up to you. As long as you feel a connection to your deck it will work just fine. The most important part of this is being able to use the cards to help us write. So as long as your deck speaks to you that way, nothing else really matters.
Next, choose how and what you will be using your Tarot journal for. Perhaps you use this journal only for Tarot related writing and drawing. This type of journal can be especially beneficial to new Tarot practitioners and is something I recommend to all my clients who are interested in learning Tarot. The easiest way to put this type of journal into practice is to draw a card a day, or as often as you would like, and journal about that specific card. You can either draw randomly or follow the order of the cards beginning with the major or minor arcana. If you are going to follow an order, I recommend starting with the majors right after learning about the Fool's Journey so it is fresh in your mind. By doing this, you will be able to relate the information you learned to the cards as you go. If you choose this method, I've listed some things below that you might include in your journal entry:
1. After you've chosen your card, write out the basic aspects and meanings of the card. This information can come from a Tarot guidebook, the internet, and how you perceive and define the cards depending on your level of experience. The more definitions of the card you learn, the better.
2. Write about the imagery on the card. What stands out to you? How does it make you feel when you look at the card? What color speaks to you the most? What symbolism on the card jumps out at you the most? Are there animals present? If you like to draw, then draw your own version of the card.
3. How does this card fit into your life? Into your current situation? Is it advice, guidance, a warning or a wish?
4. Look at all of the information together and define the card in your own words.
This is very important in learning Tarot. You are the storyteller and every storyteller tells the story in their own way.
You may choose to use your Tarot journal as a personal tool for self-reflection and stress relief. Daily use of a journal is beneficial for getting to know and understand ourselves. Adding Tarot can give us a focal point to our daily entry and kickstart the writing process when we feel stuck. The following steps may help you with this method of keeping a Tarot journal:
1. For this particular type of Tarot journal, I strongly suggest drawing a random card or two every day. You can do this by spreading the cards out and choosing the ones that call to you or by shuffling until the cards come out. However you choose, keep in mind that the universe will have your back and send you the card or cards that will most help you.
2. Study the cards that you have received. How do they make you feel? Be honest? Do they piss you off? Make you sad or happy? Always be honest about this because this journal is for you and you alone. Being honest with ourselves is one of the most difficult things we can do in this life but it is so very important. We owe that type of honesty to ourselves because we should be our own best friends and most loyal supporter right?
3. How do the cards fit into your life and your current situation? If they don't fit, should they? Could this be a message from the Universe of something you need to do or something you should be working on? Be open-minded. You may be focused on one thing in your life like romance while the universe may be talking to you about career.
It's not what you want to hear or know about but always remember that the universe leads you where you are supposed to go if you are open enough to listen and to pay attention.
4. Write, write, write. About anything and everything that comes to mind. Sometimes there won't be much and sometimes it will be like a tidal wave that won't stop. Honor the emotions and ideas as they come.
5. Lastly, if you are keeping this type of journal, notice recurring cards, numbers, and suits. This will provide more detailed information for you. For instance, there are 78 cards in a deck of Tarot cards. If you have pulled a particular card more than one time in a week period, that is an important message from the Universe that you need to pay close attention to. Or, if you keep pulling fours or sixes, don't be afraid to look up the numerology and how it relates to the tarot. This can also be an important message. Suits can also speak to us. If you keep seeing a certain suit continuously, really study that suit and how it fits into your life or how it needs to.
There are so many ways that you can keep a Tarot Journal. The only thing that matters is that it works for you and you get something out of it. It's a great way to set aside a little time for yourself every day to meditate and reflect, vent, see the bigger picture, doodle, draw, paint and more. The last suggestion I have is this.
1.Use your Tarot journal however the hell you want!
Remember, just enjoy the process and love yourself enough to write about yourself.
Universal blessings until next time!
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