Journaling with the Tarot

Maybe you have just got a beautiful new Tarot deck, or you have found one that you put on the shelf and haven’t used in years, and you can’t wait to open it.

Whether you’re new to Tarot or have been practicing for years, keeping a journal can be a great way to get to understand your deck.

Personally, I find that pulling a card a day in the morning and taking notes before bed works best. ( but I’m totally realistic; there are days when I’m unable to do this)

And I love to see how I could relate that Card to someone I have met or seen or to a mood or thought or emotion I have felt during my day.

If I don’t have time to pull a card in the morning, I’ve stopped stressing and feeling guilty. Before I sleep, I will often pull a card, ponder it, put it under my pillow, and see where my dreams within the Card will take me.

Keeping a Tarot journal will be different for everyone, with each person feeling drawn to something different on each Card.

You can make your Tarot journal as straightforward or as elaborate as you like. You can draw butterflies and rainbows on the pages if you want; you can use cutouts from magazines or photos. Or you can keep it neat and orderly if that’s your style. It totally up to you.

Writing in my journal for me is like having a conversation with myself. It can help me connect with my intuition, often on a deeper level. That I might not feel comfortable talking to someone for fear of sounding silly.

I find that recording your Tarot readings can help you remember what cards you pulled and how they made you feel at that time. It can help you become aware of any patterns, synchronicities. In fact, after you have drawn all 78 cards, you will, in effect, have written your own Tarot book.

Sometimes people do not know how to start; here are some prompts that I used to get started.

*Write down the time, date, and name of the tarot deck that you have used.

*The question that you asked (if you asked one) and the Card or cards that you pulled,

*Write down all your thoughts, feelings, and reaction, even if you don’t think they are relevant.

*Did any warning bells go off, or a sudden idea came into your head?

How did the Card or cards make you feel? Were you:

Angry?

Happy?

Confused?

Surprised?

Excited?

Or something else? And why?

*What did you see in the cards or Card? What was the first thing that stood out to you, was it the colors, the theme?

*Did you get the Card you were hoping for

*Are there any feelings that you are suppressing?

Practice a style that feels comfortable and let your true self come out on paper. But do not worry. That is just part of the journaling process.

Sometimes when you might find yourself feeling nervous about writing things down, it can be a sign that you are not allowing yourself to express a part of your intuition or listening to your gut.

Write down the first things that come into your mind. And don’t stop to think about what other people might think if they read it. Be honest with yourself; sometimes, certain emotions can hurt, and the Tarot will show that to you.

But that is the Tarot’s beauty being able to find the root of that upsetting emotion and then using the power to move to more positive feelings.

No-one wants to dwell on their negative feelings (unless you want to make yourself feel worse). Still, your journal can be an excellent safe place to consider your dark and light existence.

I always find that I’m in a much better place after writing things down.

Remember, if you’re worried about what others or even yourself might think if they read it, remember that no one has to read it — not even yourself. Just find a private place to keep your journal.

But for me, missing out on the mystery and magic of the Tarot and writing about it just because I was worried about what others might think wasn’t worth it.

So I decided to give easy prompts with each Card. It will help beginners on their journey through the cards, and even if you have been reading the cards for years, it helps when you get a new deck to form a bond with the cards.

I hope these prompts will help you understand each Card’s meaning, and you will be able to relate them to feelings and emotions you have in your everyday life.

There are be no right or wrong answers.

*How do you feel when you see the Card.

*Make a list of words or thoughts that you associate with the Card.

*Do you see the Card as positive or negative?

*Try and write a detailed description of the Chariot and try and tap into the energy of the Card.?

  • Thinking about your day, how did the card manifest itself .? This can be in the form of –
  • People
  • Place
  • Emotion
  • Memories
  • Do you feel that you are in control of your own thoughts and emotions, or do they control you.?
  • What will move you forward.?
  • What is holding you back.?
  • Write a detailed description of the Card, try and tap into the energy of the Card.