Reader, it’s been a week. It’s been a month. It’s been a year. It’s been a life. I have so many topics I want to write about, but I never have time to write. I don’t want to half-ass something that is important to me, just to get a post up today, so I’m going to talk about something that’s easy to write about.
And that is tarot.
First, A Little Backstory About Meditation
I was raised as someone who meditates. There were always two parts to our meditation practice- the initial phase where we would ground ourselves and be quietly mindful, and the second phase which was usually guided with the intention of finding some deeper meaning.
Whenever I had deep concerns or issues, the community encouraged me to meditate on the problem. I was always taught to be in touch with my subconscious, to listen to my body, and to feel connected to the world around me (and the world beyond, if you’re into that). I was taught that the answers can always be found within.
(It’s worth noting that answers are not necessarily the same as solutions- meditation can’t solve all your problems but it can help you decide how to approach them.)
Because of that, the benefits of meditation have always come quite easily to me. The problem is the actual act of meditating. It is SO HARD for me to sit still in silence (or white noise) for a prolonged period of time. My mind wanders and I get anxious when I can’t think my thoughts. It’s gotten worse as I’ve gotten older, and it had reached the point where I stopped meditating entirely because I hated the stress of trying to get my mind to be silent.
For a while, I found the same benefits through journaling. I used to write about everything, but then life turned me off of that as well (plus the hand cramps were insane).
The Solution? Tarot (and walks)
Enter tarot cards. I got them as kind of a joke. I happen to have a lot of vague metaphysical knowledge, and tarot sort of fit my vibe.
Now, tarot is my new meditation and my new journaling. I feel so much better if I do some tarot spreads before bed. I get the benefits of slowing my mind and focusing deeply, but I do it in a way that feels more active than sitting still and listening. Because it’s hands on, my brain feels completely occupied the entire time; I don’t have to focus on focusing.
I first saw the benefits and similarities when I would do tarot spreads for other people. They’d pull the cards, I’d explain what it meant, and I’d watch the wheels turn in their head. They’d find a way to connect it to their lives, often having to recognize whatever was bubbling under the surface.
People would always say the cards were giving them signs, but I think the cards were just making the passive thoughts into active thoughts. We know the answers, we just have to have the right tools to find them.
I think this is why tarot gets a reputation for being a scam, because it’s vague or generalized, and anyone could find a way to associate the cards with their lives. To me, those are exactly the features that make it great for a sort of self-guided meditation.
For example, if I pull death, the cards say that it’s time to have the courage to transform, to let go of that thing that is holding you back, because something needs to end.
I love that my mind immediately thinks of a particular something. I love that it could be completely different from your something. You could think of a relationship, a job, a personality trait, etc. Because it’s vague, it forces you to confront yourself. What is something in your life that is holding you back? What do you first think of? What is the immediate association with this concept? Now you’ve just learned something about yourself, Reader.
Furthermore, you can get kind of meta about it. Like, if I find myself so distressed by a relationship or job or whatever, that I’ve taken to asking the cards if it’s going to get better, the act of even asking is an answer in itself. You shouldn’t have to ask tarot cards if you deserve to be treated correctly. You shouldn’t have to use tarot cards as an excuse to keep you tethered to something that makes you that unhappy.
I love that I can address thoughts ranging from “is god real” to “why was this person mean to me today” (which are exactly the sort of topics I’d journal about, too). The way I use my tarot cards, there is no “yes” or “no” which means deep questions, like god, force me to interpret the cards in a way that makes sense to me, which helps me recognize my own beliefs. As for the sillier, pettier questions, inevitably the cards make me circle back onto myself and why I am affected by the actions of others.
That’s the beauty of it, baby. Tarot helps you learn more about yourself.
Another meditation-adjacent benefit: I, a chronic over-thinker and depression spiral-er, cannot ask the cards about my spirals. If I want to address my racing thoughts, I have to slow down. I have to ask them one at a time or else the readings won’t make any sense. Then I have to analyze the cards to connect their meanings to my question. By the time I’ve done all that, the spiral has stopped.
And, to be frank, I like that sometimes some really strange witchy stuff does happen. One time, I asked a question and I was certain the cards were going to verify what I already knew (it was about love). They gave me an answer I didn’t like. I reshuffled, figuring I would try again, and I ended up pulling the same cards. That annoyed me, so I rephrased my question and shuffled again. Same cards. I got mad and scooped them all up to put them back in the box, and the card with the loudest message for me fell out of the stack, face up. The cards were right, of course.
🔮
If you’re interested in tarot, I like this set, and I reference either Biddy Tarot or Labyrinthos for deeper card meanings.
p.s.
As for the *quieting my mind* part of meditation, I go for walks outside every single day. I listen to the world around me and try to pay attention to as many real things as possible, as opposed to getting lost in my thoughts. I’ll try to name bird calls or identify sounds. I guess flower names or plant types. I notice the smells in the air- who is doing laundry? Who is cooking? (Who is apparently getting high as a kite?) It’s still mindful and grounding but in a way that doesn’t stress me out.
p.p.s.
I still think it’s worth it to meditate. My favorite time is before bed, after I’ve gone for a good walk and had a good tarot session. My mind and body are relaxed enough to to be still, and because I’m preparing for sleep, I don’t feel like I’m wasting time by taking that moment to myself. I’ve had some crazy visions and lucid dreams this way.