In pure synchronicity, I've just this minute read another tarot themed post and then I land here. I do love it when these things happen! Alyssa, your tarot reflections are a masterclass in soulful discernment, honouring the tension between urgency and alignment with such grace. The way you listen to the archetypal undercurrents and let them shape your creative unfolding is deeply inspiring.
In my own practice, I've found that everyone reads differently. Sometimes I feel called to turn a card for someone whose words have moved me. Other times, I'll sit with a fixed spread, or make one up entirely. A few years ago, I followed The Fool's Journey Major Arcana), drawing one card a week for six months and shared the process in my second book. I can't think of a more powerful way to explore the inner and outer landscapes of our lives.
Thank you for the kind reflections, Deborah! It's been a long journey of learning to listen and discern those archetypal dynamics. It's become one of the greatest and most fruitful relationships in my life :)
I agree, everyone reads very differently. That goes for interpretation of the cards too, which have a fascinating way of drawing out nuance for each reader. I'm constantly evolving and deepening my understanding of them.
How did the weekly card draw in The Fool's Journey work exactly? Was the card a point of reflection, did it have a prompt, etc? Sounds very interesting!
Thanks so much for asking, Alyssa. In essence, I wrote a poem for each card starting with The Fool and finishing with The World, all twenty two Majors. I spent a week with each card. Active Imagination was very much part of the process. I’ve shared an introductory post all about tarot back in March which you may find interesting: https://substack.com/@jungianpoet/p-159664030
Beautiful. My practice is the same style. While have a few tried and true spreads (mostly my own) and use the Celtic cross, I throw cards out in groups and they tell their own story as I go. I use my intuition to guide me. I hate journaling so tarot is the way to extract all the things out of my head.
Wow such a beautiful post,only recently got my first tarot deck gifted to me and still exploring. This was incredibly insightful different perspective on tarot that I haven’t really read anywhere else. Thank you!
Oh lovely, which deck were you gifted? I've got lots more writing, teachings and reflections on tarot if you'd like to explore further: https://www.theartemisian.com/t/tarot
I adore this!!! This is how I use tarot for decisions as well, but I so appreciated the way you talked out the options. It was really enlightening. Thank you!
I pull a minimum of four but usually five cards per option. And I always pull an extra row calling it the unknown option.
An interesting thing I have had happen on two occasions is that one of the known options starts out really good, but by the third or fourth card looks yucky. And in both of those readings, the same number/placement card in the unknown option row, got fabulous.
I was able to tell the person I was reading for that for now, the specific option they were thinking of was good, but to notice when things started not working out so well, or feeling so great, to not get discouraged, but rather to keep an eye out for a new opportunity.
I’ve received feedback on one that that’s exactly what happened. The other was for a friend of a friend and I’ve not heard anything on that but it’s only been a few months and I may never know..🤷🏼♀️
I am the King of Pentacles, and the fixed sign of Taurus. I draw . a caRd daily from Morgan's tarot: Morgan's Tarot Cards, with pamphlet https://a.co/d/5IQqMDN
In pure synchronicity, I've just this minute read another tarot themed post and then I land here. I do love it when these things happen! Alyssa, your tarot reflections are a masterclass in soulful discernment, honouring the tension between urgency and alignment with such grace. The way you listen to the archetypal undercurrents and let them shape your creative unfolding is deeply inspiring.
In my own practice, I've found that everyone reads differently. Sometimes I feel called to turn a card for someone whose words have moved me. Other times, I'll sit with a fixed spread, or make one up entirely. A few years ago, I followed The Fool's Journey Major Arcana), drawing one card a week for six months and shared the process in my second book. I can't think of a more powerful way to explore the inner and outer landscapes of our lives.
Thank you for the kind reflections, Deborah! It's been a long journey of learning to listen and discern those archetypal dynamics. It's become one of the greatest and most fruitful relationships in my life :)
I agree, everyone reads very differently. That goes for interpretation of the cards too, which have a fascinating way of drawing out nuance for each reader. I'm constantly evolving and deepening my understanding of them.
How did the weekly card draw in The Fool's Journey work exactly? Was the card a point of reflection, did it have a prompt, etc? Sounds very interesting!
Thanks so much for asking, Alyssa. In essence, I wrote a poem for each card starting with The Fool and finishing with The World, all twenty two Majors. I spent a week with each card. Active Imagination was very much part of the process. I’ve shared an introductory post all about tarot back in March which you may find interesting: https://substack.com/@jungianpoet/p-159664030
Thanks for sharing, I'll check it out :)
Beautiful. My practice is the same style. While have a few tried and true spreads (mostly my own) and use the Celtic cross, I throw cards out in groups and they tell their own story as I go. I use my intuition to guide me. I hate journaling so tarot is the way to extract all the things out of my head.
Generally it’s all intuitive. But if it’s a Celtic cross, for example, I have started to use a hybrid double deck method that’s a true blend.
https://ericaphillips.substack.com/p/advanced-tarot-techniques-part-2?r=1utrit
Ohhh interesting! I’ll check out your post!
Will you blend a set spread and the intuitive groupings? Or just one or the other??
Wow such a beautiful post,only recently got my first tarot deck gifted to me and still exploring. This was incredibly insightful different perspective on tarot that I haven’t really read anywhere else. Thank you!
Oh lovely, which deck were you gifted? I've got lots more writing, teachings and reflections on tarot if you'd like to explore further: https://www.theartemisian.com/t/tarot
Ethereal Visions tarot Luna edition , its so beautiful! Thank you for the link!
Ethereal Visions is a beautiful deck! Are you new to reading tarot?
Thank you! this is very helpful. I had a friend who used to read the cards for me using this technique. I forgot all
about it!
Let me know if you try out the reading :)
I adore this!!! This is how I use tarot for decisions as well, but I so appreciated the way you talked out the options. It was really enlightening. Thank you!
Glad to hear it!! Do you structure the spread at all, certain positions with set meaning for each option?
Not a spread per se, but …
I pull a minimum of four but usually five cards per option. And I always pull an extra row calling it the unknown option.
An interesting thing I have had happen on two occasions is that one of the known options starts out really good, but by the third or fourth card looks yucky. And in both of those readings, the same number/placement card in the unknown option row, got fabulous.
I was able to tell the person I was reading for that for now, the specific option they were thinking of was good, but to notice when things started not working out so well, or feeling so great, to not get discouraged, but rather to keep an eye out for a new opportunity.
I’ve received feedback on one that that’s exactly what happened. The other was for a friend of a friend and I’ve not heard anything on that but it’s only been a few months and I may never know..🤷🏼♀️
It's fascinating when tarot reveals those subtle patterns and dynamics. Especially when we get confirmation, it feels quite powerful :D
I am the King of Pentacles, and the fixed sign of Taurus. I draw . a caRd daily from Morgan's tarot: Morgan's Tarot Cards, with pamphlet https://a.co/d/5IQqMDN