Waking in the early morning hours, the world outside still dark and sleepy, you slip into a quiet space of your home and your mind. Your writer’s notebook beckons from its perch on a table. You peer into the blank page and endless possibilities begin to spark.
There’s a story brewing deep within, you know it, but how do you pull it from the dark depths? How do you bring it out into the warm sunshine?
The story is tangible, with characters so full and a plot so rich you can practically taste it. You light a single candle, its gentle flicker driving away the morning chill. Gingerly, lovingly you pick up the deck of cards lying beside your notebook. Your fingers tingle as if touching the hand of an old friend or lover.
As you shuffle the cards, a question emerges in your mind: What energy do I already possess that will bring this world within my mind into reality?
Placing the deck beside your notebook, you lay down the top card and stare into the eyes that will lead you on a journey.
Can Tarot be used for writing?
The short answer is yes. Yes! A thousand times yes! Tarot, by nature, is designed to tell a story. The act of interpreting the cards is referred to as “reading.” A Tarot reader uses the symbolism of the cards, combined with the questions asked to create a narrative for themselves, their client, the collective, or dozens (possibly hundreds) of ways to use the cards. As intuitive observers, it’s fitting for writers to be drawn to this tool in aiding the creation of worlds through prose.
Similar to the writing process, the method in which a Tarot reader communes with the cards is deeply personal and can even be spiritual.
What is Tarot?
When boiled down to its essence, Tarot is a system of symbols organized in a set of seventy-eight cards, that can be interpreted as a story. Some regard those stories as a form of divination, a communication between the reader and the universe, or a selected diety. Others use the cards simply for self-reflection and personal insight, a way to dig deeper into your understanding of reality. The cards themselves are often gorgeous works of art that could inspire countless stories when gazed upon.
A Brief History
According to Tarot for Writers, by Corrine Kenner, Tarot was first created in 15th century Italy, and used in a trick-taking game called tarocchi. Writers and tarocchi players began using tarot cards to inspire poetry as early as the 16th century. (Kenner, xv)
Writing influences may have been present from the start of modern tarot interpretations. Kenner connects the creation of the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, first published in 1909, to the great poet W.B. Yeats.
Kenner writes, “In fact, some experts think Yeats’ poetry actually inspired some of the imagery in modern tarot… He probably discussed tarot symbolism with them before they designed the cards.” (Kenner, xv)
Getting Started
The easiest way to approach tarot is to jump right in. Find a deck, your deck.
Visit a local crystal shop, spiritual store, or even Indie bookstore. Hold each deck in your hands and feel the energy passing between you and the cards.
If that feels too “hippie woo woo” — Imagine me gesturing now, my fingers flitting about my face — research decks online, and order one whose imagery you’re drawn to.
Though the number of gorgeously interpreted tarot decks available today is seemingly endless, I encourage a traditional deck, based on the Rider-Waite-Smith design as your first deck. This will lead to clearer interpretations of the imagery and better understanding of reference guides. My first deck was Llewellyn’s Classic Tarot.
Tarot is meant to be approachable. Find a deck from whatever source helps you approach the cards.
Connect With Your Deck
Take your crisp new tarot Deck home and get to know it. No, you don’t have to take it out on a date — though if you are going out, you may as well pop the deck in your bag. Familiarize yourself with the cards just as you would a brand new writing journal.
Flip through the cards, bend them a little, smell them. Do they smell like a new glossy book? If you’re a book sniffer like me you’ll appreciate that incredible new book fragrance. Or perhaps you acquired your deck from another source — a second hand store, or a hand-me-down from a friend — and the cards retain the scent of patchouli, or freshly baked cookies, or crayons fresh from the box. Whatever their smell, let the cards tell you their story.
Lay each card out in front of you. Order them in a way you feel drawn to. This could be in order by number, by suit, or by similar imagery.
Keep a dedicated journal for your tarot practice. As a writer, my favorite way to interpret my cards is through the act of writing. I feel a deeper connection when writing down my readings by hand.
Practice interpreting the imagery of your cards. Choose three to five cards each time you sit down with your deck. Observe the imagery, and write your interpretation of the card’s meanings in your tarot journal. You can research these cards until your blue in the face, but tarot is personal and the practice is intuitive and unique to each reader. Open your mind to the cards and they will open your world to an endless array of story.
Research
As with all writing, it is good practice to verify the facts and details. There are countless books that can be used to confirm your own interpretations. These books are not a crutch. They are tools to enhance your practice written by tarot readers who’ve seen the cards in many different contexts through decades of reading experience.
Some of my favorite guidebooks are:
- Tarot for Writers, Corrine Kenner
- Kitchen Table Tarot, Melissa Cynova
- The Ultimate Guide to Tarot, Liz Dean
Additional research sources:
- Social Media – You’ll find a wealth of community and knowledge on Instagram, Pinterest, TickTock, and more. On Instagram, I follow @foolandthepage, @typewritertarot, @thetarotlady, and @melissacynova.
- Tarot related podcasts – My favorite, The Fool and The Page, is produced by Austin-based writer, Claire Campbell and speaks specifically to writers.
- Review Sites (Yelp, Google Reviews, etc.) – Find a respected local tarot reader through reviews. Consider getting a reading to see how it works. From there, consider asking if they’re willing to guide you in your own practice.
A deeper understanding of the tarot’s symbology systems, such as Astrology, the four elements, and numerology, may be a useful asset to your tarot and writing practice.
Illuminate your blindspots with insight from other sources and systems, but keep in mind that tarot is personal. If something doesn’t ring true for you, simply keep it in your back pocket and go with your gut.
Shuffle Up and Deal a Story – Your Story
Before you begin, arrive in your writing space. Do whatever you can to relax and settle into your writing mind. You may choose to find a comfortable seat, light a candle or insense, place a crystal (amethyst is a great one), or play soothing music. I like to take a few minute for quiet meditation.
Shuffling the tarot cards is your chance to infuse your energy and your intention into the reading. Professional readers often allow their clients to shuffle and cut the cards in any way they feel drawn prior to pulling the cards.
Breath in, clearing your thoughts as you shuffle. Cut the deck or fan the cards out before you and prepare yourself to receive your story.
A Writer’s First Reading
Rest your hand atop the cards, and focus your thoughts on a single question — How should I work with these cards in my writing practice?— Draw a card using your left hand and place it, face down, on the left side of your workspace.
Return your hand to the pile, or trail your fingertips along the fanned cards until another card draws you. Focus on the next question — What energy do I already possess that will aid me in my writing practice? — Pull a card with your left hand, and place it to the right of the first card.
Replace your hand on the cards and focus again — What action can I take to achieve my desires for my writing practice? — Lay the final card to the right of the first two.
Flip over the first card you placed, turning it from right to left as if opening a book. Repeat this step with the following cards in the order they were placed then observe the cards for an initial reading. Write any connections in your journal. What feelings or thoughts bubble to the surface first? Write them in your journal. What imagery leaps out to you? Write that down. Which card are you most drawn to? Do any cards repel you or make you uneasy? What similarities do you see in your cards? Any differences? Write everything down.
When reading the individual cards, describe the scene as it relates to the question asked of that card. Write down everything you think might be connected no matter how personal or cringe-y it may feel. Remember, tarot is a tool for self-reflection and discovery. To enhance your reading, look up each card in the deck’s companion book or other guidebook of your choice. Write down any interpretation or symbolic meaning that rings true to your personal writing story.
Interpreting Reversed Cards
There are dozens of ways to interpret reversed or inverted cards (ie. Cards that appear upside down from the perspective of the reader). Most guidebooks offer a reversal interpretation. Some suggest that new readers simply turn reversed cards right side up and ignore the reversal. I choose to interpret reversals as blocked energy. Find the interpretation that resonates most clearly with you.
Dig Deeper
If you are a tarot-curious individual, or this tarot reading spoke to you, prepare to mine the gems buried deep in your writer’s mind. In this multi-post Tarot for Writing Inspiration series, I will explore ways to use tarot to inspire character, plot, setting, and all aspects of storytelling. Watch this space for my next post, Tarot Spreads for the Writer, and leave a comment below about your experience with tarot in any form.
Happy writing and reading!
Kenner, Corrine. Tarot for Writers. Woodbury,MN : Llewellyn Publications – Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd, 2009. Print.
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