tarot

  • Learn Tarot, Uncategorized

    Working With Tarot To Relieve Your Anxiety

    For those of us who have anxiety and depression, struggling to get through a Bad (with a capital B) day can be excruciating.  We start to spin negative thoughts in our heads: What if I said the wrong thing to my neighbor? Why don’t I feel successful? Do I pay enough attention to my kids? Was that the right way to handle that situation? I should be weeding/folding laundry/dusting. I can’t do anything right. I’m a failure….

    As someone with acute anxiety, I’m familiar with the soundtrack that sometimes repeats all day. It expands and contracts according to my mood and the season, what I’ve been eating, how much stress I’m under, and for various other reasons.

    When the walls start to close in on me, I’ve learned to reach out for support. Sometimes support comes in the form of a conversation with a good friend.

    More often though, especially when my anxiety is crushing my social skills, I reach out to my Spirit Guides as the first wave of support to get me out of a funk. I get out my cards and have a nice conversation with my Higher Self and my Spirit Helpers.

    Create Rituals to Ease Anxiety

    Making a little ritual out of connecting with your Higher Self and your cards can be super calming. I take a moment to light a white candle, get settled into a comfortable position, take a few deep breaths… really get into the moment.

    Inhale deeply, filling your lungs and belly. Exhale fully, til there’s no air left. Repeat the process a few times.


    Here’s my ritual for starting to work with my cards:

    • I invite Archangel Michael and my Guardian Angels to protect my space and my being, keeping out any negative influences—including my own thoughts—that would disturb my reading.
    • I ask my Spirit Guides to join me.
    • I tap out my cards and focus within myself.
    • I really get into the moment, grounding myself, focusing on my breathing and the cards helps me to stave off the peaks of my anxiety.

    Get Clear On Your Question

    Then to bring a moment of clarity. I ask: 

    What am I stressing about? or What do I need to know about (what is stressing me out)?

    Pick ONE Card

    Pick just one card—maybe two MAXIMUM—to keep the message simple and straightforward.


    The cards that come up are usually quite clear in their messages and a bit cheeky, if you ask me. Yesterday, it was the Seven of Pentacles reversed. The fact that I feel like I have sowed seeds and nurtured crops and tended fields, yet I have yet to see an abundant harvest. Part of this is due to self-worth issues, I know. And part is honestly due to grit and consistency—or a lack thereof.

    And part of it is sheer overwhelm; with Covid and back to school, regular mom-stuff, being an entrepreneur, and feeling like I. need. To. Do. It. All. RIGHT. NOW!! No rest for the weary here.

    OK. Message clear. Got it!

    *You could stop there, especially if you need to meditate on your answer or how the card fits into your current situation.

    What Can You Do To Ease Your Anxiety?

    If you want to explore potential solutions or find a way to deal with your anxiety, you can ask:

    What can I do about it?

    Pick just one card again.

    The Page of Wands comes up to tells me that I likely have to light a little fire under my tush, first. Second, focus on the things that get me excited, the things that fire me up. I have to look at things from a new and innocent perspective, finding wonder in my work again.

    And I might need to take a day off to pursue ONLY those things that light my fire.


    Is There A Shadow?

    I might also look at the bottom card on the deck after pulling a card for the above-mentioned questions. This would be the Shadow of the situation, or what I am avoiding.

    Oh, hello Six of Wands reversed. Fear of failure, big time!

    Am avoiding defeat and not looking good to myself and the others around me by not giving 100%?

    After working with my cards yesterday, I came down from an upwardly anxious spiral. I got the message about what I needed to do to put a dent into what was bugging me. I also got some clarity about what my problem was to begin with.

    My Higher Self spoke to me through the cards. Honestly, it was easy to decipher what the cards meant for me because they were so on point.

    Now I know what the issue is, I know how to solve it. I know what I am avoiding.

    Get Out Your Tarot Journal

    From here, I can get out my journal and write about exactly what I want to accomplish, getting rid of the “shoulds and the musts”, focusing on a few things that truly move ME (3 maximum for the day). 

    I also take a moment to recognize the negative voice in my head that makes everything so urgent and wants it all NOW! NOW! NOW! I can even talk to that voice in my journal:

    Dear Sue,

    I know that you want to help us get to a better place and that is why you are scared that if I don’t do everything right now, we won’t get there. I want you to know that we have to take things one step at a time, with purpose and focus. If we do things step by step, we’re less likely to trip and fall and more likely to really feel good about what we’ve achieved. It will also help us to do better work, as we’ll be much more mindful of the work we do. Thank you for caring so much.

    With love,
    Sue

    When you are facing life with anxiety and/or depression, tarot can be an excellent tool to use to really take a moment to get in touch with your Higher Self. 

    Don’t overcomplicate things. Just pull one card at a time. 


    Get your journal out and write a summary note to yourself based on the cards you pull… and enjoy the moment. Breathing. Connecting. Focusing.

    Conclusion

    The practice of working with tarot can bring you into a much calmer, more connected state of mind. If you are spiraling out on a bad day, working with cards can quickly show you what the root of your issue is and how to resolve it. After you sort out the details, you can return to your life with a focused plan and a little more peace and calmness in your life.

    CONTINUE READING

  • Blog, Featured Blog, Learn Tarot, Tarot

    What Does It Mean When You Have A Stalker Card?

    If you’re anything like me, you consult with your cards frequently. I work with tarot and oracle cards daily, often pulling random cards for my own questions, and of course, using tarot and oracle cards to advise clients. There are times when I start noticing stalker cards in my readings. What is a stalker card and what does it mean when you notice you have a stalker card?

    What is a stalker card?

    A stalker card is a card that keeps coming up over and over in your readings, in card picks, or even as the bottom card in the deck (The Shadow Card). You start to see the card so often, it starts to feel like the card is actually following you around or stalking you.

    There are times when I pick up a deck, shuffle it, and choose a card. I note what the card is, return it to the deck, and shuffle again. Then I pull another card from the deck and… it’s the same card I got the first time!

    And it’s often not just one day that the card comes up; stalker cards can follow a person around for weeks. A stalker card will keep on coming up again and again, though, for what feels like an extended amount of time.

    If I’m working out some sort of issue in my mind and end up examining it from a variety of different angles with different spreads on different days (#dontjudge), the same card might appear over and over again in a prominent position in my readings.

    Why do stalker cards stalk you?

    Stalker cards are often ideas or concepts that you need to deal with in order to move forward in your life or get to the next level. They serve as reminders of the point you might be purposefully missing or honestly overlooking.

    Sometimes, the cards are reaffirming a message they gave you the last time you asked. Sometimes, they are reminding you that you have to do that one thing before you can succeed.

    There are also stalker cards you might associate with the “season” of life you are in or a personality trait that is holding you back.

    If you are co-dependent, for example, or need to hold on to your sobriety or work on your addictions, the Devil card might become your stalker. Or, if you need to step up and claim more power in your life, either Strength or the Nine of Pentacles might start stalking you.

    If you start to get the same deity or idea coming up while using a deck (or a few of them), that is an indication that that entity has a special message for you. For example, if Athena comes up when you use the Goddess Guidance deck and then you get out your Goddess Power deck she comes up again, I think it’s safe to say that Athena has a message for you.

    Read about my experience with a stalker card here: Pele, My Goddess Stalker

    What you should do if you get a stalker card

    If you start to notice a specific tarot or oracle card stalking you, or coming up more frequently in your readings, you should explore what it means to you and your current situation.

    • Get out your tarot journal and either go to the page devoted to that card or find a blank page to note your ideas on.
    • Take the card out and really look at it. Are there any symbols on the card that trigger your intuition? Do the colors evoke any feelings for you?
    • Brainstorm a list of ideas related to what it might mean for you.
    • Free-write in your journal. Let yourself connect with the energy of the card or of the deity shown on the card.
    • Get the Little White Book from the deck and see if the deck’s creator lists any new or different information about the card.
    • Spend some time studying what other people say about the card, what it means, and how that ties in with your current life situation.
    • Make note of any direct hits in your life or your tendencies that the card might be addressing.
    • Note WHERE in the deck it is or how it comes up. Is it a card you pull or one that is always on the bottom of the deck?
    • If the card is a deity, place the card on your altar with some libations to thank it for helping you in your life.
    • After you’re done working with the energy of the card, thank the card for the advice and guidance and return the card to your deck.

    In Summary

    Stalker cards are cards you notice coming up over and over again in your readings. When you feel like a card is following you around or stalking you, it’s a good idea to examine its message more closely and really think about what it means in your life. You can write about your stalker card in your tarot journal or make a special note of it. Oftentimes, stalker cards have a special message for you—that’s why they show up often enough for you to get either creeped out or intrigued by seeing them over and over again!

    Have you ever had a card stalk you? If so, please share your experience in the comments below!

     

    CONTINUE READING

  • Blog

    4 Simple Tarot Card Tips For The Absolute Beginner

    4 Tips for Tarot Beginners
    Learning to read tarot? Here are some tips for you!


    Have you ever wanted to get the lowdown on a particular situation? Are you looking for an insight into the future or maybe even the past? Is the path you’re currently on the right one, or should you expect a sudden change in its course? The answer to all these questions and more are said to be in your tarot cards.

    Tarot cards have been used for centuries—check out Medium Chat for a reading from the experts—and although the decks and the interpretations of the cards may have changed over the years, the idea remains the same.

    Whether you’re reading for yourself or for someone else, tarot cards can give you a deeper insight into your life, relationships and even future.
    But how difficult is it to read tarot cards? How do you begin?

    And what do you do if a card jumps out of the deck while you are shuffling?

    Well, first you’ll need your own deck of tarot cards and then, read on for 4 simple tarot card tips for the absolute beginner.

    Keep the entire process simple


    There are a huge number of esoteric beliefs and approaches out there, which means that there are potentially hundreds of ways you could interpret the cards. For a beginner, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the possibilities and interpretations out there, so keep the entire process simple.

    Get to grip with the most basic of techniques, how to lay the cards and stick to the most basic of interpretations and meanings. As you start to build your confidence, move onto a more complex and detailed approach.


    Make it personal


    It makes sense to try and memorise all the card meanings. However, that’s an incredible amount of information you’d need to learn and process… it’s just not practical. The most sensible approach? Make your tarot cards personal to you. What card represents your job? Or your best friend? Which card reminds you of your happiest memory? The more personal these connections are, the more insightful your instinct will be.


    Practice by drawing a card a day


    Don’t practice until you get it right – practice until you can’t get it wrong! By drawing a card a day, you can practice your interpretations and your memory as well as your personal connection to your cards. Ask the tarot: What kind of day can I expect today? Or, what energies will I need the most
    today? Then match the cards you’ve drawn with your experiences.


    Read what’s in the picture


    Look. At. The. Picture. When you’re trying to interpret words, feelings, energies and other beliefs, it’s easy to overlook the biggest piece intuition that’s right in front of you! Look at the pictures on the cards and try to figure out what you think is happening. What’s the story behind what’s going on?


    Then you simply relate what’s happening in the image to what’s happening in your life right now, the interpretation you’ve taken from the image may be able to teach you something, give you confidence, or even serve as a warning.


    Mastering the tarot card meanings is personal and fun! So try not to put too much pressure on yourself.

    In accordance with transparency laws, I do accept collaborative posts and content on my site.

    CONTINUE READING

  • Tarot

    What To Do When A Tarot Card Jumps Out Of The Deck When You Are Shuffling

    Ever have a card jump out of the tarot deck while you are shuffling? Learn what to do if one does!
    Ever have a card jump out of the tarot deck while you are shuffling? Learn what to do if one does!
    Ever have a card jump out of the tarot deck while you are shuffling? Learn what to do if one does!

    Have you ever had a pesky “jumper” or two fall out of your tarot deck when you were shuffling? What should you do when a random card falls out of your tarot or oracle deck while you are shuffling your cards?

    Honestly, I feel that the cards that fall out of a tarot deck while you are shuffling are very important bits of information for the reading. When I get a card that falls on the floor while I am shuffling or falls out of the deck, I set it aside and continue shuffling.

    I don’t include the jumper in the tarot spread that I am working with. For example, I wouldn’t use the tarot card that jumped out while I was shuffling for any of the set positions in a Celtic Cross Spread. I would, however, use it as a card of high significance, or something that Spirit really wanted to call to the client’s attention.

    What should you do if multiple cards fall out of your tarot deck when you are shuffling?

    When more than one tarot card falls out of the deck when you are shuffling, take a moment to see if you are just a sloppy shuffler, or if just a few fall out.

    When just a few (2-5) tarot cards fall out of the deck while you are shuffling, put those aside, just like you would if only one card fell out. Use these cards as additional information to the story or circumstances that might unexpectedly arise for the sitter while they are dealing with the main situation they are getting a tarot reading to inquire about.

    If a LOT of cards fall out of the deck, you might want to put the cards back into the deck, recenter and ground yourself, and start over again. Ask yourself a few questions, like:

    • Am I rushing this reading?
    • Do I feel like I am in control of my energy?
    • Is the client somehow distracting me or is their energy throwing me off?
    • Is this the right deck for the reading?
    • Should I work with a different deck?
    • Is there something different that I should focus on for the reading.

    Generally speaking, tarot cards that jump or fall out while you are shuffling are an interesting and usually important additional focus for your reading. Sometimes, though, they are actually more of an indication that the reader should slow down, recenter, and focus on shuffling the tarot cards.

    What do you think? Have you had any interesting experiences with cards that have jumped out of the deck and into a reading? Please feel free to tell your story in the comments below!

     

     

    CONTINUE READING

  • Learning Tarot, Tarot, Uncategorized

    When The Hierophant Speaks – Using Intuition In Tarot Readings

    When reading tarot cards, it’s not only important to know the classic meanings of the cards, but also to be able to use your intuition to allow the cards to “speak” to you.

    The other day, I was doing a reading using my general go-to spread in which the Hierophant was the central card. There were other people present for the reading, which isn’t optimal if I say so myself because privacy and confidentiality can help both the reader and client focus on the reading without feeling put on the spot or hesitant because of those other people. Anyway…

    The meaning of the Hierophant, when looking at the cards from an archetypal viewpoint, would point to doing things conservatively, within the church or societal rules, etc. It is the level after the Father level. But he can also signify marriage.

    And this time, he kept telling me, “I mean marriage; there’s going to be a wedding.”

    UGH! Hierophant! REALLY?

    Most of the time on the hotlines, I am dealing with clients who are like: “I just met him and this is crazy. Gonna call my psychic – see if we’ll get married and have babies!” (You know the tune and you’re welcome for the earworm.)

    The gal I was reading for had been in a long-term relationship for years, though — something I didn’t know when I was doing her reading. Another thing I didn’t know was that her boyfriend was going to propose to her that night. A representative king was also in the bottom row or Foundations of the reading, right under the Hierophant.

    But, because of past experience and not wanting to instill false hope, I tend to tiptoe around marriage and pregnancy. These are super-charged, highly anticipated events and they are important to get right. Even when the Hierophant is whispering his message of upcoming nuptials to me, I am like… Um. OK. But I want to deliver this with sensitivity and tact – not create anticipation when and where I shouldn’t.

    Hindsight being 20/20, I should have put more emphasis on what the Hierophant was whispering (or yelling) to me. But I mentioned it in a very non-committal way: “Oh. The Hierophant can actually point to a marriage as well or sticking to traditions.”

    I do have to say, though, that the reading I gave her, despite the fact that it didn’t center on an upcoming marriage, hit a mark with her. It reminded me that we will give the clients the proper messages.

    When intuition speaks, it is really important that we take a moment to listen to it. This is also a time for a good reader to take a deep breath and a step backward and sort out how to most tactfully deliver the message. There will always be the possibility of the message being overemphasized by the reader or by the client —and there is always information (backstories, upcoming plans, other people) that feed into what happens in the lives of clients.

    As I said before, I skirted around what my intuition was telling me in this reading and I really feel like I learned a few lessons:

    1) Trust what you hear from your intuition – especially when it seems that the cards are speaking to you.
    2) Know that the client will be served by your alternate reading as well. You can even give two possible scenarios stemming from the cards. It is possible that both will have an impact on your client, as with my reading.
    3) Still, deliver messages about things like proposals, marriages, breakups, pregnancies, and even death with the utmost amount of tact and sensitivity toward your client.

    What do you think? Would you, as a reader, point out the potential wedding/proposal coming up or would you interpret things differently?

    I’d love to hear what you have to say about it!

    Blessings to you!

    Want to join my mailing list and get access to special training, blog posts, and information about aromatherapy and healthy living?

    CONTINUE READING