It’s been a good week (and a bit) studying the Major Arcana. So far, I have meditated on the Fool through to the Hierophant, spending between an hour to an hour and a half on each card. This is a lot of time, but if you concentrated only on visiting the card and journalling afterward could conceivably do this is approximately 20 to 30 minutes. I’ve detailed my full technique below.
To begin, I enter a state of deepened relaxation, first releasing any tension in my muscles and then visiting the safety of my astral temple. There, I visualize the Tarot card before me, letting it grow larger and larger until I can step into its scene. I examine the environment, then interact with and eventually become the card’s key figure. Looking out on the card’s symbolism from this deep within helps me merge with its energy for a short time, gaining new perspectives on it.
Before I leave, I always make sure to ask the key figure if they have any messages or lessons to impart, and how I can bring the energy of the card into my life in a beneficial way. I then make sure to leave the card completely and return to my normal state of awareness again.
I journal about my experiences while they are still fresh, doing my best to both summarize what happened plus detail any new thoughts I may have on the card. (It’s during this time I tend to snap a picture for Instagram, et cetera). Finally, I ground myself with some mundane activity — and with actually reading about the card I am supposed to be studying that day. I always make sure to do my meditations first, however. That way my reactions and experiences will only be biased by any prior study I’ve done over the years, not by my current reading. I’m comparing Tarot card meanings in a number of resources, including Around the Tarot in 78 Days by Katz and Goodwin, Biddy Tarot, Labyrinthos, plus a handful of books that have come with my favorite decks.
I’ve found this process quite useful so far. And I expected it to be, because I’ve used it a number of times in the past, sometimes working through the entire deck or Major Arcana in sequence and occasionally with singular cards. Each time, I’ve learned new things about the cards (and myself), which is exactly as it should be. While I’ve read Tarot for what feels like forever, I’ve hardly perfected it. Rather, it is like all witchcraft: an artform. Artists can never say that they have learned everything there is to learn about their medium. Not only will art historians continue to dig up intriguing new details about the medium’s past, but other artists in the field will continue to experiment with it into the future — hopefully inspiring the artist in question to try new things too.
I find that happening now, particularly as I read Katz and Goodwin. The experience I had with a certain card this week, combined with the planetary correspondence they list for that card, inspired me to use it in a spell with immediate, positive results. Likewise, the spreads they detail have encouraged me to come up with more of my own and to expand those that I share regularly with clients. Make sure to check out my new available readings!
I’m looking forward to next week. If you’re interested in peeking at my Instagram shots from each day’s work, you can find them individually here:
0. The Fool
I. The Magician
II. The High Priestess
III. The Empress
IV. The Emperor
V. The Hierophant
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