Tarot in Daily Life
Because tarot is my job (as well as one of my passions), it plays a huge role in my daily life. Almost every day I’m thinking about, using, and writing about tarot: writing blog entries, articles, or reviews, analyzing projects for possible publication, reading forums and blogs, working on my own books, planning conferences and retreats, and working with the cards in my personal practice.
It is normal for me to pull a card for advice before going into a meeting. I use the cards in my journaling. I do readings about situations when I need help. I continually study to increase my knowledge. I lose myself in the beauty of the art. I collect original art or prints to hang in my office. I think of characters and plots in books and movies in terms of tarot. I use them in meditation and magic. I couldn’t imagine my life without tarot.
And sometimes I forget that not everyone is as immersed in this world as I am. How do other people (I am tempted say “normal people”) use tarot? What role does it play in their lives? Do you carry a deck in your purse or bag? Do you have one on your desk, coffee table, or nightstand? Do you use them only when facing large issues or do you play with them often?
Llewellyn (and by extension, I) want to provide you with the tools you want to make your lives better. I think we can do that more effectively if we knew more about how you use your cards. Share your thoughts. It’ll help me do a better job and, in the long run, be of some benefit you as well.
Reader Comments
on September 8th, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
I draw cards each morning (well, mostly each morning) to help me navigate through the energy of the day.
on September 8th, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
I pull 3 cards each morning, for myself and I have my loved ones pull also. During the day, if a very stressful situations is brewing, I will pull 3 cards to use as a guide as to how best to diffuse the situation.
on September 9th, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
Hi Barbara! While I am tempted to say that so-called normal people don’t own tarot decks (hehe), I tend to draw a card a day too, to see what will come. This is also a great method for those learning the cards, as they will keep their eyes open for examples of the archetypal energy of the chosen card. Other times, if I need a card’s energy, I keep it nearby to meditate on for a couple minutes, then have the card sit in my work area (i.e. the Chariot card if I need perseverance, or the Emperor if I need structure, etc.).
on September 11th, 2009 @ 9:34 am
I am completely new to this arena. I do not know much of anything concerning tarot…but depend on it pretty much daily. I receive my tarot reading via my home page electronic “daily tarot”.
I don’t know the source of the readings…could be a randomization software package for all I know. I do find significant correlations to my daily events and the inputs from the tarot reading…could be that I am looking too hard for the coincidence (?).
I would like to learn more…guidance?
j
on September 11th, 2009 @ 11:10 am
Brandi, do you keep a list of them, maybe considering how they played out at the end of the day or watching trends?
on September 11th, 2009 @ 11:11 am
dragonflybyte, those sound like useful practices. Do you use the same deck all the time or different ones?
on September 11th, 2009 @ 11:13 am
Calantirniel, I also like the idea of keeping a card nearby and/or meditating on it when I need its energy. Unfortunately, I forget to do that a lot. Oh! I just had an idea…a bracelet or necklace with 78 different charms. If you need that energy, you put on that charm. I think a bracelet might be more effective, as I’d see it more often. Oh, well, since I’m on the computer all day, I could put the card up as my desktop picture. Okay. I have no more excuses now about forgetting.
on September 11th, 2009 @ 11:22 am
Hi J, I can provide lots of guidance about learning tarot. Maybe I’ll do a blog entry on it. But for now, I’d say get a deck and a book and start playing! Llewellyn has tons. You might consider a kit, which has a book written specifically for the deck. I think The Gilded Tarot or The Mystic Dreamer are good to start. Since I wrote the books (full disclaimer), I know they are meant for absolute beginners. But there are so many beautiful decks available and plenty of great books. Also, online forums that are wonderful. I hope that helps.
on September 11th, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
Hi! I just love tarot. I read a card, at list, daily. Now, I’m learning about Marsella’s deck, with Alejandro Jodorowsky’s book (La VĂa del Tarot) with it’s deck. It mix spiritual & psicologycal readings. For me, that’s the tarot sense: learn about the soul way, at the earth-path.
on September 13th, 2009 @ 8:23 pm
“#6
Written By Barbara Moore
on September 11th, 2009 @ 11:11 am
dragonflybyte, those sound like useful practices. Do you use the same deck all the time or different ones?”
I use different ones. I “see” different things in the variety of different artwork for each deck. Yes this is a good learning tool for developing a relationship with the imagery in the decks. It has also helped me learn not “over-react” when certain cards come up.
on September 14th, 2009 @ 11:07 am
Mildred, I’m impressed. I have not yet had the desire to study the Marseilles deck. Is the Marseilles your first deck, or did you work with another before that? I’d love to hear about the transition from one to the other.
on September 14th, 2009 @ 11:09 am
Thanks for replying, dragonflybyte (fun name). Now you’ve brought up something else that is interesting: the idea of over-reacting to cards. You can be sure I’ll be thinking about that and probably writing a post about it soon.
on September 14th, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
I began studying in 2006. I now create Masks of Tarot, Major Arcane, so sometimes I go all out studying what I am working on at the time, usually three. Then I do a reading and get back into the study on a whole.
I really enjoy this study, and sometimes when I’m with a friend or family member, I think, oh, you’re the Empress right now, or the Tower is very strong with you now, but I don’t say anything, they might think I’m nuts.
on September 15th, 2009 @ 7:00 am
Catherine, I would LOVE to see your masks. Do you have any pictures online? I just did an interview (for the American Tarot Association) and they asked what draws me to tarot. What I said sounds like what you wrote: you can either go super deep into a single card or look at the deck as a whole, as a belief system, or as a map of existence.
I like that: “The Tower is very strong with you now.”
on September 15th, 2009 @ 8:20 am
Yes, I can send you a photo. I would like very much to get feedback from someone who is into Tarot as opposed to me showing and explaining.
How can I send an attachment to you?
on September 30th, 2009 @ 7:11 am
Hello Barbara…
I like the artwork and each artists visual rendition of the cards meaning(s). It is facinating how the cards artwork grabs your attention. Isn’t that what the Tarot is all about. The symbols on the cards will tickle the subconsious to divine.
I have one particular deck that “Speaks” to me. The Aquarian Deck. It is continualy triggering my subconcious with it’s symbology and artwork. Beautiful. I own a number of other decks, they seem to be just ornamental in comparison.
I tend to not use my cards in a daily practice. Instead I watch for the reoccurance of symbology in everyday life. For example… the butterfly is showing up alot in my travels. Printed, real, however depicted, If it “pops” at me more than I can justify. Then it is a living Tarrot… lol. Buterfly to me means a time of transformation. I consult my deck in times of indecision and when I need guidance. I don’t like to use it too often. The “Less is More” mentality seems to be less confusing for me. I also will take a picture of the spread to review after. I write notes on the spread in the beginning and after I revisit it again. It is all in the cards. We just have to recognise the signs and adjust accordingly.
PetraGem
PS>> great blog
on October 13th, 2009 @ 8:41 am
I don’t use the cards for myself everyday. I did there for a while, but it just got confusing. Seems like I need to let the energy ’stew’ after reading my own cards.
on November 3rd, 2009 @ 6:51 am
I don’t draw a daily card. When I do draw a card–or sometimes a card chooses me—I keep a blog where I muse on the qualities of that particular card and how it relates to me personally. I find that readers of my blog connect quite personally to the card I am blogging about.
I often use the cards and various decks as inspiration for writing. I’ve also created paper art dolls based on the Tarot.
I’ve recently splurged and ordered Joanna Powell Colbert’s limited edition Gaian Tarot. These are the cards I resonate most strongly with, now. I would like to incorporate her cards into a practice with Reiki healing.
on November 3rd, 2009 @ 7:52 am
Patricia, I also splurged and ordered the Gaian special edition. I’ve been watching that deck come to life for years now and cannot wait to work with it. I am enjoying using the cards for writing and would love to see your paper dolls.
on November 17th, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
I do a daily draw every morning and blog. But I also consult the cards anytime I have something important going on during the day. I find they give me confidence to tackle certain situations, and I love that ‘grounded’ feeling after the interaction with the deck.
on February 17th, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
I dont know if I qualify as a “Normal Person” I have been pretty deeply involved in Tarot for some years now. My Weekly routine involves pulling 6 cards, turning one over at the end of each day and reflecting on how the card played out in my day. I very often blog about this in a yahoo group I moderate. (not WE) I have also been twice through the deck writting a series of “Card of the Week” Essays. Oddly I dont turn to the cards for guidance myself much, while I do read for others, and get a lot of my guidance through that meme, for me its more a tool for reflection, not prediction; not that I am not often amazed at how perfectly a card I layed out 6 days ago fits today when its revealed; because after all these years, yes I still am.
Blessings, BB.