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Beat the Stress:
Tarot Takes the Edge Off Modern Living
by Melanie Harris
Traffic jams, computer glare, kids, work, and a
thousand other stresses wear us down daily. The mundane modern world
can burn, but we can look to our magical past to help calm the fire.
The Tarot offers a way to relax that is convenient and immediately
effective, and healthy for mind, body, and spirit. Learning simple
techniques for using the cards to reduce stress can take the edge off,
bringing serenity, inspiration, and mental strength when it is most
needed.
When we're stressed, we need an outlet for our emotions.
Without relaxation techniques to release frustration, our loved ones
often become the "default outlets" for our anxiety, as stress can cause
us to lash out in sudden anger. This problem has a simple solution, and
stress-induced quarrels can be prevented. Before tempers boil over,
those tense feelings can be released into a Tarot card, relieving
stress and reducing irritability.
When you're feeling stressed, take a minute to look through your deck
and find the card that best corresponds to your emotion. If you're
feeling angry, you might choose the Ace of Swords. If you feel
impatient, the Seven of Pentacles would perhaps be an appropriate
selection. If you feel misunderstood, you might pick out the Five of
Swords. Base your choice on your current feelings, and the card you
select will be effective.
Gaze at the card and allow your emotions to pour into it. Once
you feel you have "vented" all you can, take several slow, deep
breaths. Now blow on the surface of the card to send stress flying.
Another way to beat stress with the Tarot brings inspiration
through the power of visualization. Get out of that rut by meditating
on a card that represents something you wish to attract to your life.
For instance, if you want happiness, you could select the Sun card. For
love, the Ace of Cups is a good choice.
Look at the card and visualize yourself amidst the imagery.
For example, if you've picked The Star card, picture yourself kneeling
by the waterside; feel the mud on your knees and hear the sound of the
water spilling from your pitchers. Now let the card's energy flow into
your body. Consciously absorb the feelings symbolized by the card. This
exercise in positive visualization can inspire you, reducing stress and
transforming your life with the magic of the Tarot.
Keeping our minds sharp and alert is another important element
of stress reduction. Falling into the same old thinking patterns again
and again can bring the stress of boredom, and we need mental exercise
and excitement in order to have the strength and vitality to readily
come up with fresh solutions to daily problems.
Brainstorming with Tarot cards is a great mental exercise that
can improve your brain's ability to fight stress. Choose a card that
appeals to you, and contemplate the card's mysteries. Press yourself to
think of many possible interpretations for the card. Think of what the
card could mean to different people; think of how the card's meaning
would vary in different situations. You will improve your Tarot reading
skills, and you will also sharpen your thinking skills, making it
easier to find ways around stress-inducing dilemmas.
Short of moving to the remote mountains of Nepal to live the
hermit's life, there is no way to completely eliminate the stress of
the modern world. With these handy Tarot techniques, however, relaxing
is easy. Before you let stress etch another wrinkle on your beautiful
face, pull out your cards and calm your nerves with the Tarot's amazing
power.
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Tarot and Clustering
by Sheila HallClustering
exercises offer another creative way to work with the Tarot. With the
activities outlined in this article, you'll discover new ways to master
the meaning and symbolism of the cards, work through obstacles, find
inspiration, strengthen intuition, and open up to creative
self-expression.
Read More
The Fullness of Shadow Work
by Christine Jette
When Christine Jette finished the manuscript for Tarot Shadow Work
in 1999, she didn't believe she could write one more thing about Tarot
and the shadow. She was wrong. Nearly 10 years later, Christine details
how to use all 78 cards of the Tarot to free yourself from those dark
forces that seem to take on a life of their own.
Read More
Tarot—The Next Step
by Donald Kraig
After being used for everything from card games and creative
brainstorming to storytelling and symbolic mysticism, what is next for
the Tarot? In this article, Tarot & Magic
author Donald Kraig shares his unique method for taking readings to a
higher level by establishing a more powerful and deeply personal
connection with the images and symbols displayed on the cards.
Read More
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