Talking ‘Bout Tarot
How I use tarot for journaling and not for predicting my future
Notes from a Kindred Spirit is a bi-weekly newsletter about embracing curiosity, exploring hobbies, living with chronic illness, and finding contentment in the everyday.
Hi friends,
Today, I want to talk about tarot.
Now, I know that tarot has a bit of a stigma, so when I mention tarot cards, you may be thinking of something like this…
But I’m here to tell you that many people who use tarot decks today are not using them to predict their future. They’re using these decks as a tool for self-reflection and journaling. This is how I use tarot.
In my late 20s, I became curious about tarot. I saw some beautiful decks online and finally learned how to pronounce it! 😂 For the record, it’s tarot like tare-oh.
As luck would have it,
, a writer and course creator whom I was already following online was running a promotion to sign up for both her oracle and tarot courses. This was during one of the first two years of the pandemic and I was looking for things to do, so I signed up!I learned so much from Susannah, starting with the difference between tarot and oracle cards! Oracle cards have no set structure or system apart from what an individual creator might choose to add to their deck. Tarot decks follow a set structure. They have 78 cards with 22 making up the major arcana and the remaining 56 making up the four suits of the minor arcana: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit has cards numbered ace through ten with 4 court cards: the Page, the Knight, the Queen, and the King.
Many tarot decks use the same card meanings from the famous Rider Waite Smith tarot deck, so once you've learned those, many decks will feel familiar to you. I still refer to the guidebooks that come with my decks because I don't know the meanings by heart yet, so don’t let memorizing meanings scare you!
Side note: If you're curious about the history of tarot and its origins, go here.
I have learned from past experience (and therapy) that journaling is helpful for me, but sometimes I struggle with getting started or knowing what to write about. That's where these card decks really come in handy. I can draw one card or a simple 3-card spread and by looking at the keyword or meaning of those cards, it gives me a journaling prompt or a jumping off point to get writing. Plus, I now have an excuse to buy more pretty decks! 😉
This is a pretty basic overview of oracle and tarot and how I use them. I know some people are still wary of them and don't realize that they can be used for things outside of fortune telling, so I wanted to share how they’ve helped me in an effort to destigmatize them a bit. Not to mention, there are so many beautiful decks out there by talented creators and artists, so why shouldn’t we join in the fun and self-care?
Resources:
Susannah Conway’s 78 Mirrors tarot course
- and The Tarot Professor on Instagram
My fave tarot Youtuber for deck reviews: Lisa Papez
If you enjoyed today’s Note, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a ❤️ and comment or reply to this email!
P.S. I have 3 digital products available in the Notion Marketplace!
📚 BOOK CLUB HUB for the book club host who wants to organize their club with ease so they can focus on the fun part—reading good books and chatting about them with friends! It’s perfect for small to medium virtual or in-person clubs.
📖 CURATED BOOK LISTS for the book club host or bookworm who doesn’t know what to read next.
🎁 GIFT PLANNER & TRACKER to help you organize birthday and holiday shopping and stay on budget.
Cassandra, your Substack is aptly titled because I do feel you and I are kindred spirits 💛 I, too, discovered oracle cards (I use the Wild Unknown deck by Kim Krans) in my late twenties and use them for journaling. They've been a great source of comfort and connection for me. I don't have many people in my life who use these decks, so it's always really nice to meet others who do. Thank you for sharing!
That journal is so beautiful and looks so fun to create- thank you for sharing 💕🙏🏼