How to Meditate with Tarot Cards

Everyone talks about using Tarot as a meditative aid. But what, exactly, do you do? And how -- or when, or for how long -- should you do it?

In this article, I offer a clear, concise ten-step process for meditating with Tarot cards. If you're interested in using the cards as tools for expanding awareness and focusing attention ... read on!

1) Pick a quiet spot where you won't be interrupted by others. If you find meditative aids helpful, feel free to light a candle or two or to put on some peaceful music.

2) Take three deep, calming breaths, then pause a moment to allow expectations and mental chatter to drop away.

3) Shuffle the deck. Focus on the physical and tactile feedback associated with shuffling. If your mind wanders, gently set thoughts aside by thinking, "I'll get back to you later."

4) Draw a single card.

5) Even if the card is familiar, try to see it for the very first time. Don't strain to memorize detail; instead, let your eyes slowly wander over the image from top to bottom, bottom to top, and side to side.

6) Close your eyes. In your mind, recreate the card in as much detail as possible. New details may present themselves -- some of which may not appear in the original card. That's fine; accept what happens.

7) When the card is recreated in your mind's eye, expand it to fill your inner world. Open your senses to the card. What do you hear? What's the temperature? What's the weather like? What scents are in the air? Let the card come to life around you. How does the character on the card, if there is one, respond to you, if at all?

8) Keeping your mind as still as possible, broadcast the intention that you would like to receive an insight from the card.

9) Pay attention! Sometimes characters will speak. Other times, you may receive a general feeling, a sudden insight, or an emotional impression. If no insight comes, don't fret -- part of the experience is learning to let go of attachment and expectation.

10) Slowly, slowly pull away from the world of the card. When you feel back inside yourself, take three cleansing breaths and open your eyes very slowly.

Give this simple technique a try! Once you're done, why not post a comment about your experience here on TarotTools.com?

Interested in learning more about meditation? Consider reading some of my favorite books on the subject:

"8 Minute Meditation: Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life." (Victor Davich)

"Zen Meditation in Plain English" (John Daishin Buksbazen, Peter Matthiessen)

"Simple Meditation and Relaxation (Simple Wisdom Book)" (Michelle Levey, Levey Michelle)

Comments

[Henrietta @ Oracle Passage]

Thank you for the great tips on meditating with the Tarot cards. I still recall my first encounter with tarot meditation when I followed the guided meditations from "Tarot Journeys" by Yasmine Galenorn. Your ten steps make the meditation process so much easier and hassle-free! Thank you for sharing.