Inward Journeys

8/18/2019 Inward Journeys

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www.dreamintuition.com 2

Published by Charlotte Dick and Dream Intuition by Charlotte

Los Angeles, CA

www.dreamintuition.com

Copyright © 2016 Charlotte Dick. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other

electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the

case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted

by copyright law.

For permissions requests, please email the publisher at [email protected].


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TABLE OF CONTENTSI. Welcome to Your Personal Tarot Journey 4

Breakdown of a Tarot DeckPersonal Care

What You’ll Need to Begin Your Journey

II. Beginning Your Daily Practice 8 Buying Your First Tarot Deck

Breaking in Your Deck One Card a Day Developing Personal Card Meanings

Journaling and Recording Your Progress

III. Connecting to Your Intuition: Tarot Meditations 15 What is Intuition?

The Collective Unconscious Guided Meditations Mandala Meditation Labyrinth Meditation

Free Association: A Writing Meditation

IV. Multiple Card Readings 23 Adding a Second Card to Your Daily Practice 3-Card Spreads How to Pose a Question Yes/No Questions and Positive/Negative Signs

V. Going Deeper: Tarot to Guide Personal Transformation 28

The Benefits of Dream Work Remembering Your Dreams Different Types of Dreams Interpreting a Dream Your Shadow Why Drudge of the Past? Self-Empathy Healing the Past: A Shadow Reading

VI. Visiting a Professional Tarot Reader 38 How to Find the Right Reader for You How to Get the Most Out of Your Reading

VII. Connecting with the Tarot Community 41

VIII. Appendixes 43


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I. Welcome to Your Personal Tarot Journey

You are a complex being of so many layers. There is always more to discover, new ways

to develop and further opportunities for growth. Life is not about finding yourself once

and then sticking to that identity—it’s about discovering yourself over and over again, and

more often than not, enjoying the journey.

There are likely parts of yourself that you love and make you feel proud, and parts of

your life that you enjoy and embrace. But there are also probably aspects about

yourself and your life that you aren’t so happy about. The great news is that change isalways possible. No matter how bad it gets, no matter how stuck you feel, you can always

bring about change if you are willing to go deep within and face the darkness. What you

may not know is that you already hold the wisdom you need to change—you just haven’t

found a way to access it. Using the tarot as a tool for self-discovery allows you to unlock

this inner-knowledge, and bring about the growth and change that you want.

The lessons of the major and minor arcana of the tarot tell a universal story of humanity

throughout time and space. The themes and symbolism of the cards tap into the deep

emotional and energetic forces within us. They tell of what it takes and what we will

encounter when we begin a journey, of the many challenges that may trip us up along the

way, of the potential to learn more about ourselves than we ever thought possible, and of

how we can find and live out our unique place in this world.

Tarot cards have been around for centuries. Many historians pinpoint their origin to

medieval Northern Italy, where tarot cards were developed by the noble class and used

as a party game. Our current standard 52-card playing card deck evolved from the tarot.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that tarot began gaining widespread popularity and waspicked up by hermetic and occult groups and used as tool for spiritual reflection, growth,

and transformation. In the early 20th century two individuals in particular, Arthur Waite

and Alistair Crawley, both members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn,

reinterpreted and redesigned the tarot to align with current cultural thoughts, beliefs and

practices. Most contemporary decks descend from the decks of Waite and Crawley. The

cards in both traditions include complex and inspiring sets of images and symbols that


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guide but leave open a reader’s interpretations.

What’s most special about tarot cards is what you bring to them. If you have ever held a

tarot card in your hands, you’ll know that there isn’t anything inherently magical about it.

It’s just a piece of card stock printed with ink. You are the one who will need to dive deep

within yourself to reach the cards’ messages to you. This is what this e-book is about howyou can form your own relationship with the tarot that will guide you through a journey of

self-reflection, personal growth, insight and even transformation.

Reading tarot cards for yourself is a wonderful daily meditation practice. It helps you gain

focus, reflection and intention over your daily life. Many people are intimidated by the

complex spreads, interpretations, and uncanny revelations by professional tarot readers

and think they cannot read for themselves without extensive practice or a psychic gift.

Reading tarot cards for yourself is, in fact, not nearly as difficult as it seems and doesn’t

have to be so complicated.

In this e-book I will walk through the steps of how to develop your own daily tarot

practice for self-discovery and deep reflection. Knowing oneself completely may never

be possible, but knowing oneself well is not only possible through the tarot, but a

wonderful gift to give yourself. When you know and accept all parts of yourself—even

your darker sides—there will be nothing left to stop you from going after the life you

dream and desire.

Breakdown of a Tarot Deck

A tarot deck consists of 22 major arcana cards, 40 pip (or number) cards, and 16 court

cards. All of the cards of the major arcana, numbered 0 (The Fool) to 21 (The World),

reflect significant life stages and lessons. The progression of the major arcana tells the

story of the fool’s journey from inward realization to outward actualization. Everyone is

at a stage in their own fool’s journey and many people will traverse many fool’s journeys

throughout their lifetime.

The pip and court cards together make up the minor arcana. They are divided into four

suits, similar to a modern playing deck: Wands are correlated to the element of Fire and

represent energy, action, impulses and desires; Cups are correlated to the element of

Water and represent emotions, relationships and love; Swords are correlated to the

element of Air and represent thoughts, plans, ideas and beliefs; Pentacles are correlated


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to the element of Earth and represent earthly comforts, securities, nature and money.

The pip cards are numbered Ace (1) to Ten and reflect the ins and outs of day-to-day life.

The court cards reflect personality aspects of yourself and those you know. They consist

of Pages (also called Daughters or Princesses in some decks), Knights (also called Sons or

Princes), Queens (also called Mothers) and Kings (also called Fathers).

Personal Care

Before you begin your journey, know that tarot and other forms of self-exploration and

meditation cannot and should not ever replace professional emotional support or mental

health counseling. For those of us who battle with regular bouts of depression, anxiety or

addiction, tarot can be a wonderful supplement but not a substitution to other personal

care practices. Get in touch with your support network and let them know of your

intended journey and exploration—the people that respond positively will be the ones

you can count on in the months ahead.

At times tarot can bring to the surface traumatic memories or overwhelming feelings that

are difficult to cope with. Please don’t hesitate to seek out professional help when you

need it! All personal journeys, especially the most difficult ones, are not meant to go at

alone.

What You’ll Need to Begin Your Journey

1. One tarot deck. If you already have a deck that you love, wonderful! If not, fear not, I

discuss how to find a tarot deck that you will love and covet for years to come in the next

chapter.

2. A journal. I recommend starting a new journal that you dedicate solely to your tarot

journey. Can be hardcopy or electronic—whichever medium you find easier to write in.

3. At least hour per day. The best time to read your cards is in the morning, because your

mind will be most clear and connected to your intuition. Consider getting up a half hour

earlier each day to block out some time. If the evening or night time is easier for you, be

sure there are no other obligations competing for that time, like kids, pets, spouses, TV

shows and sleep.


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4. A quiet, private space. If you live with other people, you’ll need a room where you can

close the door and block out the rest of the world. This is your journey and yours alone.

Many people like to sit in front of a personal altar, light some candles or make the space

special and sacred. This isn’t absolutely necessary but does help get into a meditative

state.

5. A camera. This one is optional. Once you develop your skills far enough to do multiple-

card reads, you may want to take a photo of the spread so you can go back to it later or

even share and discuss it with friends.


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II. Beginning Your Daily Practice

Buying Your First Deck

Get ready for the fun part—picking out your very own first tarot deck! There are so many

beautiful tarot decks to choose from that you are guaranteed to find one that reflects

your unique personality and interests. Tarot decks range from variations of traditional

decks to decks that appeal to niche markets and interests. Just a few examples of themes

you can easily find now are cats, animals, faeries, angels, witches, Steampunk, goddesses,

Native American, Egyptian, classic art, contemporary art, celestial bodies, urban humor.

The most popular traditional deck is the Rider-Waite, which has accessible illustrations

and has spawned countless descendent decks, like the Morgan-Greer, Hanson-Roberts

and Robinwood. The Thoth Crawley deck is also a classic, but its images are more

complex and thus not as accessible to new readers. Pre-dating both of those decks is the

Tarot de Marseilles, which is most often used by advanced readers as its symbolism

predates our contemporary culture.

Tips on how to find the perfect tarot deck for you:

1. Look through as many decks as possible. Your local metaphysical store may have

sample tarot decks for you to look through. If you don’t see them, ask them just in case.

2. Be sure you are choosing a 78-card tarot deck, not an oracle deck. Oracles decks are

wonderful but for your current intentions, the tarot is what you’ll want.

3. Look for a deck with pictorial images on the pip/number cards. As a beginning reader,you will need to utilize these images to understand the cards’ messages. It is much more

difficult to intuit a message from numerical symbols alone.

4. Browse card images online. If you can’t look through hard-copy sample decks, do

Google image searches for all the decks you have in mind. You’ll find that many people

will have posted photos of their favorite cards from the decks in question.


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5. Pay attention to how the cards make you feel. How do the colors and patterns jump

out at you? What types of messages do the figures and designs give you? If you can hold

the cards in your hands, what do they feel like? Find a deck that makes you feel good!

6. Buy from local or mom-and-pop shops. If there is a metaphysical store near you, it isworth the car trip to support them. Even if they do not carry the deck you covet, many of

these stores are happy to place special orders. And you will also find many other

goodies, like crystals and sage for your altar, a case or bag for your tarot deck, and

notices for tarot classes (more on that later!). If you can’t find a metaphysical store near

you, there are independent online stores that have wide selections of tarot decks listed

at the end of this e-book in Appendix A.

7. If you can’t decide or figure out which deck is right for you, consider the Rider-Waite

deck! This deck has rich universal symbolism and imagery that everyone can appreciate.

Breaking in Your Deck

Congratulations on buying your very first tarot deck! Almost every tarot reader will tell

you that their first deck holds a special place in their heart, as I am sure it will for you,

as well. Before you do your first reading, you’ll need to break in and warm up your deck.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Find a quiet space, free from distractions.

2. Remove the deck from its box or case, and look through it. Be sure to look and handle

each and every card. You don’t have to spend more than a few seconds on each, but

notice the colors, words, imagery and symbols. What cards stand out to you the most?

Which do you like, which scare you, which confuse you? As you do this, you are already

building a personal relationship with your deck. You may want to go through the deck a

few times while it is still in order and pay special attention to how the imagery and sym-bols progress through the suits and major arcana. Which cards look similar?

Which appear to be in opposition?

3. It’s time to shuffle. Lay your deck on a wide, soft surface, like your bed, the carpet or

a throw, and fan them out. Then, like a child, get both of your hands in there and start

moving them all around so you have a big messy pile. This allows your body and hands


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to make direct contact with each of the cards, and furthers your personal relationship to

them. It’s also really fun to do! When you feel finished, gather the cards back together.

You may want to do this a second or even third time. Every time you spread the cards out

in a chaotic, random fashion, then bring them back together into a neat order, you are al-

lowing the cards to get to know you.

4. A note on used decks: If your deck was pre-owned, you may also want to cleanse your

deck, which is a much simpler process than it seems. Just hold your deck in one hand so

that the cards stand tall and vertically against each other. Then, firmly (but not so forceful

you hurt the cards or the surface) bounce them against a hard surface, and say “Clean!”

while doing so.

Congratulations, your cards are now ready for your first reading.

One Card a Day

One of the most common reasons people become overwhelmed with reading tarot is

because they get way too complicated way too fast. The key to learning tarot for yourself

is to begin with just one card per day.

You may ask: Will one card be enough? Yes! There is much more you can gain from one-

card readings than you may think. Meditating on one card at a time is a rich experience.

Each tarot card includes a complex array of images and symbols. There are severaldifferent messages you can extract from just one card, and each of those messages is

complex all on its own.

For example, at first glance you may find that the tarot card you draw mirrors your mood

or emotional state. You may think, “I feel joyful,” or “I feel anxious.” But if you sit longer

with the card you’ll discover that the card also offers some sage wisdom or advice. It may

be telling you, “Now is the time to start that creative project,” or “You have depleted

yourself by taking care of others, and now it is time to care for yourself.”

Here’s how to begin:

1. Start a daily morning meditation practice where you draw just one card, and then sit

with the imagery and message of that card and let it seep in. This is where you will need

to utilize that personal, quiet space. Sit on your bed, on a plush rug, or in a comfy chair


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accompanied by a small table. If morning isn’t possible, make sure you find another time

when you are not tired or distracted.

2. While shuffling the cards, ask aloud or in your head, “What wisdom does the tarot have

for me today?” Then cut the deck once and draw the first card on top.

3. Sit with the card, your meditative process and your journaling (next section) for at least

30 minutes. Keep the card out for the whole day, so that you can return to it and let its

message seep deeper into your consciousness. At the end of the day, notice if they card’s

message changed since the morning.

Danger Alert! After you have drawn a card, don’t dismiss it or draw again! Even if it

doesn’t appear relatable to your experience, or if it scares or confuses you. Commit

to the experience, trust that this is all part of the process, and know that not all can be

understood or revealed all at once. In the following section, I offer several tips on how to

read confusing and scary cards.

Developing Personal Card Meanings

This is the most difficult part: Don’t rely on the booklet that came with your cards! Or on

free card interpretations online! I’m not going to tell you not to read up on card mean-

ings, because of course you will. Everyone is curious about interpretations for each of the

cards from tarot experts. But, use that booklet as just a starting point and don’t look upa card meaning until you have completed all the steps in this chapter. You’ll want to dedi-

cate the majority of your time and energy to reading the cards intuitively and developing

your own meanings.

There are several reasons not to rely on other people’s interpretations of the cards. First

of all, they aren’t you! The imagery, colors and symbols on the cards speak to everyone a

little bit differently, and you don’t want someone else’s personality to eclipse your own.

What if you read a keyword that is contrary to your initial reaction to the card? This couldleave you feeling muddled in confusion and self-doubt. Always know that your first intui-

tive insights are right.

Secondly, most card meanings i have been reduced to just one or a few small paragraphs

(or even words!) for each card, and the cards are so much bigger than that! Often those

short interpretations describe just one aspect of the card, like its mood or overarching


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theme, but don’t mention anything about the card’s message to you. When you read the

cards, you will want to pay attention to all aspects of it and notice what stands out to you

the most on any given day. Every day your reading will be different, even if you draw the

same card over and over again.

When you draw a card, here are some questions to ask yourself in order to uncover thefull message of the card to you:

1. What do you see happening? Often the card will depict a scene. Who are the

characters? Where are they and what are they doing? How does this scene relate to your

own life?

2. How does the card make you feel? Pay special attention to the colors, the mood of the

characters and the scene, the objects or animals involved. Is this a dark, foreboding scene

full of fear? Is it a joyful and expansive? Is it sad and pensive?

3. What memories or associations does the card spark? Take note of anything the card re-

minds you of. This could be recent or distant past. How does that memory or association

connect to how you are feeling, or what you are coping with, thinking about or planning

today? Take a moment to reflect on this memory.

4. Is this card suggesting that you see or approach things differently? Sometimes not—it

may be important to just sit with the feelings that the card brings up. But often times,the card will hold a helpful suggestion for you. Most cards hold light and dark elements.

If the card appears to be especially dark, what rays of hope and light can you find in the

imagery that will help you move through and out of that space? If the card appears to

be especially positive, in what ways can you gain as much from this moment as possible?

How can you keep the positive momentum and not take it for granted?

Remember not to rush it. Most often the key to letting the card’s message come through

to you is to just sit still and clear the mind. Allow yourself to stare at that card for as longas you need. One day it may be 30 seconds, the next 15 minutes—there are no set rules

or time frames.

If the card image is reversed: Ignore this detail and turn the card to its upright position.

Many professional tarot readers modify the meaning of a card when it is reversed in a

reading, but this is an advanced practice. (Some professional tarot readers don’t ever


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read reversed card meanings!) Later on when you are more proficient, you can learn to

read reversed cards if this interests you, but it will serve you no purpose at this stage, and

will just confuse your readings.

If the image of the card scares, throws or confuses you: Acknowledge your feelings but

don’t discount the card! Tarot cards cover the whole gamut of human experienceincluding the dark parts. And all cards, even the dark ones, contain a hopeful message. Sit

with the card as difficult as it may be, and consider if your initial reaction was a resistance

to acknowledging something you are currently experiencing, or a defense against a hid-

den feeling. Then look for the hope and message of the card.

If you are feeling blocked: Don’t fret! All tarot readers, even the most experienced,

become blocked at times. Sometimes you will struggle with relating to anything on the

card—that’s normal. Here’s a trick to help remove the block: Read the card as if you are

reading it for someone else. Acknowledge the colors, symbols, people, objects and place,

and tell the story of the card out loud. Then say, “Based on this story, I would say you are

feeling ______.” Write down everything you have just said. If you still can’t relate, return to

the card later when your mind is more clear and open. Sometimes we become so blocked

we can’t even acknowledge our own experience.

Why I don’t include card meanings in this e-book!

The short explanations for each of the 78 tarot cards that I would be able to provide in

this e-book would not do the cards justice. They would reduce each card to just a fewkeywords and limit the truly expansive potential each card holds for you. That would de-

feat my goal, since my goal is for you to develop your own intuitive card relationships, see

your own reflections and delve into your own inner-knowledge.

Journaling and Recording Your Progress

As you sit with your card and its message to you starts to come through, start speaking

your thoughts out loud. I know this may sound silly, but believe me it works! The problemwith keeping your words to yourself in your head is that they can remain muddled and

confused. When you say something aloud, you give it truth and substance. You commit it

to your heart and your memory.

Then, write down your thoughts in a journal. I mentioned before how I recommend start-

ing a new journal that is dedicated exclusively to your tarot journey. I cannot recom-


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mend this enough! Your daily reads will very soon start filling all the pages, and with one

dedicated journal, you will easily be able to flip back in time and see how your journey is

progressing. You’ll see how your reads get deeper over time, how and when reoccurring

issues cycle back around, what you regularly struggle with and how you best cope, and

what you are learning about yourself.

When you journal, ask yourself the four questions on the page 12, and record whatever is

relevant. Some additional questions to consider are:

1. Have I received this card before, and if so, how is today similar or different? What

additional elements can I receive from its message that I didn’t receive before?

2. How is today similar to another day, and what card did I pull then? Why am I receiving a

different card today?

3. How is today different from yesterday, and what message am I receiving from the card

that indicates this? What have I learned and how am I approaching things differently?

4. What do I hope for or expect from tomorrow?

Your journal doesn’t have to be in hardcopy written form if that’s not your thing.

Keeping a journal on your computer as a document in Word, Google, or blog works just

as well (but be weary of who you share it with—this is your journey and yours alone!). Youalso may feel compelled to sketch a picture of the card, or take a photo of the card and

keep a photographic journal on your phone or computer of your journey. You may need

to try out a few different approaches at first before you find your groove.


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III. Connecting to Your Intuition: Tarot Meditations

After you have begun your daily tarot card readings, you may discover that you would

like some extra help in learning how to clear your mind and focus on your inner thoughts

and feelings. This may be especially true if you are reading close to the end of the day

when your head will be crowded and chatty. In this section I introduce several methods

for you to be able to enter that deep inner space where your intuition is free to come out

and play. When you connect to your intuition, your readings will become more authentic,

personal and transformative.

What is Intuition?

We use our intuition every day. Whenever you sense danger and you say to yourself, “I

know I shouldn’t do this,” that is your intuition speaking up. When people say things like,

“Trust your gut,” or “Go with your first impulse,” they are referring to your intuition. It is

that experience of knowing without knowing. Trusting a decision without knowing why

you are trusting it. This is because your intuition is a bridge to that part of your brain that

is not conscious and does not speak through words or linear patterns. It is a connection

to your Unconscious.

There are different words people use to refer to the unconscious. For example, many

people say Subconscious—you have likely heard this word before. They all describe and

refer to basically the same thing. I use the word unconscious because of its

all-encompassing connotation, universal application and classical psychological roots.

Carl Jung wrote extensively of the different facets and manifestations of the unconscious

and I consider myself a disciple of him and his theories.

Many people don’t realize that our minds house a whole separate world of which we are

not consciously aware. But even though our unconscious is hidden, it is not dormant—in

fact, it is constantly informing our thoughts, feelings and actions. Even sometimes our

speech! Have you ever experienced a Freudian Slip? That is, when you say something you

didn’t mean to say but later realize that what you said held great truth and meaning? This

is your unconscious slipping through. The unconscious is also the realm of dreams, play,


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creativity and art. When you stop all the internal chatter and allow your mind to drift

aimlessly, often your unconscious will bring to light incredible inspirations and insights.

So, how does this relate to tarot? Even though our unconscious is constantly informing

our feelings and actions, it is veiled in obscurity. Intuition is difficult to access through

conscious effort alone. And because the unconscious belongs in a realm without linearlanguage, its messages can be difficult to translate. This is the most apparent in the

bizarre metaphors and symbols that come through in dreams. You want to access your

unconscious because it holds the knowledge and insights than your conscious brain

needs in order to bring about personal growth and change. In fact, your unconscious

knows exactly what you need to know.

Tarot is a tremendous tool to help you access the knowledge and insights of your

unconscious by activating your intuition. Tarot also speaks through metaphors and

symbols, but is a lot easier to translate than dreams. But sometimes you and your tarot

cards may need some extra help. Sometimes your intuition may be blocked. The following

are a few meditations to access that space of inner knowing that is your intuition and the

unconscious.

The Collective Unconscious

But first… Carl Jung also wrote extensively on the idea of the Collective Unconscious.

This is the theory that from generation to generation of humankind, a plethora ofknowledge is passed down through our unconscious in the form of symbols. This

knowledge when we are able to tap into it and translate it, holds great potential to aid in

our journeys of personal discovery, growth and change. It is what connects us to all other

humans on this earth. It is the reason why some people espouse psychic powers and why

it is not only possible but easy to read tarot cards for others. It is also what directs and

explains our instincts for survival, love, and connection. So when you access your

unconscious through tarot, meditation, dreams and creative processes, sometimes you

are also tapping into that larger, wiser, all-knowing source.

Some of the ancient symbols that you will be using in the following meditations hold great

meaning and power in the collective unconscious and will help you connect with it.


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Guided Meditations

Before you sit for a tarot reading, an easy way to get into the quiet mind space and

access your intuition is by giving yourself a guided meditation. I often do this just

before giving several tarot readings in a row. Guided meditations help you journey inward

towards your emotional core through nature metaphors. They can be about any placein nature that you find the most relaxing, or as I like to say, anywhere you feel your soul

resides. My soul resides in a forest. I know this because when I am surrounded by trees,

lakes and rivers as far as the eye can see, my heart feels so full it wants to burst. Where

do you get this feeling? For some it is at the beach or in the ocean, swimming or

snorkeling with tropical fish. For others it is in the desert against red sand staring up at

great, majestic rocks and boulders. Below is my forest walk guided meditation. If the

forest doesn’t speak to you, develop your own guided meditation based on this one:

Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit, close your eyes, take a deep breath and move

your focus to your breathing. Take three slow breaths in and three slow breaths out, then

move your breathing back to normal. Keep your focus on a few more of your breaths then

begin visualizing the following scene:

I am deep in the woods, surrounded by trees. Light is sprinkling through a canopy of

branches overhead, and a thick layer of leaves, sticks and needles crunch below my feet.

The air is cool, still and moist. There is only a faint sound of wind rustling leaves far

overhead. There is no trail where I am standing. In fact, I realize I am standing in a kind ofravine. I walk towards the edge of the ravine, and begin climbing the hill. I dig my hands

into the dirt and grab onto cool, soil covered rocks to maintain my balance and

momentum, my feet slipping on spongy, fertile soil as I ascend.

Then I am at the top and a path, straight and narrow through the trees lays before me.

The ground here is more firm and established. I begin to walk down the path, the forest

still quiet, paying attention to the sounds of my footsteps, breathing in the fresh air,

admiring the trunks of trees I pass.

As I walk, a bright opening appears in the distance. A clearing. What it is, I do not know. I

want to go towards it. So I keep walking, getting closer and closer to the bright opening,

intent to find out what it is.

In your guided meditation, pay special attention to each of your senses and what you


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discover along your journey. What do you see, hear, feel, smell and taste? Place an ob-

stacle in your path. How will you overcome it? And finally, create an opening at the end—a

point of interest and intrigue to walk towards that will bridge your conscious thoughts to

your unconscious manifestations.

When you are ready to come out of your meditation and open your eyes, immediatelyshuffle your tarot deck and draw a card.

Mandala Meditation

Mandalas are ancient symbols that predate all religions as we know them today. They

have been used in cultures, spiritual traditions and religions all over the world to

represent safe, sacred spaces. According to the Carl Jung, who spent much time studying

this symbol, the mandala is symbolic of a closed off space, like the mote of a castle, where

the self is free to undress, demask, explore, experiment and play.

Mandalas are always circular in their design, but they often include other shapes, like

squares and triangles, and an intricate center like the blossom of a flower that invites a

person looking to be pulled inward. I love the gravitational pull and beauty of the ancient

mandala symbols. There’s something so mysterious yet complete about them that begs

for contemplation. (See Appendix C for an example of an ancient mandala.)

But mandalas do not have to be as complex and intricate as this. You can find mandalasanywhere you find circular shapes or patterns, like in the rings of a tree trunk, the center

of a cantaloupe, or any flower. In fact, all a mandala really is, is a circular boundary with

you at the center.

When you sit down for a tarot reading, the skin sometimes doesn’t feel thick enough to

block out the outside world. Even thoughts can feel like they’ve been hoisted on you

from elsewhere. When you do a tarot reading within a mandala, you are creating a

boundary between you and external forces. Within the mandala, there is an internalunfolding and free expression knowing that outside elements cannot disturb the process

within. Hidden parts of yourself come forward, creativity sparked, unconscious

awakened, healing begun.

To create your mandala, create a circle on the floor out of any materials at your disposal.

For example, you might build one out of objects you have laying around like rocks, shells,


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Look up at the sky. What are you feeling?

7. Keep the same pace on your journey out. You may be tempted to rush it at this point,

but know that the second half of the journey is just as important as the first. Focus your

mind on integration. How can you use what you have learned about yourself on your

journey in? How will it change your outlook or actions?

There are two ways to add tarot to this experience:

1. As you stand (or hover your pen) at the entrance to the labyrinth, draw a tarot card.

Then meditate on that card during your labyrinth walk and see what wisdom you discover.

This will allow you to gain a deeper meaning and message from the card.

2. After you exit the labyrinth, draw a tarot card, then find a comfortable place to sit and

meditate on the card. Don’t hesitate or speak to anyone in the interim before you draw

that card—you want to stay with the deep space that your journey through the labyrinth

has helped open.

Free Association: A Writing Meditation

Free Association was coined and developed by Sigmund Freud as a technique to access

the unconscious. In its original practice, the patient would lie on the couch, allow his or

thoughts to wander, and say whatever came to mind, coached on with inquiring, open-ended questions by the psychoanalyst. In this relaxed, aimless and wandering state, the

mind was free to explore and the unconscious would come through.

For this meditation, I use this basic principle of free association (sans couch and

psychoanalyst) and combine it with a writing exercise I adapted from the Amherst

Writers and Artists method. The result is an excellent method for tapping into the deep

symbolism of a tarot card, deriving a personal meaning, and discovering hidden aspects

of the self. If you like to write, this meditation is for you.

What you’ll need:

• A few pieces of paper

• A pen or pencil

• A timer or stop watch

• Your tarot deck


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1. Start by shuffling, cutting and drawing your tarot card.

2. Write down 5 distinguishing details about the card: a color, the main figure, the location

or element, a symbol or shape, an object. If not all five of these categories are clear to

you, don’t worry about using all of them. Write down five details that stand out the mostThree examples below:

Yellow Blue Black

Young Man Queen Horse

Mountain Water Wind

Sun Fish Pentagram

Dog Pebbles Muscle

3. Set your timer for one minute. (Use a timer that you can set and reset very quickly, as

you will be doing this five times.)

4. Look at your first word and then write any associations to that word that come to

mind. This could be words, phrases or complete sentences. The most important thing to

remember during this minute is to keep your pen moving the entire time. Don’t erase or

edit, don’t overthink or question your thoughts, just keep writing.

5. When the timer goes off, stop writing. Even if you are in a flow or the middle of asentence. Reset the timer for another minute and repeat the process with your second

word: write any associations to that word that come to mind.

6. Repeat this process with the third, fourth and fifth words. When the timer goes off for

the fifth word, lay down your pen immediately.

7. Pick up your tarot card again. What do you see now? What associations that you had

written down ring true and speak to you? How are they connected? What new insightsand reflections are surfacing?

At this point you may want to close your eyes and meditate on all that has come up for

you. Or you may want to pick up your journal and write down your thoughts, ideas and

insights. This exercise has a tendency to spark the creative process, so don’t be surprised

if you end up writing an entire essay or story!


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IV. Multiple Card Readings

Now that you are reading your tarot cards confidently one card at a time, have developed

a daily practice that has provided personal and emotional insights and guidance, and have

developed ways to regularly access your intuition, you are ready to add additional cards

to some of your readings.

The following Two and Three card readings will ease you into how to approach the tarot

cards with a specific question and how to break a reading into different components.

Adding a Second Card to Your Daily Practice

Once you become comfortable with your daily one-card readings, you will likely be drawn

to pull a second card to learn what else the tarot has to say. Often times for me the first

card I pull will spark a specific question. The second card will be an answer to the query

that the first card sparked. Here’s an example:

I draw the Eight of Cups, which shows a scene of a woman leaving a set of eight full cups

behind and venturing by herself towards a mountain. The card is telling me I must leave

something behind that no longer serves a purpose for me, knowing I can always return.

Then I ask myself, “What must I leave behind?” I draw a second card: Knight of Pentacles,

which shows a knight on his horse looking ahead but not moving. I know the card is

referring to a project I have begun but have stalled on for a long time. The message of the

cards is to shift my focus away from this project and the disappointment and pressure I

feel for not making any headway on it, knowing I can return to it at a later date if I regain

my motivation.

Sometimes the first card won’t spark a specific question, but its message may read as

incomplete or overly obvious. Drawing a second card may fill in the depth and complexity

of the card’s message. Here’s another example:

I draw the Wheel of Fortune, which is the same card I drew yesterday. I am currently

looking for work and sending out resumes and this card speaks to my anxieties about the


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future. Will things resolve in my favor? How do I cope with the lack of control I feel over

the process? Since I already read this message yesterday, I want to know what else the

cards have to say about my internal conflict. I draw the Three of Wands, which shows a

bright scene of a man holding three staffs and facing an open, wide and clear path

before him. The message of this card is that I am on the right track. If I continue my

current efforts and follow my instincts, the future looks bright. It is also a reminder to focusmy attention on the process and immediate next steps rather than fixate on the outcome

and distant future, which are yet unwritten.

To add a second card to your readings, draw a first card and read it as you normally

would. Then sit for a few moments longer and see if anything else unfolds: a question, a

point of confusion, a desire for clarity or to learn more.

After you draw that second card, resist the urge to draw a third! Even if that card is not

what you wanted to see, stay with it and trust the card’s message to you. It may take

some time to break through and absorb—that’s okay. Personal growth and self-reflection

is a challenging process. At times you’ll be shown the parts of yourself and your life that

you would much rather avoid, but knowing yourself fully and completely make the

experience worth it.

Three Card Spreads

Three card readings allow you to practice dividing the cards’ message into differentcomponents. This will give you a deeper and more nuanced reading where you lay all the

cards down at once. In this section, I include a few helpful three-card spreads that will

help you warm up to the process of growing the complexity of your readings.

When pulling a three-card spread, keep in mind the following:

• You don’t have to ask the cards a specific question, but this is a great opportunity to

practice phrasing questions for the cards (see next section).• Before you lay out the cards, decide in what order you will lay them and what each

• position will represent. This is important!

• Shuffle and cut the cards as you normally do, focusing on your question or intention.

• Lay the cards out in the order you had previously decided. If you don’t do this, you will

confuse yourself very quickly.


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The Spreads:

1. Past – What experience am I coming out of?

2. Present – What is my current state or dilemma?

3. Future – What can I expect to happen if things continue as is?

1. Body – What tensions am I holding in my body?

2. Mind – What is the focus of my thoughts, plans and beliefs?

3. Soul – What am I feeling in my heart and what do I desire?

1. Work – What is important to know about my career?

2. Love – What is important to know about my relationships and love life?

3. Self – What is important to know about my self-care and personal development?

1. Being – What is my current state of being and stillness?

2. Behavior – Where am I directing my actions and behaviors?

3. Advice – What do I need to shift in order to be aligned with my intentions?

1. Intention – What is my current motivation, goal or intention?

2. Conflict – What is at conflict or blocking this?

3. Resolution – How can I resolve this conflict and remove the block?

How to Pose a Question

When you begin to do simple spreads, this is also a great time to learn how to pose

specific questions for the tarot. You will learn quickly which types of questions garner

clear answers and which ones leave you feeling muddled or confused. Here are a few tips

on how to phrase the most effective question for the tarot.

1. Keep it open-ended. The tarot often tells us what we need, not what we want. So, if youclose down possibilities or ask a leading question, the tarot may not provide you with a

clear answer.

2. Keep the focus on you. The tarot has a difficult time addressing issues that are not in

your control. So instead of asking what another person intends to do, ask what you can

do to influence the situation.


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3. Consider the what and how instead of the when and where. This has to do with

questions regarding the future. The tarot can help you figure out what to focus on and

how to proceed, but will be much more fuzzy on when something will happen and where

you will be.

Below are a few examples on how to take a non-ideal question and rephrase it:

1. Non-Ideal: Will I get the job?

Ideal: What can I do to ease my anxiety about getting this job?

Ideal: How can I maximize my chances for a successful interview?

2. Non-Ideal: Why won’t he call me?

Ideal: Why do I want him to call so badly?

Ideal: What can I do to make myself feel better if he doesn’t call?

3. Non-Ideal: When can I take a vacation?

Ideal: What is getting in the way of me taking a vacation?

Ideal: What do I want from my vacation?

Yes/No Questions and Positive/Negative Signs

Once you get used to consulting your tarot deck for guidance, it will be hard not to everask a Yes/No question. Sometimes these questions just cannot be rephrased. If you are

open to the tarot answering your question in a round about way, and not providing as

clear of an affirmative or negative response as you would like, then consulting the tarot

with these types of close-ended questions can be quite helpful.

Instead of looking for an answer of Yes or No from the tarot, it’s more effective to look for

positive and negative signs. Positive signs are working in your favor, negative not in your

favor. Positive signs will help you learn where you are on the right track and what you canrely on. Negative signs will reveal conflicts and issues in need of resolution, places you

are stuck, or aspects not in your control.

Here’s how to do a Positive/Negative Signs Reading:

1. Consider your question and the issues revolving it while shuffling and cutting your deck.


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So that some of the cards end up reversed, either shuffle your deck child style (where

you move them around with her hands in a big messy pile), or flip one stack around 180

degrees before shuffling the two stacks together.

2. Lay down three cards in a row.

3. Read the cards as follows: Upright cards represent positive signs working in your favor;

reverse cards represent negative forces working against you.

4. If all three cards are upright, the answer is, “Most definitely, yes.”

5. If two are upright, and one is reversed, the answer is, “Most likely, but there are issues

that still need you attention.”

6. If one card is upright and two are reversed, the answer is, “It’s possible, but there are

some major challenges to overcome first.”

7. If all cards are reversed, the answer is, “No, not until the following issues are resolved.”

8. Consider what message each of the cards holds for you. What can you rely on? What

still needs to be resolved? What is blocking you?

These readings when done right can get right to the core of the issue at hand. It alldepends on if you are truly open to the tough love that the cards may provide. I have said

it before, but it bears repeating: The cards will tell you what you need to know, not what

you want to see.


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V. Going Deeper: Tarot to Guide

Personal Transformation

As you learn to hone your intuition and have gotten to know yourself deeper through

your daily readings, you will have likely become enlightened about certain aspects of

yourself and your life that you would like to change. Perhaps a specific troubling pattern

of behavior has emerged. Or maybe you keep getting pulled back into an unhealthy

situation. Maybe you don’t like the way you cope with negativity. Or maybe you feel stuck

and just can’t figure something out no matter how many readings and meditations you do.

In this section I will walk you through two ways to dig deeper in order to transform and

create lasting change: through dreams and working with your shadow.

A word of warning: This is serious, difficult work. If you only like to read tarot for

entertainment’s sake, to feel better about yourself or to maintain your status quo, this

section is not for you. In the next practices I describe, you will likely uncover memories

and aspects of yourself that are dark and difficult to face. Instead of turning away from

these aspects, you will be asked to face them and learn from them.

A plea for self-care: Please do not go at this alone! Before you embark on your personal

transformation journey, make sure you have a support system in place and someone to

talk to about it. You may find that regularly seeing a counselor or attending a support

group helps. Other aspects of self-care that will be important throughout this journey are

plenty of sleep, healthy meals, exercise (yoga and cardio especially) and time off (don’t

begin this process if you have a big deadline looming at work!).

Trauma survivors: If you have not yet processed your trauma, you cannot safely do italone. You will need the assistance of a mental health professional to face and process

traumatic dreams and memories, otherwise you could retraumatize yourself. Please seek

help before proceeding.


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The Benefits of Dream Work

Most people forget almost all of their dreams. Some people pay no attention to them at

all. It is easier to dismiss dreams than to ponder them, especially when your first

priority when you get up in the morning is to hit the shower, get to the gym, feed the cat

or take care of the kids. Once you are out of bed and your brain launches into your to-dolist, those dreams will vanish from memory. Most people remember only the most vivid

and disturbing ones. Dreams are slippery and evasive, and often confusing even when we

remember them.

So why invest the time to remember your dreams when so many obstacles get in the

way? Because dreams are windows to your soul, and I mean that literally. Dreams are

the workings and messages of your unconscious steeped in symbols and metaphors. The

metaphoric stories that our dreams relate to us are difficult to translate. What’s more, our

unconscious does not speak in a linear fashion, so dreams often skip time, jump around

and link events and occurrences that in waking life make no sense. In essence, your

dreams may appear to be absolute nonsense and give you that feeling of Alice stuck in

Wonderland.

This is where tarot comes in. When you use tarot to help you uncover the meaning of

your dream, it will act as a bridge between the message from your unconscious, and

your conscious translation and interpretation. With tarot, you will need no knowledge of

dream symbols. The tarot cards will be the only guide you need.

Remembering Your Dreams

To get the most out of your dreams and remember them on a regular basis, I recommend

starting a dream journal. This may be a second journal, or a different type of entry in your

daily tarot journal. Keeping all your dreams in one place will allow you to easily keep track

of their progression. You’ll find that once you begin to key into your dreams’ messages to

you and heed their suggestions, your dreams will transform in turn, getting even deeperand more transformative.

Dream journal or no dream journal, before you lay cards, you’ll need to remember as

many details of a dream as possible. Here is a simple guide to remembering and writing

down your dreams:


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out like dialogue, objects and people, which will be key to unlocking the dream’s message.

2. Disturbing: These are the dreams where you wake up and want to exclaim, “Ick!” These

are also the dreams you would most like to erase from your mind as soon as possible.

Bugs, rodents, excrement, garbage, sex with inappropriate people, body parts coming off,

bad tastes and smells… the list could go on. Although you would much rather notremember these dreams, they are actually some of the most important as they are

tapping into your shadow, and represent darker aspects of yourself or your experience

that need to be incorporated (more on the shadow in a few pages).

3. Scary: These are the dreams when you wake up in tears or with your heart racing in a

full-blown panic. Sometimes it takes a few minutes to realize that you have indeed woken

and are not living in the nightmare your unconscious created. This could include a

murder, attack or assault, someone sick or dying, a natural disaster, warzone or

apocalypse, or any scenario that you most fear. These dreams are often the most vivid

and thus the easiest to remember, but you still need to write them down. You may

remember the bigger picture later on, but the smaller details will likely fade within a few

minutes upon waking.

4. Bizarre: These dreams make no sense whatsoever. Maybe one moment you are sere-

nading your coworkers with a medley of show tunes and the next moment you are eating

a burger naked in a restaurant. People, places and things that would not be related in real

life are brought together and somehow, while still in your dreamscape, make sense. Youmay even realize upon waking that you had been talking absolute gibberish knowing full

well what you were saying! These dreams are the most difficult to remember and thus

deserve extra focus and patience when trying to write down. Don’t worry about complete

sentences. Just get down each little piece as if you are collecting them in a box.

5. Elating: Finally, the good dreams! These are the dreams that when you wake up, you

wish you hadn’t. Maybe you think that if you go back to sleep you’ll pick up where the

dream left off, but this rarely happens. Flying, being in pretty, natural places, sex withdesired people, swimming or diving into bucolic waters, eating good food, and any kind of

wish fulfillment are among them. Unfortunately, good dreams are the least common. But

they are most often remembered because holding onto these dreams throughout the day

feels good. Writing down these dreams will be a treat—you’ll get to relive every moment.

But don’t overlook a negative aspect in an otherwise favorable setting. Every detail

matters, and if it stands out from the rest, it is likely crucial to deciphering the meaning.


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Interpreting a Dream with Tarot

The process to interpreting your dream with tarot cards begins not much differently from

your other tarot card readings. You’ll need to sit in a quiet, comfortable place, clear your

mind and focus on the details of your dream. Have your dream journal or notes in front ofyou so that you can read through them before shuffling the cards.

How many cards you draw depends on the length and complexity of your dream. As you

read over your notes, begin to construct the details of the dream into a narrative in your

mind (it doesn’t have to be a cohesive narrative!): this happened, then this happened,

then this happened. As you do this, divide the dream into sections so that around three

related details are included in each section. For each section of your dream, you’ll draw a

card. Some dreams are short and simple and require just one card. Some are much more

complicated and require up to four cards.

Dividing your dream into sections in a reading allows you to focus on a few specific dream

metaphors and symbols at a time. It also allows you to decipher the dream’s

progression and arc. Where your dream begins will hold a much different message from

where it ends.

1. Shuffle, cut and pull one card for each section, laying them in a linear fashion from left

to right.

2. Focus on one card at a time! Do not try to take in all the cards at once. Examine the

first card. Independent of the dream, what feeling does this card convey and what is its

message? Have you drawn this card before? When? What meaning did you derive from it

before? Go back to your notes and reread the details of the first section. How does this

card relate to the imagery and feeling in your dream? Sometimes as you gaze at the tarot

card image, the meaning of the dream symbols will suddenly pop into your mind like a


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stroke of insight. Trust it and grab onto it when that happens!

3. Repeat Step 2 with all the remaining cards.

4. Consider these questions when uncovering the meaning of each card. You should be

able to answer at least one (but often more) of these questions with each card.

What real life event sparked this dream?

What needs to be expressed and uncovered?

What conflicts or blocks need resolution?

What am I doing that is not working?

What alternate direction or approach is the dream suggesting I take?

What do I need to embrace?

What do I need to accept?

What do I need to forgive?

What do I need to learn?

What do I need to let go of?

How can I move on?

4. Tell the story of the dream aloud. Go back to each card and repeat the conclusions you

had drawn from left to right. You’ll notice a progression. The first cards tend to focus on

feelings and issues that demand expression and the final cards focus on a direction

towards resolution.

5. Pay extra attention to the last card. Where your dream leaves off before you wake up is

always crucial to the guidance your dream may provide you if you are willing to listen.

At this point you may be compelled to write in your journal, meditate, call a friend or

take a walk. Dreams often stir up powerful emotions, and these emotions should not be

discounted or pushed away. The emotions your dream stirs up are connected to aspects

of your experience that want expression and need to be incorporated into your wakinglife. You’ll notice that if you sit with your emotions and allow yourself to be present with

them, you’ll move through them. Once you are able to incorporate painful experiences,

feelings and memories, and accept that they are a part of you, they will no longer haunt

you or hold as much power over you.

If your dream is giving you a heavy dose of tough love, first of all, congratulations. Though


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you likely want to squirm away or throw your dream down on its face, know that you

have just received an amazing gift. Very few people can acknowledge their wrongs and

mistakes on their own. Take your time on this one. You don’t need to correct wrongs all

at once. Sit with the dream’s message for as long as it takes, even several days, for you to

allow your resistance and defenses to relax. And then begin thinking about small changes

you can make everyday. Future dreams will likely provide additional insights on what youcan do to continue a path towards improvement.

Your Shadow

If you have started working with your dreams—all of your dreams, even the most

disturbing ones—you have likely already encountered your shadow. Shadow elements

often appear in dreams as disturbing elements, people or things. Your shadow

encompasses all parts of yourself you do not want to acknowledge. These are the things

you would rather dump into the deepest darkest wastelands of your mind, build a wall

against and never look at again.

Your shadow contains:

• Negative memories

• Traumatic experiences

• Unhealthy and destructive impulses

• Intolerable feelings of shame, anger and disgust

Your shadow can take form and expression in:

• Nightmares

• Intrusive memories

• Hateful thoughts and judgments

• Projections onto others

• Irrational fears

• Uncontrollable behavior

•

Mood swings• Slips of the tongue

In addition, shadow elements:

• Have been pushed to your unconscious, but beg for recognition

• Often have their roots in childhood, and always connect you to your past

• Can be directed towards the self as well as others


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• Are sometimes not realized by you at all

Why Drudge up the Past?

Working with your shadow means inviting these disagreeable parts of yourself forward.

And why would you want to do that when you hate them so much? Because like it or not,everyone has a dark side, and the more you integrate your dark side into your personality

and experience, the less power and hold it will have on you.

Shadow elements are rooted in your past—most often a past that you would much rather

bury and forget. Everyone buries the parts of their past that they no longer wish to

remember. This process is called dissociation, and involves shoving a time or experience

as far back in your mind as possible and building a mental blockade. Often times that

time or experience will get buried so deep that it moves to your unconscious. You may

think, “Phew! That’s a relief. I never have to deal with that again.” But unfortunately, this

isn’t true. Even though you don’t know it, your past is still with you, and more than that,

it is influencing your dreams, thoughts, feelings, choices and behavior. It has transformed

into your shadow.

By inviting these much despised memories back into consciousness, you are digging to

the roots of your shadow so that these aspects of yourself can finally be processed, and

then accepted and integrated. Processing negative memories includes finding expression

for all the emotions tied to the experience. This can be done through journaling, artwork,movement, and most importantly, talking to a friend or counselor. Accepting and

integrating your shadow means acknowledging that your past—all parts of your past—are

crucial to what make you unique, strong, multi-faceted and wise.

Self-Empathy

In order to work with your shadow, you’ll need to learn how to practice a little thing I call

Self-empathy. If you think Self and Empathy together are redundant, you’re right they are:Empathy means to put yourself in another person’s shoes. So why would you need to put

yourself in your own shoes? Because you are often your own worst enemy and critic!

Self-empathy is about treating yourself instead like your best friend.

Your shadow contains parts of yourself and experience that you consider so despicable,

so awful and so shameful that you would never want to consider owning. In order to


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completely disavow them, you often place these aspects outside yourself onto others in

an unconscious process called projection. So your shadow is often reflected in the things

you hate most in other people, or are personality aspects that drive you nuts. When you

practice self-empathy, you imagine what it feels like to have other people judge you for

these aspects. You imagine what it feels like to act and be this way or carry those dark

experiences, and you consider why and how those shadowy behaviors or experiencescame about. In short, you begin the process of taking back your projections.

Self-empathy is a practice of total acceptance. It is about seeing something for what it is—

whether an awful feeling, memory, mistake, impulse or habit—and only for what it is with-

out the surrounding judgment. When we are able to direct empathy towards our shadow

sides, we are able to move towards the next steps of learning from these experiences.

The following tarot spread will help you gain a fuller understanding of a shadow element,

learn what is has to teach you, and heal the damage it may have caused.

Healing the Past: A Shadow Reading

For this reading, you’ll need to first identify a shadow element or expression. This is most

easily done through a dream interpretation reading (see first half of this chapter).

Alternately, you may be aware of a disagreeable memory, feeling or impulse that is

haunting your consciousness, or of a negative thought or behavior pattern, external

judgment, or irrational fear that needs to be uncovered.

Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit and shuffle and cut your tarot deck while you

meditate on your shadow element or expression. Notice what it feels like in your body to

be with your shadow. Move towards the emotions that get sparked. Acknowledge but do

not judge resistances that pop up including distracting thoughts, and then bring yourself

back to center. Draw the following cards from left to right:

1. What do I need to accept?

2. What do I need to forgive?3. What do I need to release?

4. What can I learn?

5. Where can I seek healing and recovery?

6. Where can I get help?

Like with the dream interpretation reading, you may need


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to spend some time journaling, talking to a friend or taking a healing walk or yoga class

after this reading. Allow its messages to sit with you and slowly seep in, and treat yourself

with nurturing care during and after this process. Remember not to force it—there are no

wrong answers or wrong ways.

Compassion is empathy compelled towards action and change. This tarot reading isabout directing not just empathy but also compassion towards yourself. With both

empathy and compassion, you will be able to move forward unencumbered, free,

confident and fully expressed. You shadow will have found constructive expression and

transformed into self-love.

The tarot card in the major arcana that correlates with the experience of confronting

your shadow is the Moon. But after the Moon comes the Sun, which is that joyful, full and

honest expression of your very being. This means that once you embrace your dark side,

you will be ready to truly shine.


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VI. Visiting a Professional Tarot Reader

Once you begin to read between one and three cards at a time on your own confidently

each day, having your cards read by a professional tarot reader will be even more

beneficial than before you began reading. Because now you know what to expect and

you’ll know what questions to ask to get the most out of your reading. Your reader can

help you fill in what’s been missing from your daily reads, and can take your inquiries

further.

Also, watching a tarot reader work with the cards is a tremendous educationalopportunity, as you can see which spreads they use, how they translate each card, and

how they connect different cards together based on where they appear. You can let them

know that about your current tarot journey and ask questions along the way so you

understand their process.

How to Find the Right Reader for You

There are so many tarot professionals out there to choose from. Even if you live in a small

town or remote area, most tarot readers now offer their services online via Skype or

email. But you don’t want to work with just any tarot reader. Since you are using tarot for

the purpose of personal growth and change, you’ll want to find a reader who is

compatible with this method. Here is a list of ways to find the right tarot reader:

1. Avoid readers that promote themselves solely as a “Fortune Teller” or “Psychic.” Many

tarot readers identify as psychic, and that’s okay, but if that’s all they are telling you about

their practice, then they are only trying to appeal to your curiosity, desperation or both,

and that is bad news.

2. Practice extreme caution when investigating large psychic websites. These places often

cannot guarantee confidential readings, and have many rules and regulations not

controlled by your reader. So you likely will not get all your questions answered, and your

reading might be broadcasted on their site for all to see (yikes!). If you find a reader you

like on one of these sites, do an independent search for them—they likely have a private


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website and tarot practice, as well.

3. Look for tarot readers that have websites. Most contemporary readers talk about their

style and approach online. This is the most important step to getting to know a reader

before booking a session.

4. Learn about their background in their bio on their website. Some issues to

consider when finding a tarot reader who is insightful about personal growth are: How

long have they been reading for? Do they have counseling experience? Do they call

themselves intuitive and empathic? Do they follow a particular religion or are they open

to all forms of spirituality? Do they use a specific medium to access inner wisdom like

the unconscious, past lives, angels or spirits? You’ll know which answers to these last two

questions are the right ones for you.

5. Search for tarot readers in your favorite social media platform. Many readers have

Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter pages that provide examples of their

work, including videos and photos of their readings. Notice whether their reading style

speaks to you, how they connect to their audience, and how in depth their readings go.

6. On their website and social accounts, you’ll be able to see what tarot decks the reader

uses. This will clue you into their personality. Do they work with angel oracle cards? Are

the cards especially dark? Do their cards contain nature elements and animals? Do they

stick with the classic decks? Pick a reader who uses decks you like and connect with.

7. Read reviews! Even tarot readers who do not have websites likely have online reviews

through Yelp and Google, unless they are just starting out.

8. Set your budget. Tarot readers vary greatly in price. Sometimes the price reflects the

quality of the reading you will get, but not always. Readers that purport to include a list of

celebrities on their roster of clients will charge much more. After researching and

narrowing down your list of possible readers, pick a price point you feel comfortable withand stick to it.

9. If possible, go local. Skype and email readings are just as accurate and can be just as

fulfilling, but when you are wanting to learn from your reader and watch how they work

with you, you’ll get more out of the experience in person.


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10. If you’re not a social media person, consider the readers at your local metaphysical

store. The store should be able to provide you with a list of readers with their bios and

approaches.

How to Get the Most out of Your Tarot Reading

Once you find the right reader and book a session with them, review this list of five

suggestions to get the most depth out of your reading.

1. Ask Specific Questions. Before your session, think about a few questions you want

answered or issues resolved. Reflect on your own readings and the questions and points

of confusion that have surfaced. All tarot readers are happy to do general readings, but

you’ll leave feeling more satisfied with a more in-depth focus. If your question gets too

specific for your reader, they will tell you and ask you to rephrase the question.

2. Open Up. The more you disclose about the issues and events surrounding your

question, the better your reader will be able to give you an in-depth reading. Tarot read-

ers are intuitive, empathic, and sometimes psychic, but they aren’t mind readers (and

don’t trust those that tell you they are!).

3. Take Pictures or Video. If your tarot reader offers to take photos of the spreads for you

or to send you a recording of the session (if it’s a video session), take them up on it. You’ll

be trying to absorb so much in that 30 to 60 minute session that it’s inevitable that youwon’t remember everything. If your reader doesn’t offer, ask.

4. Ask for Clarifications. Your tarot reading should be a conversation between you and

your reader. Don’t be shy about interjecting a question or a plea for clarification as your

reading progresses. If you want more of an explanation or want your reader to go deeper

on a specific issue, tell them. Your reader will be glad that you are invested and paying so

much attention, and will be happy to expand.

5. Give Feedback. At the end of your session, tell your reader how it went. Tell them what

felt right, what was helpful, and anything that perhaps didn’t feel relevant. Not only will

this give your reader insightful information if you were to have another reading with them,

it will also help YOU gain clarity on your biggest takeaways from the reading.


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VII. Connecting with the Tarot Community

Let me guess… When you tell your friends and family you are exploring yourself with the

tarot, they crook their heads to the side like you just said a foreign word, or they laugh

uncomfortably, or they roll their eyes and change the subject. Tarot is often

misunderstood by people that don’t know much about it—they associate it with satanic

rituals, dark magic or bogus fortune-telling.

But even when you do explain to your friends and family what your tarot journey is really

about, you’ll learn that it isn’t for everybody. A lot of people are happy with maintainingthe status quo and see no reason to look further into themselves. In fact, many people

think that what is on the surface, what they can see, hear and touch in this very momentis all there is. And that’s okay. One of the amazing aspects of humanity is that we are all

so different and everyone offers the world a different kind of gift.

But, it is no good to feel all alone and isolated in your personal journey. Luckily, there are

many places you can go (physical and online) to find others that are using tarot to venturedown the path towards insight, growth and transformation. Here are several suggestions

on how to find like-minded souls and meet others learning about tarot so that your journey will not be a lonely one.

1. Brick and Mortar Metaphysical Shops. Many stores that sell tarot decks, crystals andother metaphysical items also offer tarot workshops and classes. These classes will

usually be posted as flyers in their store or announced on their website.

2. Meetup (www.meetup.com). There may be a group already meeting about tarot in

your area. If there is, you will likely find it on Meetup, home to countless group activities

open to newcomers. If you don’t find a tarot Meetup in your area, why not start one?

3. Instagram and Twitter. Tarot readers and enthusiasts are incredibly active on these two

interactive social platforms! By following other users who are engaged in tarot, you’ll be

able to comment on readings, receive feedback on your own readings, participate in

challenges and enter to win giveaways.

4. Facebook Groups. There are several closed and open groups on Facebook you can


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find dedicated to discussing the tarot. Closed groups require a facilitator approval foracceptance, but this is only to weed out spammers. Discussions in closed Facebook

groups are usually of much better quality than open groups.

5. Online Forums. Yes, they still exist! After creating a simple profile, you’ll be able to

browse countless topics and inquiries and post your own. The biggest and oldest tarot

forum is the Aeclectic Tarot at www.tarotforum.net.


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VIII. Appendixes

Appendix A. Where to buy tarot decks online:

Support Independent Retailers:

Tarot Garden: http://www.tarotgarden.com

The Hermit’s Lamp: http://shop-thehermitslamp.com

Red Dragon Apothecary: http://www.reddragonapothocary.com

Appendix B. Further Reading

Books for tarot beginners who would like to learn more about tarot history, tradition and

symbolism, and how to read cards for self and others:

• The Complete Tarot Reader: Everything you Need to Know from Start to Finish, TeresaMichelson

• Tarot For Your Self: A Workbook for Personal Transformation, Mary K. Greer• 78 Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot, Rachel Pollack

• Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners, Joan Bunning

• Tarot for Self Discovery, Nina Lee Braden

Books on Jungian archetypes and the collective-unconscious:

• Man and His Symbols, C. G. Jung

• Modern Man in Search of a Soul , C. G. Jung

• The Undiscovered Self , C. G. Jung• Four Archetypes: Mother, Rebirth, Spirit, Trickster, C. G. Jung

• The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By, Carol S. Pearson

• Awakening the Heroes Within: Twelve Archetypes to Help Us Find Ourselves and

Transform Our World , Carol S. Pearson


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Appendix C. Ancient Mandala Example


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Appendix D. Labyrinth Print-Out

Inward Journeys

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Transcript of Inward Journeys