Today’s post has some options for Tarot journaling if you need some ideas for how to do Tarot journaling.
Tarot journaling can be as simple or as in-depth as you want! Here are three options to get you started. So grab your deck and a journal and let’s get started!
For any Tarot journaling
Something I recommend for any Tarot journaling? When you’re writing the date at the top of your journaling, I also recommend making a note of which deck(s) you’re using. That’s because every deck has different art and energy, so it’s good to make note of it so you can look back at it later. Also, remember to write down which card(s) you pull!
Option 1: Single card intuitive pull and journaling
This option is the most simple, and works whether or not you have a specific topic in your mind!
- Open your journal to a fresh page, take a few breaths to come into your body, and shuffle your deck.
- Pull one card from the deck, lay it facedown and set the rest of the cards aside.
- Now turn over the card, and notice the very first thing that pops up for you in your mind. It could be anything! You may notice a particular detail in the card. Or a colour may really stand out to you. Or, when you look at the card, a memory may suddenly come to mind. Immediately start writing about that!
- Use the freewriting method I have explained over here, and just start writing and see where the journaling takes you.
Option 2: Topical card question and answer prompt
This option is really great if you are feeling really moved to tune in to yourself, and you’re feeling like you want to do a bit of a deeper dive.
- Make sure your journal is open to a fresh page, and write the word “Topic:” at the top of the page, and write the word, “My Question:” a couple of spaces below that.
- Take a few breaths and shuffle your cards. Pull one card and set it facedown, and then pull a second card and set that one facedown as well. Set the rest of the deck aside.
- Turn over just the first card. This is your topic card. Again, notice whatever pops up for you – it could be a keyword or a key phrase, an idea, a memory, or a specific detail of the card. Or you can look at what your deck’s guidebook or reference card says and notice which keywords stand out to you. Write that down as your topic.
- For example, let’s say I pulled the 8 of Pentacles, the words that immediately come to mind for me today are “diligence” and “hard work”. So I would write down my topic as “diligence and hard work”.
- Spend a moment thinking about that topic and what it means to you. What question is on your mind about that topic? Trust whatever question arises for you.
- Coming back to the 8 of Pentacles example, the question that arises for me today when I think of “diligence and hard work” is, “Will my diligence and hard work pay off?” So I would write that down as my question.
- Now, turn over the second card. This is the card to prompt your journaling answer to the question. In other words, whatever pops into your mind when you look at the answer card is what you write into your journal to get you started. And then, keep writing from there about whatever arises for you! Keep writing for at least five minutes (or longer if you have more to say, but do write for at least those five minutes to give your higher consciousness time to integrate the wisdom for you).
- Back to our example, let’s say I pulled the 3 of Chalices as my answer card. Today, when I see the 3 of Chalices, I think of celebrating with loved ones. So I will start my journaling answer with, “I will be celebrating with loved ones and community, and…” and then I’ll keep writing from there!
Option 3: Tarot Spread Journaling
Using a Tarot spread for journaling allows you to use the structure of a spread as journaling prompts!
- Find a Tarot spread that stands out to you, and draw out the diagram of the spread into your journal so that it’s clear which cards and responses correspond to the spread. Also be sure to write out the topics or questions that come with the spread, so that you can come back later and be clear about what your journaling was responding to or which cards came up to speak to which questions (this will also help you learn to trust your intuition and spiritual abilities over time!).
- Take a few breaths as you shuffle the deck, and pull cards, placing them facedown as shown in the spread. Set the rest of the deck aside.
- I suggest only turning over one card at a time, and freewriting about that question and card, before turning over the next card, but that’s up to you! If you prefer to turn over all the cards first and then go back and write about each one, go for it. I personally prefer one card at a time to keep my contemplation focused.
- What I do recommend is that after you have gone through the full spread, take a moment to look at all of the cards together, and notice what else pops up for you.
- For example, is there a particular suit that keeps showing up? Is a suit absent? Are there lots of majors? Lots of courts? Repeated numbers? Write about whatever comes up for you as you take in all the cards as a whole.
These are just some ideas to get you started! What are some other ways you love to do Tarot journaling?
You can find lots more content (and Tarot spreads!) over here! And you can get your copy of the Chakra Healing Tarot deck here.
Blessings and empowerment to you.