Tarot as a tool for spiritual growth

[Jasmine]

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to use tarot cards as a tool for spiritual growth and awakening?

 

At the moment my readings seem to be more of a distraction from my spiritual practices.  I think perhaps I'm not asking the cards the right type of questions or not using the best spreads for my purpose. 

 

My spirituality interests at the moment are Zen, meditation, stillness. 
 

[DanielJUK]

There is a nice old thread with many suggestions here....

 

 

in my own spirtual experience, I have found....

 

- some decks call to you for more spirtual purposes, more tools to help your development but this really depends on your own beliefs (I find the Osho Zen good for this)

 

- I like to meditate with tarot cards. There are also spirtual spreads you can find online to get more insight. I use them differently for spirtual purposes that regularly. Just meditate and look at the image and see what calls to you.

 

- There isn't a right or wrong way, it's personal! But if it's not working out for you, try other techniques that might work for you

[Jasmine]

Thanks @DanielJUK

 

I will check out that thread. 

 

I've actually looked at OshoZen Tarot in store but never bought them.  I used to like his teachings at one point but I moved away from them.  The tarot cards might be worth looking into or something similar.   I do think a more spiritual type of deck could be good for me. 

 

Thanks for the suggestions. 

 

 

[Misterei]

Sometimes an emphasis on reading cards distracts from the spiritual aspects.

I spend a lot of time contemplating cards, studying them, putting them on my altar for reflection.

Looking at one card from different decks (i.e. pull the Star card from all my decks to consider the different symbolisms)

There's a whole section in my course manual on various ways to do this ... too much for a forum post ... but there are so many wisdom teachings to draw on: Hermetic, Neo Platonic, Vedic, Astrological, Alchemical, Numerological, Kabbalah, etc. I combine color, music, and even yoga asana or dance to evoke a card's deeper meanings and initiatory powers.

Although I might use a variety of decks ... I find for deeper work I go to RWS, Thoth, or any deck with serious symbolism as opposed to light and fluffy or trendy decks ... ymmv.

[FindYourSovereignty]

Hi @Jasmine,

There is an approach to Pathworking that works really well with tarot. Here are a few YouTube links about it

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX-fVhqiTRg
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7FNv8GuIqs
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpx3Xq-jhwo

Also, if you are interested in using tarot for shadow work, I found this workbook helpful.

1. https://www.etsy.com/listing/962906406/emerging-from-darkness-using-tarot-for

She has a companion tarot deck, but the spreads and process can be used with any deck.

 

 

[Jasmine]

8 hours ago, Misterei said:

Sometimes an emphasis on reading cards distracts from the spiritual aspects.

I spend a lot of time contemplating cards, studying them, putting them on my altar for reflection.

Looking at one card from different decks (i.e. pull the Star card from all my decks to consider the different symbolisms)

There's a whole section in my course manual on various ways to do this ... too much for a forum post ... but there are so many wisdom teachings to draw on: Hermetic, Neo Platonic, Vedic, Astrological, Alchemical, Numerological, Kabbalah, etc. I combine color, music, and even yoga asana or dance to evoke a card's deeper meanings and initiatory powers.

Although I might use a variety of decks ... I find for deeper work I go to RWS, Thoth, or any deck with serious symbolism as opposed to light and fluffy or trendy decks ... ymmv.

 

Thanks for the inspiration. 

 

I too put a card on my altar for reflection sometimes.  Pulling the same card from different decks is a great idea - will try that.

 

Combining music, colour, yoga asana or dance to evoke deeper meanings sounds powerful too. 

[Jasmine]

43 minutes ago, FindYourSovereignty said:

Hi @Jasmine,

There is an approach to Pathworking that works really well with tarot. Here are a few YouTube links about it

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX-fVhqiTRg
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7FNv8GuIqs
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpx3Xq-jhwo

Also, if you are interested in using tarot for shadow work, I found this workbook helpful.

1. https://www.etsy.com/listing/962906406/emerging-from-darkness-using-tarot-for

She has a companion tarot deck, but the spreads and process can be used with any deck.

 

 

 

Thank you.   That sounds interesting.  I will check out the links. 

[Grandma]

Hi Jasmine -

 

This is a thought-provoking topic which as DanielJUK has pointed out comes up occasionally in the forum.  Thank you for asking the question.

 

The only way I use Tarot for myself is spiritually.  When I lay out a spread, most often my Axis of Time and Axis of Place, I ask Spirit within which I dwell to tell me through the cards something that spirit which dwells within me needs to know or should focus on.  Sometimes this is a general request and sometimes it refers to a specific, such as a current issue or concern.  

 

I also meditate on the cards, often by identifying myself as the Fool and travelling the Journey through the Major Arcana.  As I study each card, I intuitively identify with the card in terms of own journey.  The third way I use Tarot spiritually is by mindful meditation of the art alone. This does not always produce spiritual revelations but when it does, they are powerful.

 

You might find this three-part series interesting.  I've only read the third part so far.  Mo Dice and Mala, Bamboo Sticks, Tarot, and other “divinations” — insightful self-guided Buddhist practice or superstition? - Buddha Weekly: Buddhist Practices, Mindfulness, Meditation

[Jasmine]

@Grandma

 

Thanks for sharing your practices. Also, I enjoyed reading that page.  Hadn't heard about Mo before. It helped to read about divination in Buddhism.  I'm now have more clarity on how tarot can be part of my spiritual journey. 

 

Meditating on a single card and journaling seems like a good practice. 

 

I've decided that I will do meditation before readings from now on and focus on questions that truly matter.

 

[Grandma]

The only problem for me with Mo is that Mo was the name of a cat we had 30 years ago when my kids were teenagers.  They named the cat a very bad word the first syllable of which was Mo.  I didn't want them to call her by her full name because I was an easy going Mom but maybe not quite that easy going.  So I can't read the syllable Mo without a nostalgic chuckle.

 

But I digress.  I just came across an intriguing article at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/spirituality  One paragraph in particular made me think of something to ask in this thread.  

 

Studies show that the brain may react in similar ways to diverse spiritual experiences. When people described times they felt oneness, infinity, or connection to a higher power, they had less activity in the inferior parietal lobe, usually active during representations of oneself in space or time, indicating people may temporarily lose their sense of self during spiritual experiences.

 

So if we empty our minds in meditation on the Tarot and establish a oneness with a higher power, we may lose our sense of self?  Would this then allow the Tarot to enter the waiting space, growing our ability to connect with the cards, making us better, more spiritual, readers?  I don't want to get too "ooh ooh-y" and I don't want to hijack the thread, just thought I'd mention it.  The answer for me is yes.

 

 

Edited November 12, 2022 by Grandma

[Jasmine]

10 hours ago, Grandma said:

So if we empty our minds in meditation on the Tarot and establish a oneness with a higher power, we may lose our sense of self?  Would this then allow the Tarot to enter the waiting space, growing our ability to connect with the cards, making us better, more spiritual, readers?  I don't want to get too "ooh ooh-y" and I don't want to hijack the thread, just thought I'd mention it.  The answer for me is yes.

 

Yes, I feel this is correct. We could connect more deeply and intuitively with the cards. Being open and receptive to new insights. 

 

Mo is a cute name for a cat.