Ix Chel Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 Tarot Theory journaling I was wondering how do you journal the theory side of your Tarot study? I am always busy with the card meanings. If I see, read or hear something which reminds me of a card, I write it down in my paper notebook. And from time to time I will write it down in a computer file. My digital Tarot journal is big, it has already the size of a book. How do you journal? What do you journal? In what form do you journal? Thanks.
Grizabella Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 I don't journal tarot and never have. I also didn't throw out the books like the fad was in recent years. We all learn in our own ways and approaching tarot like it's a cram-it-in-your-head and spit-it-back-out-from-memory like it's a college class or something is a really good way for me to just absolutely lose the ability to use the cards at all. We all have to do what works for us. The left brain deals in facts and figures (like with journalling and memorizing) while the right brain deals with images and ideas. Tarot works with the right brain more. For me, trusting the way it works best for me has been the best thing I could do about using the cards. And honestly, I don't know what the theory side of anything is. :P A theory, as far as I know, is an idea you have and then you do double blind experiments to either prove or disprove whatever that idea is. I know people talk about music theory but I don't study music, so I didn't get the memo on that aspect of learning something. :)
Ix Chel Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 With theory I mean the card meanings. But also stuff like numbers, colour, symbols or ED. I really must use my cards more. I always read about the cards, I must practice card reading moore. Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9060I met Tapatalk
Onaorkal Posted July 10, 2017 Posted July 10, 2017 I sometimes write my readings in a journal, but I don't really journal about the theory or meanings. That might be helpful, but I know I wouldn't be able to actually take the time to do it haha! I simply practice practice practice and eventually different meanings and ideas come to my mind more easily. I still use some references when needed too.
eeviee Posted July 10, 2017 Posted July 10, 2017 I don't really have a proper tarot journal. I have notebooks dedicated to certain decks (RWS, Thoth, Deviant Moon, etc.) that I compile meanings from. I have a notebook I keep my readings in, where I record the Query asked, the deck used, the cards pulled/spread, my interpretations, and then book (my notebook related to said deck) interpretations. I also have ANOTHER notebook where I do my tarot workbook exercises and symbolism studies. Sometimes I feel that I really should put this all in a binder or computer doc together, but my system works for me, for now. ;]
mariannehj Posted July 11, 2017 Posted July 11, 2017 This is an interesting question... I started (about two months ago) to get at notebook for each tarotdeck - and I had all the best intentions to write in them about each card. But it didn't work for me. It felt like I couldn't really relate any card to my situation. So I started to write about my cards - and the theory - in my journal/artjournal/diary - and it's amazing. I love to see what I have been thinking about a particular day - and to be able to find the tarot journaling again in my book (filled with art, diary-notes, quotes and shadow work) I always draw a little arrow when I start to journal about tarot. I don't know if I'll keep this "system" (not really a system) - but for now I like it this way. (And the notebooks with all the tarot cards names written in them.... We do not talk about that part :o :D )
Cocobird55 Posted July 11, 2017 Posted July 11, 2017 I have tried journaling in several different ways. I even prepared a special notebook to study The Tarot of the Seventh Fold Mystery. It was very pretty, and I attached an image of one of the cards to the cover. I used it a couple of times, but didn't get a lot out of it so I stopped. None of the other ways worked for me either. Everyone has their own path in Tarot. What worked for me was looking at the cards themselves, and doing a lot of readings. Eventually, it all made more sense and I got better at it. It was a long process, but I wasn't in a hurry.
Trogon Posted July 14, 2017 Posted July 14, 2017 I started out with a spiral-bound, divided 5x8 notebook. I did one section for the cards, one for spreads and one for "miscellaneous" stuff. I would write information on a given card, some basics on symbols/art, and the meanings and reversed meanings. The problem I ran into was that I was putting information on 2 to 3 cards on each page. Then I would do a reading, or further study and needed to add more information, cramming 2 lines of writing into each line of the notebook (I learned to write very, very small). I was also writing symbols from RWS, Röhrig and Thoth. I have now purchased another notebook and am starting over, but using an entire page for each card so I have room for all my notes. Then again, I found myself continuing to go back and add more notes and observations and new interpretations. For example, after I wrote notes on The Lovers, I had it come up in a reading and I thought of new things about the symbolism on the card (RWS), so I wrote notes in the top margin around the title of that page - and as I've studied it in other decks, nuances of interpretations come up, so I added those to the interpretations section - which led to new thoughts on the reversed meaning ... and so on. So ... I'm running out of room again. ::) My point is that the act of writing of all of these notes helps to cement things into my head. I apparently use both sides of my brain for Tarot. I study, write notes and think of how a given card applies to real-world life and events. This gives me starting points when doing a reading and my intuition takes over from there working with images and surrounding cards as well as the topic of the reading. I suspect that before I even finish the Majors in this new notebook, I'll be buying a newer notebook. Someone had mentioned using a loose-leaf notebook so I can add pages as needed even for a single card. Much more flexible and (obviously) expandable. That's essentially the "mechanics" of what I do. For me, the study never ends. Every time I get a new deck, there is a likelihood that I'll find new ways of looking at a given card. I also have started working through the RWS again as I transfer my notes to the new notebook - having more experience is adding facets to my understanding of a given card and, as I said before, writing these into my notes helps to keep it in my head. I've included the page on The Lovers from my newer notebook. It wouldn't really lay flat on my scanner, so parts of it are out of focus - but it still is illustrative of my notes. You can see where I've added notes to the top margin on either side of the title and you can also see how I've crammed so many notes into the "meanings" and "reversed" sections.
Snowhunter Posted July 15, 2017 Posted July 15, 2017 I keep an all-in-one journal that contains my musings and antics for the day, daily draw results and my thoughts on them, rants about my husband, whatever. I started several notebooks dedicated to a deck and its interpretations but after a week or so I would lose interest. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Trogon Posted July 15, 2017 Posted July 15, 2017 Oh! I got so wrapped up describing my card journal, I forgot to mention that I keep separate ones of my readings. I started to use a comp book for my self-readings a while back. I'm working on my second one now. And for years I've been using steno pads for writing down notes on readings I do for others. My self-readings journals have fairly complete notes on the readings; what the question is, what deck I used, cards drawn, symbols or details of the cards that catch my attention, and my interpretations. The notes I keep on readings for other people are usually a little more spare. Often, all I do is write down who the reading is for, what deck I used and what cards were drawn. I might make some notes regarding the interpretations I get if they're unusual or particularly important. Mostly this is just for reference if the client comes back to me later with questions, or wants another reading on the same topic. With both of these, if something is of particular interest, I'll also add a note in my main notebook.
Kmartin60 Posted July 15, 2017 Posted July 15, 2017 This a great subject and perfect timing! I use to make notes on all of the different cards from all the different decks and have just plain old spiral bound notebooks loaded (MANY, MANY of them!) but.. they are also loaded with everything else that enters my mind that day. Recipes, phone numbers, spreads if I do one just out of the blue or boredom, and then I also find where I have jotted stuff down on backs of bill envelopes, napkins etc.. you name it. I am extremely disorganized and with the MS it has gotten even worse as has my memory so I really NEED to do a legit journal of the cards and my readings. Hoping this new shake up and new site with finally kick my kester into gear to do it proper this time. You guys please feel free to fuss at me to keep me on tract please? :-[ ;) Happy Shuffling....
Trogon Posted July 16, 2017 Posted July 16, 2017 This a great subject and perfect timing! I use to make notes on all of the different cards from all the different decks and have just plain old spiral bound notebooks loaded (MANY, MANY of them!) but.. they are also loaded with everything else that enters my mind that day. Recipes, phone numbers, spreads if I do one just out of the blue or boredom, and then I also find where I have jotted stuff down on backs of bill envelopes, napkins etc.. you name it. I am extremely disorganized and with the MS it has gotten even worse as has my memory so I really NEED to do a legit journal of the cards and my readings. Hoping this new shake up and new site with finally kick my kester into gear to do it proper this time. You guys please feel free to fuss at me to keep me on tract please? :-[ ;) Happy Shuffling.... Yep! Get a new notebook and start now! No time like the present! We're burning daylight! :D I'm thinking I'll get a chance to go to Staples tomorrow or Monday and take a look at some loose-leaf small notebooks I can use, that way they're more expandable.
GreenFaerie Posted August 2, 2017 Posted August 2, 2017 I have to say, I am not super-organized about my tarot journaling. I have two journals so far, both of which are filled with readings I have done for myself and others, thoughts about the cards, and interesting and helpful spreads I have found. However, they go in chronological order and are not really organized any other way, so I have to flip through them to find the spread that I want or an old reading that I did. It works for me right now, though I can see myself having to start over and get a more detailed system in the future. :)
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