Guest libra Posted October 31, 2018 Posted October 31, 2018 I often do a "5-4-3-2-1" exercise to ground, and I discovered it can actually be used in tarot to really get into the cards and read from a different perspective! To start off, let me explain the grounding exercise. It starts by finding 5 things that you can see, then 4 things that you can hear, then 3 things that you can smell, then 2 things you can touch, then 1 thing you can sense. The idea is that by doing this, you can get out of your head and back into your body, but I've been using it to get into a card! I do this by pulling a 3 card spread, using a deck that has people in it. Then, I choose one of them that is the basis of the reading (usually the middle card). Then, I imagine I'm actually in that card, in the body of the character in that card. I then go through that grounding exercise from their point of view. Let's say it's the cards in the image below that I pulled - the Knight of Wands, 5 of Swords, and 3 of Cups from the Tarot of the Hidden Realm. I step into the shoes of the woman in the 5 of Swords, and I can see the crows circling (1), the clouds forming (2), the girls, oblivious to the darkness surrounding me (3), the sword in my hand (4, hidden in the photo), the cups in theirs (5). I can hear the wind in my ears (1), the cawing of crows (2), the laughter of the girls (3), and the slight rustle of the knight watching behind me (4). I smell that electric scent of a storm (1), honey mead drifting from the girls (2), that stale scent of my clothes that had been wet by rain and left unwashed (3). I feel the weight of the shield and sword I carry (again, unseen in the photo, 1), the slippery rocks underfoot as I run (2). I sense that the Knight of Wands has something to do with this whole situation (1). From there, you can turn these sensed impressions into a reading. There's something brewing in the air, and it seems like people are oblivious to it, drowning their own senses in their intoxication of choice. Though the threat feels big and universal, it seems to be stemming from one person, yet you may not be able to hone in on where they are directly, or what their intentions are. It can feel isolating, to be the only one who is wrapped up in this fear, and like maybe there is judgment being directed at you for what you're sensing. I'd almost be worried about gaslighting, based on this way of reading these cards, where there is that Knight of Wands character playing off your fears and making a personal storm for you to be swept up in. It might be that those in your life aren't watching you with judgement, but as an invitation to step into their golden happiness with them. The world might just be brighter than you think, when you gain some distance from those who don't have your best interests in mind. Overall, it doesn't change the meanings of the cards too much, but I do find that it brings them a real level of life, and then some things that you might not see in a card usually might just come out (like, the Knight of Wands being a gaslighting partner!) Let me know what you think about this reading technique! It's been one that has been fun & insightful for me, maybe not always for a serious reading, but really ... sometimes, I go into this just planning to have a bit of fun, and what comes out of it drags me with it's realness lol.
Raggydoll Posted October 31, 2018 Posted October 31, 2018 Love this! It would totally also work for when you are trying to channel or connect to specific archetypes (as represented in the different cards). I do this type of work a lot as a part of goal setting, personal development, or for spiritual quests.
Guest libra Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 Love this! It would totally also work for when you are trying to channel or connect to specific archetypes (as represented in the different cards). I do this type of work a lot as a part of goal setting, personal development, or for spiritual quests. The first time that I verbalized this technique, it was actually to help someone do the "Step into a card" type of thing. They'd always struggled with it, so starting here, intellectually stepping in was like a baby step, then I was able to use some meditation guidance to get them to be able to do that journey - which was to connect with a card that they saw as an archetype of a deity. It's so cool that you picked up on that ^_^
Bookworm Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 This is another technique I'm going to try. Thank you again, Libra! :)
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