The concept of taking a Depth Year to evolve in your tarot practice

December 18, 2018

I'm going to work on improving my journaling in the coming year as well. These are all good ideas for organizing them. Mine are kind of all over the place, personal as well as for study.

That's were what mine were like too. I found breaking them out and focusing them a bit helped me enjoy writing in them more and actually encourages me to go back and read through them. Not to mention seeing all the pretty pictures of cards from my decks and not having to re-google spreads or hunt in books if looking for something I know I have already used :biggrin:

December 18, 2018

These are great journaling ideas, Jewel. I have always ended up just throwing my old journals away because they really weren't worth saving. I like the idea of making something pretty and possibly useful out of my readings. :D

Now I think I need a nice new journal and colored pens! <3

December 18, 2018

I mentioned this briefly in Starlight's thread, but 2018 was supposed to be my Depth Year. I didn't know about this concept at the time, but I had every intention of deepening my study for tarot. I wasn't good with checking in, but I was fairly active in the Deck of the Week threads. But I kind of fell off of it after a few months. I'm very bad at sticking with something for a long time. And on top of that, I often wasn't in the best mindset for tarot. That didn't slow down my collecting though :P

I did switch between a few hobbies. I practiced my watercolor painting, and I read through some of my to-be-read books. But reading slumps and lack of creative inspiration kind of kept me from making any real progress on those things as well. I even made a garden, but abandoned it after the a month because it needed so much attention that I just didn't have the energy to dedicate to it.

I really want to focus on these things again. I really do want to study tarot in depth. I want to work on my tarot journal, and really study my decks. I'm already drafting up a study plan that will hopefully help me stick with it next year. I want to really flesh out my own personal spiritual practice, and I really want to finish my grimoire. I studied literature, I love reading, and I really miss it, so I want to work my way through my tbr pile. And I really want to improve my watercolor painting skills because I've painted my whole life and I kinda really miss that too.

This upcoming year I want to heal the mental and emotional damages that kept me from going in depth this past year, and I really want to go in depth in 2019. I really want 2019 to be the year where I really do keep up my tarot studies and spiritual practices, and get back into the hobbies that make me feel like myself.

December 19, 2018

I mentioned this briefly in Starlight's thread, but 2018 was supposed to be my Depth Year. I didn't know about this concept at the time, but I had every intention of deepening my study for tarot. I wasn't good with checking in, but I was fairly active in the Deck of the Week threads. But I kind of fell off of it after a few months. I'm very bad at sticking with something for a long time. And on top of that, I often wasn't in the best mindset for tarot. That didn't slow down my collecting though :P

I did switch between a few hobbies. I practiced my watercolor painting, and I read through some of my to-be-read books. But reading slumps and lack of creative inspiration kind of kept me from making any real progress on those things as well. I even made a garden, but abandoned it after the a month because it needed so much attention that I just didn't have the energy to dedicate to it.

I really want to focus on these things again. I really do want to study tarot in depth. I want to work on my tarot journal, and really study my decks. I'm already drafting up a study plan that will hopefully help me stick with it next year. I want to really flesh out my own personal spiritual practice, and I really want to finish my grimoire. I studied literature, I love reading, and I really miss it, so I want to work my way through my tbr pile. And I really want to improve my watercolor painting skills because I've painted my whole life and I kinda really miss that too.

This upcoming year I want to heal the mental and emotional damages that kept me from going in depth this past year, and I really want to go in depth in 2019. I really want 2019 to be the year where I really do keep up my tarot studies and spiritual practices, and get back into the hobbies that make me feel like myself.

I am sending you some love and encouragement. Don't be too hard on yourself! <3

December 19, 2018

Just wanted to say that I edited my first post and added even more Youtube links ^-^ That should keep us all occupied and motivated for some time <3 ((

December 19, 2018

I am sending you some love and encouragement. Don't be too hard on yourself! <3

Awwww, thank you! I didnt mean to sound so self-critical. I'm really trying not to be hard on myself. Life just got in the way. This upcoming year is gonna all about getting back into it and deepening my understanding of this crazy hobby that is tarot.

December 19, 2018

I really want 2019 to be the year where I really do keep up my tarot studies and spiritual practices, and get back into the hobbies that make me feel like myself.

You can do it! Go you!

I can relate. I've been going through something similar recently. I'm a musician, and due to bad health I haven't been able to work for way too long. (Depth Decade? O_o) My spiritual practice went down the tubes as well, and I just didn't feel like me anymore, because I wasn't doing the things that me does. I started small: Cleaned my altar. Good grief, there was dust in my cauldron. (And on everything else.Ewwww.) I cleaned up the mess, found a nice fabric for a new altar cloth, and rededicated myself to my Goddess and God on the last dark moon. That made me feel a lot more like me. Although me can be sort of sloppy, so I'll have to remind the old/new me to keep up with the dusting.

I went through a batch of well loved tarot decks this afternoon, and found many which I'd forgotten that I have, Not all what I call reading decks, but it was nice to see those old friends. Tarot has been pretty much the only aspect of my spiritual practice I kept in touch with. I feel a lot more grounded and reconnected again.

And I finally have some of the more major health issues under control, and am practicing my piano, (and other instruments) again too. I took 3 semesters of piano in college, but I was a wind instrument performance major, and the piano got neglected over the years. There's an old saying among musicians- Piano players always have a gig, and sure enough, this is true. Everybody I know who's a piano player is working, they're turning jobs down. I have to get right back on it, and quick, because I don't have any time left to doodle around. I know it sounds like an odd thing to say, but once you reach a certain point in your life, the fact is, you just don't know how much you've got left, and the luxury of having enough time vanishes. Poverty sucks, and College was many,many years ago. The poor piano was dusty too.

I think the hardest thing for me is to stick with it, whatever the "it" happens to be, because I get demoralised when things don't progress as fast as I want them to. Then I get huffy with myself and say things like, "Bah. What's the point", thereby guaranteeing that no progress will be made. Knowing that I'm my own worst enemy doesn't stop the self sabotage. That's the next project- Find the psychological land mines and deactivate them successfully.

January 1, 2019

Just wanted to say that I edited my first post and added even more Youtube links ^-^ That should keep us all occupied and motivated for some time <3 ((

Thank you for putting all of these in one place, Raggydoll[/member] :) Lots of motivation there. Are you a member of the FB group Jessica Starr set up?

January 1, 2019

Just wanted to say that I edited my first post and added even more Youtube links ^-^ That should keep us all occupied and motivated for some time <3 ((

Thank you for putting all of these in one place, Raggydoll[/member] :) Lots of motivation there. Are you a member of the FB group Jessica Starr set up?

Not yet, but I’ve been thinking about it (I don’t do social media much that’s why I hesitate). Did you see the new video that Kelly-Ann Maddox put up on YouTube? She talks about how she will adapt the Depth year concept so it will fit her better. I got lots of good ideas and I liked hearing about the “no-buy” vs “low-buy” year idea.

January 1, 2019

I think taking a year to redirect something in ones life, can be a very good thing.

As long as it is a real change that actually challenges some real issues.

Of course it goes without saying that this only works if the motivation is there.

I've done something like that in terms of dating before,

where I took a years break from dating,

because I couldn't stand all the emotionally painful situations I kept getting myself into.

So I was plenty motivated.

I told myself whenever I interacted with a person that would have been viable in my mind before,

that whatever just happened was "IRRELEVANT"!

So if someone smiled at me, flirted with me, touched me or whatever else that would previously

put me in the mindset of, "Is this a viable date/partner/whatever?"

I would just tell myself, "I'm on a break, so it is irrelevant!"

I'm glad I did it, because I can clearly see in hindsight that the break was good for me.

I got enough space to put myself back together to a degree I would have never managed,

if I was worrying about yet another "flirt/date/whatever".

(I'm using the word whatever, since there is so many ways one can label relationships these days)

Personally I've never been a width guy, I struggle with scattering my attention on too many things at once.

So I rather go for one thing and stick to it almost forever,

until I grudgingly get to a point where I almost have to change.

If I spread out I usually just fall apart.

January 2, 2019

I’m doing a depth year, too! I’ve got books I haven’t read, a few tarot and oracle decks I haven’t really read with, and craft supplies I haven’t used. We’re doing some home improvements right now and some of my work shirts won’t make it though to the end of the year, so not buying anything isn’t an option. But I did unsubscribe from all monthly subscriptions and emails from companies I’ve made purchases with. It’s nice not getting emails dangeling new and shiny in front of me.

I spent some time today cleaning my bedroom and tossing stuff in the goodwill donation bag. I have a box of papers to start on tomorrow and after that, it’s the closet which has become the dumping ground for stuff that I don’t know what to do with. The shift in attitude has been interesting. I figured out how to replace the curtains that got damaged when I washed them, the rubber backing black-out part melted in the cold water - I’m still not sure how that happened. I MacGyvered some curtains that aren’t designed for the type of window or the curtain rod we have and I did it without sewing! I hate sewing. HATE IT. And I like this color better. Before making the decision to do a depth year, I’d have gone to the store and bought new ones without stopping to consider any other options.

I’m so happy I decided to do this.

Any chance this can be an ongoing thread this year so we have a place to cheer each other on? I know I’d find it helpful to have a place to celebrate victories and hear stories about things people learn from doing this.

January 2, 2019

I’m also doing a depth year. I’ve decided from the off it will be low-buy as there are some decks on my wish list that I have been looking forward to. However, no more books (especially not magical as I have so many part-read) or crystals or bits and pieces. I’m just replacing make-up and toiletries as they run out. I may need a few items of clothing for work when we get to summer.

I did just buy a new make-up bag as my old one was ripped and dirty and I’m also no good at sewing :)

I hope to deepen my spiritual practice this year too - I’ve become a consumer rather than a user and I don’t like that about myself tbh.

January 2, 2019

Petalene[/member] of course, we can keep this thread going for as long as people want to!

Essjay[/member] I like the way you phrased that; about being a consumer rather than a user. I mean, it is called spiritual practice for a reason. If you are aware that you have a calling and that there is a certain path you want to walk then you need to actually walk it, so to speak. That’s just my two cents ;)

January 2, 2019

Petalene[/member] of course, we can keep this thread going for as long as people want to!

Essjay[/member] I like the way you phrased that; about being a consumer rather than a user. I mean, it is called spiritual practice for a reason. If you are aware that you have a calling and that there is a certain path you want to walk then you need to actually walk it, so to speak. That’s just my two cents ;)

Aw, thank you :D

I have zero control so have left Facebook as I find it fuels my consumerism. I love Instagram and find that more creative and want to use the inspiration I find there (and here!) to deepen my practice. I will be replenshing spell supplies through the year though as I never seem to have the right colour candle!

January 2, 2019

I hope to deepen my spiritual practice this year too - I’ve become a consumer rather than a user and I don’t like that about myself tbh.

This resonates so strongly!

My daughter has started school and now I’m no longer paying huge amounts in childcare every month, I suddenly have lots of disposable income. The temptation to spend ‘while I can’ is like a siren call!

I’ve resolved to only buy what needs replacing this year. I’ve got 5 decks I pre-ordered last year due this year and I that should scratch the itch for ‘new’. I’m avoiding Kickstarter projects completely as the customs charges add too much to the cost.

January 2, 2019

Not yet, but I’ve been thinking about it (I don’t do social media much that’s why I hesitate). Did you see the new video that Kelly-Ann Maddox put up on YouTube? She talks about how she will adapt the Depth year concept so it will fit her better. I got lots of good ideas and I liked hearing about the “no-buy” vs “low-buy” year idea.

Yes, I did! She's great - she always has a different angle or a different approach to topics doing the rounds. I really enjoy watching her videos. :)

I'll be low-buy rather than no-buy as well. Low-buy as long as whatever it is I'm buying is relevant to my focus areas for the year. No-buy for everything else! :D

ETA: And just buying to replace things I've used up - cosmetics, etc.

January 2, 2019

Petalene[/member] of course, we can keep this thread going for as long as people want to!

Essjay[/member] I like the way you phrased that; about being a consumer rather than a user. I mean, it is called spiritual practice for a reason. If you are aware that you have a calling and that there is a certain path you want to walk then you need to actually walk it, so to speak. That’s just my two cents ;)

Aw, thank you :D

I have zero control so have left Facebook as I find it fuels my consumerism. I love Instagram and find that more creative and want to use the inspiration I find there (and here!) to deepen my practice. I will be replenshing spell supplies through the year though as I never seem to have the right colour candle!

How about going with only white candles and then carving/painting symbols or sigills on them to emphasize your intent and enhance the energies? That’s what I do and it’s budget friendly plus it delivers really powerful results :thumbsup:

January 2, 2019

I hope to deepen my spiritual practice this year too - I’ve become a consumer rather than a user and I don’t like that about myself tbh.

This resonates so strongly!

My daughter has started school and now I’m no longer paying huge amounts in childcare every month, I suddenly have lots of disposable income. The temptation to spend ‘while I can’ is like a siren call!

I’ve resolved to only buy what needs replacing this year. I’ve got 5 decks I pre-ordered last year due this year and I that should scratch the itch for ‘new’. I’m avoiding Kickstarter projects completely as the customs charges add too much to the cost.

Me too with Kickstarter - I can’t keep paying the customs when I have so many decks that need my attention!

January 2, 2019

Petalene[/member] of course, we can keep this thread going for as long as people want to!

Essjay[/member] I like the way you phrased that; about being a consumer rather than a user. I mean, it is called spiritual practice for a reason. If you are aware that you have a calling and that there is a certain path you want to walk then you need to actually walk it, so to speak. That’s just my two cents ;)

Aw, thank you :D

I have zero control so have left Facebook as I find it fuels my consumerism. I love Instagram and find that more creative and want to use the inspiration I find there (and here!) to deepen my practice. I will be replenshing spell supplies through the year though as I never seem to have the right colour candle!

How about going with only white candles and then carving/painting symbols or sigills on them to emphasize your intent and enhance the energies? That’s what I do and it’s budget friendly plus it delivers really powerful results :thumbsup:

This is such a great idea - I’m embarrassed I’ve never thought of it but I’ll definitely be doing this!

Thank you :D

January 6, 2019

So sorry to hear that, Raggydoll. I do hope this year is more kind to you and for you.

The concept of a depth year is what I need right now and makes perfect sense for me at the moment. While I don't buy a lot of decks normally, still, there are decks that I have accumulated over the years and love so much but I find myself always searching for another and leaving the decks that I already have on the "back burner." I have FOMO and I'm not proud of myself.

Also, I do this with books as well. I buy tons of books (used, but it's still consumerism) and I'm always on the hunt for more even with a dozen waiting to be read on my nightstand/shelves. I've been mindful to reach for what's already on my shelf to read and avoiding Thriftbooks! I'm reading one right now that has been in my to-read stack for a year so yay progress!

I love the idea of giving myself "permission" to pull back from the constant hunt to focus on what I have. I've been doing this very thing for about a month now and I'm loving it. I really feel in my stride with this concept at the moment.

I do have a new deck coming that I backed on Kickstarter last year that will be coming this spring and I did just purchase a vintage RWS deck that will be coming (hopefully) within the next few days but as I'm currently working in-depth and until further notice with my RWS, I'll just add the vintage one that's coming to this/my active study/usage.

I know this concept isn't for everyone as some people need and want to branch out and expand their studies and experience, etc., but this "going deep" is perfect timing for me.

January 13, 2019

This is a wonderful conversation. I love the idea of a depth year and really just focusing on a few things at a time. I have such a hard time focusing on anything but just this week I have new reading glasses which means it no longer hurts to read, and I started a new med which has helped me slow down and calm a little bit. I have really bad ADHD and I am leaning towards bipolar and it has really caused a lot of problems just this year. I fell like I have been flailing all year, unable to stick with a thing for very long.

I just pulled out the tarot cards and books again and found your forum a few days ago. I have been able to stay sort of focused on them!

This thread has been inspiring, and I love the concept but am really afraid of slipping into panic and flailing again.Is this the thread where we go to read and get back to being inspired? Could it really be?

I love the idea of a bullet journal to do some of this work. I have a journal but it is primarily a long written record and drawings of the spreads and their meanings. How else do you guys do your spreads in your journals? I would love to know.

I have so many other ideas and questions because I am very new.

January 13, 2019

This is a wonderful conversation. I love the idea of a depth year and really just focusing on a few things at a time. I have such a hard time focusing on anything but just this week I have new reading glasses which means it no longer hurts to read, and I started a new med which has helped me slow down and calm a little bit. I have really bad ADHD and I am leaning towards bipolar and it has really caused a lot of problems just this year. I fell like I have been flailing all year, unable to stick with a thing for very long.
I just pulled out the tarot cards and books again and found your forum a few days ago. I have been able to stay sort of focused on them!
This thread has been inspiring, and I love the concept but am really afraid of slipping into panic and flailing again.Is this the thread where we go to read and get back to being inspired? Could it really be?

I love the idea of a bullet journal to do some of this work. I have a journal but it is primarily a long written record and drawings of the spreads and their meanings. How else do you guys do your spreads in your journals? I would love to know.

I have so many other ideas and questions because I am very new.

This is definitely the place where you can come and be inspired and talk about your journey :love: I have a journal for spreads that I’ve done for myself and I also have a notebook for readings that I do for others. I have found that using very basic tools (such as a plain notebook, nothing fancy) will help me to actually use it. I allow myself to be imperfect and to jot things down as they come to me. My handwriting can be quite hard to decipher because a lot of it is written in a sort of ‘automatic writing’ mode where I often have my eyes partially closed. It would be interesting to hear what another person would make of my notes if they saw them. They would probably deem them to be the work of a crazy person ;D

February 21, 2019

I’ve been meaning to update here and share my experiences so far. Yes, I’m still doing the Depth year. It’s actually been really good. I’m more on a ‘low buy’ than a ‘no buy’, and I have drawn up certain criteria for my potential purchases. When it comes to decks I decided on the following: it has to be something unique that fills a very specific purpose in my practice (not in my collection as such - it’s the actual reading practice that matters). If I have anything that fills a similar purpose then I would hold off buying. It can’t be something that requires studies, I have to be able to start using it basically straight away. And if it’s something I feel I’ll want to use or study later then I won’t buy it. It has to have a purpose right here and now.

Another rule I set up is to buy no more than one deck per month (but I can of course buy less or no decks at all). I won’t compulsively think about which deck I’m gonna purchase each month. The focus will be on my regular practice and the decks I already have.

So far I have bought one deck. It’s a Shamanic deck and it’s the only Shamanic one I have. I wanted it because I do a lot of journeying and because my spiritual beliefs and practices are in line with a lot of the Shamanic traditions. I’ve missed having a tool that reflects this part of me. And I’m tremendously glad I did purchase this deck. It filled a very specific unique purpose.

Other than that, I have been decluttering my collection and started rotating my decks more. I make an effort to explore them all. And if I repeatedly feel that I don’t want to explore or work with a certain deck, then it has to go.

This depth year has had an impact in my general life as well. I am becoming more authentic and conscious in my everyday choices. I’ve been wanting to move toward a more eco friendly life style for a very long time. Now I’m actually doing it. I’ve made small but impactful changes to my lifestyle as well. And I find that my psychic abilities are really benefiting from all this. Having a decluttered home as well as a decluttered mental space is a really powerful aid.

How’s it going for the rest of you?

February 21, 2019

How’s it going for the rest of you?

I'm still immersed in Depth Year, too. :) I'm using Tarot for Shadow Work this year - so I'm literally diving deep. lol

I'm also doing a low-buy rather than no-buy and that is proving to be quite easy, as it happens, and also very empowering. Instead of pressing the Buy button, I think "Do I really need this?" And more often than not, I can get the book (cos it's usually books I buy!) in the library. And if not that exact book, then a similar one on the same topic.

I don't buy Tarot decks very often. My last purchase was towards the end of last year, and it was the Deviant Moon borderless edition. In keeping with the theme of Depth Year, I'm limiting myself to just a few decks to work with; the Radiant RWS, the Sun & Moon Tarot, and, eventually, the Deviant Moon.

2019 got off to a really good start. I decluttered SO MUCH. That decluttering phase has petered out a bit, but I can still see the results of the declutter, so that helps to keep me motivated to not start accumulating again. I've been reading Dana K White's Decluttering at the Speed of Life - and not only does she share great tips, she's very funny. :D (The link goes to the Amazon AU site, but it's available on the US site as well. I think she's from Texas?)

I suppose I have decluttered in less visible ways, as well. For instance, I've been making more conscious choices about what I eat. No grains (although I'll have the occasional rice), no dairy, no sugar. Dark chocolate is non-negotiable, though. I just love it. But I don't eat as much of it as I used to, so I've decluttered a bit there too... O:-)

So yes, Depth Year is still going well, although the initial pizzazz has worn off a bit. :)

The concept of taking a Depth Year to evolve in your tarot practice

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