Tarot deck shown is the Rider Waite Smith published by US Games. Photo by Magenta
We often use Tarot and Lenormand cards in a therapeutic sense, rather than a fortune telling sense, for personal development as well for professional development with leaders. This can be useful when figuring out what action needs to happen next and when we find ourselves not knowing what action needs to be taken. We have developed a tarot card spread for guiding what action needs to happen next in order to take back control.
How to Use Tarot To Take Action
When we use tarot cards for self-reflection, we tend to avoid “outcome” type interpretations, as we’re not trying to predict an outcome. We’re using the cards to reflect back the action that our unconscious mind already knows we have to do, but for whatever reason is eluding our conscious selves.
For this tarot card spread for taking action you will need a Tarot card deck and at least 20 minutes to give yourself enough time to explore the 6 cards, and their relationship to each other. Having the time to devote to each card ensures that you gain enough understanding not only from the meaning in the cards, but how they relate to each other in the context of their positions outlined below.
A Tarot Card Spread
For this spread you will need to shuffle the deck, selecting 6 cards in a way that resonates with you. You will then place the cards down as follows: 1 card in the centre vertically, one card laid over the top of the centre card horizontally, one card below the centre cards, , and one card to the left of the centre cards, one card above the centres cards and the final card to the right of the centre cards. Together the cards should form a cross:
How to read this Taking Action Spread
The spread is then read from the centre out, reading the cards vertically then horizontally.
The vertical centre card: This card is card number 1, and represents the issue right now.
The horizontal centre card: This card is card number 1, and represents fear.
Cards numbered 3 and 4: The cards numbered 3 and 4 are the unconscious and the conscious influences on this fear.
Cards numbered 5 and 6: The cards numbered 5 and 6 are the actions to take to move past the fear.
Card number 1 – This is the issue as it appears for you right now. This card is a summary of the main situation. It could be a summary of an event, your feelings, a difficult situation. It might be important to notice if this card is in the reversed position. When we read reversed cards, for us this can mean it’s an internal issue rather than something tangible in the real world.
Card number 2 – This is the fear behind the issue.This card describes the background, or history to this issue. It generally describes something that is being resisted, something triggering either a fear or stress response which is why action is stalling for you right now.
Card number 3 – The first of our influences. Card three can indicate the unconscious influences upon the situation and the fear cards. As it is unconscious, it may not be something that you recognise as being “true” right now, especially cards in the reversed position as reversed cards tend to mean they are internal to the self.
Card number 4 – The second of our influences. This card represents a more overt set of influences upon the situation and the fear cards. These are the conscious expressions, or the people and external stuff that influence the centre cards.
Card number 5 – The first of our action cards. This card represents a promise one makes to oneself. Take some time to see how this promise connects to the influences, and then how it connects to the centre cards.
Card number 6 – The second of our action cards. This card represents a place to start, when releasing the hold some of the other cards have on the situation. Take some time to see how this card connects back to the promise you have made. They should tell a story of how the promise leads to this action being possible, when you consider the influences at play.
How to Use Tarot To Take Action
With this tarot card spread for taking action, you should see how resistance and certain influences can affect the ability to take action, even if this is all going on in the background or unconsciously. Giving yourself plenty of time to read the story of the cards is what gives this spread extra impact. Make a start by using tarot to take action, and allow these mystical tools to reveal the secrets of your unconscious mind.
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