Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.
I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. Do you think there are other purposes for tarot other than divination?
I am here to tell you that you can use tarot to promote your creativity, especially if you are a writer.
That is good news for you. If you don’t feel comfortable with divination, that is okay.
You can still use tarot cards for creativity. Here is the thing: if you use tarot cards for creative writing, it can be fun and inspiring to spark your imagination and explore new ideas.
Are you ready to learn more about how you can incorporate tarot cards into your creative writing process? Okay, let’s go!
Set the Intention
Before you begin, set the intention to use the tarot cards as a creative tool. Clarify that you’re seeking inspiration and guidance for your writing project.
You are not using these cards for divination, only for creativity.
Therefore, if you are not open to divination and feel nervous about having a deck of tarot cards in your hands, remind yourself why you are using them.
You are doing it to stimulate your creative side so you can begin to do some creative writing.
Select a Tarot Card
Shuffle the tarot deck and select a card randomly.
Trust your intuition or use a specific spread, such as a single-card draw or a three-card spread, for past, present, and future influences.
It is up to you how you want to use it, as there are no rules for tarot, especially when using it for creative writing.
Some may find enough inspiration from drawing one card, and others may want to do a ten-card spread. You do what feels right to you.
Study Each Card
Briefly study the card’s imagery, colors, symbols, and overall mood. As you observe the card, pay attention to any emotions or thoughts.
And if you decide to pull a few cards to inspire you, study each card individually.
Take a pad of paper and pen, and write down all your thoughts and emotions when you look at each card. And there are no right or wrong answers to this.
Reflect on the Card’s Meaning
Consider the traditional meanings associated with the card, but also trust your interpretation and intuition.
Reflect on how the card’s themes, symbols, or energy resonate with your writing project or the specific aspect you’re focusing on.
For instance, the Six of Pentacles is a card that represents giving and receiving something physical, whether it has to do with money or materials.
But my interpretation of that card is giving and receiving energy and time.
Energy and time are physical anyway, but you never hear traditional tarot resources say that about the Six of Pentacles.
Start Writing
Start writing freely, allowing the card’s energy and symbolism to guide your words.
Write without judgment or self-editing, letting your thoughts flow naturally.
You can write a scene, a character description, a dialogue, or even a poem inspired by the card. It does not matter.
For example, if you pull the Three of Swords, Two of Cups, and Fool, you can write a sob-worthy story of how a couple who loved one another ended up breaking up and going their separate ways.
Once they went their different ways, they began to explore aspects of themselves that they never knew they had, which meant they went on exciting travel adventures or did some experimenting in other ways.
Explore Themes and Symbolism
Delve deeper into the card’s themes and symbolism. Consider how they can be incorporated into your writing project.
Explore how the card’s energy can influence your characters, plot, or setting.
By the way, here is what I do. I use the court cards and the Major Arcana cards to create characters and their personalities.
The Fool can represent someone who enjoys going on one adventure after another and is not afraid to push their comfort zone.
The Queen of Cups can be someone in the story which is always there for everyone else, supporting them emotionally but tends to forget about her needs.
The Minor Arcana cards can reflect on aspects of their personalities or experiences.
They can also serve as events that take place in the story.
For example, if you pull the Three of Cups, you can include a part of the story about friends going out and having fun, or you can write about a couple having a baby.
That all depends on what you want for your story. The Minor Arcana cards are also suitable for setting the plot.
You can repeat the process with additional cards to explore different aspects of your writing project or gain further inspiration.
You can draw multiple cards and weave their meanings together in your writing.
After your writing session, take some time to reflect on what you’ve written and how the tarot cards have influenced your creative process. Look for connections, insights, or new ideas from this exercise.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week, let's laugh as I will go over some of the silliest questions that were asked of tarot readers.
There are no dumb questions, but these are definitely silly.
This will be my last solo show, and as of February, I will be beginning to host guests.
That will be exciting, as I have some lined up already. And stay tuned for that announcement. Until then, see you next time. Ciao for now.
Episode007 - Yes! You Can Use Your Tarot Cards for Creative Writing!