How to Use Tarot for Personal Growth
When I share my love of Tarot with others, usually the first reaction I get is “Will I get a card that tells me I’m going to die?”
Which is why I’ve been so reticent to share this important spiritual practice here on my blog.
There are so many misconceptions about Tarot – it’s the Devil’s work, it’s for witches, it’s evil… you name it, I’ve heard it.
Most people are afraid of what they don’t know. We’re afraid of uncertainty, potential disappointment, possible harm or tragedy.
And seeing those things reflected back to us in a card is almost like holding up a mirror to our lives. But not in the way you might think.
Tarot is not a tool to predict the future or report on the past. Rather, it’s a spiritual practice that helps you center yourself in aligned introspection.
The cards can’t tell your future, but you can use the cards to get curious about what’s happening in the present moment.
Tarot is an important tool for practicing mindfulness, building your intuitive capacity, and deepening your trust in your inner wisdom, so you can answer your own questions about what’s happening in your life.
Like journaling, Tarot is at its most powerful when used for personal growth and development, especially when it comes to finding and living your life purpose.
Here’s how to use Tarot for personal growth:
Tarot Origins
The use of Tarot cards likely goes back to the 14th Century, when Mamluk game cards were brought from Turkey to Western Europe. These playing cards were usually hand-painted, which meant only wealthy families could partake in the fun.
By the 16th Century, the Italian Aristocracy played a game known as “tarocchi appropriati,” in which players were dealt random cards and used thematic associations with these cards to tell stories about one another. The cards were called, “sortes,” meaning “destinies,” which is why there’s often a mis-informed connotation that Tarot cards predict the future.
Tarot cards were originally designed as playing cards for a game similar to bridge, with no mystic or esoteric meanings behind them. Initially, the decks consisted of ten cards in four suits (cups, swords, coins/pentacles, staves/wands) with four court cards each (king, queen, knight, page). Later, trump cards and the Fool were added to create a deck of 78 cards. The trump cards are now known as the Major Arcana, and the suit cards are known as the Minor Arcana.
As times and cultures changed, so did the meaning of individual Tarot cards. Eventually, divinatory themes were associated with the cards, including the four elements (air, earth, water, fire), planets, and the Zodiac.
Traditional Tarot interpretations can be oppressive and patriarchal – consider the time in which they were created, and for whom. Wealthy, white men in Italy. There are often strong white-cis-male influences throughout Tarot guidebooks (for example: The Emperor is often described as a male leader or a strong male influence or father-figure in one’s life), which are not representative of the experiences of the collective.
A more inclusive approach to Tarot is to use it for personal introspection, not relying on the interpretations or meanings of the past, but to understand how each card relates to your own experience of life. To consider what’s happening in the present moment and how you can use each card to get curious and inquisitive about your own life.
Related: How Self-Awareness Builds Confidence
Tarot as an Introspective Tool
Because Tarot was used in games to create stories about the players’ lives, it’s not a far leap to consider that it can be used for introspection. Instead of wondering about your future or worrying about your past, you can use Tarot as an introspective tool to explore your present.
Introspection is a process that involves looking inward to examine your own thoughts, beliefs, judgements, and emotions. The term often refers to the informal process of exploring your inner life, but it also applies to a more formalized process that was once used as an experimental technique in psychology.
One introspective tool I advocate for is journaling. Journaling allows you to reflect on your life experiences, process difficult emotions, and create a space for you to better understand yourself. It’s especially powerful when you journal by hand, strengthening your mind-body connection.
Like journaling, Tarot is a powerful tool to help you reflect on your life, career, relationships, and inner world. It can help you identify the barriers keeping you stuck, the limiting beliefs holding you back, and the actions you need to take to move forward. Tarot helps you open your mind to new possibilities, increases your creativity, and can provide validation that you’re on the right path.
Tarot cards don’t report on your feelings, past experiences or future occurrences. They’re not saying, “this has happened to you,” or “this will happen to you.” Using Tarot is an opportunity to pay attention to what’s happening in the present moment. It’s an invitation to get curious about how you’re feeling, what you’re thinking, what action you’re currently taking, and what step or direction might feel most in alignment.
For example, pulling a card like the Five of Cups, which is traditionally associated with grief, isn’t telling you that you should be feeling grief. You might pull it on a day when you feel happy. But it is an invitation to ask yourself a question like, “where might I have residual grief over something?” or “is there something I need to continue to process.”
There’s a bit of nuance that goes into card interpretations, but the best ones aren’t found in the Tarot guidebooks. They’re the questions you ask yourself in aligned introspection.
Related: 7 Journal Prompts for an Abundance Mindset
Gaining Clarity on Your Path: Aligned Introspection
Aligned Introspection is about trusting your inner wisdom to find clarity in your path. Self-awareness is the foundation for any change you want to make in your life, and that’s never truer than when you’re on a journey to find your life purpose.
The number one question I’m asked about finding your purpose is: “how will I know when I’ve found it?”
It’s an interesting question, and I can’t give you that answer. You’re the only expert of your own life. Yet, most of us rely on the opinions of outside counsel – our family, friends, spiritual teachers, coaches, or therapists – when we could be strengthening our inner wisdom.
Journaling and meditation are excellent spiritual tools for aligned introspection, and you can continue to develop your inner wisdom through prayer, mantras, reading spiritual texts, or practicing Tarot.
At its most basic, aligned introspection is about paying attention, noticing the signs, messages, experiences, and emotions of the present moment. It’s rooted in mindfulness and presence. All you need to start is your intent.
My husband, Blake, teaches this concept in his tai chi and qigong classes: “Where your intent goes, energy goes; where energy goes, movement goes.”
So, in practicing aligned introspection, when you pay attention to what you’re thinking or how you’re feeling in any given moment, your intent is on the present. Here, you can start to notice energy in terms of signs or messages, but also your embodied energy or emotions, when it comes to taking an action or making a decision.
Practicing Tarot helps you build on aligned introspection through asking yourself questions and remaining curious. Tarot will not tell you what steps to take next, or what actions will lead you on the right path. The truth is: there is only one path. (But that’s a concept for another article!)
Another example: You may have several ideas for your business that you want to pursue, from starting a podcast to creating an online course, to setting up your Instagram account. And you may be wondering what you should do first, or you may be feeling overwhelmed with the small details that go into all of those initiatives.
Perhaps you pull a card like Ten of Wands. This is a card that invites you to consider how many “wands” or priorities you can carry without feeling burned out. It’s not telling you that you can’t do it all or to let go of some of your ideas; it’s an opportunity to reflect on your to-do list and start to prioritize. Through that process, you may find ways to check off two items with one action, you might decide you no longer need to complete certain steps, or you may consider delegating some actions to others who can help you.
And that’s just the beginning. There are limitless possibilities when it comes to using Tarot. You can turn to the cards to process deep emotions, then journal about your interpretation of the card. You could pull one card each day to serve as an anchor for the day until you get to know each of the cards. You can find questions, spreads, or prompts online, or you can start to create your own questions. What do you want to know about yourself or your path? That’s where the real magic is.
How to Get Started with Tarot
Getting started with Tarot is easier than you might think! You don’t have to be an expert, you don’t need to spend years memorizing the meanings of each card, and you don’t need to give up your other spiritual or religious practices. Tarot is a complement to your personal growth.
Start by purchasing a Tarot deck. The deck I use is the Linsestrider Tarot by Siolo Thompson. When I first started my Tarot practice, I used an app on my phone called Tarot Sampler. It had examples of cards from several popular decks, and over time, I started to lean towards the interpretations of a few different decks. I finally decided to purchase the Linestrider Tarot, because I felt the deepest connection to the imagery and interpretations of the cards. I also use the Vision Quest Tarot by Gayan S. Winter and Jo Dosé.
I mentioned previously, that many traditional Tarot card interpretations are rooted in the patriarchy. If you’re looking for more inclusive cards, try the Next World Tarot by Christy Road or Tarot of the Holy Spectrum by Chase Vorhees. It takes time to find a deck that resonates with you, so do your research, or start with the Tarot Sampler app to find a deck that you feel most connected to.
You’ll also need a journal and a pen. You can buy a separate journal to use for Tarot interpretations, or you can add this as a complement to your regular journal practice. Either way, journaling about the Tarot cards you pull and your experiences and questions is one of the best ways to strengthen your intuition and inner wisdom.
Next, pull one card and take a few moments to reflect on the card you pulled. Look at the images on the card, the colors, any symbols, people or animals you see. How do you feel as you look at the card? What immediate thoughts or phrases come to mind. For this part of the practice, don’t use the guidebook. Trust your intuition and what’s coming up for you. Later, you can return to the guidebook to learn the deck creator’s interpretation of the cards.
Once you spent a few moments reflecting on the card, write down some of your initial thoughts or reactions in your journal. This is a great time to get curious and ask yourself questions about the card and what it might be inviting you to consider.
You might ask questions like, “What should I be doing next?” or “How can I get past my fear?” or “What lesson am I meant to be learning in the moment?” or “What should I pay attention to?”
Now, turn to your guidebook (or any reference you have to the Tarot meanings), and read about the card. What can you infer from the author’s interpretation? Does it resonate with you? Does it bring up more questions? Does it match with what you’re feeling or thinking about the card?
It’s okay if your interpretation of the card and the author’s is different. In most cases, it will be because your life experiences are not the same as the author’s. There are really no rules here, no right or wrong interpretations. The key is to practice, trust yourself, and build your intuition so you can gain clarity on your own path.
If you’re looking for a more personalized, inclusive interpretation of Tarot, I highly recommend my teacher, Lindsay Mack, and her Tarot for the Wild Soul Course and Tarot for the Wild Soul Podcast. Much of my own interpretation comes from her lineage, my husband’s teaching of qigong, my readings on Daoism, and my coaching background. You’ll find a combination that works for you!
Three Cards to Connect to Your Inner Wisdom
Here are three cards you can start with as you build your own connection to your inner wisdom. Use these as anchors to help you on your journey of self-reflection and personal growth. Come back to these cards when you feel lost, stuck, or overwhelmed.
This is my intuitive download for each of these three cards. This may not resonate for you or you may have your own thoughts and nudges about what these cards mean. There is no right or wrong interpretation. Trust your inner wisdom. Trust what feels right for you.
The High Priestess: an invitation to get quiet and listen. Paying attention to what you feel, hear, think, or see. It’s an opportunity to trust your intuition, to trust what’s coming through for you. What thoughts or phrases come to mind? What are you aware of in the present moment? How might you get even quieter, listen more? How might you deepen your trust in yourself? I always think of meditation when I pull this card – how might you bring a little more meditation to your daily life? Practicing mindfulness and presence at all times.
The Hierophant: an invitation to trust our knowledge and experiences. Traditionally, this card is interpreted as following a teacher, or someone who is like a teacher in your life. A more inclusive and powerful meaning is an invitation to consider that you’re the best teacher in your life. You have the skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences to make the right decisions in your life. You don’t have to rely on what others do or say (when it comes to Tarot or anything else). You have everything you need to achieve your goals and dreams. How can you trust more deeply in that? What might need to be released in order for you to build that trust? Where are you the expert in your own life? What resonates for you? What doesn’t resonate? Can you create your own story or meaning or path?
The Sun: an invitation to remember who you are. What makes you unique? What gifts are you bringing into the world? What are your strengths? What do people turn to you for? How can you shine more brightly? How might you share your gifts with the world? What might need to be released for you to see yourself as you truly are? Who are you at your core? How can you illuminate the world with your light and give others permission to do the same? You have a right to show up brilliantly in the world – and the world needs you to share your gifts.
The Takeaway
Using Tarot for personal growth helps you tap into your inner wisdom. Tarot provides the space you need to dig deep and practice aligned introspection, and it allows you to reflect on what’s happening in the present moment, rather than getting lost in the past or future. Being still and present allows you to gain clarity on your path to purpose.
If you’re ready to discover your path to living your life purpose, sign up for my free 30-Day Life Purpose Challenge. Each day, you’ll have the opportunity to practice aligned introspection with journal prompts that help you get clear on what you love, what you’re good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs from you. You can pull a Tarot card each day to help you work through these deep questions, or you can write whatever is on your heart. Either way, this deep, introspective practice will help you find the clarity you need to discover and live your life purpose.
