The history of the tarot is precarious at best, because the images of the cards evolved through many cultures throughout time until resolving into what they are today. They will continue to evolve. With each new artistic interpretation, reading, and teaching format, the cards and their meanings will change. However, it is likely that their archetypal significance will remain. Archetypes are those symbols that resonate at a deep level of shared human experience, easily recognized by just about any culture. The 22 major arcana of the tarot tell the story of the Fool as he explores who he is and how he fits into the grander scheme of things. His journey is that of every man and woman seeking meaning to their lives. Cultures have changed, contexts for the archetypes are different, and expectations have adapted to a modern world. However, the meanings of the archetypes have largely remained consistent, albeit altered over time. In this way, the tarot becomes an invaluable tool for readings and beyond. Tarot journaling is part of that beyond. Documenting thoughts and feelings is a meaningful act unto itself. Any writer, aspiring or working, will agree that writing is a journey into the unknown. The act of writing is gratifying, horrifying, and illuminating — except when it isn’t. Sometimes a blank page is alienating and overwhelming. Sometimes the words written are goofy, senseless, or embarrassing. Sometimes rejecting the words on the page resembles rejecting the self. These obstacles are enough to dishearten the journalizer, the serious writer, and everyone in between. However, overcoming these obstacles can intensify the joy that comes from writing and give greater meaning to committing words to the page. Although the map is not the territory, any good journey could use some guidance. The journey of the Fool offers guidance and helps a writer through the dynamics of a story. The best part about tarot journaling is that comprehensive knowledge of the tarot is not necessary because the journaling itself will contribute to this knowledge. In other words, using the tarot as a way of structuring the journaling process is a way of learning the meaning of the major arcana. Consider committing to a 22-week process. Six months only seems like a long and arduous chunk of time to commit. This time frame means that you commit to writing a minimum of once a week. The time frame and weekly intervals can easily be adjusted according to how much writing is done, the potency of the experience of each card, or any number of criteria that are circumstantial or personal. The greatest value of tarot journaling is seeing the Fool through to the World. The completion of the process allows for a greater frame of reference, a way of seeing series of experiences within a larger context. This is where one derives meaning. To stop midstream is to experience only a fraction of what is possible. In a world of instant gratification and vicarious thrill, commitment to a process is challenging. Do it anyway. Tarot journaling, at its very basic, is a simple and obvious process. Once a week (or during whatever intervals work), study one of the major arcana, beginning with the Fool and progressing in order through to the World. Focus journal writing accordingly. It may be useful to put the card where you can study it in passing: the refrigerator, the bathroom mirror, by the bed. Take the time to look at the card, sometimes thinking, sometimes not. Meditate on the card. Glance at it periodically throughout the day. Let the card slip into thoughts, feelings, and experiences while moving through the patterns of daily living. Set aside at least one hour per week to write. Write from the Fool’s point of view. In other words, you are the Fool. The Fool begins by experiencing himself and moves on to experience a short but poignant relationship with each of the major arcana. Translate thoughts and feelings through these relationships and through the Fool’s observations. There are no more rules than this. Some weeks will be easier than others. Some entries will be cleaner and more to the point than others. No matter. Keep moving ahead to the next card until you reach the World. It may be enough to move through the 22 major arcana, but consider taking a final step toward completion. The purpose of this step is to separate the writer from what was written. This is an editing process that demands the inner critic to stay silent. This piece of the process is not about self-analysis or how you judge your behavior, but about the writing. To begin compiling the work of the 22 major arcana, read all of the journal entries; read them a few times. The first reading or two may feel funny or invoke surprise, horror, rage, or amusement. Read and reread until these personal feelings are mostly set aside. In this way, the Fool becomes a separate character and you can focus on your journey. Identify the portions of the writing that hang together. Worry less about making the length of each card entry equal, and more about the fluidity. Perhaps one card entry will go on for two pages, another for only a few sentences. On a separate piece of paper or in a new document, bring the selected parts of the entries together. Deletions and additions are fine, but avoid rewriting. Rewriting can too easily bring out the inner critic, who has been known to put a damper on creative expression. Besides, the goal of completion is to articulate the journey so that a larger frame of reference can be seen, not to write the perfect piece. Following this process, endeavoring to create a final product is a worthy goal. This article looks at the basics of tarot journaling. Tarot journaling can incorporate more complex rituals and writing exercises, as well as hone in on prose, script, poetry, or other writing styles. It can be used as a tool to better understand the meaning of the cards. Ultimately, the relationship between the journey of the Fool and the dynamics that make for a good story resemble one another. Z. Sharon Glantz will teach a six-week class on Tarot Journaling at Astrology at Al ([206] 448-1095), beginning July 17. A reading of Tarot for Fools, a play she wrote in collaboration with Char Raynor, will be presented there on Sunday, July 22. She is working on her second novel. See some of her projects and virtual experiments at <http://www.konnexxus.com/>. |
The meaning of the tarot is directly related to the meaning of life. In other words, we create connections, correlate the symbols, and note our reactions as a means of deriving the meaning of each of the tarot cards. At the same time, we gain insights into the events of our daily lives. You can play a passive role, allowing a tarot reader to guide you, or you can take a more active role. Tarot journaling is an active way of making your life more meaningful.