A few years ago, while working in a bookshop, I started looking into Tarot cards. I brought a deck and a guidebook, and I loved it - but I was a tad overwhelmed by it too. I eventually placed it on the shelf, only glimpsing at it occasionally.

But over the last six months or so, I’ve been practicing Tarot again. I’ve gotten into a habit of drawing a single card for myself, every morning. Usually I just ask for a little guidance for the day. What should I be aware of today? What insight can this card give me to make the most of my day?

So today I thought I’d share with you my experience of learning Tarot and how it has helped guide and inspire me. I’ll also briefly talk about some of the misconceptions, and how Tarot can be used as a journaling prompt. 

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Hey everyone! Welcome back to my blog/YouTube channel, or if you’re just meeting me for the first time, hi! My name’s Ebonie and my new YouTube channel is all about productivity and wellness, with a spiritual spin!

Because I believe there are some tools and techniques that can be used to be more productive, creative, inspired and happier, that may be considered a little far-fetched or mystical. But as I’ll show you in today’s video, there’s much more to Tarot than what you might think… And whether you believe in Tarot’s supposed divining, magical ways, it can be very helpful and so much fun to learn about and incorporate into your day. 

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How I Draw my Daily Tarot Card

As I covered in last week’s video, I use a journaling tool called morning pages every morning. After I’ve scribbled down my three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing, I shuffle my tarot deck and draw a card.

I take a moment to look at the card first and see if anything comes to mind. Then I open up my guidebook, ‘The Tarot Bible’ by Sarah Bartlett, and read what it has to say. As always, scroll to the bottom of this blog post for more information and resources!

Because I’ve already got a notebook and pen in front of me from Morning Pages, I write about the Tarot card I’ve just drawn. I first summarise what the book has to say, then I try and interpret it myself, and how it relates to my life at the moment.

I write about how the card might inspire, teach or guide me. I use it for self-reflection or apply it to future plans or dreams. Just as with morning pages, I write whatever thoughts it brings to mind - letting the tarot card act as a journaling prompt of sorts!

I then place the chosen Tarot card on my desk, where I can see it throughout the day, reminding me of whatever message or story comes with the card.

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Whatever you might think about tarot, or spirituality in general - I honestly just enjoy doing a daily tarot reading on myself!

The way I see it is - even if it’s totally made up and purely coincidental, it’s still giving me some sense of guidance and direction. Because every card in the Tarot deck tells a story. Whatever card you choose, I’m sure there is some way to apply its meaning to your life.

But there are a lot of cards in the deck. Reading through their meanings at random to try and learn them, I can tell you, there are some I don’t relate to as much right now. Yet every day - whether you believe it’s just a coincidence or not - the card that I draw resonates with me each and every time.

Every single time, it’s on point. It’ll force me to realise something, or it will confirm what I already know to be true. It’ll reiterate what I’ve just written during morning pages, or it’ll echo my intention that I set during my cacao ceremony that morning.

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 After learning how to read and interpret Tarot for a little while now, I’ve become curious about the origins of Tarot cards. There are conflicting reports about how it came to be, and it seems that Tarot definitely draws inspiration from various cultures, religions, myths and legends.

It appears however that Scholars can agree on one thing – that Tarot first grew in popularity as a game in the 14th century, in Italy. It seems that as it continued to travel across the rest of the world, the meanings behind the cards became more spiritual. A sense of magic and mystery became synonymous with Tarot.

Who knows if Tarot was always used for divination and guidance, or how long it existed before the printing press enabled it to be distributed and shared far and wide? There are so many books on the subject, with many historical texts that appear to be more opinions than dependable resources. One thing is for certain – Tarot has divided opinions, and there are many misconceptions about it.

The guidebook I have by Sarah Bartlett reads:

“The tarot has been used over the centuries to divine the future and to discover hidden truths … The 78 cards in the tarot deck carry an extraordinary ability to mirror who you are … The tarot ‘speaks’ a language that is universal because it taps into the archetypal realms that permeate your unconscious.” —‘The Tarot Bible’ by Sarah Bartlett

Each card shows an archetypal image that reflects mystical and historical qualities. No matter what deck you choose (and there are so many now!) you will find similar stories and meanings embedded in the cards. How you interpret those stories for yourself or others may vary, but no matter what, Tarot speaks of a universal, relatable truth.

As Sarah Bartlett writes, “The tarot has become more than just a fortune-telling tool; it is a comprehensive voyage of self-discovery, a mysterious and ancient symbol of all that we are.”

Whether it’s purely coincidental, whether you want to really delve deeply into the meanings or just take it at surface value – each time I draw a Tarot card, I feel more connected to myself. Every card I draw brings me closer to figuring out who I am, what I want and how I can learn, grow and succeed.

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So what do you think about Tarot cards? Are you curious to give them a try for yourself? Even if you just use Tarot as a journaling tool or prompt, I think drawing just one card for myself each morning really is helpful. It’s a fun, easy way to get to know the Tarot cards and how to interpret them, without being too overwhelming!

Whatever your opinion on whether Tarot can predict the future, connect us with a higher sense of being, or act as a spiritual guide, each card can provide you with greater understanding or guidance, simply by telling you its universal story. Whether you believe in the magic of Tarot or think it’s just coincidental, I think it’s worth trying it for yourself, as a helpful tool for self-reflection, for guidance, or as a journaling or writing prompt.

There are so many resources that you can use – the website Biddy Tarot is fantastic in particular. Scroll to the bottom of this blog post to my recommended links that you can check out if you’re curious! Also, the Tarot deck I own is linked below too. 

There is so much more to cover about Tarot, but for today, I just wanted to introduce the idea of it and how I’ve been learning through drawing daily cards. As I learn more about it and start practicing different spreads and even try my hand at reading tarot for others, I’ll be sure to make more videos and write about it if you’re curious! If you have any questions or your own experiences to share, please comment down below! As always, I’d love to hear from you!

I hope you enjoyed today’s post in written and/or video format! Thank you so much for all your support so far, watching and subscribing - it truly means the world to me!

I’m so excited to keep posting every Thursday at 2pm, but between posts you can also catch me on all the social media @eboniehyland. I hope you’re all having a wonderful day! Thank you so much for reading and watching.

Until next week,

Ebonie

Resources & Recommendations

• Golden Universal Tarot Deck. Available at: Book Depository, Amazon, Dymocks

• Rider Waite Tarot Deck. Available at: Amazon

• ‘The Tarot Bible’ by Sarah Bartlett. Available at: Book Depository, Amazon, Dymocks

• Biddy Tarot website. A fantastic resource for all things Tarot related!

• ‘Tarot for Beginners: How I Use Tarot Cards for Self Discovery & Guidance’ — YouTube Video by Lavendaire: