Imbolc 1998 Newsletter Tarot Meditation By Colin

I really like the tarot cards and I find them very good to get into the subconscious with. Hence this article on Tarot meditation. The meditation can take a while to become experienced in but it is amazing the things that 'can happen'. The purpose of the meditation is to contact the powers of the subconscious, in some cases by the use of symbols, e.g., the Tarot. It is a language by which the inner worlds communicate. Meditation is a means of using symbols as a ladder or gateway from the conscious mind to the higher self. The tarot speaks in the language of symbols, the language of the subconscious and with it can open doors into hidden areas of the mind. Tarot meditation is to put ones self in an imaginative way into each card in turn, getting the feel of each and uncovering its meaning in relation to oneself. It will be a personal message even though it will have a message concerning everyone. The symbolisms of the cards (major arcana only), are so revealling in richness and depth that fresh ideas and possibilities are explored each time. The cards are used in sequence (i.e., 0 thru 22). Each card can lead on to the other or you can just meditate by using only one card for a long or short time. The sequence must, however continue, it could possibly take weeks to continue. I suggest that one does not meditate for more than 15 to 20 minutes. To begin with find a nice quiet spot, take the phone off the hook and slightly dim the lights. Relax yourself from head to toe using a usual meditation technique. This is done sitting in a chair in front of a table with the selected card upright in front of you. Look at the card and study it. Study every aspect in the card- colour, style, composition, objects, people etc. Now you can do one of two things: 1. Close your eyes and meditate on the card remembering everything you saw in the card; or, 2. Keep your eyes on the card and meditate on the card while looking at everything that is in the card. Now comes the hard part - step inside the card, mix with the images or people and see what happens- remember that you must be in a meditative state to achieve this, i.e. you must be in your subconscious. It is now up to you to observe what happens. Only positive and good images will appear, they can be new ideas, new symbols to add more meaning to the card, the image may move, and/or speak. Take note of what happens and look for hidden messages. Use all of your senses to pick up any messages, ideas or meanings. If you are artistic you may like to paint or draw what you saw as a reminder of your experience. Now return to your chair and come back to your conscious mind slowly, i.e., awakening your body from head to toe until you are back in the room in your chair in front of the table. This process reveals insight and relevance to things significant to you and or people associated with you.

(Thanks Colin for another wonderful article. I especially like the idea of painting or recording your experiences, I find this to be a fantastic way of internalising a particular concept, feeling or idea. Tarot meditation is particularly useful for getting to know your cards. If you have not had a chance to experience this, and do not have a set of cards, please write a short article or poem about something from your local area and I can send a sample pack of cards to you. I only have a limited number of these decks, so first in will be first served. - ed)