The Power of Tarot Journaling: How It Can Support Your Mental Health

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your own emotions or struggled with stress and anxiety? Sometimes, it can be difficult to find an outlet for these feelings. However, what if you could use a deck of Tarot cards to access insights and guidance for improving your mental health? Tarot journaling has become increasingly popular due to its many benefits for emotional well-being. In this article, we will explore how regular tarot journaling can help reduce stress and anxiety, increase self-awareness, and provide a creative outlet for expression. Additionally, we will provide tips for getting started with tarot journaling and incorporating it into your daily routine.

How Tarot Journaling Can Improve Your Mental Health

Tarot journaling is a popular practice that has been gaining recognition as a useful tool for promoting mental well-being. Regular tarot journaling can help improve your mental health, and there are several scientific reasons for this. Tarot journaling has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety, increase self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and serve as a creative outlet for self-expression. By putting your thoughts and emotions into words, you can gain insights into your inner self and find clarity in your life. In the following sections, we will explore each of these benefits in detail and provide guidance on how to incorporate tarot journaling into your daily routine. Plus, we will share some helpful tarot journaling prompts that you can use to deepen your practice.

1. Helps to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Tarot journaling is an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety, and it can bring about a sense of calm and inner peace to your life. The act of writing down your thoughts, feelings, and emotions can be a powerful tool in managing stress and anxiety. By doing so, you are able to process and release negative emotions, which can help you feel more relaxed and at ease.

Here are some specific ways in which tarot journaling can help reduce stress and anxiety:

• Provides a safe space for self-expression: Journaling can be a safe and effective way to express your feelings without fear of judgment or rejection. When you combine journaling with tarot, you allow yourself an even deeper level of introspection and connection to your innermost thoughts and emotions.
• Encourages mindfulness: When you engage in tarot journaling, you become more mindful of your thoughts and feelings. This mindfulness can help you gain a better understanding of your emotions and allow you to identify patterns in your behavior.
• Develops self-compassion: Tarot journaling can help you learn to be kinder and more compassionate toward yourself. You can use tarot to gain insights into your strengths and limitations, and you can use journaling to reflect on your experiences with a greater sense of self-compassion.

If you struggle with stress and anxiety, consider trying tarot journaling as a way to manage these feelings. You can begin by setting an intention for your journaling practice and choosing a tarot deck that resonates with you. From there, find a quiet and comfortable place to write and create a sacred space that feels safe and supportive. Use journal prompts or spreads to guide your writing process and make a habit of incorporating tarot journaling into your daily routine. For more guidance and inspiration, check out these tarot journaling prompts for mindfulness or these journal prompts for self-compassion.

2. Increases Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence

Regular tarot journaling can have a significant impact on one’s self-awareness and emotional intelligence. By using tarot as a tool for introspection and reflection, individuals may gain a deeper understanding of their own feelings, behaviors, and patterns. This increased self-awareness can help individuals identify and tackle issues that could be affecting their mental health. It can also help them develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding towards others.

Tarot cards often depict archetypes and universal human experiences, which can help individuals connect with their own emotions and motivations. The images and symbols on the cards can act as prompts for reflection and provide a safe space for individuals to explore their own thoughts and feelings.

Journaling about tarot readings can lead to a greater understanding of one’s own values and beliefs. This understanding can help individuals become more aware of how these values and beliefs may be impacting their thoughts and behaviors, and can help them make more intentional choices in their lives. For example, a tarot reading may reveal that an individual is holding onto a limiting belief that is preventing them from reaching their goals. They can use this information to challenge the belief and work towards a more positive, growth-oriented mindset.

By incorporating regular tarot journaling into their lives, individuals can also develop their emotional intelligence. This involves being aware of one’s own emotions and understanding how to manage them effectively, as well as being aware of others’ emotions and responding to them with empathy and understanding. Tarot journaling can help individuals become more attuned to their own emotional states and provide them with a framework for managing difficult emotions.

Regular tarot journaling can be a powerful tool for improving mental health and increasing self-awareness and emotional intelligence. By connecting with their own feelings and motivations, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world. Internal link: Journaling prompts for tarot archetypes.

3. Provides a Creative Outlet for Expression

Journaling with tarot provides a unique and valuable opportunity for creative expression. It allows you to dig deep into your thoughts and feelings, and use your imagination to explore solutions to problems or challenges.

Tarot journaling encourages creativity: Tarot journaling involves more than just writing down your interpretations of cards. It’s an opportunity to use your imagination and creativity to develop new ideas and insights, and find inspiration for creative projects. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or musician, tarot journaling can serve as a powerful tool for enhancing your creativity.

It helps you explore different perspectives: Tarot cards are rich with symbols and meanings, and each deck has its own unique artwork and interpretations. As you journal with tarot, you’ll discover new insights into your life and your situation. It allows you to look at challenges from a different perspective that you may not have thought of before.

Tarot journaling helps to unleash your emotions: Using tarot as a tool for journaling can also help unleash your emotions. The process allows you to delve into your feelings and write about them in a safe and non-judgmental way. This can be incredibly cathartic and can help you gain a better understanding of yourself.

You’ll experience personal growth: Regular tarot journaling can also lead to personal growth. As you explore the symbolism of the cards, you’ll begin to gain insights into your own life and identify areas where you need to focus your attention. In turn, this can help you better understand yourself and bring about positive changes in your life.

It’s a great way to set and achieve goals: Tarot journaling is also a helpful tool for setting and achieving your goals. You can choose specific cards that represent your goals or use tarot spreads designed for goal setting and manifestation. By committing your goals to paper, you can create a more concrete plan for achieving them.

By using tarot journaling as a creative outlet, you can gain insights into your own thoughts and emotions, explore different perspectives, experience personal growth, and set and achieve goals. To get started, try using one of the many tarot journaling prompts available online or create your own prompts based on your personal situation.

Getting Started with Tarot Journaling

When starting with tarot journaling, it’s important to remember that the practice is all about personal reflection and growth. By connecting with your inner self and intuition, you can gain valuable insights and improve your mental health. Here are some steps you can take to begin your tarot journaling journey: set an intention, choose a tarot deck, find a quiet space, create a sacred space, get comfortable and center yourself, shuffle and draw cards, write down your thoughts and reflections. To delve deeper into specific topics such as decision-making, relationships, or goal-setting, you can try out tarot journaling prompts for relationships, decision-making, or goal-setting manifestation spreads. Another useful incorporation of tarot journaling is reflecting on your role in life.

1. Set an Intention

Setting an intention before starting tarot journaling can be an incredibly powerful way to focus your mind and center yourself. It’s a way of inviting a certain energy or message into your practice that can guide you towards deeper insights and understanding.

Why is it important to set an intention?

When we set an intention, we’re essentially declaring our purpose or goal for a specific period of time. By doing this, we’re giving ourselves a sense of direction and clarity that can help us stay focused and motivated.

In the context of tarot journaling, setting an intention can help us approach the practice with a specific mindset or perspective. For example, if our intention is to cultivate self-compassion, we might choose to focus on cards that relate to that theme and use prompts that encourage us to explore our own relationship with self-compassion.

How to set an intention for tarot journaling

There are many different ways to set an intention for tarot journaling, but here are a few ideas to consider:

1. Reflect on your current needs	Before starting your session, take a few minutes to check in with yourself and identify any areas of your life that feel particularly challenging or important right now. Consider how you might use your tarot practice to support yourself in these areas, and set an intention that aligns with your goals.
2. Use a specific prompt or spread	If you already have a specific question or prompt in mind, you can use that as the basis for your intention. For example, if you’re using a spread that focuses on career goals, your intention might be to gain insight into your career path and identify ways to move forward.
3. Draw a card for guidance	If you’re not sure what your intention should be, consider drawing a card for guidance. Choose a card that represents the energy or message you want to invite into your practice, and use that as a starting point for your journaling.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose an intention that feels meaningful and relevant to you. By doing so, you’ll be more likely to stay engaged and focused throughout your tarot journaling practice.

If you want to explore this topic further, check out our article on The Role of Reflection in Tarot Journaling.

2. Choose a Tarot Deck

When it comes to tarot journaling, choosing the right tarot deck is essential to ensure that you connect with the cards and get the most out of your practice. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right deck for you:

• Consider the Intention: Think about why you want to start tarot journaling and what you hope to gain from the practice. Choose a deck that aligns with your intentions to enhance your connection to the cards.
• Explore Different Styles: There are many different styles of tarot decks available, from classic Rider-Waite-Smith to modern and abstract designs. Research and explore different styles to determine which resonates with you the most.
• Choose Based on Symbolism: Each tarot deck has its own unique symbolism that can influence the interpretations of the cards. Look for a deck that aligns with your beliefs and resonates with you emotionally.
• Consider Your Level of Experience: If you are new to tarot, consider starting with a deck that is easy to understand and straightforward. This will help you build your confidence and deepen your understanding of the cards.
• Trust Your Intuition: Ultimately, the decision of which deck to choose should come down to your intuition. Don’t be afraid to take your time, explore different decks, and choose the one that speaks to you on a deep level.

Remember, the most important thing is that you feel connected to your tarot deck and that it enhances your tarot journaling practice. Take the time to explore different options and choose the deck that feels right for you.

3. Find a Quiet Space

Finding a quiet space to embark on your tarot journaling journey is essential for the process. Not only does it allow for optimal concentration, but it creates a peaceful environment where you can focus on deepening your inner thoughts and self-awareness. Here are some tips for finding a quiet space for your tarot journaling practice:

Create Boundaries	Ensure that your space is a private area where you can be alone and free from distractions. Create boundaries by letting others know that you need some alone time for self-reflection and ask that they respect your privacy.
Choose a Comfortable Area	Make sure that you are in a comfortable and safe space where you can relax and not feel physically tense. You can incorporate comfortable seating, blankets or pillows to improve your comfort level.
Avoid Clutter and Distractions	It is important that your space is clean and uncluttered to reduce distractions during your practice. Turn off your phone or any network-connected devices and resist any temptation to tidy up the space during your reflective time.
Lighting	Choose a space that is not too dim or dark but also not too bright where it can cause visual strain. A balance of natural and ambient lighting is optimal but if it’s not possible you can use lamps or candles.
Sound	Background sounds can help you focus and reduce external distractions. Consider playing soft, calming music or natural soundscapes like the ocean or a forest. Use headphones if necessary so others in the house will not be disturbed.

By finding a quiet space that feels safe and comfortable, you create an optimal environment for tarot journaling that can enhance the overall journaling experience.

4. Create a Sacred Space

Creating a sacred space for tarot journaling is an important step in setting the intention for your practice. Here are some steps you can take to create your own sacred space:

• Cleanse the area: Before you start, it’s important to clear the energy in the space. You can do this by smudging with sage or palo santo, or lighting candles or incense. This can help to create a sense of calm and relaxation.
• Add personal touches: Your sacred space should reflect your personal style and preferences. Add items that have special meaning to you, such as crystals or symbols. You could also include plants, artwork, or photographs.
• Create a comfortable environment: Make sure you have a comfortable place to sit, such as a cushion or chair. Use soft lighting or natural light if possible, and play calming music if it helps you to relax.
• Set boundaries: Let others in your household know that you need privacy and uninterrupted time during your tarot journaling practice. You could also set boundaries for yourself, such as turning off your phone or avoiding distractions.

By taking the time to create a sacred space for your tarot journaling practice, you are setting the intention for an intentional and meaningful experience. This can help you to feel more focused and present during your practice, and can contribute to a greater sense of overall well-being.

5. Get Comfortable and Center Yourself

In order to fully immerse yourself into the practice of tarot journaling and reap its benefits for your mental health, it is important to get comfortable and center yourself before beginning your session.

Getting comfortable: Choose a quiet and comfortable location where you can focus without any distractions. Sit in a comfortable position as per your preference, such as cross-legged or in a chair, and make sure that your posture is alert yet relaxed.

Tip:	Avoid slouching or leaning on any support as this can hinder the flow of energy.

Centering yourself: One of the most important aspects of tarot journaling is to be in a calm and centered state of mind. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly to release any tension or anxiety. Clear your mind of any thoughts and focus on the present moment.

Tip:	You can also try using guided meditations or breathing exercises to help you get into a centered state of mind.

By getting comfortable and centering yourself, you are creating a conducive atmosphere for a successful tarot journaling session. This will help you to fully immerse yourself in the practice and enable you to derive the maximum benefits for your mental health.

6. Shuffle and Draw Cards

At this point, it’s time to shuffle your tarot deck and draw your cards. To begin, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and focus your energy on the deck in front of you. Use the ritual of shuffling the deck to connect with the cards and clear your mind of any distractions or negative energy.

When you feel ready, draw as many cards as you like, either randomly or using a specific spread or question. Remember, there are no set rules when it comes to tarot journaling, and you don’t have to draw a certain number of cards or perform a specific spread.

Take your time and focus on each card individually. Pay attention to the symbols, colors, and imagery on the cards. What do they represent to you? What emotions or thoughts do they evoke? Write down your initial impressions and any thoughts or feelings that come to mind as you look at each card.

It’s important to trust your intuition and not overthink the meanings of the cards. Remember, tarot is a tool to connect with your inner wisdom and guidance. Allow yourself to be open to the insights and messages that come through each card.

Once you have drawn and reflected on your cards, it’s time to move on to the next step of the tarot journaling process, which is to write down your thoughts and reflections.

7. Write Down Your Thoughts and Reflections

After you have drawn the cards and reflected on their meanings, it’s time to start journaling. Writing down your thoughts and reflections is a crucial step in the tarot journaling process. Here are some tips for getting the most out of this step:

• Be honest: Write down how you truly feel, even if it’s not what you wanted to hear. Honesty is key to gaining insight and making progress.
• Be specific: Don’t just write vague statements. Instead, be specific about your thoughts and the cards you drew. This will help you see patterns and connections over time.
• Reflect on the meaning: Think about what the cards are trying to tell you, and how they relate to your life. Write down any insights that come to you.
• Ask yourself questions: Use your journaling as a way to ask yourself questions about your life, your beliefs, and your goals. This can help you gain clarity and identify areas for growth.
• Set intentions: Use your journaling to set intentions for the future. Write down what you want to manifest, and how you plan to get there.
• Review your entries: Periodically review your journal entries to see how far you’ve come and how much you’ve grown. This can be a powerful motivator to keep going.

By taking the time to write down your thoughts and reflections, you can gain valuable insights, reduce stress, and improve your mental health. It’s a simple but powerful practice that can help you navigate life’s challenges with more clarity and confidence.

How to Incorporate Tarot Journaling into Your Daily Routine

In order to fully reap the benefits of tarot journaling for mental health, it’s important to incorporate it into your daily routine. But how can you create a consistent practice of tarot journaling without feeling overwhelmed or unsure of where to start? In this section, we’ll explore some practical tips and strategies for making tarot journaling a regular part of your daily routine, so you can continue to experience the transformative power of this practice in your life.

1. Make It a Habit

Developing a habit of tarot journaling is key to reaping the benefits of this practice on your mental health. It takes consistency and commitment to fully integrate it into your daily routine. Here are some tips to help you make it a habit:

• Start small: Begin by setting a goal to journal for just 5-10 minutes each day. This will help make the habit more manageable and less overwhelming.
• Be consistent: Try to journal at the same time every day, whether it’s in the morning, during lunch break, or before bed. Consistency is key when forming a new habit.
• Keep it visible: Keep your tarot deck and journal in a visible, accessible place to remind you to take a few minutes out of your day to journal.
• Reward yourself: Celebrate small victories along the way by rewarding yourself for consistently journaling for a week or a month.
• Track your progress: Keep track of how you feel before and after journaling. This can help you see the positive impacts it is having on your mental health and keep you motivated to continue the habit.

Remember, forming a new habit takes time and effort. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss a day or two. Just pick it up again the next day and keep moving forward. Over time, tarot journaling will become a natural and beneficial part of your daily routine.

2. Set Aside Time Each Day

A consistent and steady practice of tarot journaling can lead to several mental health benefits. However, it can be challenging to incorporate a new habit into an already busy routine. One effective way to make tarot journaling a regular part of your daily routine is to set aside time each day for this practice. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

• Create a schedule: Start by blocking off a specific time in your daily schedule for tarot journaling. This can be any time that is convenient for you, such as in the morning or before bed. Make sure to set realistic expectations by allowing enough time for your tarot reading and journaling process.
• Stick to your commitment: Treat this time as a non-negotiable commitment to yourself. Avoid distractions or interruptions during this time and make it a priority in your day.
• Make it enjoyable: Incorporating tarot journaling into your daily routine should be something you look forward to. Make your space comfortable and add elements that help you relax during the process. Consider lighting candles or incense or playing relaxing background music.
• Track your progress: Keeping track of your daily tarot journaling practice can be motivating and encourage you to keep going. Use a journal, planner, or app to track your progress and hold yourself accountable.
• Adjust as needed: Remember that life happens, and you may need to adjust your tarot journaling schedule at times. Be flexible and open to adapting your practice according to your changing needs and schedule.

Remember, setting aside time each day for tarot journaling is a powerful tool for improving your mental health. Once you have established this habit, you may find it easier to manage stress and anxiety, gain self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and tap into your creativity.

3. Create a Ritual

Creating a ritual around Tarot journaling can help to enhance the experience and make it feel more sacred. A ritual can be as simple or elaborate as you wish, but it should involve setting the intention to connect with your inner self and the Tarot cards. Below are some suggestions for creating a Tarot journaling ritual:

Step 1:	Choose a special space in your home where you can perform your ritual without interruption. It could be a corner of your bedroom or a specific room dedicated to your spiritual practice.
Step 2:	Gather the tools and supplies you need for your ritual. This could include candles, incense, crystals, or any other items that hold personal significance for you.
Step 3:	Set the mood by dimming the lights, playing soft music, or any other activity that helps to create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere for your practice.
Step 4:	Take a moment to ground yourself by taking a few deep breaths and focusing your attention inward.
Step 5:	Light your candles and/or incense as a symbol of the light and energy you are bringing to your practice
Step 6:	Choose a deck of Tarot cards that resonates with you and begin shuffling while focusing on your intention for the session.
Step 7:	Draw your cards and spend time contemplating their meanings while writing down your thoughts and feelings in your journal.
Step 8:	When you are finished, take a few minutes to express gratitude for the insights you have gained and for the opportunity to connect with your higher self through the Tarot.

By creating a ritual around your Tarot journaling practice, you are sending a message to your subconscious that this is an important and sacred part of your life. This can help to deepen your intuitive connection to the cards and your inner wisdom, leading to a more rewarding and fulfilling practice.

4. Use Prompts or Spreads

One way to make tarot journaling a more structured and guided practice is to use prompts or spreads. Prompts can be questions or statements that help stimulate your thoughts and inspire you to reflect on particular aspects of your life or psyche. Spreads, on the other hand, are specific layouts of tarot cards that offer a framework for interpretation and exploration.

• Prompts:

Prompts can vary widely in nature, depending on your personal interests and needs. Some examples of prompts you can use for tarot journaling include:

• “What do I need to know about my current situation?”
• “What patterns or habits am I stuck in, and how can I break free from them?”
• “What actions can I take to improve my relationships?”
• “What strengths and weaknesses am I currently facing, and how can I leverage them to my advantage?”
• “What lessons can I learn from my past experiences, both positive and negative?”
• “What is my purpose or calling in life, and how can I align myself with it?”
• “How can I cultivate more self-love and compassion?”

• Spreads:

Spreads can range from simple three-card layouts to more complex arrangements involving multiple decks or positions.

• A popular three-card spread is the “past-present-future” spread, which involves drawing three cards to represent these three time periods and gain insight into how they are connected.
• The “Celtic Cross” spread is a more elaborate layout that involves ten cards arranged in a specific pattern to explore different aspects of a situation or question.
• Other spreads may focus on specific themes or energies, such as love, career, or personal growth.

Using prompts or spreads can help give you direction and focus in your tarot journaling practice, and provide a framework for exploring different aspects of your life and psyche. However, don’t feel limited by them – feel free to experiment with different prompts and spreads or create your own to suit your unique needs and interests.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s clear that regular tarot journaling has a multitude of benefits for improving one’s mental health. By reducing stress and anxiety, increasing self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and providing a creative outlet for expression, tarot journaling offers a holistic approach to wellness.

The process of tarot journaling involves setting an intention, choosing a deck, finding a quiet and sacred space, shuffling and drawing cards, and writing down thoughts and reflections. By incorporating this practice into your daily routine through habitualization, setting aside time each day, creating a ritual, and using prompts or spreads, you can make the most of the numerous benefits.

Ultimately, tarot journaling can be a powerful tool for self-exploration, personal growth, and mental wellbeing. So why not give it a try? Whether you’re a seasoned tarot reader or a novice, the practice of journaling can help you deepen your connection with the cards and yourself. Remember that there’s no right or wrong way to do it, and that the most important thing is to approach the process with an open heart and mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can tarot journaling replace therapy?

No, tarot journaling cannot replace therapy. However, it can be used as a tool to enhance therapy or as a form of self-reflection for self-improvement.

2. Is tarot journaling only for experienced readers?

No, anyone can start tarot journaling regardless of their level of experience with reading tarot cards. It’s a personal practice that can be adapted to individual needs and preferences.

3. What if I don’t have a quiet space to practice tarot journaling?

It’s important to find a space where you can retreat and focus your attention inward. If a quiet space isn’t available, consider using noise-cancelling headphones or playing calming music to block out distractions.

4. How can I choose the right tarot deck for me?

Choosing a tarot deck can be a personal and intuitive process. It’s important to select a deck that visually resonates with you and feels comfortable to hold and shuffle.

5. Can tarot journaling be done digitally?

Yes, tarot journaling can be done digitally through the use of apps or websites that offer virtual tarot decks. However, many believe that physically interacting with the cards can deepen the connection and understanding of the messages received.

6. How can tarot journaling help with decision making?

Tarot journaling can help provide insight and clarity when making difficult decisions. It allows for introspection and examination of different perspectives, leading to a better understanding of potential outcomes.

7. Do I have to write my reflections after every tarot reading?

While it’s recommended to write down your thoughts and reflections after each tarot reading to track your progress and patterns, it’s not necessary to do so every time. Do what feels authentic to your practice.

8. Can tarot journaling be done as a group activity?

Yes, tarot journaling can be a great way to connect with others and share insights and interpretations. It can also create a supportive and accountable community for personal growth.

9. How long should a tarot journaling session last?

The length of a tarot journaling session can vary depending on personal preference and availability. It can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or longer.

10. Can tarot journaling be used as a form of meditation?

Yes, tarot journaling can be a meditative practice that offers a similar experience of mindfulness and introspection. It’s a way to focus your attention inward and connect with your subconscious mind.

References

• Does Tarot Count as Therapy?
• Cold reading