Putitng your Deck under your Pillow?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 28 Apr 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

sleepygrl	28 Apr 2004
I've read a lot about how its a good way to connect with your cards. But here's my question.... Should I "sleep" on my cards if I have MAJOR sleeping issues? I'm always talking, walking, freaking out or doing something odd. I don't want to put my negative sleep habits on my cards. Call me silly maybe I'm way over thinking this? Just wanted to get some feed back. I'm feeling very connected with my cards and my readings are all going well but I just feel like any little bit helps... any thoughts? Nikki

cheekyminx	28 Apr 2004
Sleepygrl it is totally up to you. Some say sleep with all your cards under your pillow, others say sleep with one card a night. If your already feeling connected & are doing well with your readings then this is evidence enough that things are going great. Sleeping problems hey? I totally understand you. Have you tried putting some lavendar on your pillow case? Or placing an amethyst stone under your pillow? What do you feel is not making you not sleep well? What is your intuition telling you about all this?

sleepygrl	28 Apr 2004
Thanks for the great advise. I think just because I'm hesitant I am going to not put my cards under my pillow and think more on it. Actualy I've had sleep problems all of my life. I've never known what to do about it. I actually think I'm going to take your adivse and look into purchasing those items. Anythings gotta help. When I'm stressed out my sleep problems tend to increase. The talking in my sleep is non stop. Now that I live with my boyfriend I get to hear nightly stories about what I said or did in my sleep. It's very frustrating! But after almost 25 years of it I'm learning to cope. The only time I'm really frustrated with it is when I wake up and feel dumb or when I try and do stupid things like pull the tv down in the room. I'm going to try your tips. Any other suggestions? I'll take any at this point :)

cheekyminx	28 Apr 2004
I can totally relate to not sleeping well. It can be annoying at times, especially when someone tells you that it only takes about 10 minutes to fall asleep & then they open their eyes to the sound of the alarm clock. Some other things to try are; - don't eat anything after 7pm. Avoid coffee, sugar, chocolate - make sure you relax at least 1 hour before bedtime, watch t.v or jump on the computer - make a note of things that are worrying you, or playing on your mind. Keep a note pad next to your bed, next time you wake up in your sleep write down anything you can recall. Maybe your getting messages in your sleep? - Don't go to bed stressed, angry or upset. Clear your mind & tell yourself "i will deal with all this tomorrow" - Don't make not sleeping well a big deal, focus on other things in life - Doing some tarot work before bedtime might help. Every time I do a reading a feel tired, like i'm drained. That's all I can think of for now. Good luck!

Diana	28 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by cheekyminx Sleepygrl it is totally up to you. Some say sleep with all your cards under your pillow, others say sleep with one card a night. And there are also others who say that sleeping with cards is a new-agey and silly idea. Now please, I don't want anyone to feel hurt by what I just said. We all have our ideas about things, and I think sleeping with one's cards is silly. Some of my best friends sleep with their cards.

Lady Mary	28 Apr 2004
I'd never sleep with my cards under my pillow! Especially not with the Alchemical deck :D - I love my cards too much as that I'd take the risk of ruining them. And I don't see much sense in sleeping with my cards. Whenever I work or even play with my cards I trust that the energy is there and that they'll help me understand and that they'll give me guidance.

September Pixie	28 Apr 2004
When I first studied tarot.. I was REALLY young and didn't read any books.. I just bought a deck and began to use it.. I slept with mine under my pillow because it was the only place I could hide them (religious relatives who thought/think tarot is satans work.. yadda yadda yadda.. you all have heard the stories I am sure)... did it make me 'connect' any better or any worse..? hmm.. probably not. I am a very light sleeper.. so I don't have any worries about breaking, creasing, bending, harming the deck.. I wouldn't say this is something I would recommend unless someone was having trouble believing they could just open the deck and use it.. and this is merely for a suggestive state of relaxation.. you suggest they do something to connect - they do it, they allow themselves to feel more connected.. it really isn't anymore than that (in my opinion). If you are looking to cleanse them.. full moon, incense, praying, etc over them is a great way to begin.. basically do what you feel GOOD about doing.. and anything you feel negatively about - avoid. The only way to really connect with your cards is to use them.. pure and simple :)

cheekyminx	28 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Diana And there are also others who say that sleeping with cards is a new-agey and silly idea. Now please, I don't want anyone to feel hurt by what I just said. We all have our ideas about things, and I think sleeping with one's cards is silly. Some of my best friends sleep with their cards. I think I've only ever slept with my cards under the pillow once, many many years ago & have never done it again. I don't think that connected me at all, I guess if it would of then I'd be sleeping with the cards all time. Love affair of the centuary. But it is totally up to that person what they wish to do. My cards stay in a lovely carved wooden box & my other deck in some dark blue velvet. I do believe that ones cards need to be kept safe & protected.

Ravenswing	28 Apr 2004
Yes, I must admit it. I do sleep with my cards. but only one deck at a time, I'm very monogomous. But I also carry them with me wherever I go, shuffle them at every opportunity and pull a card to think about (usually one every hour or so. it's a sub-group of the card for the day) Energy considerations. That's my reasoning. Everything is energy; I want to interact with the cards, I keep them within my energy field. Lots of people say the cards are only pieces of printed cardboard. That may be so, but I take out the only in that statement. My belief is that I energize my cards-- they become an extension of me in a way. They are part of my framework of reality. But this is no more than how I see it. It has no reflection on the management. fly well Raven

Umbrae	28 Apr 2004
tap tap tap... you're WAYYYY over thinking this. Keep it simple.

Khatruman	28 Apr 2004
In my perspective, I look at a tarot deck as a book: Would sleeping with a book under your pillow help you get to know it better? Many college students fervently hope this type of osmosis will get them good grades. If you want to connect with the cards, read with the cards. Yes, it is much more work, and it would certainly seem comforting to believe that just sleeping with the cards will magically make them work for you. However, as with anything else, true work and study with it is the only way to really "connect" and be at one with the deck. Another analogy people often use here is thinking of the tarot as a "tool". If you are going to be proficient at a tool, you must use the tool.

Khatruman	28 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ravenswing Yes, I must admit it. I do sleep with my cards. but only one deck at a time, I'm very monogomous. Good to know you aren't a taro' playah!!! :D

Umbrae	28 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman Would sleeping with a book under your pillow help you get to know it better? …and then perhaps all my pragmatic friends are wacked... What if? For you, sleeping with the cards may be just the ticket! What if? Sleeping with the cards tells your ‘subconscious’ “New deck here…let’s work on opening that channel of communication…” What if? Sleep with the deck! Perhaps the Sleeping with the deck is a myth… What if it’s not? What if the message you send to your Higher Self by the ACT of placing the cards under the pillow begins to open a channel of communication so you are not so difficult during sleep time…Hmmmm? What if?

hedgecub	28 Apr 2004
The pragmatic approach would be to try it. If it works, keep it up. If it doesn't work, do something else. Why analyze when you can experiment? ;) *grins*

hyatt	28 Apr 2004
I'm a rowdy sleeper - I steal covers and I'm a kicker! I do sleep with my cards but only the first night I get them. Recently, I have been afraid that I might hurt them with all my moving about so I have started putting decks directly under my bed where my head is. I can't say if it works better or not - but i like doing it and i guess that is all that counts.

sleepygrl	29 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by hedgecub The pragmatic approach would be to try it. If it works, keep it up. If it doesn't work, do something else. Why analyze when you can experiment? ;) *grins* I think you hit it on the head. I'm gonna experiment and see how it goes. And if nothing comes of it or I don't "feel" it's right then I won't do it anymore. Gotta love the simple approach :)

cheekyminx	29 Apr 2004
some of you guys & gurls make me laugh, or put a big smile on my face

Phoenix Rising	29 Apr 2004
When I first began to study the tarot, I slept with the cards under my pillow, thinking that it would help me connect, as that was the said thing to do. But what actually made me wake up to the idea that it's not necessary is "How we are able to do readings for people, who live on the otherside of the world" We are so connected already. Frankly now, I don't put any rules, limits or restrictions on what I should and shouldn't do with my cards. It's all intent and trust.

smokey	29 Apr 2004
I do sleep w/my 2 main #1 & tru-blu personal faves(guess I got caught sleepin' roun'...hope my Bill doesn't see ...ya'll... Shhh!...ha ha!)As far as "connecting" w/'em when I first got 'em;hmm...I Think it made me Think I did,does that make sense? Far as any "clearer, intuitive" readings...no. This is just a personal "thing" I have between me & my ole pals.(under a big feather pillow,needless to say!) Under any & all circumstances,after tryin' it, only do What Feels Right...you'll know, lol

LaLa	29 Apr 2004
My bedside table is becoming quite cluttered as my small collection grows but this is a logical place to keep them since my days are so busy the only time I get the chance to unwind and focus on things is at bedtime. Instead of reading myself to sleep with some trashy romance novel I use my cards to unwind. Sometimes I'll do a spread on the spread (I have a big bed all to myself so I get no complaints) or I'll read a tarot book. The book of Thoth is my latest challenge (and unfortunately I haven't got real far - I keep falling asleep!!) still it's powerful food for the subconscious..

The Putitng your Deck under your Pillow? thread was originally posted on 28 Apr 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.