Meanings from Journalling

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 31 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Macavity	31 Jan 2004
Living dangerously (revisiting the debate on "intuition" versus "learning") I was interested in a rather different approach to journalling (perhaps) advocated by Mary K Greer in her "Tarot for Yourself"? My interest here is basically in what you, the journalists out there, actually write down... This seems to be the one approach: Draw daily card(s) and go through the symbolism, noting what it means to you (or indeed someone else OR via books etc.) This seems to act as a filter on a body of existing knowledge or experiences that are memorable to you? Another approach (MKG) seems to be: Draw daily card(s) and simply "live life" to the full! Work out (in retrospect), what the cards might "meant" by reviewing the day's events... BUT in the light of the cards drawn! I suspect MOST people might do a bit of both? I feel that is evidenced by the fact that even "static" Tarot meanings differ rather less than people might think... or perhaps assert? }) I sense the latter idea might be in-keeping with the "intuitive" approach and (theoretically) might produce unique meanings? Or maybe not... in a world of the archetype or collective unconcious! I imagine though, the "real life" approach might be useful - IF one leads an "interesting" life and has a lot of time? I cannot help but feel sometimes my own life rather recalls the message so critical to decoding German messages in the second word war: "Nicht zu melden" (Nothing to report?) :laugh: That does have it's advantages though... on (potential) "Tower Days" maybe... Macavity

Cerulean	31 Jan 2004
I sometimes do something a little different, that is at the end of the day, if I am thinking about events, sometimes I pull a card or do a few spread exercises and see if they relate to a summary of the day or if they are related to new plans. I scribble down a few notes and the next day, when I have time, I look again at my notes or the cards. Generally my mind does work on associating cards picked to ideas that I remember or scenes of the previous day. I think my self-readings take time to 'gel', so I read after the day has passed. Even though it would be fun to look forward to a card that I picked to in the morning if it's positive, when I first get up, a newsworthy or eventful card such as the Ten of Swords or the Devil is not always agreeable with my cup of tea. So my reflective nature enjoys using the cards to look backward and encapsulate ideas and gather wisdom. Best wishes, Mari H.

Macavity	31 Jan 2004
Thanks Mari. Interesting - Especially in that you are also reading for yourself. In retrospect, perhaps that is THE significant factor? Certainly calling a book "Tarot for Yourself" might imply that too - Doh! :laugh: But it's a good point re. "good/bad" cards and at the very start of the day! Maybe also there are almost two sets of meaning... a personal one and the more "consensus one" for other people? It's certainly not a technique I had come across before - Or at least in the sense of being described explicity! But perhaps indeed a LOT of people do just this sort of thing. Could be useful! I still imagine you'd need a lot of "statistcs" to find out what is really going on... :D Macavity

Moongold	05 Feb 2004
Hi Macavity, I pull three cards for the week, usually on Monday morning, and I journal as the need arises. I usually write something at least three times that week I bought a fountain pen so that I'd be tempted to handwrite rather than use the computer and this has worked. There is something more thoughtful and meditative about handwriting. Moongold

Astraea	05 Feb 2004
Hi, Moongold! Lately, what works best for me is to draw between one and three cards in the morning, and leave them face-down. I "live life" during the day, and at night look at the cards and see how they appy to whatever has transpired, on any level -- then I journal. It doesn't take a lot of time and has proven to be a very rewarding practice.

lark	05 Feb 2004
My approach is mixed. I pull a 5 card daily draw. Look it over and write on a little note pad my first intuitive reaction to the cards. This has often brought those little Ah- HA moments during the day as I recognize a card making its presence known. In the evening I go over the cards more carefully and write in my journal what I observed or came through during the day. If a card stumps me I'll do some book surfing. And jot down anything that makes sense.

The Meanings from Journalling thread was originally posted on 31 Jan 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.