mental reading in the insomniac hours

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Imagemaker	20 Feb 2005
Last night I tried something new with the cards in my insomniac meditation (this is where I unwillingly lie awake for hours, practicing relaxation and breath focus instead of sleeping). I tried a mental 3-card PPF reading. Without choosing any particular deck, I visualized shuffing the cards, cutting them as I do in actuality, and turning up a card for past. I waited for an instant and the 2 of pents came to mind. Then I did the same for present (Q of cups) and future (Temperance). And was pleased to note that these did indeed reflect my role in a recent family crisis. I was very pleased to see the mental Temperance turn up. That's always a positive card for me. In each mental cut and reveal, I just took the first card that came to mind. It was words, not an image, but I immediately associated a Robin Wood image with the words, which held the "draw." And I was able to go to sleep comforted by the positiveness of the future card. Then today I got an email that the crisis had been resolved with a blending of the 2 persons' concerns. And I saw my role (as Temperance) was to keep one foot in the situation (which has future tentacles) and one on solid ground, advising moderation instead of retaliation. I don't have a need to analyze whether this was my intuition or wishful thinking or access to the akashic records. All I know is the images reflected my perspective on the situation. Interesting experiment . . . don't know how big a spread I could do, anyone else want to try this?

Moonbow*	20 Feb 2005
Interesting experiment Imagemaker. I would usually be tempted to get out of bed and use the actual cards rather than shuffle and choose in my minds eye. But I'm not against having a go at this next time. Makes me wonder if your mind kept you awake for the very reason of settling this issue. Once settled in your mind, you then slept. For many years now, I have found that I solve problems while asleep, when I wake up they are sorted. It's as though I either put them to the back of my mind in daylight hours - when life can be hectic. Manys the time that I have remembered appointments (date and time) during my sleep.

Imagemaker	20 Feb 2005
Quote: Makes me wonder if your mind kept you awake for the very reason of settling this issue If so, then it's keeping me awake entirely too much over the years :-) And in this situation I had no power except as an advisor to one person of the 2. But indeed, the previous week had been one of total grief for me (in fear of their relationship breaking up), so this mental imagery came as a comfort. I'd done some readings on my role in the situation, but recognized that whatever turned up, my deep emotional anxiety would affect my reading, so took none of them as more than just information. I can detach and observe quite well from years of meditation, but in this case, my heart ripped apart. Just when I think I can handle anything, the universe says, "try this." I did have very interesting dreams after this mental reading. All informative and releasing for my tension. Next time I'm awake and not in angst, I'll try a mental card for the next day. But yes, handling the cards is my preferred method!

RedMaple	21 Feb 2005
I haven't tried a mental reading, but I do go over card images in my head at different times when I don't have a deck handy. I will try the three-card mental reading sometime and see what happens. In any case, I'm glad things seem to resolving positively. I no longer lie in bed trying to sleep, I just get up and do things. It doesn't take any more time away from sleep and I actually accomplish things -- writing, quilting, reading, working with the cards...I was told that waking up in the middle of the night happens a lot to women of my age, and I'm just taking it as a blessing -- time when I can focus on whatever I want. :)

Imagemaker	21 Feb 2005
Quote: was told that waking up in the middle of the night happens a lot to women of my age, and I'm just taking it as a blessing -- time when I can focus on whatever I want My mother used to regale us with a minute by minute, hour by hour report of her misery at not sleeping. When I started having insomnia, I vowed I'd not do that, and switched to practicing meditation. It took lots of time before I could see the wakefulness as a gift instead of a drain. If I get up and do things, I'm more tired the next day than if I lie relaxed and focused on a mantra. If occasionally I slip into flopping like a fish (very rare), then I get up and do yoga, just to move and dissipate the energy. As this is not a chat threat--I tried mental tarot this morning for a card for the day--got 2 pents again. And so far this morning there is a lot of juggling going on between IMs, phone calls, and dealing with weather/travel/cancellations. It's apparently, indeed, going to be a 2 pents day (think of the Robin Wood image of the tightrope walker). Mental tarot is not my preferred method, but it's interesting to explore occasionally.

rachelcat	21 Feb 2005
I usually don't have trouble sleeping, but whenever I do, I "study" tarot cards in my mind. This is always a pleasant and productive activity. And I can make some deeper, "meditative" connections in meaning that I can't do in my regular daylight mind. Plus, I am not fretting about how late it's getting etc., and eventually fall asleep gently and easily. (Sounds like a sleeping pill commercial, but it's lots safer!) I've never done a mental reading, but it sounds like a great way to deal when it's a specific issue that is keeping you tossing and turning! Thanks for sharing the idea.

Skydancer	21 Feb 2005
from ImageMaker ~ Quote: I tried a mental 3-card PPF reading. Without choosing any particular deck, I visualized shuffing the cards, cutting them as I do in actuality, and turning up a card for past. I waited for an instant ... oh my gosh - you do that too?! How interesting! I've only begun doing this and find it relaxing, as well as making my imagination work. I lie in bed mostly, just before going to sleep. Sometimes when I'm in my new favorite chair and am too relaxed to pick up the cards. Haven't noted any patterns yet as I've only happened on this recently. Quote: Just when I think I can handle anything, the universe says, "try this." OH yeah! I can relate!! *S*

Stacie Doll	26 Feb 2005
Thanks for sharing. I am going to try this. :)

Imagemaker	26 Feb 2005
Let us know what happens, Stacie Doll! This experiment has brought me back to using the Robin Wood deck during the day again. Fun to be with it again. A side benefit of my mental shuffle . . .

ros	27 Feb 2005
... study the cards when I can't sleep, yes I do! I even do readings. I can remember watching the cards being turned over and waiting to see what was shown. It's deep thinking and sometimes I just leave it alone, thinking that the body was relaxed, the mind was still working & it's one way of passing the time until morning!

WalesWoman	03 Mar 2005
I should have read this post last night! I was wondering why some nights I just can't get my brain to shut up and let me fall asleep...but I'm afraid if I started doing mental readings I'd be up all night for sure. Half the time one card or another is one of the things that is keeping me awake, so I come here and do some reading. LOL Doing that or working on some quiet project beats the heck out of tossing and turning and disturbing my bed mate and looking at the clock crawl. I'd still be just as sleepy the next morning. Hmmm, mental image readings seems like a good idea, just let my mind go blank and see what cards jump into my thoughts and then mull on those. If I don't want to think about it, avoidance is a sure bet to fall asleep on. Dreams do our comparison work for us, our right brain happily going through all the problem solving scenarios until it finds one that works. Have you ever noticed some mornings it feels like you didn't get any sleep, but know you did? It feels like you did a full day's work and haven't even opened your eyes yet, just had a full night of it. LOL

The mental reading in the insomniac hours thread was originally posted on 20 Feb 2005 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.