Craxiette
Hello!
I started out studying the cards in very random ways during my first months with the Thoth (actually my first encounter with tarot cards in general, before that I couldn't tell a tarot card from a birthday card if my life depended on it ). But since a couple of weeks back I felt it was time to get more organized, so I worked out a "daily tarot card routine" with which I study one card per day, combined with complementary meditation and dream recall excercises. I got the idea mainly from Liber theta, but I adjusted it to be only one day/card (I also skip days when I don't have the time or energy for it) as well as adding my own non-tarot complementary ingredients. (I didn't make them all up myself, I got ideas from various sources). The whole thing takes about an hour per day, half an hour in the evening and half an hour in the morning.
I wanted to share this method with you, perhaps some of it will be inspirational for you and maybe you also have some comments or advice on stuff that you have found out works really well that I can use to improve my method.
So here it is:
"Craxiette's Daily Tarot Regimen"
Evening:
Read and reflect on the description and correspondences of the daily card in Liber theta and/or the Book of Thoth, Snuffin, Duquette or any other preferred book/source.
-If I have extra time, I also go through the relevant posts here on AT
Morning:
Do a dream recall on awakening (still in bed).
-I try to focus on what feelings are present and from there, if possible I try to remember what the contents of my dreams were to give rise to those feelings.
Get out of bed, brush the skin of the whole body with a soft brush.
-I think this is an old hermetic practice actually (?) I use a brush I got really cheap at the pet store that is supposed to be used for brushing the face of a horse . I do this mainly to make myself wake up properly (I’m NOT a morning person). As I brush, I imagine brushing off any mental/emotinal “debris” that might have accumulated during the night, as if I am brushing away dirt from my aura, making it clean and vibrant.
Do five minutes simple gymnastics/yoga.
-Now this may sound somewhat ambitious, it’s not. I mean really simple, as in I roll my hips and arms around a few turns, kick my legs up in the air a few times and do some very simple stretches. The point is to get the blood flowing (again, I’m very drowsy in the mornings), not to perform perfect asanas.
Wash hands and face (or have a shower, if you are thus inclined).
-Again, with the intent of washing away any “impurities” and starting the day with a “clean slate”.
Get your journal, write down the date and the name of the card of the day. If you can still remember the contents of your dreams, start by writing them down.
-If I can’t remember my dreams, I just write down what “mood” I was in on awakening. This alone can be very useful. I am often amazed at how well the contents of my dreams correspond with the card in focus! The dream-recall ingredient in this routine is an excellent bonus. It is a wonderful tool with which to assess how the symbols and cards are received into the deep parts of the unconscious psyche. Reflecting on how the symbols are played out in the dreams is to me the best “tarot-reading” one can have. Also, it is an encouragement for further study, as it becomes more obvious that I am actually achieving results.
Take a few deep breaths to focus the mind, then visualize the “egg of light” with the colour associated with the card (as instructed in Liber theta).
Bring out the card and look at it for about 5 minutes, focusing on whatever symbol catches the curiosity of the mind.
-If something "profound" comes up, I take brief notes.
Do 5 minutes of deeper meditation (no notes) with eyes closed, focused on the card.
Q & A: Ask the card a relevant question and note down whatever (if any) answer comes to mind no matter how “silly” or “obvious” it may sound.
-I often just ask “what do you want to tell me? The point of this step is to practice listening to my intuition or “inner voice”.
Picture the tree of life drawn on the body and try to “feel” the energy of the card on the corresponding path or sephira. For instance The Priestess: Feel her energy going from the top of the head down to the heart.
Finish up with a few moments of stillness, perhaps taking additional notes.
Go on with your day as usual.
-This is one of the hardest steps for me, to actually let it go and think about daily issues and not get stuck in my own dream world, pondering about the card all day. I’m practicing learning to “trust” that my sub-conscious is still working with the card even if I’m consciously not thinking about it. That’s just the way I am, I’m an endless ponderer.
That's it! I would be happy to hear what you think about it (good OR bad).
Happy taroting folks!
Edit: What the bleep is wrong with the Vb-codes??
Edit X2: Thanks Grigori!
I started out studying the cards in very random ways during my first months with the Thoth (actually my first encounter with tarot cards in general, before that I couldn't tell a tarot card from a birthday card if my life depended on it ). But since a couple of weeks back I felt it was time to get more organized, so I worked out a "daily tarot card routine" with which I study one card per day, combined with complementary meditation and dream recall excercises. I got the idea mainly from Liber theta, but I adjusted it to be only one day/card (I also skip days when I don't have the time or energy for it) as well as adding my own non-tarot complementary ingredients. (I didn't make them all up myself, I got ideas from various sources). The whole thing takes about an hour per day, half an hour in the evening and half an hour in the morning.
I wanted to share this method with you, perhaps some of it will be inspirational for you and maybe you also have some comments or advice on stuff that you have found out works really well that I can use to improve my method.
So here it is:
"Craxiette's Daily Tarot Regimen"
Evening:
Read and reflect on the description and correspondences of the daily card in Liber theta and/or the Book of Thoth, Snuffin, Duquette or any other preferred book/source.
-If I have extra time, I also go through the relevant posts here on AT
Morning:
Do a dream recall on awakening (still in bed).
-I try to focus on what feelings are present and from there, if possible I try to remember what the contents of my dreams were to give rise to those feelings.
Get out of bed, brush the skin of the whole body with a soft brush.
-I think this is an old hermetic practice actually (?) I use a brush I got really cheap at the pet store that is supposed to be used for brushing the face of a horse . I do this mainly to make myself wake up properly (I’m NOT a morning person). As I brush, I imagine brushing off any mental/emotinal “debris” that might have accumulated during the night, as if I am brushing away dirt from my aura, making it clean and vibrant.
Do five minutes simple gymnastics/yoga.
-Now this may sound somewhat ambitious, it’s not. I mean really simple, as in I roll my hips and arms around a few turns, kick my legs up in the air a few times and do some very simple stretches. The point is to get the blood flowing (again, I’m very drowsy in the mornings), not to perform perfect asanas.
Wash hands and face (or have a shower, if you are thus inclined).
-Again, with the intent of washing away any “impurities” and starting the day with a “clean slate”.
Get your journal, write down the date and the name of the card of the day. If you can still remember the contents of your dreams, start by writing them down.
-If I can’t remember my dreams, I just write down what “mood” I was in on awakening. This alone can be very useful. I am often amazed at how well the contents of my dreams correspond with the card in focus! The dream-recall ingredient in this routine is an excellent bonus. It is a wonderful tool with which to assess how the symbols and cards are received into the deep parts of the unconscious psyche. Reflecting on how the symbols are played out in the dreams is to me the best “tarot-reading” one can have. Also, it is an encouragement for further study, as it becomes more obvious that I am actually achieving results.
Take a few deep breaths to focus the mind, then visualize the “egg of light” with the colour associated with the card (as instructed in Liber theta).
Bring out the card and look at it for about 5 minutes, focusing on whatever symbol catches the curiosity of the mind.
-If something "profound" comes up, I take brief notes.
Do 5 minutes of deeper meditation (no notes) with eyes closed, focused on the card.
Q & A: Ask the card a relevant question and note down whatever (if any) answer comes to mind no matter how “silly” or “obvious” it may sound.
-I often just ask “what do you want to tell me? The point of this step is to practice listening to my intuition or “inner voice”.
Picture the tree of life drawn on the body and try to “feel” the energy of the card on the corresponding path or sephira. For instance The Priestess: Feel her energy going from the top of the head down to the heart.
Finish up with a few moments of stillness, perhaps taking additional notes.
Go on with your day as usual.
-This is one of the hardest steps for me, to actually let it go and think about daily issues and not get stuck in my own dream world, pondering about the card all day. I’m practicing learning to “trust” that my sub-conscious is still working with the card even if I’m consciously not thinking about it. That’s just the way I am, I’m an endless ponderer.
That's it! I would be happy to hear what you think about it (good OR bad).
Happy taroting folks!
Edit: What the bleep is wrong with the Vb-codes??
Edit X2: Thanks Grigori!