Sure, I was a good writer before I found Tarot but since I’ve started incorporating these magical cards with my writing….I’ve become even better! How has it helped me? Let me count the ways.
Helps me get out of my own head
We all get stuck in our comfort zones, our own little ways of doing things, but using Tarot and the imagery in the cards helps me break free of that and see things that I might not have thought of before. If the villain in your book always kills their victims in a certain way and you’re getting tired of that, pulling a card and seeing what else might be possible helps with the brainstorm process, helps your brain make new connections.
Helps me develop ideas
For my novels, Tarot has helped me create characters, develop subplots, helped with conflict, and gotten me out of stuck corners during problem scenes or sections. I always get some new ideas, new things to think about that allows me to continue forward movement and continue writing – even if I need to fix things later, at least I have words on the page.
I also use Tarot to help me come up with ideas for YouTube, Instagram, email sequences for my business, and my newsletter. It really can help you come up with ideas for almost anything – tell the cards what you are looking for while shuffling and let the magic happen.
Helps me deepen my relationship with my characters
Yes, I teach how to use Tarot to create characters – and you can check that out here – but it also helps me deepen those relationships, even developing friendships with my characters. Even with my villains and antagonists!! When I create characters I usually choose a Tarot card (or let the Universe provide me with one) and I’ll keep record of that so I can grab that card and “talk” to my character when I need to.
I do this normally by journaling with them, but you can also record yourself speaking and answer yourself back as if you were the character – sometimes it can be super fun to do these kinds of things to help you learn more about your characters. Ask them about their likes and dislikes, what makes them tick, why they do the things they do and what they want you to know. I guarantee you will know so much more about them if you take the time to talk to them.
Helps me have a relationship with my Inner Editor
And speaking of creating relationships, over the years I’ve developed one with my Inner Editor. I chose a Tarot card to personify that voice in my head and started having conversations, learning more about them and telling them more about me. He’s changed over the years but we now have a very nice working relationship where he helps me (rather than hinder me) and I can write so much faster and with greater purpose than before.
If you’d like to learn more about this process, I teach all about it in my signature course – Turn on the Tap, which is coming this June, so sign up for the waitlist here.
Helps encourage me when times get tough
Who here has cried over a draft or section of their writing? I have. One of my favorite ways that Tarot has helped me become a better writer is it encourages me when times are tough. Listen, things are not always going to be rosy when writing. Sometimes we feel defeated, we get blocked for days or months, sometimes are characters are real jerks and stop listening to us, or sometimes we just paint ourselves into a corner and can’t see a way out. Tarot can help you see the big picture.
For me, specifically, it helps me see how far I’ve come, how much I’ve already accomplished and how amazing my journey has been. In the video attached above, I pulled The Magician card and realized how perfect that was for encouragement because we do all have the tools we need to move forward, sometimes we just need to remember how magical we are, how amazing we are for being able to pull words out of thin air and create whole new worlds and people! The Magician reminds us that we can feel grounded while reaching for the stars – it’s a beacon to help you keep going.
Helps me when I need a writing coach
In that same vein, Tarot has become somewhat of a writing coach for me. Yes, I am a writing coach and have amazing support around me from a kick ass editor to a really awesome writing group, sometimes you need to be able to rely on yourself for answers.
When you are having a panic over something at 3am, you can’t always call on another human being, but you can reach for your trust deck of cards to give you guidance and answers. For this example, I pulled the Knight of Wands which is all about the fiery passion, nurturing your dreams and your projects while keeping both feet planted on the ground – it gave me a message of your project being precious and you being an amazing writer who cares so much and it shows! You can’t see it right now, but you have bigger things to conquer, bigger mountains to scale and you are going to do just fine!!
And that’s how I use Tarot as my writing coach, sometimes you need that little burst of inspiration to help you stay in the moment and keep writing. We all need someone to tell us we are doing a great job and we don’t all have those people in our lives, so let Tarot do that for you.
By combining the magical tool of Tarot with the innate knowledge you have about writing can help take your writing career and journey from pretty good to freaking awesome. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below and hopefully this gave you some insight into why I think Tarot is the best tool for writers to help unlock their creativity and keep them writing for the long haul.
