Tarot Journal: How to Take Your Tarot Journey Further
Last Updated: January 5th, 2023
If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’re interested in tarot – and that’s fantastic! Tarot is a wonderfully deep and rewarding subject to explore. But where do you go from here? One excellent way to continue your tarot journey is by using a tarot journal. In this article, we’ll discuss why tarot journals are so great and I’ll give you some tips on how to get the most out of yours.
What is a Tarot Journal?
A tarot journal is simply a place where you can record your tarot journey, either in a notebook or a diary. This could be interpreting anything from your first impressions of tarot to more in-depth musings on the meanings of tarot cards as a spread. Tarot journals are a great way to keep track of your thoughts and progress as you learn tarot. They are an amazing tool to help you connect even deeper with your decks, and your reading style, and build on your intuition.
Why get a Tarot Journal?
Getting a tarot journal may seem excessive at first when you have a tarot deck and a guidebook. Using the journal as a tool as you begin learning tarot can cognitively help you remember the card meanings, the symbolism, and the stories. Using the journal for daily reflection can give you a place to “brain dump”, freeing up mental space for creativity and solutions. If you’ve been reading tarot for a while, having a tarot journal can be an excellent support to consolidate your thoughts and progress in your tarot experiences. Having a tarot journal also documents the daily readings, so you can reflect on behaviors that may have even been foreshadowed.
Tips on using your Journal
Make time for tarot journaling – set aside some time each day, even if it’s just ten minutes, to sit down and write in your tarot journal with your tarot cards. This will help you to keep up the habit and make it feel more special.
Here are some great tips to get the most out of your tarot journal experience;
- Keep it tarot-focused – this is YOUR tarot journal, so make sure it’s tarot specific but still beneficial to you and your practice.
- Set some goals – what do you want to achieve with your tarot journal? This could be anything from developing your intuition to mastering card meanings.
- Be consistent – try and write in your tarot journal every day, even if it’s just a few lines. The more you write, the more you’ll get out of it!
- Be creative – use your tarot journal as a place to explore your creativity. Draw tarot card scenes, write tarot poems, or whatever else inspires you!
- Be honest – tarot journals are a great place to be honest with yourself. No one else has to see it, so you can really let your thoughts and feelings flow freely. A lot of tarot readers feel that their decks “call them out” but truly this can be a safe space that you create for yourself.
How to make the practice of tarot journaling more magickal
Here are some tips to make tarot journaling align with modern witchcraft;
- Ritualize the space by setting up an altar with your tarot journal, some candles, and perhaps some crystals.
- Create a little tarot journaling spell as you begin writing and finish with a spell when your journal is full.
- Write by candlelight, or in the light of the moon.
- Use a tarot journaling spread as a prompt for your writing. For example, you could choose three tarot cards to represent yourself, your journey, and your tarot goals. Alternatively, you could use a different tarot spread each day and write about the experiences that come up for you.
- Anoint your tarot journal or yourself with a consecrated oil such as lavender or rosemary to calm and soothe your mind.
- Enchanting your pen to be truthful, build intuition and write with clarity
- Spend time in meditation before journaling so that you can incorporate any messages you receive within the journal too
Backyard Banshee Tarot Journal + Features
I’ve created my own Backyard Banshee tarot journal as I noticed there weren’t any tarot journals that were combining additional mindfulness and magick. Here are some of the key features of my Backyard Banshee Tarot Journal
- Protective talisman cover; Medusa brings you protection, wisdom, and clear insight despite any struggles you may have
- Minimalist design; gives you the space to make it your own creation
- Future tarot development; space selected to note questions, ideas and tarot spreads you want to create for future tarot readings. Perfect for when the ideas come to you, but you don’t have the time to perform straight away.
- Depicted as a “workbook & journal”; those who hide their tarot practice have more protection from prying eyes and won’t get forced out of the broom closet.
- An accountability tracker; for weekly readings if this is your goal (there is no “fail” here and no pressure to read tarot every day – honor your own energy).
- Self-care reminders; if you know at the time of your tarot reading you’ve not been eating or drinking in a nurturing way, this gently shows up for you to help you get back on track. Remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup.
- Playlist trackers; when you are feeling magickal af, need an energetic boost, or like to incorporate shufflemancy divination into your practice to expand on your experiences. Reflecting on the different types of music you’ve incorporated into your readings may also show you more about yourself in retrospect.
- Tarot spread ideas; a small collection of ideas for inspiration, and a space to list your own
- Additional divination space to record significant moments pre or post-reading.
- Community & Impact; Each order supports Backyard Banshee community and social impact values – proceeds from the sale of these journals go towards monthly charity donations and social causes.
Medusa Protection Ritual to connect with your deck, your journal, and yourself
I wanted a moment to share with you why I chose Medusa as the talisman for protection in this journal. A lot of my values are to do with keeping things low-key, and whilst the stoney-eyed Gorgon sister doesn’t exactly scream “subtle” you can assume that she is alternative, feminist, history-related or even just a “Goth aesthetic” for any of you in the broom closet. That can be your instant response, “a workbook for modern feminism”.
I am of the opinion that Medusa was working with her own intuition, her own insight through her work for Priestesshood in the name of Athena, the goddess of war & wisdom, when she was betrayed. I am of the mindset that Medusa was wrong done by, and that she was rewarded with solitude by Athena, an escape from the society where she was traumatically harmed. The protection from the divine is a strong, nurturing theme in itself, and I feel that tarot readers can benefit from this same level of protection.
A mini-ritual for you to connect with the Backyard Banshee Tarot Journal, who had the insight before, who deserves protection just like you is as follows:
- Set up your space with your deck, your tarot journal, a preferred pen, and a warm tea blend with whatever is intuitive to you; whether that’s red raspberry leaf tea for womanhood connectivity, ginger tea for fiery energy, mugwort for insight & divination, or black tea for protection.
- Start by placing your items in front of you whilst you sit comfortably. If you cast the quarters or cast a protective circle, now is the time to do so. Once you’re ready, hold each item and speak intention to them: “My tarot deck provides me with the clarity to see”, “My tea provides me with the nurturing energy to perform intuitive tasks”, “My tarot journal keeps my readings safe and protected”, “My pen provides truthful insight and wisdom”. Whilst holding each item and speaking it’s intent aloud, imagine a warming golden and purple light beaming from the item, and throughout your space.
- Sit for a moment and drink your tea. Meditate on the items in front of you, visualise the ways how they work together to support you in tarot readings. If you feel called to, jot down some notes in your tarot journal about your experience.
- When you feel ready to finish, thank the items for their support, and close your space. Now is an excellent time to pull a card.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my article on tarot journaling and why it is a fantastic resource for your tarot learning and experience. If you’re interested in purchasing a tarot journal, please check out my Backyard Banshee tarot journal – it’s perfect for those who are just starting their tarot journey as well as more experienced readers. Thank you for reading lovely! xx
@meldoestarot I love my new tarot journal from @LB✨ Divination Bosswitch 🤌✨️ #gifted ♬ original sound - mel
I have been reading Tarot for more than 15 years. I have always enjoyed using my intuition to provide clarity and insights to others. Tarot is one of my favorite forms of divination, and I love sharing that passion with like-minded folks.
Continue your tarot journey ✨
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