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Take your own advice

24599Interesting title, isn’t it?

Usually, we seek advice from someone else, someone we think has the wisdom, knowledge, and empathy to help us solve our problems.

But did you know how wise you are?

In tarot reading, we are wiser than in everyday work mode.

As a sceptic, I don’t believe tarot cards—or whatever power is behind the cards—can tell us what we want to know. But I do believe we are all wiser than we think.

We overlook the wisdom we already hold within.

And, to access our inner wisdom, we don’t need a supernatural source. After all, who knows our problems and circumstances better than us?

And so?

Reading tarot cards encourages introspection.

To interpret each card, we need to dig into our unconscious (or unaware) to link the card to our truth.

To help us, the universal symbols and archetypes in tarot cards mirror our thoughts and feelings, and we gain valuable insights and solutions by trusting our intuitive responses to trigger hidden truths.

But this deck has a joker: we must be self-aware and honest to enhance our self-knowledge.

Go down into the well

This is where the word "intuition" crops up.

Tapping into your intuition is as simple as reading a tarot spread. (And as complex.)

If you’re comfortable trusting your intuition, you should have no problems. If you still struggle to access your inner voice, what better way to practise than to read a tarot spread?

A tip: Note any thoughts about a card, even if they don’t correspond to traditional book meanings. These thoughts can be extremely revealing. (If they make you laugh, remember that tarot readings do not have to be serious throughout. Many provoking thoughts are stimulated by humour.)

I once felt frustrated and at a loose end when the Hanged Man came up. The thought struck, "Here am I, just hanging around."

On drawing Death I immediately thought, "This will be the death of me."

The Six of Swords also once triggered the thought that I must not forget to drive my mother to her doctor's appointment.

Which spreads?

Look for spreads that ask you to come up with advice for yourself.

Spreads that include a card position for advice or one that focuses on solving a problem are ideal. As are spreads incorporating "Next step," "What should I do?" or "How can I ..." and similar positions.

Avoid spreads that promise to reveal the future: focus on yourself and your inner wisdom.

At The Sceptic’s Tarot, you will find spreads for advice on:

When you have chosen a topic and a spread, draw your cards and set your intention for self-reflection (as opposed to divination).

What about experience?

Regular tarot readers might find it easier than beginners to tap into their intuition with the cards. Knowing the cards well may stimulate your intuition.

But even if you are a beginner, if you focus on the image of a card and ask yourself what it could suggest in your circumstances, you will find valuable insights. To begin your tarot journey, you might want to read my quick how-to article or a book explaining card meanings.

You might also consider the course “Reading the cards for your self,” which has sections on making meaning with tarot cards.

Experienced readers could consult my “checklist” for reading tarot cards.

For more fun with tarot reading (and to deepen your experience), explore my unusual tarot-reading methods.

Also …

Keep notes or a tarot journal to track your readings. Some cards that don't make sense in one reading may reveal more in a subsequent reading.

You will glean an enormous amount of self-knowledge, and you will also be able to recognize any patterns in your readings. These patterns are not always visible in a single reading, especially if they are patterns that influence your whole life. Explore them and discover how you could break them.

Ask open-ended questions that don’t require a yes or no. If you struggle, I have compiled a list of helpful (but by no means all) questions. Most of the questions on this list ask you to advise yourself. You can also consult my article, "Tarot cards and problem-solving: What works and what doesn't?"

Before you start, relax and try to ‘empty’ your mind so that you focus only on the cards and the thoughts they evoke. Meditate a few minutes, pray, or carry out any ritual that quiets your mind.

And again: Be honest with yourself. Whatever you discover that you don’t like or that makes you anxious are issues you can explore further with the cards.

But what if I'm not wise enough?

You are, but trusting your intuition and expanding your problem-solving abilities take time.

Don't rush yourself, but be ready to be amazed at how wise you are.

I would love to hear about your experiences with self-reflection and the cards! What wisdom did you uncover?

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