Tarot: A Tool of Infinite Creative Possibilities

If you hang around here long enough, you will quickly learn that I am obsessed with symbolism and archetypes. Not to mention Tarot! For what is the Tarot but a collection of symbols and archetypes?

A Super Brief Intro to Tarot

Tarot, in recent years, has mainly become mainstream, but it wasn't always so. In some circles, it was considered taboo if not outright blasphemy.  In truth, the origin and intended purpose of the Tarot is unknown. Though there is much speculation. According to the Library of Esoterica Edition of Tarot by Taschen, the earliest Tarot decks date back to the 1400s. Some believe it was originally a game to be played for fun. And it bears more than a passing resemblance to classic playing cards. But we're not here for a history lesson, are we? We're here to enhance our creativity. 

Tarot's Structure

There are three well-known styles of the Tarot: Thoth, Tarot de Marsailles, and Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS). The RWS is by far the most prolific and most indie decks are modelled off it. I think the artwork of the deck is terribly ugly (Sorry Pamela Coleman Smith but I like what I like!), but I am the most familiar with that style. So, that is the style I will be discussing.

A typical RWS deck consists of seventy-eight cards divided into twenty-two Major Arcana cards and fifty-six Minor Arcana cards. The Minor Arcana are further divided into four suits comprised of the numbers 1 through 10 and four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. 

The Major Arcana are often referred to as "The Fool's Journey" which is quite similar to the writer's "Hero's Journey". Essentially, these cards reflect the major emotional and spiritual milestones in a person's life. On the other hand, the Minor Arcana reflect the everyday moments, trials, and people that colour and enrich our worlds. 

Symbols, Symbols, Symbols

In addition to being symbols themselves, each Tarot card is chock full of numbers and symbols. From the faithful dog found in The Fool to the ever-turning wheel of the Wheel of Fortune and the complete circle of The World of the Major Arcana, smaller symbols are used to tell a richer story. Likewise in the Minors, each suit, number, and court card represents various qualities. Each suit corresponds to one of nature's elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Those are further correlated to aspects of wealth, intellect, creativity, and emotion respectively. Each number represents a set of traits. For example, ones (aces) generally indicate the beginning of something. Each court card represents a general age or gender. Queens are typically mature women. I'm being very simplistic here for the sake of brevity. My goal is to show you that the imagery, symbols and numbers alone are a source of inspiration. You don't have to know what each card means. 

That Sounds Hard! How Does That Help Me? 

Imagine, if you will, that you are feeling incredibly stumped for an idea. Maybe you have Creator's Block, who knows? But you have this handy (and fancy) deck of Tarot cards sitting on your shelf. You walk over to the shelf, pick up the deck and return to your seat. You open the box (or Tarot bag) and pull the cards out. Feel their silkiness between your fingers as you shuffle while them thinking about where you are stuck. Wondering how you might move past this creative block. At some point, you draw a single card and study it. Notice its lines, its colours, its symbols. More importantly, notice how it makes you feel. Notice if it brings up more questions for you. When you feel there is nothing left to take in, close your eyes and let your mind wander. (If you have to be somewhere, I suggest setting a timer for maybe 10-20 minutes.) When you are ready, start free writing about where your mind went. About what the card brought up for you. About the explorations your mind took you on. 

Maybe a particular colour drew your attention. Perhaps you felt an unexpected emotion. Hopefully, it inspired you to ask more questions. Feel free to draw more cards! As artists, we must open ourselves to inspiration. We must give ourselves the time and space to invite ideas in. In and of itself, Tarot is a source of inspiration. You don't even need to know how it works intimately for you are holding 78 mini works of art in your hands! How amazing is that? 

Need A Little More Complexity?

As you become more comfortable with the Tarot and how it works for divination, you may wish to start exploring new and more complex methods of building ideas. Some people use spreads to do this. Selecting a number of positions and assigning each a particular significance. 

Like this spread I created in my former business: 

Years ago I participated in a NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Tarot challenge where a woman designed spreads for everything you need to outline your characters and the overarching theme of the book. There were spreads for the book name and the genre. For the character descriptions and the character's goals/desires. It was a fun way to develop a storyline. 

So, What's Next? 

My intention today was to dip your toe into the vast ocean of possibilities that the Tarot contains for creativity. There are books on Tarot and creativity, even writing specifically (some may be waiting in my cart!) that you can read for further inspiration. However, if you like what I've had to say so far, I'm planning to explore each card in a series of Tarot Tuesday articles. So check back next Tuesday to learn how to be a Fool!

Got a question? Drop me a line and I will do my best to address them in future Tarot Tuesday posts!