Brigit Esselmont's Blog, page 18

7 Daily Tarot Spreads For Your Morning Ritual

I confess, there have been way too many mornings where I’ve woken up, kicked off the covers, and reached for my phone. In seconds, I’d already be texting, answering emails, scheduling appointments, or checking my latest social media post.  

But recently, I was inspired to make a shift. 

It all started with one thought…

What if I created a more intentional morning ritual? 

And then that thought kept building…

What if I reached for my journal or my favorite Tarot deck instead of my phone? 

What if I grounded my energy with a daily Tarot spread, instead of numbing myself with information? 

Just thinking about that kind of morning ritual felt so much better in my body! 

So, I started reaching for my Tarot deck instead of my phone each morning.  

And I’m proud to say that I’ve kept up a morning ritual of daily Tarot spreads to align myself to my inner needs. Doing my simple Tarot practice first thing never fails to make me feel more calm, joyful, and centered in myself for the rest of the day.

So if you’re ready to join me in ditching the phone to create a more intentional morning ritual, add one of these 7 daily Tarot spreads to your morning routine. I promise, you’ll watch your life expand in ways you never thought possible.

7 Daily Tarot Spreads

There’s something for everyone in this list of my favorite daily Tarot spreads! Read through them, pick one that calls to you, and add it to your morning ritual. 

In my morning Tarot spread practice, I like to call in my Spirit guides and my Higher Self as I hold the deck close to my body and feel the energy of the cards. You can call in any of your guides that feel right;  your ancestors, people who have recently crossed over, or even your beloved pet to assist you in receiving messages. Your morning Tarot routine is just for you, so feel free to change it up – you can call on different guides or use different spreads depending on what you need that day.

1. The Simple One-Card Check-In  

It’s as easy as it sounds: simply pull one card for the energy of the day! This one-card draw clarifies what energies are either consciously or unconsciously moving through your being.  It may also signify what will be coming up throughout your day.  Use your intuition and allow the Tarot to reveal its messages.

This one-card draw is the easiest way to begin a daily Tarot practice. And if you’re a beginner, doing this card-a-day exercise is a great way to create personal meanings of the cards.

How to do this Tarot spread: 

Before you pull your daily card, ask: What do I need to know today?  Or: What is the energy of the day?

Here are some alternative daily Tarot questions:

What is coming into my awareness?What will I experience today?What do I need to focus on today?

After you pull your Tarot card, listen to the first thought that pops into your head when you look at it – it's likely your intuition guiding you to the message that is exactly what you need to hear at that moment. 

2.  The 3-Card Self Awareness Spread

This is a simple 3-card spread that can give you deep insights into what you’re really thinking and how you’re feeling. Sometimes, we have so many feelings swirling around that it’s hard to know where we stand! I like to use this straightforward spread on mornings when I’m not really sure how I’m feeling and need to get back to center.

If you approach this spread while in an emotional or brain-foggy state, know that the cards that show up may seem confusing or unclear at first. I encourage you to sit with them for several minutes and allow the answers to reveal themselves to you slowly. Journaling your impressions about them always helps. You may also want to come back to your notes before bed and see if the answers make more sense within the context of what went on for you during the day.

How to do this Tarot spread: 

Take a deep breath and hold your deck of cards close to your body. Shuffle the cards, then pull three of them, one by one. As you pull each card, ask the corresponding questions below:

What am I thinking?What am I feeling?What am I experiencing?

Lay the cards out in a row and look at them. The three of them may form a story or a cohesive message for you, or each individual card may tell its own story. Journal your insights. 

3. The Daily Manifestation Tarot Spread

There are times in life when we’re called to sit, receive, and wait for the next step to appear. And then there are times when we’re called to take action to manifest our goals and dreams. This is a wonderful spread to use when you’re inspired to create the very best version of your reality.

You can use this spread for more granular, daily or weekly goals, OR for bigger life goals – it’s up to you! I personally love using this spread when I’m feeling particularly motivated to get things done and would like some guidance on how to focus my efforts for my Highest Good.

How to do this Tarot spread:

Take a deep breath and hold your deck of cards close to your body. Shuffle the cards, then pull three of them, one by one. As you pull each card, ask the corresponding questions below:

What do I truly desire today?How can I manifest my desires today?What resources are available to me today?

Lay the cards out in a row and look at them. The three of them may form a story or a cohesive message for you, or each individual card may tell its own story. Journal your insights. 

4.  “It’s a Good Day” Tarot Spread

If you want to start every day on a positive note, this is the Tarot spread for you! So many studies have shown that starting our day with gratitude boosts our moods and makes us more likely to spread joy to those around us. Every day can be a great day with this simple spread.

I love using this daily Tarot spread to guide my day toward positive intentions. This is my go-to practice if I wake up feeling out of sorts and need an infusion of good energy to get me out of a slump. I would also recommend looking back at the cards at the end of the night to see how your day unfolded – you might be surprised by all the positive things that happen to you just by setting an intention with this spread!

How to do this Tarot spread:

Take a deep breath and hold your deck of cards close to your body. Shuffle the cards, then pull three of them, one by one. As you pull each card, ask the corresponding questions below:

What am I truly grateful for?What will make this a great day?How do I want to feel by the end of the day?

Lay the cards out in a row and look at them. The three of them may form a story or a cohesive message for you, or each individual card may tell its own story. Journal your insights. 

5.  The Daily Alignment Tarot Spread

When we get intentional about the way we want to feel and then apply energy to that feeling, magic happens! This spread is perfect for those days where you want to get into a certain state but aren’t sure how to make that happen. 

For example, I often use this spread when I’m feeling down about myself and am having trouble getting into an empowered mindset. Like a trusted old friend, Tarot cards are great at telling us exactly what we need to do to become the best versions of ourselves, even when we can’t see it!

How to do this Tarot spread:

Choose a word for the day that you’d like to experience or feel.

Here are some examples:

Empowerment AlignmentAbundanceConnectionSomething else? You choose!

Then, as you pull a card, ask: 

How can I bring in more (empowerment, abundance, alignment, etc.) into my life today? 

Look at the card for a few minutes to take in its imagery and messages. Then, take out your journal and let your words flow onto the page. Use your inner knowing and allow your feelings to guide you. Spend about 5-10 minutes journaling your insights and whatever else comes to you.

6.  Seeing the Unseen Tarot Spread

Things are not always as they appear! One of the many mysterious things about the Tarot is that it brings the unseen into the seen. And from that new knowledge, we can take action.

This is one of those spreads that always manages to surprise me. If you’re prepared to receive a wake-up call first thing in the morning, this is definitely the Tarot spread to add to your morning routine. I love this one because it always manages to identify those hidden parts of me that I need to work on. Sometimes, this spread can even point to external situations in your life that need changing. If you aren’t afraid to dig deep and face uncomfortable truths, give this one a try!

How to do this Tarot spread:

Take a deep breath and hold your deck of cards close to your body. Shuffle the cards, then pull three of them, one by one. As you pull each card, ask the corresponding questions below:

What is seen and known to me?What is unseen and unknown to me?How can I bring greater awareness to my day?

Lay the cards out in a row and look at them. The three of them may form a story or a cohesive message for you, or each individual card may tell its own story. Journal your insights.

7.  The Daily Evolution Spread

Every day, whether we know it or not, we are evolving and becoming new versions of ourselves. The more intention we can place on this process, the better – because the more aware we are, the more we can choose who we eventually become.

This is one of my favorite simple spreads because it helps you to tap into who you’re becoming and brings greater awareness to your personal growth journey. I’ve used it time and again when I’ve felt lost about my path in life. It’s a great Tarot spread to use on days when you’re feeling a bit untethered to your purpose and are in need of some gentle encouragement.

How to do this Tarot spread:

Take a deep breath and hold your deck of cards close to your body. Shuffle the cards, then pull two of them, one by one. As you pull each card, ask the corresponding questions below:

Who am I becoming?What is one step I can take today to honor this evolution?

Lay the cards out side by side and look at them. The two of them may form a story or a cohesive message for you, or each individual card may tell its own story. Journal your insights.

Wrapping Up

These 7 daily Tarot spreads will open you up to your inner self, which will in turn affect your external world. After incorporating these daily Tarot spreads into your morning routine, you may notice that… 

You’re more in tune with your deeper feelings. You’re less emotionally reactive to certain people and situations.You begin to release certain toxic situations from your life. You rely less on certain negative habits, and instead address the heart of what’s happening in your life.   You may find solutions to recurring problems you thought were impossible to solve.  You may find yourself getting closer to achieving that very personal dream you want to manifest.You may feel closer to your significant other, your friends, or your family members.

So, tomorrow morning, as you kick off the covers and reach for your phone, take a few deep breaths and say, “no.”  Make that hot cup of coffee or tea, and begin your new morning ritual of daily Tarot spreads.   

You will be amazed at how quickly your personal awareness expands.  Just begin! 

Over To You

Adding Tarot to your morning ritual is so powerful, and the best way to start your day!

That’s why I created the Biddy Tarot Planner to help you deeply connect with your Tarot practice every day of the year.

Inside you’ll find space for daily Tarot journaling, along with monthly Tarot rituals, over 32 spreads, the Tarot Card of the Year, and so much! Get your Planner here today!

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A Spread for Harmony in Trying Times

Tarot is the perfect tool to help find equilibrium and peace when we need it most. Tarot can help us find harmony and celebrate the love and joy in our lives by reconnecting us with our higher wisdom. 

But what do we do when things just feel “too much?”

The Universe loves harmony. When everything has a place to be and a job to do, the Universe flows on the path of least resistance. We learn this lesson from nature. 

A flower doesn’t bloom wishing its petals were as bright as the one next to it. A lioness doesn’t obsess over the implications of hunting for her pride. A fish doesn’t worry that it won’t be able to keep up with it’s school. 

It’s easy to be caught in the trap of disharmony. But despite the chaos of the world around us — you can also find peace within yourself using Tarot as your guide. 

1. Where in my life am I experiencing harmony right now?

2. Where in my life am I experiencing disharmony right now?

3. What’s the best way for me to approach disharmonious situations?

4. How can I find personal peace amid the chaos in the world?

5. What action can I take today to create more harmony in my life?

6. Which of my beliefs or ideals helps promote peace and harmony in the world?

7. Which of my beliefs or ideals creates disharmony in the world?

8. How can I lead by example, promoting more peace and harmony in the world?

To read more about dealing with tricky situations and finding hope when all hope seems lost, check out my blog post, Tarot for Difficult Conversations!

If you tried the Spread for Harmony in Trying Times, I’d love for you to share your insights on Instagram. Don’t forget to tag #biddytarot so I can see.

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A Weekly Spread for Intuitive Development

Your intuition is like a muscle. It’s always been there, lying under the surface — but without regular exercise, it’ll never become any stronger!

Think of it this way: When you decide you want to build muscle, you commit to a regular strength-building routine. You might go to the gym a few times a week, start practicing yoga or pilates, or try another form of strength-building exercise. 

But building strength in your muscles doesn’t happen overnight — it takes dedicated, regular practice. It often takes weeks or even months until you begin to see and feel real results.

Well — training your intuition is no different. And that’s why I created the Weekly Spread for Intuitive Development!

This isn’t a one-off Tarot spread — it’s designed to be used once per week (preferably on the weekend) as a dedicated practice to help strengthen your intuition. 

As your intuition becomes more finely-tuned, you’ll begin to notice stronger and stronger flashes of insight in your day-to-day life, as well as a huge shift in the power of your Tarot readings.

Build this spread into your regular Tarot practice, and watch your intuition grow stronger by the day. 

1. In which area did my intuition flow most naturally this week?
2. In which area was my intuition blocked or hindered this week?
3. How has using my intuition benefited me this week?
4. How has using my intuition benefited others this week?
5. What action can I take next week to help my intuition grow stronger?
6. What signs might I see next week when I’m deeply tuned into my intuition?
7. How might using my intuition benefit me next week?
8. How might my intuition benefit others next week?

To go even deeper, you might like to check out these two podcast episodes, which are all about your intuition as a Tarot reader: Anything Can Happen When You Unlock Your Intuition and Intuition vs. Resistance.

Try working with the Weekly Spread for Intuitive Development once a week for one month, and see what happens. I’d love for you to share your insights on Instagram — and don’t forget to tag #biddytarot so I can see! 

The post A Weekly Spread for Intuitive Development appeared first on Biddy Tarot.

The Energy Shifting Spread to Detox and De-stress

“Self love” means many different things. But one of the most potent acts of self love is to honor your feelings — especially the feelings you’d rather avoid.

If you’re experiencing stress, your “monkey mind” may well have taken over. You might find that your mind is flitting from one problem, to the next, to the next — leaving you no time to catch your breath or find your footing. 

Stress can wreak all sorts of havoc on your mind, body, and spirit — and believe me, I know it can be difficult to create or maintain a self-love practice when you’re feeling this way. 

But the irony is — it’s for this exact reason that having a dedicated self-love practice is so important!

Paying attention to what’s causing stress in your life and to how it’s manifesting is the first step toward releasing that stress and returning to a neutral, balanced state. 

Try this spread to help you identify where stress is manifesting in your body, mind, and spirit, and let it go once and for all.

1. What’s the main cause of my stress right now?

2. How is this stress showing up in my life?

3. How is this stress impacting my mental health?

4. How is this stress impacting my emotional health?

5. How is this stress impacting my physical well-being?

6. If this stress disappeared overnight, how might my life change?

7. What about this situation is in my control?

8. What about this situation is out of my control?

9. How might I release the things that are out of my control?

10. How can I shift my energy toward the path of least resistance?

Despite life’s many stressors, you create the peace you need to make calm, rational decisions and move forward. 

It’s all about becoming aware of how and where stress is showing up in your life and then taking small, simple steps to release the things you can’t control.

The more you practice this, the easier it becomes. For more insights and ideas, check out my blog post Everyday Tarot for Trying Times and Finding Hope.

If you give this spread a try, don’t forget to share your insights on Instagram (just be sure to tag #biddytarot so I can see)!

The post The Energy Shifting Spread to Detox and De-stress appeared first on Biddy Tarot.

Tarot for Difficult Conversations

Difficult conversations are a natural part of everyday life. We all have times in our lives where we need to be able to communicate how we feel about something, even if the other person’s views are different to ours. Everybody deserves to feel seen and heard — but in the heat of the moment, things do sometimes spiral out of control! 

In these situations, it's especially important to slow down, take a breath, and proceed with mindful, effective communication techniques. To help you put these techniques into practice, I've created a special Tarot spread for effective communication, which I’ve included below. 

But first, let's look at the principles and techniques of effective communication.

Techniques for effective communicationStep 1: Name the Emotion

The first step to effectively communicating how we feel is a step back to reflect and name the emotion, or emotions, that we're currently feeling. It's surprising how often we engage in conversations that result in arguments simply because we’re unable to articulate how we're actually feeling — even to ourselves! Take a breath, and ask yourself — “What emotion am I experiencing right now?”

Step 2: Feel the Emotion in your body

Once you’ve named the emotion — sadness, frustration, confusion, anger — search for where it presents in your body. Do your shoulders feel tight? Is there a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach? Perhaps your palms are sweaty, or you notice your throat feels tight. 

By mindfully naming and feeling the physical sensations of our emotions, we bring our attention back to the present moment. This helps us to remain mindful (masters of our emotions!) and grounded when communicating with others.

Step 3: Describe Your Feelings Out Loud

The next step is to explain how you're feeling to the other person. You could even relate the feeling back to a memory of a time when you experienced something similar. This can give additional context to how you’re feeling and help the other person to understand where you're coming from. 

Try to focus more on “I am” and “I feel” statements, rather than on statements that start with “You…” For example: “I'm feeling upset, and as though I'm not being heard. It's hard for me, because it reminds me of how my ex-partner used to make me feel when I was trying to discuss an issue with them.” Focus on how you are feeling, rather than on how the other person is “making” you feel. 

Step 4: Honor the Other Person's Emotions

You have every right to your feelings and deserve to have those feelings honored — and so does the other person with whom you're having a difficult conversation. Hold space for them to communicate how they’re feeling, too — even if you don’t understand at first. There are no “wrong” feelings.

One way to improve your listening mindset is to ask open-ended questions such as, “Can you tell me more about that?” or “Why do you think you are feeling this way?” It can also be helpful to paraphrase and give the other person a chance to check in on what you've been hearing them say. 

You could say something like, “What I'm hearing is that what I said upset you and made you feel as though your opinion was invalid. Is that right?” or “I can understand why this subject feels so upsetting for you.”

Step 5: Repair the relationship

The last piece of the puzzle is to repair the conflict (remember — it always takes two to tango) and mutually agree on a path forward. This is the time for each person to clearly state their boundaries and what they will do to avoid a similar conflict arising in the future.

Tarot can help us explore the principles of effective communication in a beautifully integrated way. This is why I created the brand-new Effective Communication Tarot Spread. It has card positions which reflect each of the five stages of effective communication and conflict resolution.

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There are many reasons we might have difficulty communicating with our families, friends, partners, colleagues, or wider communities. But don’t forget, friend — your emotions and opinions are valid. You have the right to experience your feelings (and so does everyone else). It’s important that we all learn techniques for communicating our feelings effectively — and from the heart. 

You can be the change you want to see in the world and lead by example when it comes to having tough conversations with grace and understanding. Tarot can be a guiding light for you as you begin to make those changes.

Don’t forget to share your insights from the Effective Communication Spread on Instagram, and remember to tag #biddytarot so I can see!

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How to Use “Calming Cards” to Regulate Your Nervous System and Find Peace in Chaos

Stress, Overwhelm, and the Central Nervous System

Many of us experience situations in our lives every now and then that feel stressful and chaotic. I don’t know about you, but when this starts to happen to me, I “freak out” a little bit! 

I’m a Taurus Sun and Moon, so my comfort zone is just that — a comfort zone. When lots of external factors and influences start to push me out of “feeling comfortable”, or as though it’s “just one thing after another” — things can start to feel overwhelming, fast. 

Feelings of stress and overwhelm can activate our central nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. When activated, the central nervous system also triggers the body’s physiological responses — including raising the heart rate, tightening muscles, shortening the breath, and making us feel a bit sick to our stomach. 

When my nervous system is activated, it opens the door for many different physical sensations and symptoms. It’s in times like this that Calming Cards can be a huge help in identifying the underlying cause of my stress, and guiding me toward the path of nervous system regulation and healing. 

(Let me be clear —Calming Cards are not intended to offer medical advice or medical diagnoses.)

If you can relate to these feelings, know that you’re not alone. Perhaps for you, these physical sensations are the result of anger, frustration, fear, or disappointment.

If you’re able to identify and work through those feelings as they arise, you can let them pass through your system like clouds. But, if you hold on to those feelings for too long — that’s when the trouble starts. The more those feelings build up inside, the faster a storm can generate — and that’s when stronger symptoms of anxiety, or even depression, can set in.

Before it gets to that — let’s take it back to the beginning, and see how Tarot can help. 

What are Calming Cards?

Calming Cards can help us process difficult emotions healthily and more easily, allowing us to re-regulate our nervous systems in times of chaos. Calming Cards help us to alleviate emotional stress by allowing us to tune in, understand “negative” emotions better, and create the space we need to process them in healthy ways. 

It’s important to note that this is true for emotions that you are experiencing personally, and emotions that you may experience via other people. It’s not uncommon for Tarot readers to be highly empathetic, which is why it’s so important for us to learn how to process all kinds of feelings in healthy, constructive ways.

How to Use Calming Cards

If your nervous system is overloaded or activated, pick up your Tarot cards, give them a shuffle, and draw a card. Don’t worry about trying to center your energy or tune in just yet; though this may seem counterintuitive as a Tarot reader, the point is to draw a card in the midst of emotional chaos.

The first card you draw represents your underlying emotional state. It could represent how you’re feeling in the moment, something you wish you could change or achieve, or the overall energy of the situation or problem you’ve found yourself facing. Whatever it is, it’s a reflection of the chaotic energy you’re experiencing. It could reflect the energy of one feeling or situation, or several different things all happening at once — either way, it doesn’t matter. 

The point is that this card gives you a “general read” on your underlying energy — and the reason your nervous system is activated — as it is in this moment.

Now that you’ve drawn your first card, take a moment (preferably somewhere quiet and private) and close your eyes. Take three deep breaths. Feel the air traveling up through your nose and deep down into your lungs, and allow your diaphragm to expand. As you breathe out, notice how the air feels as it travels up through your airway, past your lips, and out into the world. As you repeat these breaths, allow your attention to settle into your body. 

Continue breathing and begin to scan your body. Direct your attention first to the tips of your toes, then to your feet, ankles, shins, calves, knees, thighs — all the way up through your body to the crown of your head. Notice if there are any sensations of tightness, irritation, pain, or vibration in any muscles, joints, or extremities. 

Ask yourself: Which emotion comes with this sensation? When I concentrate on this sensation, which feelings come to the surface? If I had to describe these feelings in one word, what would it be?

When you're ready, open your eyes. Pick up your Tarot cards again, and reflect on the sensations you’ve identified in your body. Give the cards a shuffle, and draw a second card. 

This card is the advice you need to move through the emotion you’re experiencing, re-regulate your nervous system, and release the physical symptoms. 

Understanding Calming Cards and Their Purpose

As I said earlier, let me be clear — these cards are not intended to offer medical advice or psychological diagnoses. Rather, Calming Cards are a way to bring your attention back to the present, connect with your physical body, and help you interpret the signals that your nervous system is sending you.

Using Tarot in this way is not a cure or a catch-all; it’s simply a mindfulness practice. It’s a way to create some distance between your thoughts, your emotions, and your physical responses, so you can catch your breath and begin to work through your feelings one-by-one. There are many other meditative techniques that can help to achieve the same purpose — and if they resonate with you more, I encourage you to work with them. 

If you’d like to explore some other ways to use Tarot for mindfulness, check out my blog post Everyday Tarot for Trying Times and Managing Stress. In this post, I share a different mindfulness technique using Tarot, as well as an alternative take on the Daily Card Draw that’s specific to finding and generating more hope in the world. (And goodness knows, we could all do with a little more of that!)

If you do want to try the Calming Cards technique for regulating your nervous system, I’d love to hear your insights! Tag #biddytarot on Instagram so I can see.

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The Unexpected Benefits of Developing Your Intuition as a Tarot Reader

Developing your intuition as a Tarot reader is something I’ve discussed at length for years — on the blog, on my podcast, and on social media. 

I believe that intuition is something we all have, and that we can strengthen — just like a muscle. I believe your intuition is your single-greatest asset in becoming a powerful, confident Tarot reader. 

Your intuition can help you discover new meaning in all 78 Tarot cards. Your intuition is the reason you can look at a Tarot card, and find new meaning based on your own life and experiences. It’s how your Tarot readings elevate beyond the traditional meaning of the cards, and take on meanings that are completely unique and authentic to you. 

But did you know that developing your intuition can have a huge impact on your day-to-day life in other ways, aside from reading Tarot? 

What is Intuition?

There are two different ways of understanding what intuition is — and each is as valid as the other. 

Firstly, your intuition is a function of your subconscious mind. Think of the many thousands — millions — of conversations, interactions, and experiences you’ve had in your lifetime. Regardless of how long you’ve been on this planet, and how good your memory recall is — you’ll never be able to remember everything consciously. The majority of our experiences are stored in the subconscious mind.

As you move throughout your day, the various things you do and people you connect with stir memories deep within your subconscious. Though you may not realize it, your intuition — your subconscious — is constantly being activated. Your subconscious memories are attached to feelings, and those feelings are attached to consequences. 

This is why you get that “gut feeling” when something just isn’t right, or why you suspect a person, place, or experience might just open the door to something wonderful. They all trigger memories, feelings, and consequences that you’ve already experienced, in one way or another. They bring to light the things buried deep in your unconscious mind, and give you a clue as to what you can expect when similar circumstances present themselves. 

Secondly — your intuition is a powerful, divine gift. It’s representative of the energetic nature of the Universe. It’s an instrument you can tune; something you can use to explore the unknown, tap into ancient, collective wisdom, and offer insight into things that others cannot access. It’s for this reason that Tarot readers seek to develop their intuition; after all, the cards themselves are just cards. They’re made from paper and ink — there’s nothing inherently magical about them. 

The real magic comes from knowing what the suits, characters, and symbols mean, based on historical learning —but also, how you apply those meanings and lessons to everyday life through your own intuitive understanding. 

But let’s take a step back. 

Quite aside from reading Tarot — developing your intuition can have a tremendous impact on your day-to-day life in many different ways. Highly intuitive people have a knack for drawing on their own intuitive understanding to make relevant, accurate, and insightful connections between things that happen every day — things that feel like magic. 

Your Intuition Helps You Live a More Authentic Life

When you’re living an intuitively-aligned life, you’re trusting your own deep, innate knowledge to inform your choices. You’re making decisions about who you are and what to do. Those decisions are based on your own intuitive and energetic responses, principles, and inner wisdom. 

There will always be people who don’t agree with your choices. Trying to keep everyone happy will drive you crazy — it’s a fruitless effort. No matter what you do, there’ll always be someone who thinks you should have done it differently.

Instead of allowing other people’s opinions and beliefs to chart your course — imagine what life would look like if you made your decisions based solely on your own innate knowing. You know what’s right for you. You are the only person who knows what you need in this moment — and by understanding those feelings, you’ll always be living in alignment with your intuition, and what feels right for you.

This isn’t to say you’ll never make mistakes — that’s just part of being human. But they’ll be your mistakes, and you’ll learn the lessons they came to teach you. By listening to your own intuition and doing what feels right for you, you’ll always live an authentic, heart-centered life. 

Your Intuition Can Help You To Navigate Or Avoid Dangerous Or Difficult Circumstances

We’ve all experienced a “gut feeling” about something, or someone. 

Have you ever gone to a party and been introduced to someone you just know is bad news? 

Perhaps your friend has suggested going to a restaurant that for some reason, you just know you don’t want to go to. 

Maybe you’ve contemplated taking a trip somewhere — but somehow, you just know it’s not the place you’re really meant to be. 

These kinds of intuitive hits are perhaps the most important. It’s not to say that if your “spidey-senses” are tingling, you should never take any risks — if that were the case, we’d all be living in comfort zones, 24/7! 

But rather, by learning to finely tune your intuition, you can pick up on energies and frequencies that simply aren’t in alignment with who you truly are, or what you truly want to do right now. You begin to say no to the things that simply don’t feel right — and you might feel very glad that you did. 

We don’t always understand where these feelings come from in the moment. But by honing and listening to your intuition, you may just come to find yourself thinking “I’m so glad I didn’t go”, or “Imagine if I’d been there!” when plans go awry. 

Your Intuition Helps You To FulFil Your Own Needs First

If your self-care is the ship, your intuition is the captain. No ship steers itself — and listening to your own intuition is a wonderful way to navigate your self-care practice. Intuitively understanding your own needs will help you to release the compulsion to fulfil others’ before your own.

The next time you’re asked to go to an event, listen closely to what your intuition is telling you. Do you feel a huge, full-body “Yes!” erupt inside? Or is the signal more subtle? If you pause before replying to the text, or hesitate to pick up a pen and circle “Attending” on the RSVP — allow your intuition to guide you. What’s causing you to pause? If you don’t want to say yes — what is that that you do really need right now?

It’s not to say that you shouldn’t agree to every social outing, meeting, or date that doesn’t excite you straight away. But if in tapping into your inner-wisdom first, you get the feeling that you might need to skip this one, take some time for yourself, or reschedule — that’s okay, too. Tune into your intuition and ask yourself: Why do I feel hesitation at this moment? What do I need to give myself first?

By listening to your inner guidance system, you’ll create more space in your life to take care of yourself first. Prioritizing your own needs doesn’t make you a bad friend, family member, or partner — in fact, the opposite is true. By intuitively setting boundaries and creating space for your own self-care, you’ll be able to show up for others in a much more present, healthy way. (And if you need help communicating your boundaries, I highly recommend checking out the Tarot Spread for Effective Communication!)

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As a Tarot reader, mother, and business owner, I can tell you without a doubt — my intuition is my single-greatest asset. I’ve spent years tuning in to my intuition. I listen to it during Tarot readings for myself and others. I listen to it when I’m making decisions with my family and friends. And I listen to it when I’m creating — crafting content, educational material, and everything else that goes into running Biddy Tarot. 

If you’re ready to start developing your intuition, I highly recommend checking out the Weekly Spread for Intuitive Development! It’s a wonderful spread that will help you track and tune your intuitive insights, and develop your intuition in an aligned and intentional way. 

The post The Unexpected Benefits of Developing Your Intuition as a Tarot Reader appeared first on Biddy Tarot.

Everyday Tarot for Trying Times and Finding Hope

Everyday Tarot for Trying Times & Finding Hope

The world is not an easy place to be right now.

Emotions are running high. Relationships have fractured. In many ways, we don't seem to be communicating as well as we used to. 

We're all trying to juggle work, schedules, socializing, families, finances, and any other number of day-to-day things — during one of the most trying periods in global human history. 

Everybody deals with fear and stress in different ways. Some fight, preparing to attack or defend until the end. Some flee, seeking to remove or hide themselves from difficult situations. And of course, some freeze, finding themselves unable to take action either way, trapped in fear. 

One thing is for certain — our nervous systems are overloaded. Many of us have been living in a highly activated state that leaves little room for peace, harmony, and real connection. The good news is — Tarot is the perfect way to find our way back to ourselves during these difficult times. 

MANAGING LIFE’S MANY STRESSES

It’s important for us to be as present, intentional, and grounded in our Highest Selves as possible — even when things feel hard. That said, it’s not always so easy. Having a tough week at work is one thing — acclimatizing to perpetual, global fear and trauma is another. 

The first step to reducing and eliminating stress is to investigate the source. Reflect on which area of your life seems to cause the most stress, and start there. 

It’s good to stay informed — but if watching two hours of news every day is doing you more harm than good, try skimming the headlines once a week instead. 

It’s wonderful to have close relationships with family — but if your mother dropping by unannounced multiple times a week makes you feel overwhelmed, it might be time to set and enforce some boundaries. 

If engaging in triggering conversations or trying to “keep the peace” with friends makes you feel as though you’re constantly on tenterhooks — devise a strategy to remove yourself from those conversations, and re-center your energy. 

Another way to reduce stress and remain for present and peaceful in your life is to practice mindfulness — and one of my favorite ways to do this is with Tarot. Luckily, there’s a really simple exercise you can try to reconnect to the present moment, using Tarot as your guide.

TAROT FOR STRESS RELIEF

The next time you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, grab your Tarot deck (one with detailed illustrations will work best) and give it a shuffle. Take a few deep breaths, and draw a card. Look closely at the card, and begin to describe it to yourself, out loud, in detail. 

For example, if you draw The Sun from the Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot, rather than saying, “I see a child sitting on a horse”, I encourage you to go into as much detail as possible. 

“The Sun’s face is ringed with orange, and I see a glint of orange in its eyes, too. I count 1, 2, 3… 20, 21, 22 sunbeams radiating out from the Sun’s face. Some of the beams are straight, and some of them are squiggly. The Sun is sitting in a clear, blue sky. I see four sunflowers growing up over a  stone wall. I count ten leaves. The leaves are different shades of green…”

While it might feel a bit silly, by paying close attention to the details in the card, you are narrowing your focus and intention right down to small, intricate details. 

This technique works because the mind can’t ever truly focus on two things at once. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it’s likely because your brain is flitting from one problem to the next, to the next, and back again. So, when you sit down and focus intentionally on the details in one Tarot card — your mind is incapable of focusing on all the issues causing you to stress. (Yay!)

Giving your mind just one thing to focus on is a powerful way to narrow your focus and bring yourself into the present moment. Then, when you feel more calm, you can go back to your day with a clear head and the ability to focus on one problem at a time. 

And, bonus — you’ll probably notice some things in your Tarot cards that you’d never spotted before! All those notes can go straight into your Tarot journal, and might just come in handy the next time you draw that card in a reading.  

Ask your Tarot cards: In which area of my life am I experiencing the most stress? How could I reduce or eliminate the things that trigger my stress response?

Affirmation: “I have the right to create room for peace in my life.”

Try this: Use the Managing Stress Tarot Spread to better understand where your stress is coming from, and what action you can take today to bring more brace into your life. 

TAROT FOR HOPE

One of the beautiful things about darkness is that without it, there would be no light. Struggle gives life meaning, and creates space in the world for us to be more compassionate and loving. 

Wherever there is struggle, there is also hope to be found — and Tarot is the perfect tool to help that hope shine even brighter. Tarot can help us celebrate the love and joy in our lives through simple, daily practices, and reconnect us with our higher wisdom.

The fastest way I know how to do this is through the Daily Card Draw. Focus your intention on hope, rather than fear or stress (you might like to try the mindfulness exercise above, or simply take a few moments to breathe through any resistance). 

As you shuffle your cards each morning, ask yourself — “What unexpected place might I find or feel hope today?” and see what comes up. Remember to look at the imagery in the card for prompts, as well as lean into your intuitive understanding.

It’s important to note that as empaths, healers and energetically sensitive people, we are often dealing not just with our own personal emotions and responses to change. We’re also carrying the weight of other people’s feelings — whether it’s our family, friends, colleagues, clients, or all of the global community.

Just like fear — hope is contagious. Hope is what helps us get through some of the darker days, and instills a renewed sense of excitement and purpose about the future. When you’re feeling hopeful, joyful, or grateful for the wonderful things in your life — share that with others, and encourage them to do so too.

As you begin to experience a shift in your mindset and your energy, note down your thoughts in a journal, or in the voice notes app on your phone. Start creating a “Bank of Hope” that you can return to any time you need a pick-me-up, or to find that spark of hope once more. The more you intentionally bring your focus back to the healing power of hope, the easier it will become. 

Practise looking for the light, and you’ll start realizing that it really is all around. 

Ask your Tarot cards: What is the light I’m not seeing in this darkness? How can I help others to feel more hopeful during this difficult time?

Try this: Do a Daily Card Draw and look for clues as to where and how you might experience more hope and joy in your day. 

Affirmation: “I have the right to view the world through a hopeful, joyful lens.”

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There are many reasons we might be feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed — personally, within our families and communities, or on a much larger scale. But don’t forget, friend — you also have the right to feel safe, calm, and peaceful. There are some things that we cannot change, no matter how much we might wish and pray that we could. But there are some things you can change. And Tarot can be a guiding light for you, as you begin to make those changes and reclaim your personal power.

There are simple actions you can start taking today with your Tarot cards to manage difficult situations, and create space for more hope and joy in your life. I hope you’ll try one of the techniques above and let me know how it goes! Don’t forget to share your insights on Instagram, and remember to tag #biddytarot so I can see.

The post Everyday Tarot for Trying Times and Finding Hope appeared first on Biddy Tarot.

The Effective Communication Spread

The Effective Communication Spread

Difficult conversations are a natural part of everyday life. We all have times in our lives where we need to be able to communicate how we feel about something, even if the other person’s views are different to ours. Everybody deserves to feel seen and heard — but in the heat of the moment, things do sometimes spiral out of control! 

In these situations, it's especially important to slow down, take a breath, and proceed with mindful, effective communication techniques. To help you put these techniques into practice, I've created a special Tarot spread for effective communication below.

Tarot can help us explore the principles of effective communication in a beautifully integrated way. I created this brand-new Effective Communication Tarot Spread, with card positions that reflect each of the five stages of effective communication and conflict resolution. I’ve also included a bonus card, which will allow you to reflect on the lessons learned during the situation, and take those lessons with you.

What emotion am I feeling right now about this situation?

The first step to effectively communicating how you feel is to take one step back and name the emotion, or emotions, that have surfaced.

How might I better connect to where this emotion is physically presenting in my body? 

By mindfully naming and intentionally feeling the physical sensations of our emotions, we bring our attention back to the present moment. This helps us to remain present and grounded when communicating with others.

How might I effectively communicate this emotion to the other person involved?

The next step is to explain how you're feeling to the other person using “I am” or “I feel” statements. Remember to focus on how you are feeling, rather than on how the other person is “making” you feel.

How can I best honor and hold space for how the other person is feeling right now? 

You have every right to your feelings and deserve to have those feelings honored, and so does the other person — even if you don’t understand, or think they’re feelings are “wrong”.

What action can I take to honor the other person’s boundaries, while respecting my own? 

Offer an apology for your part in the conflict (remember — it always takes two to tango) and mutually agree on a path forward. This is the time for each person to clearly state their boundaries, and what they will do to avoid a similar conflict arising in the future.

What lesson have I learned from this situation that I can take with me moving forward?

There is something to learn from every conflict or difficult situation you encounter — even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment. Remember — you are a divine being having a human experience, and so is everyone else. We are all here to learn from each other, and do our part in creating a more harmonious world together.

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To read more about dealing with tricky situations and finding hope when all hope seems lost, check out my blog post, Everyday Tarot for Trying Times and Difficult Conversations!

If you tried the Effective Communication Spread, I’d love for you to share your insights on Instagram — and don’t forget to tag #biddytarot so I can see. 

The post The Effective Communication Spread appeared first on Biddy Tarot.

8 Ways to Use Tarot in Your Self Love Practice

What Does ‘Self Love’ Really Mean… And Why Should You Care?

If the phrase  ‘self love’ conjures up visions of bubble baths, reciting affirmations, and taking yourself on the occasional fancy dinner date…

It might be time to think about self care in a new way!

It’s true that doing any of the above activities would be a generous act of self love, but there’s a lot more to the practice than that!

When you love yourself, you become a magnet for the things — and people — you want to attract into your life. Self love is like an act of powerful, personal magic — and that’s where Tarot comes in!

True self love helps you find and feel more acceptance, love, nourishment, and gratitude for who you really are. When you make a habit of loving yourself daily, you’ll begin to see all kinds of wonderful changes in your life — and there are many different ways to use Tarot to help guide your self-love practice. 

How Tarot Can Help You Find and Foster Self Love Every Day

Tarot is a tool we can use to generate all kinds of energy in our lives. And one of my favorite ways to use Tarot is to promote self love — which in turn powers healing, helps us find our place in the world, and paves the way for healthy, harmonious relationships with others. 

Here are eight ideas to get you started practicing self love with Tarot!!

1. Draw a daily card to guide your self-love practice

This may seem simple, but don’t discount the power of this simple daily card draw! Ask yourself, “What action can I take today to love myself more?” and see what comes up. Remember to look at the imagery in the card for prompts, as well as lean into your intuitive understanding.

2. Try the Daily Self-Love Ritual

While it’s similar to the above, you can also try the Daily Self-Love Ritual! 

I created this ritual as I was writing Everyday Tarot and had around 100 Tarot readers take it for a test-drive prior to publishing the book. The response for the ritual was amazing — almost every person who tried it experienced a huge self-love transformation.

3. Reflect on the Self-Love Cards and write your own affirmations

Create a list of your favorite cards for self love, and connect them with short affirmations you can say out loud each morning. Start with the list below and then get creative! Choose the cards you resonate with most and write your own personal affirmations.

The Star (“I believe in myself.”)The Nine of Pentacles (“I deserve love and abundance.”)The Empress (“I love my body.”)Four of Swords (“I give myself permission to rest.”)Queen of Cups (“I love and nurture myself.”)4. Dedicate a Tarot deck to your self-love practice

Find yourself a beautiful new deck that speaks of love to you (or choose one of the decks you already own!) and dedicate it as your personal, self-love Tarot deck. Store it with a piece of Rose Quartz and allow the energy of love to permeate each and every card. 

Set the intention that this deck will be the only one you use for your personal self-love practice. Allow it to remind you of the deep, loving connection you have with yourself every time it’s in your hands. 

5. Do a self-love Tarot meditation

From your list of personal self-love Tarot cards (or from my list above), choose one and find a quiet space. Study the card closely. Look at the scene — take note of the colors, the imagery, the figures, and the overall energy of the card. Now, get nice and comfortable, close your eyes, and take three deep, slow breaths. 

Picture yourself in the scene. How does it feel to be inside this card? What do you notice as you look around you? How does being in the card make you feel loved? How do you honor yourself and your needs within this scene? How might you carry this energy with you throughout the rest of your day? Journal your thoughts and come back to them any time you need a self-love pick-me-up. 

6. Use Tarot to build tiny, self-love habits

Write down a list of small, manageable self-love habits you’d like to form. They might be things like drinking three big glasses of water each day, taking your vitamins, or doing a 5-minute meditation at lunch time. Ask your Tarot cards: What can I do to best support the creation and staying power of this new habit? 

The Two of Pentacles might suggest prioritizing this task over anything else you need to do for the day. The Three of Cups might suggest the best way to form this habit is to be accountable to a group of friends who are trying to achieve the same goal. The Seven of Cups might even suggest that it may not be the most important habit for you to focus on forming right now, and to choose something else that feels more aligned in this moment.

Once you’re clear on the action you can take to form your self-love habit, set a reminder for yourself every day for the next 21 days to take action. All that’s left to do is watch your habit become part of your daily self-love routine! 

7. Create a self-love Tarot altar

Find a space in your home — even a few square inches of bench space will work! — and make sure it’s clean. Wipe it down, remove any clutter, and clear the energy using an herb bundle, a selenite wand, or simply by clapping your hands over the space. 

Next, add a photo of yourself from a time when you were radiating love and happiness. Add a piece of Rose Quartz or Tiger Eye, your favorite candle, and your most precious trinkets — anything that speaks self love, radiance, and joy to you. After drawing your daily self-love Tarot card, place it in the center of the altar. Allow your self-love altar to power you with love throughout the day. 

8. Choose a Self-Love All-Star

I believe that we all have each of the 16 Court Card personality types within us. Depending on the situation you’re in or the people you’re with, some of those personalities can shine a little brighter, or present themselves a little more easily than others — and that’s okay! 

A huge part of self love is accepting your shadow self and learning to shine light on them. Only when we do this can we start to truly heal — which is the greatest act of self love there is. 

Which Court Card would you choose to be your Self-Love All-Star? Perhaps it’s a character whose traits you know you embody very well. Perhaps it’s one you’d love to receive a little “tough love” or encouragement from. Whoever you choose — invite them into your life. Picture them standing behind you, offering advice and encouragement as you grow. Let your Self-Love All-Star show you how to love and accept yourself — all parts of yourself — more and more each day.

A Heartfelt Connection with Tarot Can Create a Heartfelt Connection with Yourself

The more you begin to practice and prioritize self love with Tarot, the easier it becomes to attract new friends and people into your life who honor you and respect your boundaries. 

You’ll look in the mirror every morning and find that you can’t wait to dress that beautiful body of yours, rather than pick apart your least favorite features. 

You might even begin to see the love reflected in your bank balance and flowing to you in other forms of abundance. 

Every powerful and positive change you make in your life begins with an act of self love — and Tarot is a simple and effective way to start your self-love journey today!

P.S. Loved these tips? Share this post on Instagram and Facebook and let me know — and d on’t forget to tag #biddytarot so I can see!

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