Honestly, tarot cards weren’t on my radar for years. I figured it was all vague nonsense or something only mystical folks did. Then life felt… stuck. Job was grinding me down, personal life felt on repeat, you know? Heard a friend mention tarot as a tool for reflection, not fortune-telling. Figured, why the hell not? Couldn’t hurt.
Getting My Hands Dirty
I didn’t rush out to buy some fancy deck. Found a basic one online – Rider-Waite-Smith knockoff, cheap and cheerful. Didn’t bother much with deep symbolism at first; just looked at the pictures and the little booklet. Cleared a spot on my cluttered desk. No incense, no chanting, just me and these weird cards. My first shuffle was damn awkward. Felt like trying to shuffle tiny, slippery bricks. Cards flew everywhere! Kept at it though.
Started simple. One card a day. The question was basic: “What do I need to pay attention to today?” Flipped the first card. Got the Tower! Picture showing lightning striking a tower, people falling out. Booklet said “sudden change, upheaval, breakdown.” Panicked a little! But then I thought… okay, maybe it’s not literal doom. Maybe it’s about a long-held belief I need to shake up? That day, a work project hit a snag, forcing me to change my approach. Instead of digging my heels in, I tried the “upheaval” way. It actually worked better. Okay… maybe there was something here?
Slowly, I built the habit. Morning coffee, quick shuffle, pull a card. Sometimes the meanings clicked immediately, like the Empress showing up when I started a new creative hobby. Other times, I’d stare blankly at a card – damn you, Seven of Swords! – and journal gibberish trying to make sense of it.
Turning to the “New Beginnings” Spread
After a few months of feeling more aware of daily patterns, I felt ready to tackle the bigger stuck feeling. Found a “New Beginnings” spread in the little booklet. Five cards:
- Where I Was (Past)
- What Held Me Back (Challenge)
- Current Starting Point
- The Path Forward (Guidance)
- Potential Outcome (If I follow guidance)
Shuffled like I meant it, focusing hard on that feeling of wanting a fresh start. Placed the cards one by one. Damn, that Past card was Nine of Swords – pure anxiety and worry. Nailed it. The Challenge? Eight of Pentacles reversed – burnout from overwork. Yup. Current Starting Point? Ace of Wands – a spark of potential! That felt good. Guidance? Two of Wands – planning, looking outward. Potential Outcome? Ten of Cups – happiness, family harmony.
It wasn’t magic, but it was mirror. Seeing those specific cards laid out confirmed what I was feeling but maybe hiding from: my anxiety about my situation, the grinding exhaustion from my job, this flicker of wanting something new, the need to actually plan that new thing, and the real desire for a more fulfilling home life.
How This Stuff Actually Changed Things
Did I quit my job the next day? No. But the cards gave me a structured prompt to think differently:
- Acknowledged the Burnout: The Eight of Pentacles reversed stopped me pretending I was “just tired.” I was fried. I needed change.
- Fanned the Spark: The Ace of Wands reminded me there was curiosity and energy left. I started looking into part-time courses in the evenings – something totally different that excited me.
- Started Mapping: The Two of Wands pushed me beyond vague dreams. I made lists: what skills did I have? What did I really want? What were the small steps?
The transformation wasn’t overnight, but it was real. Within a year:
- I did change careers, using that evening course as a springboard.
- I set stronger boundaries at work (and eventually, a new job) to prevent that burnout cycle.
- I made conscious choices to nurture my personal relationships more (aiming for that Ten of Cups energy).
Tarot didn’t tell me what to do. It acted like a journal prompt and a mirror combined. Pulling “New Beginnings” cards forced me to articulate the stuck feeling, recognize the blocks I was creating, and confirm the possibilities I was sensing but afraid to acknowledge. It gave me a tangible place to start untangling the mess. It’s become like a regular mental check-in, less woo-woo and more practical self-reflection with pictures. Try it, keep it simple, see what it shows you.
