I have had people ask me about using tarot with writing. No doubt, there are others who may be curious, but do not want to step onto that ground. I see courses offered for this in some of the newsletters I receive. I guess I could charge for this, but it seems easy enough to explain without the ka-ching. However, I am always open to tips and donations. 8 D

I am quite visually oriented. From what I have heard in other venues, men tend to be so as well. Perhaps men can take advantage of this more easily? Or, maybe women's touted intuition can benefit more or as well. It matters not to me who uses the cards to help with writing. It has its benefits. I do, however, get a little curious when someone who is a writer cannot write at all without inspiration...apart from the grey matter (tho' I think inspiration comes from things we may not consciously perceive).

We all need help now and again, and since I use the cards on a regular basis for my column, it's natural for me to turn to them for inspiration in moments of confusion. When I write, I see the scene in my head. Then I simply transcribe it as it unfolds. Occasionally, I will run into a cross roads and will not be sure which direction I want to go. This is an opportune time to pull out the cards. I use the Robin Wood deck most of all, though I have a number of different ones, including erotic decks.

When one pulls a card to help with such creative endeavors, it is a good idea to have no set expectations. Do not assume that what is coming is anything you already have in your head. If that is the case, you may not need the cards. However, even when we have a general idea, the pulling of a tarot card can act as a catalyst. Usually, when I look at a card, I let my mind go blank...or at least as blank as it can go for me. I do not retain any anticipated anything. When I pull the card, I do not focus intently. I merely let the image lie before me and drift into my head. Sometimes this will spark another image in my mind that leads to the next writings. Sometimes, I cannot see a darned thing; or so I think. Occasionally, I have to break down the individual symbols. I wrote a book on such things, "Light-of-Day Tarot & Dream Work". I went into extensive detail on how to deal with each individual symbol. We each have our own way of seeing things. That is the clue.

You do not have to be an expert tarotist to utilize the cards. In fact, I have noticed that novices often glean more then experts as they have no set key words or implanted meanings. I spent a good deal of time looking to "experts" for some idea of how to read tarot. What I found was that none of them could tell me what I needed to know. That is, I already have/had everything I needed to do it. I did not need to learn anything from any book. I did not need to pray, meditate, or otherwise create the moment. I merely had to allow myself to relax and let the thoughts come to me. Voila...tarot 101.

In writing, don't we do much the same thing with other stimuli? We sit and something hits us, be it audio or visual, and we take off writing from one little thought. Tarot simply provides an image with which to work. It is neither evil nor possessed nor anything else I have heard to disuade someone from using them. They are pieces of card stock with pictures on them.

I also created meditation cards that I have available. They contain a quote or some other phrase on each card. The person can pull a card and read the quote and garner the same results...just in written format rather then pictures. These cards are no different then the tarot. They are tools to help someone get past a roadblock in their lives.

This could lead to all sorts of discussions, but I will refrain from crossing those lines.

I advise people to use whatever they are most comfortable using. There are no rules that say we have to do anything. Creativity flies best in freedom. When we self edit, we stifle our creativity. Whatever makes you free, helps you create.

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