The Tarot Practice
Everything that is sought can be found in the woods. In the shelter of the forest, we can pause and get a sense of where we've been, where we might be going, and connect with the roots of our practice. The following spread honors the magick of the forests, the place of mythic quests, enchanted creatures, and wild ones cloaked in fern crowns and wisdom. Cast it to help you notice the patterns of your practice, call on the transformative energy of the soil beneath you, and even gaze back at yourself from this moment from your future self.
I recommend approaching this spread with the spirit of knowing that what you're seeking is out there - and its trail can be spotted in the cards - but it might appear to you in ways unexpected. In other words, letting what you're looking for right now be able to change into what you are becoming will need when you finally find it.
The Forest Path
Card 1. The Shelter of Branches
Entering the forest, the shade of ancient trees create a green ceiling above you, cooling the earth below you, and welcoming you home. What experiences and insights have brought you to this point in your practice?
Card 2. The Ancestral Campfire
A small clearing reveals a campfire, with embers at the ready for you to restart its flames. When it comes to ancestral practices it is important to not get lost worshipping the smoke, but instead tending to the ever-evolving living flame. What are the ancestral traditions that you are tending to in your practice?
Card 3. The Cave of Shadows
At the edge of your vision you notice a cave with a passage so dark you can't see more than a few feet beyond its entrance. You feel fear at this intense place of unknowing, but also a curiosity that lends you enough bravery to remain a moment. What part of the world of shadows - that place that represents all that you don't know - do you fear the most? How does fear show up in your practice?
Card 4. The Mossy Bed
Deeper into the forest you find an enchanted glen of thick moss, giant ferns, and millennia old trees that are knotted and gnarled in their great age. You take a moment to lie down on a mossy bed, letting your body come into a state of restorative rest. What are you processing and transforming in your practice right now?
Card 5. The Soil of Life
After a timeless time spent in the woods, the scent of soil and decay, earth and life permeates your whole being, letting you connect with the deep roots of our homeland. Looking back from the future, what do you remember about this time in your life?
Bonus Card. The Forest Guide
From between the trees a benevolent spirit of the wildwood appears to you with a message.
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Remediation: If you are seeking to strengthen your discernment by connecting with intuitive allies, consider casting the Familiar's Tarot Spread.
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