The Tarot Practice
Song and the singing of sacred chants and rhythms is an old way of calling home the parts of ourselves that may have gotten lost, confused or caught up on a path that isn't right for us anymore. The following tarot spread made up of cards that we choose purposefully and cast at random helps us call name, speak to, and call home the parts of ourselves that may have gone astray because of stress, of upset, or simply the intensity of being alive at this particular moment in our global culture.
We're not trying to tackle profound moments of trauma with this spread (and, really, with any tarot spread), but singing to the parts of ourselves that have gone slightly astray and just need a reminder to come back. I think about those parts of ourselves that remember to make time for our breathwork practice, drink enough water during the day, find time for the activities we enjoy, and so on that can so easily get lost and muddled in the busy-ness of our lives, but make us feel more wholly ourselves when we are connected to them.
The Soul Song Spread
Cards 1 - 3. The Lost Parts
While I've made the suggestion of pulling three cards, you can easily choose to pull only one or two. Look through your deck and choose three cards that represent parts of yourself that you feel have gone astray. I try not to think too hard about what I'm looking for and instead rely on a body-felt intuitive recognition of a card when I see it. It's that reaction of "Aha! There you are!" When you have your three cards lay them out in front of you and spend a moment telling the story of each one.
For example, let's say that you pull the Four of Wands as one of your cards and you recognize it as your need to meet up with friends in-person, something that you've been neglecting, maybe even starting to convince yourself that it's not that important of a thing.
Cards 4 - 6. Dissonance
Pull these cards at random using your shuffle style preference. Lay them out one below each of the first cards. These represent the obstacles and hindrances - the dissonance to your resonance - that have made it hard for your lost parts to return home. If you've only chosen one or two cards for the first part, pull the same amount of cards for this part.
Following our example of the Four of Wands, let's say that you pull the Ten of Wands below it representing how you've been carrying too much on your own that it's blocked your ability to see not only that you need your friends at this moment but to see how strong your connection to them is.
Cards 7 - 9. Resonance
As with the first three cards, choose these three cards intentionally by looking through the remaining cards in your deck. Now you are looking for cards of resonance that reflect the power of your voice and song to call back your lost parts. Again, let yourself be guided by your body-felt intuition in the choosing of these cards. Place each card over the last three cards and speak to their power to draw all parts of yourself home again.
For the Four of Wands you pull the Three of Cups, the card of friendship in motion that is able to adapt and change to the needs of each friend's life, reminding you that you have enough space to make for your friends and trusting that they have the same for you. The card represents your song of unburdening and return.
᠅
Remediation: If you are seeking to strengthen your discernment by connecting with intuitive allies, consider casting the Familiar's Tarot Spread.
᠅