Three levels of consciousness

Rachel Pollack Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom

As you learn the tarot, you will find that the more you understand the cards the easier it is to get meaning from your readings. As a tarot reader, you will find that understandings of the cards will grow and evolve with time.

One way to look at the Major Arcana cards is as a psychological process, showing stages of our existence to reach a state of full development. In Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Rachel Pollack splits the Major Arcana into three layers of seven.

These divisions are the conscious, subconscious, and super subconscious.

Rachel Pollack’s explanation of the three levels and the individual cards is excellent and easy to follow. For both new readers and experienced, this book will give you a better understand of the Major Arcana, or at least a new outlook on the cards.

Throughout the section of her book focused on the Major Arcana, she constantly compares the cards. You may find it helpful to lay out your cards or print out a version of these divisions for easy reference.

Have you read Rachel Pollack’s Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom? Did you feel it moved you to a new level as a reader?

A Tarot Journal

A Tarot Journal is a great tool for both the beginner tarot reader and the more experienced.

You may wonder what you put in a journal, where you begin and what you use.

You need something to write on. This choice may vary from each individual. You could buy a journal, use a spiral notebook, or even use your computer. I prefer writing by hand. Of course, no one’s to say that you can’t do both. You could also take pictures and include them in your journal, whether you use paper or computer screen to view later.

Readings, of course, would be the main goal of a journal. A documentation that can be viewed years from the entry is an exciting thing. Looking back, you are sure to see even more than you did the day you conducted the reading. You’ll be able to gauge your progress in life, and your ability to read the cards. A picture of your reading is a great addition to your entry.

Another option is to produce your own tarot dictionary with your journal, a page for each card. This could also, of course, be produce on your computer. A nice option is to include thumbnails of each card, or even different versions of the card.

A good way to start your dictionary is to write the card name, key words, and then your impression of the card. You can always come back and add to each page and see the meanings change and evolve with time. You could even jot down thoughts that other readers may have on certain cards that you find interesting.

The main point of this journal is not for constant reference, but with most people after writing something it becomes easier to remember and causes the mind to think more on the matter. Years from now, when you pull this journal out to take a look, you may be surprised to find that a card evolved to a point that you first thought is nowhere near you current thought of its meaning.

So, with the New Year here, why not start your own tarot journal, or review the one already in progress.

Feel free to share your thoughts. Do you have other uses for your journal?

Happy New Year!

New years in village by Jon Sullivan

May the new year bring you all an explosion of spiritual growth.
Happy New Year!