How to keep a Tarot journal

I have some little bonded leather journals that are about 6X9 and have really smooth pages. One lasts me months and months. I'm not precious about how I keep my journal----there are shopping lists, budget figuring and all kinds of stuff mixed in. They're small enough for a purse and yet big enough for detailed notes. I think they have about 200 pages in them.

I put a morning reading in and then at the end of the day, I write some notes about how the day went to see how the cards might apply. If I read for someone else, I put in notes about the reading. Sometimes I'll copy an interesting spread from here on AT that I want to give more thought to and make notes on it to get back to the poster here later on with. But my notes are brief and to the point.

But I don't get obsessed with journaling because that takes away from the whole point which is Tarot. The public school system teaches kids that they have to do certain things and one of those things is "study and make notes". We often try to approach Tarot as if we were in school and that's the furthest thing from how Tarot works. Put down the books, the pens and the notebooks if you truly want to learn Tarot. Sure, make some notes if you want to, but don't sit hunched over a notebook writing for hours and belaboring the point. If you want to learn the cards, USE THE CARDS!

A helpful book

I haven't had the chance to read all the responses to your question yet so someone may have already mentioned this, but I got a book awhile back that I really liked called "Tarot Journaling" by Corrine Kenner. She gives lots of good ideas about ways to do your journal from the actual picking of the journal itself to creative exercises to get you writing. It was one of the first tarot books I bought and although I haven't been very good about actually getting started, I loved her way of teaching journaling using tarot.

Good luck!

Avi

I keep 2 tarot journals; one is spiral bound (I make my own journals) and I use it for my daily study, my readings, etc., things in chronological order. I like being able to look back at my readings to see if patterns emerge, and also I look for readings that puzzled me at the time to see if my ongoing tarot experience has increased my understanding.

My other journal is more of a reference notebook (thanks, Umbrae, I didn't know what to call it till I read your post). It's a 3 ring binder so I can add pages wherever needed; this journal is for my study of specific individual cards, the suits, etc.; my impressions & interpretations, ideas from books, from discussions on this forum, etc. This journal is divided by card, not chronological, so I can easily find things on any given card when I want to. At first this second journal was just a series of notes from books I was reading, but as I learn more, I'm using it more for noting my own thoughts / intuition about the cards. Here's a pic of my journals

As Grizabella mentioned earlier, this isn't school, so don't use journaling if it blocks the flow of your tarot experience, for example, "I can't do a reading this morning because I didn't record yesterday's in my journal yet." There are no "shoulds" here. Tarot is first. I've always loved keeping journals so for me it only enhances my tarot experience.


Mary V

I have a couple of written journals from my first year of learning. I wrote because I remember things better when I've written them down. I've never reread any of it with the exception of one reading I went back and looked up a few months ago.

What has helped me the most to really delve into what any card might mean for me on a given day is my tarot blog. (link in profile) Some cards I've drawn 10-14 times since I started it, all from different decks so when I'm pondering a specific card I can do a search and most if not all those back posts will come up. The deck I am using for any week makes a great deal of difference in what the card means to me that day. It has really been a growth process.

Love that Esterbrook! One of my hobbies is Spencerian Writing, love using dip pens and nibs.

I should clarify, my journals have never been for readings, but for idea's and learning. I am pretty much through with a reading shortly after I finish it as I do not read for me but for others. I have a special journal that is dedicated to the cards and what they mean to me. These pages are interesting to review over time. Otherwise as per my first post.

I forgot to say that in my early years, I kept a separate notebook for other people's readings, which were those I did most often. I noted date, question, spread, cards that came up and short interp. In time I only noted date, question, spread and cards. That was to be able to track my progress with any one querent (many were repeats). I gave up that kind of notebook after about 3 years. People will retain what they need of a reading, and I tend to remember the salient points of a previous reading anyway. But it was a good learning tool at the beginning.

What I found helpful in journaling is to ask a question and pull 2 or 3 cards from the deck and write one sentence.

I think there was a thread on that for a while. Very challening.

There is also a book on Tarot Combinations.

If doing a more intense spread with several cards try finding date/season, or who's facing/turning away from whom, has this passed/is this future.


It will probably work better with a Rider-Waite based deck.

I think everyone had so many great ideas and just to read what everyone does to make their journal personalized is awesome! I print out the download of tarot journaling Card A Day form so I can keep track of the cards I draw, it has a copy of all 78 cards on there plus spaces to add the dates drawn. I print out a form every month and this way I can see what cards I have had come up multiple times throughout the month. I had The Fool card drawn 5 times in the last week of October (and I always clear the deck and reshuffle when I use the deck again), then I drew it again yesterday .... hmmm .... definitely sending me a message. lol

Other things to write:

So if you're "in the zone" write about what you ate and drank durning the last 12 hours. "Not in the zone at all" write about what you ate and drank durning the last 12 hours.

diet has a lot to do with reading.

Random thoughts not related to anything - write it down.

Thoughts about readings weeks later - write it down.

So much of reading has little to do with the cards or meanings. So much has to do with YOU. So write it all down...

Organization is lovely for specialists. Specialization is for insects…not for journals.

Umbrae said:

It's small and fits easily in backpack, briefcase - panniers...(get it?)...

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Yes, point well taken.

Umbrae said:

A journal is NOT about organization. Organization is for wheel lacing projects ("I thought I had an extra spoke? Where the hell is my spoke wrench? Didn't I put the freewheel remover over..."

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Panniers, spoke wrench, freewheel remover? I'm starting to get the idea that you are a biker, no wonder your response when I told you I was gonna sell my bike...

Umbrae said:

your first journal should have two blank pages on each card. Fill them - over time. A year from now The Emperor should hold a slightly different meaning than it does today (but based upon your origional foundation). As time goes on meanings will morph and become more lifelike.

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I like the idea of two blank pages for each card. Well thanks for the advice. I've been journaling about my life for the past few years so I'm well on my way.